UT Retirees' Association

UT Retirees'             Association

208-B Conference Center Building  Knoxville, TN 37996-4125  Phone: (865) 974-6506 (TDD/TTY Available)  Fax: (865) 974-6066

Section 1. The organization shall be known as the University of Tennessee Retirees Association, or UTRA.

Section 2. The purpose of UTRA shall be to establish a formal vehicle of communication between The University of Tennessee (U.T.) and its retirees and their families, to assist the University's units at Knoxville in carrying out University of Tennessee approved objectives and policies, and to offer social and fellowship contacts and benefits for U.T. retirees and their families.

Section 3. The headquarters of UTRA shall be Knoxville, Tennessee, and mail shall be received through the U.T. Retirees Association Headquarters, 1609 Melrose Avenue, Suite 112, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-3550

Section 1. All retired employees of The University of Tennessee, their spouses (including surviving spouses), and spouses of employees eligible for retirement who died before being retired are eligible for membership. All retired employees, their spouses (including surviving spouses), and members of their families may attend UTRA meetings, but only members who have currently paid their dues may vote and hold office.

Section 2. When a retired employee and spouse who is not a U.T. retiree are both living, they shall be considered as one member for payment of dues and for voting. When both spouses are retired UT employees, both of the spouses pay dues and both may vote and hold office.

Section 1. Dues shall be fixed by the Board of Directors and approved by the membership.

Section 2. Annual dues, which are paid in advance, shall be for a membership year beginning May 1 and ending April 30.

Section 3. Life membership dues consist of a one-time payment, usually made upon joining the UTRA, which shall provide lifetime membership for the retiree and his/her surviving spouse, if the spouse is not a University retiree.

Section 4. When both spouses are retirees of the University, both pay dues.

Section 1. The Officers shall consist of a President, a President-Elect, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer chosen from the Board of Directors, by the Board of Directors, at its first meeting after the Association’s Annual Meeting in the Spring.

Section 2. No member shall hold more than one office at a time, and no member shall be eligible to serve more than three consecutive one-year terms in the same office.

Section 3. The President shall preside at Board and Association meetings, shall appoint committees as stated in Article VI, shall be the chief executive, and shall represent or assist in representing the Association as authorized by the Board.

Section 4. The President-Elect becomes President following the term(s) of the sitting President.

Section 5. The Vice President shall act in the absence of the President.

Section 6. The Secretary shall record the minutes of Board meetings and of Association meetings.

Section 7. The Treasurer shall receive and disburse funds of the Association, subject to Board direction and approval; shall make a detailed financial report at the Annual Meeting of the Association; and shall provide such other financial information as the Board may direct.

Section 1. The Board of Directors shall consist of seven members: six members to be

elected by the general membership and the seventh member, who shall act as liaison between the University and UTRA, to be appointed by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) Executive Director of Human Resources.

Section 2. Nominations for the elected Board members shall be made by the Nominating Committee and presented at the Annual Meeting. Nominations may also be made from the floor. Election shall be by a majority vote of those present and voting at the Annual Meeting.

Section 3. The elected Board members shall serve three year terms, or until their successors are elected, with two members being elected each year. In the event of a vacancy, the remaining members of the Board shall appoint a person to the unexpired term.

Section 4. An elected Board member may serve no more than two successive three-year terms on the Board.

Section 5. The Board member appointed by the UTK Executive Director of Human Resources shall serve until a new member is appointed.

Section 6. The Board of Directors shall administer the affairs of the Association, represent the Association and carry out the activities and services of the Association, including the approval of expenditures as authorized by annual budgets and the making of contracts for the Association. It shall meet as often as is necessary to perform its function, or on call by the President. Four members shall constitute a quorum.

Section 1. A Finance Committee shall be appointed by the President at the Winter Meeting of the Association, or at least one month prior to the Annual Meeting, to prepare a proposed budget and to recommend to the Board of Directors the fixing of the amount of dues. The budget shall be submitted for membership approval at the Annual Meeting.

Section 2. The President shall appoint a Program Committee to recommend a program for the ensuing year. Members of the Board and the Association will be invited to make suggestions to this committee. After approval by the Board, the committee shall carry out the program.

Section 3. At the Winter Meeting of the Association, or no later than one month prior to the Annual Meeting, the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee of three members. It shall be the duty of this committee to nominate three candidates for the Board of Directors to be presented at the Annual Meeting.

Section 4. The President, with the approval of the Board, shall appoint such other committees as are necessary to carry on the functions of the Association.

Section 1. The Association shall hold regular meetings at least twice a year (Spring and Winter) at a time and place decided upon by the Board. Notice of all Association meetings shall be published in the Association's Newsletter or mailed to members.

Section 2. The Spring meeting of the Association shall be designated the Annual Meeting and shall be for the purpose of electing new Board members, voting on the budget and dues, presenting reports to the membership, and soliciting views of the members.

Section 3. Special meetings may be called by the President, a majority of the Board, or on the written petition of ten (10) percent of the members. A written notice of a special meeting stating the purpose of the meeting shall be sent to all members not less than two weeks before the meeting.

Section 4. A quorum shall be the number of dues-paying members present at a meeting.

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Constitution, any special rules of order that the Association adopts, and any statutes applicable to this organization.

Section 1. This Constitution shall be effective upon adoption and shall supersede the Constitution and/or Bylaws, any amendments, and any revision heretofore adopted by the Association.

Section 2. Amendment to or revision of the Constitution may be made by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting at any regular or called meeting, provided that at least two weeks advance notice of the proposed amendment or revision has been published in the Association's Newsletter or mailed to members.

Upon the dissolution of the Association and the discharge of its debts and the settlement of its affairs, any funds and property of the Association remaining thereafter shall be conveyed to The University of Tennessee.

To the extent permitted by law, the Association shall indemnify and hold harmless the officers of the Association. Any person made a party to any action, suit, or proceeding by reason of the fact that such person, their testator or intestate, is or was an officer or employee of the Association or any organization in which the person served as such at the request of the Association, shall be indemnified by the Association to the full extent permitted by law. Such right of indemnification shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which such officer or employee may be entitled.

No person in whatever relationship with the Association shall be subject to discrimination on the basis of race, ethnic background, national origin, religion, color, age, sex, or condition of handicap.