BY-LAWS
of the
ORR BULLDOG PRIDE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
ARTICLE I
ORGANIZATION NAME
The name of this organization shall be the ORR Bulldog Pride Alumni Association, Inc., (BPAA). The BPAA is a 501(c)(3) organization, EIN# 87-2816104. The mailing address of the BPAA is 135 Marion Road, Mattapoisett, MA 02739. The email address is: [email protected].
ARTICLE II
LOGO
The logo of the BPAA depicts the ORR mascot, a white bulldog. The colors used are the school colors of black, red, and white. Dark grey is used as an accent color. The circular logo features a white bulldog, set against a grey background in the middle and encircled with the words, “Bulldog Pride Alumni Association”, written in white capital letters and set against a red background. The concentric circles are outlined in black. Use of this logo can be used strictly for philanthropic purposes and only with the written permission of the Executive Committee, which reserves the copyright.
ARTICLE III
PURPOSE
SECTION A: FOUNDING
The BPAA is an alumni organization formed for charitable purposes with a view toward supporting the stakeholders of the Old Rochester Regional (ORR) schools and their community. Members of the Class of 1988, along with alumni from the classes of 1986, 1987, 1990, and 1991 began efforts to organize informally in 2018 by raising funds to create a five-year financial commitment to a scholarship award called the ’88 Bulldog Pride Award. The award supported a graduating senior and had been awarded to a graduate of each of the five classes from 2019-2023. Efforts were undertaken to form as a legal organization in 2021, when the alumni gathered to choose its name and elect its officers ab initio. Articles of organization were revised and submitted to the State of Massachusetts in 2023. These were approved on August 31, 2023.
It is the expressed aim of this organization to assist students, faculty, the school administration, and its staff in their educational efforts to meet goals in service to ORR. This organization shall bring together alumni and friends of ORR in an inclusive way — welcoming alumni to contribute, volunteer, and take part as active members in the ORR community.
SECTION B: DETERMINATION
The BPAA declares the right to determine its objectives, independently and without interference, for supporting the ORR community in a charitable way, either financially or through volunteer efforts. The BPAA shall not impinge on the authority of the Massachusetts Superintendency Union #55, the school administration, or its designated representatives in any way that may be perceived as seeking to undermine it; it shall be beholden to the rules and regulations governing ORR schools, namely Old Rochester Regional High School (ORRHS) and Old Rochester Regional Junior High School (ORRJHS).
SECTION C: GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The BPAA shall be guided by the following principles:
- To build an active and engaged community of alumni from all graduating classes of Old Rochester Regional schools, both from ORRHS and ORRJHS;
- To consolidate the resources of alumni, through financial contributions to its foundation, knowledge-sharing, networking, and volunteer efforts to the benefit of both alumni and students of ORR.
- To plan, in concert with the administration, concrete ways in which these resources can be maximized in the long-term for the benefit of not just a few but for the entire ORR community;
- To work closely with the administration to develop, maintain, and broaden greater connections between alumni and the students, faculty, and staff of ORR. The BPAA shall coordinate efforts of the alumni in full cooperation and collaboration with all stakeholders, ensuring that mutual goals are set and achieved in service to the students;
- To foster the spirit of community service by instilling in both alumni and students the need to leave Old Rochester Regional better than how it was found;
- To actively recognize students’ efforts that promote good examples of school spirit, whether in the form of active leadership, leading from behind, contributing to the ideals of teamwork and fellowship, and/or representing the school at events either at its Mattapoisett campus or elsewhere;
- To promote inclusivity and positive competition among classes that, taken together, leads to pride for Old Rochester Regional High School;
- To organize alumni events or programs that involve the school’s educational goals with a view towards creating a network from which both alumni and students can benefit.
ARTICLE IV
MEMBERSHIP
SECTION A: CLASS I MEMBERS (“Officers”, “Directors” and “Trustees”)
There shall be one (1) president, one (1) vice president, one (1) secretary, one (1) treasurer; and two (2) directors. These members serve on the Executive Committee.
Each Class I member of the Executive Committee must be an alumnus/a of ORRHS. Members of the Board of Trustees do not need to be alumni of ORR. Officers and Trustees will serve a five (5) year term.
