Department of Library and Information Studies

Alumni Association

Library and Information Studies Alumni Association Constitution and Bylaws

Article I.   Name.
The organization shall be known as the Department of Library and Information Studies Alumni Association (hereinafter referred to as the Association), University of North Carolina Greensboro.

Article II.   Purpose.
The purpose of the Association is to advance the interests of the Department and its students, former students, and graduates, and to promote a closer association between the Department and its alumni.

Article III.   Membership.

Section 1.   Full Members.
Anyone who has completed a formal program of study leading to the Master of Library Science degree and/or a certificate from the Department shall be a Full Member of the Association.     Full Members have voting privileges and may serve on committees or as Association officers.

Section 2.   Contributing Members.
Full Members who contribute financial support to the operation of the Association at a level to be determined by the Executive Board and exclusive of special contributions shall be recognized as Contributing Members and may be accorded special benefits by the Association, such benefits to be determined by the Executive Board.

Section 3.   Sustaining Members.
Full or Contributing Members who contribute financial support to the operation of the Association in one lump sum at or above a level to be determined by the Executive Board and exclusive of special contributions shall be recognized as Sustaining Members and may be accorded special benefits by the Association, such benefits to be determined by the Executive Board.

Section 4.   Associate Members.
Members of the faculty of the Department, past and present, shall be considered Associate Members of the Association.   Associate Members shall not be eligible to vote or serve as officers of the Association.

Section 5.   Honorary Members.
Only persons who are not eligible for membership under any of the previous sections shall be eligible to become Honorary Members.   It shall be the duty of the Awards Committee to consider and recommend suitable candidates to the Executive Board.  With the approval of the Executive Board, selected candidates shall be awarded an Honorary Membership in the Association with a presentation at the annual meeting.   No more than two Honorary Memberships shall be awarded each year.   Honorary Members shall not be eligible to vote or serve as officers of the Association.

Article IV.   Executive Board.

Section 1.
The Executive Board shall consist of the appointed officers, the past president, and a faculty member serving as liaison between the Association and the Department. The Executive Board officers will recommend the faculty liaison to the department chairperson.

Section 2.
The Executive Board shall be authorized to conduct the business of the Association.

Section 3.
Meetings of the Executive Board shall be called by the president as necessary to conduct the business of the Association.

Article V.   Officers.

Section 1.
The officers of the Association shall include a president, a vice-president who shall serve as president-elect, a secretary, a treasurer, a communications officer, and an archivist. 

The vice-president shall be appointed annually.  The other officer positions do not have term limits, officers in those positions serve at their own discretion. When one of those officers resigns, the board will consult with the faculty to appoint a new officer for the coming year. All officers shall assume office at the close of the annual meeting of the year in which elected.

Section 2.
The duties and powers of the officers shall be as follows:
A. The president shall be the executive officer: s/he shall preside at all meetings of the membership and the Executive Board; s/he shall appoint any needed committees and serve as an ex-officio member of all committees.   In general, s/he shall perform all duties usually expected of this office.

B. The vice-president shall lead the planning for the annual Alumni Day Luncheon.   S/he shall preside in the absence of the president and shall otherwise assist the president in conducting the business of the Association.

C. The secretary shall take minutes of all meetings of the Executive Board and the general membership.   Copies of these minutes shall be provided to Executive Board members within two weeks following the meeting.   The secretary shall handle the Association's correspondence and shall otherwise perform all duties usually expected of this office.

D. The treasurer shall oversee the accurate record keeping and accounting of all funds received and disbursed by the Association.   S/he shall provide up-to-date financial reports at Executive Board meetings and for publication in the newsletter and shall present an annual report at the spring meeting.   The treasurer shall also maintain a list of contributing and sustaining members.   In general, s/he shall perform all duties usually expected of this office.

E. The communications officer shall serve as the editor of the biannual newsletter and will be the main technology liaison with the Department in technology and Web issues.

F. The archivist shall collect memorabilia and ephemera associated with the Department/Alumni Association.

G. The past president shall assist the president with the business of the Association as needed.

Section 3.
Any vacancy occurring during the year shall be filled by appointment of the president for the remainder of the term of office.

Bylaws
The annual meeting of the Association shall be in the spring semester on a date to be determined by the Executive Board.   Notice of this meeting shall be made available to all members via postings on the LIS Alumni portion of the UNCG Department of LIS Website as well as other Web media such as listservs, message boards, and Web groups.

Special meetings of the Association may be called by the president at any time deemed advisable.   All members shall be notified at least two weeks before the day set for such a meeting, and the reason for calling such a special meeting shall be stated in the notice.

A quorum shall consist of not less than ten members.

Selection of officers shall be conducted each year prior to the annual meeting and will be decided by members of the current Executive Board in consultation with the faculty of the Department.    

A Full Member becomes a Contributing Member with a minimum $10.00 annual contribution or a Sustaining Member with a one-time contribution of $100.00.   In order for a Contributing Member to become a Sustaining Member, s/he must contribute $100.00 at one time regardless of past payment history.

The rules contained in ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER REVISED shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Constitution and Bylaws or the special rules of order of the Association.

Submitted to the membership: November 16, 1974.   Amended October 7, 1977;   April 29, 1978;   March 26, 1988;   April 8, 1990;  July 30, 2008.