Northwest Region 1
American Institute of Parliamentarians

BYLAWS

ARTICLE 1 – NAME

The name of this organization shall be “Northwest Region 1, American Institute of Parliamentarians” hereinafter referred to as NWR-1.

ARTICLE II – OBJECTIVES

The objectives shall be:

1.        To encourage the use of parliamentary law and procedure in organizations.

2.        To elevate the standards of parliamentarians in their chosen fields.

3.        To encourage public interest in parliamentary procedure toward protecting the rights of citizens.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.  CLASSIFICATION

                Members of the American Institute of Parliamentarians (hereinafter referred to as

AIP) in good standing and living in the NWR-1 area shall be members of NWR-1.

Section 2. GOOD STANDING

A member in good standing is one whose current dues are paid to AIP and who complies with the provisions of the Bylaws and Standing rules of NWR-1.

ARTICLE IV – FINANCES AND FISCAL YEAR

Section 1. FISCAL YEAR

                The fiscal year shall be June 1 through May 31.

Section 2. SIGNING OFFICERS

The signing officers of the region shall be any two of the elected officers of NWR-1.

ARTICLE V – OFFICERS, ELECTED & APPOINTED

Section 1. ELECTED OFFICERS

The elected officers shall be the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, a Secretary and a Treasurer which shall comprise the Board of Directors which will attend to the emergency business of the organization.

Section 2. TERM OF OFFICE

A.      An elected officer shall serve for one term or until the successor is elected and has assumed office.

B.       No elected officer may serve in the same office for more than two consecutive terms.

C.       A term of office shall be from election at an officially called Conference until the next official Conference.

Section 3.  VACANCIES

In the event of a vacancy in the office of Governor the Lieutenant Governor shall become the Governor. Any other vacancy shall be filled by vote of the Board of Directors.

Section 4.  INSTALLATION

                Elected officers shall be installed at the conference.

Section 5.  RETIRING OFFICERS

At the close of the Conference each retiring officer shall deliver to the successor all materials and files pertaining to the office.

Section 6.  APPOINTED OFFICERS

The Governor shall appoint the Parliamentarian, Historian and Editor whose terms shall be concurrent with the officers, but who may succeed themselves.

ARTICLE VI – DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1.  GOVERNOR.  The Governor shall:

  1. Ensure that regional gatherings are held, including a Regional conference, at least during each two-year period.
  2. Supervise regional administration of AIP’s programs and policies.
  3. Maintain close liaison with chapters within the region and encourage participation in AIP’s Programs and policies.
  4. Cooperate with the AIP Chapter Committee in organizing and servicing chapters, and with the AIP Member Services Committee in the recruitment of members.
  5. Assist and encourage the organization of study classes.
  6. Appoint a parliamentarian.
  7. Appoint a Conference Chairman, Historian, and Newsletter Editor, with approval of the Board of Directors.
  8. Perform such other duties as determined by the Board of Directors or the Conference.

Section 2.  LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.  The Lieutenant governor shall:

  1. Act in the absence of, or at the request of the Governor.
  2. Serve as chairman of the Membership Committee.
  3. Perform such other duties as determined by the Board of Directors or the Conference.

Section 3.   SECRETARY. The Secretary shall:

  1. Keep an accurate record of all meetings.
  2. Provide copies of minutes to such persons as the Board of Directors may direct.
  3. Conduct correspondence a directed by the Board of Directors or the Conference.
  4. Send copies of the bylaws, Standing Rules, and amendments to NWR-1 members.
  5. Perform such other duties as determined by the Board of Directors or the Conference.

Section 4. TREASURER. The Treasurer shall:

  1. Receive and record all Regional fees, etc.
  2. Deposit all funds in a financial institution approved by the Board of Directors.
  3. Write checks for all bills ordered paid by the Board of Directors of NWR-1.
  4. Submit a complete financial report to the Conference.
  5. Submit the books for audit to an Auditing Committee at the conclusion of the Conference or at the request of the Board of Directors.
  6. Transfer all fiscal records to the newly elected Treasurer at the conclusion of the Conference and provide bank cards for signature of the newly elected officers.
  7. Perform such other duties as determined by the Board of Directors or the Conference.

Section 5.  PARLIAMENTARIAN.  The Parliamentarian shall:

  1. Serve as an advisor to the Governor, Board of Directors, and members of NWR-1.
  2. Have full rights and privileges relating to debating and voting.

Section 6.  HISTORIAN.

The Historian shall prepare a narrative account of NWR-1 activities to be approved by the Board of Directors as an official history.

Section 7.  EDITOR.

