CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH
SCHOOL OF NURSING
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
CONSTITUTION
Article I. Name
This association shall be known as The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) School of Nursing Alumni Association.
Article II. Purposes
The purposes of the Association shall be:
(1) To promote the
interests of the UTMB School of Nursing.
(2) To promote the
professional standards and educational advancement of nursing.
(3) To provide affordable benefits to members.
Article III. Amendments
This constitution may be amended by:
(1)
A two-thirds majority of the votes received by mail from members of the
Association, provided a copy of the proposed change was sent
to each member at least four weeks
prior to date set for return of ballots, OR
(2)
90% of the votes of the members present at the annual meeting, provided
there was at least four weeks previous notice of the proposed
change.
Article IV. Parliamentary Authority
The parliamentary authority for the Association shall be Robert’s Rules
of Order, Newly Revised 10th Edition
Article I. Membership
Section 1. Active Member
All graduates of UTMB School of Nursing and its predecessors (The University of
Texas System School of Nursing Galveston; The University
of Texas School of Nursing; The University of Texas School of Nursing at
Galveston; John Sealy College of Nursing; Training School of the
John Sealy Hospital) may hold active membership in the Association.
Section 2. Active Lifetime Members
All
graduates of UTMB School of Nursing and its predecessors (The University of
Texas System School of Nursing Galveston; The University
of Texas School of Nursing; John
Sealy College of Nursing; Training School of the John Sealy Hospital) may hold
active lifetime membership
in the Association.
Section 3. Associate Members
Current faculty and friends of the UTMB School of Nursing who are not graduates of the school.
Section 4. Honorary Members
Honorary membership may be conferred upon persons honored by the Association
because of outstanding services to the UTMB School of
Nursing or the Association.
Candidates for honorary membership are recommended by the Awards Committee,
voted upon by the Board of
Directors and recognized at the
annual meeting.
Section 5. Privileges of Membership
A. Active members shall have privileges of voting, holding office, serving on committees, serving as chairpersons of committees.
B.
Associate and honorary members shall have all the privileges of
membership except those of holding office and voting in general
elections.
Article II.
Resources
A. The Association shall
operate with monies received from annual membership dues and donations.
B. An endowment to assist
the Association with operations has been established from lifetime member
solicitation.
C. The Association may
conduct an annual gift program to provide monies to assist students of the
School of Nursing.
Article III. Officers and Duties of
Officers
Section 1.
The officers of the Association shall be President, President-Elect, alternate
year Past President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Offices not filled as stated in Article V may be appointed by the Board of
Directors.
Section 2.
Duties of all officers shall be those implied by their respective titles and as
specified in the bylaws.
Section 3.
Officers shall orient and deliver association properties to their successors
within one month of vacating their office.
Section 4.
The President shall:
A. Manage the business
of the Association.
B. Preside at all
meetings of the Association, act as chairperson of the Board of Directors, and
report actions of the Board at each regular
meeting of the Association.
C. Serve as ex-officio
member of all standing committees.
D. Serve as ex-officio
member of The University of Texas Medical Branch Development Board.
E. Prepare annual
report to be presented to membership at the annual meeting.
F.
Appoint chairpersons and members of standing and
ad hoc committees as specified in the bylaws, to
include Homecoming Events.
Section 5.
The President-Elect/Past President shall:
A. Assume the duties of the President in his/her absence.
B. Assume the duties of the President to fill an unexpired term.
C. Attend Development Board and/or Alumni Coordinating Board meetings on request of the President.
D. Serve as chairperson of the Awards Committee.
Section 6.
The Secretary shall:
A. Document and retain minutes of all proceedings of the Association and Board of Directors.
B. Manage correspondence as directed by the President.
Section 7.
The
Treasurer shall, in conjunction with the representative
of the Office of Alumni Affairs and Special Events or appropriate School of
Nursing
staff member:
A. Review the financial records of the Association.
B. Submit a written report of finances and funds at each regular meeting of the Board of Directors.
C. Submit an annual operating budget to Board of Directors.
D. Present a financial report for the annual membership meeting.
Article IV. Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall:
A. Consist of
President, President-Elect (Past President in alternate years), Secretary and
Treasurer and staff advisor as appointed by
the dean of the School of Nursing.
B. Have the authority
to act on behalf of the Board between
scheduled
meetings.
C. Approve
expenditures of up to $1000/year without full Board approval.
Article V. Board of Directors and
Duties of the Board
Section 1. Membership
The President shall serve as chairperson of the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors shall consist of the four officers of the Association and
five directors. Ex-officio members of the Board shall include
the School of Nursing Dean, one faculty member, one student representative
and a representative of the Office of Alumni
Affairs and Special
Events.
