NeASFAA
Bylaws
Adopted April, 2003
INDIVIDUAL ALPHABETICAL
LISTINGThe name of the corporation shall be the
Nebraska Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. It
may be referred to in these Bylaws as the Association or
Corporation.
ARTICLE II: PURPOSE
The Association, organized as an educational and
charitable organization within the meaning of section 501 (c) (3)
of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, has as its purpose the
following:
- To foster and promote standards of professional preparation
for, and the appointment, effectiveness, recognition, and
association of student financial aid administrators and counselors
in institutions of post-secondary education and other public and
private agencies and organizations concerned with or engaged in the
support and/or administration of student financial aid.
- To serve the needs and interest of students, faculties and
administrators of institutions of post- secondary education and of
individuals and public and private agencies in the administration
of student financial aid by promoting and facilitating coordination
of student financial aid plans and programs, and by advising and
assisting in the promotion and development of effective programs of
student financial aid.
- To promote and facilitate communication between institutions of
post-secondary education and the providers/sponsors of student aid
funds.
- To stimulate, promote and encourage leadership, continuing
education, conferences and other related activities, which are
desirable and necessary in fulfilling the purposes of the
Association.
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ARTICLE III: OFFICES
The principal office of the Corporation shall
initially be located in the City of Omaha, Douglas County, State of
Nebraska. The Corporation may have such other offices either within
or without the State of Nebraska as the Board of Directors may
determine, or as the affairs of the Corporation may require from
time to time. The Corporation shall have and continuously maintain
in the State of Nebraska a registered office and a registered agent
whose office is identical with such registered office as required
by the Nebraska Nonprofit Corporation Act. The registered office
may be but need not be identical with the principal office in the
State of Nebraska, and the address of the registered office may be
changed from time to time by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Institutional
Membership Membership for post-secondary educational
schools shall be institutional. Institutions eligible for
membership shall be open to any post-secondary institution
principally located within Nebraska, accredited by an authorized
accrediting agency or association and/or licensed or certified by
the State to engage in the education or training of students, and
such other post-secondary institutions as may be approved by the
Board of Directors. The Association recognizes the following
specific sectors of post-secondary institutions: 1) Public
four-year schools 2) Private four-year schools 3) Public two-year
schools and 4) Private Vocational schools.
Section 2. Associate
Membership Associate membership shall be open to
public and private organizations and agencies concerned with or
engaged in the support of student financial aid, and not meeting
the eligibility requirements for institutional membership described
in Article IV Section 1. Associate members in good standing shall
be entitled to attend meeting of the Association, but shall not be
entitled to hold office in the Association, except as provided for
in Article V Section 3. The Association acknowledges the importance
of this membership classification by recognizing it as a separate
and distinct sector.
Section 3. Approval by the Board of
Directors Applicants for first-time membership in the
Association must be approved by a majority vote of the Board of
Directors following a review of the membership application form and
supporting documentation.
Section 4. Revocation of
Membership Any member of the Association may be
dropped from membership by action of the Board of Directors for
nonpayment of dues or for any individual member's conduct or
activities deemed injurious to the reputation and/or objectives of
the Association. The member may request a hearing before the Board
of Directors following notification of the intent to remove the
member from the Association.
Section 5. Dues The
amount of annual dues for membership as an institutional or
associate member of the Association shall be determined by the
Board of Directors. Notices for Association's fiscal year (July 1).
Dues shall be payable on or before the date of the Association's
first meeting after the start of the fiscal year. A member is
considered to be in "good standing" upon payment of annual
dues.
Section 6. Annual
Meetings The Annual meeting of the membership shall
be held in the Spring prior to May 1. It shall be held to
officially notify the membership of the election results for the
Board of Directors and for the transaction of such other business
as may come before the meeting. Specific dates for these meetings
shall be set by the Board of Directors. Additional meetings may be
called at the direction of the Board of Directors upon approval by
the voting representatives of the Association.
