BYLAWS OF MAINE MOUNTED SEARCH AND RESCUE
ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS
When used in these Bylaws, the terms defined below shall have the meanings specified:
The “Articles” shall mean the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, including any and all amendments thereto, as then in effect.
The “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
The “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder, as from time to time in effect (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).
The “Corporation” shall mean Maine Mounted Search and Rescue, a Maine nonprofit corporation.
The “Corporation Act” shall mean the Maine Nonprofit Corporation Act, Title 13-B of the Maine Revised Statutes, as then in effect.
The “State” shall mean the State of Maine.
ARTICLE II - CORPORATE OFFICES
SECTION 2.1 Principal Office. The principal office of the Corporation shall be located at such place as the Board may designate from time to time.
SECTION 2.2 Registered Office. The registered office of the Corporation in the State shall be at 25 Rocky Point Drive, West Gardiner, Maine 04345, or at such other address as the registered agent of the Corporation shall maintain.
SECTION 2.3 Other Offices. The Corporation may have offices at such other places either within or without the State as the Board may determine or as the Corporation’s activities may require.
ARTICLE III - PURPOSES
SECTION 3.1 Purposes. The Corporation is and shall at all times be organized and operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Code, including but not limited to providing search and rescue capabilities within the State of Maine through the utilization of mounted teams and providing a mounted, fully equipped resource to the Maine Warden Service and Maine Association for Search and Rescue (MASAR) organizations. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws, the Corporation shall not carry on any other activities, or exercise any power, not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under the Code or (b) by a corporation contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Code.
SECTION 3.2 Powers. The Corporation shall have all powers, rights, privileges, and immunities, and shall be subject to all of the liabilities conferred or imposed by law upon corporations of this nature, provided that no part of the net earnings of the Corporation shall inure to the benefit of any member, director or officer of the Corporation, or any private individual (except that reasonable compensation may be paid for services rendered to or for the Corporation in carrying out one or more of its purposes). No substantial part of the activities of the Corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section shall be construed to prevent the Corporation from making the election available under Section 501(h) of the Code. During any tax year for which an election under Section 501(h) of the Code shall be in effect for the Corporation, “direct lobby expenditures” and “grass roots expenditures” by the Corporation in any given tax year shall not exceed the applicable limits under Section 501(h) of the Code. The Corporation shall not, in any manner or to any extent, participate or intervene, including publishing or distribution of statements, in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.
SECTION 3.3 Distribution on Dissolution. A proposal to dissolve must be presented to the Board by a member in good standing. The Board will conduct discussion on the proposal during two general membership meetings. The Corporation may be dissolved by written consent of at least three quarters of the members in good standing after two discussion meetings. A written consent may be submitted in person or by postal mail to a member of the Board by a predetermined date, electronic written consent to dissolution will not be accepted. Upon the dissolution of the Corporation or the termination of its activities, no member, director, or officer of the Corporation, or any private individual, shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any of the corporate assets, and the assets of the Corporation remaining after the payment of all its liabilities shall be distributed exclusively to MASAR or to another search and rescue unit identified by the Board that is then exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(a) of the Code as organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code.
SECTION 3.4 Tax Exempt Status. It is intended that the Corporation shall have and continue to have the status of a corporation which is exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Code, as an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code. The Articles and these Bylaws shall be construed accordingly, and all powers and activities shall be limited accordingly.
ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 4.1 Members; Qualifications and Admission of Members. The Corporation shall have one class of members, designated “Members.” Members shall consist of individuals who support the Corporation’s purposes and who, following acceptance as Members by vote of the Board, shall have paid such membership fees, dues, and assessments, and met such other qualifications as the Board may from time to time determine and which are consistent with the Articles. Membership shall be open to the public without discrimination by sex, race, creed, religion, nationality or place of origin, or any other class protected by law. Members must be at least sixteen (16) years of age. Participation in a MASAR search is limited to members at least 18 years of age at the time of the search.
