Winthrop University Athletics

 
 
ARTICLE I
NAME
 
Section1.  The name of this organization shall be The Winthrop University Eagle Club (hereinafter called “The Club”).
 
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE AND LIMITATIONS
 
Section 1.  The purposes of The Eagle Club are:
 

1. To support and promote intercollegiate athletic excellence at Winthrop University.
2. To raise funds for scholarships and other athletic needs for the advancement of intercollegiate athletics at Winthrop.
3. To promote club membership growth and encourage active involvement in club activities
4.  To generate student, alumni, faculty, and community interests in all Winthrop athletic programs.
5. To serve as a liaison between the athletic department, friends, alumni and surrounding community, of Winthrop University, in order to unite those who wish to serve the University in its intercollegiate athletic endeavors.
6. To honor Winthrop University athletes and valued supporters of athletic programs.

 
 
Section 2.   Limitations.
 
            Notwithstanding any provision of these articles.
 

1. The Club shall not carry on any activity prohibited by any provision of the Internal Revenue Code pertaining to foundations exempt from federal income tax or provisions governing contributions made to tax-exempt foundations.
2. No part of Club funds shall be distributed to its members, directors, officers, or other persons, except that the Secretary/Treasurer is authorized to pay reasonable expenses incurred for services rendered in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article II.
3. No Club activities shall be for the purpose of attempting to influence legislation, participating in or intervening in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for any public office.
4. The Club shall not become involved in any activity prohibited by NCAA regulations or policies.

 
 
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
 
Section 1.  Any person who is a friend of Winthrop University and interested in its athletic program may become a member of The Club.
 
Section 2.  Membership fees shall be fixed by the Winthrop University Athletic Department with advice from the Board.  The fiscal year for The Club shall be from July 1^st through June 30^th.
 
Section 3.  Only those members who are in good standing by having paid their current membership dues shall have the right to vote and hold office in The Club.
 
Section 4.  Membership privileges may be removed from any member whose conduct is in violation of the articles set forth in the Bylaws of the Winthrop University Eagle Club, but only after a hearing before the Board of Directors, and a simple majority vote by the Board of Directors to revoke membership.
 
 
ARTICLE IV
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
MEMBERSHIP
 
Section 1.  The government of the Club shall be vested in a Board of Directors (hereinafter called “The Board”) composed of eighteen (18) voting members and the immediate past President.  At each annual election, one-third (1/3) of the members of the Board shall be elected for a term of three (3) years by The Club members.
 
Re-election of Board members is acceptable.
 
The Board shall also consist of:
 

1. A coaches’ representative selected by the coaching staff.
2. A faculty representative who is designated by the Chair of Faculty Advisors on Intercollegiate Athletics.
3. A student athlete representative selected by the Student Athlete Advisory Council.

 
Each of these representatives shall serve a one year term.
 
These representatives are ex-officio and nonvoting, but shall be expected to attend every regular board meeting and encouraged to provide input on all matters before the Board.
 
 
 
DUTIES
 
Section 2.  The Board shall carry out the purposes stated in Article II and report their activities to Winthrop University through the Director of Athletics and to The Club members through an Eagle Club Newsletter, meeting minutes or other written reports. Further, each board member will be delegated as a liaison to a respective sport program providing the full board with information on each program.
 
GENERAL POWERS
 
Section 3.  The Board shall have power to fill all vacancies on The Board for the duration of any unexpired term.  A subcommittee comprised of the Vice President and two other elected Board members will bring forth a recommendation to the full Board at the meeting following the notification of the vacancy.  The nomination will be selected from the pool of nominations from the most recent Board elections.
 
The Board shall have the power to establish and amend these Bylaws by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the total membership or by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the membership of the Board.  Any amendment(s) shall be mailed to each Board member at least four (4) days prior to the meeting at which time such amendment(s) will be considered.
 
The Board shall have the power to establish such committees as it deems necessary and define each committee’s duties and responsibilities.
 
