BYLAWS OF BIG "C" SOCIETY

BYLAWS OF BIG "C" SOCIETY

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of this organization shall be THE BIG "C" SOCIETY.

ARTICLE II

PURPOSE

The purpose of THE BIG "C" SOCIETY shall be:

(a) to be of service to the University of California at Berkeley and to advance its interests;

(b) to foster intercollegiate athletics among student scholars;

(c) to foster a closer association among all athletes who are representing or have represented the University of California in the field of intercollegiate athletics;

(d) to encourage and assure a true spirit of sportsmanship in athletic contests;

(e) to inculcate a genuine love of "California" not only in members of our athletic teams, but in the entire student and alumni body of the University; and

(f) to do all things compatible with "California" ideals to ensure success in athletic contests.

ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

Section 1. Members. The following persons shall be members in this Society:

(a) Student Athletes who have been awarded a Varsity Big “C” Letter Award, by reason of participation in the Big "C" Sports at the University shall, under the laws and regulations of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, be entitled to wear the Big "C". In order to receive a Varsity Big “C” Letter Award, the student athlete must meet the Varsity Big “C” Letter Award criteria set forth in the University of California Student Athlete Handbook;

(b) persons who by reason of participation, past or present, in any way in any sport recognized by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University, and persons who by reason of interest in athletics at the University of California and their conduct and achievements in promoting the ideal, objects and purposes of this Society, may be elected to honorary membership in accordance with the rules herein set forth under "Criteria for Honorary Membership", Article VIII, Section 2;

(c) persons who by reason of rendering, or having rendered for an extended period of time, meritorious service to the University of California and its Intercollegiate Athletic Program may be elected to associate membership in accordance with the rules herein set forth under Article IX.

Section 2: Membership Classification. Members of this Society shall be divided into three classifications, as follows:

(a) letter winners;

(b) honorary; and

Section 3. The Chancellor of the University of California or designee shall be an exofficio voting member of the Society and any committee empowered to act on behalf of the governing body.

Section 4. The Board of Directors shall set the amount of dues of the Society which shall be paid annually; and no member of this Society shall exercise or enjoy any privileges of membership during any time when his or her dues are delinquent.

Section 5. Members who are not current in payment of dues shall be classified as "inactive".

Section 6. In the event any member brings discredit to the University of California through any personal misdeed or action not known to, or sanctioned by, the University of California at Berkeley, his or her membership may be terminated immediately by a majority vote of the Board of Directors of the Big C Society.

ARTICLE IV

NON-DISCRIMINATION

In compliance with the policy of the University of California, Big C does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual preference, handicap, age, or marital status. This non-discrimination policy covers membership selection, activities, policies, and practices of the Society.

ARTICLE V

BOARD OF DIRECTORS. OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. Offices and Term of Office. The officers of this Society shall be:

(a) President;

(b) Vice President;

(d) Executive Secretary.

The President, Vice President and Financial Secretary of the Society shall be elected at the last calendar meeting of the Board to serve a term of two years, with the Vice President succeeding the President for the following two-year term.

Section 2. Duties. The President, Vice President, Executive Secretary, and Financial Secretary shall exercise their duties and responsibilities as set forth in the position descriptions for each office established by the Board as stated in Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 following.

Section 3. President. The President of the Society shall preside at all meetings of the Board and the Executive Committee, and in general shall see that the directions of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee are carried into effect.

Section 4. Vice President. In the President's absence, the Vice President shall carry out his/her duties.

Section 5. Financial Secretary. The Financial Secretary is responsible for budget and financial planning.

Section 6. Executive Secretary. The Executive Secretary shall be appointed by the Executive Committee for each term and at such a salary as the Committee sets. In general, he or she shall manage the day-to-day affairs of the Society under the supervision and direction of, first, the President, then the Vice President, and then the Executive Committee.

Checks written for expenditures must bear the signatures of two officers.

Section 7. Executive Committee. There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the following: The immediate past President of the Society, the President of the Society, the Vice President of the Society, the Executive Secretary of the Society, the Financial Secretary of the Society, the chairman of each standing committee of the Society, four additional members to be appointed by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors, and a representative appointed by the Athletic Director of the University of California, Berkeley.

The Executive Committee shall have the Board's authority except with respect to:

(a) the filling of vacancies on the Board; and

(b) the amendment or repeal of bylaws or the adoption of new bylaws.

Six members of the Executive Committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 8. Board of Directors. The Board of Directors of the Society shall consist of all officers above-mentioned and such additional alumni members as may be deemed necessary by said Board, to be elected each year at the last spring meeting by the Board, including the retiring members, such new members to hold officer for four-year terms (keeping in mind geographical distribution, sports, and age groups). There shall be at least 50, and no more than 100, directors.

Section 9. Board Duties. The Board of Directors shall be the policy-making body of the Society, and shall oversee the officers in ensuring that the business affairs, objectives and the purposes of this Society are carried out.

Section 10. All past presidents of the Society shall be ex-officio members of the Board of Directors.

Section 11. Twenty-five members of the Board shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

ARTICLE VI

COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing Committees. The President of the Society shall appoint members and the chairman of the following Standing Committees, with the consent and approval of the Board:

(a) Membership;

(b) Undergraduate Awards Ceremony;

(d) Program.

Section 2. Other Committees. The President may appoint one or more committees with the approval of the Board, each consisting of two or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board.