Section 7. Special
Meetings Special meetings of the members of the
Corporation shall be held only when called by the President, the
Board of Directors, or by 25% of the voting representatives of the
Association, who requests such a meeting in writing unless the
requirement as to such call be waived in writing by all voting
representatives.
Section 8. Place of
Meeting Meetings of the members shall be held at any
place within or without the State of Nebraska as may be
designated.
Section 9. Waiver of
Notice The transactions of any meeting of the
members, however called and noticed or wherever held, shall be as
valid as though had at a meeting duly held after regular call and
notice, if a quorum is present and if either before or after the
meeting, a written waiver of notice of the meeting is signed by (i)
each member not present at the meeting, and (ii) each member
present at the meeting who objected at the meeting to the
transaction of any business because the meeting was not lawfully
called or convened. All such waivers shall be filed with and made
part of the minutes of the meeting.
Section 10. Quorum A
majority of the voting representatives present shall constitute a
quorum at any annual or special meeting for the transaction of all
business of the Corporation. Every act or decision done or made by
a majority of the voting representatives present at a duly held
meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act or decision
of the members, unless the law, the Articles of Incorporation of
these Bylaws require a greater proportion.
Section 11. Voting;
Proxies At each meeting of the members, each voting
representative shall be entitled to cast one vote in person or by
proxy. Such proxy shall be deemed valid for the term set forth
within the proxy or for eleven (11) months if no term is stated in
the proxy.
Section 12. Action Without
Meeting Any action which may be taken at a meeting of
the members may be taken without a meeting if all voting
representatives shall consent in writing to such action.
Section 13.
Notices Notice of any regular or special meeting of
the members, in such case specifying the place, date and hour of
the meeting, shall be given to each member by the Secretary by
delivering notice, not less than fourteen (14) days prior to the
date of the meeting.
Section 14. Exclusive Rights of the
Members Except as provided in Article IV, Section 7.,
the voting representatives shall have the exclusive right to elect
the Directors of the Corporation in the manner provided and to
amend these by-laws and the Articles of Incorporation.
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ARTICLE V: BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Section 1. Powers Subject to
the limitations of the Articles of Incorporation of the
Corporation, the Bylaws and the laws of the State of Nebraska, the
affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by the Board of
Directors.
Section 2. Number and
Qualification The number of Directors of the
Corporation shall be ten (10) provided, however, that such number
may be changed (but in no event to a number less than three) by an
amendment of these Bylaws duly adopted by the voting
representatives of the Corporation. Directors need not be residents
of the State of Nebraska but shall be elected from the
Corporation's institutional membership, except for the one Director
elected by the associate members.
Section 3. Election and Term of
Office The initial Board of Directors designated in
the Articles of Incorporation shall remain in office until the
members and designated classes of members, described below, appoint
new Directors at the first annual meeting of the Corporation
members in the manner provided and until their successors have been
appointed and qualified. At the first meeting of the members, all
voting representatives shall elect six (6) Directors and the
designated classes of members shall elect an additional five (5)
Directors in the manner described below. All Directors shall serve
until the next annual meeting of the Corporation. Thereafter, all
Directors shall be composed of the incumbent officers of the
Association and one representative from each of the following
designated classification of member institutions: 1. Private
vocational schools 2. Two year public institutions 3. Private
colleges and universities 4. Four year public colleges and
universities 5. Associate membership.
Section 4.
Resignation A Director may resign at any time by
giving written notice to the President of the Corporation, who
shall advise the Board of Directors of such resignation. Such
resignation shall take effect at the time specified or, if no time
is specified, then upon receipt of the resignation by President.
Acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it
effective.
Section 5. Removal Any
Director may be removed from office with or without cause, at any
time by majority vote of the voting representatives who elected the
Director.
Section 6. Vacancies In
the event the President's position is vacated, the President-Elect
shall automatically become President. In the event the
President-Elect position is vacated, a special election will be
held. For all other Board of Director vacancies, the Board shall
appoint a replacement.
