The Mission Of The Alumni Association

CONSTITUTION

of the

Port Credit Secondary School [PCSS]

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Port Credit Secondary School [ PCSS]Alumni Association, hereinafter referred to as The Association.

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE/MISSION

The mission of the Association is to communicate with the Alumni Body, link Alumni friends and their high school memories, support actively and financially the current school student scholarship programme and  selected school capital projects. The Association will also  archive and display physical memorabilia in the school Alumni Association display cases as well as post digital information on the Alumni Association website.  The Association would be connected to the school through the Alumni Association Committee, [AAC] who in turn would maintain the present Principal and Vice Principal as primary contacts to further the causes of the Association.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 – Regular Alumnus Members

Any individual, having attended, or taught, at  Port Credit Secondary School, may consider themselves, and will be considered by the PCSS Alumni Association Committee [AAC], to be entitled to all rights, privileges, and obligations of membership as defined by The Association Bylaws Article 1, Section 1.

ARTICLE IV – ALUMNI ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE [AAC]

Section 1- Responsibilities

The Alumni Association Committee [AAC] shall be responsible for developing and implementing the operating plan necessary to serve the Alumni Association as indicated in the Association bylaws, Article II and to administer those Subcommittees as indicated in the Association Bylaws, Article II. The AAC will direct and implement issues affecting the association.

Section 2]- COMPOSITION OF AAC

The AAC shall consist of 12 positions as described below, elected from regular Alumni membership.[ The election process is described fully in the Bylaws, Article IX, Section 1 ] All  members of the AAC, with the exception of the chair and Ex-officio members, will have voting privileges.

POSITIONS OF THE AAC

1] Chair

2] Treasurer

3] Secretary

4] Alumni Night Subcommittee Chair

5] Scholarship Subcommittee Chair

6] Alumni Recruit Outreach Subcommittee Chair

7] Database Manager

8] Web Site Manager

9] Archives Subcommitte Chair

10] Member-at-Large     11] Member-at –Large     12] Member-at-Large

ARTICLE V – SUBCOMMITTEES

Section 1]

There shall be four subcommittees of the AAC as follows.

1] Scholarship Subcommittee

2] Alumni Outreach Subcommittee

3] Alumni Night Subcommittee

4] Archives Subcommittee

Section 2] – Ad hoc Committees

As the need arises, the AAC may establish ad hoc committees to achieve specific goals in accordance with the Association purposes as stated in Article II of the constitution.

Section 3]- Responsibilities

Each subcommittee shall be responsible, and be organized as indicated in The Association Bylaws, Articles II & III.  Recommendations, or plans by any of the subcommittees, or requests for funding to accomplish Subcommittee goals will be passed on from the Chair of the SC to the Chair of the AAC for further discussion with other appropriate members if thought necessary by the Chair.  Disagreements between the Chair of the AAC and the Chair of the Subcommittee over such issues will be settled by a 2/3 majority vote of the AAC present at any meeting.

ARTICLE VI – MEETINGS

Section 1] – Annual Meeting

An annual meeting of The AAC will be held after the Annual Alumni Night and prior to the end of June of that year.  Advance notice must be given to all Committee Members at least thirty days prior to such meeting.

Section 2] – Special Meetings

Special meetings of The Alumni Committee may be called by the Chair of the AAC or the Principal of the school after conferring with the Chair.

ARTICLE VII – BYLAWS

Section 1] – Authority

The AAC has the authority and responsibility to create and maintain bylaws governing the business, administration, and responsibilities of The Association in accordance with its purposes as stated in Article II of the Constitution.

ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS

The constitution may be amended by a 2/3 majority vote of the AAC present at any meeting, provided any proposed amendment has been stated in the notice calling such meeting. The vote will be by a simple show of hands.

The
BYLAWS
of the
PCSS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

ARTICLE I – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 – Regular Members

Any individual qualified as a regular member as defined in Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution shall be entitled to the following: the right to attend all meetings of The AAC without vote; the right to address the AAC, provided written notice is received by the Chair not less than fifteen days prior to such announced meeting; the right to hold office; and the right to participate in all programs of The Association.

