Retired Faculty Association Bylaws

The name of this organization shall be The University of Nevada, Reno Retired Faculty Association (hereinafter referred to as “the Association”).

The Association is a unit of the University of Nevada, Reno (hereinafter referred to as “UNR”). All financial transactions of the Association will be conducted through University or UNR Foundation accounts.

The Association Encourages and assists retired University faculty to volunteer their skills and experiences in support of the many activities and programs of the University; Develops and offers programs that assist retired University faculty to better understand the challenges and opportunities that come with retirement; Advocates for the well-being of retired University faculty; And helps identify and provides diverse academic and administrative avenues to address and support these purposes.

Section 1. Membership Eligibility.

1. Retired members of the UNR Faculty (both academic and administrative), their spouses or domestic partners, and surviving spouses or domestic partners are eligible for membership.
2. On recommendation of the Membership Committee and approval of the Board of Directors, honorary membership may be granted as a means of recognition, or in situations where the individual is not otherwise eligible, but where the Association and the individual, by virtue of his/her professional experience, will mutually benefit from the Association.
3. Current dues paying members have voting privileges and are eligible to serve on the Board of Directors and Association committees.
4. The Board of Directors shall include liaison(s)—up to three—from the University who shall be appointed by the President of the University with consultation from the President of the Association and each shall be an ex officio member of the Association and of the Board of Directors with voting privileges.

Section 2. Dues.

The Board shall establish membership dues. Regular members pay the regular or life-time dues, while honorary and liaison members pay no dues. Dues are payable on or before July 1 each year.

Section 3. Annual Meeting.

The Annual Meeting of the Association will be held in May. Notice will be given to all regular, honorary, and liaison members. All members shall be notified of the meeting’s place, date and time at least one month prior to the meeting.

Section 4. Quorum and Voting.

A quorum of the Annual Meeting shall be 20 members. Each regular, honorary, and liaison member is entitled to one vote at the annual meeting. There are no proxy votes.

Section 5. Election of Board of Directors.

Members of the Board of Directors shall be elected by members in attendance at the Annual Meeting from a ballot submitted by the Nominating Committee. Election shall be by plurality of votes cast. New Board members shall assume their duties at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting.

Section 1. Duties of the Board.

The affairs of the Association shall be managed by a Board of Directors. The Board shall have the authority to establish such standing and ad hoc committees, as it deems desirable. The Board shall determine the dues for the Association and provide financial oversight for the Association.

Section 2. Number and Qualifications.

The Board shall consist of a minimum of nine and a maximum of fifteen members, not including the ex officio members, in an attempt to give broader representation to the constituencies of the Association. All dues paying members of the Association are eligible to serve on the Board.

Section 3. Term of Office.

Members of the Board shall be elected for a term of three years. At least two of the members of the Board shall be elected annually at the Annual Meeting in May. Terms shall conclude at the end of the Annual Meeting. Board members may be elected for a second consecutive term.  Standing committee chairs shall serve as full members of the Board for the duration of their term and shall be included in the total count of board members, not to exceed 15. 

Section 4. Vacancies.

A vacancy in the Board of Directors shall be filled for the remainder of the term by a majority vote of the Board of Directors based on nomination(s) by the Nominating Committee. Nominations to fill vacancies can be secured by the past President from prior Nominations Committee reports and from suggestions from the current Board members. Names will be submitted to the Board for review and selection. The President shall contact the selected potential member(s) and report to the Board.

Section 5. Quorum.

A majority of the members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. All official actions of the Board shall be decided, at minimum, by a majority of a quorum.

Section 6. Regular Meetings.

The Board shall meet eight times per year unless otherwise agreed to (no meeting in August). The time and place of such meetings shall be established by the Board. The Board shall hold a planning meeting within two months following the Annual Meeting to consider the work of the Association for the ensuing year. The President shall designate the time and place of such meeting.

Section 7. Special Meetings.

Special meetings of the Board may be held upon the call of the President or upon request of any three members of the Board.

Section 1. Titles.

