The SOC/SOWK Club is a student organization recognized by the Mary Baldwin College Senate. The club was established in 2002 and chartered in 2003 by an enthusiastic group of sociology and social work students who wished to formalize the community service efforts and social activities of their peers and professors.
The club is open to all students, faculty, and staff with interests in service to the campus and community. Club members meet monthly to socialize, plan, and engage, and are involved with three to four service activities and fundraisers each semester.
Club events and community service include:
2005 - 2006 Executive Board
Jodie Hale -- Chairwoman
Shannon Maguire-- Vice Chairwoman
Lakeshia Washington -- Secretary
Elizabeth Casby Stainback -- Treasurer
Ave Htut -- Historian
-- Public Service Coordinator
-- Public Service Coordinator
Our mission is to gain a better understanding of our social world and ourselves. To exemplify the main theme of the study of Sociology, we will focus on interactions amongst members of our campus community and those who surround Mary Baldwin College. We will encourage healthy and positive interaction amongst the members and society, with an emphasis on goodwill and charitable activity. We will use all available resources to empower, nourish, and benefit the community and to provide for those in need.
The Club sponsors a New Student Orientation at the beginning of each semester. The Orientation is an open, informative meeting for all students interested in the Sociology or Social Work academic programs. During the Orientation, new students have an opportunity to meet the members of the department, learn about what the department has to offer, learn about the SOC Club and the Sociology Honor Society, and meet many Sociology and Social Work majors. Refreshments are provided.
The pumpkin patch is a Fall Semester fund raiser where club members pick their own truckload of pumpkins to sell and distribute to the campus and local community.
A staple fundraiser held throughout the academic year is the car wash. The Club reserves the Wright’s Dairy Right parking lot on Greenville Avenue to wash cars and raise funds for local service organizations.
During the Spring Semester the Club assists in sponsoring the Annual Air Band Show, one of the most popular events on campus. Proceeds are turned over to local service organizations.
The Club is always searching for new ideas!
Fall Semester:
October: Club members collect donations of candy, and costume up for Trick-or-Treat at Oak Hill Nursing Home. This event is held near Halloween, where local children visit the nursing home for treats and a haunted house with the residents. Club members assist in passing out candy and guiding children through the nursing home. Club members also participate in Pumpkin Carving at the Virginia School of Deaf and Blind.
November: Club members collect donations of Thanksgiving meal preparations, prepare, and serve a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner to the folks at Valley Mission, Staunton’s homeless shelter.
Spring Semester- TBA
The organization shall be know as the Sociology Club of Mary Baldwin College
the main purposes of the Sociology Club are to provide for the enrichment of our community; to motivate students to become involved in their campus environments, as well as the surrounding community through sociology-based service; to provide specific peer mentoring opportunities in the practice of Sociology and Social Work, to provide opportunities for those interested in Sociology and Social Work to gain tactile information regarding future Graduate studies and occupational opportunities; to bring lecturers and informational events to the campus with a sociological influence; and to promote good fellowship and high scholarship.
All Mary Baldwin College students are eligible for membership. Members must show genuine interest in the club's well being and be willing to promote the Club's welfare. Members must also attend meetings and participate in projects on a regular basis.
Meetings will be monthly, held at a widely publicized time and place as decided upon by the Executive Committee. Additional meetings or activities will be arranged informally through personal communication and other publication methods that will ensure the availability of the meeting to the entire campus. In addition, the Executive Committee will meet monthly to discuss Club Issues, Club meetings, and other Committee responsibilities.
Section One: Chairwoman
The chairwoman resides over all General and Executive Club Meetings. The chairwoman is a liaison between the Advisor and the Co-Advisors, her Executive Board, all Club membership, and members of other campus organizations. The chairwoman serves as the Professional Development Committee Chairwoman. When necessary, the Chairwoman acts as a swing-vote.
