These Bylaws provide for the voluntary participation of members of the Class of 2006, United States Naval Academy (USNA), as an entity, to support the USNA, the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association (USNA AA) and individual members of the Class.

The mission of the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 2006 is to promote social interaction, engagement and communications efforts among Class members; support the USNA, the USNA AA and memorialize deceased classmates.

The business and affairs of the Class of 2006 shall be governed and managed by the four members of the Executive Committee as defined and set forth herein. In addition to the powers expressly confirmed upon them by these Bylaws, the Class Officers may exercise all other legal actions necessary to conduct Class business.

The Class shall manage Class business in accordance with these Bylaws through a strong, active Executive Committee.

1. All members of the Executive Committee, elected and appointed, shall:

❏ Be graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 2006.

❏ Be active members of the USNA AA & U.S. Naval Academy Foundation.

❏ Be willing to devote a personal commitment of time, effort, and availability to carry out all assigned duties.

❏ Serve the Class without compensation, other than for reimbursement of approved expenses incurred on behalf of the Class.

2. The Executive Committee is comprised of seven (7) total members, four (4) elected Class Officers and three (3) non-elected Class Officers:

❏ President (elected by Class plurality vote)

❏ Vice President (elected by Class plurality vote)

❏ Secretary (elected by Class plurality vote)

❏ Treasurer (elected by Class plurality vote)

❏ Reunion Chair (appointed by President and Vice President)

❏ Public Affairs Chair (appointed by President and Vice President)

❏ Fundraising Chair (appointed by President and Vice President)

3. The Executive Committee may add temporary, appointed positions as necessary to support class events and interest.

4. Any and all former Class Officers are entitled to participate as at-large Executive Committee members for the explicit purpose of providing past experience and insight to committee discussions and planning.

5. The President and Vice President shall form an Advisory Board that shall include at-large Executive Committee members, as well as other graduates of the USNA Class of 2006 who volunteer to assist the entity that is governed by these ByLaws.

1. The President shall:

a. Be responsible for the leadership of the Class of 2006.

b. Represent the Class in all affairs.

c. Appoint, with the approval of the Executive Committee, other non-elected class officers.

d. Keep the Class updated on any classmate casualties with consideration to the family’s wishes and request.

e. Create and coordinate with Regional Chapters of the Class, as needed.

f. Grant approval for the Treasurer to oversee the financial activity of the Class.

g. Submit article content to Shipmate Magazine and Wavetops.

2. The Vice President shall:

a. Act as President in the event of a vacancy of office, or in the incapacity of the President to perform his/her duties.

b. Responsible for creating and distributing an annual Class Plan to the Class no later than July 1st.

3. The Secretary shall:

a. Keep a record of the proceedings of the Class and Executive Committee meetings.

b. Be a custodian of all records of the Class.

c. Be responsible for publishing the results from major meetings of the Class and from the Executive Committee meetings in the next issue of Shipmate.

d. Maintain custody of the Class Crest.

e. Prepare newsletters or other related communication, as appropriate, including the communication of approved Amendments to the Bylaws.

f. Keep a record of all classmate obituaries.

4. The Treasurer shall:

a. Oversee the financial activity of the Class, under the direction of the Executive Committee and with approval from the Class President.

b. Provide a finance report at each Executive Committee meeting.

5. The Reunion Chair shall:

a. Be responsible for organizing Class Reunions.

b. Be appointed by the President and the Vice President at least 2 years prior to the upcoming reunion.

c. Coordinate and communicate tailgating efforts to the Class.

6. The Public Affairs Chair shall:

a. Coordinate the Class website and social media channels as required.

b. Disseminate electronic correspondence to the class as directed by the Executive Committee.

c. Coordinate elections for the Class Officers.

d. Coordinate all Shipmate Magazine and Wavetops submissions with the President.

7. The Fundraising Chair shall:

a. Solicit funds for major Class projects on behalf of the Class.

b. Have no other monetary responsibilities within the Class structure.

1. Election of the Class Officers shall be held every five (5) years. The term of office for Class Officers commences the first day following completion of a periodic, five-year Class reunion, and ends on the last day of the next five-year reunion i.e. 2021, 2026, 2031, etc.

2. Class Officers shall:

a. Be elected by a plurality vote of the responding membership of the Class.
b. Begin their term at a periodic, five year, Class reunion.

3. The Election Committee shall be comprised of all seven (7) Executive Committee members. The Public Affairs Chair will coordinate and be responsible for the nomination process.

4. Nominations of Class Officers shall be by petition and signed by 25 members of the

Class. Electronic signatures and electronic petitions are acceptable. If nominations are not received for a particular position, then the incumbent retains the position.

5. The ballot for Class Officers shall contain the names of all nominees in alphabetical order, without distinction as to the method of nomination. A ballot shall be sent to each member of the class (graduate) at least 45 days, but no more than 180 days, prior to the Reunion meeting. Every election voting period shall not exceed 30 days nor be less than 7 days.

