Amendments to the bylaws of the alumni association are
voted on at the biennial meeting after they have been submitted to the
president of the alumni and signed by at least three members of the
association. The amendment is passed by a majority vote of the members
present at the biennial general meeting of the association which is
scheduled for March 23, 2002.
Following are the proposed amendments with explanations.
For a copy of the bylaws, please visit our website: www.stthomasu.ca
and click ”Alumni” and “ bylaws”.
Proposed amendment #1: Repeal Article 2.1 (a) and
replace with the following: “to support and promote the mission
of the University, and to support and promote the interests and welfare
of the students and alumni of the University;”
Explanation: The proposed new wording clarifies that the primary
aim of the Association is support for the mission of the University,
and makes explicit the Association’s interest in serving the interests
of the students of the University.
Proposed amendment #2: Amend article 3.2 by replacing
the words “a majority vote of the association’s board of”
with the word “the”.
Explanation: The existing wording is unclear. It raises the question
of whether honorary membership requires the support of the majority
of board members, or merely the majority of members present at a meeting
of the board. The proposed amendment will clarify the matter, as the
ordinary meaning of the article would be the latter interpretation offered
above.
Proposed amendment #3: Amend Article 3.3(d) by
replacing the first appearance of the word “the” with the
word “or”.
Explanation: The existing wording is nonsensical.
Proposed amendment #4: Amend Article 3.3 by replacing
the word “rase” with the word “race”.
Explanation: This corrects a spelling error in the existing article.
Proposed amendment #5: Amend Article 3.3 by replacing
the words “sexual preference, age or national origin” with
the words “age, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation,
or any other ground on which discrimination is prohibited in the provision
of service to the public pursuant to the provisions of the New Brunswick
Human Rights Code”.
Explanation: Replacing the reference to “sexual preference”
with reference to “sexual orientation” will clarify that the
Association believes sexuality is a matter of orientation. The added
reference to other prohibited grounds of discrimination will clarify
that the Association opposes all unlawful discrimination, on whatever
ground.
Proposed amendment #6: Repeal article 5 and replace
it with the following: “The Association will liaise with the University
primarily through the official appointed by the University to support
the Association and alumni programs and activities generally.”
Explanation: The existing provision presumes too much about the
structure of the University’s administration. The bylaws should
reflect the fact that decisions about the staffing and responsibilities
of the University’s alumni affairs office are primarily the concern
of the senior administration of the University.
Proposed amendment #7: Amend article 6.2 by repealing
the words “a two-thirds majority vote of”.
Explanation: The annual budget of the association is properly
decided by the members of the board of directors in the normal course
of business.
Proposed amendment #8: Repeal Articles 6.3, 6.4.
and 6.5.
Explanation: The issuing of reminders of dues, of membership
cards and of receipts for payment of dues are more appropriately matters
of policy to be determined by the directors in consultation with the
alumni affairs office. There is no reason for such matters of office
management practices to be included in the bylaws of the Association.
Proposed amendment #9: Amend the bylaws by replacing
all references to “director of alumni affairs” with reference
to “alumni affairs officer”.
Explanation: The existing provision refers to a non-existent
position within the administrative structure of the University.
Proposed amendment #10: Amend article 8.1(b) by
replacing the word “four” with the word “six”.
Proposed amendment #11: Repeal article 8.1(c).
Explanation: No reason can be ascertained for maintaining positions
on the board of directors that are not subject to election. The directors
are empowered by article 12 to appoint members in the event of vacancies.
Proposed amendment #12: Repeal article 8.3 and
replace it with the following: “If requested to appoint a representative
of the Association to the Senate or the Board of Governors of the University,
the directors are empowered to appoint any director, or, if no director
is able to serve, to appoint any member of the Association, to represent
the membership of the Association on either body.”
Explanation: In general, the proposed new article provides for
greater flexibility in the appointment of alumni representatives to
the University’s governing bodies. More particularly, the University’s
Board of Governors.
Proposed amendment #13: Amend article 9.1.1 by
replacing the words “that organization” with the words “those
organizations”.
Explanation: The proposed amendment corrects a grammatical error.
