Article I - Introduction
Section 1 - Purpose and
Mission
Section 2 - Relationship with the
National Chapter
Section 3 - Definitions and Terms
Used
Article II - Membership
Section 1 - Eligibility
Section 2 - Classes of
Membership
Section 3 - Expulsion
Article III - Dues, Fees and
Assessments
Section 1 - Dues
Section 2 - Fees and
Assessments
Section 3 - Determination of Dues,
Fees and Assessments
Section 4 - Income from Other
Sources
Section 5 - Financial
Records
Section 6 - Authorization to Commit
Chapter Funds
Article IV - Board of
Trustees
Section 1 - Officers and
Trustees
Section 2 - Office of Chapter
President, Responsibilities
Section 3 - Office of Chapter Vice
President, Responsibilities
Section 4 - Office of Chapter
Treasurer, Responsibilities
Section 5 - Office of Chapter
Secretary, Responsibilities
Section 6 - Office of
Trustee
Section 7 - Election of Officers,
Trustees, and Terms of Office
Section 8 - Removal of Officers,
Trustees
Section 9 - Vacancies on the Board
of Trustees
Article V - Meetings and
Events
Section 1 - Number of Meetings
and Events
Section 2 - Annual Chapter
Meeting
Section 3 - Board of Trustees
Meetings
Section 4 - Special
Meetings
Section 5 - Notification Regarding
Meetings and Events
Section 6 - Quorum and
Voting
Section 7 - Ballot
Section 8 - Conduct of
Meetings
Article VI - Committees
Section 1 - Standing
Committees
Article VII - Amendment
Section 1 - Method of Amending
the Chapter By-Laws
Long Island 
Chapter
Article I
Introduction
Section 1 - Purpose and
Mission
The purpose of the Chapter is to
organize and establish a fraternal order consisting of
alumni of the State University of New York Maritime
College (hereinafter referred to as Maritime
College) who live or work on Long Island. The
Chapter's mission is to promote the College, to support
the cadet corps, to assist graduates in their career
endeavors, and to promote a fraternal relationship among
Long Island alumni.
Section 2 -
Relationship with the National Chapter
The Long Island Chapter is affiliated
with the National Chapter of the Fort Schuyler Maritime
Alumni Association (hereinafter, the Alumni Association).
In return for holding sanctioned events and meetings, and
for meeting certain obligations as directed by the
National Chapter, the Long Island Chapter receives
limited financial and operational support from the
National Chapter. The amount of funds available for the
chapter's use shall be based upon the number of Chapter
Members, and is therefore a reason for promoting a
vibrant, active Alumni Chapter and continuing efforts to
increase the membership of the Chapter.
Section 3 -
Definitions and Terms Used
Alumni: Graduates of SUNY
Maritime College and its predecessors.
Alumni Association: The Fort
Schuyler Maritime Alumni Association.
Board of Trustees: The
governing body of the Chapter, consisting of all of the
elected Officers and Trustees.
Long Island Chapter: An
affiliated group of graduates of SUNY Maritime College
consisting of those alumni who live or work in the
counties of Nassau or Suffolk in the State of New
York.
National Chapter: The Fort
Schuyler Maritime Alumni Association.
SUNY Maritime College: The
State University of New York Maritime College, or
its predecessors: New York Nautical School, New York
State Nautical School, New York State Merchant Marine
Academy, New York State Maritime Academy, New York State
Maritime College (see also Section 2, Classes of
Membership).
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Long Island
Chapter
Article
II
Membership
Section 1 -
Eligibility
Full membership in the Long Island
Chapter of the Fort Schuyler Maritime Alumni Association
is open to any graduate of the State University of New
York Maritime College, or its predecessors: New York
Nautical School, New York State Nautical School, New York
State Merchant Marine Academy, New York State Maritime
Academy, New York State Maritime College (see also
Section 2, Classes of Membership)]
As a pre-requisite for Full Membership
in the Chapter, the person must be a member in good
standing of the Fort Schuyler Maritime Alumni
Association.
Section 2 -
Classes of Membership
There shall be two classes of
membership in the Long Island Chapter:
- Full Membership
- Associate Membership
Full Membership in the Long Island
Chapter assumes that the person is a member in good
standing of the Alumni Association, as defined by the
Association's Constitution and By-Laws. Full Membership
shall include full voting rights in the election of
Chapter Officers and in the regular business of the
Chapter conducted at membership meetings, and the right
to hold elected office in the Chapter.
An Associate Membership in the Long
Island Chapter may be granted to any person who is an
Associate Member or Honorary Member of the Alumni
Association.
Furthermore, an Associate Membership
in the Long Island Chapter may be granted on a
case-by-case basis after review and upon a majority vote
by the Board of Trustees, to any person who desires to
affiliate with the Long Island Chapter. Associate Members
shall have all of the privileges of membership with the
following exceptions:
(1) Associate Members shall
not be entitled to vote on Chapter business when such
business is put before the membership, and
(2) Associate Members shall not be
eligible to vote in any election of candidates to the
Board of Trustees of the Chapter, and
(3) Associate Members shall not be
eligible to hold office in the Chapter.
Section 3 -
Expulsion
The expulsion of a member from the
Long Island Chapter is an extreme action and can only be
exercised in cases involving flagrant misconduct, acts or
actions that are injurious to the Chapter and/or its
members, or casts discredit upon the SUNY Maritime
College. Expulsion requires the full agreement of all
elected Chapter officers and trustees.
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Long Island
Chapter
Article
III
Dues, Fees and Assessments
Section 1 -
Dues
The Chapter shall assess neither Dues
nor Initiation Fees, except as prescribed in this
section. The Chapter will share in the dues received by
the Alumni Association, in accordance with the
Constitution and By-Laws of the Association, Article
VIII, Section 3. The Board of Trustees of the Long Island
Chapter may assess annual Dues on Chapter Associate
Members who are not members of the Alumni Association
(see Article II - Membership), in order to cover the
costs incurred due to inclusion of such members in the
Chapter.
Section 2 -
Fees and Assessments
The Board of Trustees of the Long
Island Chapter may assess Fees or other Assessments on
the Chapter membership as required to cover the expenses
of the Chapter events, functions, and reasonable expenses
related to carrying out Chapter business. Assessments may
also be authorized when necessary to cover Chapter
operational deficits.
Section 3 -
Determination of Dues, Fees and
Assessments
Any Dues, Fees or Assessments shall be
authorized by a simple majority vote of the Chapter
Officers and Trustees. The Board shall authorize the
collection of fees where appropriate. When any Dues, Fees
or Assessments are imposed on the Chapter membership, the
Board shall consider whether the assessment meets the
mission, purpose and goals of the Long Island
Chapter.
Section 4 -
Income from Other Sources
The Board of Trustees of the Long
Island Chapter may authorize the purchase and sale of
articles of clothing and other college-related items, for
the purpose of promoting the Maritime College, the Long
Island Chapter, and/or the national Alumni Association.
The sale of goods may be authorized to bring in funds for
the purpose of subsidizing the expenses of the Chapter or
sponsored events.
Section 5 -
Financial Records
The Treasurer shall maintain a
complete and accurate accounting of all moneys received
and expended by the Chapter. A general report on the
state of the Chapter's accounts shall be made annually to
the membership at a business meeting, and shall include
dues, fees, assessments received as well as income from
all other sources. Additionally, the Treasurer shall
prepare and submit the annual Chapter statement as
required by the National Chapter.
Section 6 -
Authorization to Commit Chapter Funds
The Treasurer of the Long Island
Chapter, with the approval of at least one other Chapter
officer, shall have the authority to pay expenses
associated with Chapter meetings and events for amounts
up to $200.00. Authorization to pay amounts greater than
$200.00 shall require the concurrence of at least three
(3) officers of the Chapter.
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Long Island
Chapter
Article IV
Board of Trustees
Section 1 - Officers and
Trustees
The Board of Trustees of the Long
Island Chapter shall be the governing body of the Chapter
and shall consist of a President, Vice President,
Treasurer, Secretary and one elected Trustee.
The Officers and Trustee(s) shall
serve for a term of one year, as provided in Section 7 of
this Article.
Section 2 -
Office of Chapter President,
Responsibilities
The President shall be the executive
head of the Chapter, and ex officio, a member of all
committees. He shall preside at all meetings of the
Chapter and of the Board of Trustees. The President shall
appoint all standing and special committees of the
Chapter.
His responsibilities shall include
signing and executing all documents issued by the Board,
and he shall be authorized to make financial commitments
on behalf of the Chapter and to sign instruments
disbursing Chapter funds, with the prior approval of such
other members of the Board of Trustees as shall be
required under the procedures described in Article III,
Section 6 of the By-Laws.
Section 3 -
Office of Chapter Vice President,
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the Vice
President include acting in the place of the President
during his absence or disability, and he shall perform
such other duties as may be assigned by the
President.
Section 4 -
Office of Chapter Treasurer,
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the Treasurer
are to receive all funds paid to the Chapter in the form
of dues, fees, assessments, subscriptions, contributions
and for purchases of goods, and to keep records
pertaining thereto. The Treasurer shall keep an accurate
accounting of all receipts, expenditures, and funds on
deposit for the account of the Long Island Chapter, and
he shall prepare reports describing the financial health
of the Chapter for the regular meetings of the Board of
Trustees and annually at a general business meeting (the
Annual Meeting) of the Chapter.
The Treasurer shall be responsible for
issuing checks for and on behalf of the Long Island
Chapter in accordance with the authorization procedures
prescribed in Article III, Section 6 of the
By-Laws.
In keeping the accounts of the
Chapter, the Treasurer shall prepare a proposed budget
for each year which shall be approved by the Board of
Trustees before presentation to the membership with the
financial report at the Annual Meeting.
Section 5 -
Office of Chapter Secretary,
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the Secretary
shall include the drafting of notifications of Chapter
meetings and events, letters of correspondence, press
releases and articles for publication. When directed by
the President, the Secretary shall keep minutes of
Chapter meetings.
The Secretary shall ensure that
notification of the membership is conducted in a timely
manner for upcoming events, and he shall coordinate such
notifications with the Executive Director of the Alumni
Association, when services of the National Chapter are
employed to notify the membership.
The Secretary shall maintain an
up-to-date roster of the membership of the Long Island
Chapter with current addresses, telephone numbers and
other information as may be required to keep the
membership duly informed.
Section 6 -
Office of Trustee
The Trustee shall have an equal vote
on the Board. Responsibilities of the Trustee shall
include assisting with planning and with various
committees.
The outgoing President may, if
requested by the Board, serve as an additional Trustee in
the year following his/her term as President.
Section 7 -
Election of Officers, Trustees, and Terms of
Office
Election of Officers and Trustees to
the Long Island Chapter Board of Trustees shall be by the
membership of the Chapter at an Annual Meeting to be held
in the spring of each calendar year. The election shall
be a regular item of business at the Annual Meeting and
shall be conducted by a secret ballot. Nominations will
be put forward by the outgoing Board, and nominations
will be accepted from the floor at the Annual Meeting,
subject to eligibility as determined by the incumbent
Board.
Only those having a Full Membership in
the Long Island Chapter will be eligible to vote for
candidates for election as Officers or Trustees of the
Chapter. (See Article II Section 2, Classes of
Membership)
Officers and Trustees are elected to
serve on the Board of Trustees for a term of one year.
The term commences upon the adjournment of the Annual
Meeting at which they are elected, and continues through
the next Annual Meeting, until adjournment.
Section 8 -
Removal of Officers, Trustees
The removal from office of an officer
or trustee can only be exercised in cases involving
flagrant misconduct, acts or actions that are injurious
to the Chapter and/or its members, or casts discredit
upon the SUNY Maritime College. Removal from the Board
requires the full agreement of all other Chapter officers
and trustees.
Section 9 -
Vacancies on the Board of Trustees
Vacancies on the Board shall be filled
by a majority vote of the Board of Trustees at a duly
constituted meeting. The person elected to fill a vacancy
on the Board shall serve until the conclusion of the next
Annual Meeting at which an entire slate of candidates for
the Board of Trustees shall be elected.
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Long Island
Chapter
Article
V
Meetings and Events
Section 1 - Number of
Meetings and Events
There is no set number of meetings
that must be held annually, except that an Annual Meeting
shall be held during the spring of each year, to which
the entire Chapter Membership shall be invited. The
purpose and business of the Annual Meeting is described
in Section 2 below.
The Board of Trustees shall schedule
meetings and events throughout the year as deemed
appropriate to meet the mission and purpose for which the
Long Island Chapter was founded. The Board will make
every effort to provide timely notice of upcoming events
and meetings to the membership, and to advise the
membership regarding any costs or fees which may be
required for attendance at these events and
meetings.
Section 2 -
Annual Chapter Meeting
Each year the Chapter shall host an
Annual Meeting of the general membership to conduct
Chapter business and to hold election of Officers and a
Trustee for the coming year. Other business at the Annual
Meeting shall include a report on the financial health of
the Chapter by the Treasurer and presentation of the
proposed budget for the coming year.
The Annual Meeting shall be held in
the spring of each year. Adequate notification of the
date, time and location of the Annual Meeting shall be
provided to the membership of the Long Island Chapter
based upon the current membership roster and latest known
addresses for the members (see also Section
5).
Every full member of the Long Island
Chapter attending the Annual Meeting, shall have a vote
in the election of candidates to the Board of Trustees
and upon any business put before the membership at this
meeting.
Section 3 -
Board of Trustees Meetings
The Board of Trustees of the Long
Island Chapter shall meet regularly during the year to
discuss the business of the Chapter and to plan Chapter
events and meetings. The Secretary shall be responsible
for notifying all of the members of the Board, and any
other persons invited to attend, as to the date, time and
location of the Board Meetings.
Section 4 -
Special Meetings
Special Meetings may be called by a
majority of the Chapter Board of Trustees at any time, in
order to address urgent business between regular
meetings.
Section 5 -
Notification Regarding Meetings and
Events
Notification of Chapter meetings and
events shall be in writing. Such written notices will be
sent to the membership by the most efficient means, and
may include mail (via U. S. Postal Service) or electronic
mail (email), or both. Meeting/event notices shall
include, as a minimum, the time and date, location and
any fees or costs to the membership for attending such
meeting or event. Notification shall be made in a timely
manner. (See also Article VII, Section 1 regarding
notification required to amend the Chapter
By-Laws.)
Section 6 -
Quorum and Voting
Three (3) Officers and/or Trustees
shall constitute a quorum for any meeting of the Board of
Trustees of the Long Island Chapter.
Fifteen (15) full members shall
constitute a quorum for a general membership meeting of
the Chapter at which Chapter business is to be conducted.
Associate memberships shall not be counted in the
determination of a quorum.
Voting at any meeting shall be by a
means determined by the Board of Trustees, and may
include secret ballot, voice vote or a show of hands,
except that election of Officers shall be by secret
ballot in accordance with Article IV, Section 7. Members
must be present at a meeting in order to cast a vote (see
Section 7, Ballot).
Only those persons having a Full
Membership in the Long Island Chapter of the Alumni
Association are entitled to vote in an election or upon
Chapter business.
Section 7 -
Ballot
If a ballot vote procedure is
utilized, the Secretary shall ensure that there are
sufficient ballot forms available for the membership at
the meeting in which a ballot vote is to take place. The
Board of Trustees may, at its discretion, rule that a
vote on Chapter business be carried out by a show of
hands or voice vote in lieu of paper ballots.
There is no provision for the use of
absentee ballots. Members must be present at the meeting
to participate in a vote.
Section 8 -
Conduct of Meetings
The conduct of meetings of the Long
Island Chapter shall be governed by Roberts Rules of
Order.
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Long Island
Chapter
Article
VI
Committees
Section 1 - Standing
Committees
The following Standing Committees
shall be established:
(1) Events Committee
(2) Meetings Committee
(3) Membership Committee
(4) Recruiting Committee
Each committee shall have a Chairman
and 2 to 5 members, whose responsibilities are as
follows:
Events Committee - plan events
to be conducted by the Chapter for the coming year. The
Events Plan shall be submitted to the Board of Trustees
by the beginning of the summer of each year.
Meetings Committee - establish
a schedule of meetings for the year. For each meeting,
the committee shall arrange for the meeting place, and a
Guest Speaker if desired.
Membership Committee -
formulate and implement a plan to increase the membership
of the Long Island Chapter with new graduates, and other
alumni in the Long Island area. The committee shall
coordinate these efforts with the Office of the Director
of the Alumni Association, as required.
Recruiting Committee - develop
and coordinate a network of alumni who will work in
concert with the Admissions Office of SUNY Maritime
College to promote the college by participating in Long
Island high school college fairs in order to boost
enrollment at the college.
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Long Island
Chapter
Article
VII
Amendment
Section 1 - Method of
Amending the Chapter By-Laws
The Board of Trustees may at any time,
and shall at the request of twenty (20) full members of
the Long Island Chapter, propose amendment to these
By-Laws. Any such amendment must be approved by a
two-thirds vote of the members present at a Regular
Membership Meeting or at a Special Membership Meeting
called for that purpose.
Notice of the proposed amendment shall
be given in writing to the membership within the notice
of the meeting at which the action is to be taken. Such
notice shall be given to the membership not later than
ten (10) nor more than fifty (50) days prior to the
meeting date.
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Long Island
Chapter
