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OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE (OLLI) AT LSU
Bylaws- Lagniappe Chapter
Adopted at General Membership Meeting November 12, 2008
Amended at General Membership Meeting November 11, 2009, June 21, 2011 and June 18, 2015.
(Supersedes all previous versions of Lagniappe Studies Unlimited Bylaws)
Article IName
The name of the organization shall be OsherLifelong Learning Institute at Louisiana State University, Lagniappe Chapter (OLLI at LSU, Lagniappe Chapter).
Article IIMissionand Vision
Lagniappe Chapteris a volunteer,member-run organization dedicated to providing educational, cultural, and social experiences for its members. We believe that stimulating learning and social opportunities enrich and enhance our lives.
Article III University Relationship
OLLI at LSU,Lagniappe Chapteris an outreach program of Louisiana State University Continuing Education (CE) thatallows CE to fulfill its mission to provide lifelong learning to the people of Louisiana. Lagniappe Chapter functions in conformity with LSU policies and procedures. The Executive Director of CE appoints a CE administrator who serves as advisor and liaison between Lagniappe Chapterand the university.
Article IVMembership
Section AMembership shall be open to all area residents 50years of age and olderwho seek to enrich their lives and continue their educations.
Section BMembership dues, course fees, instructor honoraria, and minimum number of students enrolled in a course are to be established by CEin conjunction with the Advisory Council of the Lagniappe Chapter. Membership dues will be paid on a fiscal year basis (July 1 to June 30).
Article VChapterAdvisory Council and Officers
Section AThe Advisory Council shall be comprised of twelve elected members as describedbelow and shall be known as the Lagniappe ChapterAdvisory Council (herein referred to as the “Advisory Council”). Advisory Council members shall be elected from and by the general membership and shall serve staggered terms of three years. No elected Advisory Council member may serve consecutive three-year terms. However, an elected Advisory Council member who has served a three-year term may be re-elected to the Advisory Council for another three-year term after having been off the Advisory Council for at least one year. If an Advisory Council position should become vacant for any reason, the Chair (with the approval of the Advisory Council) will appoint a Lagniappe Chapter member to fill that position. AnyAdvisory Council member who iselected or appointed to servea partial or unexpired terms of less than one year will be eligible to be elected to a full three-year term. Conversely, Advisory Council members who are elected or appointed to serve partial or unexpired terms of one year or more are not eligible to be elected to a full three-year term until he or she hasbeen off the Advisory Council for at least one year. Any qualified person may become an Advisory Council member by election or by appointment.
Section BThe officers shall be a Chair, Vice-Chair, and Recording Secretaryand shall be elected by the Advisory Council from the elected Advisory Council membership. The terms of all officers shall be one year. Any officer may be re-elected to an office, but not for more than one additional one-year term. If a Chair is elected by the Advisory Council at the beginning of his or her third or final year on the Advisory Council, after that term is completed, he or she will become a non-voting or “consulting” member for one year. Further, he or she will be eligible to serve on the Advisory Council at the end of that year. Officer vacancies will be filled by the Advisory Council.
Section CThe Advisory Council will meet monthly and upon call of the Chairas needed. Standing committee and special committee chairs should attend and participate in such meetings, but only Advisory Council members will be allowed to vote. The committee chair is responsible for reporting, either in person or in writing, on the status of the committee work at each meeting.
Section DDecisions by the Advisory Council shall require a number of positive votes equal to a majority of the total number of votes that would be available if all current Advisory Council Memberswere present at the meeting.
Section E.No official meeting of the Advisory Council may be held unless a quorum is present. A quorum shall consist of seven members.
Section F.If an elected Advisory Council member is absent from three consecutive Advisory Council meetings without an excuse deemed acceptable by the Advisory Council, or if an elected Advisory Council member is unable, for whatever reason, to complete his or her term, that position will be declared vacant, and the Chair (with approval of the Advisory Council) will appoint a person from the general membership to fill that position.
Section GThe election of Advisory Council members by the general membership will take place at the annual business meeting. Prior to the end of the fiscal year, the Chair will schedule an Advisory Council meeting at which new officers will be elected.
Section HAdvisory Council members and officers shall serve without pay.