Proposed amendment #14: Repeal article 9.2 and
replace it with the following: “Every director’s term of office
shall be two years, expiring upon the election of his replacement.”
Explanation: The first half of the existing provision has been
spent.
Proposed amendment #15: Repeal article 9.3.
Explanation: The matter of the tenure of University staff is
not properly the subject of bylaws of the Association.
Proposed amendment #16: Repeal article 9.5.
Explanation: No need for the existing restriction is apparent.
Its only effect is to prevent directors from serving on the University’s
Senate and Board of Governors, and this is inconsistent with article
8.3.
Proposed amendment #17: Amend article 10 to replace
all references to an annual meeting of the association with reference
to biennial meetings.
Explanation: Combined with communication with members via mail,
email, voice mail and the world wide web, and with the provision in
article 10.2 for special meetings, biennial general meetings are sufficient.
Proposed amendment #18: Repeal article 10.2.2 and
replace it with the following: “The president shall schedule the
special meeting as soon as is practicable, with due regard to the desirability
of providing notice of such meeting to all members of the Association.”
Explanation: The proposed provision provides greater flexibility.
Proposed amendment #19: Repeal article 10.3.2 and
replace it with the following: “Directors may attend and participate
in any meeting, including a special meeting, via telephone conference.”
Explanation: Where directors are unable to be physically present
at meetings, there is no reason why they should be unable to participate
by telephone conference. If directors can participate in meetings either
in person or by phone, there is no need to provide for proxy votes.
Proposed amendment #20: Repeal article 10.3.3 and
replace it with: The quorum for a meeting of the directors shall be
1/3 of filled positions, yet at any meeting where 50% plus one of filled
positions are not present, any motion moved at the meeting shall be
reviewed by an electronic vote within 10 days of the meeting at which
it was moved AND Repeal article 10.3.4 and replace it with: The
quorum for a meeting of the executive shall be 1/3 of filled positions,
yet at any meeting where 50% plus one of filled positions are not present,
any motion moved at the meeting shall be reviewed by an electronic vote
within 10 days of the meeting at which it was moved.
Explanation: The current quorum requirement makes it difficult
for the board to incorporate members from outside of the Fredericton
Area. This would allow for meetings and progress with a lesser number
of participants but would provide the assurance that decision-making
power will not be left in the hands of a minority.
Proposed amendment #21: Repeal article 11 and replace
it with the following: “The directors of the association shall
be elected by the membership of the association, as follows:
11.1.1 The alumni affairs officer shall call for nominations for available
positions at least 90 days prior to the biennial meeting of the association.
11.1.2 Any member of the association can nominate himself or any other
member of the association, by mail, email, facsimile transmission or
by personal delivery of a nomination, for an available position.
11.1.3 The alumni affairs officer shall confirm that all persons nominated
are willing to serve.
11.1.4 Nominations shall close 30 days prior to the biennial meeting
of the association.
11.1.5 At the close of nominations, if for any position available the
number of nominees exceeds the number of vacancies, the alumni affairs
officer shall conduct at the biennial meeting an election by secret
ballot.
11.1.6 At the close of nominations, if for any position available the
number of nominees is equal to the number of vacancies, the alumni affairs
officer shall declare those nominees elected by acclamation.
11.1.7 At the close of nominations, if for any position available the
number of nominees is less than the number of vacancies, the alumni
affairs officer shall declare those nominees elected by acclamation.
Nominations shall remain open for the remaining vacancies through to
the biennial meeting, and the alumni affairs officer shall accept nominations
from the floor at the meeting. If, at the time nominations close at
the meeting, there are more nominees than vacancies, the alumni affairs
officer shall conduct an election by secret ballot. Otherwise, the officer
shall declare the nominees elected by acclamation.
Explanation: The existing bylaw allows for mail-in ballots but
deters candidates because of the highly public nature of the contest.
Acclaiming nominees for uncontested positions is more efficient than
the existing practice, and is accepted for all elections at the municipal,
provincial and national levels in Canada.
Proposed amendment #22: Amend article 12.2 by deleting
the words “a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of”.
Explanation: There is no reason to require a “super majority”
to fill vacancies on the board.
Connections
Fall 2001 / Alumni / STU
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