Constitution Cornell University Class of 1996

Article I: Name

This organization shall be known as the Cornell University Class of 1996.

Article II: Purpose

The purpose of this Class shall be to promote the interests of Cornell and its own identity through the exchange of information and the performance of mutually beneficial activities.

Article III: Membership

Any person listed on the official records of Cornell University , as having entered with or transferred into the Class of 1996, is automatically a member.

Article IV: Voting and Meetings

Section 1. All Members of the Class shall have the right to vote at general Class meetings that they attend (i.e. Reunion , CACO training weekend in January)

Section 2. In case of absence, only current dues paying members of the Class shall have the right of voting by proxy at these general meetings.

Section 3. The President must call a general Class meeting at least once every five years that shall coincide with the University sponsored Class reunion in Ithaca.

Section 4. Any offices that have co-chairs will have their votes counted as a block; i.e. Co-Presidents, Co-Class Correspondents, Regional Reps as a region, etc. Each Council member will vote individually and the Secretary will be responsible for counting the votes as appropriate as individuals or blocks, depending on position. Majority rules within a block.

Section 5. Majority rules within Council voting unless expressly noted below.

Section 6. All Council voting will be time sensitive. The Council will receive at least two weeks notice of the voting deadline. If no vote is received by an individual, that person's voice for that vote will be considered forfeited.

Article V: Class Organization and Governance

Section 1. Between general Class meetings, the Class shall be governed by a Council consisting of at least the President, Vice-President-Membership, VP-Fundraising, Secretary, Treasurer, Class Correspondent, Reunion Chair, and Webmaster.

Section 2. This Council shall meet at least once a year and it shall be responsible for all policy matters affecting the Class.

Section 3. To assist in their programs, the Council may appoint additional Class members on the basis of their interest and special abilities.

Section 4. Regional organizations may be established to coordinate Class activities with the regional office of the University.

Article VI: Appointment and Removal of Officers

Section 1. All executive officers shall be elected at the designated quinquennial Class meeting for a term of five consecutive years, coinciding with the University's fiscal calendar (July 1 st of reunion year until June 30 th of next reunion year). At least ninety days prior to that Class meeting, an independent nominations committee will be put together to manage the elections process (i.e. collecting the information/bios from interested class mates, managing the actual election at reunion, etc.). This committee will be managed by one of the regional Council members, who will be designated Nominations Chair. If no one steps forward by January 15^th of the reunion year, the President will then appoint a Nominations Chair.

Section 2. A ¾ majority vote by the Class Council may suspend any member of such Council for cause and may appoint a replacement until the subsequent election. Any vacancy due to resignation or other valid reason may be filled in a like manner.

Section 3. The Cornell University Class of 1996 shall have term limits on its officers.

• The Vice-President(s), Secretary, Class Correspondent(s), Reunion Chair(s), and Class Webmaster cannot serve more than three consecutive terms (15 consecutive years).
• The President and Treasurer cannot serve more than two consecutive terms (10 consecutive years).
• Under extenuating circumstances, this section of Article VI of the Constitution may be suspended by unanimous consent of the independent Nominating Committee and ¾ majority vote by the Executive Board.

Section 4. For further specific election procedures and processes, refer to CACO's guidelines.

Article VII: Duties of Class Officers

Section 1. The President is the chief executive officer of the class and chairperson of the Class Council. The President shall be responsible for:

• Establishing and supervising Class activities
• Presiding and planning all meetings of the Class and Class Council
• Insuring that Class Council members are performing their elective office duties in the best interest of the Class
• Insuring that at least one request for dues are mailed to the entire Class each year, along with a State of the Class message
• Attempt to attend at least one Cornell event quarterly

Section 2. The Vice-President Membership shall assist the President in designated responsibilities and:

• Plan three or four mailings per year for dues solicitation
• Work through the other VP's and Council members for needed outreach in specific regional areas and among particular affinity groups
• Act as the President in the absence of the President
• Be responsible for all marketing scheduling for the Council
• Sending a monthly update to the President on what is going on with your position on the second Tuesday of every month
• Attempt to attend at least one Cornell event quarterly

Section 3. The Secretary shall preside at Class meetings in the absence of the President and VP-Membership. The Secretary's main responsibility shall be the maintenance of the current roster with address of the Class membership. In addition, the Secretary is responsible for:

• Writing of all Class correspondence (i.e. condolence letters, etc.)
• Maintaining Class records and documents
• Serving as a liaison between Class membership and the Class Council
• Recording the minutes of all official meetings and activities and posting them for the Class and the Council's review
• Assisting the Treasurer and/or Webmaster when requested
• Counting results during Council voting and tallying for the President
• Passing contact information along of classmates who wish to join the Council to President and VP Membership
• Sending a monthly update to the President on what is going on with your position on the second Tuesday of every month
• Collects all of the Council updates from the President and posts them for the Council
• Attempt to attend at least one Cornell event quarterly
• Serves as the gatekeeper for new initiatives or motions brought forth by members of the Council, other than the President.