The president and vice president may also serve as directors, who shall each have the discretion of appointing any member to the position. Directors will serve at the discretion of the Class I member who made the appointment. In case the president or vice president serve in both capacities, they are only entitled to the rights and privileges of one office (e.g. they are not entitled to two votes).
SECTION B: CLASS II MEMBERS (“Committee Chairs”)
Any member of the organization may be appointed to serve as the chair of the following committees: Events, Foundation, Grants, Mentorship, Scholarship. Members wishing to serve must be nominated by another member. Each committee chair must appoint its member, including a vice chair, and report on its activity to the Executive Committee, as specified in ARTICLE VI, SECTION C.
Each committee member shall serve a term of a minimum of one (1) year.
SECTION C: CLASS III MEMBERS (“Committee Members”)
There shall be up to five (5) alumni to serve on the committees hitherto established by these by-laws. The members are nominated by the chair of the committee, who shall seek the advice and counsel of the Executive Committee.
Each committee member shall serve a term of a minimum of one (1) year.
SECTION D: CLASS IV MEMBERS (“Members”)
All alumni of Old Rochester Regional schools (“ORRHS” and “ORRJHS”) and friends (“non-alumni”) are considered members once they have contributed or volunteered to the charitable aims of the organization. For Class IV members to vote at Quarterly Executive Committee meetings (ref. ARTICLE IV, SECTION A), these members must be listed as donors in the records of the treasurer and/or as having volunteered in a demonstrable way to the charitable aims of the BPAA.
Should an issue arise regarding eligibility, the treasurer and secretary must report the findings from their records and present them to the Executive Committee who will then vote on a member’s eligibility. A majority of Executive Committee members must vote in favor, simply based on the above criteria, for the member to be granted a vote.
SECTION E: CLASS V MEMBERS (“ex-officio” or “emeritus”)
These are members who advise the Executive Committee (“ex-officio”) or those designated by majority vote of the Executive Committee as having merit to the organization (“emeritus”). No voting privileges apply.
SECTION F: MEMBER OBLIGATIONS
All members, regardless of their class-type, are bound to dutifully support the organization and its aims outlined in these by-laws. It is the responsibility of each Class I, Class II, and Class III member to familiarize themselves with these by-laws and to respect the articles and sections contained herein. All members are bound by the Standing Rules, which augment these by-laws.
All members are expected to contribute in meaningful ways, either through their volunteer work or financial contributions, commensurate to their volunteer status in the association (ref. ARTICLE III, SECTIONS A-D). For a non-profit organization, members are expected to offset expenditures by contributing small, in-kind donations (office materials, decorations, audiovisual equipment).
There is no application process and there are no dues.
ARTICLE V
PROVISIONS
SECTION A: MEETINGS
For quarterly reporting of general business, the Executive Committee shall hold “Quarterly Executive Committee Meetings (QECM)”, at least once every quarter from the financial year beginning on February 1 of each calendar year. The presiding officer of BPAA is to report the business of the Board of Trustees and shall expect each Class I and Class II member to report on relevant activity carried out in each quarter. The meetings shall be held on the last Sunday of the last month of the quarter (Q1: October; Q2: January; Q3: April; Q4: July). The Executive Committee can schedule this meeting, by majority vote, within two weeks before or two weeks after the prescribed date. Robert’s Rules of Order are to be used.
For conducting general business, the Executive Committee shall hold bi-monthly (i.e. every two months) “Executive Committee Meetings”.
For the conduct of time-sensitive issues, “Special Sessions” are called by the president and are open to Class I and Class II members. Class III members can be invited to participate in an advisory role in special sessions.
For the conduct of specific business, the relevant committee chairs are to hold regular “Committee Meetings” to conduct regular business, at least once every quarter. Committees are required to keep records of their meetings and shall communicate, in writing, the outcomes of their meetings to the Executive Committee within seven (7) calendar days.
For QECM, the threshold for quorum is two-thirds of all Class I members (including directors if appointed) and Class II members. For all other meetings, the threshold for quorum is one half plus one. Should quorum not be reached, the meeting shall immediately be suspended by the chair, and a date and time fixed for a follow-up meeting shall be agreed upon before the chair accepts a motion to end the meeting.
