Introduction:
The By-laws contained herein govern the operations of the Kingston College Old
Boys' Association USA, Inc. and provides the necessary guidance to resolve
issues as they arise. Since the Association is incorporated in the State of New
York, the statutory requirements supercede those of the by-laws in the event of
conflicts. The By-laws can only be changed by a majority vote of the membership
of KCOBA. The last revision of the by-laws was done on 8th. April 2000.
Article I - Offices
The principal office of the Association shall be in the Borough of
Brooklyn, County of Kings, State of New York. The Association may also have
offices at such other places within or without this state as the Board may from
time to time determine or the business of the Association may require.
Article II - Purposes
The purposes for which this Association has been organized are as
follows:
(A) To promote the interest of Kingston College in Jamaica, West Indies
and those who attended this institution.
(B) To uphold and perpetuate the
teachings of those instructors who devoted so much to Kingston College.
(C) To
promote a better understanding and appreciation for the cultural heritage of Jamaica.
(D) To formulate economic and social ideas for the betterment of the
human family, and former Kingston College students in particular.
(E) To engage
in fundraising activities to obtain the means to assist needy students and
special projects at Kingston College in Jamaica, West Indies, and deserving
local charities in the U.S.A.
Article III - Membership
1. Qualifications For Membership
Section 1: Classes of Membership
There shall be four classes of
membership: (a) Full (b) Associate (c) Life (d) Honorary
Section 2: Full Members
(a) Each graduate of Kingston College may, upon or at any time after graduation,
become a Full Member by enrolling or causing himself to be enrolled, pursuant to
these By-laws.
(b) Each non-graduate who has completed at least four years at
Kingston College, and left in good standing, without earning a School Leaving
Certificate, may upon any time after leaving become a full member, by enrolling
or causing himself to be enrolled, pursuant to these By-laws.
(c) All other
former students not covered by Section 2(a) or (b) may be admitted at the
discretion of the Board of Directors, pursuant to these By-laws.
Section 3:
Associate Members
(a) Any current or former member of faculty or staff of
Kingston College who has left in good standing, and who is not eligible to
become a Full Member, as provided in Section 2(a) or (b) hereof, may become an
Associate Member by enrolling or causing himself or herself to be enrolled,
pursuant to these By-laws.
(b) Any parent, guardian or immediate family member
who has had at least one relative who attended Kingston College, and who is not
eligible to become a Full or Associate Member as provided in Section 2(a) or
(b), or Section 3(a) hereof, may become an Associate Member by enrolling or
causing herself or himself to be enrolled, pursuant to these By-laws.
Section 4:
Life Members
The officers and Executive Committee (hereinafter referred to as
the Board of Directors) may, from time to time, establish requirements under
which only Full Members may become Life Members.
Section 5. Honorary Members
The
Board of Directors may, from time to time, elect persons honorary members of the
corporation, who are not otherwise eligible to become Full Members or Associate
Members.
Section 6. Membership Procedure
Any person meeting the requirements of
this Article, shall become a Full or associate Member, by submitting an
application to the Secretary of the Association, together with dues for the year
in which he or she applies for membership. Dues shall be paid in accordance with
a dues schedule as adopted from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section
7. Membership Rights and Privileges
Full members in good standing ("good
standing" shall mean currently paid-up dues for at least 30 days prior to any
date on which the status of membership shall be in question), shall be eligible
to hold office, and vote on all matters submitted to the membership, except as
provided herein. Associate and Honorary Members shall be ineligible to hold
office or vote on matters submitted to the membership.
Section 8. Chapters and
Affiliate Groups
Chapters: Members of the Association who reside in any city,
community or region outside of New York may organize a local chapter, which
shall, upon approval of the Board of directors of its application, become a
Chapter of the Association.
Affiliate Groups: Members of the Association may
organize, upon approval of the Board of Directors, affiliate groups whose
interests are directed at the development or enhancement of a specific core
curricular or extra-curricular activity at Kingston College or share a common
interest. Requirements and Conditions: The Board of Directors shall determine
the requirements for admission of Chapters and Affiliate Groups. The Board of
Directors may from time to time impose such conditions and provide such
financial assistance to all such Chapters and Affiliate groups, as it shall
determine to be in the best interest of the Association.
2. Membership Meetings
Section 1. Annual Meeting
The annual membership meeting of the Association shall
be held on the second Sunday of June each year at a time and place set by the
Board of Directors. In the event of postponements, the directors shall fix a
date not more than five (5) weeks from the date fixed by these By-laws.
