Constitution of the Alumni Association

Article 1

Name

This organization shall be called the Alumni Association of Hamilton College (the “Association”).

Article 2

Objectives

The objectives of the Association shall be to promote and foster the best interests of Hamilton College, to strengthen the relationships of all alumni with one another and with the College and to provide support to the College and to alumni in meeting their goals.

Article 3

Members

Every graduate of Hamilton and Kirkland, and every former student of Hamilton and Kirkland whose class has been graduated shall become a member of the Association by virtue of enrollment at the College. Trustees of the College, members of the faculty and administration of the College, and recipients of honorary degrees from the College, who do not qualify for membership, shall be associate members of the Association. Only members of the Association shall have the right to vote.

Article 4

Meetings and Officers of the Association

Section 4.1. Meetings of the Association.
The Association shall meet at the College at least once annually at a time and place to be fixed by the Alumni Council. The Secretary of the Association shall notify all members of such meetings at least 30 days prior thereto. Special meetings of the Association may be held at such times and places as its officers shall designate upon 30 days’ notice to all members. Those members of the Association present at any meeting shall constitute a quorum. The Association shall act at any meeting by a majority vote of those members present and voting.

Section 4.2. Officers of the Association.
The officers of the Association shall be a President of the Alumni Council and Executive Committee of the Council. Terms of office for the President and Executive Committee of the Association shall be according to the Bylaws of the Council commencing on the first of July following their election and continuing until their respective successors are elected and take office. The President of the Association shall be its Chief Executive Officer and shall preside at all meetings of the Association. In the absence or disability of the President of the Association, one of the members of the Executive Committee shall be designated by the Executive Committee of the Alumni Council to perform the duties of the President.

Section 4.3. Secretary.
The Secretary of the Association shall be appointed by the College. Article 5 Alumni Council: Purposes, Duties and Powers

Article 5

Alumni Council: Purposes, Duties and Powers

Section 5.1
Purposes of the Alumni Council.
The Alumni Council shall support the key needs of the College by mobilizing the talent, expertise, time, and financial resources of all alumni.

Section 5.2
Duties and Powers of the Alumni Council.

1. Lead all alumni volunteer groups in meeting the needs of the College.
2. Provide the link between all alumni and the College.
3. Identify, recruit, and inspire alumni and prospective alumni to work in support of the College, and provide recognition for those who do.
4. Foster a spirit of loyalty and fellowship among alumni.
5. Carry out other responsibilities as specified in the Bylaws of the Alumni Council, as may be amended from time to time.

Article 6

Alumni Trustees

As provided in the Bylaws of the Board of Trustees, the members of the Association shall elect 12 members to the Board of Trustees of the College, such members to be known as Alumni Trustees. Three Alumni Trustees shall be elected annually for a term of four years. The term of each Alumni Trustee shall begin on the first day of July following his/her election and shall continue until a successor is elected and takes office.

Any person shall be eligible to serve as an Alumni Trustee provided that a Council member elected as an Alumni Trustee shall automatically vacate his/her Council membership on the commencement of his/her term of office as an Alumni Trustee.

Article 7

Class [Representatives] Presidents

The members of each class shall, in their year of graduation and in each succeeding five-year reunion, elect a class president. Class presidents shall serve a term of five years, and such term shall commence on the first day of July of the year in which elected. A class president shall serve as a member of the Council.

Article 8

Nominations and Elections

Section 8.1. Nominations.
The Council shall nominate at least one candidate for each vacancy to be filled for the offices of the President of the Association and Alumni Trustee. Notices of the nominations for the above offices shall be published in the Alumni Review at least 120 days prior to the spring meeting of the Council. Additional nominations for the offices of President and Alumni Trustee may be made by members of the Association by filing with the Secretary of the Association a Nomination Petition. The form of such Nomination Petitions shall be as provided in the Bylaws of the Alumni Council. Petitions may be submitted in electronic format. To be valid, a Petition must be supported by at least one percent (1%) of the Alumni Association expressing support of the Petition Candidate in the form detailed in the Bylaws of the Alumni Council. Additional nominations for the office of class president may be made by members of a class by filing with the Secretary of the Association a Petition bearing the signature of five percent (5%) of the members of such class. Nomination petitions must be received by the Secretary of the Association at least 90 days prior to the spring meeting of the Council.