Section 7. Regular
Meetings Regular meetings of the Board of Directors
of the Corporation shall be held at such time and place as the
President of Board of Directors designate. The annual meeting of
the Board of Directors shall be held immediately prior to the
annual meeting of the Corporation members. The newly elected Board
of Directors shall meet after the annual meeting of the Corporation
members for the purpose of electing officers and for the
transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting.
In the event of failure to hold the annual meeting of Directors,
the meeting may be held at a later date. Any election had or
business transacted at such meeting shall be as valid and effective
as if had or transacted at the annual meeting on the date normally
provided.
Section 8. Special
Meetings Special meetings of the Board of Directors
for any purpose or purposes shall be held whenever called by the
President of the Corporation, or upon the written request of any
two Directors.
Section 9. Place of
Meetings Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be
held at any place within or outside the State of Nebraska which may
be designated by the President or Board of Directors.
Section 10.
Notices Notices of any regular or special meeting of
the Board of Directors, in each case specifying the place, date and
hour of the meeting, shall be given to each Director by delivering
notice, orally or in writing, not more than sixty (60) nor less
than fourteen (14) days prior to the date of the meeting.
Section 11. Waiver of
Notice The transactions of any meeting of the Board
of Directors, however called and noticed or wherever held, shall be
as valid as though had at a meeting duly held after regular call
and notice, if a quorum is present and if, either before or after
the meeting, a written waiver of notice of the meeting is signed by
(i) each Director not present at the meeting, and (ii) each
Director present at the meeting who objected to the transaction of
any business because the meeting was not lawfully called or
convened. All such waiver shall be filed with and made a part of
the minutes of the meeting.
Section 12. Action Without
Meeting Any action which may be taken at a meeting of
the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if all the
Directors shall consent in writing to such action.
Section 13. Quorum A
majority of the Directors in office shall constitute a quorum for
the transaction of business. Every act or decision done or made by
a majority of the Directors present at duly held meeting at which a
quorum is present shall be the act or decision of the Board of
Directors, unless the law, the Articles of Incorporation or these
Bylaws require a greater proportion.
Section 14.
Adjournment Any meeting of the Board of Directors,
whether regular or special, and whether or not a quorum is present,
may be adjourned by a vote of a majority of the Directors present.
If notice of the meeting adjourned had been properly given or
waived, notice of the time and place of the reconvened meeting need
not be given to absent Directors if said time and place are fixed
at the meeting adjourned. At any such reconvened meeting at which a
quorum is present, any business may be transacted which might have
been transacted at the meeting adjourned.
Section 15.
Organization
- The Board of Directors may designate one or more
committees which shall consist of two (2) or more Directors elected
by the Board of Directors which may exercise, when the Board of
Directors is not in session, the powers of the Board of Directors
in the management of the affairs of the Corporation. However, no
such committee shall have the authority of the Board of Directors
in reference to amending, altering or repealing the Bylaws;
electing, appointing or removing any member of any committee or any
Director or Officer of the Corporation; amending the Articles of
Incorporation; adopting a plan or merger or adopting a plan of
consolidation with another corporation; authoring the sale, lease,
exchange or mortgage of all or substantially all of the property
and assets of the Corporation; authorizing the voluntary
dissolution of the Corporation or revoking proceedings; adopting a
plan for the distribution of the assets of the Corporation; or
amending, altering or appealing any resolution of the Board of
Directors which by its terms provides that it shall not be amended,
altered or appealed by such committee. The designation and
appointment of any such committee and the delegation of authority
shall not operate to relieve the Board of Directors, or any
individual Director of any responsibility imposed upon it or him by
law.
- Other committees not having the authority of the Board
of Directors in the management of the Corporation may be designated
by a resolution by a majority of the Directors present at a meeting
at which a quorum is present. Except as otherwise provided in such
resolution, members of each committee shall be appointed by the
President. Any member may be removed by the person(s) authorized to
appoint such member whenever in their judgement the best interests
of the Corporation shall be served by such removal.
- Each member of a committee shall continue as such
until the next annual meeting of the Board of Directors and until
his successor is appointed, unless the committee shall be
terminated sooner, or unless such member be removed from such
committee, or unless such member shall cease to qualify as a
member.
Section 16. Minutes and
Reports The Board of Directors shall forward to the
members copies of all minutes and reports of all meetings and
actions taken by the Board of Directors and any committee.
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ARTICLE VI: OFFICERS OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Section 1. Officers The
Corporation shall have a President, President-elect, a Secretary, a
Treasurer, Past-President and such other officers as the Directors
may appoint. Any two or more of said offices may be held by the
same person, except the offices of President and Secretary and the
offices of President and President-Elect may not be held by the
same person. With the exception of the President, President-Elect
and Past President, an elected officer may be a candidate to
succeed himself or herself in office.
Section 2.
Election Except as noted below, the officers of the
Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors,
and each shall hold said office until a successor has been duly
elected and qualified, or until death, resignation or removal. The
President-Elect shall automatically become the President at the
installation held at the next annual meeting of the Corporation.
The President shall automatically become the Past-President at the
installation of the new President.
Section 3. Term for the Treasurer and
Sector Representatives The term of office will be for
two years.
Section 4.
Resignation Any officer may resign at any time by
giving written notice to the President of the Corporation. Such
resignation shall take effect at the time specified or, if no time
is specified, then upon receipt of the resignation by the
President. Should the President resign, written notice will be
delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation. Acceptance of such
resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 5. Removal Any
officer may be removed from office by majority action of the Board
of Directors, whenever in its judgment the best interests of the
Corporation will be served.
Section 6.
President The President shall be the chief executive
officer of the Association , preside at all meetings of the
Association and be Chairperson and preside at all meetings of the
Board of Directors. The President shall appoint, from the
Corporation's membership, the members and Chairmen and be an
ex-officio member of all non-Board of Directors committees. The
President shall attend all meetings of the members and the Board of
Directors and present a final report to the membership at the
annual meeting at the end of the term of office. The President may
sign, with the Secretary or any other proper officer of the
Corporation authorized by the Board of Directors, any contracts or
other instruments which the Board of Directors has authorized to be
executed, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof
shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these
Bylaws or by statue to some other officer or agent of the
Corporation; and in general perform all duties incident to the
office of President and such other duties as may be prescribed by
the Board of Directors. The President is directly responsible of
overseeing and coordinating the functions of the Finance &
Audit and Corporate Development committees. The President also
serves as the voting representative of NeASFAA on the Rocky
Mountain Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Board
of Directors.
Section 7.
President-Elect The President-Elect shall
automatically become President of the Association at the end of the
term of office of President-Elect. The President-Elect shall
perform the duties of the President in the absence of or incapacity
of the President. The President-Elect shall present a final report
of the office to the membership at the annual meeting. The
President-Elect is directly responsible for overseeing and
coordinating the function of the Professional Development and the
Nominations & Election committees. The President-Elect may
serve as an observer at the RMASFFA Board of Directors and will
normally attend the Leadership Conference sponsored by the National
Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).
Section 8.
Secretary The Secretary shall be responsible for
keeping and maintaining the records of the Association and the
Board of Directors, for the mailing of meeting notices and other
such communication as provided for by law or in the Bylaws, and for
the performances of other such duties as may be prescribed by the
Board of Directors. The Secretary shall be the custodian of the
corporate records and of the seal of the Corporation and see that
the seal of the Corporation is affixed to all documents, the
execution of which on behalf of the Corporation under its seal is
duly authorized in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws;
keep register of the post office address of each member and each
Director; and in general perform all duties incident to the office
of Secretary and such other duties as may be assigned by the
President or by the Board of Directors. This office is responsible
for overseeing and coordinating the function of the Communications
and Membership committees.
