Frequently Asked Questions, Gulf Park College Alumnae Association, Inc.
1. Who are the leaders of this resurrected alumnae association? How did they get to be the
leaders? A spring 2013 survey of the members showed what we had already experienced: huge
discrepancies between members’ wishes and the actual operations of the club. Events at and
surrounding the 2013 business meeting underscored conclusively that working together for
change was impossible. There being certain imperative changes to be made, we had no option
but to form a new association. Some imperative changes were providing for the legal dispersal
of assets at the organization’s demise; establishing a member-driven association; organizing a
spring 2014 reunion; and sheltering officers from personal liability in case of a law suit.
Research also showed that we had once had bylaws and had been incorporated. Using these
facts and survey results as guidelines, Penny Shafer Wright ’62, Sherrie Johnson Miller ’63, Judy
Shafer Williams ’64, Sidney Oliver ’65, Cinda Steenhof Morrison ‘66, and Sherrie “Jake” Jacobs
’68 came together in order to start rebuilding a true national association.
We have acted as an interim board in order to draft bylaws, incorporate, register the
organization’s legal name, provide for legal dispersal of our assets when the organization ceases
to exist, and tend to other business such as publishing a newsletter and updating our roster.
The draft bylaws (to be ratified by vote of the general membership in the next few months)
stipulate that we stand for election by the general membership prior to the May 2014 business
meeting.
2. Can I vote if I do not come to the annual meeting? Yes. We very much want everyone to be
able to vote, not just attendees. Therefore, according to the draft bylaws, any member may
vote. A member is defined as anyone who attended, or served as faculty or staff at, Gulf Park
College or its high school program. Voting by proxy is not permitted, and electronic voting is not
a technological possibility for us. We propose to use mail ballots distributed with the newsletter.
3. What is a member-driven organization? To use an analogy, a democracy in its truest sense is a
member-driven organization in which elected representatives act in accord with the wishes of
the members (citizens). By contrast, in an autocracy, leaders (elected or not) do not recognize
the wishes of the members, do not encourage member participation, are not bound by laws or
bylaws, are not transparent in their operations, and usually act in their own best interests, not
those of the organization.
4.
Is this a tax-exempt organization? GPCAA, Inc. Is incorporated in Mississippi as a nonprofit
corporation. We have applied to be tax exempt in Mississippi, but we are not eligible to be an
IRS tax-exempt organization at this time. Therefore, donations are not tax deductible.
5. Are there plans to become an IRS charitable (tax exempt) organization? If we qualify as a
501c3 or a 501c7, we will apply.
6. Are we incorporated? If so, in what state? Why do we need to be incorporated? We are
incorporated in Mississippi. Incorporation is a necessary measure to protect the officers and
committee members from personal liability. It also gives us a legal identity and standing. It
allows us to address critical matters like what happens to the organization’s assets when the
association dissolves. It is necessary to obtain nonprofit status in the state of Mississippi.
7. Why do we need by-laws? Bylaws are our organization’s roadmap, our own fair and
transparent rules of action. They define our purpose, how and when we elect officers, set term
limits and standing committees, how we handle finances, and the responsibilities of our officers,
among other things. Bylaws ensure transparency and appropriate structure, and provide for
accountability from our leaders and officers. Without bylaws, changes can occur even without
members’ knowledge or consent. And bylaws are necessary for incorporation. All bona fide
membership organizations have bylaws to govern their operations.
8. Do we have bylaws? We have drafted bylaws that are scheduled to be ratified by a vote of the
general membership prior to the May 2014 business meeting. Bylaws can be changed at any
time by vote of the general membership.
9. What will happen to the organization’s assets when it dissolves? Common sense tells us that
within the next 20-25 years, our alum association will cease to exist. Our draft bylaws stipulate
that any remaining assets go to the University of Southern Mississippi for the preservation of
the Gulf Park College Heritage Room and its programs (such as digitized year books and
newsletters). Other charitable purposes such as scholarships may be added at a later date.
10. What is the difference between nonprofit status and tax exempt status? Nonprofit status is
determined by the state in which the organization is incorporated. It is decided by the way the
articles of incorporation are written. Since sales tax is levied by the state and locality, a
nonprofit organization MAY quality for sales tax exemption in that state, depending on state
law. This is a matter for a tax advisor to determine. Tax exempt status is conferred by the IRS
and offers significant benefits to nonprofit organizations, including lower postage rates,
exemption from Federal taxation, and tax deductibility for individuals who make contributions
or donations.
11. Why resurrect the Alumnae Association? Weren’t we doing just fine before? We could have
remained just as we were, but then we would be operating like a bridge club, without legal
identity and the assurances that go with it, without member decision-making, without job
descriptions and term limits, without established rules, and without functional transparency. As
we have experienced, these conditions discouraged members’ active involvement and sense of
ownership, encouraged disregard of members’ stated wishes, and minimized our capacity as an
organization to sponsor anything philanthropic under necessary legal safeguards. This is because
Incorporation is the bare minimum for attracting contributions, and contributions are necessary
for both our social (reunion, newsletter) and our philanthropic (scholarship, Heritage Room)
goals.
12. Will I still get the newsletter? Can I contribute to it? Although it is fair to our sisters to pay the
small annual dues, even if you don’t you will still be sent the newsletter. Whether you get it or
not depends on whether you have updated your mailing address and email address.
Yes! We want and need you to contribute. We need your memories, pictures, notices of gettogethers, stories, and information about friends, classmates, roommates, and sorority sisters to
make our newsletter newsier and more fun. To save money, we hope to send a majority of
newsletters by email attachment, but will honor the wishes of those who do not have email or
prefer hard copy.
13. Is email necessary to participate in the association? No it is not necessary to have an email
address to participate; however it is more cost effective for the association, and a better way for
members because we can communicate with you faster and more often if you have email. Class
Captains are working now to get everyone’s current contact information. You can help by
contacting Secretary Judith Shafer Williams at judithswilliams@aol.com
14. Do I have to have Internet access to be a member? No. But if you are online, you’ll have more
membership advantages. You will have direct access to our GPCAA website and our GPCAA
Facebook service. Our website is a treasure trove of school history, ranging from hat lines and
school songbooks to the recent renovations of the USM Gulf Park campus. The Facebook service
allows you to post your own messages and read those of other alums about, well, anything. It’s
like a great big online smoker.
15. What can I do to help? How can I participate? Volunteer your ideas, your talents, your time;
share your photos and memories; help locate “missing” alums. Run for office. Help plan a
reunion; help us fund raise. You know what you like to do, what you do well. Volunteer to do
those things for this organization. Contact Sherrie Johnson Miller (63) to volunteer
sherriermiller@yahoo.com
16. Who do I contact if I have questions? Contact any of us: Penny Shafer Wright (62)
w_penelo@bellsouth.net ; Sherrie Johnson Miller (63) sherriermiller@yahoo.com ; Judy Shafer
Williams (64) judithswilliams@aol.com ; Sidney Oliver (65) jsoliver@cox.net ; Cinda Steenhof
Morrison (66) cindamorrison@gmail.com ; and Sherrie “Jake” Jacobs (68)
jake@gulfparkcollege.com