ARTICLE II

ORGANIZATION OF AAC, WITH ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ALL SUBCOMMITTEE POSITIONS

Section 1] – JOB DESCRIPTION OF  AAC CHAIR

The Chair shall provide the necessary leadership and guidance required to accomplish the AAC’s mission within its guidelines as defined in Article II of the Constitution. The Chair shall preside at all meetings of The AAC. The Chair shall be responsible for coordinating planning objectives. The Chair will not have a vote, but will cast the deciding vote in case of a tie vote. The Chair shall be responsible for giving notice of all meetings, establishing the Agenda, distributing it to members at least 10 days before  bringing extra copies to the meeting, and then arranging said meetings by requesting and receiving permission from the Principal if the meeting is held at the School. The Chair will communicate with the various Subcommittee Chairs, and all the other positions of the AAC to ensure coordination, teamwork and see goals are met on a timely basis. The Chair will also proof read minutes before they are sent out to members and assist directly in producing or proof reading e-mail blasts communications to Alumni. The Chair will also oversee AAC activities to ensure adherence to the Constitution / Bylaws of the AAC, as well as overseeing all elections for membership

Section 2] –JOB DEDCRIPTION OF  AAC TREASURER

The Treasurer shall be responsible for managing and accounting for all revenues and expenses of the AAC using proper accounting procedures and should have a base knowledge of accounting. The Treasurer will be responsible for recording all donations, and issuing receipts for income tax purposes, for maintaining the AAC chequing account for which there will be three signatories, with two required for payment. The Treasurer will be responsible for paying all authorized expenses of the AAC, and producing a profit / loss statements for all any and all AAC events such as Alumni Night in conjunction with the Subcommittee Chair for the event.

The Treasurer shall also be responsible for handling, tracking, securing and counting cash floats and receipts at AAC events in conjunction with the Subcommittee Chair, as well as maintaining complete files to show records of these financial expenditures with receipts. These records will be available to the AAC to support meeting reports, or for audit, or for passing on to the succeeding Treasurer in case of resignation.

The treasurer shall be responsible for collecting all monies donated to the Scholarship Funds and then submitting them to the School Principal, or his representative for deposit in the Board Account, with a summary that includes a complete list of all the donors who gave more than $25.00. This list is to include each donors name, their address and the amount they have given, so that individual tax receipts can be issued by the Board.  Each Scholarship is to have a file with the Board that describes and names the award, and the specific amounts to be awarded, with all amounts in agreement with the wishes of the AAC. The Terry Garbutt Memorial Award monies, though they are in the Board account, will be tracked in a separate ledger by the Treasurer. The Treasurer will include in any financial statement the total amount in the Board Account, at the same time identifying the money left in the Terry Garbutt Fund.  If there are not sufficient funds in the Board Account to pay the Annual Scholarships the treasurer will transfer funds from the AAC Account to the Board account to pay for the Scholarships, such transfer again with agreement from the AAC.

Section 3] – JOB DESCRIPTION OF AAC SECRETARY

The secretary shall be responsible for recording the minutes of the meeting, submitting them to the Chair for proof reading, then sending them out to the membership of the AAC. The Secretary shall also be responsible for archiving the minutes, to be passed on to the next Secretary.

Section 4] JOB DESCRIPTION OF AAC ALUMNI NIGHT SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR [ANS]

Alumni Night is normally held on the first Friday of May, unless there is a major reunion being held[ which typically occurs every ten years] The Event is normally held in the school cafeteria unless there is a major event planned[ ie sports or musical event] in which case the gym[s] or auditorium might be used.

The ANS Chair is responsible for directing and organizing his group as follows:

1] Planning the logistical components of setting up and operating the Alumni Night.

2] Organizing AAC members and volunteer “Friends of the AAC” to staff the various duties for the evening.

3] Setting up all facilities for the Alumni Night including: entrance tables to collect cover charge, arranging cafeteria tables, bar tables, drink ticket stations, snack tables, coffee station, snack bowls, table clothes, public address system if needed, music etc.

