The Ohio Union and Student Activities

THE OHIO UNION AND STUDENT ACTIVITIES ALUMNI SOCIETY CONSTITUTION

Revised 09/2010

ARTICLE I - NAME and PURPOSE

Section I.1: The name of this organization is the Ohio Union and Student Activities Alumni Society of The Ohio State University (hereinafter OUSAAS).

Section I.2: The purpose of the OUSAAS is to inform and engage its members through programming and unique involvement opportunities that strengthen the relationship between alumni, the Ohio Union and Student Activities, and the entire university. It shall be an integral part of The Ohio State University Alumni Association, Inc., (hereinafter Association), the official alumni organization of The Ohio State University. The OUSAAS will also promote and support the mission of the Association.

ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP AND ANNUAL DONATIONS

Section II.1: Membership in OUSAAS is open to:

A. Former members of the Ohio Union Activities Board, Student Events Committee, or Ohio-Drake Unions Activities Board,

B. Previous full or part time employees of the Ohio Union and Office of Student Activities, including graduate administrative associates and undergraduate student employees,

C. Previous members or leaders of Ohio State student organizations including sororities, fraternities, and student governments, previous chairpersons of major campus events like Welcome Week, Homecoming, Make A Difference Day, and Beat Michigan Week,

D. And those who consider themselves friends of the Ohio Union.

Section II.2: “Active Member” is defined as: an alumnus falling within one of the categories defined in Section II.1 and who contributes an annual donation as specified in Section II.3.

A. Priority will be given to active members of OUSAAS for events, programs, and other activities that OUSAAS sponsors and provides.

B. OUSAAS reserves the right to allow non-active alumni to participate in OUSAAS activities as the Board of Governors deems fit. Section II.3: Membership Dues

A. A minimum annual donation each fiscal year will be required from each alumnus of OUSAAS in order to qualify as an active member.

B. The minimum annual donation amount will be set by the Board of Governors.

C. An active member may designate his/her annual donation to one of the various funds, programs, initiatives, or scholarships of the Ohio Union. If no fund is chosen, the donation will be designated towards the Wendell W. Ellenwood Scholarship Fund.

D. Collection of Annual Donations: Donations will be collected by the Ohio Union alumni/development staff representative in conjunction with the Chair of the Membership Committee. Accurate records of active, donation-paying members will be recorded and kept at the Ohio Union Administrative Offices.

ARTICLE III - BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Section III.1: The Board of Governors (hereinafter Board), all of whom must be members of the Association and the OUSAAS, shall consist of:

A. Executive Officers

B. Executive Committee Members

C. Current Director of the Ohio Union (ex-officio)

D. Ohio Union alumni/development staff representative (ex-officio)

E. President/CEO of The Ohio State University Alumni Association, Inc. or designee (ex-officio)

Section III.2: The government of the OUSAAS and the direction of its activities shall be vested in the Board.

ARTICLE IV - EXECUTIVE OFFICERS & DUTIES

Section IV.1 Officers: The executive officers of the OUSAAS are a part of the OUSAAS Board and shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Past President and Communications Director, all of whom must hold membership in the Association and the OUSAAS.

A. Each term of service for all executive officers shall be three years.

B. Executive officers shall be limited to serve only two consecutive terms in the same executive officer position. Section IV.2 President:

A. The President presides over all meetings of the OUSAAS and serves as chair of the Board.

B. The President shall call meetings of the OUSAAS.

C. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees

D. The President shall set the agenda for each Board meeting with assistance from the Ohio Union alumni/development staff representative.

E. The President shall have the power to fill vacancies of the Board of Governors upon approval by the Board.

F. The President may establish standing and ad-hoc committees as necessary with the approval of the Board.

G. The President shall appoint chairs for each of the committees.

Section IV.3 Vice President:

A. In the absence of the President, or if the President is unable to fulfill his or her duties, the Vice-President shall perform he duties of the President.

B. If the office of the President becomes vacant for any reason, the Vice President shall fulfill the duties of President for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Section IV.4 Secretary:

A. The Secretary is responsible for sending notices of Board meetings to the OUSAAS Board.

B. The Secretary is responsible for taking minutes at all meetings of the Board and distributing the minutes of those meetings to the Board in a timely manner.

C. The Secretary shall not release membership information for political or commercial purposes; any person violating this policy is subject to expulsion from the office by the Board of Directors of the Association. Release of the list shall be made only on approval of the Association, subject to the constitution of the Association.