Section 8.2. Balloting.
In the event there are additional nominations for the offices of President of the Alumni Association, Alumni Trustee, or respective class presidents as provided in Section 8.1, the balloting for the President, Alumni Trustees, and class representatives shall be by ballot prepared and sent by the Secretary of the Association to the members of the Association and the members of the respective classes at least 30, but not more than 60, days prior to the spring meeting of the Alumni Council. The balloting for President of the Association shall be held every two years; the balloting for Alumni Trustees shall be held annually; the balloting for class presidents shall be held for respective classes in their year of graduation and in each succeeding five-year reunion year. The ballots shall be prepared and the balloting shall be conducted in such manner as the Bylaws of the Council may prescribe, including provisions for petition candidates for each office. In the event there are no additional nominations for the offices of President of the Alumni Association, or Alumni Trustee, as provided in Section 8.1, the balloting shall be conducted at the spring meeting of the Alumni Council and the Secretary of the Alumni Association shall be empowered to cast one unanimous ballot for the candidates nominated as provided in Section 8.1.

Section 8.3. Elections.
The election for President of the Association shall be held every two years; the election for Alumni Trustees shall be held annually; the election for class presidents shall be held for respective classes in their year of graduation and in each succeeding five-year reunion year. In any election, the candidate for President of the Association receiving the highest number of votes shall be President. The candidates for Alumni Trustee receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected as Alumni Trustees to fill the existing vacancies for that office. The candidate for each respective class president receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected as class president. If any election shall result in a tie vote, the incumbent Executive Committee of the Council shall resolve the tie by lot. If any person elected for any office shall decline or be ineligible for any reason to take office, the candidate receiving the next highest number of votes for that office shall be declared elected.

Article 9

Local Alumni Associations

Section 9.1. Organization and Purposes.
Any group of ten or more members of the Association may petition the Association for a charter as a local alumni association and such charter may be granted by the Council on behalf of the Association. Each local alumni association shall adopt and carry out goals each year in line with the goals of the Alumni Council, in support of the needs of the College. There shall be no more than one local alumni association in any single city community as determined by the Council. The purposes of the local alumni associations shall be to promote camaraderie among the alumni, to stimulate interest in and enthusiasm for the College and to provide assistance in the conduct of the Annual Fund.

Section 9.2. Operation.
Each local Alumni Association shall have its own Regional Chair and shall devise its own methods of operation, consistent with this constitution, for carrying out the purposes of the association. Local alumni associations will look to the Alumni Council for leadership and will be responsible to the Council.

Section 9.3. Local Alumni Association Representatives.
Each local Alumni Association shall have a Regional Chair appointed in the manner as detailed in the Bylaws of the Alumni Council. The Regional Chair of a local Alumni Association representing a major region, as detailed in the Bylaws of the Alumni Council, shall be a member of the Alumni Council serving a two-year term on the Council commencing July 1 after appointment.

Article 10

Vacancies

Section 10.1. Officers of the Association.
Should a vacancy in the office of President of the Association occur otherwise than by expiration of the stated term of office, the Council, at its next regular meeting, shall elect one of its members to serve as President for the balance of the uncompleted term.

Section 10.2. Alumni Trustees.
Should a vacancy occur in any alumni trusteeship otherwise than by expiration of the stated term of office, the Council shall elect a replacement for that office.

Section 10.3. Elected Members of the Council.
Should a vacancy occur in a position of class president or member-at-large, the Council shall elect a replacement for such position to serve for the balance of the uncompleted term. Should a vacancy occur in the positions of the local alumni association representative, the local association shall elect a replacement to serve the balance of the uncompleted term. Should a vacancy occur in a faculty representative position on the Council otherwise than by expiration of the stated term of office, the faculty may choose from the members of the faculty of the College a person to serve for the balance of the uncompleted term.

Article 11

Annual Fund

The Annual Fund shall be a means through which Alumni and other interested persons may make a gift to be used for the best interests of Hamilton College. The title to all monies received through the Annual Fund shall vest in the College.

Article 12

Amendments

This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of those alumni casting ballots.

Recommendations for amendments may be made by the Alumni Council or by petition signed by not less than two-thirds vote of those voting at the Alumni Association annual meeting. Text of the proposed amendment shall be published in the Alumni Review or separately mailed to all members of the Association. In either case comments shall be solicited. After a reasonable time for receipt of comments, a ballot with date by which it must be returned, the full text of the proposal, and a summary of the pros and cons based on comments received shall be mailed by the Secretary of the Association to all members of the Association at least 30 days prior to the date fixed for return of the ballots.

Article 13

Effective Date

This Constitution becomes effective February 19, 2019.