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Ole Miss Alumni Association

Ole Miss Alumni Association

“The University is respected, but Ole Miss is loved. The University gives a diploma and regretfully terminates tenure, but one never graduates from Ole Miss.”
-Frank E. Everett Jr.

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LGBTQIA+ Alumni Constitution

 

LGBTQIA+ Logo

 

THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER/QUESTIONING, INTERSEX AND ASEXUAL PLUS

ALUMNI CLUB

THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI

UNIVERSITY, MISSISSIPPI

 

CONSTITUTION

Introduction

            The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual Plus  (LGBTQIA+) alumni of The University of Mississippi Alumni Association, in order to promote the welfare of The University of Mississippi and to foster and increase the affection that exists between the University and its LGBTQ alumni to the end that through their united efforts the University may develop into a greater educational institution which will serve the people of Mississippi with ever increasing effectiveness, do ordain and promulgate this Constitution of the LGBTQ Alumni Club of The University of Mississippi Alumni Association.

 

            All officers of the LGBTQIA+ Alumni Club and the Board of Directors of the Club are separately charged with the primary duty of promoting the best interests of The University of Mississippi Alumni Association and the University in all phases of its work.

 

ARTICLE I

General

            Section 1. NAME. The name of this organization shall be the “LGBTQIA+ Alumni Club of The University of Mississippi Alumni Association.”

 

            Section 2. PURPOSE.  The purpose of this organization is to promote effective social education at The University of Mississippi, to promote the best understanding between The University of Mississippi and its LGBTQ alumni and friends to the end that the work of the Club may be of the highest caliber, to cooperate with The University of Mississippi Alumni Association in all matters affecting the welfare of The University of Mississippi, and to cooperate with all other agencies of the University, the state government, or private interests which might affect the welfare of the University.  Additional purposes of the club may include, but not limited to,

  • Recruitment of LGBTQ+ students to the University of Mississippi
  • Mentoring current LGBTQ+ students
  • Fundraising
  • Social activities for LGBTQ+ alumni

 

Section 3. CONFLICTING PROVISIONS.  It is recognized that The University of Mississippi is an institution of state government, and all powers and authority of the University are derived from the Constitution and the actions of the Legislature of the State of Mississippi through the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. Therefore, any part or parts of this Constitution or any law passed under the authority thereof which shall conflict with any law or laws of the State of Mississippi, or with any rules or regulations promulgated by the Board’s representative, the Chancellor of The University of Mississippi, ofThe University of Mississippi Alumni Association, shall be null and void from the time of its, or their, enactment.

 

            Section 4. DISTRIBUTION OF POWERS. The powers of the LGBTQIA+ Alumni Club of The University of Mississippi Alumni Association shall be divided between the Officers and the Board of Directors who shall have the power to act.

 

            Section 5. FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS.  The Club shall hold meetings on call of the President or Executive Director of The University of Mississippi Alumni Association.

 

            Section 6. MEETING PROCEDURES. At any meeting of the Club, Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised Edition shall govern the conduct of such meetings except where these Rules are inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution.

 

ARTICLE II 

Club Membership

            Section 1. MEMBER.  A member of the LGBTQIA+ Alumni Club shall be defined as an individual in good standing with the Alumni Club and The University of Mississippi Alumni Association, as determined by the Board of Directors. LGBTQ+ individuals, allies, and non-graduates may join as members of the Alumni Club in accordance with Alumni Club policy and The University of Mississippi Alumni Association policy.

 

            Section 2. ALUMNI. ALL LGBTQIA+ graduates of The University of Mississippi.

 

            Section 3. FRIENDS. Anyone who is not a graduate but who is interested in the supporting the LGBTQIA+ Alumni Club.

 

ARTICLE III

Officers and Terms

            Section 1.  OFFICERS DESIGNATED.  The Club shall have a President, a President-Elect, an Executive Secretary, and Treasurer.  The office of Executive Secretary shall be held by the Executive Director of Alumni Affairs or his or her designee as a permanent position.

           

Section 2. ELECTION OF PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT-ELECT, AND TREASURER.  The President, President-Elect, and Treasurer of the Club shall be duly elected by a majority vote of regular members present and voting at an annual meeting of the Club in a manner prescribed by the President and Board Directors. Officer elections shall take place during the first full week of November.

 

Section 3. TERMS OF OFFICE OF PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT-ELECT, AND TREASURER.   

  • The President, President-Elect, and Treasurer shall serve for two (2) years in their respective offices, beginning on January 1 following their election. Each year of a term shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31.
  • No former President shall be eligible for election to the office of President-Elect for a period of three (3) years after the expiration of their term as President.
  • The President-Elect shall automatically become President after serving two (2) years as President-Elect on January 1 following the election of the incoming President-Elect.

