The name of this organization shall be "Princeton University Class of 1961", hereinafter referred to as the class. The purpose of the organization shall be to further the interests, welfare and educational aims of Princeton University.

            Membership shall consist of (1) all men who are listed officially by Princeton University as being in the class of 1961, and (2) honorary members, whose nomination has been made by any member of the class or by the Executive Committee, and whose election has been effected by a vote of the class at an annual meeting.

            The officers of the class shall consist of a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

            1.     Election of President and Vice President

                     a.     Elections of the President and Vice President shall be held every fifth year after 1961. Candidates for the office of President shall be regular members of the class and shall include all persons nominated by the class prior to the first day of April in the election year.

                     b.     The election of the President and the Vice President shall be held at or before the annual meeting of the class, preferably by written ballots previously mailed to all class members. In the event ballots were not mailed, are lost or are otherwise unavailable, the election may be held as the Executive Committee may direct. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected the President. The candidate receiving the next highest number of votes shall be elected the Vice President. Ballots or votes shall be counted by the Secretary, or in his absence, by such other person or persons, who are not themselves candidates, as shall be designated by the President. Announcement of the names of the newly elected officers will be made to the class during Reunion week of the election year.

            2.     Appointment of Other Officers and Agents

                    The President shall appoint the Secretary and the Treasurer and, in addition, a Reunion Chairman, one or more Class Agents, and such additional agents and representatives of the class as he may deem appropriate.

            3.     Term 

                    The President and the Vice President shall each hold office commencing July 1 in the year of the election and continuing for a term of five years, or until his successor is elected and takes office, or until his earlier death or resignation. Unless approved by the Executive Committee, no incumbent, other than the Secretary, may succeed himself in office directly, but may be elected to another office.

            4.     Duties and Powers

                    The duties and powers of the officers shall be as follows:

                     a.    In general as to all officers

                           (1)     To be a member of the Executive Committee;

                           (2)     To perform all the duties attendant on his office whether or not specifically set forth herein.

                     b.    President

                           (1)     Subject to the control of the Executive Committee, to have general and active charge and to undertake the supervision of all the business and affairs of the class, and to see that all directions, orders and resolutions of the Executive Committee are carried into effect;

                           (2)     To preside at all class meetings and all meetings of the Executive Committee;

                           (3)     To give such authorizations and approvals and to make such determinations as are hereinafter provided;

                           (4)     To send out such newsletters or other class communications as may be appropriate, including mailing of ballots;

                           (5)     To be, or to designate, the class representative at all meetings and functions of the Alumni Council;

                           (6)     To invite all members of the class to nominate candidates for President prior to the first day in April in election years.

                     c.    Vice President

                           (1)     To act in the place of the President in his absence or incapacity;

                           (2)     To perform such other duties as may be delegated to him by the President;

                           (3)     To keep the minutes of all meetings of the class and of the Executive Committee.

                     d.    Secretary

                           (1)     To keep or supervise all records of the class;

                           (2)     To provide regular class notes for the Princeton Alumni Weekly;

                           (3)     To write, or designate classmates to write individual memorials for publication in the Princeton Alumni Weekly.

                     e.    Treasurer

                           (1)     To be responsible for all general class assets;

                           (2)     To raise necessary class funds by dues or by other means;

                           (3)     To sign all checks on the class bank account and pay all bills of the class;

                           (4)     To render detailed financial reports to the Executive Committee as required by such committee, to be submitted to the President on or before the first day of August;

                           (5)     To open a class bank account in any bank upon the written authorization of any two officers of the class;

                           (6)     To deposit with or without interest and to invest the assets of the class in any investment or re-investment which shall be first approved at any meeting of the Executive Committee.

            The business and affairs of the class shall be managed by an Executive Committee.

            1.     Composition

                    The Executive Committee shall consist of the Class Officers, Class Agent(s), Reunion Chairman, all past presidents of the class and not more than six other members of the class who shall be appointed by the Class Officers for a term ending with the term of the President.

            2.     Vacancies

                    In the event of a vacancy in any class office, Class Agent, Reunion Chair or any class representative, the Executive Committee by majority vote may appoint a replacement to serve the balance of the term.

            3.     Committees

                    The Executive Committee may appoint such other agents or committees as it may deem appropriate.

            4.     Meetings and Quorum

                    The Executive Committee shall hold such meetings as the class officers shall authorize but not less than one annually, and five shall be a quorum at any such meeting.

            The Class shall hold an annual meeting during commencement week at Princeton University, at such place as the President and the Reunion Chairman shall determine. The members present at an annual meeting shall constitute a quorum. The vote of the majority of those voting on any question, except the election of officers and the adoption of amendments, shall suffice to carry the same. 

            This constitution shall be adopted and may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any annual meeting. Amendments may be proposed at any annual meeting by any member of the class.

© 2002 The Princeton University Class of 1961
Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544 USA
Created by Adam Friedlander '01, maintained by Len Berton '61

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