SECTION 4.2 Powers. Other than the right to elect and remove directors, to amend the Articles and these Bylaws, and to vote on other matters as specified in the Articles or these Bylaws, the Members shall have no authority to manage or direct the affairs and activities of the Corporation.
SECTION 4.3 Removal. The Board may remove any Member, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the majority of the membership per the Standard Operating Procedures (“SOP”). Members may be brought before the Board for unlawful, dangerous or other disruptive behaviors as per the SOP. The Board will decide what action will be taken in accordance with the SOP.
SECTION 4.4 Resignation. Any Member may resign at any time by giving formal written notice to the President of the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect on the date of receipt or at any later time specified therein.
SECTION 4.5 Meetings; Notice. An annual meeting of the Members shall be held each year at the Corporation’s registered office, or elsewhere, within three (3) months of the Corporation’s fiscal year end, at such date and hour as the Board may determine. Without restricting the foregoing, the general practice shall be to hold the annual meeting on the -second Saturday in December. Such meeting shall be primarily for purposes of electing directors to the Board, discussing and advising the Board on the Corporation’s policy direction, receiving reports on the affairs and financials of the Corporation for the previous year, and conducting any other business which lawfully may come before said meeting. Special meetings of the Members, which shall be held at the Corporation’s registered office, elsewhere, may be called by the President or the Board, and shall be called by the Board upon the written request of at least ten percent (10%) of the Members entitled to vote. Notice of the place, date, and hour of each meeting shall be (i) sent, by mail or e-mail, to each Member at the address as it appears on the records of the Corporation for that Member, at least ten (10) calendar days before the meeting (exclusive of the day of mailing or posting and of the day for which notice is given). Except as otherwise expressly required by the Corporation Act, the Articles, or these Bylaws, notices of meetings need not describe the purposes of, or business to be transacted at, the meeting. Notice of adjournment of any meeting for less than thirty (30) days need not be given if the time and place to which it is adjourned are fixed and announced at such meeting. Notwithstanding any provision of these Bylaws, defects in the calling or notice of a meeting of Members shall be deemed waived to the extent provided by the Corporation Act.
SECTION 4.6 Quorum; Voting. At each meeting of the Members, fifty-one percent (51%) of the Members in good standing and present in person or by telephone shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Articles, or these Bylaws, each Member shall have one vote, and the vote of a majority of the Members present at a meeting of the Members shall constitute an act of the Members.
SECTION 4.7 Telephonic Meetings. Members may participate in a meeting of Members by means of a conference telephone, video conferencing, or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation in a meeting pursuant to this section shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
SECTION 4.8 Consent of Members. Unless restricted in these Bylaws or by an SOP, any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of Members may be taken without a meeting if written consents, setting forth the action taken, are signed (at any time before or after the intended effective date of such action) by all of the Members entitled to vote on such matter. Such consents shall be filed with the Secretary as part of the corporate records. For purposes of this section, an e-mail message sent by an individual Member in a manner evidencing an intention to consent to a given action may be deemed the signed written consent of that Member.
ARTICLE V - THE BOARD
SECTION 5.1 General Powers. The Board shall have full authority to manage and direct the affairs and activities of the Corporation and may exercise all powers of the Corporation and do all lawful acts and things necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Corporation. In their discretion, the directors may designate officers or, through employment relationships or contractual arrangements with outside service providers, other parties who shall be responsible for the day-to-day activities of the Corporation, including oversight of all employees, administration of the Board-approved budget, and the use of facilities and resources of the Corporation.
SECTION 5.2 Number. The number of directors constituting the Board shall be three (3) elected members in good standing, except as the Articles otherwise may provide.
SECTION 5.3 Qualifications. Directors must have attained the age of twenty-one years. Directors need not be residents of the State. At no time shall more than forty-nine percent (49%) of the directors be “financially interested,” as defined in the Corporation Act.
SECTION 5.4 Election and Term. Unless otherwise provided by the Articles and except as hereinafter provided, the directors shall be elected during regularly scheduled monthly meeting in December for the expired term. Anyone seeking office must be an active member in good standing. Newly elected directors will begin their terms on January 1. Each director shall hold office for a three year term until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier resignation, removal from office, death or incapacity.