4] Arranging for various signs at entrance and at drink ticket stations indicating costs being charged as well as  table notices advising all profit  goes to Scholarship Fund and other worthy school projects.

5] Contacting necessary outside support staff including bar staff, police and janitors.

6] The ANS will manage sales of entrance tickets, bar tickets, maintaining sufficient cash float, collecting the proceeds and balancing cash with tickets sold. The ANS will purchase appropriate ticket rolls for all drinks and supply cash boxes for all cash stations

7]The Chair of the ANS will prepare a financial budget for the event with projected revenues, expenses, and estimated profit. The Chair will also produce a final statement in conjunction with the Treasurer for Alumni Night showing actual revenues, expenses and profit to be reviewed at the Annual General meeting of the AAC in June.

Section 5] JOB DESCRIPTION OF AAC SCHOLARSHIP SUBCOMMITTE CHAIR [SSC]

The Chair of the Scholarship Subcommittee [SSC] will be asked to report from time to time to AAC.   The Chair will also organize their job, adhering to the best of their ability, to the following schedule and sequence of tasks:

• In January the Chair of the SSC will confirm with the Treasurer that there is adequate monies in the Board Account to cover the Scholarships to be paid that year, and will ask the AAC for a transfer from the AAC Account if there is not sufficient funds in the Board Account or, with the permission of the AAC, simply reduce the Scholarship amounts if there is not sufficient money available from both accounts combined.

• In March the Chair, will contact the school confirming the information on the application forms, and that the information pertaining to the Alumni Scholarships on the school website is correct.                     

• In April, or early May, the Chair will convene the SSC, receive applications from the School, photocopy all applications for each SC member, and photocopy all critical-reference documents for each SC member. The Chair will distribute one copy of each application / critical reference document for each SC member.

• In May, the Chair will write a letter to each applicant acknowledging receipt of application and that the successful candidate will be announced at Commencement.  The Chair will set a meeting time and place for the SSC to discuss all University and College Bound applicants. The SCC members will come to meeting with the top three candidates for each award, along with supporting reasons for their choice. The top candidate is given 3 points, second choice 2 points, third choice 1 point, with the award going to candidate with most points.

• For the Terry Garbutt Award, the Chair will contact the School to set up interview times for applicants, and after the SSC members interview the candidates, the winner is chosen.

• After the three winners are chosen, the school is informed, and they, in turn, inform the successful candidates. The Chair does not advise those applicants who were unsuccessful.

• The Chair will write a brief bio of each successful applicant and submit that bio to the school’s Commencement Chair to be read at Commencement.

• In May, after Alumni Night, the SSC Chair will, with the help of the AAC Archivist, set up the AAC display case with various Commencement items such as pictures and bios of award winners from the past, along with a cap and gown.
• In June, prior to Commencement, the SSC Chair will advise the AAC Treasurer of the cheque amounts and the payees, and then attend Commencement to hand out awards and address the graduates.
• After Commencement, the Chair will ask each award winner for their graduation picture.

• The Chair will then submit both the picture and the previously written bio to the AAC Website Manager for posting on the AAC Website. Next the Chair will contact the school to order bronze bars for the scholarship recipient board and oversee the placing of the bars on said board.
• The Chair will update the Scholarship Committee Excel Applicant/Recipient Data file for “Where are they now ?” purposes

• The Chair shall be responsible for dealing with any possible conflicts of interest that might potentially exist between applicants and members of the AAC, bringing any such existing conflicts to the attention of the AAC.

Section 6]- JOB DESCRIPTION OF AAC  ALUMNI OUTREACH SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR [ AOS]

The Chair of the AOS will liaise with the school administration, through the Principal and Vice Principal, to develop links with the current school graduating class with the intent of developing leadership roles for those who are Valedictorians, Athletes of the year, Musicians of the Year, and all Scholarship Award winners with particular emphasis on those Scholarships awarded by the Alumni through the AAC.

The Chair of the AOS, along with its members and working with school staff, will also develop an Alumni Association / Grad Student mentoring program.

