Adopted December 3, 2016
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of this organization shall be “The Big C Society®.”
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
(a) Society – The Big C Society®
(b) Board – The Society’s Board of Directors
(c) Department – The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics
(d) University – University of California, Berkeley
ARTICLE III
PURPOSES
The purposes of the Society shall be
(a) to be of service to the University 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 in the field of intercollegiate athletics;
(d) to encourage and assure a true spirit of sportsmanship in athletic contests;
(e) to instill a genuine love of “California” not only in members of our athletic teams, but in the entire student and alumni body of the University;
(f) to do all things compatible with “California” ideals to ensure success in athletic contests.
ARTICLE IV
MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
Section 1: Membership Classifications. Members of the Society shall be divided into three classifications, as follows:
(a) Letter winners;
(b) Honorary members; and
(c) Associate members.
Section 2: Members. The following are members of the Society:
(a) Letter winners: Student athletes who have been awarded a Big C Letter Award, by reason of participating in an intercollegiate sport at the University, shall, under the laws and regulations of the Athletic Department, be entitled to wear the Big C Letter Award. To receive a Big C Letter Award, the student athlete must meet the Big C Letter Award criteria set forth in the University Student Athlete Handbook and shown here.
(b) Honorary members: (1) Individuals elected by the Board who competed in any sport recognized by the Athletic Department, but due to extenuating circumstances did not earn a Big C Letter Award; or (2) alumni and friends of the University who have made valuable and meritorious contributions to the University and its intercollegiate athletic program.
(c) Associate members: (1) Coaches of intercollegiate sports recognized by the Athletic Department; (2) the Athletic Director; and (3) other university administrators or employees elected by the Board who have rendered valuable and meritorious service to the University and its intercollegiate athletic program for an extended period of time.
Section 3: Dues. The Board shall set the amount of dues of the Society, to be paid annually. No member of the Society may exercise or enjoy any privileges of membership during any time when the member’s dues are delinquent.
Section 4: Nonpayment of Dues. Members who are not current in payment of dues shall be classified as “inactive.”
Section 5: Termination of Membership If any member brings discredit to the University or the Board through any personal misdeed or action, membership may be terminated by a majority vote of the Board.
ARTICLE V
NON-DISCRIMINATION
In compliance with University policy, the Society 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 VI
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1: Board of Directors. The Board of the Society shall consist of the officers listed in Article VII and such additional alumni members as deemed necessary by the Board. New directors may be selected throughout the year. Members shall hold office for four year terms, keeping in mind distribution in sports and class year. There shall be at least 20 directors.
Section 2 Duties of the Board. The Board shall be the policy-making body of the Society, and shall oversee the officers in ensuring that the business affairs, objectives, and purposes of the Society are carried out.
Section 3: Past Presidents. All past presidents of the Society shall be ex-officio members of the Board.
Section 4. Quorum. Ten members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
ARTICLE VII
OFFICERS
Section 1. Offices; Terms of Office. The officers of the Society shall be:
(a) The President;
(b) The Vice President;
(c) The Treasurer; and
(d) The Executive Director.
The President, Vice President, and Treasurer shall be elected at the last fiscal year meeting of the Board, to serve a term of two years.
Section 2. Duties of President. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board and Executive Committee. The President shall see that the directions of the Board and Executive Committee are carried into effect.
Section 3. Duties of Vice President. In the President’s absence, the Vice President shall carry out the President’s duties. The Vice President shall prepare minutes of each Executive Committee and Board meeting.
Section 4. Duties of Treasurer. The Treasurer serves as the financial secretary and shall maintain the financial records for the Society.
Section 5 Duties of Executive Director. The Executive Director shall be appointed by the Executive Committee for each term and at a fee determined by the Executive Committee. The Executive Director 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.
ARTICLE VIII
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1 Membership. There shall be an Executive Committee, consisting of the following: The President, the Vice President, the Treasurer, the Executive Director, the immediate past President, the chair of each standing committee of the Society, additional members to be appointed by the President with the approval of the Board, and a representative appointed by the Athletic Director.
Section 2. Authority of Executive Committee. 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.
Section 3. Nominations. The Executive Committee shall nominate officers and directors of the Society and honorary members, for approval by the Board.
Section 4 Quorum. Six members of the Executive Committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
ARTICLE IX
COMMITTEES
Section 1. Standing Committees. The President, with the consent and approval of the Board, shall appoint members and the chair of the following Standing Committees:
(a) Membership;
(b) Coaches Liaison and Student Awards:
(c) Hall of Fame;
(d) Senior Banquet and Honors Luncheon;
(e) Young Alumni Activities; and
(f) Website.
Section 2. Other Committees. The President may, with the approval of the Board, appoint one or more other committees. Each committee shall consist of two or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board.
ARTICLE X
MEETINGS
Section 1 Board Meetings The Board shall meet at least four times annually, with the time and place to be designated by the President. Notice of the meeting shall be given by the Executive Director.
The President may call special meetings of the Board at any time. Timely notice shall be given to each Board member, stating the purpose of the meeting.
Section 2. Meetings of the General Membership. The President may call special meetings of the entire Society membership at the President’s discretion. The President shall call for a special meeting of the entire Society membership on written request of at least 10 directors in good standing. Sufficient notice, containing a general statement of the purpose of the meeting, shall be given to all members of the Society.
ARTICLE XI
HONORARY MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 Purpose of Honorary Membership. The purpose of Honorary Membership is to honor individuals described in Article IV, Section 2(b), who have rendered particularly valuable and meritorious service to the University and its intercollegiate athletic program for an extended period of time. Honorary members are entitled to the same rights as active members.
Section 2 Nomination Procedure
(a) Candidates for honorary membership shall be recommended in writing to the Executive Committee by an alumni member of the Society. The sponsoring member shall submit a writing from five other alumni members personally acquainted with the candidate over an extended period of time.
(b) The Executive Committee may, by two-thirds vote of its members present at a meeting, decide that more than one honorary membership may be recommended.
(c) The Executive Committee shall:
(1) Review all nominations of those proposed for honorary membership and evaluate the nominee’s qualifications against the criteria described in Article IV, Section 2(b);
(2) Submit a report to the President at least five days before the last scheduled meeting of the Board in the calendar year. If more than one honorary member is proposed, the Executive Committee shall indicate the nominee it recommends as its first choice; and
(3) Submit its nominations to the Board before the Board’s last scheduled meeting of the calendar year.
Section 3. Election of Honorary Member. A two-thirds vote of Board members present is required for the election of an honorary member.
ARTICLE XII
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 Purpose of Associate Membership. The purpose of associate membership is to honor individuals described in Article IV, section 2(c), who have rendered, or are rendering, valuable and meritorious contributions to the University and its intercollegiate athletics program. Associate members are entitled to the same rights as active members.
Section 2 Nomination Procedure.
(a) The Executive Director shall notify the Board of the names of the Athletic Director and coaches eligible for associate membership.
[(b) Any Society member may submit a written nomination of any present administrator or employee currently employed at the University for election to associate membership in the Society by the Board. The sponsoring member shall submit a supporting writing from three other alumni members who are personally acquainted with the candidate over a period of time.
Section 3 Term of Membership
(a) Except as noted in subsection (b), coaches, administrators, and other employees of the University shall remain as associate members during their employment by the University.
(b) After leaving employment at the University, associate members are eligible to be nominated for honorary membership in the Society by the Executive Committee, and may be elected by a two-thirds majority vote of the Board members present when the vote takes place.
ARTICLE XIII
RULES OF ORDER
Unless otherwise provided by a majority vote of the Board, 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 XIV
ASSETS UPON DISSOLUTION
If the Society is dissolved, assets held in its name shall be distributed to the Regents of the University.
ARTICLE XV
BYLAW AMENDMENTS
Any amendment to these bylaws 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 10 days before the date of the meeting by a general description of the proposed amendment. The proposed amendment may be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the Directors present at the meeting.