Constitution of the Social Security Alumni Association SSAA
Article I. Name of Organization
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Social Security Alumni Association, hereinafter referred to as the SSAA.
Article II. Purpose of the Association
The basic purpose of the SSAA is to serve as the mechanism whereby the people who have worked together in Social Security aver many years may maintain and enhance their friendships with one another and their relationships with the Social Security Administration, hereinafter referred to as the SSA, and its staff.
The premise underlying the establishment of the SSAA is that involvement in the organization and activities of the SSA up to the time of retirement or for a substantial number of years before transfer to other employment creates enduring attachments: to those co-workers who have retired or who after substantial service left the organization for other employment. This premise assumes that these attachments should be preserved and enhanced for the contributions they can make to advancing good fellowship among retirees and former employees with one another.
Section 2. Specific Purposes
The primary purpose for the establishment of the SSAA is to provide a means of maintaining the social relationships, personal friendships, and common interests developed during the active careers of the members, and of maintaining a quasi-formal connection with the SSA--the organization that was the major factor in the creation of these relationships and interests. The programs of the SSAA will consist of activities designed to preserve and enlarge on these social relationships, personal friendships, and general interests of retirees.
Recognizing that the membership of the SSAA constitutes a pool of varied and valuable social security experience and knowledge, the SSAA will encourage and support SSA, should it desire, to offer opportunities for service, including such assignments as advisory or work groups, training, contributions to historical records and activities designed to provide maintenance of historical continuity and perspective.
Article III. Relationship with the SSA
The relationship between the SSA and SSAA will be one in which SSAA will provide an opportunity for the exchange of information, furnish speakers for retirement seminars or other program, furnish volunteers for the blood donation programs, and generally make our membership available for any purpose deemed mutually beneficial.
The SSAA will not engage in partisan political activity and will neither advocate nor lobby for or against changes in the Social Security Program or its administration. The SSAA deems that such activities would not be fully consistent with the nature of the SSAA's relationship with SSA and its staff and could interfere with the primary emphasis it wishes to give to the achievement of the SSAA's basic purpose of promoting friendship and fellowship among people who have spent many years working together and who may hold strong differing views on specific issues.
Article IV. Membership and Dues
Section 1. Eligibility for Membership
Membership will be open to all individuals considering themselves retired or semi-retired who during their working careers were (1) employed by the Bureau of Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (BOASI) or its successor organizations (now the SSA) or (2) non-BOASI members of the staffs of the Social Security Board and the original Social Security Administration or members of the General Counsel's Office of the Department of Health Education and Welfare, who worked intimately with the BOASI (and its successor organization) staff in carrying out its mission. Also entitled to membership are retired members of the Health Care Financing Administration, an offshoot of the Social Security Administration.
Membership shall be a family membership and shall include the spouse or the surviving spouse. Members of local chapters may, but are not required to, join the SSAA.
Section 2. Honorary Members
The title of honorary member may be conferred for a period of years or for life upon a person not otherwise eligible for membership, who has rendered substantial contributions to the SSAA or to the Social Security program, by a two-thirds vote by ballot of the Directors voting. The title of honorary member shall carry with it none of the obligations of the SSAA, but shall entitle the holder to all of the privileges except those of making motions, of voting and of holding office.
Section 3. Dues
Dues of the SSAA to be expended for national purposes shall be payable January I of the calendar year in an amount fixed by the Board of Directors from time to time. Dues are for family memberships and cover, where applicable, both spouses even though only one worked for SSA. When a member is three months in arrears in payment of dues, he or she will be regarded as not being in good standing. Local chapters of the SSAA may assess additional dues to the extent necessary for other than national purposes.
Article V. Organization of the Association
Section 1. Organizational Structure
The Social Security Alumni SSAA is a national organization of Social Security Administration alumni with headquarters at Baltimore, Maryland. Charters will be issued to local chapters throughout the country; these chapters will operate consistent with the SSAA's Constitution and Bylaws and within the broad guidelines and policies set by the national governing body.
Section 2. Board of Directors
The national governing body of the organization is composed of a Board of Directors elected by the membership at large. The Board of Directors will consist of nine members who shall elect annually from their members a chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson.
Honorary Directors will be all former Directors of the Bureau of Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and all former Commissioners of the successor organizations, and all former Chairpersons of the Board of the Social Security Alumni SSAA. The Honorary Directors will serve as non-voting advisors to the Board of Directors.
Beginning in 1975, it was decided the term of office of Directors shall be two calendar years. At the election to be conducted in the calendar year 1974 for those who will take office in the year 1975, five Directors shall be elected for a one-year tem, and four for a two-year term. Thereafter, five or four, as appropriate, shall be elected annually for two-year terms to fill the positions of those Directors whose terms will have expired. A vacancy caused by the death, resignation, or inability to serve of any Director shall be filled by the board for the unexpired term.
Section 3. President and Chief Executive Officer
The officers of the SSAA shall be those prescribed by the Bylaws except that the Chairperson of the Board of Directors shall be the President and Chief Executive Officer of the SSHA.
Section 4. Local Chapters
Each local chapter will be an officially chartered unit functioning under the policies of the national organizations. Each local chapter will elect such officers as it considers necessary or desirable.
The heads of local chapters may serve as advisors as appropriate to the national Board of Directors and from time to time make recommendations and suggestions to the Board in writing for the benefit or improvement of the SSAA.
Section 5. Duties
Consistent with the Constitution and Bylaws of the SSAA and to accomplish the stated purposes of the SSAA, the officers at the national and local levels have the responsibility and the authority to initiate activities to carry out these purposes.
Article VI. Meetings
Section 1. Meetings of the SSAA shall be held at such times and places as may be decided by the Board of Directors, the Chairperson, or the Vice Chairperson pursuant to the Bylaws. A quorum for the purpose of a meeting of the SSAA shall consist of not less than forty members.
Section 2. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such time and place to be fixed in a call by the Chairperson or on the request of at least five members of the Board. A quorum for the purpose of a meeting of the Board of Directors shall consist of not less than a majority of the Board.
Article VII. Headquarters Chapter
Section 1. This Constitution so far as applicable shall also be the Constitution of the Headquarters Chapter of the SSAA and the Directors and officers of the SSAA shall also serve in the same capacities as Directors and officers of the Headquarters Chapter.
Section 2. All activities other than national activities shall be supported by local funding and accounted for separately from national funds.
Section 3. A quorum for a meeting of the Headquarters Chapter will consist of not less than 25 members of the Chapter.
Article VIII. Amendments to the constitution and the Bylaws
Section 1. Amendments to the Constitution will be made through the submission of proposed changes by the Board of Directors to the membership of the SSAA. Proposals for change must be requested in writing and signed by at least fifteen members in good standing and transmitted by the members to the Board of Directors. Amendments will be enacted by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members returning ballots by mail.
Section 2. Amendments to the Bylaws can be made at a duly constituted meeting by an absolute majority of the Board of Directors.