Grand Valley State University Alumni Association
Kirkhof College of Nursing Alumni Chapter

Article I Name

The name of the organization shall be the Grand Valley State University Kirkhof School of Nursing Alumni Chapter of the Alumni Association.

Article II Purpose

The Grand Valley State University Alumni Association is the organizational entity within the University representing the alumni of the University. The Kirkhof School of Nursing Alumni Chapter represents the alumni of the School. The purpose of the Association is to promote, assist, and perpetuate the goals and objectives of Grand Valley State University. The Alumni Association represents a vital resource of the University – one for which the University has an expressed interest and a desire for further development. The alumni and the University are united through the Association by common interests, concerns, and goals.

Article III Location

The principal office shall be in the Alumni House and Visitor Center on the Allendale campus of Grand Valley State University, County of Ottawa, State of Michigan. The business of the Association shall be conducted usually and chiefly on the Allendale campus of Grand Valley State University, County of Ottawa, State of Michigan.

Article IV Membership

A. All graduates, faculty and staff members, former faculty and staff members of Kirkhof College of Nursing shall be eligible members of the Kirkhof School of Nursing Alumni Chapter.

B. All persons receiving honorary degrees from Grand Valley State University shall be eligible members of the Kirkhof School of Nursing Alumni Chapter. These members shall possess all the rights and privileges as other alumni, however, they will not have the right to vote or hold office.

C. Other persons as designated from time to time by a two-thirds vote of the Kirkhof School of Nursing Alumni Chapter Advisory Board shall be eligible members. These members shall possess all the rights and privileges as other alumni, however, they will not have the right to vote or hold office.

Article V Advisory Board

A. The Advisory Board shall be the representative body of the Kirkhof College of Nursing Alumni Chapter and shall have full authority to transact business and engage in all lawful activities related to the purpose of the Kirkhof School of Nursing Alumni Chapter.

B. Membership

The Advisory Board shall consist of not less than 8 members.

The membership shall include the following:

1. A minimum of four at-large members whose terms are arranged so that one-third expire each September 30.
2. A minimum of four members shall be appointed by the Executive Committee to ensure that one-third of the members' terms expire each September 30.
3. The Immediate Past President of the Kirkhof School of Nursing Alumni Chapter shall serve on the Advisory Board until there is a new Immediate Past President.
4. The GVSU Director of Alumni Relations or his/her designate (normally the Associate Director) shall serve as a non-voting member of the Advisory Board.

C. Terms of Office

1. An Advisory Board member shall serve for a three-year term and is eligible for re-election or re-appointment to one additional three-year term unless otherwise stated. After one year's absence, a past board member is eligible for re-election or re-appointment to one additional three-year term.
2. Any officer, Advisory Board member, or committee chairperson may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of Advisory Board members present. Grounds for removal may include, but are not limited to, absence from three consecutive meetings of the Advisory Board without reasonable cause.
3. Any officer, Advisory Board member, or committee chairperson who is unable to perform the duties of his/her office, may resign by submitting a letter of resignation to the President of the Kirkhof School of Nursing Alumni Chapter.

D. Meetings

The Kirkhof School of Nursing Alumni Chapter Advisory Board shall meet at least once each year at such time and place as the Executive Committee shall designate. Special meetings of the Kirkhof School of Nursing Alumni Advisory Board may be scheduled at any time by majority vote of the Executive Committee or on petition of over half of the Kirkhof School of Nursing Alumni Chapter Board of Directors members in good standing. The Executive Committee shall decide the exact time and place of the meeting and shall send not less than two notices to each Kirkhof School of Nursing Alumni Chapter Advisory Board member in good standing at least four and two weeks respectively prior to the date of the meeting. No business not stated in the calls for the special meeting is binding in any way on the Chapter.

Article VI Quorum

At least four members in attendance at a meeting of the Advisory Board constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business. Two of the four must be members of the Executive Committee. All actions taken by the Board except those specifically stated herein, require a majority of the members present and voting.

Article VII Executive Officers

A. Governance

A President, two or more Vice Presidents, and a Secretary/Treasurer shall govern the Kirkhof School of Nursing Alumni Chapter. Election of officers shall take place at a regular meeting of the Advisory Board. Terms of office shall begin on October 1 and end on September 30. Advisory Board terms of office may be extended to match the term of office of an officer. Initial terms of office for the following named officers shall be two years and one year respectively, so that continuity can be achieved

• Vice President for Social/Special Events --Two year term
• Vice President for Fundraising -- One year term

C. President

The President shall preside over all meetings of the Kirkhof School of Nursing Alumni Chapter, Advisory Board and Executive Committee. He/She shall act as spokesperson for the Chapter or designate, when appropriate, another member of the Executive Committee for that purpose. The President shall delegate to the Vice Presidents and other members of the Executive Committee such affairs and activities of the Board as he/she deems appropriate. He/She shall also have the right/responsibility to attend all committee, and sub-committee meetings, in addition to other activities and University events. The President of the Kirkhof School of Nursing Alumni Chapter will vote only in tie-breaking situations.

D. Vice Presidents

The Vice Presidents shall have primary responsibility for fundraising and special/social events. In the absence of the President, the Vice President of Fundraising shall preside over the meetings.

E. Secretary/Treasurer

The Secretary/Treasurer shall be responsible for recording and transcription of all official meetings of the Advisory Board and Executive Committee meetings. In conjunction with the Alumni Relations Office, he/she shall maintain the records of the Kirkhof School of Nursing Alumni Chapter direct all notices or correspondence to the Executive Committee, Advisory Board or members of the Chapter. The Secretary/Treasurer shall also advise on all Chapter financial matters and report to the appropriate committee(s) the status of the Chapter's funds.

Article VIII The Executive Committee

The officers of the Advisory Board shall be the officers of the Chapter and the Executive Committee.

A. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice Presidents, Secretary/Treasurer, Immediate Past President of the Chapter and the Director of Alumni Relations or his/her designate..

B. Responsibilities

1. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for implementing the general policies and programs of the Kirkhof School of Nursing Alumni Chapter consistent with the long-range philosophy of the Alumni Association.
2. The Executive Committee shall have the power to act for the Advisory Board between meetings, provided their acts are approved at a subsequent meeting of the Advisory Board.
3. The Executive Committee shall recommend to the President of the Kirkhof School of Nursing Alumni Chapter appointments for vacancies on the Advisory Board and its committees.

Article IX Dues

Membership dues may be established by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee and the Advisory Board.

Article X Liaison and Reporting

The President of the Kirkhof School of Nursing Alumni Chapter shall appoint a member of the Advisory Board to represent the interests of the Kirkhof School of Nursing Alumni Chapter to the Grand Valley State University Alumni Association Board of Directors. That person will present an annual report to the Grand Valley State University Alumni Association on chapter activities and projects. Further the Kirkhof School of Nursing Alumni Chapter will sponsor an annual project that benefits the Kirkhof School of Nursing.

Article XI

These bylaws may be amended upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the Advisory Board in office present at any regularly scheduled meeting. Written copy of the proposed changed to the bylaws and written notification of the meeting shall be sent to each member at least 21 days in advance of such a vote.

Approved GVSU Alumni Association Board

May 15, 2004