Constitution and Bylaws

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Constitution and Bylaws

PREAMBLE

We, the Alumni of East Tennessee State University, appreciating the opportunity to have attended the university, find it important for ourselves and those who will come after us to form, maintain, nourish, and sustain an Alumni Association. Reminded of our responsibilities and opportunities as former students and friends, we do hereby establish this Constitution of the East Tennessee State University Alumni Association.

ARTICLE I - Name

The name of this organization shall be the East Tennessee State University Alumni Association, herein referred to as the association.

ARTICLE II - Purpose

The purpose of the association shall be to create and maintain strong ties between East Tennessee State University and its alumni and friends through chapter development, projects, public relations, honors, and awards.

ARTICLE III - Membership

Section 1 - Membership in the association is granted to all alumni and friends of the university. Alumni shall be defined as those who have received one- or two-year certificates of completion, or one of the following degrees: associate, baccalaureate, master's, educational specialist, or doctorate.

Section 2 - All members of the association shall be eligible to participate in the annual meetings and in activities of the association.

ARTICLE IV - Voting

In all activities of the association, decisions shall be determined by a majority of a duly elected Board of Directors.

ARTICLE V - Officers and Directors

Section 1 - The officers of the association shall be President, President-Elect, Vice President, immediate Past President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The duties of these officers shall be determined by the Board of Directors. The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined when the Board of Directors deems it necessary.

Section 2 - There shall be fourteen (14) directors, twelve (12) alumni, and the President and Vice President of the Student Government Association at East Tennessee State University, or the Student Government Association President's designees.

Section 3 - The officers and directors shall comprise the membership of the Board of Directors.

Section 4 - The officers and directors of the association shall be appointed by the Board of Directors.

Section 5 - If a vacancy occurs on the Board of Directors, the President of the association shall appoint a replacement.

ARTICLE VI - Committees

Section 1 - The standing committees of the Board of Directors shall consist of Executive, Alumni Relations, Fund-Raising, Honors, Awards, and Nominations, Projects, and University and Community Relations.

Section 2 - The President may create or abolish any additional committees necessary for the business of the Board of Directors.

Section 3 - The Executive Committee shall consist of officers of the association. The President shall be chairperson of the Executive Committee.

Section 4 - The President of the association shall be an ex officio member of all committees appointed by the President. The Executive Director of Alumni Association shall be an ex officio member of all committees.

ARTICLE VII - Meetings

Section 1 - The association shall hold an annual meeting.

Section 2 - The Board of Directors shall conduct a minimum of three meetings annually.

ARTICLE VIII - Alumni Chapters and Societies

The ETSU Alumni Association encourages the establishment of alumni chapters or societies. Such groups may be formed based on place of residence, academic disciplines, affiliation with student organizations such as fraternities and sororities, and participation in athletics, for example. These societies shall be considered as sub-groups of the Alumni Association and therefore must (1) apply to the association, through its Board of Directors, for official recognition as alumni societies, (2) inform the Alumni Office regularly of their activities, (3) provide the Alumni Office copies of written communications sent to society members, and (4) coordinate all fund-raising activities through the university's Office of Development. Use of any university logos or trademarks must be approved by the Office of University Relations.

ARTICLE IX - Amendments

Amendments to the Constitution shall be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Board of Directors.

BYLAWS

Two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for conducting business at the Board of Directors' meeting.
Parliamentary procedure for conducting all business of the association shall follow the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order.
The standing committees of the Board of Directors shall have the following responsibilities:
- Each committee shall determine its own goals with review by the Executive Committee annually. The Executive Committee shall periodically determine the need for Constitution and Bylaw revision.
- The Alumni Relations Committee shall oversee the development and maintenance of alumni chapters, societies, and other special constituencies.
- The Fund-Raising Committee shall work with university staff to review issues related to alumni fund-raising strategies and activities.
- The Honors, Awards, and Nominations Committee shall develop appropriate honors and awards to be given by the association and shall recommend recipients for those awards. This committee shall nominate members and officers for the Board of Directors.
- The Projects Committee shall develop projects which promote and serve the overall image and spirit of the university and the best interests of the members of the association.
- The University and Community Relations Committee shall promote the image of the university and the association by developing programs which involve members of the association, the university, and the community.
The officers shall be appointed for one-year terms and may be reappointed for additional terms.
The directors shall be appointed for four-year terms. Each year as the terms of three directors expire after the normal four-year rotation, three new directors will be appointed for four-year terms.
If an officer other than the President cannot complete an elected term, the Executive Committee shall appoint a replacement.
If the President cannot complete an elected term, the President-Elect shall succeed to the office for the remainder of the year.
Only alumni shall be eligible to be members of the Board of Directors.
The association shall be supported financially by contributions from its members, with additional funding from the East Tennessee State University Foundation and from the university itself, through the State of Tennessee.
Funds donated to the association shall be deposited with the East Tennessee State University Foundation and shall be administered by the Foundation Board of Directors. A representative of the association shall serve on the Foundation Board of Directors.
Records shall be maintained by the Alumni Relations and Development offices to identify all donations.
The association shall operate on a fiscal year that begins on July 1 and ends the following June 30.
The Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the Board of Directors.