The Board shall act in an advisory capacity for The Club’s financial operations by coordinating with the Secretary/Treasurer and at least annually reviewing The Club budget of expenses and disbursements.  The Board shall also act in an advisory capacity to the Athletic Director concerning the use of all funds raised for scholarships and athletic department operations over and above The Club’s operating expenses.
 
QUORUM
 
Section 4.  A quorum shall consist of at least nine (9) Board members or 50% of current Board membership.
 
MEETINGS
 
Section 5.  The Board shall meet at least once a month or at such other times as the President may call a meeting, or by a majority vote of the Board.  The meetings shall be held on the second Tuesday of all months except those excluded above at a location designated by the President or a majority of the Board.
 
 
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
 
Section 1.  Officers of The Board shall also be officers of The Club and shall be elected annually by a majority vote of those present at the first regular Board meeting after the annual election.
 
Section 2.  Officers shall include a President, a Vice President, and the immediate past president.  The terms of the office shall be for one (1) year and officers may be reelected from year to year except that no officers shall be elected for more than two (2) consecutive years.  The duties of Secretary/Treasurer will be carried out by Winthrop athletic department staff as appointed by the Director of Athletics (as amended May 14, 1991).
 
Section 3.  All officers shall serve until their successors have been elected and approved by the Board.
 
Section 4.  The President shall appoint members to committees subject to the confirmation of The Board and this action shall be taken by The Board prior to any meetings of the committees.
 
Section 5.  The President shall preside at all meetings of The Board and shall have all powers and duties incident to that office and shall be required to submit an annual report to The Board with recommendations for conducting the affairs of The Club in succeeding years.
 
Section 6.  In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall preside and perform all the duties of the President.  In the event the Office of the President shall become vacant for any reason, the Vice President shall assume the duties of that office until the next regular meeting of The Board at which time a new President shall be elected to complete the unexpired term.
 
Section 7.  The Secretary/Treasurer shall be responsible for the minutes of the meeting, for all correspondence, records and for the continuing business of the Club. The Secretary/Treasurer shall, with the advice of the Athletic Director report all Club finances semi-annually.
 
Section 8.  The immediate past president shall serve as the Chairman of the nominating committee.
 
 
ARTICLE VI
ELECTIONS
 
Section 1.  Election of The Board shall be held on the second Tuesday of May each year.  Ballots shall be electronically mailed to members in good standing.  
 
Section 2.       
 

1. The immediate past president shall appoint a nominating committee of four (4) Board members and three (3) non-Board members representing a cross section of the entire membership.
2. Members of the nominating committee will be announced to the membership within 3 days of their appointment.
3. At least twenty (20) days before the annual election, the Committee shall nominate from the qualified membership a slate of candidates for the Board which may be no greater than two times the vacancies to be filled.
4. An official ballot containing the names of all nominees listed in alphabetical order shall be electronically mailed at least ten (10) days before the annual election to all qualified voting members. Ballots must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of May. 

Section 3.       
 

1. Upon compiling the total votes cast, those nominees receiving the highest number of votes shall, in descending order, fill the vacancies for three (3) year terms.
2. In the event that two or more nominees for the final vacancy receive the same number of votes, the Chairman of the Nominating Committee will determine the winner by a coin toss.
3. The Secretary shall notify new Board members of their election and should a new member decline to serve, all other nominees receiving votes shall move up one position as set forth above until all vacancies are filled.

 
Section 4.       

1. The first six presidents of The Club shall be given status of Board Members for Life with all the privileges of elected Board members.

 
 
ARTICLE VII
FINANCES
 
Section 1.
 

1. The Board shall act in an advisory capacity for The Club’s financial operations in coordination with the Athletic Director.
2. All funds raised by the Eagle Club shall be used strictly in accordance with the purposes and limitations of Article II.
3. All disbursements of Eagle Club funds will be approved by the Athletic Director. 

 
 
ARTICLE VIII
OPERATIONS
 
Section 1.
 

1. Robert’s Rules of Order shall be used to govern the procedure at all meetings, unless they are specifically inconsistent with any bylaws, special rules or procedures adopted by the Board.