Section 9.
Treasurer The Treasurer shall be responsible for the
receipt and expenditure of funds in accordance with the directives
established by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall maintain
appropriate and adequate financial records, shall submit all
records for a duly audited annual financial report conducted by
such persons, committee or agency as determined by the Board of
Directors and shall be under such bond as determined by the Board
of Directors. Upon termination of the term of office, the Treasurer
shall transfer to the successor all moneys and financial
records.
Section 10.
Past-President The Past-President serves the Board of
Directors by providing continuity and insight on prior Board of
Director activities and actions. In the absence of the President
and President-Elect, this office will serve as chairman of the
Board of Directors and preside at the annual meeting of the
Corporation. The Past-President is directly responsible for
overseeing and coordinating the functions of the Association
Governance committee. The Past-President may also lead any long
range planning as authorized by the Board of Directors.
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ARTICLE VII: STANDING
COMMITTEES
Section 1. Finance & Audit
Committee The Finance & Audit committee shall, at
the annual meeting of the Corporation, recommend an Association
budget for the ensuing year. The Committee is responsible for
maintaining the fiscal integrity of the Corporation and shall
review the financial records of the Association and submit a report
at the annual meeting.
Section 2. Association Governance
Committee The Association Governance committee is
responsible for reviewing the operating documents of the
Corporation and recommending necessary corrections and revisions to
the membership of the Corporation.
Section 3. Communications
Committee The Communications committee is responsible
for coordinating the distribution of all general publications,
regardless of media used, to the membership.
Section 4. Corporate Development
Committee The Corporate Development committee is
responsible for soliciting all funds to support the purposes of the
Association, except for the collection of membership dues.
Section 5. Membership
Committee The Membership committee is responsible for
the cultivation of new and retention of current members to the
Association.
Section 6. Nominations & Election
Committee The Nominations & Election committee is
responsible for the cultivation and nomination of eligible members
of the Corporation's Board of Directors and other regional and/or
national offices within the financial aid association realm, and
for conducting the election process within the Corporation.
Section 7. Professional Development
Committee The Professional Development committee is
responsible for developing, planning, coordinating and actualizing
all training activities to the members of the Corporation and such
outreach programs to entities and persons not a Corporation member
as may be approved by the Corporation or Board of Directors.
Section 8. Awards
Committee The Awards committee is responsible for
recognizing and honoring individuals who are NeASFAA members and
have contributed to NeASFAA's mission.
SPECIAL
COMMITTEES Section 1. Ad Hoc Ad Hoc
committees may be created to carry out specific and necessary
functions of the Corporation. The President is responsible, subject
to Board of Directors approval, for the creation of such a
committee which shall address the specific purpose, the scope,
authorized time limit and membership composition.
ARTICLE VIII:
ENDORSEMENTS
The association does not endorse any private
activity, written or oral presentation by any member or non-member
of the Association.
ARTICLE IX: INSTRUMENTS; BANK ACCOUNTS; CHECKS
AND DRAFTS; LOANS; SECURITIES
Section 1. Execution of
Instruments Except as otherwise provided in the
Bylaws, the Board of Directors may authorize any officer(s), or
agent(s), to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any
instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, and
such authorization may be general or confined to specific
instances. Except as so authorized, or as in these Bylaws otherwise
expressly provided, no officer, agent or employee shall have any
power or authority to bind the Corporation by any contract or
engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any
purpose or in any amount.
Section 2. Bank
Accounts The Board of Directors may authorize the
opening and keeping of general and /or special bank accounts with
such banks, trust companies or other depositories as may be
selected by the Board of Directors or by any officer(s), or
agents(s) of the Corporation to whom such power may be delegated by
the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may make such rules
and regulations with respect to said bank accounts, not
inconsistent with the provisions of these Bylaws, as the Board of
Directors may deem expedient.