The AOS will arrange representation of the Alumni Association at  the school Grad Breakfast Program and will also arrange for financial support of same .

The AOS will develop an Outreach Link on the Alumni Website and the school website www.pcssonline.com

The AOS will develop a system for connecting to successive grad classes by selecting/ appointing class representatives from the present year, as well as class representatives going back through successive years, with the objective of having these class reps use available, commonly used electronic social networking communication devices to connect to their respective classes to promote the activities of the Alumni Association and the AAC. This system should aid in building our own AAC Data base, as well as magnifying any e-mail communications sent out by the AAC.

The AOS will focus on Alumni who live in the local school area to encourage them to take an active role in the AAC either as a “Friend of the AAC or as a member of the AAC itself.

The AOS will also liaise with other Alumni Association to bring effective practises to the operation of our Association

Section7]- JOB DESCRIPTION OF  AAC DATA BASE MANAGER

The Data Base Manager will be charged with keeping updated electronic lists of Alumni, using commonly understood programming techniques, to allow the Manager to regularly communicate details of the various events and programs that the AAC promotes, using e-mail or any other social network system available. In addition, the Data Base Manager will act as a custodian of the data in the base, protecting it from improper use by others, or duplication, recognizing at the same time this base will remain entirely the property of the AAC and that its use will be strictly limited only to promoting the interests and goals of the AAC and the Alumni Association.

The Data Base Manager will work with the Website Manager to coordinate their efforts where appropriate.

8]- JOB DESCRIPTION OF  AAC WEBSITE MANAGER

The Website Manager shall keep our Website up to date with respect to the events and proceedings of the Alumni Association, using established and commonly understood programming techniques, according to direction given by the AAC. The sole purpose of the Website is to promote the Alumni Association and its projects and goals. The Website Manager shall ensure the Website is used only for this purpose and will act as custodian of our Website, recognizing that the Site belongs solely to the AAC. The Web Site manager will work with the Data Base Manager to coordinate their efforts where appropriate.

9] JOB DESCRIPTION OF AAC ARCHIVES SUBCOMMITTE CHAIR

The Archives Chair will be the custodian and manager of all the schools archival materials that will , from time to time, be rotated through the three display cases in the main hall of the school. These materials would typically include yearbooks, athletic artifacts, pictures of past events, and of students and teachers. Typically, the Chair of this Committee would arrange to display our artifacts at our annual alumni event.

10] Member-at-large 11] Member-at-Large 12] Member-at-Large

These members-at-large will assist in reaching the goals of the AAC, including serving multiple memberships on SC’s if appropriate.  They also will serve as a possible source for replacement by election to any other position on the AAC.

ARTICLE III

RESPONSIBILITY OF SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS TO AAC

Each SC will have a Chair who will be responsible for reporting on their activities to the Chair, and to the other members of the AAC at meetings when requested. All SC Chairs will be expected to actively recruit and organize suitable members as required from the AAC, or from the Alumni to accomplish the goals of that SC, provided the Chair of the AAC is advised of these selections. Each SC will be responsible for submitting budgets, if required, to the Chair and the Treasurer of the AAC for subsequent approval at an AAC meeting. It is understood that it is likely that many members of the AAC will have multiple memberships on these SC’s according to individual abilities and SC needs. It is also understood that there would be SC Volunteer Members, defined in Bylaws Article VI, as “Friends of the AAC” or Ex-Officio members [ i.e. Class Captains] who will serve on these SC’s who will not be elected members of the AAC.

ARTICLE IV  

REMOVAL OF AAC MEMBERS

All members of the AAC shall hold office for the length of the prescribed term, but shall be subject to removal at any time for cause by 2/3 majority vote of the AAC membership present at a special meeting called for such purpose. Cause would include, but not necessarily be restricted to, those who are derelict of duty, those who disrupt the harmony of the AAC, those who misappropriate funds, those who cause unauthorized access to our data base or its reproduction or  distribution without the expressed consent of the AAC,  those who are seen to have conflict of interest with the objectives of the AAC, and those who conduct themselves contrary to the policies and procedures of the AAC in ways that offend, or could be regarded as damaging or potentially damaging to the public image of the School , it’s students, the AAC  or  the Alumni body it represents.

