CONSTITUTION OF
TRIDENT TECHNICAL COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
Revised February 6, 2007
ARTICLE I
THE ASSOCIATION
Section 1. NAME
The name of the organization shall be the Trident Technical College Alumni Association hereinafter referred to as “the Association.”
Section 2. PURPOSE
The Trident Technical College Alumni Association shall have as its major purpose to support the advancement, growth and development of Trident Technical College. The Association will also provide a forum for educational and leadership development among the alumni, and the operation of the Association will be supported by contributions to the Alumni Fund. The Association will function under the auspices of the Trident Technical College Foundation, which is a 501 (c)(3) corporation.
All the assets and income of the Association shall be used only for the purpose set forth above, including the payment of expenses incidental thereto. No part of its assets or income shall be distributable to its members, trustees or officers. In the event of dissolution or termination of the Association, title in and to all of its assets shall immediately vest in the Trident Technical College Foundation, for the benefit of Trident Technical College, provided that such distribution is consistent with the requirements of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States.
Section 3. OFFICES OF THE ASSOCIATION
The offices of the Association shall be located at 7000 Rivers Avenue, P.O. Box 118067, Charleston, SC 29423-8067.
Section 4. NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
Trident Technical College does not discriminate in admissions or employment on the basis of race, gender, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion or disability. In compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Trident Technical College offers access and equal opportunity in its admissions policies, academic programs and services and employment to individuals with disabilities. No otherwise qualified person will be denied access or opportunity on the basis of a disability.
ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. DEFINITION OF AN ALUMNUS/ALUMNA
All graduates who hold degrees, diplomas or certificates from the College.
Section 2. RIGHTS AND PRIVILIGES
All persons defined as alumni are eligible to be regular members of the Association. They shall be entitled to attend all business and social functions of the Association. They shall have a voice in the deliberations of said business functions but no vote. They shall be entitled to vote at the meeting serving as the annual meeting and be eligible to serve on the Board of Trustees (here in after referred to as the Board) and to hold office on the Board.
An alumnus/alumna shall be vested with full rights and privileges in the Association at the annual commencement.
Section 3. DUES
There shall be no membership dues. In place of dues, the Association will annually solicit the alumni for contributions to the Trident Technical College Foundation, Inc. Alumni Fund.
Section 4. CLASSES OF MEMBERS
Members of the Association shall be classified as follows:
1. All Alumni, as defined in Article II, Section 1.
2. Honorary Members
Honorary Association members shall be persons who are not alumni who, because of outstanding contributions or services to the Association, are elected to Alumni Association membership. Nominations for honorary Association memberships may be received at any time from members of the Association or other friends and supporters of Trident Technical College. The Trustees and officers will review the nominations and will make final recommendations regarding honorary members. Honorary members shall be elected to the Association by a quorum vote of the Board. They shall be entitled to attend all business and social functions of the Association. They shall have a voice in the deliberations of said business functions but shall not be entitled to vote, to serve on the Board or to hold office on the Board.
3. Friend
Any person who has an interest in and commitment to the College and has made a donation to the Alumni Annual Fund shall be designated as "Friend." "Friends" shall be entitled to attend all business and social functions of the Association. They shall have a voice in the deliberations of said business functions but shall not be entitled to vote, to serve on the Board or to hold office on the Board.
ARTICLE III
OPERATION OF THE ASSOCIATION
Section 1. OPERATION
The fiscal year of the Association shall commence July 1 of each year.
The Association will solicit its membership and other potential donors for gifts to the Trident Technical College Foundation Alumni Fund and to other campaigns as approved by the Board.
The funds raised by the Association will be managed by Trident Technical College Foundation, under whose auspices the Alumni Association operates.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. OFFICERS
The officers of the Association shall be President, Vice President, Treasurer, Past President and Executive Secretary and shall comprise the Executive Committee. The officers of the Association must be graduates of Trident Technical College as defined in Article II, Section 1, with the exception of the Executive Secretary, who shall be a professional staff member of Trident Technical College. On all matters relating to the Association, the Executive Secretary will report to the College’s Assistant Vice President for Advancement and coordinate with the Executive Director of the Trident Technical College Foundation.
