Proposed bylaws amendments

[mirth]

Attached to this post is an amended copy of the Club's bylaws. There are a few driving factors behind these changes - mainly due to issues identified by a lawyer friend who was kind enough to read them over & provide an opinion free of charge, and also to make it (hopefully) easier for the IRS to recognize the club as a tax exempt organization.

This thread is to serve notice to all current 2004 club members as well as anyone interested in joining the club of the importance of our next monthly meeting, where this topic will be up for a vote.

If you have any questions about the proposed bylaws, don't hesitate to ask!

Here are the current bylaws:
http://discontinuum.org/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=919

A post detailing the differences will follow immediately after this.

[mirth]

Synopsys of what's different in this draft:

• updated date & draft revision
• I.A: added 'The', changed incorporation year to 2002, added 'Officers' to last sentance.
• I.B: added 'the' before 'annual goals', replaced 'directed' with 'agreed upon' (perhaps 'outlined' would be a better word here?)
• I.B: changed Monthly meetings sentance from 'any paid Club member or Board member. Nonmembers are welcome, but may not be present during Club elections' to 'the general public; however, nonmembers and members not in good standing shall not participate in elections or cast votes upon any matter of Club business'
• I.C: Sentances re: appointment of Staff and re: votes at monthly meetings publicized one week ahead removed.
• II.A.1: Set board to be composed of 4 positions, was 5. Removed two Founder board members, replaced with Vice President. Removed footnote re: Founder vacancies.
• II.A.2: Changed Member in first sentance to Members'. Changed sentance re: Board vacancy to include wording about holding a special election.
• II.A.3: Changed first sentance to include wording 'to be considered in good standing.' Added 'Additionally' to start of next sentance. Deleted 'may nominate himself or' from last sentance. Changed various sentance punctuations throughout paragraph.
• II.A.4: New paragraph.
• II.A.5: Changed start of sentance to 'No board member shall.' (removed double negative) Added wording 'acts or omissions, causing such debts or liabilities, involve willful or wonton conduct'
• II.A.6: Replaced 'service' with 'fiduciary responsibility', inserted 'Club and its' after 'to the'.
• II.A.7: Entirely new paragraph
• II.A.8: Changed 'impeachment' to 'removal', changed 'outlines' to 'outlined'. Replaced entire second sentance.
• II.B: Removed sections pertaining to Founders. Created VP role, shifted some duties from Prez to VP, made some other duties responsible to both prez & vp.
• II.B.3.d: New paragraph
• II.B.4.b: Changed financial status reports to fall on quarterly boundries.
• II.C.2.b: Removed bullet regarding maintaining membership records (Secretary's job)
• II.C.2.b: Changed sponsorships bullet from 'handle duties delegated by the President' to 'handle duties as delegated by the Board'
• II.C.2.b: Changed Discipline bullet to say that the President should be apprised of all reviews or decisions. Removed language limiting which situations the President would be informed of.
• II.D.1: Changed second sentance from 'Membership is valid for one year at a time....' to 'Membership is valid from January 1 through December 31 of the current calendar'. Updated dues sentance to reflect that the Ops team may recommend increasing or decreasing the membership fee. Removed 'via majority vote' after 'increase or decrease the fee'.
• II.D.2: New paragraph, split off of II.D.1
• II.D.3: New paragraph, split off of II.D.1. Changed last sentance ending from 'President or Secretary' to 'meeting chair'.
• II.D.5: Replaced 'and' with 'or' in first sentance.
• III.C.1: Replaced language re: account @ BoW with generic sentance requiring the club to maintain an active checking account.

[mirth]

Oh yeah - provided the amended bylaws pass, nominations for Vice President will be taken. Voting for VP will happen in June.

[mirth]

One other thing - If you are unable to attend the meeting don't fret! You are entitled to vote by written (including e-mail) proxy. Feel free to send your proxy votes to myself, Brett, Myk, and/or Jim and your voice will he heard!

[damonshort]

5.   No Board Member shall be personally liable for any debts or liabilities of the Club in general, unless said Board Member’s acts or omissions, causing such debts or liabilities, involve willful or wonton conduct. 

*wonton* conduct? Is Pizza Hut adding a Chinese menu??    

[mirth]

Yeah, thanks. Thought I had it fixed but apparently not. It is now