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The Association • Bylaws
Article I - Article II - Article III - Article IV - Article V - Article VI - ArticleVII
BYLAWS OF THE CALVIN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Last revision, May 1998
  ARTICLE I ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP - Top
Section 1. The basic terms of membership are listed in the Alumni Association Constitution and can be altered only through Constitutional amendment.
Section 2. Membership in the Association is not contingent upon payment of dues.
ARTICLE II ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBERSHIP - Top
Section 1. The Alumni Board shall consist of not less than twenty (20) and not more than twenty-five (25) members elected by the Board as provided hereafter. The Executive Director of the Alumni Association and the Board's Treasurer shall serve as non-voting, ex-officio members of the Board. Each elected member of the Board present at a meeting of the Board shall be entitled to one vote. Voting by proxy is not permitted.
Section 2. Twenty (20) of the elected alumni on the Board shall come from geographical regions or as designated by the Board.
These regions/interest groups are as follows:
  a. Western Canada;
  b. Washington (state);
  c. California;
  d. Arizona or Colorado;
  e. Iowa or Minnesota;
  f. Chicagoland;
  g. Wisconsin;
  h. Michigan (7 Board members from Michigan);
  i. Ohio;
  j. Ontario;
  k. New Jersey;
  l. Washington, D.C. area or Pennsylvania;
  m. Florida
  n. Northeast U.S. or South Central U.S.
  The number of regions and groups, as well as the number of representatives from each region or group, may be altered by the Board to reflect changes in alumni demographics. At least one Board member must be an ethnic-minority person.
Section 3. Up to five (5) of the elected alumni on the Board may be "at-large" Board members, not representing a particular geographical area.
Section 4. At the February meeting each year, the Board shall decide which geographical areas must have Board representation and whether or not any at-large Board members are desirable. The Nominating Committee is then charged with securing nominees reflective of the Board's decision.
Section 5. At the May meeting each year, the Board shall elect new Board members from the nominees presented by the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall solicit possible nominees for election to the Board from current Board members, current Chapter officers and the Alumni and Public Relations Office. The Nominating Committee shall present to the Board two nominees for each position to be filled at the election.
Section 6. In selecting nominees for election to the Board, the Nominating Committee shall consider several criteria, including the following:
  (1) Geographical diversity reflective of the Association;
  (2) Age/gender/ethnic/racial/church affiliation diversity reflective of the Association;
  (3) The particular talents (e.g., area of expertise) of the nominee;
  (4) The service previously provided by the nominee to the Association in general or the local Chapter in particular; and
  (5) The benefit to be realized from the selection of a nominee from a geographic area not represented on the Board
Section 7. Members shall be elected to a three (3) year non-renewable term. If an elected Board member resigns or is removed from the Board, the Board shall appoint a replacement after consulting with the appropriate Chapter officers, if any. If the replacement member is appointed to fill a term of office one year or less, the replacement member shall be eligible for re-election upon expiration of the term.
Section 8. The Treasurer of the Board (who shall be an employee of Calvin College's financial services office) shall be appointed for a three (3) year renewable term.
Section 9. One Calvin student, who is a memeber of the Student Alumni Association (SAA), may be seated at a regularly scheduled Board session as a voting member. The SAA will notify the CAA three weeks prior to the session who will be seated, and the staff will ensure the preparation of that student. The student would normally also sit on the Student Relations Committee and any other committee of interest to the SAA.
ARTICLE III ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETINGS - Top
Section 1. The Board will meet three (3) times a year: October, February, and May.
Section 2. All Board meetings are open to Calvin College alumni. Guests should notify the Board in advance of their intention to attend.
Section 3. The official meeting of the Calvin Alumni Association International is to be held on Homecoming Saturday each year. This session will include a report on the Board's activities.
Section 4. A quorum at any meeting of the Board consists of a majority of the Board members.
ARTICLE IV ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES - Top
Section 1. The mandate of the Board is to further the purpose of the Association: supporting Christ-centered education through service to Calvin College and its alumni and friends. Specifically the Board is engaged in the following:
  a. determining and reviewing the purpose, mission, and direction of the Association;
  b. establishing, reviewing, and revising the programs of the Association;
  c. managing the finances of the Association;
  d. advising the college on matters of mutual interest;
  e. supporting the alumni chapter network;
  f. electing Board members and officers; and
  g. actively promoting the Association and Calvin College.
Section 2. A Board member should represent Calvin College in a positive and enthusiastic way, both at Board meetings and within her/his home community, region and group. This includes assisting the efforts of college offices such as admissions, college relations, development, financial aid and career placement.
Section 3. Board members are expected to attend all regularly scheduled Board meetings.
Section 4. Newly elected alumni on the Board are expected to attend an orientation session conducted by the Executive Director of the Alumni Association prior to her/his first Board meeting.
Section 5. Board members are expected to serve on at least two (2) committees of the Board each year.
Section 6. Board members are expected to help maintain and enhance the alumni chapter network by contacting, encouraging, and supporting chapter officers in her/his region and by assisting the Executive Director of the Alumni Association in convening groups of alumni in her/his region for the establishment of new chapters where appropriate.
Section 7. Any Board member and/or officer may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the Board at any regularly scheduled meeting. Grounds for removal include, but is not limited to, absence from two (2) consecutive meetings of the Board without consent of the Board.
ARTICLE V ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OFFICERS - Top
Section 1. The elected officers of the Board are the President, President-elect and Secretary.
Section 2. The duties of the officers are as follows:
  a. The President of the Board serves for one (1) year. The President presides at all regular Board and Executive Committee meetings, exercises a general executive control of the affairs of the Association, represents the Association at official college functions, and performs duties delegated to the President by the Board.
  b. The President-elect is elected by the Board to serve as President- elect for one (1) year and President for the one (1) year following. In the absence of the President, the President-elect will fulfill the duties of President. The President-elect is also responsible for reviewing and maintaining the long-range goals of the Association and performs duties delegated to the President- elect by the President or the Board.
  c. The Secretary is elected by the Board to serve a one (1) year term. The Secretary may be reelected to a second term, but may serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms. The Secretary will record the proceedings of all Board and Executive Committee meetings and promptly return such to the Alumni and Public Relations Office for distribution and performs duties delegated to the Secretary by the President or the Board.
Section 3. The officers will be nominated at the February meeting of the Board and elected at the May meeting.
Section 4. No Board member will be eligible to serve as an officer unless she/he has been on the Board for at least one (1) year.
Section 5. The officers of the Board, along with the Executive Director of the Alumni Association, will constitute the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VI ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD COMMITTEES AND REPRESENTATIONS - Top
Section 1. The standing committees of the Alumni Association are the following:
  a. Awards
  b. Executive
  c. Finance
  d. Promotion and Communication
  e. Faculty Research Grants
  f. Scholarships and Grants
  g. Student Relations
  h. Chapters
  i. Nominating
Section 2. The advisory committees of the Alumni Association are the following:
  a. Admissions
  b. Careers
  c. Development
  e. Faculty Relations
Section 3. The representations of the Alumni Association are the following:
  a. Calvin Center for Christian Scholarship Governing Board
  b. Ecosystem Preserve Governing Board
  c. Scholarships and Financial Aid Committee
Section 4. Standing and advisory committees and representations are subject to change in accordance with Alumni Association goals. Detailed descriptions of these committees and representations are available from the Alumni and Public Relations Office.
Section 5. The Executive Committee has general supervision of the affairs of the Association between meetings of the Board. This committee is empowered to act on behalf of the Board, but may not take action inconsistent with a prior act of the Board, alter Bylaws, or conduct major business reserved for the Board.
ARTICLE VII CHAPTERS - Top
Section 1. Chapters may be organized in regions where there are sufficient numbers of alumni to support a Chapter organization, or by special interest groups when there is a demonstrated need.
Section 2. Alumni may be designated as "Contact Persons" in regions where there are not sufficient numbers of alumni to support a Chapter organization.
Section 3. Chapters will be recognized by the Board as a result of the establishment of a functioning regional or interest area committee as defined in the Association's "Guidelines for Calvin College Alumni Chapters."
Section 4. A committee or contact area may petition the Association to be formally recognized as a Chapter. Official recognition will be given through a vote of the Board at any regular meeting.