Many of you have recently received an email from Alpha Omega Brother Kevin McGraw '89 concerning the planned meeting on October 6th of the AOGA Board of Directors. I want to address and clarify some of the issues cited in Kevin's email letter to you.
First, you should be aware that all meetings of the AOGA Board of Directors are open to all FIJIs. This has been the practice of the House Corporation Board since the founding of our chapter in 1965 and there is no plan to "close" the meeting to anyone.
Second, the ByLaws of The Alpha Omega Graduate Association, which are posted under the "Brothers Only" Section of the website (www.aogafiji.com/secure/gdocs.htm) clearly provide that Officers (Article IIIB) and Trustees (Article IC) shall be elected at the Annual Meeting of Members for a term of one year each until their successors shall be elected and qualified. The most recent Annual Meeting of Members was held in Athens, Ohio on April 28, 2007. At that time, a Board of Directors (Officers & Trustees) was elected for a term of one year. The next Annual Meeting of Members is presently scheduled to be held in Athens, Ohio on April 26, 2008, at which point an election of Officers and Trustees will be held for the ensuing twelve month period.
Third, it was my recommendation that the House Corporation Board be comprised of local (ideally Ohio, West Virginia) Brothers who can more effectively manage the operation of the chapter house at 20 South College Street. Managing the chapter house long distance is, in my view, very cumbersome and challenging. It was also my decision, which I announced at the Annual Meeting, to step down as President of The Alpha Omega Graduate Association, Inc. at the first meeting of the Board in the fall, which was set for October 6, 2007. None of the other Officers or Trustees has indicated their plans to step down at this point.
Fourth, our ByLaws provide that vacancies (occasioned by death, resignation or incapacity) in Trustee positions (Article ID) and Officers (Article IIIC) mid term shall be filled by the remaining Officers and Trustees. This is a very common provision for filling board vacancies in both for profit and not-for-profit organizations nationwide. Indeed, it is consistent with our own International Fraternity's ByLaws. This common method for filling board vacancies mid term avoids the expense, delay and interruption associated with calling a Special Meeting and holding an election.
Fifth, Article IIIE provides that the Vice President of the AOGA Board of Directors shall perform the duties of the President in event of the President's death, resignation or incapacity. At the present time, Tim Davis '90 is serving as Vice President of AOGA, Inc.
Last, I believe that Brother McGraw may be mistaken in his assertion in his email that four Trustees have resigned this year. There have been no formal resignations of AOGA Board Members in the current fiscal year.
I hope that this letter helps to clarify the present situation and assuage any concerns you may have. Your Board will be meeting in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, October 6, 2007 at a location to be determined shortly (our usual Columbus meeting location - The Ohio State University Student Union - was razed this summer as part of a renovation plan) and will be posted on our website.
Any member of Alpha Omega Chapter is welcome to come to Columbus and to attend this meeting.
I am afraid that Brother McGraw may have been somewhat hasty in sending out his email and may not have fully briefed himself on the full, current set of By Laws for The Alpha Omega Graduate Association.
Please let me know (john.cassese@concentriccommunications.com) if I can respond to any additional questions.
With best regards,
Most fraternally,
John A. Cassese
President
PERGE!