THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE AGRICULTURAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I – NAME. The name of the Association will be the University of Delaware Agricultural Alumni Association , hereafter referred to as the Association in this constitution and by-laws.
ARTICLE II – PURPOSES. The purposes of the Association shall be –
Section 1 In support of the University of Delaware :
A. To aid the promotion of educational, social and charitable activities and programs, in coordination with the University of Delaware Alumni Association , that contribute to the interest and welfare of the University of Delaware .
B. To support the agricultural programs of the University of Delaware in education, extension, research and services.
C. To assist the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources in encouraging increased student enrollment in agriculture and to help in the establishment of scholarships, assistantships and fellowships for agricultural students.
Section 2 In support of Agriculture in the Delmarva Area:
A. To encourage those activities that would help recognize the importance of the profession of agriculture, including cooperation with other agriculturally oriented educational agencies.
B. To promote cooperative relations with and between government, civic and conservation interests in areas of air, water, soil and wildlife resources and in planning, zoning and development or use of land resources.
C. To provide an avenue to give recognition to outstanding persons in the agricultural industry.
Section 3 In support of the University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources faculty and professional staff:
A. To present an annual opportunity for socializing between University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources faculty, professional staff, and agricultural alumni.
B. To present an annual opportunity for socializing between those engaged in agriculture, University Agriculture personnel, and agricultural alumni.
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 Regular Membership – Any person who has been enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Delaware and has earned an Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate Degree is eligible for regular membership in this Association. Regular membership includes the right to vote and hold office in this Association provided the member has paid his annual dues.
Section 2 Associate Membership – Any person who has been enrolled in an agricultural science program of any institution of higher learning or who by action of the Board of Directors is recognized as an Associate Member. Payment of annual dues by an Associate Member shall be required, but such members do not have the right to vote or hold office in the Association.
Section 3 Honorary Membership – An individual may be selected by the majority vote of the Board of Directors for his outstanding contribution in agriculture. Nominations should originate within the Agricultural Alumni membership. The privilege of voting and holding office in the Association shall not be included with honorary membership.
ARTICLE II – ORGANIZATION
Section 1 Management – The responsibility and authority for the management of the affairs of this Association shall be vested in a Board of Directors consisting of sixteen (16) elected Regular Members of the Association and five (5) appointed Undergraduate Senior Directors. There shall be twelve (12) County Directors : four directors from New Castle County , four directors from Kent County , four directors from Sussex County . The remaining elected Board members shall be made up of four Directors-at-Large residing outside the State of Delaware . Each County Director and each Director-at-Large shall serve a 4-year term. Where possible, the elected directors’ fields of employment shall represent a cross section of the agricultural industry. The five Undergraduate Senior Directors, one from each of the five departments in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, will be appointed by the Dean of the College and will serve a one (1) calendar year term starting at the end of the spring semester.
Subsection 1 Nominations for the Board of Directors – The President shall appoint, sixty days prior to the annual meeting, four Regular Members to a Nominating Committee to prepare a slate of candidates for the Board of Directors. The President may also seek input from the current Board of Directors for nominations. There shall be one from each county and one from out of state. The Nominating Committee shall contact each nominee prior to the submission of its report and secure the consent of the nominee in writing to serve as a condition precedent to nomination.
Subsection 2 Method of Election – To be elected, a nominee for the office of director must receive a majority of the votes cast. Voting for such nominees shall be by voice or written ballot of the Regular Members at the annual meeting of the Association.
Subsection 3 Vacancies in the Board of Directors – Vacancies occurring on the Board of Directors shall be filled by appointment of the executive committee and such appointees shall serve until the next annual meeting.
Section 2 Election of Officers – The Board of Directors shall elect from among their members a president, first vice-president, second vice-president, and third vice-president each for a one-year term to serve until his successor is duly elected. No person shall serve more than two successive years in the same office of the Association except the secretary and the treasurer.
Subsection 1 The President – The president shall be the chief executive officer of the Association and shall preside at all meetings of the Association. S/he shall appoint all committees except as herein otherwise provided.
Subsection 2 The Vice-Presidents – The first vice-president shall act for the president in the latter’s absence. In the event that the president resigns or becomes unable to continue in this service, the first vice-president shall complete the unexpired term of the president. The second vice-president shall act for the first vice-president as the situation may warrant.
Subsection 3 The Secretary – The secretary shall be a member of the Board of Directors and shall serve for the length of her/his term on the Board. S/he will have a vote on the Board of Directors. S/he shall be the secretary of all meetings of the Executive Committee, of the Board of Directors and the annual meeting of the members, and s/he shall be responsible for the maintenance of the necessary records as well as correspondence that may be required.
Subsection 4 The Treasurer – The treasurer shall be a member of the Association and on the staff of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the University of Delaware . S/he will be appointed by the Board of Directors to serve at the pleasure of the Board. S/he will not have a vote on the Board of Directors. The treasurer shall be the custodian of the funds of the Association and shall render such financial reports from time to time as may be required. The treasurer shall not be required to attend all meetings of the Association but may submit financial reports to be read at such meetings to the president or other designated Board member.
Subsection 5 The Executive Committee – During intervals between meetings of the Board of Directors, an Executive Committee is hereby authorized and empowered to transact business for and on behalf of the Association. The actions of the Executive Committee shall be subject to approval by the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the president, first vice-president, second vice-president, third vice-president, and one other member of the Board of Directors who shall be so designated by the president.
ARTICLE III – FINANCES
Section 1 Dues – The annual dues for this Association shall be $10.00 (ten dollars) per calendar year. Dues may be suspended by a majority vote of the Board of Directors per calendar year.
ARTICLE IV – MEETINGS
Section 1 Association Meetings – There shall be at least one meeting of the Association membership during the year, such meeting to be held on a date as designated by the Board of Directors. Special meetings of the Association membership may be called by the president or by written petition to the secretary-treasurer by ten percent of the Regular Members at any time for any valid purpose.
Section 2 Meeting of the Board of Directors – The Board of Directors shall hold as many meetings during the year as shall be called by the president. At least six members of the Board of Directors must be present to be considered a quorum at any regular or special meeting thereof.
Section 3 Executive Committee Meetings – The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the president or on the petition of any three voting members of the committee. Three of the voting members of the committee must be present to constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE V
Except as herein provided for, all actions of the Association, the Board of Directors and Executive Committee shall be approved by a majority vote of all members present and voting.
ARTICLE VI
The Constitution and its By-Laws may be amended at any duly called meeting of the Association by a two-thirds vote of Regular Members present at such meetings provided at least two weeks notice is given to all members prior to the meeting.
ARTICLE VII
Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of meetings of the Association and Board of Directors and other committees authorized and established herein.
ARTICLE VIII
This organization may be dissolved at any time upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the active Regular Members present and voting at any annual meeting of the members, provided that such assets as might belong to this Association, upon payment of all debts, be turned over to the University of Delaware, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, for furtherance of charitable and educational purposes.
ARTICLE IX
Adopted this 11 th day of July, 2004.
January, 1970
Amended February, 1981
Amended April 13, 2002
Amended March 29, 2003
Amended July 11, 2004
Filename: Ag Alumni Const&Bylaws 7-11-04.doc