SECTION 5.5 Vacancies. In the event a directorship becomes vacant, the President will appoint an interim director until a special election can be held. The vacancy will be announced at the next business meeting and elections will be held at the following business meetings.
SECTION 5.6 Removal. Any Director may be removed, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members eligible to vote.
SECTION 5.7 Resignation. Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the
Chairperson or Secretary of the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect on the date of receipt or at any later time specified therein.
SECTION 5.8 Meetings and Notice. Regular meetings of the Board shall be held at such place, date, and hour as the Board may determine. An annual meeting of directors shall be held each year at such place, date and hour as the Board may determine. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairperson or by any director. Notice of the place, date and hour of each meeting (a) shall be mailed to each director, addressed to his or her residence or usual place of business, at least five (5) business days before the meeting (exclusive of the day of mailing and the day for which notice is given) or (b) shall have been sent to him or her by e-mail or received by him or her in person by telephone or fax, at least twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting. Except as otherwise expressly required by the Corporation Act, the Articles, or these Bylaws, notices of meetings need not describe the purposes of, or business to be transacted at, the meeting. Notice of any meeting of the Board need not be given to any director who is present at such meeting or who signs a written waiver of notice, either before or after the meeting. Notice of adjournment of any meeting need not be given if the time and place to which it is adjourned are fixed and announced at such meeting. Notwithstanding any provision of these Bylaws, defects in the calling or notice of a meeting of directors shall be deemed waived to the extent provided by the Corporation Act.
SECTION 5.9 Quorum; Voting. At each meeting of the Board, a majority of the directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Each director shall have one vote. Except as otherwise provided by the Corporation Act, the Articles or these Bylaws, the vote of a majority of the directors present shall constitute the act of the Board.
SECTION 5.10 Committees. The Board may designate such committees as the Board deems necessary, which committees may consist of directors or other individuals designated by the Board. The Board may delegate to any such committees all or any portion of the authority of the Board, except authority to amend the Articles or these Bylaws, adopt a plan of merger or consolidation, approve a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation other than in the usual course of its business, or approve the voluntary dissolution of the Corporation or the revocation of such dissolution.
SECTION 5.11 Directors’ Compensation. The directors shall not receive any stated salary for their services as such; provided, however, that, by resolution of the Board, the directors may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, at each regular or special meeting of the Board, and that, except as otherwise provided by law, the Articles and these Bylaws, no director shall be precluded from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation for such service.
SECTION 5.12 Telephonic Meetings. Members of the Board or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board or such committee by means of a conference telephone, video conferencing, or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation in a meeting pursuant to this section shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
SECTION 5.13 Consent of Directors. Unless restricted in these Bylaws or by an SOP, any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if written consents, setting forth the action taken, are signed (at any time before or after the intended effective date of such action) by all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be. Such consents shall be filed with the Secretary as part of the corporate records. For purposes of this section, an e-mail message sent by an individual director in a manner evidencing an intention to consent to a given action may be deemed the signed written consent of that director whenever authorized by the Chairperson or the Board.
SECTION 5.14 Confidentiality. Directors shall maintain as confidential information relating to the Corporation received in the course of their service as directors, except to the extent that such information (a) is already known to the receiving director at the time of receipt; (b) is or becomes generally available to the public through no fault of the director receiving such information; or (c) lawfully comes into the possession of the receiving director from an independent source who obtained it without any obligation of confidentiality to the other party or to others. Directors may not disclose, or cause their representatives to disclose, any such information without obtaining the prior approval of the Board; provided, however, that such information may be disclosed if and to the extent that the party receiving the information is compelled by subpoena or other legal process to disclose it, or if it shall be necessary for purposes of complying with any applicable law or regulation.
ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS; AGENTS
SECTION 6.1 Officers. The principal officers of the Corporation shall be a Chairperson, a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer, a Secretary, and such other officers as may from time to time be deemed necessary by the Board. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person, provided that the Corporation shall have at least two individuals as officers. All officers may, but need not be, members of the Board.
