Bylaws
ARTICLE I – NAME AND PURPOSE
Section I.1. - NAME: The association’s full name is The
Mimes and Mummers Alumni Association of Fordham University (referred
to herein also as “MMAAFU”).
Section I.2. - PURPOSE: We foster fellowship among Fordham University graduates who, as students and graduates of Fordham University, were members of The Mimes and Mummers of Fordham University, and we support the theatre arts tradition on the Rose Hill campus of Fordham University.
Section I.2. - PURPOSE: We foster fellowship among Fordham University graduates who, as students and graduates of Fordham University, were members of The Mimes and Mummers of Fordham University, and we support the theatre arts tradition on the Rose Hill campus of Fordham University.
ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Section II.1. – GENERAL MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS: The
Mimes and Mummers Alumni Association recognizes as a member one who
was in good standing as a participant in an artistic, production, or
technical capacity on at least one Mimes and Mummers show while she or
he was a student at Fordham University. The Mimes and Mummers Alumni
Association will not restrict membership based upon national origin,
race, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, age or physical
handicap.
Section II.2. – MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR OFFICERS:
Members qualify for an executive position by historical demonstration
of support for the Mimes and Mummers Alumni Association of Fordham
University and recorded attendance at a minimum of two MMAAFU events
in any one year (for example: annual membership meeting,
alumni-student reunion, a performance of a Mimes and Mummers
production, etc.).
Section II.3. – DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS: The Executive Board of The Mimes and Mummers Alumni Association of Fordham University consists of five alumni of the Mimes and Mummers who are graduates of Fordham University. The Executive Board also includes as a member the current President of the Mimes and Mummers of Fordham University in an ex officio role. It is a requirement of elected members of the Executive Board to attend meetings of the Executive Board.
The positions, their duties, and terms of office are as
follows:
President: The President is responsible for building awareness of The Mimes & Mummers Alumni Association of Fordham University to increase its membership and to foster fellowship among its members; directing fundraising initiatives undertaken to raise support for The Mimes & Mummers of Fordham University; calling, setting and facilitating the agenda of meetings of the Executive Board and meetings of the General Membership. The President, along with the Vice-President, is responsible for the activities of The Mimes and Mummers Alumni Association. The President acts as a liaison between the club and The Office of Alumni Relations and University Development of Fordham University as well as other offices of the University Administration. It is the responsibility of the President to monitor the club in its entirety. (Term: Two years)
Vice-President: The Vice-President, along with the President, is responsible for the activities of The Mimes and Mummers Alumni Association. The Vice-President organizes, oversees and administers the activities of The Mimes and Mummers Alumni Association. For each MMAAFU activity, the Vice-President is required to publicize the event to the University Administration, the University community, the Mimes and Mummers of Fordham University, and the MMAAFU membership through use of current communications methods. (Term: Two years)
Secretary: The primary responsibility of the Secretary is to notify the MMAAFU membership of meetings called by the MMAAFU Executive Board. The Secretary is required to take minutes at every meeting when the Executive Board deems it necessary and submit the minutes to the Executive Board within 60 days of the meeting. (Term: One year)
Finance Officer/Treasurer:
The Finance Officer is responsible for the operating budget of The
Mimes & Mummers Alumni Association of Fordham University. The Finance
Officer also collects and turns in receipts in accordance with the
University reimbursement policy. The Finance Officer reports the
financial status of the MMAAFU to the Executive Board at each meeting
and to the General Membership once a year. (Term: One year)
Development Chair: The Development Chair, operating with the
consensus of the Executive Board and the Office of Alumni Relations
and University Development, manages the fundraising initiatives
undertaken by MMAAFU to support The Mimes and Mummers of Fordham
University. To this end, the Development Chair acts as a liaison
between the Executive Board of the MMAAFU, the Office of Alumni
Relations and University Development, the Office of Student
Activities, and The Mimes and Mummers of Fordham University. (Term:
One year)
Current Mimes President (Ex Officio): The Current President of The Mimes and Mummers of Fordham
University serves as liaison between the student Mimes group and the
MMAAFU. He or she attends the Executive Board meetings and the annual
General Membership meeting to report on the activities of the Mimes
and Mummers and to communicate to the alumni membership the needs of
the student group.
ARTICLE III – ELECTION AND APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS
Section III.1 – APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS: In February,
at least 60 calendar days before the General Meeting, a call for
nominations to the Executive Board will be mailed to each member of
The Mimes & Mummers Alumni Association who have been identified and
recorded as such by Fordham University. The election for the new
Executive Board will be held in April on a date to be determined by
the current Executive Board. It is the President’s responsibility to
contact the General Membership to inform them of the date, methods,
and location of voting.
Section III.2. - RE-ELECTION OF OFFICERS: Officers may
serve in any one position for a maximum of two consecutive terms after
which time they will be eligible for nomination and election to
another position on the Executive Board.
Section III.3. - PROCEDURE OF ELECTIONS: The President is responsible for running the elections.
Section III.3.a. - ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE: Any general
member is eligible to run for the Executive Board. In order to be
considered for the Executive Board one must be nominated by two MMAAFU
members. Once the nominee accepts his or her nomination, he or she is
asked to make a statement about his or her candidacy to the General
Membership.
Section III.3.b. - DATE OF ELECTION: The Election will
take place at a meeting of the General Membership in April.
Vote-by-mail or fax with evidence of a member’s signature will be
accepted until Noon on the day of the Election. Each position will be
voted on independently, and will begin in the order of: President,
Vice-President, Secretary, Finance Officer, and Development Chair. An
officer of the Office of Alumni Relations and University Development
and an outgoing member of the Executive Board, or a neutral
individual, will be responsible for tallying the votes at the meeting
of the General Membership.
SECTION III.3.c. - VOTING PROCEDURE: At the meeting
each Executive Board position open for election will be voted on
separately. Each proposed amendment will be voted on separately after
a period of discussion until the President calls for a vote that is
affirmed by a second and third member. If, after counting the votes of
those present at the Annual Meeting of the General Membership and
absentee ballots, there is a tie in the election of officers a second
ballot of those present will be conducted. If a tie remains, the
candidates’ names will be pooled privately (e.g. hat, bowl, opaque
bag) and a mutually agreed-upon neutral individual will draw one name
to declare the winner.
Section III.4. - BOARD TRANSITION PERIOD: After the
elections are concluded, the outgoing Executive Board trains the
incoming Executive Board. During this transition period, the outgoing
and the incoming boards are all considered equal board members. New
Executive Board members take office on July 1st, the first
day of Fordham University’s academic calendar.
Section III.5. - VACANCY PROCEDURES: In the event of
a vacancy on the Executive Board an interim appointment may be made
with collaboration between the Executive Board and the Office of
Alumni Relations and University Development based on an alumnus’
seniority in active membership in MMAAFU and evidence of support of
the association. The alumnus will hold the interim position until the
next annual general membership meeting after nominations are submitted
and upon election of officers, to take effect on July 1st.
The interim officer will be eligible to run for the position.
ARTICLE IV - DISMISSAL OF OFFICERS
Section IV.1. - GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL: An officer
would be subject to immediate dismissal for an egregious abuse or
misuse of office that is counter to MMAAFU’s purpose and mission, or
defames the association, or negatively impacts the Mimes and Mummers
student group, or Fordham University, or is a criminal act.
Section IV.2 - IMPEACHMENT PROCEDURE: The Officers of
MMAAFU and the Office of Alumni Relations and University Development
would conduct the impeachment procedure. There would be an immediate
call for an emergency meeting of the membership to vote on the
impeachment of the offending officer. A two-thirds majority vote by
the members present at the emergency meeting would be required to
carry the motion in favor of impeachment.
ARTICLE V - MEETINGS
Section V.1. - EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS: The Executive Board will meet as often as necessary. There will be a minimum of two Executive Board meetings per calendar year.
Section V.2. – CALLING MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD:
The President will call the meetings of the Executive Board.
Section V.3. - QUORUM: The quorum for an Executive
Board meeting will be three of the five members, which must include
the President. The quorum for a meeting of the General Membership is
two-thirds of those members of MMAAFU present at the Annual Meeting of
the General Membership, which must include the President. If there is
not a reasonable number of members in attendance to conduct a fair and
representative vote for officers or amendments at the meeting, at the
discretion of the Executive Board in collaboration with the Office of
Alumni Relations and University Development, the proposed docket will
be tabled and either a Special Meeting of the membership will be
called by the Executive Board for debate and a vote within 10 days of
the Annual Meeting of the General Membership, or the proposed
amendment will expire but be eligible for nomination for vote again at
a future Annual Meeting of the General Membership.
Section V.4. - GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS: The
General Membership will meet annually in April to vote on the new
Executive Board and any proposed amendments to the Bylaws presented to
the membership. It is the responsibility of the President to inform
the membership of the meeting.
ARTICLE VI – AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS
Section VI.1. - PROPOSITIONS: Any amendment to the Bylaws must be proposed and voted on at the Annual Meeting of the General Membership. The amendment must be proposed to the General Membership simultaneous with the proposal of the slate of candidates for election to the Executive Board.
Section VI.2. - VOTING ON AMENDMENTS: The amendment
shall be voted on at the next Annual Meeting of the General Membership
and must pass with at least a two-thirds vote of the members present.
All amendment additions or deletions must be filed with the Office of
Alumni Relations and University Development within one week of
adoption. The Office of Alumni Relations and University Development
must agree to any and all changes prior to adoption. Any and all
changes will follow the same process as the Alumni Organization
Registration Policy of Fordham University. Amendments and/or changes
in the Bylaws are official and take effect only upon the approval of
the Director of Alumni Relations.
The Bylaws of The Mimes and Mummers Alumni Association
of Fordham University were created and agreed upon on December 16,
2004 by Mimes and Mummers alumni: Amelia Alapati FCO ’83; Sally Benner
FCO ’84; Timothy Kelley FCO ’81; Richard Mayora FCO ’81; Kevin Metzing
CBA ’84; Kathy Phillips FCO ’83; Jennifer Saeger FCO ’02; and Sara
Zick ‘01.
