Bylaws

Approved January 22, 2026

The name of this organization shall be WSU Spark Society:  Social, Philanthropic, Activities, Relationship, and Kindness.  This organization was formerly the Women of Wichita State University and formed by the merging of these two organizations:  Council of University Women (“CUW”) and Wichita State University Women's Association (“WSUWA”).  The purpose shall be to serve the interests of the university, to provide student scholarships, and to promote social interaction and a sense of community among its members.

The membership shall consist of all Wichita State University persons who meet any of the following conditions and who pay annual dues:

• Current active WSU faculty, Unclassified Professionals (UP), or University Support Staff (USS)
• Spouse/Partner of any currently active WSU faculty, Unclassified Professionals (UP), or University Support Staff (USS)
• Current employees of WSU affiliated or auxiliary corporations, or spouse/partner of such persons
• WSU retirees and members whose active connection with the University has ended but who wish to retain or renew their membership.

Life Memberships in place as of August 1, 2018 shall remain in force.  Their voting privileges shall be retained, and their payment of dues is optional.  Life Memberships were available to former members of DAMES.

Honorary membership shall be given to the University President and spouse/partner. 

The elected officers of this organization shall be a President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.  These elected officers make up the Executive Commmittee for WSU Spark Society. The specific duties and responsibilities of each elected officer are listed in Article VI of these bylaws.

The appointed officers shall be a Courtesy Chair, Fundraiser Chair, an Interest Group Chair, a New Members Chair, a Newsletter Chair, Scholarship Chair, Social Chair, and a Website/Publicity Chair.  Each appointed officer shall serve at the discretion of the President and may be reappointed annually.  The specific responsibilities of appointed office are listed in Article VI of these Bylaws.

The Board of the organization shall be composed of the Executive Committee and the appointed officers.  Each appointed officer shall serve at the discretion of the President and may be reappointed annually.  All, officers, elected and appointed, shall perform the duties prescribed by these Bylaws as adopted by the organization.

By February of each calendar year, the President shall review the term limits of all members of the Executive Committee.  Members intending to conclude their service at the end of their term shall notify the President at this time.

• For vacancies on the Executive Committee, the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee composed of three (3) members.  The Nominating Committee shall present the name of at least one (1) qualified candiate for each open position.
•  Additional nominations may be made during the election process, provided that each nominee has given prior consent to serve if elected.
•  All nominees for President must have had previous Executive Committee or Board experience.

The term of office for the Executive Committee shall be a minimum of two (2) years and shall begin on  July 1 after the meeting at which they are installed.  No member shall serve more than six (6) consecutive years in the same position on the Executive Committee.

A vacancy in any elected office may be filled by an appointment of the President.

• The President shall preside at all meetings, appoint all committee Chairs unless otherwise stated by the Bylaws, and have general supervision of all activities of the organization.
• The First Vice President shall assist the President and, in the absence of the President, discharge their duties. The position of First Vice President shall be filled by the immediate Past President whenever possible.  The First Vice President shall lead the annual membership drive.  If the immediate Past President is unable or unwilling to serve, the current First Vice President may continue in the role.  If neither option is possible, an election shall be held to fill the position.
• The Second Vice President shall assist the President and, in the absence of the President and First Vice President, shall discharge the duties of the President.  They shall oversee the Social Chair and Fundraiser Chair.
• The Secretary shall keep a record of all proceedings of the Executive Committee and Board meetings. They shall have charge of all organization correspondence.
• The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all funds and financial records. They will be responsible for the collection and deposit of all membership dues and deposits for all events.  They shall keep an itemized account of all transactions and pay all authorized expenditures.

• The Courtesy Chair will be responsible for the following based on the updates posted to their email and then to the website Courtesy section:
• Get well cards shall be sent to any member who is ill or hospitalized.
• A baby card shall be sent to any member upon the birth or adoption of a baby.
• Sympathy cards shall be sent upon the death of a member or the spouse/partner and immediate family of a member.
• At the death of a member, $25 shall be donated to: WSU Spark Society Current Scholarship Fund.  
• Children’s books shall be purchased and placed in WSU’s Ablah Library in honor of each of the following:
  • the spouse/partner of each new University President
  • the out-going President of WSU Spark Society
  • WSU staff or faculty who is a member of WSU Spark Society, for at least one year, at their retirement
• The Fundraiser Chair will be responsible for coordinating a minimum of two events annually to raise funds for the scholarships.
• The Interest Group Chair will coordinate the activities of each established interest groups director. The Chair is also in charge of helping new groups form as interest indicates.
• The New Members Chair will organize a welcome event for all new members and will maintain contact with these new members for a period of one year.
• The Newsletter Chair shall provide pertinent information to the membership and publish a newsletter distributed by email three times a year.
• The Scholarship Chair will review applications and recommend recipients to the office of Financial Aid of Wichita State University for the WSU Spark Society scholarship. The Chair will appoint a committee to help with the review and recommend the scholarship recipients.
• The Social Chair will work with the Second Vice President on planning events for the membership held throughout the year.
• The Website/Publicity Chair shall be responsible for maintaining the website and promoting the events of WSU Spark Society via email and social media.

The regular board meeting shall be held during the second or third week of the month, virtual or in-person, as ordered by the President. 

The number of members present shall constitute a quorum.

The elected officers and appointed officers of the organization shall constitute the Board.   

The spouse/partner of the University President or University President shall be an honorary Board member without voting privileges.

The Board shall have general supervision of the affairs of this organization between its business meetings, establish the hour and place of meetings, make recommendations to the organization, and shall perform such other duties as are specified in these Bylaws.  The Board shall be subject to the orders of the WSU Spark Society, and none of its acts shall conflict with action taken by the WSU Spark Society.

All appointed officers shall report to the Executive Committee.

These officers are appointed by the President and together they shall select committee members as necessary unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws, and the committee membership shall be representative of the organization as a whole.  Each appointed officer must meet with their successor to review their duties.

Such other Appointed Officers or committees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the President (as the Board shall from time to time deem necessary) to carry on the work of the organization.  The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of order the organization may adopt.

A member may propse an amendment by submitting it via email or in writing to the WSU Spark Society President.  members will be sent a survey to vote on the proposed amendment, a majority vote of those responding is required to approve the amendment.  membes will be given at least two weeks to respond to the survey.

These Standing Rules may be adopted or amended by members who are sent a survey to vote on the proposed amendment, a majority vote of those responding is required to approve the amendment.  members will be given at least two weeks to respond to the survey.

The annual dues of the organization shall be $12 payable by October 15 of each year.  

Dues shall be waived for the spouse/partner of the University President or the University President, and the spouse/partner of any former University President or the former University President.  Life Members established by either WSUWA or CUW as of August 1, 2018 will be honored and dues can be waived but dues payment is encouraged. 

The President and Treasurer shall make the proposed budget and present it to the Board for approval at the first scheduled Board meeting.

Monies from any fundraiser shall be added to the current WSU Spark Society Scholarship fund and awarded based on the guidelines established with the Wichita State University Foundation.

These By-laws may be amended by two-thirds of the members via a survey.

A vote is requred to amend these Bylaws or Standing Rules.  All members will be sent a survey and given at least two weeks to respond to the survey.