University of Massachusetts Faculty Club, Inc. Bylaws

Club Membership Benefits
Bylaws
Officers and Members of the Governing Board
Application for Membership (pdf)

Incorporated in Massachusetts November 2, 1965
Revised March 2, 2002, May 23, 2002

Article I: Name
The name of the Organization shall be the University of Massachusetts Faculty Club.

Article II: Purpose
The primary purpose of the Club shall be to assist the University of Massachusetts to provide a center where members of the University community can meet for the purpose of:

1. Furthering the teaching, research, service, and outreach missions of the University
2. Preservation and maintenance of the historic Stockbridge House/Homestead House complex
3. Social and recreational purposes.

Article III: Membership
Membership in the Club shall be open to all regular and retired faculty members and professional employees of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and such other persons as may be admitted to membership by vote of the Governing Board. Candidates shall become members of the Club upon payment of the membership dues then in effect.

The spouse of a Club member shall be admitted to associate membership upon application by the member to the Membership Chairperson.

Honorary membership shall be accorded to the President of the University and to the Chancellor of the Amherst campus. Such membership may be conferred by vote of the Governing Board on any member in good standing at the time of retirement from the University, and on the surviving spouse of any member in good standing at the time of death.

Members may resign from the Club by sending a letter to this effect to the Club President; membership dues shall not be refundable, except by vote of the Governing Board.

Article IV: Meetings
The Club shall hold an annual meeting each year. Special meetings may be called by the Governing Board. The date of any meeting shall be posted in two locations in the Club and membership shall be informed, in writing, ten days in advance.

Any action taken by the Governing Board during the preceding twelve months shall be subject to a motion to reverse such action at the annual meeting. A petition requesting such a vote shall be submitted to the President of the Club thirty days prior to the annual meeting. The petition shall specify the action which is being sought and signed by fifty members. The motion to reverse shall require a two-thirds vote of those present or proxy at the annual meeting.

The quorum for the conduct of all business at all meetings shall be those present and voting. The Governing Board, by a majority vote, may elect to submit items to the membership by mail or e-mail for a vote in lieu of holding a regular meeting. In this event members shall be given at least 10 days to respond by mail or e-mail and the quorum shall be the same as that for conduct of regular meetings, except where otherwise required by law.

Article V: Officers
The Club shall annually elect from its regular membership: (a) a President; (b) a Vice-President; (c) a Secretary; and (d) a Treasurer. These four officers shall each be eligible for re-election and shall be members of the Governing Board. The term of office shall begin on June 1 of each year.

Any Club officer whose membership status changes to associate or honorary during his or her incumbency may serve out the remainder of the term and shall be eligible for re-election. Such officers, except in the case of the President, shall be eligible for re-election to the same office.

The President shall: (a) preside at all meetings of the Club and of the Governing Board; (b) appoint such committees as are provided by these bylaws, or which may hereafter be established; (c) provide day to day advice and counsel to the Manager as may be necessary.

The Vice-President shall: (a) fulfill the duties and assume the responsibilities of the President, when requested to do so by the President or by the Governing Board; (b) serve as chairperson of the House Committee,

The Secretary shall: (a) keep minutes of all meetings of the Club and of the Governing Board; (b) prepare, and post at the Club at least once each year, a list of regular members and honorary members.

The Treasurer shall: (a) have charge of the collection of dues; (b) establish, maintain and reconcile all Club bank accounts; (c) make all disbursements of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150) or more.

If the office of President becomes vacant in the middle of a term, the Vice-President shall become President. However, no associate or honorary member shall be eligible to serve as President. If the Vice-President is an associate or honorary member, the Secretary shall become President.

Article VI: The Governing Board
A Governing Board of nine members, selected as hereunder provided, shall exercise control over Club affairs, by recommending major course of action to the annual meeting of the Club, and by recommending to the University policies to be carried out by the Club Manager. Members of the Governing Board other than Club officers may be elected from any Club membership category. It shall have power: (a) to adopt rules and regulations regulating the use by Club members and non-members of all facilities provided by the University for Club use, providing that such rules as are adopted shall be posted in at least two prominent places within the Club; to advise the University on appointment of a University-employed Manager, and on his or her duties; and to advise the University on the appointment of such other University-employed staff as the Board may deem necessary to provide for the proper functioning of the Club; (c) to empower the Club President to act on its behalf, as it may deem appropriate; (d) to approve all capital expenditures in excess of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150); (e) to extend the privileges of complimentary membership for a period not exceeding sixty days, to any visitor to the University community.

The four elected officers of the Club shall each be members of the Governing Board during their terms of office. Four additional members shall be elected for two-year terms, two of whom shall be elected each year, and each member shall be eligible for reelection. The ninth member of the Board shall be the immediate past-President of the Club, or if such person is unable or unwilling to serve, some appropriate former Club officer, elected to membership by the Governing Board. Vacancies shall be filled for the un-expired portion of any term, by vote of the annual meeting or by vote of the Governing Board.

Article VII: Dues
Membership dues for regular members, and for Honorary members, if such dues be established, shall be fixed for the ensuing year, by vote of the annual meeting provided, however, that annual dues for regular members shall in no instance be less than twenty-four dollars. Dues for retired members shall be at a reduced rate as determined by the Governing Board.

If both a husband and wife are eligible for regular Club membership, only one dues payment shall be required.

Members on leave of absence, or absent from the University, for one academic year, shall not be required to pay dues for that year; members on leave, or absent, for shorter periods of time shall be required to pay pro-rated dues, as determined by the Treasurer.

The Governing Board shall provide for alternative methods of paying dues. In September of each year, the Treasurer shall bill the members for dues to be added to the members’ monthly statements.

Article VIII: Collections and Disbursements
The Club shall provide for a personal charge account for food, liquor or other services for members.

Monthly statements sent to members shall include all appropriate taxes. Statements shall be payable upon receipt, and shall be considered delinquent after sixty days. A member may forfeit membership privileges if an account remains unpaid after ninety days.

All dues and liquor monies received by the Club shall be credited to the appropriate Club bank account, which shall be under the control of the Treasurer.

Article IX: Disbursements
Payment of obligations incurred by the Club for amounts of up to $150 may be paid by check by the Manager.

Article X: Committees
Members of Club committees may be named from any Club membership category. There shall be a House Committee of five members and a Nominating Committee of three members, and such other committees as may hereafter be established by vote of the annual meeting or of the Governing Board. Not more than one member of the Nominating Committee shall be a member of the Governing Board. Members of the Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the Governing Board for one year.

Article XI: Use of Facilities
Club facilities shall be provided primarily for the use of members and their guests.
Members may reserve portions of the Club premises for private entertainment. Requests for such use shall be submitted to the Manager.

Questions concerning the proper utilization of Club facilities shall be resolved by the House Committee, in consultation with the President and the University.
Article XII: Adoption and Amendment of Bylaws

Bylaws of the Club may be adopted, repealed, and amended by a two-thirds vote of those present or proxy at the annual meeting.

These bylaws were originally approved by a majority of the Club membership at the Annual Meeting on May 7, 1973. Amendments incorporated into these by-laws were approved at the Annual Meetings in May 1974, 1975, 1976, by mail ballot March 2, 2002 and at the Annual Meeting in May 2002.

Home | Lunch and Dinner Menus | Special Events | Catering | History | Membership