SECTION 6.2 Election. The Chairperson, President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary shall be elected during the regularly scheduled monthly meeting in December of each year. Anyone seeking office must be an active member in good standing. Newly elected officers will begin their terms on January 1. Other officers, if any, may be appointed by the Board at any time.
SECTION 6.3 Term of Office; Removal. Officers shall hold office for a one-year term and until their successors are chosen and have qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal from office. All officers serve at the pleasure of the Board and may be removed at any time by the Board, with or without cause in accordance with the SOPs. Removal from office, however effected, shall not prejudice the contract rights, if any, of the officer removed, nor shall election or appointment of an officer of itself create contract rights.
SECTION 6.4 Resignations. Any officer may resign by giving written notice to the Chairperson or President. Unless otherwise specified therein, a resignation shall take effect upon receipt of such notice, and the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
SECTION 6.5 Vacancies. In the event an office becomes vacant, the Board will appoint an interim officer until a special election can be held. The vacancy will be announced at the next business meeting and elections will be held at the following business meetings.
SECTION 6.6 Powers and Duties. Except as hereinafter provided and subject to the control of the Board, each officer shall have such powers and duties as are customarily incident to his or her office or as the Board may otherwise prescribe.
(a) Chairperson. The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Board, and if they are a Director may cast a vote on all questions. The Chairperson shall have such other powers and duties as may be determined by the Corporation Act, these Bylaws, or the Board. In the absence of the Chairperson at a meeting of the Board, the quorum may appoint a director to act as chair for the meeting. The Chairperson shall have authority to institute or defend legal proceedings whenever the directors are deadlocked.
(b) President. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation. Except to the extent others are designated responsible in accordance with Section 5.1 of these Bylaws or otherwise, the President shall be responsible for the implementation of the policies of the Corporation, management of the business affairs of the Corporation, and oversight of all the day-to-day activities of the Corporation, in accordance with the SOPs. The President may sign, singly or with any other officer of the Corporation thereunto authorized by these Bylaws or by the Board, deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, or other instruments which the Board has authorized to be executed, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall have been expressly delegated by the Board or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation, or shall be required by law to be otherwise signed or executed. The President shall from time to time, and whenever requested, report to the Board all matters within his or her knowledge which the interest of the Corporation may require to be brought to its notice, and perform such other duties as may be required of him or her by the Corporation Act, by these Bylaws, or by the Board.
(c) Vice President. Each Vice President shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned by the President or as are incident to the office. In the absence or inability or refusal to act of the President, the Vice President, as determined by the Board, shall be vested with all the powers and shall perform all the duties of the President.
(d) Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge of, and be responsible for, all funds and securities of the Corporation, shall maintain full and accurate accounts of the Corporation’s disbursements and receipts, shall report to the Board from time to time on the financial condition of the Corporation and shall otherwise exercise the powers and perform the duties incident to the office of Treasurer. The Treasurer may certify or attest documents executed on behalf of the Corporation.
(e) Secretary. The Secretary (or, in the absence of the Secretary, another person designated by the Chairperson or President) shall attend all general membership and Board meetings and record their proceedings. He or she shall place such records, after approval by the general membership or the Board, in the records to be kept for that purpose. The Secretary shall keep records of all general membership and Board meetings of the Board and committees thereof. The Secretary may certify all votes, resolutions, and actions of the general membership and the Board, and may attest all documents executed on behalf of the Corporation.
SECTION 6.7 Compensation. The Officers shall not receive any stated salary for their services as such; provided, however, that, by resolution of the membership, the Officers may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties at each regular or special meeting of the membership, and that, except as otherwise provided by law, the Articles and these Bylaws, no Officer shall be precluded from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation for such service.