ARTICLE V – EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS

Section 1 – Principal and Vice Principal of the school or designate

The Principal of the school shall be responsible for assisting and supporting alumni activities, programs, and services which include all areas of Alumni concern within the purposes of The Association as indicated in Article II of the Constitution.

Section 2 – Student Representative

The Student Representative shall be a member of the graduating class selected jointly by the Alumni Outreach Subcommittee and the Principal of the School to act as a liaison, during their graduation year, between the student body and the AAC through the Alumni Outreach Subcommittee. After Graduation this person, or alternate, selected from this class, would remain an Ex-Officio member and would continue to serve as a class contact for the Alumni Outreach Subcommittee.

Section 3 ] Immediate Past Chair

The Immediate Past Chair shall be responsible to provide advice and counsel to the AAC and to mentor and assist the present Chair in carrying out his/ her duties.

Section 4]   Immediate Past Treasurer

The immediate Past Treasurer shall be responsible to provide advice and counsel to the AAC and to mentor and assist the present Treasurer in carrying out his/ her duties.

ARTICLE VI

 SPECIAL PROVISION FOR VOLUNTEERS KNOWN AS “THE FRIENDS OF THE AAC”

There shall be a provision for any member of the Alumni to volunteer to an Auxiliary group of the AAC that will be known as the “Friends of the AAC”. This group will be comprised of, but not necessarily limited to, retired or aspiring AAC members, as well as all Alumni, and their partners, who simply wish to donate their time, by active participation, to aid or support the authorized activities and projects of the AAC, including Alumni Night.

ARTICLE VII – REQUIRED MEETINGS OF AAC, AND WHO CAN ATTEND

Section 1]

Any member, as defined in Article III of the Constitution, may attend a regular Alumni Committee meeting without voting privileges and may address the AAC, provided that advance written notice has been given to the Chair not fewer than 15 days prior to said meeting or, if approved by the Chair, a 2/3 majority vote of the AAC present at that meeting.

Section2]

If in the judgement of the Chair there is business to warrant the AAC will meet at least five times annually, including the Annual General meeting, with a minimum 15 days notice to AAC members. Under extraordinary circumstances, the Chair of the AAC or the Principle may call a special meeting, providing all members are given notice.

ARTICLE VIII- QUORUM DEFINED

A quorum is necessary to conduct regular business of the AAC.  A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the voting members of the AAC. [ IE 6 voting members not including the Chair.]

ARTICLE IX – ELECTION OF ANY MEMBER OF THE AAC

Section I]

Nominations to fill any vacant position, or to move from one position to another on the AAC, will be accepted from any member of the Association, including the membership of the AAC. To be valid, nominations must be both accepted by the nominee and seconded by a member of the AAC and must be in the hands of the Chair at least 10 days before an election is held. Voting will be by a simply show of hands. A 2/3 majority vote of the AAC will cause a duly nominated person to be elected.

Section 2]- Term of Office

All AAC members, regardless of position, shall be elected for a one-year term that normally would start at the end of the Annual General Meeting [AGM] held in June and finish the following year, again at the end of the AGM. At the end of the term, provided both a 2/3 majority of those present, and the member in question agree, it will be extended for another year. Thus the term can be renewed indefinitely from year to year with mutual agreement. At anytime during the second term, or any other subsequent term, if the member wishes to resign, three months’ notice would be asked, barring exceptional circumstances. Any member elected to fill a vacant position during the year at a time other than the AGM would go through the same renewal process at the AGM that full term members do.

Section 3]

In the event of tie votes or disputed election results, the AAC shall meet and, by 2/3 majority vote, decide the issue by a show of hands, and such decision shall be final.

ARTICLE X

 BYLAW AMENDMENTS

Section 1]

The Bylaws may be amended by a 2/3 majority vote of the membership of the AAC at a meeting, with a simple show of hands, provided the changes proposed are stated on the Agenda for that meeting and circulated to membership 10 days before the meeting.

Constitution Amended:  October17, 2016