 

Section 4. VACANCIES.

  • In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the President-Elect shall assume the office for the unexpired term and shall then serve a full term as President beginning on the occasion January 1 following the election of the incoming President-Elect.
  • In the event of a vacancy in the office of President-Elect, the Board of Directors shall appoint a successor who shall serve in that capacity until the next meeting of the Club following their appointment when a President-Elect shall be elected as prescribed by this Constitution to serve the remainder of the unexpired term and then serve a full term as President.
  • In the event of a vacancy in the office of Treasurer, the Board of Directors shall appoint a successor who shall serve in that capacity until the next meeting of the Board of Directors following their appointment when a Treasurer shall be elected as prescribed by this Constitution to serve the remainder of the unexpired term.

 

Section 5. VOTING.

  • All members of the Club shall be entitled to vote at an election of officers of the Club.
  • Voting in Club elections shall be prescribed by the President and Board of Directors and in conformity with such other methods as may be prescribed by law.

 

ARTICLE IV

Constitutional Duties of Officers

 

            Section 1. PRESIDENT.  The President shall take care that the purposes set forth in the Introduction of the Constitution are carried out faithfully, shall preside over the affairs of the Board of Directors, and shall advise the Board on matters of policy. The president shall reserve the right to develop standing or ad-hoc committees to further the purposes established under the Introduction of the Constitution and accomplish the duties set forth in this Article.

 

            Section 2. PRESIDENT-ELECT.  The President-Elect shall have all the authority vested by these Articles in the absence of the President.

 

            Section 3. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY.  The Executive Secretary shall be responsible for the coordination of the LGBTQIA+ Alumni Club activities, and they shall work with the Officers, the Board of Directors, and the other members of the Club for the benefit of the Club and The University of Mississippi.  The Executive Secretary may advise the Board of Directors on matters of The University of Mississippi Alumni Association policy and procedures, and the Executive Secretary shall serve as a non-voting member of the Board of Directors.

 

            Section 4. TREASURER. The Treasurer shall be responsible for developing and presenting an annual organizational budget to the Board of Directors  for each fiscal year beginning on October 1 and ending on September 30, managing and accounting for all organizational funds and accounts, developing a strategic fundraising plan in conjunction with the Board of Directors regarding all scholarships and endowments, and managing all financial reporting and disclosures as required by The University of Mississippi policy and state and local law.  

 

 

 

ARTICLE V 

Board of Directors and Terms

            Section 1. GENERAL.  There shall be a Board of Directors selected as hereinafter provided which shall have full direction and control of the Club and which shall constitute the governing body of the Club.

 

            Section 2. BOARD OF DIRECTORS DESIGNATED. The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, President-Elect, the Executive Secretary, the Treasurer and ten (10) regular members of the Club. The Immediate Past President shall serve as one of the ten (10) members of the Board of Directors.

 

            Section 3. ELECTIONS.

  • The members of the Board of Directors shall be elected from the regular membership of the Club who are in good standing as determined by The University of Mississippi Alumni Association and Alumni Club.
  • Elections for the Board of Director positions shall be held in the first full week of November of each year, and the newly elected Board members shall assume their Board of Director positions on January 1 immediately following their election.

 

Section 4. TERMS OF OFFICE.

  • The membership of the Board of Directors shall be for a term of one (1), two (2), or three (3) years. Among the ten (10) Board positions, two (2) members, including the Immediate Past President, shall serve for a term of one (1) year; four (4) members shall serve for a term of two (2) years; and four (4) members shall serve for a term of three years. The inaugural Board of Directors shall be appointed to their respective terms by the President, and subsequent Board of Directors shall follow the established terms set by the inaugural Board and prescribed by this Article.
  • Terms of office shall begin on the occasion of January 1 following their election.
  • The Immediate Past President shall serve no more than a single term of one (1) year on the Board of Directors immediately following their term as President, and they shall not be eligible for election to the Board for a period of one (1) year after the date of their retirement.
  • A retiring member shall not be eligible for election to the Board for a period of one (1) year after the date of their retirement.

 

Section 5. VACANCIES.  In the event of a vacancy of the membership of the Board of Directors, a successor may be appointed by the President to complete the unexpired term. 

 

ARTICLE VI

Ratification of the Constitution

 

            Section 1. EFFECTIVE DATE.  The establishment of this Club was authorized by the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors of The University of Mississippi Alumni Association on April 11, 2014.  This constitution shall be effective as of July 1, 2014.