SECTION 6.8 Registered Agent. The Corporation shall have and continuously maintain a registered agent, who shall be a resident of the State of Maine whose business office is identical to the registered office, or a domestic corporation (or foreign corporation authorized to transact business in the State) whose business office is identical to the registered office, and who shall not be deemed an officer of the Corporation. The position of registered agent shall be ministerial in nature, and the registered agent, in his or her capacity as such, shall have no authority to engage in any policy making function on behalf of the Corporation, or to enter into contracts or incur debts on behalf of the Corporation. The registered agent may, but need not, hold another position as an officer of the Corporation.
ARTICLE VII - INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 7.1 Mandatory Indemnification of Directors and Officers. Except to the extent expressly prohibited by law or by the Articles or these Bylaws, the Corporation shall in all cases indemnify any existing or former director or officer of the Corporation who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Board as a director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, fiduciary, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, pension or other employee benefit plan, or other enterprise, or by reason of his or her conduct in any such capacity, against expenses (including, without limitation, costs of investigation and attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, penalties, and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit, or proceeding; provided, however, that indemnification shall not be mandatory in respect of (a) any action or claim by such person against the Corporation, or against one or more directors or officers of the Corporation in their capacities as such, or (b) any action or claim by or in the right of the Corporation against such person if such action or claim was approved, prior to the filing thereof, by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors of the Corporation then in office.
SECTION 7.2 Permissive Indemnification. Except to the extent that indemnification is mandatory under Section 7.1 above, the Corporation may, but shall not be required to, indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, trustee, employee, partner, manager, fiduciary, or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, pension or other employee benefit plan, or other enterprise, or by reason of his or her conduct in any such capacity, against expenses (including, without limitation, costs of investigation and attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, penalties, and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit, or proceeding. Such indemnification shall be subject to any restrictions imposed by applicable law or by the Board in its discretion.
SECTION 7.3 Indemnification Not Permitted. The Corporation shall not indemnify a person under this Article if he or she breached his or her duty to act in good faith and in a manner believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation; or, in the case of any criminal proceedings, if the person had reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. Likewise, the Corporation shall not indemnify a person under this Article in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation in which that person was or is adjudged liable to the Corporation, or in connection with any other proceeding charging improper personal benefit to that person, whether or not involving action in that person’s official capacity, in which that person was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by that person.
SECTION 7.4 Advance Payment of Expenses.
(a) With respect to any claim for which indemnification is mandatory under Section 7.1 or permissible under Section 7.2 above, all expenses reasonably incurred by any existing or former director or officer in connection with such claim may, in the discretion of the Board be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit, or proceeding in which such claim is asserted or threatened.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this Section, no advance payment of expenses shall be made hereunder unless the Corporation shall be in receipt of:
(i) A written undertaking by or on behalf of the indemnified person to repay that amount if such person is finally adjudicated not to be entitled to indemnification by the Corporation; and
(ii) A written affirmation by the indemnified person that he or she (A) acted honestly and in the reasonable belief that his or her action was in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and (B) with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, that he or she did not have reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.
The undertaking required by clause (i) of this paragraph (b) shall be an unlimited general obligation of the person seeking the advance, but (except to the extent otherwise provided by the Board pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section) shall not be secured and shall be accepted without reference to financial ability to make the repayment.
SECTION 7.5 Nonexclusive Remedy; Benefit. The rights provided by this Article shall not be deemed exclusive of any other right of indemnification or payment provided by contract, the Articles, vote of directors, or otherwise. Any right of indemnity or payment arising under this Article shall continue as to a person who has ceased to hold the office or position in which such right arose; shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors, and administrators; and shall survive any subsequent amendment of this Article.
SECTION 7.6 Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of itself and any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, trustee, partner, manager, fiduciary, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, pension or other employee benefit plan, or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the Corporation Act.
ARTICLE VIII - CONFLICT OR DUALITY OF INTEREST
SECTION 8.1 Conflicts of Interest Policy. The Corporation shall adopt and maintain a conflict of interest policy, a copy of which shall be provided to each director upon election to the Board and at any time that the policy is amended thereafter.
SECTION 8.2 Approval of Services from Directors. While serving on the Board, and in the absence of express Board approval, a director may not in his or her individual capacity provide services directly to or on behalf of the Corporation in exchange for value.
SECTION 8.3 Effect of Conflict. Subject to the Corporation’s conflict of interest policy and the provisions of the Corporation Act, the directors of the Corporation may be interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract, transaction, or act relating to or incidental to the operations conducted by the Corporation, and may freely make contracts, enter into transactions, or otherwise act for or on behalf of the Corporation in such matters; provided that (a) the direct or indirect interest of the director in the proposed contract, transaction, or act shall first be disclosed to and approved by the Board, (b) any director directly or indirectly interested in the contract, transaction, or act shall refrain from participating in the selection, awarding, or administering of their own contract, and (c) no contract, transaction, or act shall be entered into or taken on behalf of the Corporation if such contract, transaction, or act would jeopardize the Corporation’s tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code. Again subject to the Corporation’s conflict of interest policy and the provisions of the Corporation Act, an interested director may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at the meeting if the Board proceeds in authorizing, approving, or ratifying a transaction consistent with the requirements of this Article.
ARTICLE IX - CONTRACTS, BANK ACCOUNTS, ETC.
SECTION 9.1 Execution of Documents. Except as limited by law, the Articles, or these Bylaws, and unless otherwise expressly provided by any resolution of the Board, the Chairperson, the President, and the Treasurer, and any one of them, shall have authority to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, any contract, bill, note, check, deed, mortgage, bill of sale, or other instrument.
SECTION 9.2 Bank Accounts. Unless otherwise expressly provided by any resolution of the Board, the President, or Treasurer, may open, close, and maintain deposit, checking, money market, and similar accounts with banks, trust companies, and other depositories in the name of the Corporation and may purchase and sell certificates of deposit and similar instruments on behalf of the Corporation. The Board may make such special rules and regulations with respect to such activities as it deems expedient.
ARTICLE X - GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 10.1 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on December 31 of each year, except as otherwise fixed by resolution of the Board.
SECTION 10.2 Corporate Seal. The Corporation may have a seal in such form as the Board or the registered agent may approve. Whenever it is inconvenient to use the corporate seal, a facsimile thereof may be used. The registered agent and any officer of the Corporation shall have authority to affix the corporate seal, and it may be attested by his or her signature.
SECTION 10.3 Facsimile, Conformed, or Electronic Signatures. Facsimile, conformed, or electronic signatures of any officer of the Corporation may be used whenever authorized by the Board or the Chairperson. The Corporation may rely upon the facsimile, conformed, or electronic signature of any person if delivered by or on behalf of such person in a manner evidencing an intention to permit such reliance. A document delivered by e-mail, fax, or other means of electronic transmission shall be deemed, upon receipt by the Corporation, in legible form, to constitute a writing even if not reproduced in paper form. Any such electronic transmission sent by a director in a manner evidencing an intention to consent to a given action shall be deemed to be signed if such transmission sets forth, or is delivered with, information by which the Corporation can in good faith determine that the transmission is sent by such person or by an agent authorized to deliver such consent for such person.
SECTION 10.4 Amendment of Articles and Bylaws. Except as the Corporation Act or the Articles otherwise provide, the Articles may be amended or restated, and these Bylaws may be amended or repealed, and new Bylaws may be adopted, by the affirmative vote of three quarters (3/4) of the members in good standing at any regular monthly membership meeting, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing at the previous regular meeting. For any meeting at which the Articles are to be amended or restated, or Bylaws are to be adopted, amended, or repealed, specific notice of such proposed action shall be given, either setting out the text of the proposed adoption, amendment, repeal, or restatement, or summarizing the changes to be effected by such action.
SECTION 10.5 Interpretation. Headings and captions used herein are inserted for convenience only and shall not be used to construe the scope or content of any provision. Whenever used herein, the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders, as the context requires. In the case of any conflict between the provisions of the Articles and these Bylaws, the Articles shall control. In the case of any ambiguity or other question concerning interpretation of these Bylaws, the good faith interpretation of the Board, acting by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, shall be binding on the Corporation for all purposes.
END OF BYLAWS
Last Modified November 2017