VOTING FOR THE AOG BYLAWS CHANGES
IS NOW CLOSED.  YOU CAN STILL USE THE INFORMATION BELOW
TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE ISSUES.

Voting  |  Explanation of Changes  |  Discussion Boards & Research

Voting

You can vote online by visiting the following area on the AOG website:

http://www.aog.usma.edu/vote/votelogin.cfm

Once you are there, you will have to enter your Cullum number and your AOG password. If you don't have your Cullum number or your AOG password, there are instructions on the vote login page that explain how you can get them via e-mail.

Explanation of Proposed Changes to the Bylaws

At its February 1999 meeting, the Board of Trustees considered four proposed amendments to the Association's Bylaws that would have the effect of strengthening the Association in one way or another and thereby improve its capability to carry out its purpose. Three of the four proposals pertained to the rules governing membership; the fourth, to the structure of the Board of Trustees. Because these are important issues, the Board decided that the proposals should be submitted to the membership for a vote at a Special Meeting. That meeting will take place on 8 Sep 1999 at the James K. Herbert Alumni Center, West Point, at 5 PM.

Proposal #1. To amend Section 5.3, Class Trustees, to add a Trustee representing the class celebrating its sixtieth reunion to the number of Class Trustees elected annually. The Board believes that this widening of class representation is appropriate and will prove beneficial to the Association.

Proposal #2. To amend Section 4.3, Associate Members, sub-paragraph (a), to remove the requirement that former cadets serve at least one academic term at West Point in order to be eligible to apply for Associate Membership in the Association. The Board believes that the one-semester requirement is unduly restrictive and should be removed as an Associate Membership requisite for former Cadets.

Proposal #3. To amend Section 4.3, Associate Members, sub-paragraph (c), to clarify the provision that allows personnel assigned to West Point who have as their principal duties the instruction, training, guidance, or coaching of cadets and who are not otherwise qualified for membership to be eligible for Association membership. The Board believes that all military and civilian personnel assigned to West Point whose principal duties involve the instruction, training, guidance, or coaching of cadets and who are not otherwise eligible for membership should be eligible for Associate Membership.

Proposal #4. To amend ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP by adding a new category of participation in the Association of Graduates, "Friends of West Point." The Board believes that adding such a category is in keeping with an important Strategic Objective of the AOG, that is, to "Develop strong, closely coordinated and regularly nourished relationships among the various elements of the extended West Point Family and with friends and opinion leaders." The ultimate goal of the "Friends of West Point" would be to advance the Military Academy’s aims, values, and programs by means of a wider base of political and financial support. In concept, the members of the Friends might include parents of graduates; AOG donors not qualified for Regular or Associate Membership; AAA donors and season ticket holders; and individuals of political, corporate, religious, and educational influence. "Friends of West Point" would not be eligible to vote, serve as Trustees, or hold office in the Association.

The addition of "Friends of West Point" as a membership category would not only add a new section to ARTICLE IV of the Bylaws, but would also necessitate follow-through changes in the section pertaining to the Alumni Support Committee's responsibilities as administrators of membership activities (currently, Section 4.4, but numbered 4.5 after adoption of the amendment as a new Section 4.4) and in the section pertaining to Dues and Initiation Fees (currently Section 4.5; but 4.6 after adoption).

The Board recommends that the proposed amendments be adopted. See the specific wording of the proposed amendments on the back of this page.

Wording of Proposed Amendments

Note: For proposals 1-3, current wording is stricken through, and additions are double underlined. In the proposed amendment pertaining to "Friends of West Point," all the wording is new. Insertion of a new Section 4.4 for the "Friends of West Point" causes the numbering of all subsequent sections to change.

Wording for Amendment #1. ARTICLE V: BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Section 5.3 Class Trustees
At each Annual meeting of the Association a Class Trustee shall be elected from …(ii) each class that shall be celebrating during the next calendar year a thirtieth, fortieth, fiftieth, fifty-fifth, or sixtieth reunion. The Nominating Committee…
[Back to Proposal #1]

Wording for Amendment #2. ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP
Section 4.3 Associate Members
(a) Any former cadet who has served at least one academic term at the United States Military Academy may apply for Associate Membership after his or her class has been graduated from the United States Military Academy by submitting to the Association the required form of application. Applicants may become Associate Members pursuant to the provisions of Sections 4.4 4.5 and 4.5 4.6 of these Bylaws.
[Back to Proposal #2]

Wording for Amendment #3. ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP
Section 4.3 Associate Members
(c) All officers military and civilian personnel assigned at West Point who have as their principal duties the instruction, training, guidance, or coaching of cadets and who are not otherwise qualified for membership shall be eligible for Associate Membership. Applicants may become Associate Members pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.4 4.5 and 4.5 4.6 of these Bylaws.
[Back to Proposal #3]

Wording for Amendment #4. ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP
Section 4.4 Friends of West Point
(a) Individuals who share and support the missions, goals, and ideals of the United States Military Academy, and who are not otherwise qualified for membership as Regular or Associate members, may apply for membership as "Friends of West Point" pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.5 of these Bylaws.
(b) Membership as a "Friend of West Point" shall be granted upon submission of an application form and payment of such initiation fee and dues as may be required under Section 4.6 of these Bylaws.
(c) Once granted, membership in the "Friends of West Point" shall be for life unless the member is expelled for cause pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.7 of these Bylaws.
(d) "Friends of West Point" shall not be eligible to vote, to serve as Trustees, or to hold office in the Association.
[Back to Proposal #4]

Discussion Boards & Resources

Find out what other people think about the proposed changes--both assenting and dissenting opinions are posted--before you vote by reading the AOG discussion board at:

http://www.aogusma.org:8080/~wpaognet

Post your own opinions about these changes on the Class of 1995 Message Board.

See the complete AOG Constitution as it reads now.