Article VIDuties of Officers
Section AChair
The Chair shall be the chief executive officer of the organization,shall preside at meetings of the organization and of the Advisory Council,and shall have all of the powers and duties usually vested in the Office of Chair of an organization such as this, including, but not limited to, the discretionary power to appoint ad hoc committees
Section BVice-Chair
The ViceChairshall, in the absence of the Chair,exercise the powers and perform the duties of the Chair;shall generally assist the Chair;and shall exercise such other powers andduties as shall be prescribed by the Advisory Council.
Section CRecording Secretary
The Recording Secretary shall take the minutes of the Advisory Council, prepare the minutes for distribution, distribute the minutes to the OLLI office, committee chairmen and Advisory Council membersand prepare the Agenda for the Advisory Council meetings. If the Recording Secretary is absent, the Chair will appoint another Council Member to serve as Recording Secretary for that meeting.
Article VIICommittees
Section AStanding Committees
1.Nominating/elections Committee
This committee shall consist of the four Advisory Council members rotating off the Advisory Council and two non-Advisory Council members appointed by the Chair. The Chair shall appoint a Nominating/Elections Chair. This committee shall nominate four candidates for theAdvisory Council each year, and after getting the consent of the nominees, shall notify the membership, by mail, of its nominations, including a brief biographical sketch of each nominee. This shall be done at least thirty days before the annual business meeting. This committee prepares ballots for voting and conducts the election. The winners of the election will be the four nominees who receive the most votes of the members present at the meeting.
2.Curriculum Committee
This committee surveys the membership for areas of interest to study and plans the curriculum accordingly. It also develops a schedule of courses and seminars. Further, it recruits instructors and class coordinators and makes arrangements for class locations. This committee conducts an evaluation of all classes in a fashion determined by the committee.
3.Membership Committee
This committee plans and staffs activities to promote membership growth and retention to meet membership goals determined by the Advisory Council.
4.Publicity Committee
This committee publicizes Lagniappe Chapter activities through print and electronic media. It also assists in planning the production of brochures and other materials necessary to publicize the organization and its events. This committee shall arrange for photographs of events to be taken. All items submitted for publication shall be forwarded electronically to the OLLI office for archival purposes.
5.Hospitality Committee
This committee supports social activities, including supply management.
6.Editorial Committee
This committee plans and writes an operating procedures handbook for Committee Chairs and other publications as requested by the Advisory Council.
7.Field Trip Committee
This committee shall select, organize, and facilitate field trips, in accordance with LSU travel regulations.
8.Coffee and Lagniappe Committee
This committee shall recruit speakers for short programs open to members and non-members and arrange the venue.
9. Finance Committee
This committee uses the semi-annual financial statement provided by the Director of OLLI at LSU to guide the Advisory Council in setting the Chapter’s membership dues, course fees, instructor honoraria, and minimum number of students enrolled in a course.
10. Liaison Committee
This committee coordinates collaborative initiatives between Lagniappe Chapter and other organizations in the community. Members of this committee also coordinate activities between Lagniappe Chapter and the facility where the event is held; for example: Broadmoor United Methodist Church, St. James Place, University Baptist Church and University Presbyterian Church.
11. Special Events Committee
This committee shall plan membership events required by Article VIII and any other event not within the description of another committee.
12.Volunteers Committee
This committee provides membership support for Lagniappe Chapter activities.
Section BSpecial Committees
The Chair, subject to the approval of the Advisory Council, shall appoint special committees as needed. The Advisory Council may create or dissolve special committees to meet the needs of the organization.
Section CVolunteers will be solicited for all standing committees. Each committee will select its own officers.
Article VIIIMeetings
The general membership shall meet twice a year. The first meeting shall be a promotional/fellowship meeting organized by the Special Events committee. The second meeting shall be an annual business meeting, with the principal purpose being the election of Advisory Council members. Members shall be notified of the time and place of the meetings. Special meetings of the general membership may be called by the Advisory Council. Aquorum shall consist of those members present at any duly called meeting.
Article IXAmendments
These bylaws may be amended at a general membership meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members present, provided that the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing to the membership at least four weeks prior to voting.
Article XRules of Order
The current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of business at all meetings.
Lagniappe Chapter Bylaws 2015 - 6/18/2015