Engineering Alumni Association 1995 Charter

ENGINEERING ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY BYLAWS

ARTICLE I NAME

The organization shall be known as the Tennessee State University Engineering Alumni Association, having been so designated by the Tennessee State University National Alumni Association in the month of November, 1995 hereinafter referred to as

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

Section 1. The purposes of the TSUEAA shall be to:

A. Promote engineering education at the University.

B. Unite the members (see Article III) in close fellowship to promote the general welfare of the College of Engineering and Technology, herein referred to as CET, and of the University at large.

C. Stimulate interest among prospective students and to obtain the best possible students as candidates for admission to the University.

D. Foster activities of the engineering organizations recognized by the University.

E. Advance the profession of engineering.

Section 2. The TSUEAA shall have the powers granted to it by the Articles of Incorporation and these BYLAWS and shall have the ability to do all things necessary and incident to its purposes, however, that the shall not engage in any activities or exercise any powers not-permitted under chapter 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

Section 3.The TSUEAA and its members, in pursuit of the purposes stated above in section 1 above, shall act in accordance with the following principles:

A. The TSUEAA shall be based on the principles of freedom and equality for all members in accordance with these BYLAWS.

B. To ensure to all members the rights and benefits resulting from membership, each member shall fulfill, in good faith, the obligations of membership in accordance with these BYLAWS.

C. All members shall give The TSUEAA every assistance in all actions it may take in accordance with these BYLAWS.

 

ARTICLE III. LOCATION

The geographical area covered by the membership is anywhere in the world (i.e., wherever a member may reside). The address of the TSUEAA is P.O. Box 44648, Washington, DC 20026-4628

ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP

The TSUEAA shall have the following classes of members:

A. Charter Members* comprising those members who would ordinarily be classified as regular members except by virtue of the fact that these members paid a Chartering membership fee at/prior to the time of the TSUEAA’s chartering by the National Alumni Association.

A. Regular Member: Any graduate of CET and its predecessor; any person who has matriculated at CET and has left the University in good standing; and engineering graduates of accredited institutions who have matriculated at the University.

B. Associate Member: Any person who manifests a genuine interest in the promotion of the TSUEAA. is eligible for Associate Membership in the TSUEAA. Associate Membership carries with it all rights of deliberation and committee assignments.

C. Honorary Member: Any person to whom Honorary Membership is extended because of his/her national recognition of noteworthy achievement in the field of engineering and/or working to promote engineering education at the CET. Names of persons to be considered for Honorary Membership must be presented in writing by a financial member of the TSUEAA to the Honorary Members/Awards Committee who shall make recommendations to the Executive Board- A two—thirds vote of the Executive Committee will be required for election. A two-thirds vote of the voting membership of the TSUEAA will be required for selection for Honorary Membership in The TSUEAA. Honorary Membership carries with it the rights of deliberation and committee assignments, but no right to vote or hold office.

D. Life Member: Any person who would otherwise be eligible for membership in The TSUEAA may become a Life Member of the TSUEAA by the payment of a membership fee and the approval of the Executive Committee.

E. Member—at-Large (Student) Any student in good standing and currently enrolled as an undergraduate in the CET of Tennessee State University. Student membership carries with it the right to participate in deliberations and committee assignments, but no right to vote or hold office. Upon graduation, students who so desire are automatically converted to regular membership and their dues for the first year are waived. The request for conversion to regular membership must be submitted in writing to the TSUEAA within 60 days of graduation from the CET.

ARTICLE V. OFFICERS

The officers of the TSUEAA shall be the President, Vice President, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Financial Secretary, Treasurer, and Parliamentarian, who shall serve for two years, or until their successors are elected or appointed and qualified, or until suspended from office for good and just cause by the recommendation from the Executive committee and a two-thirds vote of the membership.

ARTICLE VI. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. The officers of the TSUEAA, the Chairpersons of the Standing Committees, the Immediate Past President for one (1) year immediately following his/her term of office, the Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology, and the Coordinator of Alumni Relations or a representative designated by the University shall collectively constitute the Executive Committee.

Section 2. A quorum for the transaction of business shall constitute one-half of the members of the Executive Committee.

Section 3. The Executive Committee shall: (1) Transact all necessary business of The TSUEAA in the interim between meetings; (2) call special meetings; (3) Appoint members to fill vacancies; (4) conduct the affairs of The TSUEAA in accordance with The TSUEAA BYLAWS and voted Standing Rules;
(5) Prepare a budget including fund raising projects for each fiscal year and submit it to the membership for approval. A member appointed by the Executive Committee to fill a vacancy on the Committee shall serve the unexpired term of the vacated office.

