Brandywine Alumni Society

(currently under revision)

ARTICLE I
NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Penn State Brandywine Alumni Constituents’ Society hereinafter referred to as the Society. It is a Constituents’ Society of the Penn State Alumni Association.

ARTICLE II
PURPOSE

The purpose of this organization is to unite alumni of Penn State Brandywine, providing a means whereby alumni may join together to enhance the interests and reputations of Penn State Brandywine, and achieve a closer fellowship among its alumni, faculty, staff, and students.

The Society shall also assist faculty and staff to evaluate and sustain the academic stature of the campus, encourage support for development of academic programs and scholarships, promote professional development of students through mentoring, encourage active community service in the local Brandywine community, and foster a sense of pride and commitment to the campus while enhancing its reputation and prestige.

ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Alumni Membership

All persons who are currently members of the Penn State Alumni Association and who have completed one semester or two terms of classes at the Brandywine campus or, those who have declared this constituent alumni society as their preferred society, shall be eligible for all membership privileges of this Society.

Section 2. Associate Membership

Faculty members, present and past, parents of students or of alumni, and other friends of the campus shall be admitted to associate membership in this Society upon payment of a fee to the Penn State Alumni Association for associate membership. Associate members may not vote or hold office in this Society.

Section 3. Life Membership

Members of the Penn State Brandywine Constituents’ Society, who became life members of the Penn State Alumni Association, shall be life members in the Society.

ARTICLE IV
FINANCES

Section 1. Dues

Dues as set and paid to the Penn State Alumni Association shall provide a basis of eligibility for membership in the Society under a combined membership plan.

Section 2. Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Society shall be the period from January 1 through December 31.

Section 3. Operating Expenses

The basic operating expenses of the Society will be met with funds transferred to the campus by the Penn State Alumni Association.

Section 4. Other Expenses

The other expenses of the Society (non operating expenses) shall be met with funds solicited through fund raising efforts and the campus general operating budget.

Section 5. Annual Budget

The finance committee shall submit all annual budgets to the campus executive officer for final approval.

Section 6. Accounting

The funds of the Society are held within the accounting system of the Pennsylvania State University and administered by the coordinator of alumni activities at the campus with the advice and counsel of the board, and with final approval of the campus executive officer. The alumni liaison shall render a statement of receipts and expenditures at each meeting of the board.

ARTICLE V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. Board of Directors

The board of directors shall be the governing body of the Society. It shall be the duty of the board to carry out the purpose, policies, and will of the Society, including the appointment of any representatives of and for the Society on all outside boards, councils, or committees to which the Society may have invitation and occasion to have representation.

Section 2.1 Elected Members

The board shall consist of eleven members, including ten alumni members, and one student representative who shall be president of the Student Government Association.

Alumni members shall serve for a term of three (3) years with one half of the board being elected every eighteen (18) months. Beginning with the first election only of new board members in the spring of 2000, five board members shall serve for eighteen (18) month terms and five shall serve a full three (3) year term. The board members serving eighteen month terms shall be elected by lottery at the first meeting of the full board.

Section 2.2 immediate Past-President

These shall include: the immediate past president of the Society who shall serve as a member of the executive board for three (3) years.

Section 2.3 Presidential Appointments

All current local county PSAA Chapter presidents shall be represented on the board by at least one member. To accomplish this goal, the president of the Society may appoint one or more director(s) to serve for one year with full privileges.

Section 2.4 Ex-Officio Members

The following shall serve as ex officio members of the board: campus executive officer; one (1) faculty member; director of university relations; director of alumni relations.

Section 3. Voting

Elected members, presidential appointments, and immediate past president shall serve with vote. Ex officio members shall serve without vote.

Section 4. Absences

Two (2) consecutive absences from board meetings without notification may be deemed a resignation.

Section 5. Vacancies of Unexpired Terms

Vacancies of unexpired terms shall be filled as specified in Article V, Section 2.3.

ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers

Officers shall serve for terms of three (3) years. Officers of the Society shall be president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. All officers shall be elected from the active, eligible members of the board who have voting privileges.

Section 2. Election of Officers

The board of directors shall elect their officers at the spring meeting of the Society. The officers will take office beginning on July 1.

Section I Term of Office

No officer may be elected to the same office for more than two (2) successive terms. Officers elected while serving their last year on the board will have their term extended to coincide with the term of office. Persons so extended shall be additional members of the board until their term as an officer expires.

