By-Laws of Carthage Alumni Association

Article I. Name

The name of this organization shall be the Carthage Alumni Association, hereinafter referred to as the Association.

The Association, in cooperation with Carthage's administration and faculty, shall organize activities to meet the needs of alumni and help them develop a lifelong relationship with their College. The Association shall work to unify all Carthage alumni for service to the College in the following areas: the development of financial support; the extension of public, community and church relations; recruitment and retention of students; student career planning and placement; the encouragement of academic distinction; and in any other ways consistent with the needs of Carthage. The Association also shall identify needs alumni may have for services from the College and shall help implement programs to serve those needs, e.g., provide an outlet of social activities to rekindle old friendships, communication and networking, etc.

The Association defines alumnus/a in the broadest manner possible thereby allowing Carthage to cultivate all individuals who may now or in the future develop an ongoing association with the College. Active membership shall include:

a) All individuals who have received a degree (bachelors or masters) from the College or attended for one year or more excluding currently registered students.

b) Present and emeriti members of the Board of Trustees, the faculty and staff of Carthage, and all recipients of honorary degrees granted by the College.

c) The President of the College and the Director of Alumni and Parent Relations.

d) Appointed current students, e.g., Student Alumni Association members

Management of the Association shall be vested in the Alumni Council, hereinafter referred to as Council.

Section 1. Alumni Council Membership

The Alumni Council shall consist of:

a) Ex-Officio members

• President of the College
• Director of Alumni and Parent Relations, who should serve as secretary

b) Elected members

• Past President (every third year), President, Vice President, President -elect (every third year), Treasurer, and Chaplain
• One representative from each Special Interest Group recognized by the Council
• Up to twenty alumni ambassador representatives nominated and elected by the alumni association to serve three year terms

c) Appointed Members

• Two alumni Torchbearer representatives
• Two faculty representatives nominated by the College
• Up to four alumni Academic Advisory Committee representatives
• Up to four student representatives

Section 2. Nomination and Election of Alumni Council

a) Nominations for the Alumni Council may be submitted at any time throughout the year by any member of the Association. Nominations must be received by December 31, for consideration by the nominations committee for the following year elections.

b) Each year, on or before March 1, the Nominations Committee (consisting of the Nominations Chair, the President of the College, the President of the Association, Vice President of the Association, Treasurer of the Association, Director of Alumni and Parent Relations and President-Elect of the Association) shall present a slate of candidates for the Alumni Council (for consideration by the Association).

c)The committee shall ascertain the eligibility and secure the acceptance of each nominee.

d) The slate shall be presented in the Spring edition of the Carthaginian. The deadline for voting shall be no less than four weeks from the date of the Spring issue of the Carthaginian.

e) Alumni Council members shall serve three-year terms. The members shall be staggered so that no more than approximately one-third of the terms expire in any given year. Council members may serve no more than twelve consecutive years. The Council Secretary shall facilitate this process.

f) There shall be up to eight student representatives on the Council as nominated by the Council's Executive Board and appointed by the Council. Once appointed by the council, they shall hold their position as long as they have student status as determined by the College Registrar's Office.

Section 3. Alumni Council Executive Committee

a) President

b) Past-President (Every third year)

c) President-Elect (Every third year)

d) Vice President

e) Treasurer

f) Chaplain

g) Nominations Chair

h) President of the College

i) Director of Alumni and Parent Relations who shall serve as Council Secretary

Section 4. Nomination and Election of Alumni Council Executive Committee

a) The first meeting of the Alumni Council each year shall be traditionally held in June, for the express purpose of electing the Executive Committee.

b) The Nominations Committee shall present candidates for the position of President-Elect (every third year) and Nominations Chair. It is assumed that the President-Elect will succeed the President, who will serve a year's term as Past-President. In the event that a sitting President-Elect is unable to serve as President, the Nominations Committee shall nominate another Council member to serve as President.

c) If the Vice President were elected to the President-Elect position, he/she would assume the responsibilities of both positions for a year. If the President-Elect is someone other than the Vice President, the Vice President will assume that individual's responsibilities for the remainder of that individual's term.

d) If the President cannot continue his/her role as President, and the President-Elect position is not filled, the Vice President will complete the President's term and a new Vice President will be appointed by the new President for the remainder of the Vice President's term. If the President-Elect position is filled then he/she will assume the position of President and complete the remaining term as well as his/her term as President.

e) All officers shall be elected by a simple majority vote of the Council members present.

f) The Secretary shall facilitate this process.

Article V. Duties and Powers of Officers

All officers shall serve 3 year terms unless otherwise specified.

Section 1. President

The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Association and shall be responsible for directing and coordinating the activities and work of all Council members. The President shall serve as the Alumni Association Representative to the Board of Trustees.

The President shall appoint any special committees of the Association.

The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association, Council and Executive Committee, and perform such other duties as may be consistent with and required by the office.

Section 2. President-Elect

The President-Elect shall observe the President in preparation for the role. The President-Elect shall serve a one-year term prior to his/her first term as President therefore being elected every third year, e.g., June 2004-2005, June 2007-June 2008, June 2010-June 2011.

Section 3. Past-President

The Past-President shall advise and assist the President for one year following his/her three-year term as President, e.g., June 2002-June 2003, June 2005-June 2006, June 2008-June 2009.

Section 4. Vice President

The Vice President shall assist the President in supervising the affairs of the Association. The Vice President shall perform the duties of President in the President's absence.

Section 5. Secretary

The Director of Alumni and Parent Relations shall serve as Council Secretary. The Secretary shall be the historian of the Association and shall be the custodian of the Association's records. The Secretary shall be responsible for the keeping of minutes of all meetings of the Association, Council and Executive Committee; post all proper notices required by these By-Laws; facilitate all elections by having necessary ballots prepared; and perform all other duties incident to the office of Secretary.

Section 6. Treasurer

The Treasurer shall be responsible for the Alumni Association Scholarship fund in concert with the Director of Alumni and Parent Relations.

Section 7. Chaplain

The Chaplain shall be responsible for providing a spiritual dimension to the Council. This includes arranging invocations at meetings.

Article VI. Special Interest Groups

Section 1. Establishment

Any active member of the Association may propose the formation of a Special Interest Group (???Group???). Groups of the Association may be established and continued with the approval of the Council.

Section 2. Purpose

The primary purpose of the Groups shall be the same as that of the Association and as such these Groups will assist the Association in achieving its mission.

Section 3. Chairpersons

a) Chairpersons of Groups shall be appointed by a simple majority of a Group's members.

b) Once recognized by the Council, each Group may nominate one representative to the Council.

Section 4. Meetings

Groups may meet at any time deemed appropriate by the Chairperson.

Article VII. Meetings

Section 1. Special Meetings

Special meetings of the Association may be called by the President, the President of the College, or a majority of the Executive Committee members.

Section 2. Quorum

One-half of the Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Council.

a) The Council of the Association shall meet four times a year at such time and place as shall be selected by the Executive Committee.

b) The Association shall meet no less than bi-annually at such time and place as shall be selected by the Council.

c) If any member of the Alumni Council is absent from two consecutive regular meetings, without notification to the Alumni Office, he/she may be removed by the President.

Article VIII. Staff Support

The Carthage Office of College Relations shall provide all staff needed for the affairs of the Association. The Director of Alumni and Parent Relations shall act as the liaison between the College and the Association and Council.

Article IX. Amendments to By-Laws

All members of the Association shall be given an opportunity to vote to amend these by-laws. At least 30 days written notice must be provided to the Association. A simple majority of those who vote is required.

*********************************************************************************************************