Constitution
ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of the organization shall be the Native American Alumni Association
of Dartmouth College (NAAAD).
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
The purpose of the organization shall be to provide a forum for Native
American Alumni to meet and discuss issues of importance to Native American
People and to further the interests, welfare and educational purposes of
Dartmouth College for so long as the Association is in existence and the College
remains organized exclusively for charitable, educational or scientific purposes
within the meaning of Sections 501(c)(3) and 170 (b)(1)(A) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 as amended.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
Membership of NAAAD shall be comprised of any Native American student who
successfully matriculated into
Dartmouth College and whose class has passed
its date of graduation. Additionally, others may be elected to become part of
NAAAD as honorary members for exemplary work with Native American students at Dartmouth and beyond.
ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS
- The Executive Officers of this Association shall be as
follows: President, Executive Committee Members, Treasurer. Each Officer shall be
elected for two-year terms. Terms shall be staggered so that at least two
positions are not up for election at any given election.
- The President (or his/her designate) shall preside at
all formal meetings of NAAAD and shall be responsible for ongoing relations
with other Alumni and Native organizations as well as with
Dartmouth College's Office of Alumni Relations.
The President will serve an elected term of two (2) years and may serve two
terms concurrently. The President may not serve for longer then two elected
terms in succession.
- The Executive Committee or designated representative(s)
shall be expected to be present at all formal meetings of NAAAD. The Ruling
Council's primarily responsibilities shall be to oversee all Committees and
report directly to the President. Further, the Executive Committee shall be the
legislative body for NAAAD in all matters not brought before the NAAAD body
as a whole.
- The Executive Committee shall consist of: NAAAD
President, three (3) elected at-large members, and the Alumni Liaison
with Native Americans at
Dartmouth. Executive Committee Members
shall be elected to two-year terms and may not serve three elected terms
in succession. The Alumni Liaison is exempt from this provision and
shall serve at sole behest of Native Americans at
Dartmouth.
- The Executive Committee shall reflect the diversity of
Native American Alumni and all due effort will be put forth to ensure
representation >from all class years and all locales contained within
NAAAD.
- At times, the Executive Committee may elect to create
Ad Hoc Executive Committee Positions as needed
- The Treasurer shall be responsible for collecting dues
and revenues for the Association. He/she will also be responsible for
keeping the accounts of NAAAD up-to-date and shall report to the Ruling
Council the status of NAAAD Financial Affairs at formal meeting held in
conjunction with Annual Dartmouth Pow Wow.
ARTICLE V. ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE All members defined by Article III are
eligible to vote.
ARTICLE VI. ELIGIBILITY TO HOLD OFFICE All members defined under
Article V shall be eligible to hold office save for under specific prevision
contained within Article IV.
ARTICLE VII. COMMUNICATIONS
- A designated member of NAAAD shall be responsible for
the creation and mailing of a NAAAD Newsletter. This Newsletter shall
consist of current information on alumni as well as ongoing plans,
discussions and meetings of import to NAAAD.
- At times, the President and/or Executive Committee shall
deem information vital to NAAAD interests must be mailed immediately. This
shall not be considered a Newsletter.
ARTICLE VIII. CANDIDACY FOR OFFICE
Candidates shall make their intent to run for office known by January 1 of
election year to Ruling Council.
ARTICLE IX. ELECTIONS
- By February 1, list of candidates and any submitted
information will be sent to NAAAD by Alumni Relations along with official
ballots.
- Voting shall close on April 1. Executive Committee shall be
responsible for tabulating votes and will announce election results by May
1.
ARTICLE X. MEETINGS
Formal Meetings shall be confined to those events where a large number of
Native American Alumni can reasonably be assumed to be present. Examples would
include (but are not confined to): the National Indian Education Association
Annual Conference, the American Indian Science and Engineering Society Annual
Conference, Dartmouth Reunion Weekend, Etc.
- A Formal Meeting of NAAAD shall be held in conjunction
with the Annual Dartmouth Pow Wow. At this Formal meeting, election results
shall be announced and all terms of office shall begin.
- The President of NAAAD may call a meeting when he/she
deems necessary utilizing whatever communications method he/she deems
appropriate to reach the greatest number of NAAAD members in the shortest
period of time.
ARTICLE XI. COMMITTEES
- The following Committees shall be Standing Committees
for NAAAD. This list is not meant to be final and may be adjusted without
constitutional revision.
- Constitution & By-Laws Committee
- Funding and Finance Committee
- Mentor Program Committee
- Career Development Program Committee
- Dartmouth Campus Affairs Committee
- Vision Committee
- Membership Committee
- Dartmouth
Admissions Committee
- Reunion
Committee
- Membership of each Committee shall be voluntary and
shall have no fixed term.
- Leadership of each Committee shall be designated by
NAAAD President and/or Ruling Council.
ARTICLE XII. RESIGNATION/REMOVAL FROM ELECTED OFFICE
- NAAAD President or Executive Committee Member may resign at
any time upon written submission of resignation to Executive Officers.
Resignation shall not become effective until replacement has been seated or
three months have passed.
- NAAAD President or Executive Committee Member may be
impeached upon three-fourths majority vote of all members casting votes in
specially called election.
- NAAAD President or Executive Committee Member may be
impeached upon simple majority vote of membership of NAAAD.
ARTICLE XIII SPECIAL APPOINTMENTS
- In event of circumstances as described in ARTICLE XII,
NAAAD President and Executive Committee may appoint replacement to fill remainder
of term.
ARTICLE XIV. ASSOCIATION YEAR
The year of the Association shall be from Annual Dartmouth Pow Wow of one
year to Annual Dartmouth Pow Wow of the next.
ARTICLE XV. DUES
Dues shall be levied upon membership each year. Amount of dues shall be
determined by NAAAD President and Executive Committee at Formal Meeting.
ARTICLE XVI. SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS
NAAAD reserves the right to impose special fees upon its membership upon
unanimous vote of Executive Committee and support of NAAAD President.
ARTICLE XVII. PRIVATE INUREMENT
No part of the net earnings of the Association shall inure to the benefit of,
or be distributable to, and Association member, officer, or any other private
person or individual. All of the assets and net earnings shall be used to
further its educational and charitable purposes.
ARTICLE XVIII POLITICAL ACTIVITY
No substantial part of the activities of the Association shall be the
carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation. The
Association shall not participate or intervene in any political campaign on
behalf of any candidate for public office. NAAAD reserves the right to exercise
rights of sovereignty where issues of significant import arise.
ARTICLE XIX ADOPTION This constitution shall become effective upon
approval of two-thirds of membership voting in special election.
ARTICLE XX. AMENDMENTS Amendments to this constitution can be
introduced at all formal meetings. Ratification requires two-thirds vote of
NAAAD members present at formal meeting.
ARTICLE XXI. DISSOLUTION
This Association
shall be deemed to be dissolved at such time when Dartmouth College
no longer chooses to honor its commitment to the education of Indian Youth as it
has designated in its Charter. This event shall be recognized by unanimous vote
of all eligible NAAAD members in special election called by NAAAD President and
Ruling Council. Upon dissolution, all of the property and assets of the
Association shall, after the payment of any lawful debts, be distributed to
Native Americans at Dartmouth or for one of more exempt purposes within the
meaning of section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
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