For absences, please reference SECTION C below.
SECTION B: ELECTIONS
The process of elections shall be carried out by the secretary. The secretary shall announce the date of the elections through all available means no less than 60 days prior to the expiration of their terms (on or before April 5). Nominations shall be received in writing by the secretary by no later than May 5. The secretary shall prepare an electronic ballot which shall be sent out electronically to all voting members at any time before and, if necessary, on the date of the election. All classes of members entitled to vote are sent an electronic ballot to the email provided. The vice president shall verify the validity of members before being sent a ballot.
The elected officers shall assume their duties immediately and begin the process, without unnecessary delay, of appointing and ratifying Class II members. Past officers shall assist the newly elected officers to such a degree that ensures the proper functioning of the association. The secretary will then update Article VIII.
SECTION C: LEAVE OF ABSENCE
In case the Class I or Class II member is temporarily unable to fulfill the duties of the position, the president—or the designated representative of the president—shall appoint a deputy ad idem for the dissemination of its work for a reasonable period, until the relevant member is able to resume responsibility. For extended absences, the president shall seek the advice and counsel of the Executive Committee.
SECTION D: RESIGNATIONS OR VACANCIES
Resignations of Class I, Class II and Class III members must be submitted to the president in writing, stating the reason and intended date of abandonment of duties. Vacancies are considered voluntary and may occur when office holders assume other responsibilities within the organization.
For Class I and Class II members, the resignation or vacancy shall be announced in a special session of the Executive Committee or at a QECM, if applicable. The presiding officer is required to respond to the resigning member, communicating the position of the Executive Committee. A member of the Executive Committee is appointed ad idem by the presiding officer to assume the responsibility of the office in an acting capacity, until such time that the Executive Committee votes to elect a replacement to serve out the remainder of the term.
For Class III members, it is the responsibility of the relevant committee chair to appoint a replacement, with the advice and counsel of the Executive Committee.
SECTION E: DERELICTION OF DUTIES AND REMOVAL
If a Class I or Class II member is determined by a majority of the Executive Committee to be repeatedly remiss in his/her duties as stated in the relevant section of ARTICLE III or is not in compliance with ARTICLE III, SECTION F, the presiding officer is required to notify the member, in writing, of this determination. The presiding officer shall call a Special Session to report the issue to relevant members. It is at the discretion of a 2/3 majority of Class I members to make a determination on how to address the matter, which can range from written reprimand, resignation, involuntary removal from the position, or separation from the association. The presiding officer is required to notify the member in question, communicating the position of the Executive Committee.
SECTION F: DISSOLUTION OF ORGANIZATION
In the event of dissolution, abandonment, or termination of the BPAA, no income, contribution, or other revenue or funds of the BPAA shall inure to the benefit of any individual or group not affiliated with the BPAA, and any and all assets then possessed by the BPAA after current indebtedness has been satisfied, shall go and be delivered forthwith to the Massachusetts Superintendency Union #55 or to a not-for-profit organization that will provide financial assistance to a student or students, consistent with the purposes outlined in Article II of these by-laws.
SECTION G: AMENDMENTS
These ratified by-laws may be amended, repealed, altered, in whole or in part, at any QECM by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the members present and voting, provided that the proposed amendment has been given due process and debated prior to the vote. Excluding Article VIII, any amendments to the by-laws that pass take effect 30 days after passage. Changes in text which do not affect the meaning of the section shall not be considered amendments. Any such proposed changes must be submitted in writing to the secretary, and textual changes shall only require the majority approval of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VI
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
SECTION A: BOARD OF TRUSTEES
The BPAA is overseen by the Board of Trustees (BoT). Composed of up to ten (10) at-large members and Class I members of the BPAA, the BoT shall meet at least once annually or more. While regular business is managed by Class I and Class II members, led by the presiding officer of the Executive Committee, the BoT is responsible for ensuring the organizational direction and financial viability of the organization. The BoT shall make recommendations to the Executive Committees related to matters that concern the BoT. It is the responsibility of the Executive Committee to implement those decisions in a timely way, through the organizational structure of the association, as enshrined in these by-laws. The Board of Trustees is beholden to the association’s by-laws and cannot make suggestions that contravene the mission or purpose of the association, with particular reference to ARTICLE III. Board of Trustees meetings are closed, and only open to invited members or non-members who shall have no voting privileges.
