The Constitution of GirlsMatter Clubs

GirlsMatter is the daughter of WomenMatter, Inc.

Purpose

The purpose of GirlsMatter is to empower young women of middle and high school ages to participate in the political process and create informed voters. This mission will be accomplished by reaching out to girls across the nation to involve them in the education, sharing, and development of leadership skills while exploring the Life Issues, both personally and politically. Providing nonpartisan information and networking on the WomenMatter and GirlsMatter websites will motivate young women to explore political issues relevant to them. This will prepare them for the responsibility of informed voting, active support of candidates of their choosing, sending a personal donation to a candidate or party, and becoming the pipeline of women candidates the country needs.

Girls will work towards the goal of using their voice by incorporating the GirlsMatter five step process:

1. Question
2. Inform
3. Interview
4. Discuss results and Debate
5. Take action

Guiding Principle Statement:

Groups and/or individuals, who use WomenMatter and GirlsMatter resources, are not bound by the WomenMatter and GirlsMatter non-partisan principle. Groups and individuals are prohibited from using WomenMatter and GirlsMatter in a public display of support for any candidate, political party, or issue. For example-- A group may align itself with WomenMatter or GirlsMatter, and choose to take action on behalf of a candidate, political party, or issue. Such action, as long as it is legal and does not promote violence, is in itself a goal of WomenMatter and GirlsMatter. However, the action cannot be in the name of or use the names of WomenMatter or GirlsMatter. WomenMatter and GirlsMatter reserve the right to use legal process to prevent the use of its name by any person or organization in the support of any candidate, political party, or issue.

Core Values

• Girls matter
• Equality for girls
• When making decisions based on evidence, girls may differ and have the right to voice their views.
• Awareness of how the political system can support a young woman’s personal beliefs
• Information becomes relevant education when you use it to take responsible action
• Girls will develop self-esteem, solidarity, and enjoy life!

Membership

Eligibility

Membership in GirlsMatter shall be open to all girls ages 10 to 18 years and shall include all present and past members.

All members must complete a GirlsMatter application and media permission slip in their club. .

GirlsMatter does not discriminate based on race, color, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, handicap, or personal preferences.

Divisions

Each GirlsMatter Club will be called a Division. Each division will govern and plan their own activities, which will include the GirlsMatter and WomenMatter websites.

Local divisions may register with the National Division of GirlsMatter to be part of a newsletter to share activity ideas, Take Action List, and regional meetings. Registration of divisions may be submitted online or by mail. This will also allow girls seeking membership in GirlsMatter to easily find a division to join or be offered assistance by an active division in starting a GirlsMatter Club.

Mentor/Advisor

Qualifications

GirlsMatter Club mentors must be a certified teacher, counselor or nurse with a background in adolescent development. Other social service or religious institutions who wish to sponsor a GirlsMatter Club must meet the same criteria and hold its regular meetings at that institution.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Mentor shall be:

• To program and coordinate meetings
• To oversee all GirlsMatter club meeting, programs and events
• To help conduct constitutional revisions
• To register division ID with the GirlsMatter website
• To maintain all members’ registrations and media releases
• To keep a record of events and activities
• To oversee Girls Matter Clubs newsletter submissions
• To be aware of all school, local and state regulations and make the members aware of these regulations
• To honor GirlsMatter and WomenMatter’s mission of educating girls with a nonpartisan perspective

Rules of procedure

Leadership/Officers

Girlsmatter will consist of a core group of leaders. The core Group shall support the interest and mission of the club and promote solidarity The core group will not have complete control of the club; every member will contribute to the end result of all decisions.

Elections of core group

An official election for the core group will decide the four core members in the spring of each year. Selection shall be based on individual motivation, interest and focus on the GirlsMatter vision. These individuals will become the Nominees. Self-nominations are acceptable. The election for the core group shall be decided by a silent ballot. The core group will have a serving term of 2 years.

Committee Chairwomen

Committee chairs shall be members that are involved and will attend every club meeting and special meetings needed by her committee. She will communicate the meeting time, location and agenda in coordination with the mentor.

Examples of Committees

• Voting committee
• Newsletter committee
• Media committee
• Fundraising committee
• Recruiting
• Register to Vote Night committee
• Nomination committee
• Silent Ballot committee
• Review and Revise committee
• Special activities committee

Attendance

All members must attend three out of four consecutive weekly meetings. If attendance is not possible, member must consult with mentor before meeting and indicate reason for absence. This shall be recorded as an excused or unexcused absence.

Decision Making

GirlsMatter club will work towards a consensus when making decisions or resolving conflicts. Every voice will be heard. Political action does not have to be unanimous. All core group, club, committee decisions, media submissions, activities and fundraising must be approved of by the club mentor and school administration. The GirlsMatter Club must follow school, local, state; and federal regulations.

Quorum

There must be a 2/3 majority for a club vote to occur. If members are still unsatisfied with the results of a vote, they may submit their grievances in writing to the core group for considerations of compromise. Quorums will be necessary for various club decisions or when revoking membership or core group leadership.

Revoking membership/core group leadership

The failure to attend required number of meetings, meet committee responsibilities, core group leadership responsibilities, or adhere to the Girlsmatter guiding principles may result in the loss of their membership.

An individual conference with the mentor, followed by a meeting with the core leadership group will be the first line strategy to resolve the problem.

If a resolution cannot be reached then a vote taken during a regularly scheduled meeting must be taken, with a 2/3 majority voting required to revoke a member’s membership status or core leadership responsibilities.

Constitutional amendments

The constitution will be reviewed every year and amendments will be made if deemed appropriate. A 2/3 vote is necessary for an amendment to be added. The club mentor must approve all amendments.

Signature of Core Group

1. ____________________________________Date_______________

2. ____________________________________Date_______________

3. ____________________________________Date_______________

4. ____________________________________Date_______________



Signature of Mentor(s)

____________________________________Date______________

This model of the GirlsMatter Club constitution was created by the Constitution Committee of girls from the founding GirlsMatter Club at DeMasi Middle School Marlton, NJ. 08056 2004