Section IV.5 Communications Director:

A. The Communications Director shall coordinate the OUSAAS content for the Ohio Union’s newsletter.

B. The Communications Director is responsible for assisting the Ohio Union Graphics Department in the creation of OUSAAS external communications. ARTICLE V. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section V.1: The Executive Committee is a part of the OUSAAS Board of Governors and shall represent the constituencies of the OUSAAS. Members of the Executive Committee must also be members of the Association.

A. There shall be two recent alumni representatives as defined in the bylaws and two current undergraduate student representatives.

B. There shall be two alumni representatives from each of the following constituencies: former Ohio Union employees, student organizations, and the Ohio Union Activities Board.

C. Each term of service for executive committee members shall be three years, excluding the undergraduate student representatives who serve two year terms. Executive committee members shall be limited to two consecutive terms in the same executive committee position.

ARTICLE VI - COMMITTEES

Section VI.1: There shall be two standing committees within OUSAAS including:

A. The alumni events committee

B. The membership committee

Section VI.2: The President of the OUSAAS, with approval of the Board of Governors, shall establish additional committees that are in the best interest of the OUSAAS.

Section VI.3: The President shall appoint chairs for each of the committees.

ARTICLE VII- BOARD OF GOVERNORS EXPECTATIONS

Section VII.1: Each Executive Board Member and each Executive Committee Member must fulfill the required duties specified by the OUSAAS Constitution, the by-laws, and the Board duties reflected herein.

A. No Executive Board Member or Executive Committee Member shall use his/her position on the Board for direct or indirect financial gain.

B. Each Executive Board Member and each Executive Committee Member shall attend all Board of Governors meetings in person or via telephone.

C. Each Executive Board Member and each Executive Committee Member shall serve on at least one committee and attend all committee meetings either in person or via telephone. D. Each Executive Board Member and each Executive Committee Member are encouraged to attend all events, however shall attend no less than 50% of OUSAAS events or programs.

Section VII.2: If an officer acts in stark contrast to the purpose of OUSAAS or is unwilling or unable to fulfill the responsibilities set forth in the Constitution, the Executive Board Member or Executive Committee Member may be removed by a majority vote of the sitting Executive Board.

ARTICLE VIII - MEETINGS

Section VIII.1: The OUSAAS active membership shall meet at least once annually. Failure to comply with this provision shall make the OUSAAS Charter subject to revocation by the Association.

Section VIII.2: The OUSAAS Board of Governors shall meet quarterly. There shall be additional meetings each year as the President of the OUSAAS deems necessary with the approval of the Board of Governors.

ARTICLE IX - ELECTIONS

Section IX.1: Annually, the Past-President with the assistance of the Ohio Union Director and Ohio Union Alumni/Development Staff Representative shall develop a slate for the open Board of Governors positions as prescribed in the bylaws. The slate shall be voted upon electronically and will be approved if a simple majority of the votes cast are in favor of the slate.

Section IX.2: The Board of Governor terms will be staggered. Fourteen board members shall be elected in 2010. Four board members will initial one-year terms. Four board members will serve in two year terms. Six board members will serve for three year terms. All subsequent term limits will be governed by Articles IV, V, and VII.

ARTICLE X - ADOPTION

This constitution shall be officially adopted upon its approval by a simple majority vote of the members of the OUSAAS in attendance at any regular or special meeting of the general membership of OUSAAS. It shall take effect upon the granting of a charter by the Board of Directors of the Association authorizing its functioning as one of the official alumni organizations of The Ohio State University.

ARTICLE XI - AMENDMENTS

Section XI.1: This constitution may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the Board of Governors members at a meeting.

Section XI.2: Proposed amendments are to be read at one meeting, electronically disseminated with an open forum for comment for two weeks and voted upon at the subsequent meeting.

Section XI.3: No amendments shall take effect until duly approved by the Board of Directors of the Association, Inc.

ARTICLE XII - BY-LAWS

Section XII.1: The OUSAAS Board of Governors shall be responsible for the creation of operating by-laws for the OUSAAS.

Section XII.2: The by-laws may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the members of the Board of Governors in attendance at any of their regular or special meetings.

ADOPTED CHARTER: February 5, 2005

REVISION DATE: September 25, 2009; September 24, 2010