THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE

NATIONAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

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NATIONAL CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I

NAME AND TITLE

Section:  1

 The name of the association shall be the University of Maryland Eastern Shore National Alumni Association, Inc., (hereinafter referred to as “the Association”).

ARTICLE II

PRINCIPAL OFFICE           

The principal office of the Association shall be located at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. 

ARTICLE III

PURPOSE

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore National Alumni Association is a united, dynamic and diverse organization whose mission is to serve and add value to the University, its students, fellow alumni, local chapters and friends of the Association. 

ARTICLE IV

POLICIES 

The Association shall be not-for-profit, nonsectarian, noncommercial, and nonpolitical. 

ARTICLE V

GOVERNANCE 

Section:  1.  The Association 

The exclusive and ultimate control of the affairs of the Association shall be vested in its active individual members and shall be exercised, subject to the control of said members, by the officers and executive board.

Section:  2. Officers 

The officers of the Association shall be: President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Parliamentarian, and Sergeant-at-Arms all of whom shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Association in a manner as prescribed by the by-laws.
These officers shall serve without compensation, and their duties shall be those set forth in the by-laws. The term of office for all officers shall be two (2) years.  Officers shall be limited to serving not more than 2 consecutive terms. 

Section:  3. Executive Board 

The Executive Board shall be composed of officers of the Association.  Said committee shall be authorized to act for the Association between annual meetings.  Its duties shall be those provided for in the by-laws. 

Section:  4. Executive Board 

The Executive Board shall be composed of elected officers of the Association, the immediate past president who shall serve in an ex-office capacity, the current Student Government Association president and such other members as may be appointed by the president. Said committee shall be authorized to act for the Association between annual meetings.  Its duties shall be those provided for in the by-laws.  The terms and manner of service as prescribed by the by-laws. 

Section:  5. Nominating Committee 

A Nominating Committee composed of five active individual members shall be appointed by the President to present to the Corresponding Secretary a slate of candidates as provided in Article III Section 3 of the by-laws.   The Corresponding Secretary shall submit in writing the names of the nominees to the members of the Executive Board. 

Section:  6. Other Committees 

There shall be standing and appointed committees as the President and or the Executive Committee shall create.  The individual members of said committees shall be approved by the President. 

Section:  7.  Authority

In all matters concerned with procedures in the Association or any of its Chapters, Robert’s Rules of Order, current edition, shall govern, except as provided herein.  

ARTICLE VI

MEMBERSHIP
Regular Members
Every graduate of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore may be a regular member of the Association.  Other persons may become members in conformity with the by-laws. 

Honorary Members

Those persons who are recipients of honorary degrees granted by UMES  or any of the predecessor institutions or those

 persons who have rendered exceptional  distinguished service to the institution or the Association and are approved for such

 membership by the Executive Board  or the general membership at the annual meeting  of the Association. 

    Life Members

    Those persons who fulfill the requirements of any class of membership and pay the prescribed life membership dues. Life members

    are exempt from further national membership  fees in the Association. Only those persons who are qualified as regular members are

    entitled to vote and/or hold office at the national level of the    Association. 

   ARTICLE VII

   MEETINGS 

   Meetings shall be held as set forth herein and as provided in the by-laws.

The membership grants to the Executive Board, the right to act at a call meeting of the Board, upon a proposed amendment, which at the sole discretion of the Executive Board requires immediate action.  Information on the proposed amendment must be mailed to the Executive Board members at least 10 calendar days prior to the date of the meeting.  A two-thirds vote of those members shall be required for the passage of an amendment.  The general membership will in 30 calendar days thereafter be notified in writing of the actions taken by the Executive Board. 

ARTICLE IX

EXECUTIVE BOARD 

Section:  1 

            The Executive Board is the governing body of the Association and shall consist of the following: 

1.                  Elected Officers of the Association

2.                  Immediate Past President

3.                  The Student Government Association President

4.                  Members appointed by President 

Section:  2 

            The Executive Board is hereby empowered to make by-laws or standard operating rules of procedure, as it may deem necessary and to amend the same from time to time. 

