Constitution for the Purdue Alumni Club of Omaha
The following has been adopted by the Purdue Alumni Club of Omaha as its constitution, with the intent that it will govern the club’s activities in the future.
Article One – Name
The name of this organization shall be the “The Purdue Alumni Club of Omaha”, hereafter referred to as “the club”. The geographic club area consists of a 60-mile radius of Omaha, Nebraska.
Article Two – Purpose
The purpose of the club is to promote Purdue University and the Purdue Alumni Association through involvement and support of local community activities, and to provide networking opportunities among the alumni, friends and students of Purdue University.
Article Three – Membership
Membership in the club is open to any graduate of any campus of Purdue University, and all persons who have attended or who wish to support Purdue. The club may collect an annual activity fee.
Article Four – Fees
The club board of directors must approve any fee charged by the club. If an annual activity fee is charged, the amount will be reviewed annually. The club may also collect a fee to help offset expenses of a specific club function.
The primary custodians for the club checking account will be the treasurer and club president. However, no funds may be withdrawn without the joint consent of the board of directors. A full recap of the previous year’s financial activity and current balances will be reported to the club each year as part of the annual business meeting.
The account will be comprised of two sub-accounts:
1) General Operating Account
2) Scholarship Account
Funds may be transferred from the General Operating Account to the Scholarship Account with a majority vote at a scheduled business meeting communicated to the club’s membership (this forum will normally be the annual spring meeting unless an additional meeting is deemed necessary by the directors).
Article Five – Directors and Officers
The board of directors shall be responsible for establishing policies and conducting the business of the organization. The membership of the club shall elect the board. The board will consist of not more than five (5) persons, which shall include the president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer.
The following officers shall serve the club.
President – The president will preside at all meetings and will serve as the chief executive officer of the organization. In addition, the president will serve in the following capacities: liaison between the Purdue Alumni Association and the club, lead planner, co-financial responsibilities, and working as necessary with the board of directors to ensure that the organization is operating appropriately. The president shall serve a term of two (2) years to be elected on even-numbered years.
Vice President – The vice president will serve in the absence of the president and will also serve the following functions as appointed by the president: events/program-planning assistance, co-financial responsibilities and assistance in other activities as deemed appropriate by the president. The vice president shall serve a term of two (2) years to be elected on odd-numbered years.
Secretary – The secretary will record the minutes of all meetings, preserve all reports, keep an official roll of club participants and contact information (including email addresses). In addition, the secretary will be responsible for working with the board of directors to ensure completion of the following duties: website updates, organizing and sharing of annual calls to new club area contacts to update the official roll and update e-mail addresses, and communication via web and email to members on scheduled activities and other notices. The secretary shall serve a term of two (2) years to be elected on odd-numbered years.
Treasurer – The treasurer will be responsible for all financial affairs of the club, including handling money, activity fees, receipts and payment of bills for the club. The treasurer shall communicate to the club membership in writing the financial status at least once per year and initiate an annual review of said finances following the end of each fiscal year (June 30). In addition, the treasurer will serve as risk officer, responsible for implementing and assuring compliance with loss prevention practices established by the Purdue Alumni Association. The treasurer shall serve a term of two (2) years to be elected on even-numbered years.
No disbursements of funds from the bank account of the Purdue Club of Omaha will be permitted without the consent of the board of directors.
To be eligible to serve on the board of directors (i.e. an officer of the club), a candidate must be a member of the Purdue Alumni Association.
In the event of any vacancy occurring in the officer positions, the president may appoint any member as successor to hold office for the duration of the unexpired term. A majority vote of the club board of directors must affirm this selection.
Article Six – Meetings
Business meetings shall be held at least once each year, and at such additional times as the board of directors shall deem necessary. A good faith effort shall be made to notify all club members thirty (30) days prior to holding such meetings. A quorum of 20 attendees must be met to conduct business, and this quorum number will be included in the meeting notification. The spring meeting each year shall be designated as the annual meeting for the election of officers. The club’s operating year shall be in unison with the Purdue Alumni Association fiscal year: July 1 – June 30.
Article 7 – Amendments
The constitution may be amended only at a scheduled meeting by a 2/3 majority vote of the board of directors. Amendments must have been proposed prior to the meeting and shall be included with the meeting notice, referenced in Article six. Amendments must also be approved by the Purdue alumni staff.
Article 8 – Dissolution
The club may dissolve in one of the following manners:
1. The board of directors of the local club notifies Purdue Alumni in writing of its desire to dissolve.
2. The club fails to have an activity for two (2) consecutive years following the date of the most recent activity reported to Purdue Alumni.
Purdue Alumni reserves the right to dissolve the club if it does not fulfill the purpose stated in Article Two.
After the club has dissolved, other individuals wishing to organize a club in this geographic region may do so through the adoption of a new constitution.
Any assets accumulated by the club would be forwarded to the Purdue Alumni Association offices with instructions as to what is to be done with the funds. It would be the responsibility of the dissolved club’s board of directors to agree on asset disbursement and to ensure that this is accomplished.
Article 9 – Scholarships
Scholarships will be awarded on an annual basis and will be limited to a maximum of two undergraduate students who reside within the following counties comprising the club’s geographical area:
Nebraska:
Dodge
Washington
Saunders
Douglas
Sarpy
Lancaster
Cass
Iowa:
Pottawattami
Scholarships will be merit-based, and the recipient(s) will be chosen by Purdue University’s Division of Financial Aid (DFA). If an incoming freshman, a recipient must have at least a 3.5/4.0 high school graduation index. If a returning student, they must have at least a 3.0/4.0 graduation index. Preference will be given to students closest to graduation.
Each year’s total scholarship allocation will not exceed one-quarter (25%) of the balance of funds in the Club’s scholarship account. An award can be granted to a recipient more than once.
Upon selection of scholarship recipients each year, their name(s) will be posted on the club’s website under the “scholarship” link.
Article 10 – Adoption and Approval
The constitution shall be adopted upon its approval by a majority vote of the members of the local staff in attendance at a meeting for that specific purpose and upon the approval of the Purdue alumni staff. All alumni are to be notified thirty (30) days prior to that meeting.
Following club approval, the club charter is formally established by its addition to the official Purdue Alumni club directory. The alumni association will provide the club president with an approved copy of the constitution.