ARTICLE VII. ANNUAL MEETING

Section 1. The Annual Business Meeting shall be held at the time set forth in the standing Rules.

Section 2. The Fiscal Year and operating Year of The TSUEAA shall be June 1 through May 31.

ARTICLE VIII. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Section 1. Elections shall be held biannually (every two years) at the Annual Business Meeting.

Section 2. Officers shall serve a term of two years, or until their successors are elected. No officer shall serve more than two consecutive full tens. However, an officer who is elected to serve out the term of an vacated office, may serve out that vacated term in addition to serving two consecutive full terms.

Section 3. Ejections shall be by ballot. Absentee ballots must be postmarked and/or received by the official date published by the Nominating Committee in order to be counted. Only those members in good financial standing with the TSUEAA are eligible to vote or run for office. The nominee receiving the majority/plurality of the votes cast shall be elected for each office.

ARTICLE IX. VACANCIES

A vacancy in any office shall be filled by majority vote of the voting members at any regular business meeting and any absentee votes received by the official published date of said business meeting provided that the Corresponding Secretary or the Nominating Committee shall have notified each voting member in writing 30 days in advance before such voting shall take place.

ARTICLE X. DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. The President shall (1) Act as President and Executive Officer of The TSUEAA and the Executive Committee; (2) Take the initiative within the Executive Committee in planning the program of The TSUEAA; C3) Represent The TSUEAA where desirable and possible; (4) Prepare the agenda for all Executive Committee meetings and submit it the Executive Secretary for distribution at least two weeks prior to such meetings; (6) serve as the ex—officio member of all committees; (7) Transmit a report at the end of the operating year from the Executive Committee to The National Association; (8) Appoint all committees and chairpersons; (9) Attend the National and Regional Alumni Meetings and other such meetings representing The TSUEAA; and (10) perform such other duties that are usual for the President of similar organizations.

Section 2. The Vice President shall (1) at the request of the President and or in his/her absence perform any and/or all duties of the president; (2) perform other duties as designated by the President; (3) be responsible for the annual audit and its report at the Annual meeting of the National Alumni Association meeting and implementing its recommendations.

Section 3. The Recording Secretary shall (1) Keep the minutes of all regular and special meetings of The TSUEAA and the Executive Committee; (2) Maintain the same official records, and records of all transactions of The TSUEAA as duly recorded, disseminated as the official records of The TSTEAA; (3) Keep the roll of the membership, both active and inactive; (4) call the meeting to order at the designated time in the absence of the President and Vice President; and (5) Have at each business meeting a copy of the BYLAWS and minutes of the previous meeting.

Section 4. The Corresponding Secretary shall (1) Prepare all general correspondence of The TSUEAA; (2) Mail all newsletters to the membership; (3) Review all communications and submit same to the proper authority within The TSUEAA; and (4) Carry out other duties which may be assigned by the President and/or Recording secretary.

Section 5. The Treasurer shall (1) Receive and hold the funds of The TSUEAA, which shall be deposited in a financial institution designated by the Executive Committee of the TSUEAA; (2) withdraw the same only upon receipt of a voucher signed/countersigned by the President; (3) Keep an accurate written account of all financial transactions and give a monthly report to The TSUEAA; and (4) Prepare an analysis of the transactions carried out by The TSUEAA to report at the Annual Meetings of The TSUEAA and the National Alumni Association. The Treasurer shall be bonded.

Section 6. The Parliamentarian shall (1) Interpret the National Constitution and The TSUEAA BYLAWS; (2) Ensure that all meetings of The TSUEAA are conducted in accordance with the appropriate and usual parliamentary procedure, as adopted by the TSUEAA; (3) Ensure The TSUEAA Constitution and BYLAWS are in accordance with the Constitution and BYLAWS of the National Alumni Association and (4) serve as the chairperson of the Constitution and BYLAWS Committee.

ARTICLE XI. DUES

Section 1 . The dues for The TSUEAA shall be classified as follows: Charter, Regular, Associate, Honorary, and Life. The dues structure shall be as set forth in the Standing Rules.

Section 2. Dues for the current fiscal year shall be paid by May 31. Delinquent members will not be eligible to vote at any meeting where the business of the TSUEAA is conducted until such time as all financial obligations to the TSUEAA have been met. A late fee of ten dollars ($10) must be included with the payment of any dues received after July 15.