Section
2. Quorum
The presence at any membership meeting of not less than eight (8)
members shall constitute a quorum, and shall be necessary to conduct the
business of the Association. At Board meetings, not less than five (5) Directors
must be present, the minimum number permitted under the laws of the State of New
York.
Section 3. Voting Eligibility
Each Full Member in good standing shall be
entitled to vote at membership meetings. All Life Members shall be entitled to
vote at all membership meetings.
Section 4. Voting List
The secretary, in
conjunction with the Treasurer, shall prepare and have available at every Annual
or Special Meeting, a list of the members qualified to vote at such meetings, or
at his option, a list of members not qualified to vote.
Section 5. Fiscal Year
The Fiscal Year of the Association shall be June 1 to May 31, unless changed by
the Board of Directors.
Section 6. Robert's Rules of Order
All meetings shall be
conducted pursuant to Robert's Rules of Order.
3. Special Meetings
Special
Meetings shall be called by the President or on the written request of not less
than five (5) active members in good standing, stating the object of such
meetings. The secretary's written notice of Special Meetings to members should
clearly indicate the object of such meetings.
4. Fixing Record Date
For the
purpose of determining the members entitled to notice of or to vote at any
meeting of members or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to or
dissent from any proposal without a meeting, or for the purpose of determining
the members entitled to receive any distribution or any allotment of any rights,
or for the purpose of any other action, the Board shall fix, in advance, a date
as the Record Date for any such determination of members. Such date shall not be
more than fifty (50) nor less than ten (10) days before any such meeting, or
more than fifty (50) days prior to any other action.
5. Action By Members
With A
Meeting Whenever members are required or permitted to take action by vote, such
action may be taken without a meeting by written consent, setting forth the
action so taken, signed by all the members entitled to vote thereon.
6. Proxies
Every member entitled to vote at a meeting of members or to express consent or
dissent without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for him
by proxy. Every proxy must be signed by the member or his attorney-in-fact. No
proxy shall be valid after the expiration of eleven (11) months from the date
thereof, unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable
at the pleasure of the member executing it, except as otherwise provided by law.
7. Order of Business The order of business at all meetings of members shall be
as follows: (a) Roll Call (b) Reading of the minutes of the preceding meeting
(c) Reports of Committees (d) Reports of oficers (e) Old and unfinished business
(f) New Business (g) Good and welfare (h) Adjournment 8. Membership Dues Dues
shall be paid in accordance with a dues schedule as adopted, from time to time,
by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to
pass upon an application for refund in any case where a member becomes
ineligible.
Article IV - Directors
1. Management of the Association
Section 1.
Powers of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors shall have the power to
do and perform all acts to further the basic objectives for which the
Association was formed. It shall have the power to establish committees not
otherwise provided for in these By-laws, with such powers and duties as it may
prescribe.
Section 2. Meeting Dates
The Board of directors shall hold at least
six (6) regular meetings each year, with the last meeting held within four (4)
weeks of the Annual Meeting of the Association. At this last meeting, the agenda
shall deal with matters reserved for the action and decision of members at the
Annual Meeting.
Section 3. Special Meetings
Special Meetings of the Board of
Directors shall be called by the President upon the written request of not less
than five (5) directors. Such meetings shall consider only such business as
shall be contained in the notice of the meeting.
Section 4. Robert's Rules of
Order
All Board meetings shall be conducted pursuant to Robert's Rules of Order.
2. Numbers, Election and Terms of Directors
Section 1. Numbers
The Board of
Directors shall consist of not more than eight (8) elected directors who shall
be elected by and from the active members of the Association plus the additional
directors provided for in Section 3 below.
Section 2. Election and Term of
Directors
(a) Four (4) directors shall be elected at each Annual Meeting. In
addition, any vacancies in unexpired terms shall be filled.
(b) Each director
shall be elected for a term of two years, except in the case of filling an
unexpired term.
Section 3. Additional Directors
(a) All officers of the
Association shall be directors during their respective terms of office.
(b) Each
President of the Association shall be eligible for nomination and election as a
director for life during the year his term of office expires.
Section 4.
Elections
There shall be a Nominating Committee of three (3) members of the
Association. At the Annual Meeting following that in which this By-law is
adopted, three (3) members shall be elected to the Committee for a period of two
(2) years.
Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee shall nominate
candidates for directors, officers and members of the Nominating Committee to be
elected at the Annual Meeting, a list of which, together with a list of any
nominations made hereinafter, provided it shall be sent to members with notice
of such Annual Meeting, fourteen days in advance (on or around May 15). A member
of the Nominating Committee shall not be eligible for nomination as an officer
for the succeeding year after expiration of office. The Board of Directors,
until the next Annual meeting, shall promptly fill interim vacancies on the
Nominating Committee. Nominations By Nominating Committee On or before May 7,
the Nominating Committee shall transmit in writing to the Secretary, the names
of all persons nominated for election as officers, directors and members of the
Nominating Committee. the list of nominees shall be kept by the Secretary for
the inspection by any member. The Secretary shall make the list available for
the inspection of the general membership immediately thereafter together with
the contents of Sub-section (c) of this Section.
Nomination By Others
Any five
(5) active members in good standing may propose in a nomination over their own
individual signatures, addressed to the Secretary, the names of nominees, with
the written consent of each such nominee, for election to any of the offices or
committees to be voted on at the Annual Meeting, and such nomination shall be
filed with the Secretary on or before May 7. The names of such candidates shall
be printed on the same ballot with those of the nominees of the Nominating
Committee, but in a separate column and under the designation of the respective
offices for which they have been severally nominated. The names of no nominee
shall be duplicated on said ballot as a nominee for the same office without his
consent. The Nominating Committee shall prepare an official proxy form, which
form shall be the official form to be circulated to the membership before the
Annual Meeting.
Nominations At Annual Meeting
If the Nominating Committee fails
to nominate a full slate to fill membership on the Board of Directors or any
elective office of the Nominating Committee, nominations to fill such vacancies
shall be accepted at the Annual Meeting.
3. Increase or Decrease
In Number Of
Directors The number of directors may be increased or decreased by vote of the
members or by a vote of a majority of all of the directors. No decrease in
number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
4.
Vacancies
The Board of Directors shall promptly fill all vacancies on the Board,
and in all elective offices and committees, by appointment from among Full
Members in good standing. Each such appointment shall be effective until the
next annual election subject to the restrictions contained in Sub-section 2 of
this Article.
5. Removal of Directors
Any or all of the directors may be removed
for cause by vote of the members or by action of the Board. Directors may be
removed without cause only by vote of the members.
The following constitutes mandatory removal from office:
(a) No director may continue to hold office unless in good standing.
(b) A director shall be deemed to have vacated his
office after being absent for more than (3) consecutive meetings of the Board of
Directors upon the vote of a majority of the Board of Directors.
6. Resignation
A director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the
president or the Secretary of the Association. Unless otherwise specified in the
notice, the resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the Board or
such officer, and the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to
make it effective.
7. Quorum of Directors
Unless otherwise provided in the
Certificate of Incorporation, a majority of the entire Board shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business or of any specified item of business;
provided that the number is not less than five (5) directors, the legal minimum
required by the laws of the State of New York.
8. Action Of The Board
Unless
otherwise required by law, the vote of a majority of the directors present at
the time of the vote, if a quorum is present at such time, shall be the act of
the Board. Each director present shall have one vote.
9. Place And Time Of Board
Meetings
The Board may hold its meetings at the office of the Association or at
such other places, either with or without the State, as it may from time to time
determine.
10. Regular Annual Meeting
A regular annual meeting of the Board
shall be held immediately following the Annual Meeting of members at the place
of such Annual Meeting of members.
11 Notice of Meetings Of the Board,
Adjournment
Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such
time and place, as it shall from time to time determine. Special meetings of the
Board shall be held upon notice to the directors and may be called by the
President upon three days notice to each director either personally or by mail
or wire. Special meetings shall be called by the president or Secretary in a
like manner on written request of two directors. Notice of a meeting need not be
given any director who submits a waiver of notice whether before or after the
meeting or who attends the meeting without protesting prior thereto or at its
commencement, the lack of notice to him. A majority of the directors present,
whether or not a quorum is present may adjourn any meeting to another time and
place. Notice of the adjournment shall be given all directors who were absent at
the time of the adjournment and, unless such time and place are announced at the
meeting of the directors.
12. Chairman
At all meetings of the Board of
Directors, the President, or in his absence a Vice-President or in the absence
of both, a chairman chosen by the Board shall preside.
13. Executive And Other
Committees
The Board, by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board,
may designate from among its members an Executive Committee and other
Committees, each consisting of three or more directors. Each such committee
shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. For details on committees, see
Appendix A to these By-laws. Article V - Officers 1. Offices, Election & Term
Section 1. Officers
The officers shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary
and Treasurer.
Section 2. Eligibility
(a) To be eligible for election as an
officer, a nominee must have served on the Board of Directors for at least one
full year prior to the proposed date of his election as an officer.
