Constitution

For the cultivation of fellowship and good feeling among us and for a spirit of loyalty to our Alma Mater, we. the graduates and former students of the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, in good standing, do form ourselves into an association to be known as “ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF”, and for its better government, do hereby establish the following Constitution. (9/9/24; 6/22/2002)

This association shall be known as the ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF. (9/9/24)

SECTION 1

The Alumni Association of the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf is organized exclusively for the purpose of promoting the welfare of the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, 300 Swissvale Avenue; Edgewood (Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania 15218. Distributions are made to the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf to support its academic, vocational, athletic, and residential programs. By virtue of its sponsorship, the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf Alumni Association is regarded an integral part of the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf. (9/3/26; 6/22/2002)

SECTION 2

Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles, the organization is organized exclusively for one or more of the purposes as specified in Section 501 C 3 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) of 1986, and shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from Federal income tax under IRC 501 C 3 or corresponding provisions of any subsequent tax laws. (6/22/2002)

SECTION 3

No part of the net earnings of the organization shall insure to the benefit of any member, trustee, director, officer of the organization, or any private individual (except that reasonable compensation may be paid for services rendered to or for the organization), and no member, trustee, officer of the organization or any private individual shall be entitled share in the distribution of any of the organization’s assets on dissolution of the organization. (6/22/2002)

SECTION 4

No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation (except as otherwise provided by IRC 501 {h}) for participating in, or intervening in (including the publication or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidates for public office. (6/22/2002)

SECTION 5

In any taxable year in which the organization is a private foundation as described in IRC 509 (a), the organization shall distribute its income for said period as such time and manner as not to subject it to tax under IRC 4942, and the organization shall not:

a) engage in any act of self-dealing as defined in IRC 4941 (d);
b) retain any excess business holdings as defined in IRC 4943 (c);
c) make any investments in such a manner as to subject the organization to tax under IRC 4944, or
d) make any taxable expenditures as defined in IRC 4945 (d) or corresponding provisions of any subsequent Federal tax laws. (6/22/2002)

The members shall be divided into three classes; Active, Associate, and Honorary. (6/22/2002)

1.1. Active members shall include all persons who have graduated and all persons who have been attended WPSD
1.2. Spouses and friends of the active members who are deemed worthy by the Association, may become Associate members, and be accorded all privileges of membership, except voting, making motions and/or amendments, and holding office. (2/21/93; 6/22/2002)
1.3. Honorary members shall include any persons deemed worthy by the Association, as determined by a majority vote at a regular meeting. They shall not vote, make motions and/or amendments, and hold office. (6/25/93)
1.4. To let WPSD Deaf employees with twenty-five (25) years of services be admitted as Active members (6/26/93; 6/22/2002)

SECTION 1

The officers of the Association shall be a President, a First Vice President, a Second Vice President, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary, a Treasurer, and three (3) Directors. (8/31/46; 6/22/2002)

SECTION 2

There shall be nine (9) Members at large: President shall select one of whom shall constitute the head of each committee (Law, Athletic Hall of Fame, Alumni Merit, Museum Curator, Nominations and Elections, Distinguished Alumnus, and Rev. John G. Brown Service Awards). (6/27/81; 6/23/84; 2/21/93; 6/22/2002)

SECTION 3

Prior to the triennial Banquet of the Association, the above officers and Members-at-Large shall be elected on the majority principle by mailing ballots and shall assume office immediately after the adjournment of the banquet. The Nominations and Elections Committee, appointed by the President and approved by the Executive Board, is responsible for soliciting nominations, developing ballots, and gathering and tabulating the votes. (9/3/28; 6/23/84; 6/22/2002)

SECTION 4

Any member residing within a five hundred- (500) mile radius of W.P.S.D. shall be eligible to hold office in the Association. (8/31/52; 6/23/84; 6/22/2002)

SECTION 1

The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and shall cast the deciding vote on all questions where there is an equal division. He shall enforce due observance of the Constitution, call all meetings of the Association through the Secretary, and perform such other duties as may belong to his/her office. He/she shall appoint any member(s) to fill in vacant officer’s and Member-at-Large’s spot(s). (8/27/31; 6/29/58; 6/24/78; 6/22/2002)

SECTION 2

The First Vice President shall discharge all the duties of the President in his/her absence.

The Second Vice President shall do likewise in case of absence of both the President and the First Vice President.

