Welcome Inkspots!
The Art Institute of Tampa’s Inkspot Design Club is open to all AiTA students with an avid interest in design. We especially encourage students of Advertising, Graphic Design, and Interactive Media Design to join.
2008 Officers
President: Ryan Smyser
Vice-President: Shawnna Savani
Secretary: Jenn Polk
Treasurer: Isaiah Perkins
Webmaster: Alex Swanson
Club announcements will be posted in the categories to the right, so keep us bookmarked .
Our Constitution - Adopted September 2007
Article I: Name and Purpose
Section I: The name of this club shall be Inkspot Design Club, using the acronym, INK.
Section II: The purpose of this club shall be:
A. To give the Art Institute of Tampa Design students an opportunity to explore design outside of the classroom, extending their knowledge and awareness of design.
B. To encourage and stimulate interest in contemporary design within the student body
C. To maintain a dialogue with other design organizations and designers, most notably the AIGA, as well as local design organizations, other student design groups, and AiTA alumni.
D. To maintain involvement with the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) and to establish and maintain INK’s status as an AIGA student chapter.
E. To organize and attend events which promote design education such as, but not limited to, studio tours, speakers, AIGA events, workshops, and critique sessions.
F. To maintain a webpage that allows discussion and provides information about INK and upcoming events.
Article II: Membership
Section I: Eligibility-Any student or faculty member of AiTA is eligible for membership, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Section II: Type: Membership shall consist of two types:
A. Basic-any eligible person showing an interest in Design. Involvement in all INK activities is encouraged, though access to AIGA specific activities and funds may be limited. Basic members have one vote.
B. AIGA student member-any eligible person showing an interest in Design who is also a member of the AIGA. Additional activities and funds through the AIGA are available at this level which may not be to those at the basic level. AIGA student members have one vote.
Section III: Power of Removal-On a 2/3 vote of the club, a member may be dismissed of membership because of destructive or criminal acts against the Inkspot Design Club. Upon dismissal the student can no longer benefit from INK monetary funds and loses the power to vote.
Article III: Officers
Section I: Officer’s Duties and Position Descriptions
A. The duties and responsibilities of the officers of the Inkspot Design Club as a collective body:
1. To coordinate and direct the activities of INK and its members for the fulfillment and purpose of the club.
2. To facilitate a good working relationship with the AIGA, the Art Institute of Tampa, and the local design community.
3. To introduce design and encourage its exploration among new students to better facilitate the future goals of the club.
4. To organize events and/or to encourage other volunteers to do so.
B. Office Descriptions:
1. President - The president will preside over INK meetings, ensure that the program of INK fulfills the purpose of the club, provide enthusiasm for design, and assume general responsibility for the maintenance of INK and its interests. The president will also oversee any vote by the membership body.
2. Vice-President - The vice-president will preside over INK meetings in the event of the absence of the president and will otherwise ensure that the program of INK fulfills the purpose of the club, provide enthusiasm for design, and assume general responsibility for the maintenance of INK and its interests.
3. Secretary - The secretary will be responsible for taking the minutes of INK meetings, post and file minutes of meetings (posting to members alias), maintain a current membership and phone list, check the INK mail, and organize INK publicity (i.e. finding members to make posters for events and meetings).
4. Treasurer - The treasurer will handle financial matters within INK, run the INK checking account and inform both officers and INK members of the financial status. The treasurer will also keep separate record of monies gained from the AIGA versus monies gained from other sources so as to provide additional funds to AIGA student members and related activities.
5. Webmaster - The webmaster will maintain and update the INK webpage, currently located at aitainkspot.wordsmith.com. The webmaster will work with the Secretary to provide up to date information on events and meeting minutes on the page, as well as links and information requested by other students. The option to redesign the website is open to the webmaster, but any new version must be approved by a 2/3 vote of the INK membership before being allowed to replace the previous version. In the event that this position cannot be filled, the other officers will take on the maintenance and upkeep of the INK website themselves.
Section II: Elections
A. Election information shall be posted at least one week before nominations. They shall be posted in areas frequented by INK members and disseminated to the group through email.
B. Nominations for elections shall be held the fifth week of Spring quarter.
C. Elections will be held every year on the seventh week of Spring quarter.
(See Organizational Amendment 1 for first year modified election cycle)
D. Qualifications of officer’s area as follows:
1. Must be enrolled as at least a part-time student at AiTA (12 credits).
2. Must have been an active member of INK for at least one school year.
3. Must be enrolled for entire elected term.
E. Positions to be elected from nominees:
1. President to serve a one-year term.
2. Vice-President to serve a one-year term.
3. Secretary to serve a one-year term.
4. Treasurer to serve a one-year term.
5. Webmaster to serve a one-year term.
F. Succession of Power:
1. An officer may be impeached or removed from office by a 2/3 vote of club members.
2. Upon the resignation of dismissal of a club officer a special election shall be held to fill the office for the remainder of the term except in the case of the president.
3. If the president resigns or is removed from office the vice-president will assume the office of the president and a special election will be held to fill the vice-presidential position.
4. The president shall fulfill the duties of any vacant offices until a special election can be held to fill them.
Article IV: Amendments:
Section I: Amendments to this constitution may be proposed by the officers of INK and shall be passed by a 2/3 vote of the active members.
Article V: Provisions for By Laws:
Section I: Included in the By Laws are the rules and policies most subject to change; time of meetings, cost of dues (if any), and club structures. A 2/3 active member vote is needed to establish and/or alter By Laws.
Article VI: Voting:
Section I: Due to the size of the Design Program voting will be based on members in attendance at meetings and through email.
A. All policies, elections, amendments, etc. that require a membership vote must be announced at least one week in advance to the membership (both through email and at previous meetings)
B. Voting will then be allowed through email for one week prior to the next meeting. All votes through email will be sent to the president, who will keep the votes confidential until the next meeting.
C. At the meeting following the voting announcement, the membership gathered will vote on the issue at hand, with the president then adding the votes received through email.
D. If within the total votes received from both present members and email exceeds 2/3 of the number, the issue at hand passes
Organizational Amendment 1:
In order to meet both the Art Institute of Tampa’s and the AIGA’s recognition criteria, preliminary election cycles have been shortened to increase participation, refine protocol, and help members focus on a successful completion our immediate goals of:
1. AiTA recognition (granted October 2007)
2. AIGA chapter membership
Therefore, until June 2008, there will be two rounds of elections as follows;
Elections will be held the eighth week of fall quarter followed by another election on the seventh week of spring quarter. After this time elections will be every year on the seventh week of spring quarter.
