Point of Order Parliamentary Law Unit
Bylaws and Standing Rules

BYLAWS OF THE POINT OF ORDER PARLIAMENTARY LAW UNIT SEATTLE, WA

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this unit shall be Point Of Order Parliamentary Law Unit of Seattle, WA (referred to hereafter as Point Of Order PLU), a division of the National Association of Parliamentarians (NAP) and affiliated with The Washington State Association of Parliamentarians (referred to hereinafter as NAP and WSAP, respectively).

ARTICLE II - OBJECT

The object of the Point Of Order PLU, a nonprofit organization, shall be to regularly study parliamentary procedure and to promote the educational programs of NAP and WSAP on the local level. Individual members shall adhere to the ethics of NAP and will be encouraged to study for registration. Provisional members shall be encouraged to pass the NAP membership test.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERS

Section 1. Classification. There shall be three classes of membership:

A. Primary Members. Primary members of the unit are NAP members who are counted in the unit as of March 1 of the convention year for the purpose of determining the number of delegates to which the unit is entitled at NAP and WSAP conventions.

B. Affiliate Members Affiliate members of the unit are NAP members who are primary members of another unit and who are not counted for the purpose of determining the number of delegates to which the unit is entitled at NAP and WSAP conventions.

C. Provisional Members. 
Provisionals are individuals who are preparing for NAP membership. Provisionals are not NAP members and are not counted for the purpose of determining the number of delegates to which the unit is entitled at NAP conventions.

1. A provisional member of Point Of Order PLU shall be a member who: 

a. Is interested in basic study of parliamentary procedure in preparation for NAP membership; or 

b. Wants parliamentary information.

2. Provisional members shall have full membership rights except: 

a. They shall not be eligible for the office of president or vice president; and 

b. They shall not be counted in determining representation to NAP or WSAP meetings.

Section 2. Eligibility 

A. Any member of NAP is eligible for membership in Point Of Order PLU and shall become a member upon payment of unit dues. 

B. Any individual preparing for NAP membership is eligible for provisional membership in this unit and shall become a provisional upon payment of unit provisional dues.

ARTICLE IV - DUES AND FINANCES

Section 1. Dues 

A. Annual dues shall be $10.00 for all classifications/categories.

B. NAP and WSAP dues are payable directly to NAP. 

C. Dues are payable by January 1. Membership shall be delinquent if dues are not paid by February 1 and forfeited if not paid by March 1. A late fee shall be assessed on February 1 if dues are not paid to the unit treasurer. 

D. New members joining on or after August 1, shall be eligible to pay half-year unit dues; renewable January 1 of the following year.

E. The membership year shall be from January 1 through December 31.

Section 2. Resignation 

Regular and affiliate members may resign by notifying Point Of Order PLU and WSAP presidents in writing.

Section 3. Budget 

A proposed budget shall be submitted by the treasurer at the January meeting.

Section 4. Fiscal Year 

The fiscal year of the unit is January 1 through December 31.

ARTICLE V - OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers 

The officers of this unit shall be a president, a vice-president, a secretary, and a treasurer. The office of secretary and treasurer may be combined.

Section 2. Term of Office 

Officers shall assume their duties at the close of the WSAP convention or at the close of the meeting at which they are elected, whichever is later. Officers shall serve for a term of one (1) year or until their successors assume office. 

Section 3. Vacancy in Office 

1. In the event of death, resignation, or incapacity of the president, the vice president, if eligible, shall become president for the unexpired portion of the term. 

2. A vacancy in any office except president shall be filled by appointment of the president with the approval of the membership.

Section 4. Duties 

Officers shall perform the duties provided in this section and such other duties as are prescribed for the office in these bylaws and in the adopted parliamentary authority. 

A. The president shall: 

1. preside at all meetings of the unit and the board of directors; 
2. appoint a parliamentarian; 
3. appoint chairmen of committees to the extent provided in Article VIII; 
4. fulfill such other duties as may be assigned by the unit or the board of directors. 

B. The vice-president shall: 

1. perform the duties of the president in the absence of or at the request of the president; 
2. fulfill such other duties as may be assigned by the unit, the board of directors, or the president. 

C. The secretary shall: 

1. record the minutes of the unit and the board of directors; 
2. be the custodian of all documents including unit, association, and NAP bylaws, special rules of order, and standing rules; 
3. conduct correspondence as directed by the unit, the board of directors or the president; 
4. fulfill such other duties as may be assigned by the unit, the board of directors, or the president.

D. The treasurer shall: 

1. be custodian of all funds, disbursing them as directed by the unit; 
2. a signatory on all bank accounts; 
3. present a financial statement at each unit meeting and as requested by the board of directors; 
4. prepare the financial records for audit; 
5. prepare a dues statement to be sent to each member with the call of the November meeting; 
6. send dues delinquency notices to members by February 10 of each year; 
7. fulfill such other duties as may be assigned by the unit, the board of directors, or the president.

Section 5. Nominations 

A Nominating Committee of three members shall: 

A. Be elected by ballot at the November meeting except when there are no more than three nominees in which case they may be elected by voice vote. The chairman shall be selected by the committee. 

B. At the February meeting, present a slate of at least one individual for each office, provided consent has been obtained from each nominee.

Section 6. Elections 

A. The officers shall be elected at the March meeting. 

B. Additional nominees for officers of Point Of Order PLU may be made from the floor at the February and March meetings. 

C. Elections shall be by ballot at the annual meeting in March, except when there is only one nominee for an office election may be by voice vote. A majority vote shall elect.

ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS

Section 1. Regular 

Regular meetings of Point Of Order PLU shall be held monthly on the fourth Saturday, except in the months of June and July, unless otherwise ordered by the membership or by a 2/3rd vote of the board.

Section 2. Annual 

The regular meeting in March shall be known as the annual meeting and shall be for the purpose of electing officers, receiving reports of officers and committees, and for any other business that may arise.

Section 3. Special 

Special meetings may be called by the president and shall be called at the written request of three members of the unit. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call and at least five days written notice prior to the meeting date shall be given.

Section 4. Quorum 

Three members of Point Of Order PLU shall constitute a quorum. The lack of a quorum shall not prevent the study of the scheduled parliamentary lesson.

ARTICLE VII - BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. Composition 

The board of directors shall be composed of the officers. The parliamentarian shall serve as a non-voting member of the board of directors.

Section 2. Duties 

The board of directors shall be subject to the orders of the unit and none of its acts shall conflict with action taken by the unit. The board of directors shall: 

A. have general supervision of the affairs of the unit between meetings; 
B. fix the hour and place of meetings; 
C. make recommendations to the unit; 
D. perform such other duties as are specified in these bylaws. 

Section 3. Meetings 

A. Special meetings may be called by the president and shall be called upon the written request of three (3) members of the board of directors. At least five (5) days written notice shall be given of the meeting, but the board may meet without notice at any unit meeting.

B. A majority of the members of the board of directors shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VIII - COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing Committees 

Standing Committees shall be Education, Membership and Bylaws.

Section 2. Composition 

Chairmen and members of all standing committees shall be appointed by the president with the approval of the Executive Board.

Section 3. Duties 

A. The Education Committee shall develop and coordinate educational programs for the unit, including informing members of NAP educational materials. 

B. The Membership Committee shall promote the recruitment and retention of unit members. 

C. The Bylaws Committee shall consist of at least three members appointed by the president with approval of the Executive Board. The bylaws committee shall recommend any bylaws changes required by NAP or WSAP, and propose to the membership any other amendments to bylaws, special rules of order or standing rules they deem appropriate.

Section 4. Other Committees

1. The Audit Committee shall consist of at least two members appointed by the president at the November meeting, and shall audit the treasurer's accounts of the previous fiscal year and submit a written, signed report at the February meeting. The treasurer shall assist with and meet with the committee, but shall not be a member. 

2. The Nominating Committee shall serve from the November meeting through the March meeting in accordance with Article V, section 5.

Such other committees, standing or special, shall be created as the unit shall from time to time deem necessary to carry on the work of Point Of Order PLU. The chairmen and members of such committees shall be appointed by the president, except that in the absence of the president the unit may appoint the chairman and members of a special committee, who shall be treated as though appointed by the president. The president shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.

ARTICLE IX - REPRESENTATION AT NAP and WSAP MEETINGS

Section 1. NAP Convention 

A. Delegate representation is based on the primary membership of the unit as of March 1 of the convention year as follows: 

1. one delegate for the first five primary members of the unit; and 
2. one additional delegate for each additional five primary members or major fraction thereof. 

B. Election shall be by ballot, at the March meeting, except when there is no more than one nominee for each delegate and alternate position, election may be by voice vote. 

C. Any NAP member may serve as a delegate or alternate to which this unit is entitled. 

D. Vacancies in delegate or alternate positions may be filled by the president.

WSAP Convention 

A. Election shall be by ballot, at the March meeting, except when there is no more than one nominee for each delegate and alternate position, election may be by voice vote. 

B. Any WSAP member may serve as a delegate or alternate to which this unit is entitled. 

C. Vacancies in delegate or alternate positions may be filled by the president.

ARTICLE X - DISSOLUTION

In the event of the dissolution of Point Of Order PLU, the assets shall be liquidated and distributed to NAP in accordance with government regulations. No funds shall inure to the benefit of individual members. The Point Of Order charter shall be returned to NAP headquarters.

ARTICLE XI - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with Point Of Order PLU bylaws, NAP bylaws, WSAP bylaws and standing rules, or any special rules of order which Point Of Order PLU may adopt.

ARTICLE XII - AMENDMENTS

Section 1. These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of Point Of Order PLU by a two-thirds vote, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing at the previous regular meeting, or has been sent to each member at least ten days prior to the meeting at which it will be considered.

Section 2. Any amendment to these bylaws necessitated by amendments to NAP or WSAP bylaws shall be effected by the board of directors and reported to the membership at the next regular meeting following the adoption of such amendments by NAP or WSAP.

Adopted July 26, 2003
NAP required amendments August 5, 2003
Mike Healy President Pro Tem
Bobbie Healy Secretary Pro Tem

Amended November 23, 2003; August 21, 2004; January 28, 2006; June 2, 2007.
 

1. The parliamentarian, if a member, shall retain full membership rights, including making motions and debating. (May 22, 2004)
 

1. The president shall

1. Sign and transmit as required any documentation to NAP and WSAP. (July 26, 2003) 
2. Be a signatory on the Unit checking account. (July 26, 2003) 

2. The vice president shall 

1. Be the Chairman of the Education Committee (July 26, 2003) 
2. Preside at meetings in the absence of the president. (July 26, 2003) 

3. The secretary shall distribute copies of the minutes of each meeting to all members. Electronic transmission (email) is acceptable with permission of the member. (July 26, 2003) 

4. A treasurer's report shall be presented at each regular meeting. (July 26, 2003) 

5. Unit funds shall be kept in deposit in Washington Mutual Bank. (July 26, 2003)

6. Meetings shall be held at High Point Public Library unless otherwise ordered by the unit or board. (May 22, 2004; April 22, 2006) 

Dues and Fees