Article
I: NAME
The name of this organization
shall be the Greater Chicago Chapter of the
Penn State University Alumni Association (the Chapter).
Article
II: PURPOSE
Section 1. The
objectives of the Chapter shall be to promote and enhance the
stature of the Pennsylvania State University ("Penn State")
and higher education in general.
Section 2. The
Chapter is organized exclusively for social, cultural, charitable
and educational purposes, including distributions of funds to
organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section
501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (or corresponding provisions
of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).
Section 3. No
part of the net earnings of the Chapter shall inure to the benefit
of, or be distributable to, its members, directors, officers,
or other private persons, except that the Chapter shall be authorized
and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered
to it and to make other distributions of funds in furtherance
of its purposes.
Section 4. No
part of the activities of the Chapter shall be the carrying on
of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation.
The Chapter shall not participate or intervene (including the
publishing or distribution of statements) in any political campaign
on behalf of any candidate for public office.
Section 5. Notwithstanding
any other provision of these Bylaws, the Chapter shall not carry
on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by
a corporation/organization exempt from Federal income tax under
Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (or the corresponding
provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue Law),
or (b) by a corporation/organization, contributions to which are
deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code
(or corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal
Revenue Law).
Article
III: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership
shall be open to any person who is a current or former undergraduate
or graduate student of Penn State or parent(s) of same or friend(s)
of the University, interested in supporting the purposes of the
Chapter as described in Article II. Members of the Chapter shall
be required to pay annual dues as specified by the Board of Directors
in order to remain in good standing.
Section 2. The
Chapter geographic area is specifically defined by Postal Zip
Codes which cover the Greater Chicago metropolitan area from Elkhart,
Indiana to Rockford, Illinois.
Article
IV: BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. The
governing body of the Chapter shall be composed of a Board of
Directors (the "Board") of not less than 10 nor more
than 20 members. The Executive Officers of the Board shall be
as follows:
- President
- Vice President
- Secretary
- Treasurer
The other members of
the Board shall be the Chairperson or Co-Chairperson(s) of each
permanent standing committee as follows:
- Alumni Admissions
Committee
- Sports Programming
- Social Programming
- Scholarship
- Membership
- Young Alums
- Career Networking
- Community Service
- Communications
- Parent/Student Interaction
- African American
Alumni Organization
In addition, there
may be as many as six (6) At-Large-Members on the Board.
Section 2. Board
members are elected at large to serve a two-year term. Board members,
with the exception of the President and Vice President, may be
reelected. Only one spouse may serve on the Board of Directors
at any one time. Board members must have graduated from the University
with either an undergraduate or graduate degree.
Section 3. The
past president of the Chapter shall serve as an ex-officio member
of the Board following his/her term of office for two years, if
he/she so desires. The past president may serve as the chairperson
of a committee, Secretary, or Treasurer, by vote of two-thirds
of the Board of Directors, but may not serve as Vice-President
or President of the Chapter for a period of two years thereafter.
Section 4. Voting
members of the Board shall attend all meetings of the Board with
the exception of four absences per year excused by the President.
Additional absences require Board approval. More than one unapproved
absence from Board meetings within a year is grounds for removal
from the Board. The Chapter shall meet on a regular basis. Meetings
shall be established by the President of the Board.
Section 5. Vacancies
of Directors shall be filled by vote of a majority of the members
of the Board for the remainder of the term of the person being
replaced.
Section 6. A
quorum of the Board shall consist of at least one-half of the
voting Board members.
Article
V: NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS
Section 1.
The Board of Directors, at one of its regularly scheduled
meetings, shall appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of at
least three members of the Chapter. Announcements of the Nominating
Committee shall be made to the Chapter membership within 60 days.
Section 2. The report of the Nominating Committee
shall be made at the next meeting or function, or its nominations
shall appear in the next general mailing to Chapter members. Additional
nominations may be presented upon petition of ten members of the
Chapter, filed with the Secretary at least thirty days prior to
the Chapter meeting at which the election is to be held. Prior
to their candidacy, all candidates shall have agreed to serve
if elected.
Section 3. Elections shall be held at the next
general Chapter meeting. Those candidates receiving the largest
number of votes for the open position shall be considered elected
to the Board of Directors. The term of office shall commence on
August 1 of the election year.
