Our Constitution

Cornell University Class of 1959

Article I: Name

This organization shall be known as the Cornell University Class of 1959 (referred to herein as “the Class”).

Article II: Purpose

The purpose of the Class shall be to promote the interests of Cornell University and Class identity through the exchange of information and by involving Class members in activities that foster class unity and good will towards the University and each other.

Article III: Membership

Any person listed on the official records of Cornell University as any undergraduate having entered with or transferred into the Class of 1959 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.

Section 2:

In the event of absence, only current dues paying members shall have the right to vote by proxy. Such votes must be in writing and addressed to the Secretary of the Class whose duty it shall be to register such proxy votes and pass these results to the Nominating Committee if the votes concern nominations of Class officers.

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.

Article V:

Class Organization and Governance

Section 1:

Between the five year general Class meetings, the Class shall be governed by an Executive Committee composed of a President (s), Vice President (s), Secretary, Treasurer, Class Correspondent (s), Reunion Chair (s), Cornell Fund Representative, and Class Webmaster.
The University staff assigned to our Class from Alumni Affairs and Development will serve as ex-officio members in a non-voting, advisory capacity.

Section 2:

This Executive Committee shall hold a meeting at least once a year that shall coincide with the annual CACO-sponsored meeting in New York City and it shall be responsible for all policy matters affecting the Class.

Section 3:

To assist in their programs, the Executive Committee shall appoint Class members to serve on the Class Council as Regional Vice Presidents on the basis of their interest and special abilities. Efforts shall be made at each Reunion and in between to recruit new Class Council members.

Section 4:

The retiring Class officers shall be encouraged whenever possible to serve on Class Council in ex-officio capacity for the succeeding five years if they are not serving in any other capacity.

Section 5:

The Executive Committee shall develop a list of those classmates interested in serving on Class Council and fill vacancies as they occur.

Section 6:

Regional organizations and/or committees may be established and coordinated under the leadership of the Vice President (s) to promote and coordinate Class activities.

Article VI:

Appointment and Removal of Officers

Section 1:

All Executive Committee officers shall be elected at the designated quinquennial Class meeting for a term of five consecutive years beginning July 1 following election.

Section 2:

At least ninety days prior to that Class meeting, the President (s) shall appoint a Nominating Committee (see Article 10, section 1) to bring before the meeting a slate of nominees for each elected position to be filled. In the event that the defined Officer positions in Article V, Section 1 are not all slated to be filled after a reasonable effort by the Nominating Committee, the President may combine some of the positions at his/her discretion with the approval of the majority of the Class and the person who would be slated into the combined position (possible examples: Treasurer/Cornell Fund Representative or Secretary/Class Correspondent).

Section 3:

Only dues paying members will be eligible for appointment to the Executive Committee or eligible to serve on the Class Council. Additionally, the Executive Committee and Class Council members must continue to be dues payers throughout the tenure of their terms. If they do not pay dues, they will automatically be suspended until dues are paid.

Section 4:

A 3/4 vote by the Executive Committee may suspend any member of the Executive Committee or Class Council for cause and may appoint a replacement until the subsequent nominations. Prior to this vote, the President or Vice President(s) shall send a warning letter to the Officer in question which will allow the Officer a 90 day period to improve (in absence of flagrant misconduct). Any vacancy due to resignation or other valid reason may be filled in a like manner.

Section 5:

For further specific election procedures and processes, refer to CACO’s Guidelines.

Article VII:

Responsibilities of Officers

Section 1:

The President (s) is the chief executive officer of the Class and chairperson (s) of the Class Council. The President (s) shall be responsible for:

A Working with the Executive Committee and Class Council to establish and supervise Class activities.
B Presiding at all meetings of the Class and Class Council.
C Insuring that Executive Committee and Class Council members are performing their elective office duties in the best interest of the Class.
D Insuring that at least 3 requests for/thanks for dues are sent to the entire Class each year.
E Along with the Vice President (s) appointing the Nominating Committee.

Section 2:

The Vice President(s) shall assist the President in designated responsibilities and:

A Act as the President in the absence of the President.
B Be responsible for the planning and execution of all Class and Council meetings and other informal activities.
C Encourage and coordinate all the regional organizations and their activities.
D As directed by the President, prepare News and Dues letters, follow-up postcards, and special mailings to non-renewals.