Section 2. PRESIDENT
A Board member will have served on the Board for a minimum of one year before being eligible for the position of President. The President or his/her designated representative shall preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Board. The President shall be the Chairman of the Executive Committee and shall serve as ex officio member of all committees.
The President shall appoint all committees. In the President’s absence the presiding officer shall make appointments.
At the meeting serving as the annual meeting of the Association, the President shall submit a written or oral report containing such recommendations and information considered proper concerning the business affairs and policies of the Association. The President shall submit such written and oral reports as may be proper at other meetings of the Association and of its Board. The President shall perform other duties associated with this office.
Following the beginning of the fiscal year, the President shall present a program to the Board for its approval, and the Executive Secretary shall advise the Board of all pending matters.
Section 3. VICE PRESIDENT
The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in the absence or incapacity of the President. In the case of resignation, death or disability of the President, the Vice President shall assume the office of the President with all powers pertaining to that office. In the event there is less than one-half of the fiscal year remaining, the office of the Vice President shall remain vacant until the next meeting of the Board.
Section 4. TREASURER
The Treasurer shall render annually to the Association and at each meeting of the Board of the Association an account of the Association’s financial transactions and financial standing.
Section 5. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
The Executive Secretary of the Association shall be a professional staff member of Trident Technical College reporting to the College’s Assistant Vice President for Advancement and coordinating with the Executive Director of the Trident Technical College Foundation on all matters relating to the Association. In the event the College assigns this person other duties, he/she shall be responsible to the appropriate College official for the proper execution of those duties.
The Executive Secretary shall keep and safeguard the records and bylaws of the Association, shall act as secretary of all meetings of the Association and its Board, and shall keep a record of the proceedings of the Association in a journal of proceedings to be maintained for such purposes.
The Executive Secretary, with the approval of the Board, shall authorize expenditure of Association funds held by the Trident Technical College Foundation. The Foundation Executive Committee shall have final approval of Association expenditures.
The Executive Secretary, with the approval of the Board and/or the Foundation Executive Director and the College, shall sign all contracts and other legal instruments made by the Association.
The Executive Secretary shall give appropriate notice to Association members of the meeting serving as the annual meeting of the Association and also give appropriate notice of all Board meetings to Board members.
The Executive Secretary will serve as an ex-officio member of the Board and all committees without a vote.
Section 6. ADDITIONAL DUTIES
The officers of the Association shall perform such duties and functions as may from time to time be requested by the Association, its Board, Trident Technical College and the Trident Technical College Foundation.
ARTICLE V
BOARD MEMBERS
Section 1. BOARD MEMBERSHIP
The Board shall be comprised of not less than fifteen and not more than thirty volunteer alumni elected from the Association’s membership including president, vice president, treasurer, immediate past president, and executive secretary. At the time of each election, efforts will be made to ensure that the Board composition includes an appropriate distribution of alumni from the college service areas and beyond; in addition, an attempt will be made to include alumni representatives of student organizations.
Section 2. EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERSHIP
Former officers shall become ex-officio members of the Board upon ceasing to be elected Board members. They shall not be entitled to vote on issues decided by the Board.
Section 3. HONORARY BOARD MEMBERSHIP
An honorary Board member shall be an alumnus who has demonstrated exemplary leadership and achievement in their community.
Section 4. TERMS OF OFFICE
Terms for Board members will be two years in length.
Board members may serve two complete terms of two years each term, or a total of four consecutive years. However, if the Board member filled a partial term for the position in question, that time shall not be included in the limit of two complete terms of two years each term. Service on the Board shall terminate automatically at the conclusion of the term for which elected unless the Nominating Committee determines that the incumbent member’s continued involvement is vital to the Association’s interests, and the individual expresses the desire to continue his or her service.