Section Two: Vice Chairwoman
The Vice Chairwoman takes on all of the duties and functions of the Chairwoman, including the powers of the Chairwoman, in the absence of the Chairwoman or when requested by the Chairwoman. The Vice Chairwoman is an ex-officio member of each of the four committees. She is held responsible for scheduling all general meetings, as well as reserving spaces for these meetings.
Section Three: Secretary
The secretary shall maintain all documentation. She will take the adequate notations during each meeting. She will read minutes of the previous meeting at the beginning of each meeting. She will also compose and distribute the agenda at each General and Executive Meeting. The secretary will communicate with Club membership and the Mary Baldwin campus through the informational e-mails. The Secretary also acts as a Co-Chair for the Networking Committee.
Section Four: Treasurer
The Treasurer will maintain all funds. She is responsible for all monetary transactions and must keep adequate records of all transactions and funds availability. The treasurer shall provide each Executive Board member with an itemized record of transactions at each Executive Board meeting. The Treasurer advises the Executive Board during the Senate Appropriations process. The Treasurer will perform all duties in maintaining a correct record of Club Finances in adherence to the guidelines set forth in the Mary Baldwin College handbook. The Treasurer also acts as a Co-Chair for the fundraising committee.
Section Five: Historian
The Historian shall maintain all club history, such as the outcome of service projects, events, and Club Milestones. The Historian shall keep a portfolio/album containing visual and written history of the club. The historian also acts as a Co-Chair for the Community Service Committee.
Section One
The subcommittees will consist of committee heads and members of the Sociology Club members. The committee chairwomen will be selected during the first Club meeting of each Fall semester, by voluntary nomination.
Section Two: Community Service Committee
The Community Service Committee is responsible for finding and organizing projects for the Sociology Club to participate in. These include, but are not limited to, charitable drives, volunteering at shelters, and raising money for specific causes.
Section Three: Fundraising Committee
The Fundraising Committee develops fundraising goals, plans, and ideas to raise monies for Club funding. The Fundraising Committee implements these ideas and recruits participants for fundraising.
Section Four: Networking Committee
The Networking Committee provides for all Sociology Club meetings, community service events, and fundraising events. Specific Networking Committee responsibilities are, but not limited to composing and delivering campus wide emails to inform the campus community of events and the posting of fliers informing campus members of upcoming events and meetings.
Section Five: Professional Development Committee
The Professional Development Committee recruits lecturers and graduate program representatives to lead informational sessions. The Professional Development Committee is also responsible for organizing and implementing the peer mentoring sector as well as providing information about major/minor requirements for those interested.
The Faculty Advisory Board shall consist of the Sociology/Social Work Department Head, in conjunction with other selected departmental faculty.
The term for elected officials shall be on academic year. Officials will be elected to a position at the end of spring semester. The club shall be active during the fall, spring, and May Term semesters.
The Club shall participate in fundraising activities to raise monies to pay for event supplies, lecturers, community service supplies, in addition to funds allotted by the student senate. All finances shall be handled in accordance with the established fiscal procedures in effect for the College Appropriations Committee and the Inter-Club Council and those procedures as set forth in the Mary Baldwin College Handbook.
Section One
In order to run for an Executive Board position, students must meet the following requirements in their entirety: nominations at specified general club meetings, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7, participation in a "Meet the Candidates" session held at the general Club meeting following nomination, participation in an anonymous voting session within 24 hours following the "Meet the Candidates" session.
Section Two
Officers shall be elected by majority vote.
Section Three
Electrons shall be held at the end of Spring Semester.
Any elected or appointed officer may be removed from office for incompetence, failure to perform duties, and for violation of any part of this constitution. Two-thirds of the club membership must be in agreement to impeach any member of the Executive Committee who is not fulfilling hr obligations or is abusing the power of her office. The agreement must be in conjunction with agreement among the remaining executive committee members.
This constitution may be amended by two-thirds majority of the members present. Said amendments must be presented in writing during a meeting, and voted upon at the next regular meeting.