Section 3:

The Secretary shall preside at Class meetings in the absence of the President and Vice President(s). The Secretary’s main responsibility shall be the maintenance of the current roster with addresses of the Class membership. In addition, the Secretary is responsible to:

A Record and distribute the minutes of all official meetings and activities to the Executive Committee, the Council, and The Office of Alumni Affairs.
B Maintain Class records and documents, including Class Constitution and Bylaws.
C Prepare and send Class related thank-you, congratulatory, and sympathy notes.

Section 4:

The Treasurer shall be the principal financial officer and is responsible (along with the University Business Office) for the receipt, custody, management, investment, and disbursement of all Class funds. The Treasurer’s responsibilities shall also include:

A Preparing a summary of the Class finances for examination by the Executive Committee and Class Council at each annual Executive Committee meeting.
B Overseeing the Cornell Alumni Magazine subscription plan and supervising the solicitation and accounting for the annual Class dues.
C Developing Class dues participation including making recommendations to the Executive Committee concerning any changes in the dues structure and strategies intended to increase the number of dues payers in the Class.
D 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.
E Updating and enforcing the Class expense policy as necessary.
F 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.
G Assisting Reunion Chairs with budget/ financial planning issues.

Section 5:

The Cornell Fund Representative shall work closely with the Cornell Fund staff in Alumni Affairs and Development and with the Executive Committee. The Representative shall receive reports from the Cornell Fund and monitor Class progress in funds raised and provide the leadership and goal-setting for the Reunion fund raising effort as well as non-Reunion year campaigns. They shall also work with the Treasurer to try and coordinate pitches and educate classmates on the difference between gifts to the University and Class dues.

Section 6:

The Class Correspondent(s) shall submit a bi-monthly news column for the Cornell Alumni Magazine.

Section 7:

The Reunion chairs shall plan the official Class Reunion in conjunction with the University and with the support and cooperation of the Executive Committee and Council. The chairs will work closely with the President, Treasurer, and The Office of Alumni Affairs staff.

Section 8:

The Class Webmaster will be responsible for keeping the website current with information submitted by Class members, Alumni Affairs and Development. The Webmaster will maintain the Class Electronic Mailing List and publish messages as appropriate.

Article VIII:

Finances

Section 1:

The fiscal year for the Class shall commence on July 1 and end on the succeeding June 30. The fiscal year also dictates the inaugural and terminal dates of any five-year elective office.

Section 2:

Annual Class dues shall be payable not later than June 30th of each calendar year.

Section 3:

The Executive Committee and the Council shall determine the amount of Class dues, with advice from the Treasurer.

Article IX:

Amendment

Section 1:

This Constitution may be amended at any stated meeting of the Class by an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members present and voting, or by acceptance by 2/3 majority of the Class Officers at their regular meeting.

Section 2:

Quorum: A quorum of five Officers/Class Council members 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 time as either a) a quorum approves it at a subsequent meeting of the Executive Committee or b) the Class approves it at its stated Class meeting.

Section 3:

Any dues paying member may suggest an Amendment by sending their request in writing to the Executive Committee along with twenty signatures from other dues paying Class members at least 90 days before a Class meeting.

Article X:

Committees

Section 1:

Nominating Committee- Shall be composed of at least 2 dues paying members and the President (s) and Vice President(s) and be formed at least ninety days prior to the Class meeting during Reunion. Responsibilities include preparing the slate, distributing slate to Class members, and facilitating the approval process (unless planning to serve another term). If the President and/or Vice President plan on serving additional terms, they shall serve on the Nomination Committee but not work on the slate for the office they seek.

Section 2:

The Executive Committee is empowered to create any additional committees necessary to discharge its responsibilities.

Article XI:

Enactment This Constitution shall be considered ratified in 2003 upon the affirmative vote of 2/3 of the Class officers present and voting. Coincident with this action, any existing constitution governing this Class of 1959 shall be abrogated. Certificate of Enactment This Constitution was approved by the members of the Class of 1959 attending the general Class meeting on the occasion of the 2003 CACO meeting in New York, on January 25, 2003.

Return to the Cornell Class of 59 Home Page