2012 – 2013 Mimes and Mummers Season

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

October 11th- 14th, 2012

Music and lyrics by David Yazbek

Book by Jeffrey Lane

39 Steps

November 15th -18th, 2012

Adapted from the 1915 novel by John Buchan and the 1935 film by Alfred Hitchcock

Adaptation by Patrick Barlow

Assassins

February 28th - March 3rd, 2013

Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Book by John Weidman

The Shape of Things

April 11th - April 14th, 2013

Written by Neil LaBute

See here for more information about current Mimes productions: http://www.themimesandmummers.com/upcoming-events--announcements.html

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.

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 1^st, 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 1^st. 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.

This article was reprinted with the kind permission of Sally Benner. It originally appeared on the Fordham University website and in the Fordham Alumni magazine.