Emeriti Constitution

The purposes are to facilitate:
•  Maintenance of the traditions and collective memory of the College and transmission of them to the College community
•  Communication and fellowship among emeriti and associate members
•  Continuing relationships between emeriti and associate members and the College community 
•  Involvement of emeriti and associate members in services to the College community  

Membership
•  All professional staff members who are not designated clerical or classified and who retire from service at SUNY Oswego shall be considered members of the Emeriti Association.
•  All spouses, domestic partners, widows, and widowers of retired professional staff members at SUNY Oswego shall be considered associate members of the Emeriti Association.
•  Professional staff and spouses who do not meet the above criteria may become Emeriti Associates upon approval by the Board of Directors.
•  The chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Association shall communicate with professional staff persons upon their retirement, informing them of the services and programs of the Association and inviting their participation and financial support.  

Financial contribution
•  Members of the Association and widows and widowers of deceased members will be invited to make an annual contribution to support the work of the Association.
•  The suggested amount shall be set by the annual meeting at a level believed to be sufficient to fund the Emeriti Newsletter and other approved programs of the Association for the next year.
•  Members of the Association may choose to make a one-time contribution of $125.00.  

Annual Meeting
•  There shall be an annual meeting of the Emeriti Association, held on the first Monday of August at an hour and place set by the Board of Directors.
•  At that meeting, an annual class of Board of Directors members will be elected and any unexpired Board vacancies filled.
•  The annual meeting shall act on the Board of Directors’ recommended activities for the next year and the amount of financial contribution to be requested of members.
•  The fiscal year of the Association begins on the first day of July.  

Board of Directors
•  The business of the Association shall be conducted by a Board of Directors.
•  The Board of Directors shall be made up of nine (9) or ten (10) members. Three (3) members shall be elected at each annual meeting to serve three-year terms.
•  If the person selected to serve as Emeriti Newsletter editor is not one of the elected Board members, that person shall become an ex-officio member of the Board, giving the Board a total membership of ten (10).
•  At its first meeting after September first, the Board of Directors shall select from its own membership a chairperson, a vice chairperson, a secretary, and a treasurer. Board officers shall take office upon election and serve until replaced.
•  The chairperson and vice chairperson of the Board of Directors shall also serve as president and vice president respectively of the Emeriti Association.
•  The Board of Directors shall appoint an editor for the Emeriti Newsletter to serve for a three-year term. The editor may appoint an editorial board to help carry out the mission of the Newsletter.
•  Vacancies on the Board occurring between annual meetings may be filled by the remaining members of the Board. Persons so appointed shall be subject to election to the balance of the unexpired term at the next annual meeting.
•  The College’s Vice President for Development and Public Affairs or that person’s designee shall be invited to serve as the College’s liaison to the Board of Directors.
•  Prior to the annual meeting, the Board of Directors shall select a three-member Nominating Committee from its own membership to present a slate of candidates for election to the Board of Directors.
•  The Board of Directors shall present to the annual meeting a schedule of proposed activities for the next year and a suggested financial contribution sufficient to fund the activities.  

Amendments
•  This constitution shall be adopted and may be amended, upon the recommendation of the Board of Directors, by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at an annual meeting.