SECTION B: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee consists of Class I members (ref. ARTICLE III, SECTION A) and is responsible for making decisions that align with the mission of the organization (ref. ARTICLE II). All matters handled by non-executive committees, which are related to budgetary considerations, procedural matters, and/or directly impact or affect the association as an entity and its reputation, must be submitted to the Executive Committee for approval at the next QECM.
The committee shall meet on a quarterly basis to administer the functioning of the BPAA on the last Sunday of July (to coincide with the end of the fiscal year on July 31), October, January and April. Changes to the date of the QECM are allowed so long as the meeting is held within 14 days prior to or after the last Sunday of the quarterly month, as stated above. Extraordinary circumstances that extend beyond this period require a ⅔ vote and must meet the following criteria: incapacitation, health or serious personal matters. The president is considered the chair of the Executive Committee and is responsible for scheduling and setting the agenda for all QECM. Robert’s Rules of Order are to be followed.
Decisions by the Executive Committee that are approved at the QECM are considered binding and can only be rescinded or amended at the next QECM. Decisions rendered in committee (ref. ARTICLE VI, SECTION C) that contradict the mission of the organization, contravene the decisions of the Executive Committee or have not been approved by the Executive Committee in a regular QECM are considered null and void. It is the responsibility of the president or other Class I officer to notify, in writing, the chair of the committee or the committee as a whole of this by-law (ARTICLE VI, Section B).
SECTION B.1: PRESIDENT
The president shall ensure the viability of the organization through the administration of duties related to the management and organization of the BPAA. This officer shall seek the advice and counsel of Class I members, set the agenda for and preside over regular quarterly meetings of the Executive Committee, call special sessions on an ad hoc basis, serve as the liaison officer between the BPAA and ORR, develop relations with ORR alumni, seek out contributions to the BPAA, and maintain a relationship with students, faculty, and staff. The president shall also sign all contracts and official papers, and work with the treasurer to oversee financial matters of the organization. The president shall communicate to the Board of Trustees any and all matters that relate to the financial viability of the organization.
SECTION B.2: VICE PRESIDENT
The vice president shall ensure the viability of the organization through the administration of duties related to the organization of the BPAA. This officer shall assist the president and shall be deputized by the president to serve in the role in absentia. The vice president shall work in conjunction with the president to develop a long-term plan and submit an annual report to the president. The vice president will help publicize the BPAA and its mission to ORR alumni, and build its active membership base through various outreach efforts. This officer will provide guidance to other officers and committee members as needed, as well as complete special duties as requested.
SECTION B.3: SECRETARY
The secretary works with the president and other officers to manage the functioning of the BPAA, including communication with relevant stakeholders on behalf of the Executive Committee. The secretary is responsible for scheduling and announcing all meetings, taking attendance during meetings, taking accurate meeting minutes and overseeing their approval, as well as maintaining other organizational records like committee appointments and election results. This officer shall also track officer and member terms. Upon completion of the term of office, this officer will turn over all BPAA property, records, and documentation to the incoming officer.
SECTION B.4: TREASURER
The treasurer works with the president and other officers to manage the fiscal well-being of the BPAA. The treasurer is responsible for thorough, accurate, and timely financial record-keeping. This officer manages the budget, handles deposits, makes payments, and oversees cash needed for events and other operations. This officer also provides financial reporting to BPAA officers on a regular basis, answers financial questions of members, facilitates audits, prepares and submits tax returns, and prepares and files reports necessary to maintain the organization’s 501(c)(3) status. Upon completion of the term of office, this officer will turn over all BPAA property, records, and documentation to the incoming officer.
SECTION B.5: DIRECTORS
Directors (2) shall assist the president and vice president in the execution of their duties through advice and counsel, with a view toward guiding them in service to the by-law contained herein (ref. SECTION A). These officers are appointed by and serve at the discretion of the officer who made the appointment. The term of the Director ends when the term of the officer who made the appointment ends, vacates the office or resigns. The role of each director is to assume responsibility for matters in place of the officer, in case of temporary absence or a period of time when the officer is unable to complete the duties of the position. Directors ensure the uninterrupted functioning of the association by understanding the by-laws of the association and maintaining an awareness of all aspects of the administration of the Bulldog Pride Alumni Association.
