Proposed By-Laws
Below are the proposed by-laws for CMAIP - they will be voted on as soon as possible.
Bylaws of the
Central Minnesota Association of Information Professionals
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Central Minnesota Association of Information Professionals.
ARTICLE II: PURPOSES
The organization exists for the purposes of developing the Information Professional community in the Central Minnesota area. It provides a forum to define and promote ethical values, opportunities to contribute to and promote charitable activities and to promote the fostering of personal and professional growth opportunities through networking and education.
ARICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1: CLASSES OF MEMBERS
The organization's membership will consist of the following classes: Members, Student Members and Life Members
SECTION 2: MEMBERS
Any person engaged in or having an interest in the profession, in a position to assist in promoting the field or involved in the training and teaching thereof shall be eligible to become a member.
SECTION 3: STUDENT MEMBERS
Any person engaged in or interested in engaging in an IT course of study, currently enrolled at least half-time, at a college, university or other accredited post-secondary educational institution is eligible for membership as a Student Member. Student Members can not be currently employed on a full-time basis as an information professional. Students may, at their sole discretion, elect to become professional members.
SECTION 4: LIFE MEMBERS
Members are eligible to become Life Members are one of two circumstances. The first is by paying the current yearly membership fee multiplied by 20 and the second is conferred by the board or by the membership. The board may, by a 2/3 vote of acting board members, confer upon any individual the status of Life Member. The board shall notify the club at the next regularly scheduled meeting that the Life Membership status has been conferred and the reasons for doing so. The organization has the right, within six months, to rescind such decisions by holding a vote where 50%+1 of the members are in favor of rescinding said status. The organization may vote to grant life membership status to any member with a 2/3 vote.
SECTION 5: PRIVILEGES
All classes of members shall enjoy the same privileges except where otherwise noted in the articles of incorporation or bylaws.
Only Members and Life Members can vote or hold office.
SECTION 6: MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Membership application procedures are as follows:
An individual interested in becoming a members shall submit a Membership Application, along with supporting documents. The application and supporting documents shall be determined by the board and approved by the membership.
The class of membership shall be determined by the board. The membership may override the board's decision by a 2/3 vote.
To change class of membership the members shall submit a new membership application to the board along with supporting documentation.
All membership applications will be accepted given they meet stated requirements unless 2/3 of the board votes to reject it.
Applications from members who's membership was terminated, for reasons other than non-payment of dues, shall require a 2/3 vote of the board to be reinstated.
SECTION 7: MEMBERSHIP SUSPENCION
Members may be suspended for reasons stated below, members who's membership has been suspended will lose all member privileges.
Failure to pay dues within 60 days of the fiscal year, full membership will be reinstated once a member pays their dues, in full.
Members who do not attend more than fifty percent of meetings shall have their membership suspended and will not be used in the calculation of quorum. However, these members will have full voting rights when they do attend meetings.
SECTION 8: TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
Members may be terminated for cause which includes violations of the organization's Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, violations of the organizations code of ethics, violating any agreement, contract, rule or contract adopted or undertaken by the organization. Termination requires at least a 2/3 vote of the organization at a regularly scheduled meeting Furthermore, no member can be terminated without being notified of cause and given the chance to be heard and to defined him/herself
All members suspended, for non payment of dues, will have there membership automatically terminated at the close of the fiscal year
ARTICLE IV: ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 1: BOARD ROLE, SIZE, COMPENSATION
The Board is responsible for overall policy and direction of the Organization The Board shall have six members which are the four current officers of the organization and two finance committee members.
SECTION 2: ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DUTIES There shall be six elected officials President, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and two Finance Committee Members. Their duties are as follows:
The President shall convene regularly scheduled meetings of both the board and the membership at large, shall preside or arrange for other members of the executive committee to preside at each meeting in the following order: Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.
The Vice-President will chair committees on special subjects as designated by the board. The Vice-President will also assume the duties of The President should he she resign, be impeach or otherwise become unable to perform his/her duties.
The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping records of Board and Organizations actions, including overseeing the taking of minutes at all meetings, sending out meeting announcements, distributing copies of minutes and the agenda to members, and assuring that corporate records are maintained.
The Treasurer shall make a report at each meeting. Treasurer shall chair the finance committee, assist in the preparation of the budget, help develop fund raising plans, and make financial information available to Board members and the general membership.
Finance Committee members will assist the Treasurer in all of his/her duties.
SECTION 2: RESIGNATION, TERMINATIONS AND ABSENCES.
Resignation as an Elected Official and from the Board must be in writing and received by the Secretary. An Elected Official/Board member shall be subject for impeachment for excess absences from the Board if s/he has three unexcused absences from Board meetings in a year.
SECTION 3: MEETINGS
The Board shall hold monthly meetings, at an agreed upon time which will be communicated to the board and general membership Board meetings need not be held in a physical location and can be held using virtual meeting systems.
SECTION 4: ELECTIONS AND TERMS OF OFFICE.
Elections of officers and board members shall be completed at the first regularly scheduled meeting of the fiscal year.
All officers and board members shall assume their positions immediately and hold them for a period of one year and until new officers have been elected.
No person may be elected, to the same office, for more than four consecutive terms. After holding a position in another office or by not serving in any office for two years, a person may then be reelected to a position previously held for four terms and then hold it again for an additional four terms
SECTION 5: NOMINATIONS
Nominations for officers and board members shall be opened at the second to last meeting of this fiscal year and closed at the conclusion of the last meeting of the fiscal year
All nominations must be made, from the floor, at a regularly scheduled meeting and require a second.
All nominated individuals must inform the organization as to how they would represent the organization and carry out its mission. This should be in the form of a written statement and must be received within two weeks of the first meeting of this fiscal year. It will be posted on the organization's website and distributed via the organizations email distribution list.
Nominees must be in good standing and not have their membership status currently in suspension.
SECTION 6: VACANCIES
The board shall fill vacancies occurring in any offices, for the remainder of the term of that office. The board should first offer the opening to the individual who was nominated for the office and who had the second to the most votes. If the individual does not exist or declines the position then the board may chose anyone from the general membership.
SECTION 7: QUORUM
A quorum must be attended by at least 66 percent of the Board members before business can be transacted or motions made or passed.
SECTION 8: NOTICE
Special board meeting requires that each Board member have written notice two weeks in advance.
Section 9: SPCECIAL MEETINS
Special meetings of the Board shall be called upon the request of the President or one-third of the Board. Notices of special meetings shall be send out by the Secretary to each Board member postmarked two weeks in advance.
ARTICLE V - COMMITTEES
SECTION 1: CREATION AND BOARD PRESIDENT
The Board may create committees as needed. The Board President appoints all committee chairs.
SECTION 2: FINANCE COMMIITEE.
The Treasurer is chair of the Finance Committee, which include the two Finance Committee Members. The Finance Committee is responsible for developing and reviewing fiscal procedures, a fund raising plan, and an annual budget with contributions from other members. The Board must approve the budget, and all expenditures must be within the budget. Any major change in the budget must be approved by the Board or the Executive Committee. The fiscal year shall be the calendar year. Annual reports are required to be submitted to the Board and membership showing income, expenditures and pending income. The financial records of the organization are public information and shall be made available to the membership, Board members and the public.
ARTICLE VI - AMENDMENTS
SECTION 1: ADMENDMENT PROCEDURES
These Bylaws may be amended when necessary by a two-thirds majority of the membership. Proposed amendments can be offered by any member submitted to the Secretary to be sent out with regular Board announcements.
These Bylaws were approved at a meeting of the Membership of _____________ on
_______________________, 2007.