Constitution & Bylaws
Constitution
Article I
Name
The Name of this organization shall be the Northern Arizona University Retirees Association (NAURA).
Article II
Purpose
The purposes of the organization shall be to foster the benefit, interests and well-being of the NAU retired faculty and staff and their spouses or domestic partners through social, educational and promotional activities as well as to encourage continuing contact and support between retirees and the University and between NAURA and other organizations.
Article III
Membership
Section 1. Membership shall be open to retired faculty and staff of NAU, their spouses or domestic partners, surviving spouses or domestic partners and persons within twelve months of their official retirement.
Section 2. Special cases may be considered by the Executive Committee.
Section 3. An active member shall have met the membership requirements and is current in dues payment.
Article IV
Elected Officers
Section 1. The elected officers shall include: President, President-Elect, Past President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Section 2. A President-Elect shall be elected every year and shall become the President the following year and Past President the third year. A Secretary and a Treasurer shall be elected for two-year terms in alternate years; the Secretary being elected one year and the Treasurer the next.
Section 3. Officers shall be eligible to succeed themselves if the Nominating Committee is in agreement and approved by the Executive Committee and a majority of the membership present and voting at the annual meeting.
Section 4. The President presides at meetings and coordinates the activities of the Association. The President-Elect acts in the absence of the President and assists in coordination. The Secretary keeps notes of meetings and maintains correspondence. The Treasurer collects, deposits and disburses funds as appropriate, maintains financial records and prepares and distributes financial reports.
Section 5. The Treasurer is also responsible for preparing and submitting taxes and forms required by the government. The Treasurer, President and Immediate Past President shall have signature authority on all Association financial accounts. Any two of the authorized signatures shall be required for all financial transactions.
Section 6. To serve in any office, elected or appointed, the member must be in good standing with dues paid and current.
Section 7. A more specific list of duties will be found in the list of Operating Procedures. These procedures would serve as guidelines to guide the efficient and effective operation of the Association.
Article V
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is composed of the five elected and the appointed officers as determined by the elected officers. The Executive Committee shall conduct routine business between regular meetings, appoint committees and perform other functions as defined herein and in the bylaws.
Article VI
Meetings
There shall be an annual meeting in the spring, to be determined by the Executive Committee for the election of officers and for other Association business. Additional meetings shall be held as determined by the Executive Committee.
Article VII
Amendments
This Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of the Association. Proposed amendments must be circulated to the active membership via electronic or print media at least twenty days prior to the meeting. For purposes of amendment a quorum shall consist of those active members in attendance. A two-thirds majority of the members present and voting shall be required for adoption of the amendment.
Amended 1990, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2016
Bylaws
Article I
Dues
Section 1.The dues formula shall provide for an annual payment with the option for a lifetime membership. The annual and lifetime memberships shall include both the retiree and his/her spouse or domestic partner.
Section 2. Any change in dues shall be proposed by the Executive Committee and approved by a majority vote of the membership at the annual meeting.
Section 3. Annual dues are due on the first day of the fiscal year which is July 1 – June 30.
Article II
Vacancies
Section 1. The Executive Committee shall appoint a member, in good standing, to fill vacancies for the balance of the officer’s term.
Section 2. The elected officers shall appoint a member, in good standing, after consultation with the full Executive Committee, to fill any appointed officer vacancy.
Section 3. If the President resigns or is unable to fulfill his/her term, the President-Elect shall fill the remainder of the President’s term and then will serve the subsequent full term as well.
Article III
Special Meetings
A special meeting must be called by the Executive Committee upon petition of 10% of the members in good standing as determined by the latest membership list.
Article IV
Committees
Section 1. The Executive Committee shall appoint committees, along with their duties and responsibilities, the president will designate the chair. The Operating Procedures will describe the various committees and their responsibilities. The only required committee is a Nominating Committee chaired by the President-Elect or a member in good standing appointed by the Executive Committee.
Section 2. Chairpersons and members of committees shall hold office until a successor has been duly appointed or until s/he resigns or is unable to hold office. New appointments or replacements shall be made by the President with the approval of the Executive Committee.
Article V
Parliamentary Authority
The parliamentary authority will be Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised most recent edition.
Article VI
Quorum
The majority of active membership present at any meeting shall be required to transact business.
Article VII
Amendments to BYLAWS
These By-laws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Association. Proposed By-law changes must be circulated to the active membership via electronic or print media at least twenty days prior to the meeting. For purposes of adopting By-law changes, a quorum shall consist of those active members in attendance. A two-thirds majority of the active members present and voting shall be required for adoption.
Article VIII
Dissolution
If the Association dissolves, any remaining assets shall be transferred to the Northern Arizona University Foundation and deposited in the account for the NAURA Centennial endowed scholarship.
Revised 1996, 2003 and 2016