SECTION C: NON-EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES
Each of the non-executive committees are composed of up to (5) members, not including the chair. The chair of each committee is appointed by the Executive Committee (ref. ARTICLE IV, SECTION C). All activity must be reported to the Executive Committee and a report presented at the Quarterly Executive Committee Meeting. Any activity involving the use of the name of the association and its logo must be done in consultation with and by consent of the Executive Committee. (For agreements, contracts, etc. ref. ARTICLE VI, SECTION B.1)
SECTION C.1: EVENTS COMMITTEE
The Events Committee is responsible for the design of an annual events plan and is involved in the organization and execution of alumni events, in collaboration with the relevant committee chairs, namely the Executive and Foundation Committees.
SECTION C.2: FOUNDATION COMMITTEE
The Foundation Committee (“Foundation”) is involved in managing, collecting and reporting to other Class I members the donations to, income and expenditures of the BPAA. Foundation is responsible for the design, planning, and execution of an annual fundraising plan, in collaboration with the president and appropriate committee chairs. Foundation is responsible for submitting a budget for the fiscal year that begins on August 1st and must be submitted for review at the April QECM and approved at the July QECM.
Foundation is responsible for coordinating fundraising efforts at all events organized by the Events Committee. Fundraising efforts for these events are the responsibility of the Foundation Committee.
SECTION C.3: GRANTS COMMITTEE
The Grants Committee (“Grants”) is charged with managing the process of awarding grants to benefit the ORR community, including conducting a review of the previous year’s process. The Foundation Committee will advise the Grants Committee on available funds for grants and will report the amount at the July QECM. The committee will issue an application for grants. Grant applications may be completed by ORRJHS and/or ORRHS teachers, staff, administration, and students seeking funds for ORR-related endeavors. The chair or responsible officer will present the committee’s selections for final approval to the officers and directors of the Executive Committee. These shall be reported by the chair or responsible officer at the next QECM.
SECTION C.4: MENTORSHIP COMMITTEE
The Mentorship Committee (“Mentorship”) is tasked with the development and management of the mentorship program which matches alumni with current ORRHS students. The committee will work in conjunction with the vice president in identifying and recruiting alumni who are interested in serving as mentors to students with an eye to assisting with future college and employment plans. The committee is tasked with organizing speaking engagements, in collaboration with the principals of ORRHS and ORRJHS, that feature alumni and their experiences during their time as students and how these experiences impacted their future experiences. The Mentorship Committee will notify the Events Committee of these events.
The goal of the committee’s work is to create a network of alumni that define their academic and professional backgrounds. Access to this network will be provided to the ORRHS Guidance Department to help match students’ future interests with the alumni in the mentorship network. The Mentorship Committee will notify the Events Committee of these events, and can work in collaboration to plan and run these events.
SECTION C.5: SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
The Scholarship Committee (“Scholarship”) is charged with managing the process of scholarship awards, including conducting a review of the previous year’s process in Q1. The call for applications for any scholarship award must be announced in January or at a date agreed upon in consultation with the Guidance Department of ORRHS.
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The by-laws of the corporation have been duly adopted and the president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer have been duly elected, its directors appointed when applicable, and other presiding members of committees appointed, whose names are set out in ARTICLE VIII.
ARTICLE VII
INCORPORATION
The effective date of organization of the corporation was approved and filed by the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on August 31, 2023, set out in ANNEX I. The tax-exempt status of the corporation was approved and filed by the Internal Revenue Service on September 15, 2023. The information regarding 501(c)(3) status is not a permanent part of the by-laws, which must be renewed on an annual basis, set out in ANNEX II for each year.
The Bulldog Pride Alumni Association 2025-2026
Pursuant to the organization’s by-laws, approved unanimously at the BPAA Quarterly Executive Committee Meeting on February 9, 2025, with specific reference to Article VII, the following alumni volunteers represent the association for the period of February 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026. Please note that the contact information to be shared publicly is the address and phone number of the school. The e-mail address is: [email protected]
ARTICLE VIII
OFFICE HOLDERS
The information contained in Article VIII is not a permanent part of the by-laws, which must be updated annually based on the results of elections as set out in Article V, Section B or upon vacancies/appointments whenever they should occur.