Section 2. Duties
The Board of Directors shall:
A. Establish the amount of annual and lifetime membership dues.
B.
Conduct the business of the Association in the interim between annual
general membership meetings. Approve the annual operating
budget of the Association.
C. Set budgetary goals for an annual gift program, and allocate the monies raised accordingly.
D. Plan and promote measures for growth and prosperity of the Association.
E. Report to the Association at each annual meeting the business transacted during the preceding year.
F. Create and disband committees as needed.
G. Fill vacancies occurring on the board or any office during the year.
H. Identify the site and dates of regular and special meetings of the Association.
I. Approve nominations for candidates presented for awards or honorary membership.
J.
Establish criteria and any revision thereof for awarding Rebecca Sealy
Distinguished Alumni, Hall of Fame, Honorary Membership or
any other awards established by the Association.
Section
3. Meetings
Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held quarterly. Special
meetings may be called by the President or by any three
members of the Board of Directors.
Board members are expected to
attend all meetings or communicate to the President or designee when
they are unable to attend.
Article VI. Nominations
Section 1.
The Nominating Committee prepares a slate of candidates which is presented to
the Board of Directors for approval annually in the
summer. A quorum of the Board, as specified in Article XI is required to pass
the slate of officers.
Section 2.
The new slate of officers shall be announced to general membership.
Section 3.
Officers are introduced to membership at the annual meeting.
Section 4.
Treasurer and three Directors shall be appointed in even numbered years.
Secretary, President-Elect and two Directors shall be appointed
in odd numbered years. President-Elect serves for one year, moves into the
office of President for two years and Past President for one
year.
Section 5.
Ex-Officio members shall be appointed by the Dean of the School of Nursing for a
one year term. Terms are not limited.
Section 6.
Offices not filled as stated in Section 4 shall be appointed by the Board of Directors.
Section
7.
Terms of all officers and board members shall commence at the beginning of the
fiscal year.
Article VII. Committees
Section 1.
There shall be three standing committees of not
less than three members each: Awards, Nominations, and Program. Finance and
Alumni
Affairs will be handled by the Board as a committee of the whole. Other Ad Hoc
committees may be formed by the President as needed.
Section 2.
Chairpersons and members of standing committees shall be appointed as set forth
in these by-laws. Committees shall assume duties
as specified by these by-laws and report to the Board of Directors and to the
membership on request.
Section 3.
The Awards Committee shall:
A. Be chaired by the President-Elect/Past President.
B.
Establish and revise criteria for honorary membership, Hall of Fame,
Rebecca Sealy Distinguished Alumnus and new awards or
recognitions with direction and approval of the Board.
C. Solicit names of potential candidates for awards.
D. Review and recommend in writing to the Board candidates for awards.
Section 4.
The Nominations Committee shall:
A. Be chaired by a
person appointed by the Executive Committee.
B. Prepare a slate of
candidates for each office to be filled for the next biennium.
C. Present slate of
candidates each summer to Board of Directors.
Section
5.
The Program Committee shall:
A.
Be chaired by the
President-Elect/Past President.
B.
Coordinate program for the annual
Homecoming event in cooperation with the UTMB Office of Alumni
Affairs.
C.
Perform other functions deemed appropriate by the
Board of Directors.
Article
VIII. Meetings
Section 1.
General membership meeting shall be held annually
during Homecoming.
Section 2.
Special meetings of the Association may be called by the President or upon
request of a majority of the Board of Directors of the
Association provided that written notice of date, time and purpose of the
meeting have been sent to all members at least fourteen days
before the date set for the meeting.
Article IX. Voting Body
The voting body shall consist of the active members of the Association.
Article X. Quorum
Section 1.
Three officers and twenty members shall
constitute a quorum for a meeting of the Association.
Section 2.
A majority, including two officers, shall constitute a quorum of the Board of
Directors.
Article XI. Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Association shall be from September 1 through August 31.
Article XII. Chapters
Section 1.
Chapters of the UTMB School of Nursing Alumni Association may be organized in
any given area.
Section 2.
Chapter bylaws are to be consistent and not in conflict with the Constitution
and Bylaws of the Association.
Article XIII. Amendments
The Bylaws may be amended or repealed by:
(1). Two-thirds majority of the votes received by mail from members of the
Association provided a copy of the proposed change has been
sent to each member at least four weeks prior to the date set for return of
ballots, OR
(2). 90% of
the votes of the members present at the annual meeting provided there was at
least four weeks previous notice of the proposed
change.
Amended at Annual Meeting, October 1985
Amended at Annual Meeting, October 1987
Amended by Ballot, 1988
Amended by Ballot, August 1996
Amended March 2000
Amended at Annual Retreat, July 2002
Amended at Annual Retreat, July 2003
Amended at Annual Meeting, March 25, 2006