CONSTITUTION
OF THE
UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY
CLASS OF 1961

ARTICLE I
PURPOSE

This Constitution of the United States Military Academy Class of 1961 (“Class”) is established to encourage and strengthen the association of Class members begun as Cadets, provide a means for administration of Class affairs, and foster the mission and purpose of the United States Military Academy.

ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP

1. The Class will have Regular, Associate, and Honorary Members.

2. Individuals who graduated from the United States Military Academy with the Class will be Regular Members.

3. Former Cadets who were members of the Class will be Associate Members.

4. Widows of Regular and Associate Members and individuals to whom the Executive Committee has offered membership and who have accepted the offer will be Honorary Members.

ARTICLE III
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

1.      Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, Class affairs will be managed by an Executive Committee consisting of the Class Officers.

2.      Individuals holding such officer positions will continue as Executive Committee members so long as they hold such officer positions.

3.      Meetings of the Executive Committee will be held at the call of the president or any two Executive Committee members.  Meetings may be held in person, by conference call, by other electronic means by which all members may participate fully in the meeting, or by unanimous written consent.  A quorum will be a majority of the Executive Committee and the majority of the quorum will be required to take action.  Notices of Executive Committee meetings will be given by phone, e-mail, mail, or facsimile not less than ten (10) days prior to the scheduled meeting, but notice may be waived.

ARTICLE IV
OTHER COMMITTEES

1.      The Executive Committee will appoint a Nominating Committee (including a Chairman) to nominate officers.  The Nominating Committee will consist of not less than five Regular, non-Executive Committee members.  The Nominating Committee may select one or more nominees for each position.  The Nominating Committee will provide written notice of the nominees selected to each Regular and Associate Member, together with a ballot and voting procedures, not less than sixty (60) days before the regular Class meeting.

2.      The Executive Committee may appoint such other committees having such duties and authorities, subject to this Constitution, and members as it may determine.

3.      Committees will meet at the call of their Chairmen.  A quorum will be a majority of the committee and the majority of the quorum will be required to take action.  Committees may be meet in person, by conference call, by other electronic means by which all members may participate fully in the meeting, or by unanimous written consent.

ARTICLE V
OFFICERS

1.      The Class will have a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Historian, Scribe, and such other officers as the Executive Committee may determine.

2.      Officers, other than the Scribe, will be elected at each five-year Class reunion from the Regular Members for a term of five years or until their successors are elected, they die, become disabled, resign, or are removed pursuant to this Article V.  The Executive Committee will appoint the Scribe who will serve until he dies, becomes disabled, resigns, or is removed pursuant to this Article V.

3.      In the case of a vacancy, the Executive Committee may appoint a replacement to serve until the next regular Class meeting, except that a vacancy in the office of President will be filled by the Vice-President and the Executive Committee will fill the Vice-President’s vacancy.

4.      The President will be the chief representative of the Class, will appear and speak on its behalf in all matters pertaining to the Class, and will chair Executive Committee and Class meetings.

5.      The Vice-President will perform such duties as may be given him by the President or the Executive Committee and act in the President’s place in his absence.

6.      The Treasurer will keep the financial books of the Class, disburse Class funds as authorized by the Executive Committee, subject to this Constitution, and provide an annual financial report to the Class.

7.      The Secretary will keep the current records of the Class and prepare for and conduct all administrative matters pertaining to Class and Executive Committee meetings.

8.      The Historian will develop and maintain records that include Class statistics, Class members’ notable accomplishments, and other relevant Class historical data.

9.      The Scribe will provide the Class Notes for the Assembly magazine and perform other duties as may be designated by the Executive Committee.

10.  Officers may be removed for cause by the unanimous vote of the remaining Executive Committee members.

11.    All officers and committee members will bear their own expenses.  With the approval of the Executive Committee, expenses incurred by any officer in behalf of the Class may be reimbursed upon presentation of receipts.
 

ARTICLE VI
MEETINGS AND ELECTIONS

1.      A regular Class meeting will be held at each five-year reunion.  At the regular meeting, elections for officers will be held, the President will report on the status of Class affairs, the Treasurer will report on Class finances, and such other business may be conducted as determined by the Executive Committee or a majority of the Regular and Associate Members in attendance.

2.      The Executive Committee may call for a special Class meeting at any other time it deems appropriate.  Notices of special meetings will be provided by phone, e-mail, mail, or facsimile not less than sixty (60) days prior to the meeting.

3.      Regular and Associate Members may vote on Class matters.  Any Regular or Associate Member may vote on behalf of another Regular or Associate Member pursuant to a written proxy, an executed copy of which must be filed with the Secretary at, or prior, to the meeting.

4.      For elections at a meeting, a quorum will consist of the Regular and Associate Members in attendance in person and by proxy and those who have submitted written ballots in accordance with procedures established by the Nominating Committee.  For other matters at meetings, a quorum will consist of Regular and Associate Members in attendance in person and by proxy.  For elections, the nominee receiving the most votes will be elected. For all other matters, a majority of a quorum will be required for action.

5.      The Secretary will have the report of each meeting posted on the class web site.
 

ARTICLE VII
CLASS AND ADMINISTRATIVE FUNDS

1.      The Class will maintain a Class Fund with the Association of Graduates (AOG) which will be administered by the Treasurer in conjunction with the AOG.  The purpose of the Class Fund is to provide such gifts as the Class may determine to the United States Military Academy and the AOG and for Class administrative purposes, including gifts to sons and daughters who graduate from a service academy, contributions or flowers upon the death of a member, and other purposes approved by the Executive Committee.

2.      The Executive Committee may establish annual dues for administrative purposes that will accrue to the Class Fund.

3.      Upon approval of the Executive Committee, the Treasurer may establish one or more bank accounts for the administrative affairs of the Class.  From time to time, the Executive Committee will establish limits on the Treasurer’s authority to withdraw funds from such accounts for any expense or series of related expenses without the additional signature of another officer.

4.      Upon the death of the last Regular Member, all remaining funds in the Class Fund and Class accounts will be transferred to the AOG.

ARTICLE VIII
CLASS gifTS

Class gifts to the United States Military Academy and the AOG will be approved by the Class.  Upon the approval of a gift, the Executive Committee may authorize the Treasurer to make specific disbursements from the Class Fund in fulfillment of such gifts.

ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS

1.      Proposed amendments to this Constitution will be submitted by the Executive Committee to Regular and Associate Members for approval, together with a written explanation of the amendment’s purpose and a ballot.  In case of an amendment’s submittal being between regular Class meetings, the notice of proposed amendment will provide not less than sixty (60) days for Regular and Associate Members to return their ballots.  A majority of those voting will be required to approve the proposed amendment.

2.      Any Regular or Associate Member may request the Executive Committee to consider a proposed amendment for Class approval.  If the Executive Committee does not recommend the proposed amendment, the Regular or Associate Member may submit the proposed amendment for Class consideration at his own expense.

Ratified 5 October 2001