Section 3. Checks and
Drafts All checks, drafts or other orders for the
payment of money, notes, acceptances or other evidences issued in
the name of the Corporation, shall be signed by such officer(s), or
agent(s) of the Corporation, and in such manner, as shall be
determined by he Board of Directors. In the absence of such
determination by the Board of Directors, such instruments shall be
signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the President of the
Corporation. Endorsements for deposit to the credit of the
Corporation in any of its duly authorized depositories may be made
without countersignature, by the President or the Treasurer or by
any other officer or agent of the Corporation to whom the Board of
Directors, by resolution, shall have delegated such power.
Section 4. Loans No
loans shall be contracted on behalf of the Corporation and no
evidences of indebtedness shall be issued in its name unless
authorized by a resolution of the Board of Directors. Such
authority may be general or confined to specific instances. No
loans may be made to any officer or Director of the Corporation,
directly or indirectly.
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ARTICLE X: INDEMNIFICATION OF MEMBERS, DIRECTORS,
OFFICERS AND OTHERS
The Corporation shall have power to indemnify any
person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to
any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal , administrative, or investigative, other
than an action by or in the right of the Corporation, by reason of
the fact that he or she is or was a Member, Director, officer,
employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the
request of the Corporation as a Member, Director, officer, employee
or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust,
or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorney's fees,
judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with any action,
suit, or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a
manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe
his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action,
suit, or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or
upon a plea of no lo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of
itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good
faith and in a manner which he or she believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect
to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to
believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. The Corporation shall
have the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or
completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to
procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he or
she is or was a Member, Director, officer, employee, or agent of
the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the
Corporation as a member, director, officer, employee, or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other
enterprise against expenses, including attorney's fees, actually
and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the
defense or settlement of such action or suit if he or she acted in
good faith and in a manner he or she believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, except that no
indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue, or
matter as to which such person shall have be been adjudged to be
liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his or
her duty to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the
court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon
application that despite the adjudication of liability but in view
of all circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and
reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court
shall deem proper. The foregoing provisions for indemnification
shall not be exclusive of and shall not limit any rights to
indemnification to which a person may be entitled as a matter of
law, or pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws,
any agreement or vote of members or disinterested directors, or
otherwise.
ARTICLE XI: INVESTMENTS
The Corporation shall have the right to retain all
or any part of any securities of property acquired and to invest
and reinvest any funds held by it, according to the judgment of the
Board of Directors provided the Corporation shall use such
securities or property in furtherance of its stated purposes and in
scope with its financial resources. The Board of Directors shall
have the authority to employ such investment advisor(s) as it deems
necessary for the proper administration of the assets of the
Corporation. In the event such investment advisor(s) shall be
employed, such advisor(s) shall be a registered investment
advisor(s) or a licensed bank and shall have the power to manage
the assets of the Corporation and shall have such other authority
as delegated by the Board of Directors.
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ARTICLE XII: GENERAL
PROVISIONS
Section 1. Fiscal Year The
fiscal year of the Corporation shall be from the 1st day of July
through the 30th day of June.
Section 2. Corporate
Seal The seal of the Corporation shall contain the
name of the Corporation.
Section 3.
Amendment All or any portion of these Bylaws may be
altered, amended or repealed, or new By-laws adopted, only by the
voting representatives of the Corporation. Such proposed
amendment(s) shall be provided, in writing, to the membership no
later than thirty (30) days prior to a vote on the amendment(s) at
the annual meeting of the members.
Section 4. Voting
Representatives The voting representatives of the
Corporation shall come from the institutional and associate members
of the Association for the purposes of electing members to the
Board of Directors and other general business before the
Corporation. Each member organization shall indicate, to the
Secretary of the Corporation, the person designated as its voting
representative.
Section 5. Gender Words
imparting a particular number or gender shall include the other
numbers and gender where the text requires.
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