(b) Officers
shall be elected from among the members in good standing at the Annual Meeting.
They should fulfill requirements of Article III, Qualifications For Membership.
Section 3. Election
There shall be a Nominating Committee of three (3) members
of the Association, which Committee's operations are explained in Article IV,
Section 4. The election of officers shall be held at the Annual Meeting.
Section
4. Removal And Resignation
Any officer elected or appointed by the Board may be
removed by the Board with cause. The following constitutes mandatory removal
from office:
(a) No officer may continue to hold office unless in good standing.
(b) An officer shall be deemed to have vacated his office after being absent for
more than three (3) consecutive meetings of the Board of Directors, upon the
vote of a majority of the Board of Directors. In the event of the death,
resignation or removal of an officer, the Board in its discretion may elect or
appoint a successor to fill the unexpired term. Any two or more offices may be
held by the same person, except the offices of President and Secretary.
2.
President
The president shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Association.
He shall preside at all meetings of the members and of the Board of Directors.
He shall have the general management of the affairs of the association and shall
see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. He
shall appoint the Chairman of all standing-committees and special committees. He
shall, with the Treasurer Or member appointed by the Board, sign all written
contracts or other financial obligations of the Association authorized by the
Board of Directors. He shall promulgate the By-laws of the Association. He shall
make a full report of the administration of the office and the business of the
Association to the entire membership at the Annual Meeting.
3. Vice-President(s)
During the absence or disability of the President, the Vice-President, or if
there are more than one, the Executive Vice-President shall have all the powers
and functions of the President. Each Vice-President shall perform such other
duties, as the Board shall prescribe.
4a. Treasurer
The Treasurer shall have the
care and custody of all the funds and securities of the Association, and shall
deposit said funds in the name of the Association in such bank or trust company
as the directors may elect. He shall, when duly authorized by the Board of
Directors, sign and execute all contracts in the name of the Association, when
countersigned by the President. He shall also sign all checks, drafts, notes and
orders for the payment of money, which shall be duly authorized by the Board of
Directors and shall be countersigned by the President. He shall at all
reasonable times exhibit his books and accounts to any director or member of the
Association upon application at the office of the Association during ordinary
business hours. At the end of each corporate year, he shall have an audit of the
accounts of the Association made by a committee appointed by the President, and
shall present such audit in writing at the Annual Meeting of the members, at
which time he shall also present an annual report setting forth in full, the
financial conditions of the corporation.
4b. Assistant Treasurer
The Assistant
Treasurer shall assist the Treasurer. During the absence or disability of the
Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer designated by the Board, shall have the
functions of the Treasurer.
5a. Secretary
The Secretary shall keep the minutes
of the Board of Directors and also the minutes of the members. He shall have the
custody of the seal of the corporation and shall affix and attest the same to
documents when duly authorized by the Board of Directors. He shall attend to the
giving and serving of all notices of the Association, and shall have the charge
of such books and papers as the Board of Directors may direct. He shall attend
to such correspondence as may be assigned to him and perform all the duties
incidental to his office. He shall keep a membership roll containing the names,
alphabetically arranged, of all persons who are members of the Association,
showing their places of residence and the time when they became members.
5b.
Assistant Secretary
The Assistant Secretary shall assist the Secretary. During
the absence or disability of the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary designated
by the Board shall have the powers and functions of the Secretary.
6. Sureties
And Bonds
All officers shall be bonded by the Association. In addition, the
Board shall have full power to require members of any or all committees to give
a bond in favor of the Association. The face amount of such bond or bonds shall
be determined by the Board of Directors.
Article VI – Seal
The seal of the
Association shall be as determined by the Board of Directors.
Article VII – Construction
If there are any conflict between the provisions of the Certificate
of Incorporation and these By-laws, the provisions of the Certificate of
Incorporation shall govern.
Article VIII – Amendments
(A) These By-laws may be
amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any regular or special
meeting of the Association. Amendments must be proposed in writing to the Board
of Directors as well as submitted thirty days in advance to the entire
membership before they are presented for approval.
(B) In voting on any article
of amendment, each section shall be voted separately.
Article IX - Removal of Officers
(A) The Board of Directors shall have the right to suspend any officer
from his office for cause.
(B) The suspended officer shall in five (5) days
after such action be given a statement in writing confirming the particulars for
such action.
(C) On receiving such written statement, the suspended officer
shall turn over to the President or his designee, all records, documents,
papers, etc., of the Association pertaining to his office.
