West Point Society of Silicon Valley

By-Laws

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this Society will be the West Point Society of Silicon Valley.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The Society shall be a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the principles and welfare of the United States Military Academy. In accomplishing its purpose, this Society endeavors to serve its community and country.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIPS

Section 3.1 - Classification -- Memberships shall be Regular, Life, Associate, Honorary and Special.

Section 3.2 – Regular  -- Any graduate of the United States Military Academy and any former cadet who was honorably discharged from the United States Military Academy after serving at least until the close of the academic half-year immediately following his/her admission shall be eligible for Regular Membership.

Section 3.3  - Life -- Any Regular member is qualified for Life Membership upon payment of dues established by the OFFICERS.

Section 3.4  - Associate -- individuals in the following capacities are eligible for Associate Membership:

1.      Parent or sibling of a cadet;

2.      Parent, sibling or child of a person eligible for Regular Membership;

3.      Senator or Member of Congress;

4.      Any individual appointed by the USMA Admissions Office as District Representative, Liaison Officer, Admissions Representative or whatever title he/she may be given by that office; and

5.      Any person who has a member of his/her immediate family on the staff and faculty of West Point or the United States Military Academy Preparatory School.

Section 3.5 - Honorary

1.      Honorary Members shall consist of those individuals of distinction who are elected unanimously by the OFFICERS because of outstanding and noteworthy service to their community, country or to the United States Military Academy. Honorary Members shall not be required to be graduates nor former cadets of the United States Military Academy, and shall not be required to pay dues.

2.      Any surviving spouse of a deceased member or deceased graduate is automatically an Honorary Member.

Section 3.6 - Special -- Individuals in the following capacities are eligible for Special Membership. Dues for this classification are waived.

1.      Cadets and Cadet candidates of United States Military Academy Preparatory School from local area;

2.      Other Cadets who have distinguished themselves by outstanding service to the United States Military Academy and who are in their First Class year at the Academy; and

3.      Any individual who, by his/her efforts and/or contributions of time and service, assists the West Point Society of Silicon Valley in fulfilling its purpose.

Section 3.7 -     Regular and Associate Members shall renew their membership by paying in advance the dues for that year as fixed by the OFFICERS.

Section 3.8 -   Only Regular Members shall have voting rights.

Section 3.9 - Resignation; Expulsion -- Any member may resign at any time by giving written notice to the OFFICERS. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if no time be specified, upon receipt. Resignation shall not entitle a member to return of any dues paid by him/her. At a meeting duly called in accordance with the By-Laws, a member may be expelled for cause by a two-thirds vote of a quorum of all Regular Members. An expelled member may be reinstated by a vote of a majority of a quorum of Regular members at a meeting duly called in accordance with the By-Laws.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

Section 4.1 - The government and management of the Society shall be vested in an executive body of five of its Regular Members known as the OFFICERS. On all questions of interpretation of the By-Laws or other rules of the Society, the decision of the OFFICERS shall be final unless rescinded by the Society at the Annual Business Meeting or at a special meeting called for the purpose. The OFFICERS shall have the authority to invest the Society's treasury in whole or in part in the manner they deem prudent in order to achieve maximum growth with reasonable safety.

Section 4.2 - In the event of dissolution of the West Point Society of Silicon Valley, all funds and property remaining clear and unencumbered following final receipts and disbursements will be offered to the following organizations in order of priority listed. This list is established to provide alternates in the event of the dissolution of the primary organizations.

1.      Association of Graduates
United States Military Academy
West Point, New York

2.      West Point Fund
United States Military Academy
West Point, New York

3.      United States Military Academy (a Federal agency)
West Point, New York

4.   The Federal Government of the United States of America

Section 4.3 - OFFICERS shall be elected annually at the Annual Business Meeting of the Society by a majority vote. In the case of a tie, balloting shall continue until all vacancies have been filled.

Section 4.4 - OFFICERS are eligible for re-election.

Section 4.5 - Each year a committee of the general membership shall be constituted to nominate a minimum of one candidate for each office. Other nominations may be made by mail or from the floor at the Annual Business Meeting.

Section 4.6 - If a vacancy occurs during the fiscal year, it shall be filled by a majority vote of a quorum of the OFFICERS for the unexpired term. Failure to attend two consecutive OFFICERS meetings without justifiable reason shall be deemed equivalent to tender of resignation therefrom.

Section 4.7 - A regular meeting of the OFFICERS shall be held as a minimum twice yearly at the call of the President or a majority of the OFFICERS.

Section 4.8 - A quorum of the OFFICERS shall consist of three members.

Section 4.9 – The OFFICERS shall have the power to remit or waive the dues of any member for such period as in their judgment shall be advisable and proper.

Section 4.10 - The OFFICERS shall establish operating committees as it deems necessary.

Section 4.11 - The OFFICERS shall submit a report of the affairs of the Society, with the expenditures of the past year and an estimate of the expenses for the coming year, at each Annual Meeting.

Section 4.12 - The OFFICERS of the Society shall be a President, vice-President/Membership, Vice President/Programs, a Secretary and a Treasurer and such other officer or officers as the Board may from time to time determine.

Section 4.13 - All OFFICERS shall be elected by the membership at each Annual Business Meeting of the Society.

Section 4.14 - The term of office of each office shall commence at the beginning of the fiscal year following his election. The term of office is one year. OFFICERS may be re-elected.

Section 4.15 - Resignations shall be effective when accepted by the OFFICERS.