ARTICLE X

ANNUAL MEETINGS 

Section:  1. Meeting 

a.      The annual meeting of the Association shall be held in May of each year.    

2.      Committee 

b.      A quorum constitutes a majority of the Executive Board for the purpose of conducting the business of the Association at meetings. 

Section:  2.  Regular Meetings 

a.         The Executive Board shall hold at least four (4) regular meetings each year. 

b.         A quorum constitutes a majority of the Executive Board for the purpose of conducting the business of the Association at a regular meeting. 

Section:  3.  Special or Call Meetings                       

a.         The President may schedule a special or call meeting at any time.  If three (3) or more members of the Executive Board desire a call meeting, they shall notify the President

b.         Notification of special or call meetings must be issued at least 72 hours prior to convening such a meeting.  Such notification may be by mail, telegram, telephone call, facsimile, e-mail, or video mail. 

c.          A quorum for a special or call meeting shall consist of the majority of the members of the Executive Board. 

ARTICLE XI

COMMITTEES 

Section:  1 

                  The standing committees shall be:

                  -           Homecoming
                  -           Finance Committee 

Section: 2 

There shall be such other Committees as the President and the Executive Board shall deem necessary. 

ARTICLE XII

LOCAL CHAPTERS 

Section:  1 

The Executive Board shall authorize the establishment of all local chapters. 

Section:  2 

Any community of five (5) or more persons eligible for membership in the Association may organize a local chapter with the approval of the Executive Board. 

ARTICLE XIII

LIABILITY, INDEMNIFICATION AND DISSOLUTION

Section:  1.  Liability 

     No Subordinate organizational entity of the Association shall have the authority or power to impose or incur financial or legal liability on the part of the Association without the express authorization of the Executive Board, in writing and obtained at least 15 calendar days in advance, except as delegated in the by-laws. 

Section:  2.    Indemnification 

     The Association shall indemnify any officer or member of the Association for actions taken during the performance of duties on behalf of the Association so long as said actions are consonant with the honesty, integrity, mission, goals and objectives of the Association as determined by the Executive Board.  The Association shall not be responsible for any indebtedness or obligation of subordinate organizational entities, their officers or agents. 

Section:  3.  Dissolution 

a.      In the unlikely event that the Association should dissolve its property and/or assets shall be donated to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, should it remain a viable educational institution, or distributed to such tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations as may be determined by Association members. 

b.      There shall be no general distribution of property or other assets to any officer or member of the Association at any time beyond reasonable reimbursement of expenses.  No officer or member shall be held personally liable to any creditors or the Association for an indebtedness or liability incurred pursuant to Article XIII, Section 2, above.  Such creditors shall look only to assets of the Association for payment. 

ARTICLE XIV

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION 

                  The official publication of the Association shall be titled The Hawk Flyer.  The President shall appoint the editor of The Hawk Flyer. 

ARTICLE XV

AMENDMENTS 

                  This Constitution may be altered or amended by a majority of the financial members at an annual meeting, or at a special meeting called for that purpose.  Notice of Amendment changes shall be mailed to each financial member thirty (30) calendar days prior to any scheduled ratification meeting. 

ARTICLE XVI

RULES OF GOVERNANCE 

                  In all matters concerned with procedures in the Association or any of its Chapters, Robert’s Rules of Order, current edition shall govern, except as provided herein. 

ARTICLE XVII

ADOPTION OF REVISIONS AND AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION 

                  The Revised Constitution of the UMES National Alumni Association was adopted by a majority of the financial members present at the annual or special meeting on January 27, 2001. 

Karen Galloway                   Charles D. Gregg

Secretary                                                     President

UMES National Alumni Association             UMES National Alumni Association 

Date:  June 30, 2001                                 Date:  June 30, 2001