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CONSTITUTION OF
THE CLASS OF 1974
OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
ARTICLE I. Name
The name of the organization is the Class of 1974 of Dartmouth College (the
"Class").
ARTICLE II. Purpose
The purpose of the organization is to develop a strong and enduring Class
structure in order to further the interests, welfare, and educational
purposes of Dartmouth College (the "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 (or their successor provisions).
ARTICLE III. Membership
All persons who entered with the Class of 1974, or who transferred from
another college directly into the Class of 1974, or who graduated as of the
Class of 1974 whether at the regular Commencement or at some other time, or
who are elected to honorary membership at a Class meeting or by the
Executive Committee, are members of this organization.
ARTICLE IV. Meetings
Section 1. There shall be a meeting of the Class in Hanover at every
five-year reunion. Other meetings may be called by the President at any
time, as deemed necessary.
Section 2. Twenty members of the Class at a meeting, or 100 percent of those
present at a meeting of the Class if fewer, shall constitute a quorum.
Section 3. Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of Class
meetings.
Section 4. Class meetings may be held in person, by telephone, by Internet
meeting, or in any other manner that is reasonably accessible to members of
the Class, including a combination of the foregoing methods of
communication. At any meeting, two-thirds of those attending may elect to
adjourn the meeting and to re-convene the meeting using the same or one or
more other methods of communication.
ARTICLE V. Suffrage
Each member of the Class shall be entitled to one vote on each matter
presented for decision by the members at a meeting. Members not attending a
Class meeting are permitted to give to the Chair of the meeting, or his/her
designates, their proxy vote via written or electronic communication
provided that all proxies shall be received no later than the beginning of
the Class meeting.
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 the Class.
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. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Class Officers and
any other members of the Class who wish to serve on the Committee, up to a
maximum limit of 45. If at any time more Class members wish to serve on the
Committee than there are available openings, then any member of the Class
may request the President to call a Class meeting for the purpose of
determining by vote which Class members, other than the Class Officers, will
serve on the Committee. In such vote, all members of the Committee other
than the Class Officers shall be subject to election, with those receiving
the highest number of votes becoming the new members of the Executive
Committee.
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, any three officers, or a majority of the members
attending an Executive Committee may determine.
Section 4. Vacancies on to the Executive Committee shall be filled through
nominations from any member of the Class or the President (see Article
VIII), subject to the provisions of Section 2 of this Article VII.
ARTICLE VIII. Officers
Section 1. The Class shall elect a President, one or more Vice-Presidents, a
Secretary, and a Treasurer at a Class meeting at the Class Reunion. Other
officers, such as Head Agent, Newsletter Editor, Reunion Chair, Reunion
Giving Chair, Bequest Chair, Nominating Chair, Mini-Reunion Chair,
Webmaster, etc., shall be appointed by the President (See Article X). An
Alumni Council Representative shall be elected by the Class as provided by
the governing document of the Alumni Council.
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, 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 for all officers, elected or appointed, and members of
the Executive Committee shall be from five-year reunion to five-year
reunion, subject to the provisions of Section 2 of this Article VII. (An
exception is the Alumni Council Representative, who serves for 3 years or as
provided by the Alumni Council.)
ARTICLE X. Powers and Duties of Officers
Section 1. Officers elected by the Class 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 the proper performance of
their functions.
b. The Vice President shall act for the President when he/she is temporarily
unable to perform his/her duties for any reason and perform other special
projects requested by the President or Executive Committee.
c. The Secretary will be the primary link between the individual alumnus 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.
d. The Treasurer of the Class shall receive and disburse all funds of the
Class subject to the direction of the Executive Committee, shall submit an
annual financial report to the President, and shall prepare and file all
financial reports required by the College or federal, state or local
authorities.
e. The Alumni Council Representative shall be responsible for communications
between the Class and the Alumni 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 Chair shall plan and conduct the solicitation for the
benefit of the College.
d. The Gift Planning Chair shall be responsible for bequests and trust
planning activities of members of the Class for the benefit of the College.
e. The Reunion Chair shall be responsible for planning and conducting the
next official reunion of the Class.
f. The Mini-Reunion Chair shall be responsible for the organization and
promotion of all major non-reunion gatherings of the Class.
g. The Webmaster shall be responsible for the supporting the electronic
communications capabilities of the Class including but not limited to the
editing and maintenance of the Class website.
h. Chairs and members of a Nominating Committee may be appointed in advance
of each regular reunion of the Class.
i. The Participation Chair shall be responsible for encouraging maximum
participation of members of the Class in fund-raising efforts.
Section 3. The President may also appoint chairs 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, etc.
Section 4. All officers and committee chairs 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 or the Executive Committee may appoint a Nominating
Committee in advance of each five-year reunion of the Class.
Section 2. If appointed, the Nominating Committee shall determine the
proposed slate of new officers for the positions of President, Vice
President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Alumni Council Representative to be
voted upon at the upcoming class meeting at the next reunion. In addition,
any Class member may submit a nomination for each officer position.
Section 3. The Nominating Committee shall accomplish its selection process
which shall include confirming whether that person is willing to serve prior
to a regular Class meeting for presentation to that meeting. The Nominating
Committee shall post its slate of candidates for each office on the class
website at least fourteen days prior to the class meeting at the upcoming
reunion.
Section 4. The Nominating Committee Chair or his/her designee shall be
responsible for collecting the written or electronic proxy votes of any
members of the class unable to attend the class meeting who would like to
participate in the vote provided that electronic communication and written
proxies shall be received prior to the Class meeting..
ARTICLE XII. The Class Year
The year of the Class shall be from July 1 of one year to June 30 of the
next. 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 upon each
member of the Class. The amount and purpose of such special assessment shall
be determined by vote of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE XIV. No 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 Class activities and the College and its 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 Executive Committee.
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 the
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 the College or for one or
more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code.
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ADOPTED by unanimous vote at the 35th Reunion Class Meeting held in Room
125, Haldeman Center, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755 on June 17, 2009,
Kenneth Hall presiding.
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