CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
OF THE
NURSING ALUMNI ASOCIATION OF
THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-CORPUS CHRISTI
COLLEGE OF NURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCES
CONSTITUTION
Article I. Name
This Association shall be known as the Nursing Alumni Association of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi School of Nursing & Health Sciences.
Article II. Purposes
The purposes of the Association shall be:
(1) To promote education, foster a professional network and to support the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi School of Nursing & Health Sciences through scholarships and educational offerings.
Article III. Amendments
This constitution may be amended by:
(1) A two-thirds majority of the votes received by mail from members of the
Association, provided a copy of the proposed change has been sent to each member at least four weeks prior to the date set for return of ballots, or
(2) 90% of the votes of the members present at the annual meeting, provided there was at least four weeks previous notice of the proposed change.
Article IV. Parliamentary Authority
The parliamentary authority for the Association shall be Robert's Rule of Order, Newly Revised.
BYLAWS
Article I. Membership
Section 1. Active Members
All nursing graduates of the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi School of Nursing & Health Sciences and its predecessors (Corpus Christi State University, Department of Nursing) shall hold active membership in the Association.
Section 2. Honorary Members
Honorary membership may be conferred upon persons honored by the Association because of outstanding services to The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi School of Nursing & Health Sciences or the Association. Candidates for honorary membership are recommended by the Awards Committee, voted upon by the Board of Directors, and recognized at the annual meeting.
Section 3. Associate Members
Current faculty of The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi School of Nursing & Health Sciences who are not graduates of this school.
Section 4. Privileges of Membership
A. Active members shall have privileges of voting, holding office, serving on committees, and serving as chairpersons of committees.
B. Honorary and associate members shall have all the privileges of membership except those of holding office and voting in general elections.
Article II. Resources
A. The Association shall operate with monies received from annual membership dues.
B. The Association may conduct an annual gift program to provide monies for assistance to students of the School of Nursing.
C. Monies from an annual gift program may be used for scholarships and educational programs of the School of Nursing with approval of the Board of Directors.
Article III. Officers and Duties of Officers
Section 1.
The officers of the Association shall be President, President-elect, Nominating Committee Chair, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Historian.
Offices not filled as stated in Article IV, Section 4 may be appointed by the Board of Directors.
Section 2.
The duties of all officers shall be those implied by their respective titles and specified in the Bylaws.
Section 3.
Officers shall, within one month of retirement, orient and deliver association properties to their successors.
Section 4.
The President shall:
A. Manage the business of the Association.
B. Preside at all meetings of the Association, act as chairperson of the Board of Directors, and report actions of the Board at each regular meeting of the Association.
C. Serve as an ex officio member of all standing committees.
D. Prepare an annual report to be presented to the membership at the annual meeting.
E. Appoint three tellers following each election to count ballots prior to the annual meeting.
F. Appoint members of the Awards, Program and Resources committees and the Chairperson of the Awards Committee.
Section 5
The Vice-President shall:
A. Carry on the duties of the President in the latter's absence.
B. Assume the duties of the President when necessary to fill an unexpired term.
C. Serve as chairperson for the Program Committee.
Section 6.
The Secretary shall:
A. Keep the minutes of all proceedings of the Association and the Board of Directors.
B. Assume responsibility for mailing ballots, notifications of elections or
appointments, notices of time and place of meetings, and records of members.
C. Maintain the files for the Association.
Section 7.
The Treasurer shall:
A. Manage the financial records of the Association.
B. Maintain an accurate record of scholarship funds, grants, deposits, and expend withdrawals from all such funds.
C. Submit the books of account for audit prior to the annual meeting in even numbered years, and as specified by the Board of Directors.
D. Submit a written report of finances and funds at each regular meeting of the Board of Directors.
E. Prepare an annual report for the annual meeting.
F. Serve as Chair of the Finance Committee.
G. Carry out the official duties of the office until the audit is completed and reported to the Board of Directors.
Section 8.
The Historian shall:
A. Collect and compile association news, and other items of information, for publication in the newsletter.
B. Maintain a catalog of items in the Association's history collection.
C. Provide for the proper care of all papers and books of the Association.
D. Recommend to the Board of Directors policies and procedures concerning management of the history collection.
Section 9.
The President-elect shall:
A. Assist the President to manage Association business.
B. Chair the Awards Committee.
C. Coordinate publicity, under the President's direction.
D. Serve as ex-Officio members of all committees.
Section 10.
The Nominating Committee Chair shall:
A. Supervise the work of the Nominating Committee.
B. Serve as Parliamentarian.
C. Be filled each year by the Past President,.
Article IV. Board of Directors and Duties of the Board
Section 1.
The Board of Directors shall consist of the seven officers of the Association and four directors.
Section 2.
The President and Secretary shall serve as chairperson, and secretary, respectively, of the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Meetings
Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held. Special meetings may be called by the President or by any three members of the Board of Directors. If a Board Member is absent for three consecutive regular meetings, and these absences are deemed unexcused, the position will then go to the next highest nominee on the ballot for that particular position.
