The HSC is part of the MIT  Association of Student Activities

Last Updated 20120903

MIT Hobby Shop Club Constitution

Article I: Purpose

The purpose of the MIT Hobby Shop Club (MIT-HSC) is to provide an environment that fosters a community of students who enjoy working on projects in their free time with the goals of uniting this community through their common interest and providing a time and place in which to work and share design and fabrication knowledge. The MIT-HSC will provide members the opportunity for learning and teaching manufacturing and shop maintenance skills.  The officers will take the lead in the instruction and guidance of new members in the proper use and maintenance of the tools and machines in the Shop. Members of MIT HSC under the direction of the Hobby Shop Director and the Hobby Shop Committee will work to improve and promote the Hobby Shop throughout the MIT community and beyond with specific job of maintaining its webpage. More senior members, as they develop a broader range of skills, will be given the opportunity by the Hobby Shop Director to supervise other Hobby Shop Club members using the Shop.

Article II: Officers

  1. This organization will have 5 officers positions (must be students):
    1. President (Foreman)
      1. The president shall be the official representative of the Club to any other organization and to MIT.
      2. The president will preside over all meetings.
      3. The president is responsible for setting meeting times and publicizing meetings to the Club.
    2. Vice President (Assistant Foreman)
      1. The Assistant Foreman shall assist the President as needed, and can preside over meetings in the Foreman’s absence.
    3. Treasurer
      1. The treasurer shall be responsible for the finances of the Club.
      2. The treasurer is required to sign all checks/vouchers of the Club.
    4. Shop Manager
      1. The Shop Manager will assist the Hobby Shop Director, by suggesting improvements to the Shop. 
    5. Webmaster
      1. The Webmaster is responsible for maintaining the Club website with updated events.
  2. All officers of this organization must be distinct persons and individuals who are MIT students.  Officers have the responsibility of teaching new skills to incoming members as needed or by request.
  3. Elections:
    1. Elections of officers shall occur at the beginning of every fall and spring semester, no later than two weeks past Registration Day.
    2. Any member of the Club is eligible to run for office. All Club members may vote in Elections.
    3. Quorum for elections is at least two-thirds of the Club members and electronic voting is permissible.
    4. Any member is elected if he or she wins a majority of the voting members.
    5. If more than two people are running and no one wins a majority, then the person with the fewest votes is dropped from the ballot and votes are recast.
    6. The term of office runs from the date of election until the election of a new officer for the position. In the event of a vacancy, a special election may be called by the Club Officers..
  4. The Director of the Hobby Shop will serve as Hobby Shop Club advisor.
  5. Removal: Officers may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the members.
    1. The Hobby Shop Committee can remove officers (any member) for safety or Hobby Shop policy and procedure violations. 

Article III: Membership

  1. Every club member must also be a registered MIT student and a member in good standing of the MIT Hobby Shop.
  2. Club membership is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. One is considered a member of this organization in any given academic term if he/she has attended at least two club activities and one meeting in the preceding or current term and has paid his or her dues to the MIT Hobby Shop.
  3. The organization’s membership will at all times consist of at least 5 members.
  4. This organization will not discriminate based on any characteristic listed in MIT's Nondiscrimination Statement.
  5. If this organization charges any monetary dues, there will be exceptions made for students that cannot afford these dues.
  6. The MIT Hobby Shop can have video surveillance.  All members of the MIT HSC agree to video monitoring and other safety precautions.
  7. MIT HSC members understand that machining can be dangerous.  MIT HSC members will not participate in activities or using machines that are beyond their skill level without instructions.  In case of an accident MIT HSC members or their families can not sue MIT, the MIT Hobby Shop, MIT Hobby Shop Club, or any other member of the HSC.  Each MIT HSC club member’s safety is his/her individual safety responsibility.
  8. MIT ID card readers will be used to monitor entry to the Hobby Shop and possibly normal exit.
  9. Similar to the original constitution of the MIT Hobby Shop Club in 1939, there shall be three classes of members as follows:
    1. Apprentices. A new member with little to no experience in operating machine tools begins at the rank of Apprentice. Apprentices may attend and vote in regular meetings, and can be elected to the position of Treasurer or Secretary. However, Apprentices cannot hold any other office.
    2. Journeymen. Any member is eligible to become a journeyman. He or she shall be elected a journeyman because of his or her enthusiasm for the Shop and for his or her willingness to help in its management. He or she shall be chosen by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any meeting. In addition to the privileges conferred by the rank of apprentice, a journeyman may be elected to any Shop office with the exception of that of Foreman.
    3. Master craftsmen. To be eligible to become a master craftsman, a person must have been a Shop member in good standing for not less than one semester. The previously elected master craftsmen should nominate master craftsmen from journeymen of the Shop. Master craftsmen shall be chosen based on interest in the Shop and Shop projects, ability to use the machinery, tools and equipment correctly, and willingness to assist and cooperate around the Shop.  Master craftsmen must be approved/certified by Hobby Shop Director. 

Article IV: Meetings

  1.  Meetings shall be held at least three times during each regular (Fall and Spring) semester.
  2. Meetings shall be presided over by the President, unless he or she is absent, and in that case the vice-President shall preside.
  3. All decisions shall be made by a majority vote of all members present.
  4. Quorum for a meeting shall be one quarter of the members of the organization.

Article V: Amendments

  1. Any member of the organization may present amendments to the Club Constitution.
  2. Amendments shall be passed by a two-thirds vote of the members present.
  3. Quorum for amending this constitution shall be two-thirds of all Club members.

Article VI: Policies

  1. Guests are allowed to visit the shop during shop hours, but are not allowed to work in the shop or use the machines.
  2. Future policies are to be added to the constitution if voted in by a two-thirds vote of members present at a regular meeting.

Article VII: ASA Governance Clause

The MIT Hobby Shop Club agrees to abide by the rules and regulations of the Association of Student Activities, and its executive board. This constitution, amendments to it, and the by-laws of this organization shall be subject to review by the ASA Executive Board to insure that they are in accordance with the aforementioned rules and regulations.

Founding Members:

The five founding members of the club are: Ilan Moyer, Arron Ramirez, Folkers Rojas, Marcel Thomas, Oscar Viquez Rojas.

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