Section 4.16 - The President shall normally preside at meetings and dinners of the Society. He shall sign all written contracts and obligations of the Society. He shall nominate the chairmen of committees established and shall provide for the appointment of other committee members. He shall perform such other duties as appropriate.

Section 4.17 - The First Vice President  and, in his absence, a Vice President, shall discharge the duties of the President. The Vice Presidents shall have such other powers and duties as shall be prescribed by the President.

Section 4.18 - The Secretary shall be responsible for:

1.      Keeping the minutes of the Society.

2.      Notifying members of the affairs of the Society.

3.      Conducting the correspondence, keeping the records, preparing necessary reports, including the annual report, and keeping the seal of the Society in the event that it is incorporated.

4.      Keeping and publishing appropriate rosters showing the names and addresses.

5.      Collecting dues and dinner assessments.

6.      Turning over to the Treasurer as promptly as possible all funds collected, together with a statement as to the individuals from whom collected and for what purpose.

Section 4.19 - The Treasurer shall be the custodian of the funds of the Society and shall be responsible for:

1.      Disbursing the funds to defray expenses authorized by the Society and its OFFICERS.

2.      Reporting the status of the funds at each meeting of the OFFICERS.

3.      Having accounts audited under the direction of the OFFICERS as required.

4.      Presenting an annual financial report for incorporation in the report of the Annual Business Meeting.

Section 4.20 - In the event of the temporary absence of the Secretary or Treasurer, his duties may be performed by another member of the Society appointed by the President.

ARTICLE V - MEETINGS

Section 5.1. - The Annual Business Meeting of the Society for election of the OFFICERS and other business as prescribed by the By-Laws, shall be held annually during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year or such date as determined by the OFFICERS.

Section 5.2 - Special meetings of the Society may be called by the President or upon the written request of ten Regular Members. At least seven days' notice thereof shall be given to members by the Secretary.

Section 5.3 - Meetings are normally held monthly. They will be primarily social in nature and may schedule guest speakers.

Section 5.4 - A quorum at any meeting of the Society shall consist of ten percent of the Regular Membership.

Section 5.5 - A Founders Day Dinner in celebration of the founding of the Military Academy on March 6, 1802, is held annually, normally on the Saturday nearest March 16th.

Section 5.6 - Business may be transacted as follows:

1.      At the Annual Business Meeting; or

2.      At any special meeting, but such business shall be limited to that specified in the call for the meeting; or

3.      At any other meeting.

Section 5.7 - The order of business at any meeting of the Society shall be conducted in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order.

ARTICLE VI - COMMITTEES

Section 6.1 - The President will appoint committee chairmen as required. (See Appendix I.)

ARTICLE VII - DUES

Section 7.1 - Under the direction of the OFFICERS, dues shall be assessed as stipulated in the By-Laws and funds shall be used to defray the expenses made necessary in the proper conduct of the affairs of the Society.

Section 7.2 - Dues of the Society shall be as follows:

Regular, Associate and other Membership dues shall be determined annually by the OFFICERS except that for those on Active Duty in any component with less than ten years of service, dues are $5.00.

Section 7.3 - The fiscal year begins July 1^st and ends on June 30^th of each year. Annual dues for the coming fiscal year are due and payable as of July.

ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS

Amendments to, or changes in By-Laws, may be made at any meeting of the Society by a two-thirds vote of a quorum or members represented by proxy. Such proposed amendments and changes shall, however, be considered only when the Secretary shall have distributed copies of the same to the members at least seven days prior to the meeting.

APPENDIX I

POSSIBLE COMMITTEE AND THEIR DUTIES

Possible Committees:

1.      Financial and Budget Committee

2.      Membership Committee

3.      Program Committee

4.      Resolutions Committee

5.      Nominating Committee

6.      Outstanding Candidates Committee

7.      Public Relations Committee

8.      Scholarship Committee

9.      Career Advisory Committee

Duties of the Committees shall include the following:

1.      The Financial and Budget Committee shall prepare a financial program for the Society at the beginning of each fiscal year and work with the Treasurer in obtaining the necessary funds for the Society.

2.      The Membership Committee shall promote membership in the Society and stimulate attendance at all meetings. Each year, prior to the Annual Business Meeting, the Committee will prepare and distribute a directory of the members.

3.      The Program Committee will prepare and recommend to the OFFICERS a program of activities for the coming year to include dates and places for these activities; it will serve as the Committee for the Founders Day Dinner and for the Annual Business Meeting.

4.      The Resolutions Committee shall be responsible for periodic review and recommended revision of the By-Laws and for the preparation or review of resolutions proposed for adoption by the Society. Every fifth year the Committee will publish a booklet containing the By-Laws, past OFFICERS, history and other appropriate items.

5.      The Nominating Committee shall nominate one candidate for each vacancy of the OFFICERS for the election held at the Annual Business Meeting. All officers will ordinarily be included as members of the Nominating Committee.

6.      The Outstanding Candidates Committee will work with the Admissions Division, USMA, to advise and evaluate candidates for the Military Academy.

7.      The Public Relations Committee shall promote a better understanding of the Military Academy by the public in the area of the Society and keep the Society informed on developments at the Academy.

8.      The Scholarship Committee shall raise funds to be used to help prepare academically deficient young men and women of high school age who show unusual leadership potential and indicate a desire to attend USMA.

9.      The Career Advisory Committee shall advise and assist members or those eligible for membership regarding career opportunities.

 ** NOTE:  By-Laws as of 22 January 1988