Section 4. The Treasurer shall be the principal financial officer and is responsible for the receipt, custody, management, investment, and disbursement of all Class funds. The treasurer shall also be responsible:

• For furnishing an annual itemized account of the treasury to the class officer team for examination
• For reviewing the treasury monthly with the Presidents on the first Tuesday of every month as well as semi-annually to analyze individual budgets vs. spending
• For the Cornell Alumni Magazine subscription plan and to supervise the solicitation and account for the annual Class spending
• For developing Class dues participation and seeking budgetary agreement with the Class Council
• Authorizing payment of all Class bills by The Office of Alumni Affairs and working to ensure that the Class follows all University financial and budget policies.
• Updating and enforcing the Class expense policy as necessary
• Educating officers and Class council members who will be making purchases with Class funds about the University rules and guidelines for purchasing and maintaining tax exempt status.
• Assisting Reunion Chairs with budget/financial planning issues.
• Assists President and VPs with developing yearly budgets
• Attempt to attend at least one Cornell event quarterly

Section 5. The VP-Constituent Relations shall:

• Encourage and coordinate the regional Council members and their local fundraising, dues solicitation, and event planning efforts
• Maintain contact with the various Cornell regional offices and advise them of our Class efforts
• Find out Cornell regional activities and disseminate the information to the Council and the Webmaster
• Sending a monthly update to the President on what is going on with your position on the second Tuesday of every month
• Work toward having each Cornell region represented on the Council
• Oversee the Regional Council members and assist them in planning at least one event per year (could be piggybacking off of existing regional events or something new)
• Attempt to attend at least one Cornell event quarterly

Section 6. The VP-Affinity shall:

• Work with the list of affinity groups and the VP Membership to better target non-dues-paying members of the Class.
• Keep the Class and Webmaster aware of happenings on campus
• Solicit help from Council people to market the Council to other specific contingencies of Class members
• Sending a monthly update to the President on what is going on with your position on the second Tuesday of every month
• Attempt to attend at least one Cornell event quarterly

Section 7. The VP-Fundraising shall:

• Coordinate with the VP-Membership a list of VIP donors and assist with thank-you's
• Conduct the annual solicitation
• Sending a monthly update to the President on what is going on with your position on the second Tuesday of every month
• Attempt to attend at least one Cornell event quarterly

Section 8. The Class Correspondent(s) shall submit a bi-monthly news column for the Cornell Alumni Magazine and prepare a Class newsletter when so directed by the Class Council as well as:

• Creating a schedule of which Correspondent will be handling which class columns and providing that to the President and VP-Membership for each calendar year
• Notify the Secretary of any events that require follow up from the Class (births, deaths, weddings, major awards, etc.) – this should be done by the first Tuesday of every month
• Sending a monthly update to the VP-Membership on what is going on with your position on the second Tuesday of every month
• Attempt to attend at least one Cornell event quarterly

Section 9. The Reunion Chair(s) shall plan the official Class reunion in conjunction with the University and with the support and cooperation of the Executive Committee and Council.

• These Council members will also include an open class meeting and class elections on the Reunion agenda.
• The chairs will work closely with the President, Treasurer, VP Membership and Office of Alumni Affairs staff members. The Council will set budget and powers.
• Sending a monthly update to the VP-Membership on what is going on with your position on the second Tuesday of every month
• Attempt to attend at least one Cornell event quarterly

Section 10. The Class Webmaster will be responsible for keeping the website current with information submitted by Class members and Alumni Affairs and Development.

• The Webmaster will maintain the Class Electronic Mailing List and publish messages as appropriate.
• Publish regional events and updates electronically where appropriate
• Works with Class Correspondents, VP Membership, Historian, and President on appropriate timing and information flow
• Sending a monthly update to the VP-Membership on what is going on with your position on the second Tuesday of every month
• Attempt to attend at least one Cornell event quarterly

Section 11. Class Council Members shall:

• Represent specific regions of the country
• Be responsible for regional outreach efforts with dues and gift solicitation and/or regional class events
• Assist VP-Membership and VP-Affinity with membership drives locally
• Assist other officers with anything in which they have a particular interest
• Attempt to attend at least one Cornell event quarterly
• Sending a monthly update to the VP-Constituent Relations on what is going on with your position on the second Tuesday of every month

Section 12. The Historian shall:

• Create a record of interesting Cornell information as well as class happenings; i.e. one reunion vs. the next, notable classmates, collecting photos from reunions for the website
• Work with Class Correspondents as a resource for their class columns
• Sending a monthly update to the VP-Membership on what is going on with your position on the second Tuesday of every month
• Attempt to attend at least one Cornell event quarterly

Article VIII: Finances

Section 1. The fiscal year for the Class shall commence on January 1st and end on the succeeding December 31st .

Section 2. The Class Officers shall determine the amount of Class dues.

Article IX: Amendment

Section 1. This Constitution may be amended at any stated meeting of the Class Council by an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members present and voting (in person or telephonically), or by acceptance by 2/3 majority eligible to vote.

Section 2. Quorum: A quorum of five Class Officers (and/or blocks) must be present to officially amend the Constitution. If fewer than five are present, the Amendment may be enacted as a Provisional Amendment until such a time as either:

• a quorum approves it through subsequent communications
• the Class Council approves it at its stated Class Council meeting

Article X: Enactment

This Constitution shall be considered ratified in 2003 upon the affirmative vote of 2/3 of the Class members present and voting. Coincident with this action, any existing constitution governing this Class of 1996 shall be abrogated.

Certificate of Enactment

This Constitution was approved by acclamation and without dissent by all members of the Class of 1996 Council via proxy through the web, on February 28, 2003.