Section 1: Identification
These are the bylaws of The Cather Circle of the Nebraska Alumni Association hereinafter referred to as “the Circle.” The Circle shall consist of approximately one hundred prominent women who are alumnae or who have another significant affiliation with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and UNL collegian women not to exceed the number of alumnae members. The Circle is a special interest group of the Nebraska Alumni Association.

Section 2: Purpose
The Cather Circle is the premier network of distinguished University of Nebraska women dedicated to advancing personal and professional achievement.

Section 3: Office
The Council shall have and continuously maintain an office at the Nebraska Alumni Association.

Section 4: Maintenance of Council Records
A representative of the Nebraska Alumni Association shall serve as the coordinator of the Executive Committee and of the Circle. The coordinator of the Executive Committee and of the Circle shall keep at his or her place of business:

1. Minutes of all meetings of the Circle and committees of the Circle;
2. Record of members;
3. A copy of the Circle’s bylaws as amended to date, which shall be sent to all new members and open to inspection by all members; and
4. Other information as deemed appropriate.

Section 5: Fiscal Year
The Circle’s fiscal year is July 1 to June 30 of a given year.

Section 6: Meetings
The Cather Circle shall meet twice each year, once in the fall semester and once in the spring semester. Each alumna member shall pay fees for each meeting she attends to help defray the cost of such meetings

ARTICLE II
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1: Executive Committee
The Executive Committee of the Circle shall consist of no fewer than six and no more than ten members, including at least two collegians and the Chair.

Section 2: Qualifications
Any member of the Circle may be selected as a member of the Executive Committee.

Section 3: Powers:
All powers of the Circle shall be vested in the Executive Committee which shall have charge of the administration and affairs of the Circle.

Section 4: Duties:

1. Perform any and all duties imposed on them collectively or individually by law, by members of the Circle and by these bylaws.
2. Select and remove members of the Circle.
3. Supervise the Circle to assure that their duties are performed properly.
4. Meet as such times as required by these bylaws or as otherwise deemed necessary and appropriate.
5. Register their addresses with the coordinator of the Circle.
   

Section 5: Terms of Executive Committee Members
Each member of the Executive Committee shall serve for a term of two years. The term of office of a member of the Executive Committee shall expire on the last day of the fiscal year, provided that each such member’s term shall continue until her successor shall have been duly selected. Each member of the Circle selected to serve on the Executive Committee shall give her consent to such selection or such selection shall be deemed invalid. Terms shall be staggered to combine new and experienced leadership each year. Executive Committee terms may be renewed not to exceed three consecutive terms.

Section 6: Election of Executive Committee Members
New Executive Committee members will be nominated by current members of the Executive Committee and selected by a majority vote of such.

Section 7: Removal and Resignation
Any member of the Executive Committee may be removed, either with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the Executive Committee at a regular or special meeting of the Executive Committee. Any member of the Executive Committee may resign at any time by giving notice to the Executive Committee Chair or to the Coordinator of the Circle.

Section 8: Vacancies
Any vacancies created by removal, resignation or death of any member of the Executive Committee shall be filled by majority vote of the Executive Committee.

Section 9: Regular Meetings
The regular meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held without other notice than this bylaw in spring and fall of each year, or at such other time as may be agreed upon by the members of the Executive Committee.

Section 10: Special Meetings
Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the Chair or by mutual consent of a majority of the members of the Executive Committee. At least two weeks prior to the meeting, notice shall be given by the coordinator of the Circle to each member of the Executive Committee. Such member may waive notice of any meeting.

Section 11: Quorum
A majority of all members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum. Once a quorum is present at a duly called meeting, a vote of the majority of the members present is necessary to make a selection or to pass an act of the Executive Committee. In the case of a tie, the Chair of the Executive Committee shall cast the deciding vote.

Section 12: Presiding Officer
The presiding officer of a meeting of the Executive Committee shall be the Chair of the Executive Committee. In the absence of the presiding officer, the members of the Executive Committee present shall designate one of their number to preside. The Chair will serve a term of two years.

Section 13: Chair
The chair-elect of the Cather Circle shall be nominated by the current chair and past chair, and shall be subject to consensus by the Executive Committee. In the case of a tie, the current chair casts the deciding vote.

ARTICLE III
CATHER CIRCLE MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Term
Each member of the Circle shall be selected to the Circle by the Executive Committee for a term of three years. Each new member of the Circle shall be informed in writing by the Chair of her selection to the Circle and shall be requested to respond as to whether she accepts membership in the Circle and understands the obligations of membership. Every three years each member will be asked if she wishes to, and is able, to continue as an active member.

Section 2 : Membership Criteria
Members of the Cather Circle must be UNL alumnae or have another significant affiliation with UNL. Members are expected to have achieved substantial success in their careers and be annual or life members of the Nebraska Alumni Association.

