Bylaws
BY LAWS OF THE CHICHESTER BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
ARTICLE I - NAME:
Section 1:
The name of this organization is and shall be hereafter known as the (CBA) CHICHESTER BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, INC.
ARTICLE II - OBJECT AND PURPOSE
Section 1:
Promote, stimulate and forever protect our American way of life, by encouraging people to work together in order to share in a wider ownership of economic activities in order to develop an economy of abundance by which to provide a maximum of American security and freedom for themselves, their families, and their fellow men and women and generations to come.
Section 2:
Promote and stimulate civic improvements that will be beneficial to the Township and Country.
Section 3:
Promote and stimulate good citizenship among our youth and membership.
Section 4:
Promote and stimulate business practices which are fair to the general public and members.
Section 5:
Abate unethical business practices and abuses.
Section 6:
Provide mutual protection for all members.
ARTICLE III - OFFICERS
Section 1:
The officers of the Association shall consist of:
(1) President, (2) Vice President, (3) Secretary, (4) Treasurer. All of whom shall enjoy office during good behavior for a term of TWO (2) years commencing on the general membership meeting of September following their election, and ending on the general membership meeting of September at the expiration of their two year term.
ARTICLE IV - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1:
There shall be a Board of Directors consisting of ELEVEN (11) Directors to serve a TWO (2) year term, said term shall commence on the general membership meeting of September following their election, and shall expire on the general membership meeting of September TWO (2) years after their election.
Section 2:
The Board of Directors shall consist of the FOUR (4) officers of the Association and SIX (6) addition Directors who shall be elected from the general membership as well as the immediate Past President of the Association.
Section 3:
The Chairperson of the Board of Directors shall be the immediate Past President of the Association.
Section 4:
Any member of the Board of Directors who absents themselves from THREE (3) consecutive meetings without the permission of the Chairman thereof, shall automatically forfeit their office. Said office being vacant, their office must be filled at the next regularly held meeting of the Association. The Association may elect any qualified member to the vacant office.
ARTICLE V - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1:
The membership of the Association shall consist of business men or women who are engaged in the buying, or selling of any property, real or personal, or the manufacturing of any product, or who provides professional services and whose place of business is physically located within the geographical boundaries of the Township of Upper Chichester, or who are business persons who are residents of the Township of Upper Chichester with their place of business located elsewhere who engage in business as defined above. Any business person who is currently a member of the Association in good standing as of effective date of this By Law change, who does not meet the requirements above, shall continue to remain a member of the Association for so long as they remain a member in good standing.
ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS
Section 1:
The annual meeting shall be held at the general membership meeting in September. At this meeting the newly elected officers shall be sworn in.
Section 2:
Special meetings of the Association may be called by the President, or upon Petition in writing of any FIVE (5) members of the Association, at said special meeting no other business is to be discussed other than that for which the meeting was called.
Section 3:
The Board of Directors shall meet at least once each month at a time and place to be decided by the Board of Directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be convened by the Chairperson of the Board at his/her direction.
Section 4:
General membership monthly meetings shall be held from September to May.
ARTICLE VII - QUORUM
Section 1:
A meeting at which NINE (9) members in good standing of the paid up membership shall be present, shall legally constitute a meeting of the general membership provided all members had been notified previously.
Section 2:
A Board of Directors' meeting shall be duly constituted whenever more that FIFTY (50) percent of its members are present and convened by an officiating officer.
ARTICLE VIII - DUES
Section 1:
The membership shall annually contribute individually the sum of FIFTY DOLLARS ($50.00) for the use of the Association, shall become due and payable upon acceptance of membership or not later than a period of SIXTY (60) DAYS. Subsequent payment of dues becomes obligated for the year commencing September. Said payment shall entitle said member to all benefits and privileges of the Association.
Section 2:
Membership in the Association shall be any firm name. Each firm holding
membership in the Association shall designate its voting member who shall cast ONE (1) vote in the name of the member firm on all matters before the Association.
Section 3:
Applications for membership to the Association shall be upon the form
application issued by the Association only. It shall be submitted to the Board of Directors by the Membership Committee upon their approval and satisfaction as to the qualifications of the applicant. The Board of Directors by a vote of THREE-FOURTHS (3/4) of its members present may show approval thereof, any less vote indicating disapproval, and the applicant thereafter may not re-apply for the period of ONE (1) year.
Upon approval by the Board of Directors, the application shall be submitted for approval to the full membership at the next regularly scheduled meeting. A vote of THREE-FOURTHS (3/4) of the membership present at such meeting shall indicated approval of the application. Any application not receiving the required vote shall not be reconsidered for the period of ONE (1) year following the date of said rejection.
Section 4:
There shall be two classifications of HONORARY membership. First, REGULAR HONORARY MEMBER, these individuals nominated by the majority of the Board of Directors, who distinguish certain honorable characteristics to merit this distinction. The candidate must be elected by the regular membership after receiving the nomination of the Board of Director by at least THREE-FOURTHS (3/4) of the members present. The Second type HONORARY member is the LIFETIME HONORARY MEMBER. This type of member is a special candidate who possesses certain meritorious qualifications to be granted this special honor. This candidate must also be nominated by the Board of Directors and voted upon by the general membership, in the same manner as already defined. Both types of membership are non-voting members.
Section 5:
Any current active member's business or firm becomes nonexistent, such members may remain an active voting member, if said member's dues are kept current and there is no lapse in any payment of dues.
ARTICLE IX - COMMITTEES
Section 1:
The President shall immediately upon his/her election, or at any time during his/her term of office appoint committees which he/she considers necessary to carry on the work and advancement of the Association.
Section 1A:
NOMINATING COMMITTEE - In addition to the regular working committees, the President shall, at the MARCH meeting of the general membership, appoint a committee of at least THREE (3) members to nominate officers and directors for the following year.
Section 1B:
The Nominating Committee shall not be bound necessarily to any formal routine rule of promotion of officers from one office to another; but shall be guided in their work by the capacity, willingness, and civic mindedness of the persons to be considered.
Section 1C:
The only limitations upon the Nominating Committee shall be as follows: (1) The nominee must be a member in good standing of the Association. (2) They must have attended a minimum of FIFTY Percent (50%) of the meetings the preceding year. (3) No member may be considered for office unless they shall have been a member in good standing of the Association for a period of ONE (1) year.
Section 2:
PROGRAM COMMITTEE - Said committee shall procure speakers for the meetings throughout the year. Any member wishing to have a speaker introduced must arrange it through the committee.
Section 3:
PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE - Said committee's duties shall consist of: (1) Promoting the good name and reputation of the Association in the community by keeping the community informed of the activities of the Association, and to organize such activities which shall promote the general welfare of the community. (2) Bring before the Association all matters which will advance the cause of the Association.
Section 4:
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE - Said duties shall be: (1) To propose and implement programs to increase membership in the Association. (2) Said committee shall also be responsible for welcoming new businesses in the community. (3) Said committee shall also issue applications for the new members, investigate the qualifications for new applicants, and issue to new members the membership kit.
Section 5:
BY-LAWS COMMITTEE - Said committee's duties shall be (1) Maintain, review, and up-date the By-Laws of the Association. (2) To make determinations of disputes between members rising or pertaining to the By-Laws of the Association. (3) To review any proposed By-Law changes and to make recommendations to the Board of Directors on each proposed change in the By-Laws.
Section 6:
FINANCE COMMITTEE - Said committee duties shall be: (1) Prepare the annual budget for the Association. (2) Recommend and review proposals for special projects and the methods for implementing the special projects.
Section 7:
GOVERNMENT ACTION COMMITTEE - Said committee's duties shall be: (1) To attend and represent the Association at all governmental meetings including, but not limited to, local government and school board meetings, meetings of the county government organizations and agencies and the like. (2) To report to all general membership meetings of their findings regarding the above meetings. (3) To gather and investigate all information on issues brought to the committee's attention and to give a report on such matters.
ARTICLE X - DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1:
The President shall preside at all regular and special meetings of the Association and shall conduct all meetings according to the procedures outlined in Robert's Rules of Order.
Section 2:
The Vice President shall preside at all regular and special meetings of the Association in the absence of the President and shall assume all duties of the President during any period wherein the President cannot perform said duties.
Section 3:
The Secretary shall comply with the following duties: (1) Keep the minutes of the meetings of the Association and of the meetings of the Board of Directors. (2) To call the roll when required and to take attendance at all meetings. (3) To take the vote if it is by roll. (4) To read all communications and to conduct all correspondence, on the order of the Association. (5) Notify the members for the monthly meeting.
Section 4:
The Treasurer shall receive and keep account of all funds coming into the Association and at the appropriate time report thereon. Said Treasurer shall keep an account of all receipts and expenditures and report thereon to the membership.
Section 5:
VACANCIES - Should a vacancy in any office occur for any reason, said vacancy shall be filled in the following manner: (1) President - Should the President of the Association become unable or unwilling to complete his/her term of office, the Vice-president shall become President of the Association and shall then nominate another member to assume the position of Vice-President. (2) Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer - Should the Vice-President, Secretary or Treasurer become unable or unwilling to complete their term of office, the President shall nominate another member to assume the vacant office. (3) Any person nominated under this section for an office which has become vacant, shall perform the duties of that office as pro-tempore officer until such time as the nomination has been approved by THREE-FOURTHS (3/4) vote of the Board of Directors. (4) Any person assuming office in which there was a vacancy, and who has received the required approval, shall assume office for the balance of the existing term of that office.
Section 6:
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS - An officer or director may not be personally liable for any monetary damages for any action taken or a failure to take action, unless the director or officer has breached or failed to perform the duties of his or her office or directorship, and the breach of failure to perform constitutes self-dealing, willful misconduct or gross negligence.
ARTICLE XI - TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Indebtedness to the Association for a period of SIXTY (60) days will resulting a loss of all privileges or rights of membership herein mentioned, and may result in termination of membership.
