By-laws of the Cornell Club of Washington, Inc.
Amended Fall 1995/Fall 2001/Spring 2003
ARTICLE I. Name.
The name of the corporation is the Cornell Club of Washington, Inc.
ARTICLE II. Purpose.
The corporation is organized pursuant to the District of Columbia Nonprofit Corporation Act and shall be operated exclusively for the educational purpose of fostering and promoting the interests of Cornell University, or such other charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law.)
ARTICLE III. Membership.
Section 1. Any individual who has ever been a registered student in any department or course at Cornell University or any individual who has ever been connected in any official capacity with instructing or administrating staff or the governing boards of Cornell University shall be eligible for active membership in this Club.
Section 2. Active Membership. Any member shall be deemed an active member who shall have paid dues in full for the current year or is exempt from paying dues. Active members shall be entitled to vote in Club elections.
Section 3. Associate Membership. Any parent of a Cornell University student, or any individual who demonstrates a continuing interest in the purpose of the Club or the welfare of Cornell University, shall be eligible for associate membership in the Club. An associate member who has paid dues in full shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges of the Club with the exception that an associate member cannot serve as an elected officer of the Club, nor vote in Club elections.
ARTICLE IV. Officers.
Section 1. The elected officers of this Club shall consist of a President; one or more persons to fill each of seven (7) Vice-President positions (First Vice-President, Vice-President/CAAAN, Vice President/ Newsletter, Vice-President/Membership, Vice-President/Program, Vice-President/Scholarship, Vice-President/Technology); a Secretary and a Treasurer.
Section 2. Only active members as defined in Article III, Section 2, shall be eligible for election to any office in this Club.
Section 3. The President shall have the usual duties and powers pertaining to that office. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club and shall be Chair of the Board of Directors and ex-officio member of every committee of the Club.
Section 4. The First Vice-President shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President during the President’s absence or disability, or at his or her request. If the office of President becomes vacant, the First Vice-President shall become President for the unexpired term. The First Vice-President shall perform other duties as assigned by the President.
Section 5. The Vice-President (Newsletter) shall be responsible for the publication of the Cornell Club Newsletter and shall appoint such vice-chairs as are necessary to the functioning of the Newsletter Committee.
Section 6. The Vice-President (CAAAN) shall be responsible for secondary school activities of the Club and shall act as Chair of the CAAAN Committee. The Vice-President shall appoint such Vice-Chairs as are necessary to the complete functioning of the committee responsibilities.
Section 7. The Vice-President (Membership) shall be membership Chair, and shall appoint such chairs as are necessary to the complete functioning of the membership responsibilities and shall maintain an up to date mailing list of the active members, the associate members list, of the Club and a list of all alumni within the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. This list may never be used without permission of the Board of Directors.
Section 8. The Vice-President (Program) shall be responsible for program planning for the Club, shall act as Chair of the Program Committee, and shall appoint such Vice Chairs as are necessary to the complete functioning of the committee responsibilities.
Section 9. The Vice-President (Scholarship) shall be responsible for the Scholarship Committee for the Club and shall appoint such Chairs as are necessary to the complete functioning of the committee.
Section 10. The Vice-President (Technology) shall be responsible for coordinating the Club’s ability to apply technical and informational applications, such as the membership database, listserv capability, the website and the Internet posting of events, and for appointing staff as needed to carry out the Internet publicity of institution programs.
Section 11. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the Club and the Executive Committee, arrange for notices for all meetings, and shall maintain a roster of past Board Members and other members who regularly attend Board meetings (the Board “B” list).
Section 12. The Treasurer shall supervise all receipts and expenditures and shall be in charge of financial arrangements for all meetings, programs and events. He or she shall render an account of the financial standing of the Club at each meeting of the Board of Directors, the Club’s annual election meeting, and at such other times as the President shall direct. The Treasurer shall appoint such assistant treasurers as are necessary to the complete functioning of the Treasurer’s office.
ARTICLE V. Board of Directors.