President Vice-President
Thomas Xenopoulos Peccini ‘88 Michelle (Gayoski) Tackitt ’87
Secretary Treasurer
Lorraine EJ Gallagher ‘90 Joyce (Senna) Messier ‘87
Director Director
Kendra (Findley) Resha ‘92 [vacant]
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
TRUSTEES BPAA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Garrett Bradley MEMBERS
Tom Fletcher ‘88 Chair: Thomas Xenopoulos Peccini ‘88
Jeff Silva ’88 Michelle Gayoski Tackitt ’87
Dana Palmer-Donnelly ’88 Lorraine EJ Gallagher ‘90
Joyce Messier ’87
Kendra Findley Resha ‘92
NON-EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES
EVENTS COMMITTEE FOUNDATION COMMITTEE
Chair: Joanna Lake McFayden ’87 Chair: Joyce Senna Messier ’87
Kendra Resha ‘92 Lorraine Durgin Kumlin ’88
Joyce Senna Messier ’87 Kim Van Fleet, ‘87
GRANTS COMMITTEE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
Chair: Dawn Heanue, ‘87 Chair: Michelle Gayoski Tackitt ’87
Tom Fletcher, ‘88 Vice Chair: Danielle Briggs Brightman ‘87
Lisa Gayoski Garabedian ‘85 Tom Fletcher ‘88
Thomas Xenopoulos Peccini ‘88 Brett Fortin ‘87
Lisa Gayoski Garabedian ‘85
Thomas Xenopoulos Peccini ‘88
Gracanne Reynolds Zenga ‘87
ARTICLE IX
FOUNDATIONAL SUPPORT
SECTION A: GENERAL
BPAA is incorporated as a section 501(c)(3) organization of the Internal Revenue Service code. No member shall have any legal or equitable ownership of any of its funds or property. The funds of the BPAA shall be used to further the purpose expressed in Article II of these by-laws. Disbursement of funds shall be made only upon recommendation of the treasurer and with the approval of a majority of Class I members of the Executive Committee, by a properly drawn warrant upon the deposits of the BPAA.
SECTION B: MODUS OPERANDI
The purpose of the BPAA Foundation is to establish an account and process through which disbursements and reimbursements can be made relating to Article II. The account of the BPAA is drawn on Abington Bank, a subsidiary of North Shore Bank, through its branch in Marion, Massachusetts. The co-signers on the account are the president, vice president, and treasurer. The BPPA also utilizes Givebutter.com as a platform to receive donations or payment for tickets to events.
SECTION C: FISCAL YEAR
The 2025 fiscal year for the BPAA shall begin on the 1st day of February 2025 and end at midnight on the 31st day of July 2025. The 2026 fiscal year and subsequent years shall begin on the 1st day of August and end at midnight on the 31st day of July in perpetuity.
ARTICLE X
ADOPTION OF BY-LAWS
Draft by-laws were adopted unanimously in a special session of the Executive Committee on October 1, 2023 by the duly elected officers and Executive Committee members of the ORR Bulldog Pride Alumni Association, Inc.
The by-laws were adopted unanimously in the QECM meeting on January 28, 2024.
Amendments to those by-laws were approved in the QECM meeting on July 28, 2024 and (formerly) ARTICLE VII updated in the QECM meeting on October 27, 2024. The by-laws were suspended and replaced with these by-laws at the QECM meeting on February 9, 2025. These by-laws were amended at the QECM meeting on July 27, 2025 and again on November 16, 2025.
Upon affixing of the signatures of the officers and the date ascribed to them, these current by-laws are in effect as of December 16, 2025, and remain in force until such time as they are amended by the process set out in ARTICLE V, SECTION G.
Thomas Xenopoulos Peccini, ‘88
President
Michelle Gayoski Tackitt, ‘87
Vice President
Lorraine EJ Gallagher, ‘90
Secretary
Joyce Messier, ‘87
Treasurer
Kendra Findley Resha, ‘92
Director