The officers of this Association shall be a President, a President-elect, the immediate Past President, a Treasurer, and a Secretary. These officers serve both the Association and the Board.

Section 2. Election of Officers.

All officers shall be elected by the Board from among its members. All officers shall be elected for a one-year term; the Treasurer and Secretary may be reelected. The President-elect is expected to be a candidate for President in the following year. All officers shall be elected at the April Board meeting from the slate proposed by the Nominations Committee and shall assume their duties at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting in May.

Section 3. Vacancy.

A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by the President-elect who shall fulfill the term of President not expired and then become a candidate for President as specified in Article V., Section 2. A vacancy in the office of any other officer shall be filled from among Board members by vote of the Board of Directors.

Section 4. President.

The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board and the Association. The President is an ex-officio member of all Standing Committees and may appoint a liaison in his or her place. If the President is absent or unable to perform the duties of office, one of the other officers shall function in the President’s place, with the President-elect having the priority so to serve.

Section 5. Secretary.

The Secretary shall keep the official records of the Association and shall also gather and maintain records for the purpose of preserving the Association’s history.

Section 6. Treasurer.

The Treasurer provides regular financial reports to the Board, monitors the University and UNR Foundation accounts, authorizes payments from the Foundation account and prepares the annual Association budget. The Treasurer also works with the Board to develop the annual budget.

Section 7. General Duties.

All officers shall perform the duties customary for their respective offices.

Section 1. Standing Committees.

Standing Committees shall include such committees as the Board determines to be essential or desirable to carry out the purposes of the Association as outlined in Article III of the Bylaws. Committees shall be chaired by a Board member. The President is an ex officio member of all Standing Committees. The Standing Committees include but are not limited to the following:

1. The Nominating Committee shall be chaired by the Immediate Past President and consist of at least three persons who shall seek suggestions from Association members. The Committee shall prepare a slate with a candidate for each vacancy on the Board. Nominations may also be made by petition bearing the signatures of at least five Association members. To the extent possible, the Nominating Committee should ensure that the Board is representative of the constituencies of the Association.
2. The Membership Committee tracks membership and works to recruit and retain members in various ways, including working with the University Foundation and Human Resources department to communicate with all professional retirees from the University.
3. The Program Committee shall be chaired by the Vice-President/President-Elect. The Committee suggests and organizes Association programs, such as speakers, tours of campus or other regional facilities, cultural activities, attendance at UNR athletic events, participatory athletic events, and out-of-town events. The Program committee also organizes programs of an educational nature pertaining to retirement and provides advice to University leadership on issues of importance to retirees. The committee maintains liaison with the Faculty Senate Salary and Benefits Committee.
4. The Volunteer Committee seeks and supports requests from UNR organizations for activities where Association members can assist, consistent with the Association’s Policy on Volunteers. It reviews and recommends approval or rejection of such requests to the Association Board, publicizes approved requests to Association members and coordinates retiree service on these events.
5. The Communication Committee develops and coordinates the Association Newsletter, monitors the Association website and suggests additions or modifications, collects pictures for the website and display board (keeping these current), and publicizes the Association and Association events with the local media.

Section 2. Sub-Committees.

Each Standing Committee may appoint one or more subcommittees which shall report to it.

Section 3. Term of Office.

Members of Standing Committees shall serve one-year terms and are eligible for successive reappointment.

Section 4. Ad Hoc Committees.

The Board may appoint such ad hoc committees, as it deems appropriate. Such committees shall report to the Board and shall serve at its pleasure.

The Association shall have the duty to create, maintain and amend policies and procedures for the organization.

Parliamentary authority for each and all meetings of the Association and its various bodies shall be Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, current edition.

The Board may, by a two-thirds vote of its membership, amend the Bylaws at any meeting provided that the amendment or amendments have been distributed to the Board at least one week before the meeting at which they are to be voted upon.

These bylaws shall be effective at such time as the UNR Retired Faculty Study Committee affirms them by a two-thirds vote of the members present. Then, the UNR Retired Faculty Association will be deemed in existence. Neal & Roberta Ferguson will communicate the vote and the Bylaws to the University President.)