Review and vote on the proposed changes to the Alumni Association Bylaws here.

PREAMBLE

History of the Association

Because of their deep love for their alma mater, the members of the first graduating class (US’06*) of The Principia desired to establish an alumni association, which would supply a continuation of their relationships with the school and with each other. This pioneer class adopted the Shield of the First Crusade as its emblem and agreed that each graduate should be privileged to wear the alumni pin, similar in design to this shield.

The herald sounds a new crusade Against false fetters of men’s minds,
And we go forth to aid.
(1906 Class poem)

The six individuals included in this class met on the veranda of Principia Hall, May 26, 1906, the morning following their graduation. These first alumni elected officers and adopted the following statement:

The purpose of this Association is to keep the graduates in such close touch with the work and growth of the school that they may prove an important and competent factor in aiding this work; to diffuse by precept and example the highest possible ideal of manhood; and by so doing to establish the proper relations between Principia and the world at large. After the meeting the new Alumni Association held a luncheon at the Mercantile Club with invited guests, Mrs. Mary Kimball Morgan, Principal, and Mrs. Fannie Ball Perrin, Associate Principal.

During the luncheon various members of the Advisory Board of The Principia called to offer congratulations and to express their approval of this important step in the history of the school. The St. Louis Globe-Democrat of June 3, 1906, contained an account of the graduation and a photograph taken at the luncheon.

The following year the Association invited the Class of 1907 to become members and adopted a simple constitution which provided that every graduate of The Principia should automatically become a member of the Association.

Each revision of the bylaws has been motivated by the desire that alumni may render more effective support of the school and may augment their happy relationships with each other.

*Class of 1906

Andrews, Winnifred
Lewis, Dorothy R.
Clarke, Broadus J.
Obear, Adelaide
Culver, Lawrence F.
Settle, Elma J.

Bylaws

Article I: Name

The name of this organization shall be The Principia Alumni Association.

Article II: Purpose

The purpose of this Association shall be to keep the alumni of The Principia in such close touch with the work and growth of the school that they may support its work as specifically stated in Policy 1 of the Purpose and Policies of The Principia.

Article III: Members

Section 1

The members of this Association shall be termed academic, faculty/staff, and honorary.

Section 2

Academic Members

Automatic membership is extended to the following:

1. Graduates of Principia Upper School or College.
   
2. Former students who have attended Principia Upper School or College for one year (or its equivalent in credits) and who left in good standing and are no longer prospective students.

An invitation for membership may be extended by the Alumni Office to former students who have attended The Principia for one full quarter or semester (or its equivalent in credits).

Section 3

Faculty/Staff Members

An invitation for membership is extended by the Alumni Office to members of the faculty and staff who have been employed by The Principia for a minimum of 24 months or two academic years.

Section 4

Honorary Members

Membership is extended to the following:

1. Members of the Board of Trustees of The Principia who are not already members.
2. Individuals who have received an honorary degree from Principia College.
3. Individuals who, by unanimous vote of the Alumni Association Board, have rendered meritorious service to The Principia and who, through their inclusion in the Association, will add strength and inspiration to The Principia.

Section 5

A member who actively opposes the Principia idea may be dropped from the roll of the membership by unanimous vote of the Alumni Board, subject to the approval of the Chief Executive Officer of The Principia.

Section 6

A member who has been dropped from the roll of membership may be reinstated by unanimous vote of the Alumni Board subject to the approval of the Chief Executive Officer of The Principia.

Article IV: Expectations of Members

Section 1

Mrs. Mary Kimball Morgan writes in Education at The Principia (pp. 178–179):

The Principia should be able to rely unhesitatingly upon its alumni for many things but especially for the following:

1. Unselfish expenditure of time and thought to the end that false impressions with regard to The Principia may be corrected and the institution, its purposes and practices, properly understood.
2. Active organized programs which will bring Principia appropriately to the attention of young people in your community, of school and college age, so that the finest student material will be intelligently attracted to our doors.
3. Loving and loyal reception of appeals for financial support, which will undoubtedly be continued throughout the years.
4. Intelligent and alert efforts to discover Principia’s needs and to serve in support of these needs.

Section 2

Accordingly, every member of this Association is expected to:

1. keep in touch with the progress of The Principia,
2. strive to live up to its ideals,
3. attend meetings of the Association,
4. vote on all questions,
5. abide by the decision of the majority,
6. respond willingly when called upon to work for the Association,
7. give financial support,
8. be familiar with these bylaws,
9. support Principia field activities and programs,
10. support Principia Clubs as dues-paying members and officers.

Article V: Government

Section 1

The business of the Association shall be directed and supervised consistent with Policy 21 of the Purpose and Policies of The Principia by a self-perpetuating Alumni Association Board.

Section 2

The Board has full power to act on behalf of members of the Association - except as otherwise provided in these bylaws - in carrying out the Association’s stated purpose.

Section 3

The Board shall adopt standing rules for its operation, in conformity with these bylaws, to be kept as part of the Board’s permanent records.

Section 4

The Director of Alumni Relations, appointed and employed by The Principia, shall be in charge of the Alumni Office and shall be responsible for the routine business of the Association consistent with these bylaws or incidental to the office.

Article VI: Board Members and Officers

Section 1

Members of the Alumni Association Board shall meet the following criteria:

1. Have demonstrated dedication to The Principia and proved both a willingness and an ability to work for it.
2. Be dedicated Christian Scientists.
3. Have demonstrated competence in their chosen field.
4. Have demonstrated leadership capacity.

The composition of the Alumni Association Board shall, to the extent possible:

1. represent major alumni population centers,
2. be balanced by age and gender,
3. include alumni of both Upper School and College,
4. include a resident of the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Section 2

Alumni Board members shall be elected according to the following procedure:

1. Prior to each annual meeting of the Alumni Board, the Alumni Office will collect from current and past board members and present administration a list of candidates for nomination.
2. The Alumni Office and President will determine that all nominees meet the criteria in Section 1.
3. A nominating committee composed of the President of the Alumni Association Board, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, President of the Principia College, Head of School of the St. Louis campus, and Director of Alumni Relations will by majority vote approve a slate of nominees to be sent to the Alumni Board.
4. The Alumni Board will elect new members from the slate.

Section 3

The term of office for an Alumni Board member is three years, effective at the end of the next annual meeting of the Board following the election, and expiring at the end of the third annual meeting of the Board thereafter. A member will serve for only one term, except that a member elected to fill an unexpired term of two years or less may be elected for a second term.

Section 4

Any vacancy on the Board shall be filled for the remainder of the term by the process described in Section 2. The term of a member elected to fill a vacancy will take effect immediately upon the member’s election or when the vacancy occurs, whichever is later.

Section 5

The Board shall elect officers, from among its members, during its annual meeting, by ballot and without nomination. Officers shall be a President, Vice President, and Secretary. A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by the Vice President. A vacancy in the office of Vice President shall be filled by the Secretary. A vacancy in the office of Secretary shall be filled by vote of the Alumni Board.

Section 6

Any member of the Board may be removed from office by the vote of three-fourths of the members of the Board.

Article VII: Duties of the Alumni Association Board

Section 1

The duties of the Board are to support The Principia metaphysically, to implement the purpose of the Association as stated in Article II, and to seek fulfillment of Mrs. Mary Kimball Morgan’s expectation of alumni as found in Education at The Principia:

“A Talk to the Alumni and Graduating Classes-1935” (p. 176), “To Our Alumni” (p. 192), and that portion of Mrs. Morgan’s paper of June 6, 1937, directed to alumni (pp. 144-146).

Section 2

The role of the Alumni Association Board is to establish and build connections with the graduating classes of the Upper School and College and to maintain connections with alumni. To accomplish these ends, the Board shall provide advice and assistance on matters relating to alumni interests and programs to the Director of Alumni Relations and selected school administrators.

Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the Board to keep informed about the work of the school so that correct information can be provided to the Field as required.

Section 3

The Alumni Board shall have two regular meetings a year, with the first meeting in the calendar year being the annual meeting. Special meetings may be called by the Board President, the Alumni Director, or a majority of the Alumni Board.

Section 4

A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business.

Any action taken by the Alumni Board shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present, except as otherwise provided by the bylaws.

Section 5

The Board shall keep minutes of its meetings, which shall be open for inspection to any member of the Association at the Alumni Office during normal business hours.

Section 6

The Board shall ensure that alumni are periodically informed about the business of the Association.

Article VIII: Duties of Officers

Section 1

The Board President shall provide the leadership for the metaphysical and other activities of the Board and of this Association, shall preside at all meetings of the Board, shall act as member ex officio of all Association committees, and shall perform such other duties as the Association or Board may direct or which are incidental to the office.

Section 2

The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President when necessary.

Section 3

The Secretary shall carry out duties delegated by the Board.

Section 4

The three officers of the Board shall serve as members of the Executive Committee and shall meet as needed upon the call of the President after consultation with the Director of Alumni Relations. They may take such actions as necessary on behalf of the full Board until such actions can be reviewed and voted upon by the Board.

Article IX: Meetings of the Association

Section 1

A regular meeting of the Alumni Association shall be held at least biennially at a time and place announced by the Board.

Section 2

Special meetings of the Association, when approved by the Director of Alumni Relations, may be called by:

1. the Board President when he or she deems them advisable;
2. a majority of the members of the Board;
3. a written request by 5% of the membership of the Association, to the Director of Alumni Relations, stating the purpose of the meeting.

Section 3

Notices of regular meetings of this Association shall be sent to all members at least four weeks before the regular meetings are held. In the case of special meetings, at least two weeks’ notice shall be given. The notice for any special meeting shall include a statement of purpose of the meeting.

Section 4

Any business may be transacted at any regular meeting of the Association. The business to be transacted at a special meeting shall be limited to matters stated in the notice of the meeting.

Section 5

At all meetings of this Association a majority of votes cast shall be necessary for the passage of any measure, except as otherwise provided by the bylaws.

Section 6

Two hundred members of the Association present at any meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the Association.

Article X: Finances

Section 1

Funds to cover the cost of conducting the activities of the Association shall be derived from an appropriation authorized by the Trustees of The Principia from school funds upon request of the Director of Alumni Relations.

Article XI: Parliamentary Authority

In all parliamentary matters, the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern this Association, except as otherwise provided by these bylaws or by any special rules of order the Association may adopt.

Article XII: Amendment Of Bylaws

These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Association with the approval of two-thirds of the votes cast, provided that a general statement of the purpose of the amendment be given to the membership in writing, together with an absentee ballot, at least two weeks in advance. Members who will be absent from such meeting may vote on the measure, provided that they use the ballots furnished by the Alumni Office and that their ballots are received by that office prior to the meeting.