Board members may be candidates for a Board position previously held. A period of at least two years must pass before the alumnus can be nominated for a position previously held. The intended cycle is: four consecutive years in a position, two years out of that position, four consecutive years in the position, two years out of the position, etc.
Section 5. ELECTION OR APPOINTMENT
At the meeting serving as the annual meeting, the Association shall hold an election to fill vacancies on the Board. The Association may conduct elections to elect new trustees into office at any qualified meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present and voting so long as the nominations have been distributed to all Trustees at least thirty days prior to the meeting at which the election is to take place.
Board members shall hold office until their successors have been elected.
The Vice President of Advancement of Trident Technical College shall appoint the Executive Secretary with the advice and consent of the President of Trident Technical College and the Board.
Section 6. FUNCTION
The Board shall manage and direct the affairs of the Association in consonance with the policies approved by the Association and the policies of the Trident Technical College Foundation. The Board, working with the Executive Secretary, shall cause to be prepared and submitted to the Association such information and recommendations as it deems proper to carry out the purposes of the Association. The Board shall prepare and report at each meeting serving as the annual meeting a proposed budget for the fiscal year. The Board shall administer funds donated to the Association with the advice and consent of the Trident Technical College Foundation as represented by the Foundation Executive Director. The Board shall endeavor at all times to advance the interests and missions of the Association, the Trident Technical College Foundation and the College, and to preserve the solvency of the Association.
Section 7. BOARD VACANCY
Should a vacancy occur within the membership of the Board, the Board shall elect from among the alumni of the College an individual who shall serve for the unexpired term and become eligible for a two-year term at the next meeting of the Board.
Section 8. REMOVAL
A board member with three consecutive unexcused absences from regularly scheduled meetings may be removed from the Board by a quorum vote of the Board members attending a regularly scheduled or expressly called Board meeting. A letter from the Association President will be sent to such Board members before being replaced on the Board to give them an opportunity to appeal. Board policy will define an unexcused absence.
Section 9. COMMITTEES
The standing committees shall include Development, Nominating, and Executive Committees. The committee roles and functions will be reviewed annually. When necessary, ad hoc committees will be created to help plan and execute special projects.
ARTICLE VI
MEETINGS OF THE ASSOCIATION
Section 1. THE MEETING SERVING AS THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION
The meeting serving as the annual meeting of the Association shall be held on a day, at an hour, and place to be determined by the Board.
Notice of the meeting serving as the annual meeting, stating the hour, place, and other pertinent details shall be given in print or electronically by the Executive Secretary to active members of the association at least five (5) days in advance thereof.
Section 2. MEETINGS
The Board shall establish a regular meeting schedule based on the fiscal year and sufficient to conduct its business, and shall also meet at the call of the President, or upon written petition by two percent (2%) of Association members. At least thirty-six (36) hours notice of any meeting shall be given, but the members of the Board may waive such notice.
Section 3. QUORUM
At all meetings of the Board and/or Association, eight or more voting members must be present to constitute a quorum.
Section 4. MANNER OF VOTING AT THE MEETING SERVING AS THE ANNUAL MEETING
The voting on all questions coming before the Association shall be by voice vote after a statement of the issue by the presiding officer, but the presiding officer may, if he/she desires and upon a majority of members present, direct that votes be taken by a show of hands or by division of the meeting.
Section 5. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
At meetings of the Board and/or Association, the rule contained in Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern deliberations of the Association.
ARTICLE VII
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS
The bylaws of the Association shall be amended only by a majority vote of members present at the meeting serving as the annual meeting or other meeting of the Association, and no such amendment shall be adopted unless written notice of the intent to consider such an amendment shall have been given to Board at least two weeks prior to such meeting. So that such notice may be given, the proponent of any amendment shall file written copies thereof with the President and Executive Secretary at least three weeks prior to such meeting.
Revised February 6, 2007
