The Undergraduate Sports Business Club is recognized by the Wharton Council and Student Activities Council
Undergraduate Sports Business Club:
Formed February 6th, 2006
Name
The name of this organization shall be The Undergraduate Sports Business Club.
Statement of Purpose
The purpose of this organization shall be to be dedicated to the dual purpose of spreading information about the sports industry to undergraduates and helping students obtain internships and positions in the field.
Board Structure
Executive Board
The Executive Board is comprised of the President, Executive Vice President, and all Vice Presidents. Executive consultants are non-voting members of the Executive Board.
Extended Board
The Extended Board is comprised of the Executive Board and all committee members.
Officers
President: Responsible for the general direction of the club and for overseeing the work of all other departments. This position organizes board meetings and general body meetings and reports to the WSBI. This position maintains and operates all facets of the USBC for the purpose of meeting the goals of the club and each board member. This position arranges and hosts a once per semester state-of-the-club conference call with members of the alumni advisory committee and extended board. This position is also responsible for submitting items for approval to and maintaining good standing with the Wharton Undergraduate Office and collaborating with executive consultants.
Executive VP: Responsible for assisting the President and other VPs. This position consults with the President on decisions regarding the direction of the club. If for any reason the President is unable to continue a term, the Executive VP will be named President.
VP of Alumni Relations: Responsible for fostering relationships with alumni, chiefly through the building and maintenance of the alumni advisory committee and the creation of a newsletter to be distributed to alumni and past speakers at least once per semester. This position also manages the alumni database.
VP of Career Services: Responsible for organizing career events, managing the student internship database, and for aiding students in acquiring internships. This position spearheads the annual Sports Business Career Fair.
VP of Communications: Responsible for taking minutes at meetings and keeping the club informed, chiefly by sending out weekly email updates to the club. This position also adds new members to and deletes old members from the club listserv and assists in the creation and distribution of the newsletter.
VP of Community Relations: Responsible for positively impacting the Philadelphia community. This position plans all community service projects, including but not limited to the annual fall charity fundraiser, Hoopin’ 4 Hope.
VP of Corporate Relations: Responsible for building relationships with businesses and individuals within the sports industry by bringing in speakers for USBC events (as a shared responsibility with VP of Events), securing sponsorships from corporations, and leveraging connections into future opportunities for club members. This position is also responsible for fulfilling all obligations to corporate sponsors.
VP of Creative Design: Responsible for the images that the USBC displays to club members, corporate partners, and alumni. This position also creates images for the website, Facebook, and marketing flyers.
VP of Events: Responsible for planning and executing educational and social events. This position contacts potential speakers (as a shared responsibility with VP of Corporate Relations) and arranges all logistics, including but not limited to greeting guests, ordering food, obtaining speaker gifts from the Wharton Undergraduate Office, and printing speaker name tents.
VP of Finance: Responsible for monitoring the club’s budget, submitting budget requests to the Wharton Council, and applying for contingency funding if needed. This position also organizes club fundraisers and works with the VP of Corporate Relations to obtain corporate sponsorships.
VP of Internal Affairs: Responsible for the betterment and cohesion of the board and general body by assisting in planning events and activities and gathering feedback through a once per semester survey targeting each group. This position is also the Student Government Liaison to the Student Activities Council and fosters the relationship with Penn Athletics marketing and arranges all associated events.
VP of Marketing: Responsible for marketing all events and for maintaining the banner in Hunstman Hall. This position works with the VP of Events to market events in fun and innovative ways, including but not limited to the website, Facebook, DP, flyering (in dorms, Huntsman, and on Locust Walk), and lawn signs.
VP of New Media: Responsible for maintaining and updating the website (www.ugsportsbusiness.com) and the Facebook fan page. These two sources shall function not only as tools for making club announcements, but also as blogs aimed at providing members with industry information by reposting sports-business related stories. This position works closely with the VP of Communications in promoting club goings-on and arranges for pictures to be taken at all events and meetings.
In addition to each of the above responsibilities, each Vice President may, at his/her discretion, assemble and oversee a committee of non-Executive Board general body members to assist in fulfilling his or her duties. Committee members are considered board members, but they are part of the extended board, not the executive board. Herein, unless “extended board” is explicitly stated, “board” refers to executive board only.
In the event of a board vacancy during the academic year, the president will assume duties until a new officer is appointed through an application process. Should a vacancy occur for the presidency, the executive vice president shall take over the presidency and a new executive vice president will be elected from the existing VPs by the existing VPs. The new executive vice president can elect to serve his or her former position simultaneously or appoint a new VP to replace his or her former position, subject to majority approval by the board. Any officer can be removed through a two-thirds majority vote of no confidence by the board.
Alumni Advisory Committee
This committee serves as a means to develop a network among alumni, keep them updated on the status of the club, and provide a forum for their input on the direction of the club. Anyone interested in serving on the alumni advisory committee must have previously faithfully fulfilled duties as a board member and shall submit a contact form indicating interest which is subject to approval by a majority vote of the board. Advisory committee members have a minimal obligation of participating in one of two state-of-the-club conference calls per calendar year, but are permitted to attend all board meetings, events, and functions. In the event the current board feels an advisory committee member is unduly impacting the club’s operations, the board can remove an advisory committee member through a two-thirds majority vote. If removed, an advisory committee member may not re-apply.
Elections
The normal application process will occur each fall. All USBC members are eligible to apply for board positions. Positions are to be filled through an application and interview process. Board positions will be decided by a board vote under the current system, with the provision that, should the establishment of monthly meetings for the general body occur, the election of board members will pass to the general body in the December general body meeting. Voting will be done by paper ballot, which shall be counted and confirmed by students unaffiliated with the USBC to ensure fair and accurate elections. Applications will be made available the week following Thanksgiving via email and elections before the semester’s end.
Club Membership
All undergraduates are eligible for membership. Membership in the club will come in various forms. Students who are interested in the sports business industry and would like to stay informed about events and job openings will be included on the club listserv. The listserv will be the primary mode of membership communication outside of speaker sessions and resume workshops. Members who wish to take a more active role in the USBC can apply for a leadership position within the club and attend general body meetings. A member can be removed by emailing the club and then being removed from the listserv.
Finances
No dues are required for club membership. The VP of Finance is responsible for the collection and disbursement of funds. Financial records will be updated by the VP of Finance after every financial transaction. A board vote authorizes expenditures.
Meetings
Board meetings will be held on an as needed basis. USBC general body meetings will be held at least once a semester. Members of the club will be notified of these meetings through the club listserv. General body meetings will also be the vehicle of any amendments to constitution. In order for a quorum to occur, a majority of participating members must be at the meeting. For an amendment to pass it must achieve a two-thirds majority vote of approval. Amendments must first pass a majority vote of the board before they can be sent to a general body vote. Decisions that do not require constitutional amendment will be carried out by the board with general body input as needed. Notes for general body meetings will be provided to the membership through the USBC listserv. Meetings also allow members to ask questions of the board and help shape the direction of the club through participation in event and marketing initiatives. A participating member is a member who has attended at least one general body meeting during a semester. In order for a quorum to occur, a majority of participating members must be at the meeting.
Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws
General body meetings will also be the vehicle of any amendments to constitution. In order for a quorum to occur, a majority of participating members must be at the meeting. For an amendment to pass it must achieve a two-thirds majority vote of approval. Amendments must first pass a majority vote of the board before they can be sent to a general body vote. Decisions that do not require constitutional amendment will be carried out by the board with general body input as needed. Notes for general body meetings will be provided to the membership through the USBC listserv.
Ratification
For the Constitution to pass it must achieve a two-thirds majority vote of approval. The Constitution must first pass a majority vote of the board before it can be sent to a general body vote.
Parliamentary Procedure
Decisions that do not require constitutional amendment will be carried out by the board with general body input as needed. Notes for general body meetings will be provided to the membership through the USBC listserv.
Executive Consultant
If filled, this position provides professional input for the club’s direction and must be present for a board vote to take place. Our executive consultant is currently Ryan Donovan, VP of Marketing for Versus.
Advisor
The USBC was formed under the umbrella of the Wharton Sports Business Initiative (WSBI) with the guidance of Scott Rosner of the Legal Studies Department at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Members of the WSBI provide the USBC with information on prospective speakers and employers to accomplish our dual purpose.
Affiliation
The USBC was formed under the umbrella of the Wharton Sports Business Initiative (WSBI).