Section 4.
The Board of Directors shall:
A. Establish the amount of annual dues.
B. Conduct the business of the Association in the interim between meetings.
C. Approve the operating budget of the Association. Upon approval, this budget shall be in effect for one fiscal year.
D. Set budgetary goals for an annual gift program, and allocate the monies raised accordingly.
E. Devise and promote measures for growth and prosperity of the Association.
F. Report to the Association at each annual meeting the business transacted during the year.
G. Determine which officers or persons shall be bonded, fix the amount of bond for each, and approve such bonding.
H. Create and disband committees as needs arise.
I. Fill vacancies occurring in the Board or any office during the year except that of the President.
J. Decide upon the site and the dates of regular annual and special meetings of the Association.
K. Appoint other staff personnel when appropriate and define their duties.
L. Approve criteria for honorary membership and any subsequent revisions.
Article V. Nominations
Section 1.
The Past President will chair the Nominating committee. The chair is responsible for supervising preparation of the annual ballot. Two committee members shall be elected annually by ballot.
Section 2.
The Committee shall prepare a ticket of candidates for each office to be filled for the next biennium.
Section 3.
The Committee shall encourage the submission of names of qualified candidates and prepare a ticket in sufficient time for mailing of the ballot in accordance with these bylaws.
Article VI. Elections
Section 1.
The Nominating Committee prepares a slate of candidates, which is presented to the membership for approval annually. The ballot shall be mailed to each active member at least four weeks prior the end of the fiscal year. Ballots must be received by the teller at least seven days prior the beginning of the fiscal year.
Section 2.
Members may vote for persons other than those whose names appear on the ballot by writing in the names of qualified candidates who have consented to serve, if allocated.
Section 3.
The candidate receiving the greatest number of votes is elected. In case of a tie vote, a secret ballot shall be distributed to members attending the annual meeting with three tellers appointed by the President.
Section 4.
All officers and directors shall continue in office for two years or until their successors are elected. The Vice-President, Treasurer, Historian and two directors shall be elected in the even numbered years. The Secretary and two directors shall be elected in the odd numbered years. A President-elect is chosen each year. This officer serves one year as President-elect, one year as President and a year as Parliamentarian and Chair of the Nominating Committee.
The terms of all elected officials shall commence at the beginning of the fiscal year.
Section 5.
Offices not filled as stated in Section 4 may be appointed by the Board of Directors.
Section 6.
All ballots shall be kept for one year by the Secretary.
Article VII. Committees
Section 1.
Standing committees shall assume the duties specified by these bylaws and assigned by the Board of Directors. Members of standing committees, and chairperson, shall be appointed by the Board of Directors from among members of the Association. Standing committees shall report to the Board of Directors on request and make a report to the membership at the Annual Meeting.
There shall be three standing committees of not less than three members each: Program, Awards, and Finance.
Section 2.
Finance Committee shall:
A. Recommend to the Board ways and means of raising funds to meet the aims and goals of the Association.
B. Oversee scholarship and special grant activities of the Association.
C. Review the overall budget.
Section 3.
The Program Committee shall arrange a program for the annual meeting and other functions deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.
The Awards Committee shall:
A. Establish and revise criteria for honorary membership, Distinguished Alumnus awards and any new awards or recognition, with direction and approval of the Board.
B. Solicit names of potential candidates for honorary membership, and Distinguished Alumnus award, and any other awards or recognition, from the membership.
C. Review and recommend to the Board candidates for honorary membership, Distinguished Alumnus award and other awards or recognition.
Section 5.
The President shall be authorized to appoint special committees as necessary.
Article VIII. Meetings
Section 1.
An annual meeting shall be held each year.
Section 2.
Special meetings of the Association may be called by the President or upon request of a majority of the Board of Directors of the Association, provided that written notice of: date, time, and purpose of the meeting have been sent to all members at least fourteen days before the date set for the meeting.
Article IX. Voting Body
The voting body shall consist of the active members of the Association.
Article X. Quorum
Section 1.
Three officers and twenty members shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of the Association.
Section 2.
A majority, including two officers, shall constitute a quorum, of the Board of Directors.
Article XI. Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Association shall be from September 1, through August 31.
Article XII. Chapters
Section 1.
Chapters of the Alumni Association of the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi School of Nursing & Health Sciences may be organized in any given area.
Section 2.
Chapter Bylaws are to be consistent and not in conflict with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association.
Article XIII. Amendments
The Bylaws may be amended or repealed by:
(1) Two-thirds majority of the votes received by mail from members of the Association, provided a copy of the proposed change has been sent to each members at least four weeks prior to the date set for return of ballots, or
(2) 90% of the votes of the members present at the annual meeting, provided there was at least four weeks previous notice of the proposed change.
Drafted March 11, 1998 by 3 members of interim steering committee for approval at Meeting on April 23, 1998 by membership. Revised and approved April 23, 1998. Submitted: WRB