Section 3: New Members
New members shall be selected to the Circle at the beginning of each fiscal year. From time to time the Executive Committee may determine the maximum number of Circle members.

Section 3: Dues
New members shall pay initiation dues at the beginning of each three-year term to help defray the expenses of the Cather Circle. Dues shall be set by the Executive Committee.

Section 4: Resignation and Removal of Circle Members
Any member of the Circle may be removed from the Circle prior to the expiration of her term upon unanimous vote of the Executive Committee. A member of the Circle may resign at any time by submitting her written resignation to the Chair of the Executive Committee.

Section 5: Inactive Membership
Any member of the Circle may request inactive membership status, if her participation in Circle activities is difficult and/or impossible. This level of membership is for one calendar year. A written request for inactive membership must be sent to: Cather Circle Coordinator, Nebraska Alumni Association, 1520 R Street, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68588-0216. Dues for inactive members shall be set by the Executive Committee.

Section 6: Retired Members
At the expiration of a member’s term, or upon her resignation, she is automatically granted membership into “The Willas.” This group of retired members will be subject to member privileges as determined by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE IV
CATHER CIRCLE COLLEGIANS

Section 1: Term
Collegians shall be selected for the Circle by the Collegian Selection Committee for a term of one year, renewable as long as she is enrolled as a student at UNL. Each new collegian shall be informed in writing by the Cather Circle Alumni Coordinator of her selection to the Circle and shall be requested to respond as to whether she accepts membership as a Cather Circle Collegian and understands the obligations of membership, which includes attendance at each meeting as her schedule will allow.

Section 2: New Collegians
New collegians shall be selected to the Circle each year. Selection will be prioritized toward deserving collegians who are first seniors or graduate collegians and then juniors. If there are remaining collegian positions available, consideration would be given to deserving sophomores. It is expected that the total number of collegians will not exceed the total number of Cather Circle alumnae, except as approved by the Executive Committee.

Section 3: Dues
Dues and semi-annual meeting fees for collegians shall be set by the Executive Committee.

Section 4: Resignation and Removal of Circle Collegians
Any Cather Circle collegian may be removed from the Circle prior to the expiration of her term upon unanimous vote of the Executive Committee. A collegian may resign at any time by submitting her written resignation to the Chair of the Executive Committee.

Section 5: Retired Collegians
At the conclusion of a collegian’s term or upon her resignation, she is automatically granted membership into “The Siberts.” This group of past collegians will be subject to member privileges as determined by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES

Section 1: General
Committees may include, but are not limited to a membership committee, a program committee, a student selection committee, a marketing/publicity committee and a finance/development committee. The Executive Committee shall create new committees and determine which committees are necessary for the most efficient operation of the Circle. The Executive Committee shall also have the authority to abolish any committee it deems no longer necessary.

Section 2: Committee Membership
Each member of the Circle may serve on one or more committees of the Circle. Each committee shall meet at the regular meetings of the Circle and at such other times as its members desire. Members are generally committed to a one-year term. A member of the Executive Committee shall serve as liaison to each committee.

Section 3: Committee Chairs
Committee chairs shall be appointed by the Executive Committee in consultation with the outgoing committee chair.

Section 4: Collegian Committee Members
Committee chairs are encouraged to invite collegians to participate on their committees.

ARTICLE VI
EXECUTION OF FINANCES

Section 1: Finances
The finances of the Cather Circle shall work within the structures of the Nebraska Alumni Association. The receipts and expenditures of the Circle shall be credited and charged to accounts in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Section 2: Budget
If necessary, the Executive Committee shall adopt a budget for each fiscal year which shall include the estimated funds required to defray common expenses and to provide and maintain funds for the necessary accounts in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Section 3: Gifts
The Nebraska Alumni Association may accept on behalf of the Cather Circle any contribution, bequest, or devise for the nonprofit purposes of the Circle. The Nebraska Alumni Association shall also reserve the right to refuse such gifts.

ARTICLE VII
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

Section 1: Notice
Notice of the subject matter of the proposed amendments shall be included in the notice of any meeting at which proposed amendments are to be considered, said written notice to reach each member at least ten days prior to such meetings.

Section 2: Approval
These bylaws, or any of them, may be altered, amended or repealed and new bylaws adopted by a two-thirds vote of the members present at the meeting during which said vote is set to occur. Absentee voting shall be made available to members not attending the meeting.

Section 3: Recording
A copy of each amendment shall be certified by the Chair of the Circle as having duly adopted and shall be effective when recorded in the Circle record book and copies mailed to all members of the Executive Committee.

The foregoing were adopted as the bylaws of the Cather Circle, at the meeting Cather Circle on the 30th day of March, 2001.

Amended October 24, 2003.
Amended September 30, 2005.