Section 4. Office Vacancies

A vacancy occurring in the presidency shall be filled by the president-elect. Should any other office be vacant, an eligible member of the board who already has voting privileges shall be appointed by the president to serve until the office shall be filled by election.

Pursuant to Section 3 above, appointment to fill a vacant office shall not be considered as election to that office.

ARTICLE VII
DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. President

The president shall preside at all meetings and shall be responsible for general supervision of all work of the Society, including appointment of such committees as may be deemed desirable. The president or member of the board appointed by the president shall serve as representative to the Alumni Council of the Penn State Alumni Association.

Section 2. Vice-President

The president-elect shall perform such duties as may be designated by the president and the board. In the absence of the president, the president elect shall preside at meetings.

Section 3.1 Secretary

The minutes of the Society meetings, the executive committee meetings, and the board meetings shall be kept by the secretary. He or she shall send the minutes to the alumni liaison, who shall have them duplicated and distributed to the members of the board in a timely manner.

Section 3.2 Treasurer

The treasurer shall be responsible for overseeing fiscal controls approved by the board. He or she will ascertain that the alumni liaison maintains adequate records while fulfilling the operating responsibilities concerning the receipt, disbursement, and proper acknowledgment of all moneys or other contributions applicable to the Penn State Brandywine Constituents’ Society.

ARTICLE VIII
COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing Committees

There shall be three standing committees:

1.1 Executive Committee

The members of this committee shall be all officers, immediate past president, chairs of standing committees, and shall include the alumni liaison as an ex officio member. The executive committee shall be empowered to create the agenda for board of directors meetings, have emergency decision making powers, and carry on the business of the board whenever necessary between regular or special meetings of the board; however, all decisions of the executive committee regarding unbudgeted expenditures of funds in excess of $1,000 must have prior approval by a majority vote of the board of directors.

1.2 Nominating Committee

A nominating committee of three (3) shall be appointed by the president from any at-large members of the board who are not desirous of being considered as candidates for election. In addition to advancing their own recommended slate, the nominating committee shall solicit nominations from the general membership and put forth a slate including candidates proposed by it.
Candidates must be members of the Alumni Association and graduates of the Penn State Brandywine campus or have declared the campus' alumni society as their preferred society. Individuals not specifically placed by nomination as the nominating committee's choice must submit 25 signatures from members of the alumni association pledging support of their name before being placed in nomination. All nominees will be requested to signify in writing to the nominating committee their willingness to serve and to present a biographical sketch. The committee will submit the nominees to the board for approval. Other procedures for conducting the elections shall be determined by the executive committee.

1.3 Finance Committee

This committee shall consist of president, president-elect, secretary/treasurer, and the alumni liaison of the school. It shall be the duty of this committee to prepare current budget reports to be presented at the spring meeting of the board of directors, and an informal report for the fall meeting.

Section 2. Special Committees

The president of the board of directors shall create such special committees as necessary for the proper functioning of the Society. Any member of the Society may serve as a member of a special committee when appointed by the president with the approval of the executive committee.

ARTICLE IX
MEETINGS

Section 1. Regular Meetings

The board of directors shall meet at least twice a year. The meetings shall be held on the date and the place fixed by the board provided that one meeting shall be held during the fall semester and the second meeting shall be held during the spring semester.

Section 2. Special Meetings

Special meetings may be held at such time and place determined by majority of the board. Written announcement must be made at least four (4) weeks in advance of the date of the meeting.

Section 3. Quorum

Nine (9) voting members present shall constitute a quorum.

Section 4. No Conflict

No provisions or actions may be taken by this Society which would be in conflict with the Constitution and By-Laws of the Penn State Alumni Association or the rules and regulations established by the Alumni Council.

ARTICLE X
AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Amendments

Amendments to this Constitution and By-Laws may originate with the board of directors or by written petition of twenty-five (25) or more members of the Society and must be submitted in writing to the president not less than two (2) months ahead for inclusion on the agenda of the next regular meeting of the board of directors.

Section 2. Special Notice

The alumni liaison shall send notice of intent to amend the Constitution By-Laws along with complete information regarding the proposed amendments to each member of the board of directors and, and the notice shall be posted on the Constituents’ Society website and/or current media least four (4) weeks prior to the announced meeting.

Section 3. Notice Required

The Constitution and By-Laws may be amended at a regular or special meeting, providing that the special notice required by Section 2 above has been distributed to the board and posted on the website and/or current media.

Section 4. Voting on Amendments

Amendments to this Constitution and By-Laws may be passed by favorable vote of two-thirds and those members of the board of directors present and voting at the announced meeting.