Article
VI: OFFICERS AND DUTIES
Section 1. Chapter
Executive officers shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary,
and Treasurer. Vacancies in any executive officer position shall
be filled through a vote of the Board of Directors at a regular
Board meeting. All members of the Board of Directors shall be
eligible to run for a vacancy in any Executive Officer position.
The person filling such vacancy shall serve for the remainder
of the term of the person replaced.
Section 2. The
President shall serve a single 2-year term and shall preside at
all meetings of the Chapter and serve as Chairman of the Board
and an ex-officio member of all committees. He/she shall manage
the day-to-day business of the Chapter, call Chapter and Board
meetings and preside at those meetings. The President shall inform
the Penn State Alumni Association (the "Alumni Association")
of Chapter activities and shall be responsible to submit all reports
as are required by the Alumni Association. The President shall
be the primary liaison with the Alumni Association and shall be
responsible to ensure proper training of executive officers and
Board members.
Section 3. In
the event of the absence or disability of the President, or at
his/her request, the Vice-President shall perform the duties of
the President. He/she shall perform such additional duties as
may be delegated to him/her by the President. If the office of
the President becomes vacant, the Vice-President shall become
President until the next annual election of officers by the Board.
The Vice-President shall be the President-Elect and shall succeed
to the office of President upon a majority vote of the Board of
Directors. The President and Vice-President shall be responsible
for identifying potential new Board Members and Executive Officers.
The Vice President shall serve a single 2-year term.
Section 4. The
Secretary shall prepare the agenda for meetings of the Executive
Officers and Board of Directors. The Secretary shall keep the
minutes of Board meetings, shall notify members of meetings, shall
notify members of election or appointment to office, and shall
act as custodian of records. The Secretary shall work closely
with the President and Vice-President to prepare all reports as
required by the Alumni Association.
Section 5. The
Treasurer shall safeguard, and account for and disburse the funds
of the Chapter. Accounts shall be balanced by the Treasurer before
each Board meeting so that a report may be presented. The Treasurer
shall cooperate with the President and other Executive Officers
in preparation of a budget for the ensuing year. All Chapter checks
in excess of $1000.00 shall be co-signed by an Executive Officer
unless otherwise approved by the Board of Directors. This does
not include transfer of funds from one Chapter account to another.
Article
VII: COMMITTEES
Section 1. The
Executive Officers of the Chapter shall constitute the Executive
Committee. Disbursement of funds shall be approved by the Executive
Committee. Any disbursement exceeding $5000.00 must be approved
by a majority the Board of Directors.
Section 2. The
Board of Directors is authorized to establish standing and special
committees, as needed, to carry out the major functions of the
Chapter. Permanent Standing Committees shall include: Alumni Admissions
Committee, Sports Programming, Social Programming, Scholarship,
Membership, Young Alums, Career Networking, Community Service,
Communications, Parent/Student Interaction, and African American
Alumni Organization. The Nominating Committee shall be considered
a special committee formulated as provided for in Article V.
Section 3. A
statement of purposes and a list of duties of each standing committee
and any additional special committee will be attached to these
Bylaws. The purpose statements shall be reviewed annually and
may be changed by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
Article
VIII: MEETINGS
The Board of Directors
shall meet at least quarterly and the full Chapter membership
shall meet on call by the President. Meetings of the Chapter shall
be open to all Chapter members in good standing. A representative
of the Alumni Association shall be invited to attend each meeting.
Article
IX: AMENDMENTS
Amendments to these
Bylaws must be submitted to the Secretary of the Board and a notice
of such amendment shall be submitted to each Board member at least
two weeks before a meeting. If a majority of the Board in attendance
recommends approval of the amendment, it will then be submitted
in writing to members in good standing of the Chapter. A vote
of one-half of the members in good standing in attendance and
voting at the Chapter meeting shall be required for passage of
the Amendment(s).
Article
X: DISSOLUTION
Upon dissolution of
the Chapter, the Board of Directors shall, after paying or making
provision for the payment of all of the liabilities of the Chapter,
assign any remaining funds or other assets to the Chapter's established
Endowed Scholarship Fund at Penn State.
Article
XI: PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
The rules contained
in the Modern Edition of "Robert's Rules
of Order" shall govern the Chapter to the extent that
they do not conflict with the provisions of these Bylaws or any
other special rules of order for this organization.
Article
XII: FISCAL YEAR
The Chapter shall operate
on a fiscal year beginning on August 1 and ending on July 31 each
year. |
