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The Great Dartmouth Class of 1956
CONSTITUTION
THE CLASS OF 1956
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
ARTICLE I. Name
The name of the organization shall be the Class of 1956 of Dartmouth College (the "Class")
ARTICLE II Purpose
The purpose of the organization shall be to promote, foster and encourage the maintenance of friendships, collegiality and camaraderie among the Class by sponsoring events, group travel and otherwise further the enjoyment and pleasure of the Class and their families gained from such participation and involvement and to develop a strong and enduring Class structure in order to further the interests, welfare, and educational purposes of Dartmouth College, for so long as the Class is in existence and Dartmouth 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
All persons who matriculated as a member of the Class of 1956, or who graduated as a member of the Class of 1956, or who transferred from another college in the class of 1956, or who are elected to honorary membership, or who are spouses or significant others of any deceased members of the class as defined above are members of this organization. (Spouses and significant others of deceased members of the class are not expected to pay dues.)
ARTICLE IV. Meetings
Section 1. There shall be a meeting of the Class during each regular reunion. Other meetings may be called by the President from time to time, as deemed necessary.
Section 2. One-tenth of the living members of the Class shall constitute a quorum.
Section 3. Robert's Rules of Order shall govern.
ARTICLE V. Suffrage
All members of the Class shall be entitled to vote, except that any member whose current Class dues shall be in arrears shall forfeit the right to vote at the election (except for spouses or significant others of deceased members of the class.)
ARTICLE VI. Eligibility to Hold Office
All members of the Class qualified to vote under Article V shall be eligible for election to any office in this organization.
ARTICLE VII. Executive Committee
Section 1. The Executive Committee shall constitute the policy-making body of the Class and act in its behalf concerning the Class and its affairs.
Section 2. Ten or more members of the Class shall constitute the Class Executive Committee. By long tradition, all members of the class and spouses or significant others of classmates who attend any scheduled or special class meeting shall constitute the executive committee at that time.
Section 3. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held at least once a year. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be held at such time and place as the President or any three officers may determine.
Section 4. All officers, whether elected by the Class or the Executive Committee, or appointed by the President, and whether or not they are at attendance at a regular or a special class meeting shall be members ex officio of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VIII. Officers
Section 1. The Executive Committee shall elect a President, Vice President, Regional Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, and Alumni Council Representative of the Class. Other officers, such as Head Agent, Newsletter Editor, Reunion Chairman, Reunion Giving Chairman, Bequest Chairman, Nominating Committee, Mini-Reunion Chairman, Web Master, etc., shall be appointed by the President. (See below Article X: Powers and Duties of Officers.)
Section 2. The Executive Committee shall have the power at any time to remove from office any officer who, in the opinion of that committee, is not serving the best interests of the Class or the College.
Section 3. A vacancy in the office of President, Vice President, Regional Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer or Alumni Council Representative shall be filled by the Executive Committee. A vacancy in any appointive office may be filled by the President. The assistance of a Nominating Committee may be utilized in either category.
ARTICLE IX. Terms of Office
The term of office of all officers, elected or appointed, shall be from reunion to reunion, or as otherwise determined by the Executive Committee. (Except for the Alumni Councilor, whose term is 3 years.)
ARTICLE X. Powers and Duties of Officers
Section 1. Officers elected by the Executive Committee shall have the following duties:
a. The President will act as the executive head of the Class. It will be his/her responsibility to initiate new projects and carry out policy of the Executive Committee. In addition, the President shall exercise general supervision over all other officers, to ensure their proper performance of their functions.
b. The Vice President shall act for the President in his absence, or as requested by the President.
c. The Regional Vice Presidents shall have the responsibility for the organization and promotion of major non-reunion gatherings within their region in consultation with the president.
d. The Secretary will be the primary link between the alumni and the College, and shall prepare the Class notes and obituary notes for the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine. The Secretary shall be the custodian of Class files and records.
e. The Treasurer of the Class shall receive and disburse all funds of the Class (subject to the direction of the Executive Committee), and shall submit an annual financial report to the Executive Committee.
f. The Alumni Councilor shall be responsible for communications between the Class and the Council, representing all interests and concerns.
Section 2. Officers appointed by the President shall have the following duties:
a. The Head Agent shall conduct the annual Dartmouth College Fund solicitation for the benefit of the College.
b. The Newsletter Editor shall be responsible for editing the Class newsletter. The newsletter will serve as the regular avenue of communication between officers and members of the Class.
c. The Reunion Giving Chairman shall plan and conduct the reunion Dartmouth College Fund solicitation for the benefit of the College.
d. The Bequest Chairman shall be responsible for planned giving, bequests and trust planning activities of members of the Class for the benefit of the College.
e. The Reunion Chairman shall be responsible for planning and conducting the next official reunion of the Class.
f. The Mini-Reunion Chairman shall be responsible for the organization and promotion of all major non-reunion gatherings of the Class other than those organized by the Regional Vice Presidents.
g. The Web Master shall be responsible for the class activities and communications on the Internet.
h. The Chairman and members of a Nominating Committee shall be appointed in advance of each regular reunion of the Class. (See Article XI for duties of Nominating Committee.)
Section 3. The President may also appoint chairmen of other committees not listed above. Such committees may be formed to accomplish particular duties such as assisting with mini-reunions, administering Class projects and Class award programs, developing a class history, etc.
Section 4. All officers and committee chairmen shall submit to the President written reports of the activities of their office or committee at or near the end of each year or upon completion of a special assignment.
ARTICLE XI. Nominating Committee
Section 1. The President shall appoint a chairman and members of a Nominating Committee in advance of each formal reunion of the Class.
Section 2. The Nominating Committee will submit to the Class nominations for President, Vice President, Regional Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, and Alumni Council Representative
Section 3. In addition, the Nominating Committee or chairman of the regular Class meeting shall solicit nominations for Class officers from the Class at large.
Section 4. The Nominating Committee shall accomplish its selection process prior to the regular reunion Class meeting for presentation to that meeting.
ARTICLE XII. The Class Year
The year of the Class shall be the calendar year. Unless otherwise determined, the annual activities and reports of the Class shall conform to that period of time.
ARTICLE XIII Dues and/or Assessments
Section 1. Class dues shall be levied each year upon each member of the Class. The amount of the dues shall be decided by vote of the Executive Committee.
Section 2. Special assessments, in addition to dues, may be levied. The amount and purpose of such special assessment shall be determined by vote of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE XIV Private Inurement
No part of the net earnings of the Class shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, any Class member, officer, or any other private person or individual. All of the assets and net earnings of the Class shall be used to further its [Dartmouth's] educational and charitable purposes.
ARTICLE XV Political Activity
No substantial part of the activities of the Class shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation. The Class shall not participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
ARTICLE XVI. Adoption
This constitution shall become effective upon the approval of two-thirds of the members voting at a meeting of the Class.
ARTICLE XVII. Amendments
A two-thirds vote of those members voting at any Class meeting shall be necessary to incorporate amendments into this constitution.
ARTICLE XVIII Dissolution
The Class shall be deemed to be dissolved at such time as there shall be no member living whose address is known to the Alumni Relations Office of Dartmouth College or sooner if the number of Class members becomes so few as to render it impractical to continue the organization's existence. Upon dissolution or termination, all of the property and assets of the Class shall, after the payment of any lawful debts, be distributed to Dartmouth College or for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Note: Adopted by the Class of 1956 at their Reunion Class Meeting on June 13, 2001-with modification as requested by the class members to include references to significant others.
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