We, the undersigned alumni of Savannah State University, petition the SSUNAA Executive Committee to call a special meeting to engage in discourse regarding the current delivery format of the annual May meeting. This is written request for the urgent consideration of a hybrid meeting option that will allow Alumni to participate and have our voices heard on matters that pertain to the National Alumni Association and our beloved alma mater. Additionally, we are asking the executive committee to extend the registration deadline 2023 May meeting pending results of the special meeting. For many alumni, geographical barriers limit our ability to attend in-person meetings, and with the following issues facing SSU, maximum alumni participation is needed. A portion of the issues are as follows and we seek to help, participate, donate and share ideas and resources to address:

• $11M+ deficit that many alumni are unaware of
• Building closures (e.g., Payne Hall & Gardner Hall)
• Lack of a comprehensive student recruitment plan from the University, low retention and graduation rates; decreasing enrollment
• Better transparency from University administration (President and President's Cabinet) to students and alumni
• Increased transparency from SSUNNA leadership and executive committee
• SSUNAA shared governance

Please note:

According to Robert's Rules of Order, "A special meeting is a separate session of a society held at a time different from that of any regular meeting and convened only to consider one or more items of business specified in the call of the meeting. Notice of the time, place and purpose of the meeting, clearly and specifically describing the subject matter of the motions or items of business to be brought up, must be sent to all members in a reasonable number of days in advance."

Note: The Constitution and Bylaws of SSUNAA do not make any reference on how to conduct and/or call a special meeting, however, Robert's Rules of Order states that a special meeting may be prescribed as follows: " by whom such a meeting is to be called - which provision is usually in the form of a statement that the president (or in large organizations, the president with the approval of the board) can call a special meeting, and that he shall call a special meeting at the written request of a specific number of members."