By-Laws

Article I - Name

Section 1

The Association shall be known as the Mercy School of Nursing Alumni Association.

Article II - Objective

Section 1

The Association exists for mutual help and maintaining a good relationship among the graduates of the Mercy School of Nursing, Dubuque, Iowa.

Article III - Membership

Section 1	All Graduates of Mercy School of Nursing, Dubuque, Iowa, are eligible for membership.
Section 2	Graduates of Mercy School of Nursing, Dubuque, Iowa, who have been alumni for 50 years or more years, are considered lifetime members of the Association.

Article IV - Officers

Section 1	The Association shall be governed by a Board of Directors, which consists of the President, Secretary, Treasurer, 4 Directors and the Historian.
Section 2	The President, Secretary, and two board members shall be elected at the annual meeting held in the even years.
Section 3	The Treasurer and two board members shall be elected at the annual meeting held in the odd years.
Section 4	If unable to hold elections existing board members and officers will stand until election can be held.
Section 5	All elections shall be by ballot.
Section 6	A plurality vote of the ballots cast shall constitute an election.
Section 7	All members including lifetime and dues paying members are eligible to run for office
Section 8	The Historian shall be appointed by the Board of Directors.

Article V - Meetings

Section 1	The business meeting of the Association shall be held yearly on a date determined by the discretion of the Board of Directors
Section 2	Regular Board of Director meeting shall be held at a place and date specified by the President
Section 3	Special meeting may be called by the President or upon request of members of the Association. Requests or grievance will be taken to the next scheduled board meetings.
Section 4	Four members shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of the Board of Directors

Article VI - Dues

Section 1	Membership dues shall be set by the board annually.
Section 2	All lifetime members (Alumni of 50 years or longer) are exempt from paying dues.

Article VII - Term of Office and Duties

Section 1	The regular term for officers shall commence with the adjournment of the annual meeting at which they are elected. The term shall continue until the expiration of their respective terms of offices. The term of Historian shall continue until resignation or another person is appointed by a vote of the Board of Directors.
Section 2	The Board of Directors shall appoint a member to fill a vacancy of any office.
Section 3	The President shall conduct all business meetings. He/She shall be the chairperson of the Board of Directors and shall appoint committees with the approval of the Board. He/She shall be an exofficio member of all committees.
Section 4	The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings and transactions of the Association and Board of Directors. He/She shall notify all officers of their elections and committees of their appointments. He/She shall send members notice of alumni activities.
Section 5	The Treasurer shall receive dues and deposit all funds in a financial institution approved by the President and/or the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall be bonded by office. He/she shall keep an itemized report of all receipts and disbursements and shall give a written report at all regular meeting of the Association. The Treasurer shall keep an accurate list of the addresses of all graduates of Mercy School of Nursing, Dubuque, Iowa.
Section 6	The Historian shall preserve all papers, letters, and memorabilia for the Association display of materials and artifacts. The Historian shall appoint a committee of two to five members to help with the procurement and preservation of items.
Section 7	All officers shall deliver to the Board of Directors all accounts, record books, papers, or other property belonging to this Association within two weeks following their retirement from office.

Article VIII - Committees

Section 1	Committees may be appointed by the President with the approval of the board of Directors.
Section 2	The Board of Directors shall be responsible for reviewing the by-laws every five years and revising them as needed.
Section 3	The Board of Directors shall act as the Nominating Committee. They will prepare a ballot and present it at the board meeting preceding the annual banquet. The Board will be responsible for conducting the election and counting the ballots for new officers and directors.

Article IX - Memoriam

Section 1

Each year, a mass will be offered for all deceased members of the Alumni. The details of this mass shall be announced in the alumni mailing prior to the annual banquet.

Article X - Voting

Section 1

The voting body shall consist of members of the Association

Article XI - Order of Business

Section 1

The order of business at regular meeting shall be: