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Constitution & Bylaws

  • Mission
  • Constitution
  • Bylaws

    • "To help each student, by every proper means, to fulfill his or her dream of becoming an optometrist."

    Mission

    Sharing the Vision. Setting new standards. Breaking new ground. That is what The Ohio State University College of Optometry and the Optometry Alumni & Friends Society are about. These high standards of excellence are just a few examples of the generous support and dedication given by you -- our OPTOMETRY ALUMNI & FRIENDS.

    Optometry Alumni & Friends is one of many constituency groups of The Ohio State University Alumni Association dedicated to serving graduates of the OSU College of Optometry and the university community. Serving Ohio State for more than 85 years, Optometry is still showing itself capable of phenomenal bursts of growth. And in many ways, we are just beginning to develop the potential inherent in our profession and in our program here at OSU. Optometry at Ohio State is ranked among the top optometry programs in the country. Our students -- your future colleagues -- continue to excel in every section of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry tests administered.

    We are a not-for-profit organization that pursues the objectives stated in its bylaws:

    "The purpose of this organization shall be to bring about a closer fellowship between graduates, students, faculty and friends of the College of Optometry at The Ohio State University; to promote and maintain a high ethical standard in the practice of Optometry; to promote the interchange of ideas in all matters relative to Optometry, between its members; to aid and encourage optometric research; to promote relations between this organization and The Ohio State University Alumni Association; to provide a forum for members of the Optometry Alumni & Friends to voice their feelings relative to matters at the College of Optometry; and to promote the advancement of the best interest of The Ohio State University."

    The Ohio State University College of Optometry is fortunate to have a very supportive alumni. The Optometry Alumni & Friends organization is always ready and willing to assist the College when called upon. Active membership in the Optometry Alumni & Friends continues to stay above 50%. Current membership in this constituency group is 54%. The College is also proud to note that 45% of our alumni are also members of the OSU Alumni Association.

    The Optometry Alumni & Friends host several receptions throughout the year. All alumni and friends are invited to these receptions. Annual receptions include the AOA, AAO and SECO. The alumni are also very supportive in setting up exhibits pertaining to the College at the Ohio Optometric Associations annual convention and at both East and West International Vision Expo’s.

    During the month of September, the Optometry Alumni & Friends continue to host its annual alumni reunion weekend. During this weekend alumni are offered continuing education courses, as well as a host of fun activities.

    The Student Affairs Office within the College has organized an Alumni Recruitment Panel. There are more than 300 active alumni members on this Recruitment Panel. The mission of the Panel is to devise a means of enhancing, in quality and numbers, the applicant pool to the College's professional program.

    The Student Affairs Office has also organized a Minority Recruitment Panel whose mission is to aid in enhancing, in quality and numbers, the minority applicant pool to the College's professional program. Members of this Panel consist of minority alumni as well as other minority optometrists. The Minority Recruitment Panel meets yearly during the College's annual Open House and Career Day.

    The College and it's Optometry Alumni & Friends also have the privilege of being supported by Epsilon Psi Epsilon, the optometry fraternity. EYE has an active membership consisting of over 550 graduates from the College of Optometry.

    The Optometry Alumni & Friends initiated an AdOPT 1 program in 1992. The program is intended to introduce students to private practice optometry by matching students who have finished their first year in the program with practitioners in private practice for an internship experience during their summer break. The success of this program has been overwhelming and has grown considerably over the past several years.

    A new project currently underway is the development of an Alumni Booster's Club. The mission of the Booster's is to increase Optometry's awareness to the community and to OSU administration by increased participation in county alumni clubs. The pilot program started with an introductory letter and survey form to all Ohio optometry alumni. Once the results from the survey are tabulated, interested alumni volunteers will be contacted about events happening in their local county clubs. These volunteers will be called Ambassadors and will represent the College and the profession at local meetings.

    The continued success of the Optometry Alumni & Friends has not gone unnoticed by the OSU Alumni Association and other constituency groups. Optometry is continually used as an example for other constituency groups to follow. We have even been used several times at external meetings hosted by the OSU Alumni Association. To recognized the Optometry Alumni & Friends for this continued success, the OSU Alumni Association awarded us with the Gray Award. This award is presented to an alumni society who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and service to its alumni and members.

    As we continue to serve you - the outstanding Alumni of the OSU College of Optometry - we are reminded of the exemplary commitment of members in our Alumni Society to enhancing quality optometric education. Through teaching, research, and related service, through countless hours of work, and yes, through your financial support, we can continue to make significant contributions to our alma mater and to the profession of Optometry. Everyone looks to us to produce the leaders and the ideas that will sustain the cultural, social and long-term economic health of Ohio, the nation, and the world.

    Constitution

    Article I - Name

    The name of this organization shall be The Ohio State University Optometry Alumni and Friends, one of the official alumni constituent societies of The Ohio State University Alumni Association.

    Article II - Purpose

    Section 1 - The purpose of this organization shall be:

    • To bring about a closer fellowship between graduates, students, faculty and friends of the College of Optometry at The Ohio State University.
    • To promote and maintain a high ethical standard in the practice of Optometry.
    • To promote the interchange of ideas in all matters relative to Optometry, between its members.
    • To aid and encourage Optometric research.
    • To promote relations between this organization and The Ohio State University Alumni Association.
    • To provide a forum for members of the Optometry Alumni and Friends to voice their feelings relative to matters at the College of Optometry.7.
    • To promote the advancement of the best interest of The Ohio State University

    Article III - Membership

    Section 1 - Members of the Optometry Alumni and Friends shall be divided into five classifications, namely:

    • Active members (annual or life)
    • Associate members
    • Honorary members
    • Student members
    • Friends

    Section 2 - A party shall be eligible for ACTIVE membership in the Optometry Alumni and Friends if the party meets any one of the following requirements:

    • Any person who has completed the curriculum in Optometry at The Ohio State University.
    • Any member of the faculty of The Ohio State University College of Optometry.
    • Any person who is a graduate of any branch of The Ohio State University and is a practicing Optometrist licensed in the United States.

    Section 3 - A party shall be eligible for ASSOCIATE membership in the Optometry Alumni and Friends if the party does not meet one of the requirements for active membership, but does meet one or more of the requirements for associate membership as follows:

    • Any Optometrist who is a graduate of a School or College of Optometry accredited by the Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association.
    • Any Optometrist who holds a valid license to practice Optometry in the State of Ohio.

    Section 4 - Any person or group who has rendered outstanding service to The Ohio State University College of Optometry may become an HONORARY member upon election by the Executive Committee at a regular meeting, and upon approval of the Board of Directors of The Ohio State University Alumni Association.

    Section 5 - All registered Optometry students at The Ohio State University College of Optometry shall be considered STUDENT members.

    Section 6 - Any interested or supportive group and/or individual recommended by the Board shall be considered FRIENDS.

    Section 7 - he voting power and privilege of holding office in the Optometry Alumni and Friends shall be vested exclusively in the active members of this organization.

    Article IV - Officers and Election

    Section 1 - The officers of the Optometry Alumni and Friends shall be the President, the Immediate Past President, Secretary, Treasurer, and five (5) Trustees, all of whom shall be active members in good standing.

    • Upon recommendation and majority approval of the Executive Committee, the number of Trustees for any succeeding year may be decreased to no less than three (3) or increased to no more than seven (7).

    Section 2 - The Executive Committee of the Optometry Alumni and Friends shall consist of the President, the Immediate Past President, the Secretary, the Treasurer and the Trustees. All members of the Executive Committee must be active members in good standing, and all of whom must hold membership in The Ohio State University Alumni Association.

    Section 3 - The officers of the Optometry Alumni and Friends shall be elected at the annual meeting each year as prescribed by the Bylaws of this organization, and they shall continue in office until their successors are elected.

    Section 4 - The Dean of the College of Optometry, and the President of The Ohio State University Alumni Association or his designee to serve as the College representative to The Ohio State Alumni Advisory Council, shall serve as Ex-Officio members of the Executive Committee.

    Section 5 - The officers and other members of the Executive Committee shall perform the duties prescribed by the Bylaws of this organization.

    Section 6 - Board members will be required to attend no less than three (3) business meetings per year. Board members must notify the President or his/her designee of his/her absence no less than five (5) days prior to a business meeting.

    Article V - Meetings

    Section 1 - The annual meeting of the Optometry Alumni and Friends shall be held in the Fall of the year, at a time and place to be selected by the Executive Committee.

    Notice of the annual meeting shall be mailed by or at the direction of the Secretary to all active members at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting, or in line thereof, said notice shall be published prior to the meeting in at least one (1) issue of the official publication of the Optometry Alumni and Friends.

    Section 2 - Special meetings of the members may be called by the President, or by three (3) of the officers, or upon petition signed by at least one-tenth (1/10) of the active membership in good standing.

    Section 3 - Twenty-one (21) active members present at any regular, annual or special meeting of the Optometry Alumni and Friends shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of official business.

    Section 4 - The number of officers present at any regular or special meeting of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of official business provided that at least three (3) officers are in attendance.

    Article VI - Adoption

    This constitution shall be officially adopted upon its approval by a majority vote of the members of the Society in attendance at any regular or special meeting of the Society. It shall take effect upon the granting of the charter by the Board of Directors of The Ohio State University Alumni Association, authorizing its functioning as one of the official alumni constituent societies of The Ohio State University.

    Article VII - Amendments

    Section 1 - This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at a regular meeting of the Optometry Alumni and Friends provided that copies of proposed amendments are mailed by the Secretary to the active members not less than sixty (60) days prior to such annual meeting. No amendments shall take effect until duly approved by the Board of Directors of The Ohio State University Alumni Association.

    Article VIII - Record

    Section 1 - The Constitution and Bylaws of the Optometry Alumni & Friends become operative on January 1, 1995.

    Section 2 - The Constitution and Bylaws of the Optometry Alumni & Friends were proposed and adopted on September 17, 1994.

    Section 3 - The Constitution and Bylaws of the Optometry Alumni & Friends were proposed and adopted on September 17, 1994; and approved as amended and revised on ____________________.

    Doc. 0010D

    Adopted - September 17, 1994

    Revised - October 18, 1998

    Bylaws

    Article I - Administration

    Section 1 - The administration of the affairs of the Optometry Alumni and Friends shall be vested in an Executive Committee, members of which shall be elected as prescribed in Article IV, Section 2 of the Constitution of the Optometry Alumni and Friends. All vacancies in the Executive Committee occurring between annual meetings of the Optometry Alumni and Friends shall be filled by appointment by the President. All members of the Executive Committee shall serve without compensation.

    Section 2 - Board members will be required to attend no less than three (3) business meetings per year. Board members must notify the President or his/her designee of his/her absence no less than five (5) days prior to a business meeting. The number of members present at any regular or special meeting of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the consideration of official business of the Optometry Alumni and Friends provided that at least three (3) members are in attendance, two (2) of whom must be elected officers of the Optometry Alumni and Friends. Action at any regular or special meeting of the Executive Committee, unless otherwise specifically provided for in the Constitution or Bylaws, shall be by majority vote of the members present. The President may cast vote to break a tie, and his/her presence shall be counted in determining a quorum.

    Section 3 - Executive Committee meetings shall be held as frequently as the adequate conduct of the Optometry Alumni and Friends's business demands, but no less than one (1) meeting each six (6) months, at times and places selected by majority vote of the Executive Committee. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the President or by three (3) of the officers. Notice of Executive Committee meetings, regular or special, shall be mailed by or at the direction of the Secretary to all committee members at least ten (10) days before the meeting, or in lieu thereof, by person to person telephone communication at least five (5) days before such meeting.

    Section 4 - Any member of the faculty of The Ohio State University College of Optometry, may be invited to ex-officio membership of the Executive Committee and shall act in an advisory capacity but shall have no vote and his presence shall not be counted in determining a quorum.

    Article II - Officers and Appointees

    Section 1 - President: The President shall:

    • Be the presiding officer at all Optometry Alumni and Friends and Executive Committee meetings.
    • Instruct and aid other officers in the performance of their duties.
    • Appoint committees not specifically provided for in this Constitution or Bylaws and shall be ex-officio member of all committees.
    • Call special meetings when necessary.
    • Appoint all officers to fill vacancies which occur by reason of death, resignation, or other reasons during the year of his term unless otherwise specifically provided for in these Bylaws.
    • Be empowered to countersign all vouchers for expenditures by the Optometry Alumni and Friends and to certify all official acts of the Optometry Alumni and Friends.
    • Serve as the Optometry Alumni and Friends representative to The Ohio State University Alumni Association or appoint an accredited member to serve in his place.
    • Render a report to the annual meeting of the general membership.
    • Perform such other duties as are usual to this office and exercise general supervision of the affairs of the Optometry Alumni and Friends.

    Section 2 - Secretary:The Secretary shall:

    • Record the minutes of all meetings and group actions of the Optometry Alumni and Friends; notify, or direct the notification of, active members of the annual meeting and of all special meetings and activities of the Optometry Alumni and Friends.
    • Receive or supervise the receipt of all applications for membership and keep a roll of the membership including addresses.
    • Certify all official acts of the Optometry Alumni and Friends.
    • Record all changes, notifying immediately the President of The Ohio State University Alumni Association of any additions or corrections to the list.
    • Shall not release the list for political or commercial purposes subject to expulsion from office by the Board of Directors of The Ohio State University Alumni Association. Release of the list shall be made only on approval of the President of The Ohio State University Alumni Association, subject to the constitution of the Association.
    • Shall be a member of the Executive Committee.

    Section 3 - Treasurer: The Treasurer shall:

    • Collect dues and receive all funds payable to the Optometry Alumni and Friends.
    • Be empowered to sign all vouchers for expenditures by the Optometry Alumni and Friends.
    • Be the custodian of funds and securities of the Optometry Alumni and Friends.
    • Report at the annual meeting of the Optometry Alumni and Friends all receipts and disbursements, the status of accounts, and render a report concerning the membership of the Optometry Alumni and Friends.

    Section 4 - Trustees: The Trustee with the longest seniority on the Executive Committee shall perform the duties of the President in the event of this absence or disability and shall have such other powers and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed by the President or the Executive Committee.

    Section 5 - Executive Committeemen: The Executive Committeemen, shall attend meetings of the Executive Committee and of the Optometry Alumni and Friends, assume such responsibilities and perform such services as determined by the Executive Committee for the good of the Optometry Alumni and Friends. They shall have all the privileges of entree and debate as may be accorded elected officers of the Optometry Alumni and Friends.

    Section 6 - Representative of The Ohio State University Alumni Advisory Council: The President of the Optometry Alumni and Friends is the designated official representative of the organization to The Ohio State University Optometry Alumni and Friends. The President may appoint a representative to serve in his place, and if so, such representative shall:

    • Be an active member of The Ohio State University College of Optometry Alumni and Friends, in good standing.
    • Be an active member of The Ohio State University Alumni Association.
    • Have all the privileges of entree and debate as may be accorded elected officers of the Optometry Alumni and Friends, except voting, but not be restricted from that privilege if he is serving in a dual capacity as an elected or appointed officer or committeemen in addition to serving as The Ohio State University Alumni Association representative.
    • Attend meetings of the Executive Committee and report business of the Alumni Council thereto.
    • Perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time that may affect and secure the bond and relation of The Ohio State University College of Optometry Alumni and Friends within the whole University family.

    Section 7 - Lay Personnel: Persons whose services may be necessary for the efficient conduct of the Optometry Alumni and Friends's business such as secretarial assistant, business manager or executive director may be appointed, employed or contracted by the President with the approval of the Executive Committee. General duties, length of service and compensation for such appointees, employees or contractors shall be determined by the Executive Committee. Personnel servicing the Optometry Alumni and Friends in this capacity may be invited to attend meetings of the Optometry Alumni and Friends or of the Executive Committee and they shall have privilege of the floor on business matters of the Optometry Alumni and Friends, but not on matters that concern policy or personnel. The right to vote at any time is denied and their presence shall never be counted in determining a quorum. An active member of the Optometry Alumni and Friends may have dual affiliation as a lay appointee, employee or contractor, but his privileges as a member shall not in any manner influence or affect his restrictions when serving in a lay capacity.

    Article III - Election of Officers

    Section 1 - A nominating committee of five (5) active alumni shall be appointed by the President at least sixty (60) days prior to the annual meeting. The nominating committee shall meet at their discretion, review status and qualifications of prospective nominees, and present a panel of at least one (1) qualified candidate for each elective office at the annual meeting of the Optometry Alumni and Friends.

    Section 2 - Any active member in good standing shall have the right to make nominations from the floor for any elective office at the annual meeting of the Optometry Alumni and Friends.

    Section 3 - Officers shall be elected, after close of nomination, by majority vote of the active members present at the annual meeting of the Optometry Alumni and Friends.

    • The President shall honor any request by an active member in good standing for secret ballot on the election of any officer(s) of the Optometry Alumni and Friends.

    Article IV - Committees

    Section 1 - The President may or shall appoint such regular or special committees as the needs of the Optometry Alumni and Friends may demand which may include, among others: Membership Committee, Budget Committee, Bylaws Committee, Program Committee, Projects Committee, etc. Selection of committee members may be delegated by the President to Committee Chairman appointed by him from among the Executive Committee membership.

    Article V - Dues

    Section 1 - The annual dues of the associate membership or of a regular active membership in the Optometry Alumni and Friends shall be set by the Executive Committee, payable January 1, one year in advance. Failure to pay such annual dues shall automatically terminate membership, subject to reinstatement upon resumption of payment of dues.

    Section 2 - An active member may become a life member upon payment of the sum of set by the Executive Committee to the Optometry Alumni and Friends.

    Section 3 - The Optometry Alumni and Friends by written asset of two-thirds (2/3) of its active members, or by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of these active members present at the annual meeting, may confer Life Membership, without payment of further dues, upon any active member who has rendered outstanding service to The Ohio State University College of Optometry.

    Section 4 - The dues of the Alumni who have just completed the curriculum in Optometry shall be waived for the period from graduation until December 31 of their graduation year.

    Article VI - Amendments

    Section 1 - These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at a regular meeting of the Optometry Alumni and Friends provided that copies of proposed amendments are mailed by the Secretary to the active members not less than sixty (60) days prior to such annual meetings, and ratified by The Ohio State University Alumni Association.

    Article VII - Order of Business

    Section 1 - The order of business at any annual meeting, regular meeting, or special meeting of the Optometry Alumni and Friends or of the Executive Committee shall be determined by the Executive Committee.

    Section 2 - Unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws, Roberts Rules of Order, shall govern the conduct of all meetings.

    Article VIII - Dissolution

    Section 1 - In the event of dissolution of the Optometry Alumni and Friends for any reason, the assets of the Optometry Alumni and Friends shall be awarded to The Ohio State University College of Optometry for disposition according to their direction.

    Article IX - Record

    Section 1 - The Constitution and Bylaws of the Optometry Alumni and Friends become operative on January 1, 1995.

    Section 2 - The Constitution and Bylaws of the Optometry Alumni and Friends were proposed and adopted on September 17, 1994.

    Section 3 - The Constitution and Bylaws of the Optometry Alumni and Friends were proposed and adopted on September 17, 1994; and approved as amended and revised on _______________________.

    Doc. 0010D

    Adopted - September 17, 1994

    Revised - October 18, 1998