Section 1. The government of the Club and the direction of its activities shall be vested in a Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall consist of the elected officers of the Club, the immediate past President, and not more than 15 directors. Ten directors shall be elected by the membership of the Club and no more than five appointed by the President. Elected directors shall serve a two-year term and appointed directors shall serve a one-year term. Five directors shall be elected each year to serve a term of two years to succeed the five directors whose term then expires.
Section 2. The Board of Directors may, from time to time, appoint such subordinate officers, agents or committees as in their judgment the interests of the Club may require and may prescribe the duties of these appointees.
Section 3. The Board of Directors shall meet at least quarterly on call of the President or on written request of any three members. A majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board of Directors.
Section 4. All Board of Directors meetings shall be open to the membership of the Club. Members’ participation at the meeting, and right to the floor, shall be at the discretion of the President, and does not extend to voting, except for current members of the Board of Directors.
Section 5. The Executive Committee shall be only the officers named in Article IV, Section 1. The Executive Committee shall meet on the call of the President to take such action as must be taken when the Board of Directors is unable to meet.
ARTICLE VI. Membership Meetings.
Section 1. There shall be an annual Election Meeting for the election of officers and directors at such time and place as may be designated by the Board of Directors in May or June.
Section 2. There shall be such other meetings each year as the President and the Board of Directors deem desirable. The President shall call a special meeting upon the written request of ten active members in good standing, with reasonable notice. The business of any special meeting shall be limited to the pre-announced agenda.
Section 3. At any meeting of the Club, a quorum shall consist of those members in good standing, present at such a meeting.
ARTICLE VII. Elections.
Section 1. Officers shall be elected at the Annual Election Meeting and shall hold office until their successors have been duly elected, at the next Election Meeting, except for the Treasurer who is elected for a two year term at every second Annual Election Meeting.
Section 2. Five directors shall be elected at each Annual Election Meeting, each to hold office for a period of two years or until their successors have been duly elected. In addition, at each Annual Election Meeting, directors may be elected for a period of one year (or until the next Annual Election Meeting) to fill the term of any director whose position on the Board of Directors falls vacant.
Section 3. Pending election at the Election Meeting, the Board of Directors shall have full power to fill all vacancies of any officers or directors whose posts fall vacant during the term of such officer or director.
ARTICLE VIII. Nominations.
Section 1. The president shall appoint a Nominating Committee of at least five persons which shall have the duty of nominating officers and directors to be voted for at the Spring Election Meeting. At least two members of the Nominating Committee shall be from the membership at large and shall not be members of the Board of Directors. Notice of nomination shall be distributed to members at least ten days before the election.
Section 2. Other nominations in addition to those submitted by the Nominating Committee may be filed with the President or Secretary not later than five days prior to the election on petition of ten members in good standing. No nomination will be received from the floor.
Section 3. Upon a majority vote of the Board of Directors, or in the event of the Annual Election is not held, the election shall be held by mail ballot. All officers and directors shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast.
Section 4. Any person who has served as President for two consecutive years shall be ineligible for re-election to said office for one year.
ARTICLE IX. Committees.
Section 1. The Standing Committees shall be a Program Committee, a Membership Committee, a CAAAN Committee, a Scholarship Committee, a Cornell Fund Committee, a Career Advisory and Job Network Committee, a Technology Committee and an Investment and Audit Committee. Chairs of these Standing Committees who are not elected officers shall be appointed by the President. Members of each committee shall be chosen by the respective committee chairs. The Investment and Audit Committee shall be governed by the Charter of the Committee as the Board shall approve from time to time.
Section 2. The President or the Board of Directors may appoint such additional committees as may seem desirable.
Section 3. Committees may not incur any obligation on behalf of the Club without a vote of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE X. Adoption and Amendments.
Section 1. The Articles of Incorporation of the Club may be amended by a vote of 2/3 of the members of the Board of Directors. Amendments to the articles may be proposed by any members of the Board of Directors or by petition signed by ten active members in good standing submitted to the Secretary.
Section 2. These By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote of the members present at any meeting of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE XI. Procedure.
All questions of procedure not otherwise covered in the Articles of Incorporation or in these By-Laws shall be resolved upon the authority of Robert’s Rules of Order.
ARTICLE XII. Dues.
The annual dues of the Club, including policies and dues levels for various categories of membership, shall be established by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
