Alumni Constitution

ARTICLE 1 - NAME, LOCATION, DURATION

1. The name of this organization shall be the "Engineering, Mathematics and Science Alumni Chapter" (hereinafter designated as “the Chapter”) of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Alumni Association (Parent Alumni Association).
    
2. The principal office of the Chapter shall be located in Platteville, Wisconsin, within the offices of the Parent Alumni Association.
    
3. The duration of the Chapter shall be perpetual. Dissolution of the Chapter may occur on a majority vote of the active Chapter membership according the rules set forth by the State of Wisconsin.

ARTICLE 2 - MISSION

1. The mission of the Chapter is to:
   a) Cultivate friendships and foster mutual aid among its members.
   b) Provide a bond between the University and its alumni by sustaining, maintaining, renewing and creating friendships and relationships.
   c) Promote and support the mission of the University.
   d) Promote the image of the University to current and prospective students, faculty/staff and the general public.
   e) Advance the interests and standards of the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
   f) Promote a mutually beneficial relationship between the University and its Engineering, Mathematics and Science alumni.
   g) Receive, invest and use gifts, contributions, devices, and bequests of money and/or real and personal property for the benefit of the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
    
2. The Chapter shall not be used for business or political purposes or for pecuniary gain or profit of its members. This provision, however, shall not preclude the employment of members of the Chapter upon the same terms and conditions as non-members thereof.
    
3. No substantial part of the activities of the Chapter shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation, and the chapter shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing and distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

ARTICLE 3 - MEMBERSHIP

1. Any engineering, science, and/or mathematics graduate, former student, staff member, or former staff member of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Platteville Normal School, Platteville State Teachers College, Wisconsin State College-Platteville, Wisconsin School of Mines, Wisconsin Institute of Technology, Wisconsin State College & Institute of Technology or Wisconsin State University-Platteville, or any person who expresses a sincere interest in the College of Engineering, Mathematics, and Science of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, may become a member upon payment of membership dues for the Parent Alumni Association and the Chapter. The amount of these dues shall be fixed by the Parent Alumni Association Board of Directors and the Board of Directors of the Chapter respectively. All money received shall be administered by the Boards of each group respectively.
    
2. Members who are current in membership dues shall be considered active members. Only active members may be elected to the Board of Directors of the Chapter and serve as directors and officers thereof.
    
3. Membership in the Chapter is open to persons regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, national origin and/or disability.

ARTICLE 4 - MEETINGS

1. The Board of Directors shall meet a minimum of three (3) times per year or as otherwise deemed necessary and proper in order to discharge the duties of the Chapter. Any transaction for which a vote is required, shall necessitate a quorum be established per the by-laws.
    
2. Meetings, including the Chapter’s annual meeting, shall be held at a time, place and location as determined by a consensus of the Chapter Board of Directors. Formal attendance at meetings may include physical presence or other means (e.g. conference call or other telecommunication methods as determined acceptable by the consensus of the Chapter Board). Notice of all Chapter meetings shall be in the alumni communications of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
    
3. Except as provided in Section VI. D. (Executive Committee) below, special meetings can be called by the President or Vice President when a minor matter requires the consensus of the Chapter Board. Such special meetings can be conducted at a physical site or by other means as considered appropriate by the presiding officer.

ARTICLE 5 - BOARD OF DIRECTORS

1. The Board shall consist of the following, all of whom must be active members of the Parent Alumni Association and the Chapter, except for the appointed, non-voting liaisons.
   a) Nine (9) at-large voting Directors to serve terms as provided for in the By-Laws.
   b) In addition, the Past President of the Chapter, the Director of the Alumni Association and the Dean of the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science shall be considered members of the Chapter Board without voting privileges.
   c) One or more faculty liaisons shall be appointed in accord with the number, tenure and duties as provided in the By-Laws. Faculty liaisons shall not have voting privileges.
   d) One or more student liaison(s) shall appointed with the number, tenure and duties as provided in the By-Laws. Student liaison(s) shall not have voting privileges.
    
2. The powers and duties of the Chapter Board of Directors shall be:
   a) Manage and direct the affairs of the Chapter.
   b) Fill vacancies on the Board.
   c) Adopt such rules, requirements and bylaws as it may deem necessary to carry out the mission of the Chapter and the requirements of this Constitution.
   d) Meet on the call of the President. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the voting members of the Chapter Board of Directors.
   e) Serve on the standing committees.
   f) Appoint and direct ad hoc committees/activities consisting of at-large Chapter members, liaisons, members of the Board of Directors and/or other members (e.g., University of Wisconsin-Platteville representatives) as deemed appropriate.

ARTICLE 6 - OFFICERS

1. The officers of the Chapter shall consist of a President, a Past President, a First Vice President, a Second Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, with such tenure and duties as shall be provided for in the By-Laws.

ARTICLE 7 -  GIFTS AND GRANTS

1. The Chapter may receive gifts, contributions, devices and bequests of money and real or personal property to offset expenses incurred in the operation of the Chapter, or to be used for the benefit of the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. At the discretion of the Chapter Board of Directors, property in excess of the amount needed for the operation of the Chapter may be turned over to the Parent Alumni Association for purposes as may be stated by the Chapter Board of Directors.
    
2. The Chapter may establish fund(s) with the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Foundation and such fund(s) may be the recipient of special gifts. All surpluses accruing from the general operations of the Chapter may be placed in said fund(s) upon action of the Chapter Board of Directors. Any fund(s), if and when established, shall be held in trust by the Chapter Board of Directors, who shall be authorized to enter into a trust agreement covering the management, handling, investment and disbursement of the corpus of the fund.
    
3. Upon dissolution of the Chapter, the assets, property, and estate of all kinds, natures, and descriptions, of the Chapter after the payment or discharge of its debts, obligations and liabilities, shall be distributed to any successor organization; otherwise, said funds shall be transferred to and become the property of the Parent Alumni Association or its successor organization; otherwise, said funds shall be transferred to and become the property of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville if it qualifies for exemption from federal income tax under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or to another organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, or scientific purposes if such organization or organizations are exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose.

ARTICLE 8 - AMENDMENTS

1. This Constitution may be amended at an official Chapter Board of Directors meeting by a two-thirds favorable vote. Copies of proposed amendments must be sent to all members of the Chapter Board of Directors at least 30 days prior to the meeting at which such amendments are to be voted on by the full Chapter Board of Directors membership.
    
2. Grammatical changes that do not alter the intent of the message of the Constitution of the Chapter may be made by a majority vote of the Chapter Board of Directors.

Adopted April 17, 1999; Amended October 10, 2015