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WSURA By-Laws

Approved June 28, 2000

Article I – Name

The name of this nonprofit organization is The Wright State University Retirees Association (WSURA).

Article II – Purpose

The purpose of this Association is to work for the well being of its members by providing or promoting:

1. social, recreational, and lifelong learning activities.
2. ways for improving the economic condition of members.
3. ways for improving the health of members.
4. opportunities for continuing service to the University.
5. support to a member's household in case of emergency or death.

Article III – Membership

Section I: Full Membership

1. Qualifications: Membership is open to persons who have retired from Wright State University and who have participated in either the State Teachers Retirement System, the Public Employees Retirement System, or other approved university retirement system options. A membership applies to a household, with one vote per membership. However, when both members of a household are WSU retirees, each has a vote.
2. Spouses or partners of deceased members: A surviving spouse or partner, who is not a WSU retiree, may request to continue the household membership as an associate member.
3. Life Membership: available at a one-time fee.
4. Retirees from other state universities: Retirees of any state university may have all rights of membership of WSURA except holding elective office in the organization; however, Life Membership is not transferable.

Surviving spouses or partners or persons who were employed or served in an official capacity at Wright State University for at least nine (9) years and have reached retirement age are eligible for associate membership. Associate members will have all rights of membership except holding elective office in the organization.

Article IV – Governance of the Association

Section 1: Executive Board (hereafter referred to as the "Board")

The Board is composed of the five officers, the immediate Past President or designee if the Past President is unable to serve, up to five standing committee representatives, and six members-at-large. The duties of the Board are:

1. to hold regular meetings (the President being empowered to call special meetings). The June Board meeting shall be a joint meeting of the outgoing and incoming Board members, the main purpose of this meeting being the setting of goals and initial program planning for the upcoming year.
2. to receive and review secretarial and financial reports.
3. to develop policies for the planning and promotion of programs and activities
4. to prepare an annual operating budget and to approve budgets for activities and/or special projects.
5. to have general supervision of the affairs of WSURA between general meetings of the Association, to fix the hour and place of meetings, to make recommendations to WSURA, and to perform such duties as are authorized by the Association. No action of the Board shall conflict with actions taken at a general meeting of WSURA.
6. to elect a successor to any member of the Board who is unable to serve except for Vice President. A vacancy in the office of Vice President shall be filled by election by the membership through a mailed ballot.
7. to originate and circulate a newsletter

Section 2: Actions of the Board

1. Any act or resolution of the Board that either changes the By-Laws or clearly implies the consent of a majority of the Association members must be submitted to the members at a general meeting or by mail ballot.
2. Any action of the Board that is challenged in writing by at least ten (10) members must either be rescinded by the Board or submitted to the membership for a vote. The mail returns shall be tabulated within six weeks. Approval of the Board's action requires at least 60% of the returns to favor action.
3. A majority of the voting members of the Board constitutes a quorum.

Section 3: Officers and Duties

1. The President presides over all meetings of the Association and the Board, performs duties that usually pertain to the office, oversees the student worker, approves routine office expenditures, and oversees the development and/or updating of a policy and procedures manual for the organization.
2. The Vice President, who is also President Elect, serves in the absence of the President and serves as a member or chair of the Activities Committee.
3. The Secretary keeps minutes of all meetings of the Association and the Board and performs such duties as generally relate to the office.
4. The Treasurer maintains the accounts of the Association, receives and disburses all monies, assists in preparing budget estimates for new proposals coming before the Board, prepares an annual summary of income and expenditures, and oversees membership records.
5. The Communications Coordinator oversees and edits WSURA publications and (as Chair) coordinates the activities of the Publications Committee.
6. The Past President serves in an advisory capacity to the Board and as a member of the Publications Committee.

Section 4: Fiscal Year and Terms of Office

1. The Fiscal year of the Association is July 1 – June 30.
2. The President and Vice President serve for a term of one year.
3. The Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Communications Coordinator are elected for two-year terms.
4. Three members-at large are elected each year for a two year term

Section 5: Elections

The By Laws and Elections Committee, appointed by the president with the approval of the Board, shall solicit names annually from the voting membership for open offices and will prepare a ballot, having secured consent of the nominees. Nominations from the membership and the By Laws and Elections Committee shall be placed on a ballot and mailed to the voting membership. Four weeks after mailing the ballot to the membership, the returns shall be tabulated by a tellers committee appointed by the President. Any nominee receiving a plurality of the votes from the returned ballots is elected. The annual election process shall begin on April 15.

Section 6: Committees

All committees are appointed by the President with the approval of the Board. Standing committee chairs (or representatives) will be appointed by the WSURA President, in consultation with the Vice President, and ratified by the Board. Standing committees will be the Bylaws and Elections Committee, the Historical Preservation Committee, the OCHER representative(s), the Sunshine Committee, the Service Committee, and the Activities Committee. The first five chairs will be appointed for two-year terms (initial terms staggered) and the Activities chair will be appointed for a one-year term. One representative from each standing committee shall have a vote on the Board. If a chair of a standing committee serves in another voting position, another member of the committee may be appointed to serve as the voting member on the Board. Ad hoc committees shall be appointed by the President as needed.

Article V – Dues

Membership dues for each succeeding year shall be set by the Board in March. Any dues increase will take effect on the following July 1. Dues for associate members shall be the same as for full members, except that associate members shall not be eligible for Life Membership until they meet the requirements of full membership.

Article VI – Meetings

Section 1: General Provisions

One Annual Meeting of the WSURA membership shall be held in June. Other general membership meetings may be called by the President and/or the Board. Fifteen (15) persons constitute a quorum for all general membership meetings.

Section 2: Procedure

Robert's Rules of Order, revised, is the guide for questions of procedure not otherwise stated in these By-Laws.

Article VII – Amendments

These By-Laws may be amended at any meeting of the membership by a majority vote of the members present and voting, provided that the proposed amendment has been submitted at a preceding meeting or in a notice mailed to all members of WSURA not less than one month prior to the vote.

Article VIII – Dissolution

Section 1: Procedure

WSURA may be dissolved only after consideration at an annual meeting, provided that notice of such consideration is mailed to the membership at least 30 days prior to the annual meeting, followed by a ballot vote of the entire membership. Dissolution of the Association requires a majority affirmative vote of the members present and voting at the annual meeting, followed by a majority affirmative vote of the entire membership by mail ballot.

Section 2: Remaining Funds

In the event that the WSURA should cease to exist, all funds remaining after payment of just debts shall be transferred to the Wright State University Foundation Fund for deposit in WSU account number.