(D) At the next
regular or special meeting of the Association, the members present will voice on
the reasons for the suspension, after hearing from the suspended officer and the
President.
(E) The decision of the meeting shall govern all past proceedings.
Article X - Filling Unexpired Terms of Officers And Directors
(A) In the event
it becomes necessary to fill an office for an unexpired term of an officer, such
vacancy shall be filled by appointment of the Board of Directors. In such cases,
the appointed officer shall hold office for the unexpired term.
(B) In the event
it becomes necessary to fill an office for an unexpired term of a director, such
vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the President. In such cases, the
appointed director shall hold office for the unexpired term.
Article XI – Disbursements
(A) Disbursements shall have the approval of the majority of
members present at a regular or special Board of Directors' meeting.
(B) All
order for disbursements shall be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by
the President, or the Vice-President in the absence of the President, and all
payments shall be made by check. However, the Board of Directors may set up a
Revolving Petty cash Fund not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00) at any one
time to be under the exclusive custody of the treasurer for the payment of small
expenditures, save that such disbursements shall be approved by the President.
Article XII - Not For Profit/Tax Exempt Status Of The Association
Section 1.
Grant To Other Associations
The Board of Directors shall review all requests for
funds from other organizations. The Board shall require that such requests
specify the use to which the funds will be put, and if the Board approves the
request, it shall authorize payment of such funds to the approved grantee. The
Board of Directors shall require that the grantee furnish a periodic accounting
to show that the funds were expended for the purposes that were approved by the
Board. The Board may, in its absolute discretion, refuse to make any grants or
contributions or otherwise render financial assistance to or for any or all the
purposes for which funds are requested. After the Board of Directors has
approved a grant to another organization for a specific project or purpose, the
Association may solicit funds for the grant to the specifically approved project
or purpose of the other organization. However, The Board of Directors shall, at
all times, have the right to withdraw approval of the grant and use the funds
for other charitable, scientific or educational purposes. (Jan 1990 IRS
Amendment).
Section 2. Not For Profit Purposes
Notwithstanding any other
provisions of these articles, the Association is organized exclusively for one
or more of the purposes as specified in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1954, and shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be
carried on by an Association exempt from Federal Income Tax under IRC Section
501(c)(3) or corresponding provisions of any subsequent Federal tax laws. (Jan.
1990 IRS Amendment)
Section 3. Dissolution
In the event of dissolution of the
Association, all remaining assets and property of the Association, after
necessary expenses thereof, shall be distributed to KINGSTON COLLEGE or any
successor thereof, or any such organization organized and operated exclusively
for educational purposes and qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code as amended, subject to an order of a Justice of the Supreme Court
of the State of New York. Appendix A - Standing Committees And Their Function
Section 1 All Standing Committee chairmen shall be appointed by the President
and shall report to the Board of Directors at such times as the Board of
Directors may designate. Section 2 The Board of Directors shall constitute the
Committee on Finance and shall have supervision over the financial affairs of
the Association subject to the limitation contained in
Article XIII. The officers
of the Association shall constitute the Executive Committee.
Section 3 The
Standing Committees shall be as follows:
(a) Membership Committee
(b) Education and Culture Committee
(c) Fund Raising Committee
(d) Helping Hand Committee
(e)
Audit Committee
Section 4 Standing Committees shall be composed of at least four
members in addition to the Chairman. Committee members shall be selected by the
Committee Chairman, and approved by the Board of Directors.
Section 5 -
Membership Committee This Committee has the responsibility for the retention and
enlargement of membership of the Association.
Section 6 - Education and Culture
Committee This Committee shall plan and arrange all educational activities of
the Association.
Section 7 - Fund-Raising Committee This Committee shall
examine, analyze and present to the Finance Committee (Board of Directors)
viable fund-raising activities to be undertaken by the Association. Proposals
shall be accompanied by data on cost effectiveness and shall conform to the
overall policy of the Association.
Section 8 - Helping Hand Committee This
Committee shall be responsible for reviewing and recommending to the Board of
Directors requests from members that should be acted upon by the Board.
Nevertheless, the President shall in addition, review all applications made to
this Committee and at his discretion, submit to the Board, an application,
although rejected by the Committee.
Section 9 - Audit Committee This Committee
shall be composed of accountants who shall seek to insure the integrity of the
accounts and advise the Board on whether or not an outside audit is needed.
Section 10 - Other Committees The President may appoint such other special or
temporary committees, as he deems necessary with such duties as may be
prescribed by him or by the Board of Directors.
Section 11 All committees'
decisions or recommendations shall be subject to approval by the Board of
Directors.
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