Section 3. Nominations. The Executive Committee of the Society shall nominate officers and directors of the Society and honorary members for approval by the Board.

ARTICLE VII

MEETINGS

Section 1. Meetings of the General Membership of the Society. Semi-annual meetings of the Society shall be held, the time and place to be designated by the President, and sufficient notice thereof shall be given all members. Special meetings of the entire Society membership may be called by the President of the Society at his discretion and shall also be called by him on written request of at least twenty directors in good standing. The same notice shall be given as is given for semi-annual meetings, and the notice shall contain a general statement of the purpose of the meeting.

Section 2. Meetings of the Board. The Board of Directors shall meet at least four times annually, the time and place to be designated by the President of the Society, and notice thereof shall be given by the Executive Secretary. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President at any time. Timely notice shall be given to each Board member, stating the purpose of same.

ARTICLE VIII

HONORARY MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Purpose of Honorary Membership. The purpose of honorary membership in the Big "C" Society shall be to honor individuals in the following categories who have rendered particularly valuable and meritorious service to the University of California and its Intercollegiate Athletic Program for an extended period of time:

(a) undergraduate and graduate students;

(b) alumni; and

Honorary members shall be entitled to the same rights as active members.

Section 2. Criteria for Honorary Membership. The following classifications of individuals shall be eligible for honorary membership:

(a) individuals who competed in sports recognized by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, but due to extenuating circumstances did not earn a Big "C"; or

(b) alumni and Friends of the University who have valuable and meritorious contributions to the University and its Intercollegiate Athletics program.

Section 3. Procedure for Nominations. All nominations shall be submitted to the Board of Directors prior to February 15. Except as hereinafter provided, not more than one honorary member may be elected in any calendar year. In any year the Executive Committee may, by vote of two-thirds of its members present at a meeting, determine that more than one honorary membership shall be recommended. In such case, the Executive Committee shall nominate honorary members as provided in Section 4.

Section 4. Nominations by Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall:

(a) review all nominations of those proposed for an honorary membership in the Society;

(b) evaluate the nominee's qualifications against the criteria set forth in Article VIII, Section 2, and inform the primary proposer of any nomination for honorary membership who was found not to meet the criteria under the provisions of Article III, Section 2, prior to the meeting at which the election of honorary members will be held;

(c) submit a report to the President prior to February 15, or at least five days prior to the first scheduled meeting of the Board in the spring of the year. If more than one honorary member is proposed, the Executive Committee shall indicate the nominee it recommends as its first choice; and

(d) report the names of all nominees recommended for honorary membership to the members of the Board of Directors at the regular meeting at which the election of honorary members is scheduled. A two-thirds vote of members present is required for the election of an honorary member.

Section 5. Nominations of Alumni. Individuals shall be recommended in writing to the Executive Committee of the Society by an alumni member of the Society. The sponsoring member shall submit a letter from each of five (5) other alumni members who have been personally acquainted with the candidate over an extended period of time.

ARTICLE IX

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Purpose of Associate Membership. The purpose of associate membership in the Big "C" Society shall be to honor individuals in the following categories who are rendering, or have rendered for an extended period of time, particularly valuable and meritorious service to the University of California and its Intercollegiate Athletic Program.

(a) coaches employed by the University of California who are coaching sports recognized by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics; and

(b) University of California administrators and other employees who have rendered particularly valuable and meritorious service to the University of California Intercollegiate Athletic Program for an extended period of time.

Associate members shall be entitled to the same rights as active members.

Section 2. Nominations of Coaches, Administrators and Employees.

(a) Nominations of Coaches. It shall be the responsibility of the Athletic Director of the University of California at Berkeley to submit in writing the names of coaches eligible for associate membership to the Board of Directors of the Big "C" Society. If for any reason this responsibility is not discharged, any member of the Big "C" Society Board of Directors can submit the names of such coaches.

(b) Nominations of Administrators and Employees. Any member of the Big "C" Society may submit written nomination of a present administrator or other employee currently employed at the University of California at Berkeley for election to associate membership in the Society by the Big "C" Board of Directors. The sponsoring member shall submit a documentary letter from each of three (3) other alumni members who have been personally acquainted with the candidate over an extended period of time.

Section 3. Term of Membership. Except as noted in the following paragraph, coaches, administrators and other employees of the University of California nominated by the Athletic Director or otherwise elected by the Big "C" Society Board of Directors as associate members shall remain members of the Society during their employment at the University of California.

After leaving employment at the University of California, associate members are eligible to be nominated for honorary membership in the Big "C" Society by the Executive Committee, and may be elected by majority vote of the Board of Directors present at the meeting when the vote takes place.

ARTICLE X

RULES OF ORDER

The rules contained in the current Roberts Rules of Order shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the bylaws and any special rules of order adopted by the Society.

ARTICLE XI

ASSETS UPON DISSOLUTION

If the Big "C" Society is dissolved, assets held in its name shall be distributed to the Regents of the University of California.

ARTICLE XII

BYLAW AMENDMENTS

The amendment shall be proposed in writing to the Executive Committee, and if passed by a majority vote shall be referred to the Board. Board members shall be advised in writing at least ten days before the date of the meeting by a general description of the proposed amendment. Said proposed amendment may then be adopted by a two-thirds vote of those Directors present at said meeting.