ARTICLE XII. COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing committees shall consist of: (1) Audit Committee which shall be composed of three active members, to be appointed by the President. The Audit Committee shall be responsible for auditing the records of the Treasurer and the Financial Secretary before the March meeting and after each election before the new officers are installed. Other duties may be assigned by the President; (2) BYLAWS Committee shall study all proposed amendments to the TSUEAA and/or National Constitution, BYLAWS or Standing Rules and Resolutions received from members, the Standing Committees and the Executive Committee. All amendments and resolutions to be presented to The TSUEAA for consideration shall be forwarded in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to a regular meeting at which voting will take place; (3) Honorary Membership and Awards Committee shall be composed of five (5) active members, appointed by the President. The Committee shall be responsible for establishing guidelines for the awarding of honorary membership and recommending deserving TSUEAA members for awards t0 encourage membership participation. These recommendations will be forwarded to the Executive. Committee for action; (4) Nominating Committee shall be composed of three (3) to five (5) active members, Who shall be appointed by the President, to nominate elective officers.

The Nominating Committee shall confer not less than two (2) months prior to the election; (5) Program Committee shall consist of five (5) members appointed by the President to develop The TSUERA Program for the year and to be responsible for interpretation and implementation of the Program, subject to the approval of The TSUEAA membership. This Committee would be in charge of: Annual Scholarship Banquet/Dance and other special events of The TSUEAA; and (6) Scholarship Committee shall be composed of five (5) active members appointed by the President, who shall be responsible for establishing guidelines for the awarding of scholarships to deserving student applicants and the shall be actively involved in the recruitment of students to attend Tennessee Statue University.

ARTICLE XII. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised and Robert’s Parliamentary Law shall apply t0 all questions of procedure and parliamentary law not specified in these BYLAWS.

ARTICLE AMMENDMENTS

Section 1 . These BYLAWS may be amended at the Annual meeting by a two—thirds vote of the active members present and absentee ballots submitted by the published date after a thirty (30) day notice has been sent to each active member.

Section 3. If any amendment to the National Alumni Association’s BYLAWS or Constitution conflict with those of The TSUEAA, The TSUEAA BYLAWS shall be deemed to be amended
automatically.

ARTICLE XIV. DISCIPLINARY ACTION

Individual officers or members who violate the provisions of the constitution and/or BYLAWS of the National Alumni Association of Tennessee State University, and thus chapter and/or individuals adjudged guilty of malfeasance, misfeasance, and/or nonfeasance by the Executive Committee shall be warned or suspended or expelled from The TSUEAA by the Executive Committee until the next regularly scheduled meeting of The TSUEM for the transaction of all major business of The TSUEAA. At such meetings, the Executive Committee shall present the reasons/rationale for its action and The TSUEAA members shall then take whatever action deemed appropriate.

TSUEAA STANDING RULES

1. Annual Business Meeting:
The Annual Business meeting will be held on the Friday of Homecoming Week.

2. Dues:
Charter* — $150 ($25 for National Dues and $125 for The TSUEAA); Regular - $75 ($25 for National Dues and $50 for The TSUEAA); Honorary — to be determined by the Executive Committee; Student - to be determined by the Executive Committee; Life - to be determined by the National Executive Committee. The National dues may be paid directly to the National. The TSUEA dues will include the National Dues. However, if a member is already affiliated with another TSU Alumni Chapter or if a member is already a Life Member of the National Alumni Association, that member’s TSUEAA dues will be reduced by the amount of the National Dues.

NOTE: * Dues for Charter Members after the first year will be — ____ after the first year for as long as they retain their membership in the TSUEAA. Charter Member dues will be open to discussion at the first Annual Business meeting and a vote will determine the dues amount.

3. Bank Account:
All withdrawals require the signatures of both the President and the Treasurer.

4. Membership:
The TSUEAA shall be comprised of CET Alumni located worldwide

5. Meetings:
TSUEAA representative(s) shall attend the following:
- Annual Business Meeting (Homecoming Weekend)
- National Alumni Association Annual Meeting
- Other meetings as required that are held in conjunction with CET activities: Industry conferences, seminars, forums, etc.

6. Transition of Business
Governed by Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised.
Issues requiring immediate action by the President and/or the Executive Committee shall be handled via teleconference, video conference or mail.

7. Membership retention:
Utilize Internet to communicate with members. Maintain a database of members containing the following: