| |
Adopted: April 13, 2001
Amended: September 14, 2001
Amended: March 12, 2004
Amended: July 8, 2005
Amended: October 11, 2006
Amended: May 6, 2009 |
BYLAWS
OF
ACADEMY FOR LIFELONG LEARNING OF CAPE COD, INC.
ARTICLE 1
General
Section 1. Name. The name of the corporation is
ACADEMY FOR LIFELONG LEARNING OF CAPE COD, INC.
Section 2. Purpose. The purpose of the
Corporation is to offer an opportunity for those age 50 or over to pursue
current intellectual interests and educational activities and to explore
new areas of learning in the company of their peers consistent with
educational purposes within the meaning of Section (c) (3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and the purposes and activities set forth
in the Corporation’s Articles of Organization.
Section 3. Office. The principal office of the Corporation
shall be 2240 Iyanough Road, West Barnstable, MA 02668 – 1599.
Section 4. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation
shall commence on July 1 of each year and end on June 30.
Section 5. Nondiscrimination Policy. The Corporation’s
policy shall be to admit students of any race, gender, sexual orientation
or disability status to all the rights, privileges, programs and
activities generally made available to students and shall not discriminate
on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation or disability status in
administering its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship
and other programs nor shall it discriminate on the basis of race, gender,
sexual orientation or disability status in the selection and retention of
faculty and administrative staff.
Section 6. Limitations. Notwithstanding anything else
herein provided, the Academy is organized and shall be operated
exclusively for educational, charitable or literary purposes, as those
terms have been and shall be defined pursuant to § 170 (c) and 501 (c) (3)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. All powers of the
Corporation shall be exercised only in such manner as will assure the
operation of the Corporation exclusively for those purposes, it being the
intention that the Corporation shall be exempt from federal income tax and
that contributions to it shall be deductible pursuant to the Code, and all
purposes and powers shall be interpreted and exercised consistently with
this intention. No part of the net earnings or assets of the Corporation
shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to its Directors,
Officers or members, except that the Corporation shall be authorized and
empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services actually rendered
and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the Corporation’s
purposes as described in the Articles of Organization. Upon liquidation,
dissolution, termination or winding up of the Corporation, its property
and assets shall be distributed in the manner set forth in its Articles of
Organization.
No substantial part of the activities of the Corporation shall consist of
the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence
legislation (except as otherwise provided in § 501 (h) of the Code), and
the Academy shall not participate or intervene in (including the
publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf
of any candidate for public office.
ARTICLE II
Membership
Section 1. The members of the Corporation shall be (a) the
Directors of the Corporation then in office, (b) faculty members
(coordinators and assistant coordinators) in the current (or if the
Corporation is between semester, the most recent) semester or the
immediately preceding semester, (c) persons over the age of 50 enrolled as
students in the current (or if the Corporation is between semesters, the
most recent) semester or the immediately preceding semester and (d) such
other persons or entities the addition of which is determined by the Board
of Directors to be desirable to achieving the purposes of the Corporation.
Section 2. Membership Dues and Tuition. The Board of
Directors shall determine the amount of membership dues (which may be on
an annual or semester basis) and the amount of tuition for each semester.
The Board shall determine the payment date of such dues and tuition and
may combine dues and tuition charges to members.
Section 3. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of the
members of the Corporation shall be held at such time and at such place as
the Board of Directors shall designate in the spring of each year for the
purpose of transacting such business as may properly come before the
meeting.
Section 4. Regular and Special Meetings. Other than the
Annual Meeting, there shall not be any regularly scheduled meetings of
members unless the Board of Directors determines otherwise. In such case,
regular meetings of members shall be held during the fiscal year of the
Corporation at such time and place as the Board of Directors shall
determine. Special meetings of the members may be called at any time by
the Board of Directors or the President and subject to the provisions of
Chapter 120 of the General Laws of Massachusetts, shall be called by the
Clerk at the request of Members. Notice of all meetings of Members shall
be given at least seven days in advance.
Section 5. Quorum. Five percent (5%) of the members of the
Corporation shall constitute a quorum for all purposes except where a
larger quorum may be required by law, but a smaller number may adjourn a
meeting from time to time without further notice until a quorum is
present.
Section 6. Voting. Each member of the Corporation shall be
entitled to one (1) vote. All elections shall be decided by a plurality
of the votes cast and all other matters shall be decided by a majority of
the votes cast except where a larger vote may be required by law. Voting
may, but need not, be conducted by ballots cast at a meeting of members or
prior thereto except that the election of Directors shall be by ballot as
set forth in Section 2 of Article III.
Section 7. Resignation of Members. Any member may resign
from the Corporation by delivering a written resignation to any Director
or Officer of the Corporation.
Section 8. Removal of Members. Any member may be removed
from membership by a majority vote of the entire Board of Directors for
conduct detrimental to the interests of the Corporation, lack of sympathy
with its objectives, failure to pay any dues or tuition assessed by the
Corporation, or refusal to render reasonable cooperation or assistance in
carrying out its purposes. Any such member proposed to be removed shall
be entitled to at least five (5) days notice in writing by mail of the
meeting at which such removal is to be voted upon and shall be entitled to
appear before and be heard at such meeting.
ARTICLE III
Board of Directors
Section 1. Authority. The affairs, business and property of
the Corporation shall be managed by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Number, Election and Terms. The number of
Directors of the Corporation, which shall be not less than six or more
than fifteen, shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board
of Directors. Until so changed, the number of Directors shall be eleven.
The Directors shall be classified, with respect to the time for which they
severally hold office, into classes, as nearly equal in number as
possible, except for the class of Immediate Past President, which class
shall be only one Director. Each member of a class will serve a three
year term, except for the Immediate Past President, whose term will be for
one year, to expire at the annual meeting at the end of each term.
In the month of April prior to each annual meeting of the members of the
Corporation, the successors of the class of Directors whose term expires
at that meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the
annual meeting of members held in the third year following the year of
their election.
Candidates for election to the Board of Directors shall be nominated as
hereinafter set forth in Article V, Section 6. The Nominating Committee
shall prepare and make available to the membership ballots containing the
names of persons duly nominated for election to the Board of Directors.
The Committee shall collect the ballots and count the results thereof; and
shall make known to the membership the names of persons elected at or
before the next annual meeting of the membership.
Upon completion of a term, a member shall not be eligible for election or
appointment to the Board of Directors for one year. Only one partner of a
couple may serve on the Board of Directors at any given time.
Section 3. Regular and Special Meetings. Regular meetings
of the Directors may be held at places and times determined by the
Directors. Special meetings of the Directors may be held at any time and
at any place when called by the President or a majority of the Directors.
Section 4. Notice of Meetings. At least two (2) days notice
shall be given for all special meetings of Directors. No prior notice
shall be required for regular meetings.
Section 5. Quorum. A majority of the Directors then in
office shall constitute a quorum for all purposes except where a larger
quorum may be required by law. Any meeting may be adjourned by a majority
of the votes cast upon the question, whether or not a quorum is present,
and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice.
Section 6. Action by Vote. When a quorum is present at any
meeting, a majority of the Directors present and voting shall decide any
question, including election of Officers, unless otherwise provided by
law, the Articles of Organization or these Bylaws.
Section 7. Action by Writing. Any action required or
permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Directors may be taken without
a meeting if all the Directors consent to the action in writing and the
consents are filed with the records of the meetings of the Directors. The
consents shall be treated for all purposes as votes taken at a meeting.
Section 8. Presence. Unless otherwise provided by law or
the Articles of Organization, Directors may participate in a meeting of
the Board of Directors by conference telephone or similar means by which
all persons can hear each other simultaneously, and participation by such
means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.
Section 9. Newly Created Directorship and Vacancies. Newly
created Directorships resulting from an increase in the number of
Directors may be filled by a plurality of the votes cast by members, and
vacancies occurring in the Board of Directors for any other reason may be
filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors then in
office or by a plurality of the votes cast by members.
Section 10. Removal of Directors. Any Director may be removed
from office with or without cause by the affirmative vote of a majority of
the members or for cause by a majority of the Directors then in office.
Section 11. Resignation. A Director may resign at any time by
giving written notice to the Board of Directors, the President, or the
Clerk of the Corporation. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, the
resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the Board or such
Officer unless it is specified to be effective at some later time. The
acceptance of any such resignation shall not be necessary to make it
effective.
Section 12. Compensation. No compensation shall be paid to
Directors, as such, for their services. Nothing herein contained shall be
construed to preclude any Director from serving the Corporation in any
other capacity and receiving compensation therefore.
Section 13. Presumption of Assent. A Director of the
Corporation who is present at a meeting of the Directors at which action
on any corporate matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the
action taken unless his or her dissent shall be entered in the minutes of
the meeting or unless such Director files his or her written dissent to
such action with the person acting as the secretary of the meeting before
the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered mail
to the Clerk of the Corporation immediately after the adjournment of the
meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a Director who voted in
favor of such action.
ARTICLE IV – Officers
Section 1. Number. The Officers of the Corporation shall be
a President, a Vice President, a Clerk, and a Treasurer, and such other
Officers as the Directors may determine.
Section 2. Election and Term of Office. The Officers of the
Corporation shall be elected annually by the Directors from among their
number at the Board of Directors meeting following the annual meeting of
members. No two offices may be held by the same person. Each Officer
shall hold office until the annual meeting of the Directors or until his
or her successor has been duly elected and shall have qualified, or until
his or her death, or until he or she has resigned or has been removed in
the manner hereinafter provided.
Section 3. Resignation and Removal. Any Officer may resign
by delivering a written resignation to the Corporation at its principal
office or to the President or the Clerk, and such resignation shall be
effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some
later date. Any Officer or agent may be removed by a majority of the
Directors then in office whenever in their judgment the best interests of
the Corporation would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without
prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed.
Section 4. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office because of
death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise may be filled
for the unexpired portion of the term by a vote of the majority of the
Directors then in office.
Section 5. President. The President shall be the principal
executive Officer of the Corporation and, subject to the control of the
Directors, shall in general supervise and control all of the business and
affairs of the Corporation. He or she shall be the liaison between the
Corporation and Cape Cod Community College and he or she shall keep the
Board of Directors informed of relations, including any issues under
discussion with the College. The President shall, when present, preside
at all meetings of the members and of the Directors. The President may
sign, with the Clerk or any other proper Officer of the Corporation
thereunto authorized by the Directors, deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts,
or other instructions which the Directors have authorized to be executed,
except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly
delegated by the Directors of these Bylaws to some other agent of the
Corporation, or shall be required by law to be otherwise signed or
executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the offices
of President and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Directors
from time to time. Upon the completion of the President’s term, the
President shall become a member of the Board of Directors with all
responsibilities accorded to the other Directors for a term of one year.
Section 6. Vice President. In the absence of the President
or in the event of his or her death, inability or refusal to act, the Vice
President shall perform the duties of the President, and when so acting,
shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon
the President. The Vice President shall perform such other duties as from
time to time may be assigned to him or her by the President or by the
Board of Directors.
Section 7. Clerk. The Clerk shall keep a record of the
members of the Corporation, the minutes of members’ and Directors’
meetings in one or more books provided for that purpose, see that all
notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws
or as otherwise required, be custodian of the corporate records and of the
seal of the Corporation, and in general perform all duties incident to the
office of Clerk and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned
to the Clerk by the President or by the Directors. In the absence of the
Clerk from any meeting, a temporary Clerk shall be designated by the
President or the Directors present at the meeting who shall perform the
duties of the Clerk.
Section 8. Treasurer. If required by the Board of
Directors, the Treasurer shall give a bond for the faithful discharge of
his or her duties in such sum and with such surety or sureties as the
Directors shall determine. The Treasurer shall have charge and be
responsible for all funds and securities of the Corporation; receive and
give receipts for monies due and payable to the Corporation and from any
source whatsoever, and deposit all such monies in the name of the
Corporation in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories,
including the Cape Cod Community College and/or depositories designated by
it; and in general perform all of the duties incident to the office of
Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to
him or her by the President or by the Directors.
ARTICLE V
Committees
Section 1. Standing Committees. The standing committees
shall be subject to the direction and control of the Board of Directors.
They shall consist of the following:
Curriculum Nominating
Hospitality Policies
and Procedures
Long Range Planning Public Relations
Membership Special
Events
Ways and Means
The Chairperson of each standing committee shall be appointed from the
Board of Directors of the Corporation for a term of one year by the
President of the Corporation. Standing committee members, except for the
Nominating Committee, shall be appointed from the membership of the
Corporation for a term of one year by the Committee Chairperson
Section 2. Curriculum Committee. The Curriculum
Committee shall plan and facilitate courses for members, being responsive
to the interests of members; present the Committee’s recommendations for
courses and faculty to the Board of Directors for comment and approval;
and provide the Public Relations Committee with information for use in
publicity.
Section 3. Hospitality Committee. The
Hospitality Committee shall plan and carry out a program of social
activities for the members of the Corporation.
Section 4. Long Range Planning Committee. The
Long Range Planning Committee shall address the future needs of the
Corporation and its members so that a hospitable environment for the
pursuit of lifelong learning in the future is assured.
Section 5. Membership Committee. The Membership
Committee shall come under the auspices of the Vice President. The
Membership Committee shall seek new members; assist other committees in
determining the interests of the membership; endeavor to retain
non-renewing members; assist the committee Chairperson in recruiting
interested members to serve on their committees; and provide a list of the
members to the Clerk and the membership in a timely fashion each semester.
Section 6. Nominating Committee. At the
September meeting of the Board of Directors, the President shall appoint a
Nominating Committee broadly representative of the membership of the
Academy, including one member of the then current board. The President
shall also appoint the Chair of the Committee, who shall not be a
Director.
Nominations for election to the Board of Directors may be made by the
Nominating Committee and by petitions from the membership at large. Each
such petition, including petitions for Committee nominees, must be signed
by 10 members, and contain therein the acceptance of the nominee. The
number of nominees shall not be fewer than the number of vacancies to be
filled on the Board of Directors. The petitions shall be presented to the
Nominating Committee no later than the last day of February of each year.
The names of all nominees shall be included on the ballots of election.
In the month of April in each year, the Nominating Committee shall conduct
the election of Directors as set forth in Article III, Section 2.
Section 7. Policies and Procedure Committee.
The Policies and Procedures Committee shall write and maintain a manual of
the Policies and Procedures approved by the Board of Directors.
Section 8. Public Relations Committee. The
Public Relations Committee shall present the purposes and programs of the
Corporation to the public and assist with membership promotion when deemed
necessary by the Board of Directors.
Section 9. Special Events Committee. The
Special Events Committee shall plan and arrange special activities such as
day trips and other special events, including social activities.
Section 10. Ways and Means Committee. The Ways
and Means Committee shall come under the auspices of the Treasurer. The
Ways and Means Committee shall conduct special short-term fund raising
programs subject to the direction of the Board. In addition, the Ways and
Means chairperson shall monitor the need and execute the Program of
Memorial Donations as directed by the Board.
Section 11. Special Committees. Special
Committees shall be established and their Chairpersons shall be appointed
by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors as
circumstances demand. Members of Special Committees shall be appointed by
the Chairperson. Special Committees shall limit their activities to the
purposes for which they are appointed, and shall have no power to act on
behalf of the Corporation unless such power is specifically conferred by
the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VI
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 1. Voting of Securities. Except as the Board of
Directors may otherwise designate, the President or Treasurer may waive
notice of, and appoint any person or persons (with or without power of
substitution) to act as proxy or attorney in fact for the Corporation at
any meeting of stockholders of any other corporation, the securities of
which may be held by this Corporation.
Section 2. Corporate Records. The original or attested
copies of the Articles of Organization, Bylaws and records of all meetings
of incorporators and members shall be kept in Massachusetts at the
principal office of the Corporation or of the Clerk, but such corporate
records need not all be kept in the same office. They shall be available
at all reasonable times for inspection by any member for any purpose in
the proper interest of the member relative to the affairs of the
Corporation.
Section 3. Indemnification. The Corporation shall have
powers to indemnify Directors, Officers and employees of the Corporation
and such persons shall have rights to be indemnified by the Corporation as
set forth in the Corporation’s Articles of Organization.
ARTICLE VII
Amendments
These Bylaws may be amended or repealed in whole or in part, and new
Bylaws may be adopted, by the Board of Directors or by vote of the members
at any annual or special meeting of members. Not later than the time of
giving of notice of any meeting of members next following the making,
amending or repealing by the Board of Directors of any by-law, notice
thereof stating the substance of such change shall be given to all
members. Any by-law adopted by the Directors may be amended or repealed
by the members.