The First and Second Vice Presidents shall be automatically appointed as co chairpersons of all the Alumni socials and reunions. (3/31/46; 6/29/53)

SECTION 3

It shall be the duty of the Recording Secretary to keep record of the proceedings of the Association at its various meetings; to keep a full and correct list of officers and members and all others who may be interested, and perform any other duties that the Executive Committee may assign him/her, which properly belong to his/her office. (9/27/31; 3/31/46; 6/22/2002)

SECTION 4

It shall be the duty of the Corresponding Secretary to conduct all general correspondence of the Association and perform any other duties that the Executive Committee may assign him/her, which properly belong to his/her office. (6/22/2002)

SECTION 5

It shall be the list of members receive and pay same and making expenditures at duty of the Treasurer. He/she shall receive and pay out all monies, keeping a record of a report of such receipts and and mailed to every Active members 2 weeks after the first meeting of the newly-elected officers when the Financial Report has been approved. The Executive Committee shall require of him/her a reasonable bond, for the faithful discharge of his/her duties. He/she shall pay no monies unless first approved by the President. The Treasurer’s report of membership dues shall be audited immediately after the adjournment of the Reunion and before the same is handed over to the successor in office. (9/1/15; 9/29/24; 6/22/2002)

SECTION 6

The Executive Committee shall consist of a board of nine (9) elected officers and nine (9) Members at Large. They shall have full power to determine all cases of doubtful interpretation of the Constitution and By Laws of the Association. They shall consider any complaint that may be made in writing by any member to the Corresponding Secretary and decide the same before it is carried to any meeting of the Association. They shall have the power to attest the minutes of the business meetings of a Board Meeting and accept them as read and dispense with them at the next Board Meeting. (9/1/15; 8/31/46; 8/31/52; 6/23/84; 6/22/2002)

SECTION 7

The Directors shall act as trustees and audit the books of the Treasurer. They shall have full power over the treasury of the Alumni Association and to approve or reject the disbursement of any money.

Three (3) Directors shall be elected as follows: the first for a term of three (3) years, the second for a term of six (6) years, and third for a term of nine (9) years. At each succeeding convention, one director shall be elected for a full term of nine (9) years. (8/31/46; 8/31/52)

SECTION 1

It shall be the duty of the Law Committee, which shall consist of two (2) members and a chairperson to consider the proposed amendments, repeals, changes, or additions to the Constitution and By Laws. (9/1/15; 6/27/81; 2/21/93)

SECTION 2

It shall be the duty of the Alumni Merit Award Committee which shall consist of two (2) members and a chairperson to nominate qualified persons for the Alumni Merit Award after conducting a search of their history of association with the Alumni organization. (2/21/93)

SECTION 3

It shall be the duty of the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee which shall consist of two (2) members and a chairperson to nominate qualified persons for the Athletic Hall of Fame after conducting a search of their achievement in sports at W.P.S.D. and to the Deaf community twenty years after his/her graduation or departure from the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and of their loyalty to the Alumni Association. (6/27/81; 6/23/84; 6/30/90; 2/21/93)

SECTION 4

It shall be the duty of the Distinguished Alumnus Award Committee which shall consist of two (2) members and a chairperson to nominate qualified persons for the Distinguished Alumnus Award after conducting a search of their history of services to the Deaf community.(2/21/93)

SECTION 5

It shall be the duty of the Rev. John G. Brown Service Award Committee which shall consist of two (2) members and a chairperson to nominate qualified persons for the Rev. John G. Brown Service Award after conducting a search of their history of services to W.P.S.D. (2/21/93)

SECTION 6

It shall be the duty of the Museum Curator and his/her Committee which shall consists of two (2) members and a chairperson to keep the WPSD Museum up-to-date and to contact the WPSD Superintendent for any item(s) that WPSD plan to discard but to show it to us before doing so. The Committee will then decide if they want to keep the item(s) or not.

SECTION 7

The Executive Committee shall have full power to fill any vacancy that may occur among their officers until the next regular meeting of the Association. (8/31/18; 6/22/2002)

SECTION 8

The Executive Board shall mail a letter out to all Active members, asking for any worthwhile candidate(s) for said award along with the description of each award(s). The person who nominates a certain candidate must fill out reasons why that candidate is deserving of the said award. The deadline for these nominations shall be April 15th of every Banquet year. Any nominees, in any awards listed above, with his/her background shall be saved in file for future use. (6/22/2002)

SECTION 1

The Association shall meet at such a time and place as the Executive Committee may designate, elect officers, hear reports, and transact such other business as may come before it. (9/1/15)

SECTION 2

The Alumni Association of the WPSD may have meetings upon call of the Executive Committee. (2/25/34)

SECTION 3

The triennial reunions shall be held on either of the last two weekends of June. (6/30/90; 6/22/2002)

SECTION 1

Any article or section in the constitution and By Laws may be amended or repealed and any addition may be made, after the proposed amendment or revocation shall have been satisfactorily discussed and understood and passed by a vote of two thirds of the votes cast at any regular meeting of the Association. (9/1/15; 8/31/52)

SECTION 1

The Robert’s’ Rules of Order shall govern the Alumni Association of the WPSD in all cases in which they are applicable and in which are not inconsistent with the By Laws or Special Rules of Order of the Alumni Association. (6/26/60)