Bylaws

UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

GENERAL BYLAWS

[Approved June 20, 2012]

Interpretation

1.  In these bylaws:

(a)   “Association” means The University of Saskatchewan Alumni Association;

(b)   “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Association;

(c)    “Chair” means the person who has been appointed to preside at any meeting;

(d)   “Executive Director” means the Executive Director of the Association;

(e)   “Member” means a member of the Association;

(f)     “University” means the University of Saskatchewan; and

(g)   “Voting Member” means an ordinary member or an honorary member. 

Objectives

2.  The objectives of the Association are to:

(a)    advise the University on alumni programs and services and advise Members about
        program and service offerings;

(b)     act as the voice of its Members;

(c)     support the University’s efforts to build resources, relationships and a reputation of
         excellence for the university; and

(d)     celebrate alumni achievements, student success and the contribution of alumni volunteers.

MEMBERSHIP

Ordinary members

3.    (1)  person holding a University degree certificate or diploma is an ordinary member.

       (2)  ordinary members may vote at all Association meetings.

Honorary members

4.     (1)   The Board may, by resolution, admit a person for honorary membership in recognition of that 
               person’s exceptional service to, affinity for, or support of the University, but the resolution of the
               Board is not effective until it has been confirmed by the Members at an annual general meeting.

 (2)  Honorary members may vote at all Association meetings, but in accordance with section 115 of
       The Non-Profit Corporations Act, honorary members may not vote regarding fundamental changes 
       or dissolution.

Associate members

5.      (1)  A person is entitled to associate membership upon request to the registered office of the
               Association if that person:

(a)  has completed 30 credit units towards an undergraduate degree at the University and the 
      class with which the person started University has graduated;

(b)  has completed graduate program course work at the University but has not completed a 
      thesis or dissertation;

(c)  has completed one year of a program at the University that results in accreditation,
      such as medical residency; or

(d)  is a retired University faculty member or staff member.

(2)  Associate members may not vote at Association meetings.

Cessation of Membership

6.   A person shall cease to be a Member

(a)  on providing written notice of resignation to the registered office of the Association;

(b)  on his or her death; or

(c)  on his or her degree, diploma or certificate being revoked for cause by the University.

Reinstatement of Membership

7.   If the University reinstates a revoked degree, diploma or certificate to a person, the Association
      shall reinstate the person’s membership.

ASSOCIATION MEETINGS

Meetings Generally

8.     (1)  Notice of a meeting shall indicate the time and place of the meeting and the business to 
              be transacted at it.

(2)  An irregularity in a notice, in the giving of notice, or the non-receipt of notice by any Member
      entitled to it does not invalidate anything done or passed at the meeting.

(3)  Twelve Members constitutes a quorum.

(4)  The Chair may only vote in order to resolve a tie.

Annual General Meeting

9.    (1)   An annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place in Saskatchewan as the Board
              may determine.

(2)   The Executive Director shall ensure that notice of an annual general meeting is provided to
        Members at least 30 days before the meeting.

(3)  The Association may publish a notice stating that the financial statements and the auditor’s
       report are available at the registered office and that any Member may obtain a free copy on
       paper or in electronic format by making a request to the registered office of the Association.

(4)  The Board shall determine the order of business at an annual general meeting prior to the
       opening of the meeting.

Special Meetings

10.   (1)  The Board may call a special meeting.

(2)  The Board must call a special meeting when directed to do so pursuant to subsection (3).

(3)  Voting Members may direct the Board to call a special meeting by filing with the Executive
       Director a written request signed by at least one percent of the Voting Members and setting
       out the reasons for the meeting and the business to be transacted at it.

(4)  A special meeting may be held at such time and place in Saskatchewan as the Board may
      determine, but in any event shall be held within 90 days of the call of the meeting.

(5)  The Executive Director shall ensure that notice of a special meeting, indicating the time and 
      place of the meeting and the business to be transacted, is provided to Members within 14 days
      of the call of the meeting and at least 15 days prior to the date of the meeting

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board of Directors

11.   (1)  Any Member is eligible to become a director, provided that he or she is qualified to be a Director
              pursuant to section 92 of The Non Profit-Corporations Act.

(2)  Each of the directors shall be elected by the Voting Members at the annual general meeting 
      based on the results from a call for nominations from the Members.

(3)  At the first Board meeting following the annual general meeting, the Board shall appoint a
      President and Vice-President from among the directors.

(4)  The Board may appoint from time to time such other officers, including Past President, as
       they deem advisable.

12. The Board shall:

(a)  determine policy required to meet the Association’s objectives;

(b)  report to members those transactions that are outside of the approved budget;

(c)  delegate responsibility to Committees to meet specific objectives of the Association;

(d)   at each annual general meeting, report fully to the members on the business transacted
       since the previous annual general meeting; and

(e)  keep minutes of all its proceedings and any reports relating thereto and circulate those
       proceedings and reports once approved by the Board.

President

13.   (1)  The President shall:

(a)  chair all Association meetings and Board meetings; and

(b)  be the official spokesperson of the Association.

 (2)  The President is an ex officio member of all Committees.

Past President

14.  A Past President shall provide counsel and assistance to the Board.

Vice-President

15.  The Vice-President shall, in the absence of the President, fulfill the President’s duties.

Executive Director

16.  The Executive Director shall serve as an effective administrator of Association resources
       and trusted advisor to the Board.

Term

17.   (1)  Elections to fill vacancies on the Board of Directors shall be held annually.

(2)  A Director’s term is two years, beginning immediately following the annual general
      meeting at which he or she is elected.

(3)   Notwithstanding subsection (2), at the first election after this bylaw comes into force,
       the Members shall elect the entire Board of Directors, half of whom shall serve for an
       ordinary two-year term and half for a transitional one-year term.

Vacancies on the Board

18.   (1) In accordance with section 98 of The Non-Profit Corporations Act, if a Director’s position
             become vacant, the Board shall appoint a replacement for the remainder of the term
             of his or her predecessor.

(2)   If the office of President becomes vacant, the Board shall appoint a new President
       for the duration of the term of his or her predecessor. 

Board Meetings

19.   (1)  The Board shall meet at least three times each year, at a time and place to be
              designated by the Board, or, in the absence of designation by the Board, as designated by the
              President.

        (2)  The Board shall meet at least three times each year, at a time and place to be designated  
              by the Where it is not feasible for the Board to meet in person, the President may authorize 
              a Board meeting to take place by teleconference, videoconference or other appropriate technologies
               permitted by The Non-Profit Corporations Act.

(3)  A majority of the voting Board members constitutes a quorum.

(4)  Motions shall be determined by ordinary resolution unless the bylaws or the rules of order adopted
       by the Association require otherwise.

(5)  The Chair shall only vote in order to resolve a tie.

Signing Authority

20.   Signing authority shall be granted in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding
        between the Association and the University.

Terms of reference

22.   (1)  The Board shall set the terms of reference for a committee.

(2)  Where it is not feasible for the committee to meet in person, a committee meeting
       may take place by mail, email, fax, teleconference or other appropriate technologies.

(3)  Each Committee shall report to the Board.

Composition and structure

23.  Committee members shall include members of the Board and Members with interest
       or expertise in the Committee’s activities.

AFFILIATED ASSOCIATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS

24.  The Association will build positive relationships with campus alumni associations, student
       associations and other organizations and bodies in an effort to advance the Association’s
       objectives.

Indemnity

25.  All directors or officers of the Association authorized to undertake activity or to perform any
       activity on behalf of the Association and their heirs, executors and administrators, and estate
       and effects shall at all times be indemnified and saved harmless out of the funds of the
       Association from and against:

(a)  all costs, charges and expenses which the director, officer or other authorized person
      sustains or incurs in or about any action, suit or proceedings which is brought, 
      commenced or prosecuted against such person, for or in respect of any deed, act, matter
      or thing whatever made, done or permitted by them in or about the execution of their office; and

(b) all other cost, charges and expenses which such person sustains or incurs in or about or in
      relation to the affairs thereof, except such charges, costs or expenses as are occasioned
      by the person’s own wilful neglect or default or activity contrary to law.

Association Year

26.  The Association year shall run from the end of the annual general meeting to the end of the following
       annual general meeting.

Fiscal Year

27.   The fiscal year of the Association ends on April 30 of each year.

FUNDING AND FINANCIAL REPORTS

Funding

28.  The Board shall secure funding for the Association.

Audited financial statement

29.  Financial management of the Association shall be based on an annual review engagement
       report, conducted by a chartered accountant.

Bylaws

30.    (1) A bylaw may only be made, amended or repealed by ordinary resolution at an annual
              general meeting, provided that notice of the proposed bylaw, amendment or
              repeal has been provided to all Members at least 30 days prior to the meeting.

 (2)  Notice of the proposed bylaw, amendment or repeal may be provided by electronic means.

Procedure

31.  The procedure at all meetings shall be governed by this bylaw and, in cases not provided for, 
       by the rules set out in the most recent edition of M.K. Kerr and H.W. King, Procedures for Meetings
       and Organizations.