Unity College Alumni Association
By-laws
Adopted by the Alumni body
September 1, 2006
Amended at the Annual Meeting
September 23, 2006

ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Unity College Alumni Association (UCAA), hereinafter referred to as the “Association” or “this Association.”

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE
The Unity College Alumni Association creates and cultivates sustainable relationships, effective communication and mutual support among Unity College, its students, faculty, staff and friends.

ARTICLE III: OFFICE
The principal office shall be Unity College, 90 Quaker Hill Road, Unity, Maine 04988.

ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1. MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the Association shall be open to all alumni who have successfully completed any credit toward a degree at Unity College. Membership will consist of a year term, beginning on January 1 and will run for a calendar year.

SECTION 2. ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP
An active member is defined as an alumnus who meets the Purpose of the Association, as stated in Article II, and by donating money, time and/or goods. 

SECTION 3. ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
Current students still enrolled at Unity College are given an associate membership with full rights to attend meetings and gatherings.

SECTION 4. HONORARY MEMBERSHIP
Honorary membership will be bestowed upon on individuals the Association wishes to honor because of their devotion, service or generosity to the Association or the College.  Honorary membership will also be bestowed upon all honorary degree recipients.  Honorary members are given a lifetime honorary membership with full rights to attend meetings and gatherings.

SECTION 5. NUMBER OF MEMBERS
There shall be no limit on the number of members this Association may admit.

SECTION 6. MEMBERSHIP RECORDS
The Secretary of the Association shall keep annual membership records and make available upon request of officers, the name and status of each member. 

SECTION 7. VOTING
Each active member is entitled to one vote and each associate member is entitled to one quarter vote if present at the Annual Meeting or other meetings on all matters for which members may vote. 

SECTION 8. NON-LIABILITY OF MEMBERS
A member of this Association is not, as such, personally liable for the debts, liabilities, or other obligations of the Association.  This section needs to be reviewed by the College General Council. If not needed, this section will be struck from the by-laws.*

ARTICLE V: MEETINGS

SECTION 1. NOTICE OF MEETINGS
Notice of the meetings shall be mailed to all members no less than thirty (30) days prior, and meeting information shall be posted on the website no less than fifteen (15) days prior. Special meetings may be called as necessary and appropriate. Notifications of special meetings should be mailed as soon as possible to all and pertinent alumni, and if possible, meeting information should be posted on the website. The specific mode of communication (e.g. e-mail, meetings) will be decided annually.

SECTION 2. ANNUAL MEETING
The Annual Meeting shall be held during the Unity College Alumni Weekend, which is generally held on the third weekend of September.
SECTION 3. OTHER MEETINGS
Other and special meetings may be called as necessary and appropriate at the discretion of the Association officers or by active members with one-third of the total active membership requesting such a meeting. Requests must be made in writing to the President or Secretary of the Association, sixty (60) days in advance of such a meeting.

SECTION 4. QUORUM
Twenty-five (25) active members of the Association shall constitute a quorum for the Annual Meeting. Ad hoc committees may set their own quorum based on committee member numbers.

ARTICLE VI: OFFICERS

SECTION 1. ENUMERATION OF OFFICERS
The officers shall consist of a President, Senior Vice-President, Vice-President of Chapters, Vice-President of Campus Alumni Events, Vice-President of Development/Treasurer, and Secretary.

SECTION 2. QUALIFICATIONS OF OFFICERS.
Officers shall be active members of the Association, shall not be associate members, and shall be required to follow job descriptions. Please see supplemental document for detailed officer job descriptions.

SECTION 3. PRESIDENT
The President shall convene and preside at the Executive Committee, Annual, and any other meetings as the Association may require. He or she shall be the official representative of and spokesperson for the Association. Subject to the provisions of the Unity College By-laws, the President shall serve as a member of the Unity College Board of Trustees. The President shall serve for a term of two years, beginning January 1 following his or her election at the Annual Meeting and may serve no more than four (4) consecutive terms.

SECTION 4. SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT
The Senior Vice-President shall convene and preside at meetings in absence of the President. He or she shall perform the daily tasks and duties as designated by the President. The Senior Vice-President shall serve for a term of two years, beginning January 1 following his or her election at the Annual Meeting and may serve no more than four (4) consecutive terms.

SECTION 5. VICE-PRESIDENT FOR CHAPTERS
The Vice-President for Chapters shall oversee the creation and coordination of state chapters. The Vice-President for Chapters shall serve for a term of two years, beginning January 1 following his or her election at the Annual Meeting and may serve no more than four (4) consecutive terms.

SECTION 6. VICE-PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT/TREASURER
The Vice-President of Development/Treasurer is responsible for the fiscal records, membership, and advancement and development activities. The Vice-President of Development/Treasurer shall serve for a term of two years, beginning January 1 following his or her election at the Annual Meeting and may serve no more than four (4) consecutive terms.

SECTION 7. VICE-PRESIDENT FOR CAMPUS ALUMNI EVENTS
The Vice-President for Campus Alumni Events shall oversee the creation, coordination and execution of Alumni Weekend and appropriate agendas. The Vice-President for Campus Alumni Events shall serve for a term of two years, beginning January 1 following his or her election at the Annual Meeting and may serve no more than four (4) consecutive terms.

SECTION 8. SECRETARY
The Secretary shall maintain records and archives, and provide all officers with administrative support as necessary. He or she shall keep and annually publish the membership records with the name, address and status of each member.  The Secretary shall serve for a term of two years, beginning January 1 following his or her election at the Annual Meeting. The Secretary may be drawn from beyond the ranks of alumni and shall have no limit on the number of terms served.

SECTION 9. VACANCIES
Any vacancies of officers shall be appointed by the Executive Committee until the next Annual Meeting.
Officers of the Association may be asked to resign or if the resignation is declined, a member may be removed by a majority vote of officers for the failure to fulfill responsibilities for a position held as per stated by position descriptions in the supplemental document.

ARTICLE VII: COMMITTEES

SECTION 1. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee shall consist of the President and the Vice-Presidents. The Secretary of the Association and, as appropriate, a Unity College community member shall be ex officio members of the Executive Committee.
Except for such powers and activities which must be taken or approved by members, the Executive Committee shall determine policies, goals, objectives, and priorities: be responsible for receiving and dispersing funds; appoint a Nominating Committee and other such ad hoc committees as are necessary, and be responsible for the smooth functioning of the administrative duties of the Association.
The Executive Committee shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings, to be filed with the Association’s records, and shall report at the Annual Meeting as necessary.
Three (3) members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.

SECTION 2. NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee shall appoint a Nominating Committee which shall consist of at least three (3) members of Executive Committee, the alumni officer, and College community members as appropriate.
The committee is responsible for all elections and appointments in regard to officer and committee positions. This committee will ensure that elections are conducted properly and will provide nominations for appointments to officer positions and other committees. The committee will also maintain records of committee membership and will report as necessary at the Annual Meeting.

SECTION 3. OTHER COMMITTEES
Ad hoc committees may be formed at the discretion of the Association officers as deemed necessary and appropriate. The Executive Committee will work in conjunction with the Nominating Committee to appoint volunteers to these temporary committees. The committee will also maintain records and will report as necessary at the Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE VIII: MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. USE OF NAME
No member of the Association shall use the name of the organization for the endorsement or sponsorship of any individual issue, event or organization without the express approval of the Executive Committee. This section needs to be reviewed by the College General Council. If not needed, this section will be struck from the by-laws.*

SECTION 2. FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year for the Association shall be from July 1 to June 30.

ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS
Amendments to these by-laws may be made at the Annual Meeting by affirmative vote of three-quarters or more of the active members present at the meeting.

ADDENDUM
For start-up purposes, during the 2006 Annual Meeting, the Senior Vice-President, the Vice-President of Development/Treasurer, and the Secretary will be voted in for a one-year term. All other members will be elected in accordance with the by-laws.