6. The ballots shall be returned to the Election Committee no later than 14 days preceding the date set for the Reunion Meeting.

7. The elections process shall be conducted via the preferred method of the Executive Committee, which may consider the service provided to the Class by the USNA AA, or a third party service that will provide a combination of impartiality, security and convenience for the Class.

8. The Election Committee will count the ballots and report the results to the Class at the Reunion meeting. In case of a tie vote, the elections shall be decided by the members of the Executive Committee.

9. Election Committee shall retain custody of the ballots for 5 days following the Reunion Meeting and then, unless otherwise directed by the President or the Vice President, shall dispose of them.

10. To be listed on the ballot, interested candidates must submit a 250-word Statement of Introduction for the office desired, to be printed on the ballot, no later than 30 days prior to the start of the voting period.

11. Class members may only run for one position at a time.

12. Previous Class Officers are limited to serving as Class Officer for three consecutive terms or a total of fifteen years. If there is a situation where there are no qualified as well as nominated candidates for any of the Class Officer positions, then the Class Officer may run for additional terms. For example, a Class member who was previously President for three consecutive terms or a total of 15 years, may run for Secretary in a subsequent election but may not rerun for President unless there are no other qualified candidates that run for the position of President.

1. Any Executive Committee members shall resign when they feel that they cannot commit the necessary time, effort, or availability to the Class to fulfill the duties or their office.

2. In the event of the vacancy of the President, the Vice President will become the Class President for the remainder of the term.

3. In the event of the vacancy of the Vice President, the President may choose to raise either the Secretary or the Treasurer to Vice President by appointment.

4. In the event of the vacancy of either the Secretary or the Treasurer, the President may appoint another member of the Class.

5. Class Officers may be removed without mutual agreement for non-participation, misconduct, failure to fulfill job duties, or violations of any provision of these Bylaws. Class Officer removal will be decided by a majority vote of the Class Officers, not including the member in question. The Class Officer will be notified in writing of the possible termination or removal at least 72 hours prior to the vote and will be allowed to address the Class Officers in order to relate any relevant defense prior to the voting for removal.

6. SPECIAL ELECTION PROCEDURE: In the event of a vacancy of three (3) or more elected Class Officers on the Executive Committee, within an aggregate, ninety (90) day period, there shall be a Special Election of the vacant positions. These vacant positions shall:

a. Be elected by a plurality vote of the responding membership of the Class.

b. Begin their term on the fifth day following completion of a Class voting period.

c. End their term at the next periodic, five year, Class reunion.

d. Nominations of Class Officers shall be by petition and signed by 25 members of the Class. Electronic signatures and electronic petitions are acceptable.

e. The Election Committee shall be comprised of all remaining, non-vacant, Executive Committee members. The Election Committee will coordinate and be responsible for the nomination process.

f. The ballot for Class Officers shall contain the names of all nominees in alphabetical order, without distinction as to the method of nomination. A ballot shall be sent to each member of the class (graduate) within 45 days of the identification of the third vacancy. Every election voting period shall not exceed 30 days nor be less than 7 days.

g. The elections process shall be conducted via the preference of the remaining, non-vacant, Executive Committee members, which may consider the service provided to the Class by the USNA AA, or a third party service that will provide a combination of impartiality, security and convenience for the Class. In the event of a tie vote, the USNA AA shall decide the service.

h. The Election Committee will count the ballots and report the results to the Class via email. In case of a tie vote, the elections shall be decided by the members of the Executive Committee. In the event of a tie vote of the Executive Committee, the USNA AA shall decide the election.

i. The Public Affairs Chair shall retain custody of the ballots for 5 days following the Special Election and then, unless otherwise directed by the remaining, non-vacant, Executive Committee members, shall dispose of them.

j. To be listed on the ballot, interested candidates must submit a 250-word Statement of Introduction for the office desired, to be printed on the ballot, no later than 10 days prior to the start of the voting period.

k. Class members may only run for one position at a time.

l. Previous Class Officers are limited to serving as Class Officer for three consecutive terms or a total of fifteen years. If there is a situation where there are no qualified as well as nominated candidates for any of the Class Officer positions, then the Class Officer may run for additional terms. For example, a Class member who was previously President for three consecutive terms or a total of 15 years, may run for Secretary in a subsequent election but may not rerun for President unless there are no other qualified candidates that run for the position of President.

1. Any member of the Class may submit in writing to the Executive Committee a proposed Amendment to the Bylaws. All such proposals must be signed by 100 classmates other than the Executive Committee members.

2. The Executive Committee may draft and vote on Amendments to the Bylaws as it deems necessary.

3. A majority vote of the Executive Committee is required to adopt any Amendment to the Class Bylaws.

4. Any Amendment shall be communicated to the Class of 2006 by the Secretary within 30 calendar days of approval.