The Editor shall publish a newsletter known as the Northwest Nugget, as directed by the Board of Directors and as indicated in the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VII – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1.  COMPOSITION AND AUTHORITY

  1. The Board of Directors shall be composed of the elected officers. Each chapter within the Region may elect from its chapter, one representative to the Board.
  2. The Board of Directors shall have power and authority over the affairs of the Region between meetings of the Region, except that of modifying action of the Conference.

Section 2.  DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  1. Transact all business of the Region between conference, including requesting regional funds from AIP.
  2. Approve the minutes of the conference within 21 days of the Conference.
  3. Assist in forming new chapters.

Section 3.  BOARD MEETINGS AND QUORUMS

  1. The Board of Directors shall meet immediately post conference to appoint officers and committees and complete such other business of the Region as required by these Bylaws or the Conference.
  2. The Board of Directors may transact business by mail or by telephone conference call. Mail voting must be completed within three weeks.
  3. The governor or any two (2) officers may call meetings of the Board of Directors naming the date, time and place of the meeting.
  4. A quorum of the Board of Directors shall be a majority of the elected officers.
  5. Each board member shall be notified at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to the time of the proposed meeting.

ARTICLE VIII – NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1.  NOMINATING COMMITTEE

  1. A Nominating Committee of three (3) members shall be elected at the Conference.
  2. Each chapter may submit one nominee from its chapter for this committee.
  3. The Governor shall appoint a chairman from one of the three elected to the committee.

 Section 2.  DUTIES OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE

  1. Nominate at least one (1) candidate for each elective office.
  2. List the nominees for each office which shall be published in the Northwest Nugget prior to the Conference.
  3. Prepare a ballot listing the nominees for each office and spaces for write-ins.

ARTICLE IX – COMMITTEES

Section 1.  STANDING COMMITTEES

  1. Budget and Finance
  2. Bylaws, Standing Rules, and Resolutions
  3. Conference
  4. Membership

Section 2. DUTIES OF STANDING COMMITTEES

  1. The Budget and Finance Committee shall:

a.        Audit the Treasurer’s records at the close of the fiscal year.

b.       Submit an audit report to the Board of Directors.

c.        With the assistance of the Treasurer, prepare a budget for the coming year and submit the budget to the members of the Board of Directors for approval prior to the post conference board meeting.

  1. The Bylaws, Standing rules, and Resolutions Committee shall:

a.        Recommend amendments to the Bylaws and Standing rules as needed, including any proposed amendments from the membership.

b.       Submit proposed amendments to the Editor for publication in the Call to Conference edition of the Northwest Nugget.

c.        Prepare resolutions when necessary.

  1. The Conference Committee shall:

a.        Have a chairman with the power to create subcommittees for Conference responsibilities.

b.       In cooperation with the governor make arrangements for the Conference.

c.        Present plans to the Board of Directors for approval at least sixty (60) days prior to Conference.

  1. The Membership Committee shall:

a.        Be composed of the Chairman (Lieutenant Governor) and at least one other member from each chapter.

b.       Make specific plans for the year and set a quota for increase in membership.

  1. Special Committees

Special Committees may be authorized by the Conference, the Board of Directors, or the Governor.

  1. Retiring Committee Chairmen

Retiring Committee Chairmen shall deliver to their successors all materials and filed pertaining to the position at the close of the Conference. In the absence of a successor files shall be delivered to the incoming Governor.

ARTICLE X – CONFERENCE MEETING AND QUORUMS

Section 1. CONFERENCE

  1. A conference shall be held annually if feasible but at least every two years, the time and place to be determined by the Board of Directors at the Post Conference Board Meeting.
  2. The official call to Conference shall be issued by the Governor not less than forty-five (45) days prior to the Conference and shall be published in the Northwest Nugget.
  3. The voting body of the Conference shall be NWR-1 members attending the Conference.
  4. The conference shall be open to all AIP members and guests.
  5. Registration fees shall be determined by the Board of Directors upon recommendation of the Conference Committee.
  6. All members and guests attending the Conference shall pay the registration fee, except as otherwise specified in these Bylaws.
  7. Official guests invited by the Region shall not pay the registration.

Section 2. QUORUM

                The quorum for the Conference shall be ten (10) members.

ARTICLE XI – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure not specifically covered by the Bylaws or any Standing Rules of procedure.

ARTICLE XII – AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may be amended at any Region Conference by a two-thirds (2/3) vote provided notice of the proposed amendment(s) has been given to the members at least forty-five (45) days prior to the Conference.

Bylaws were amended at the May 11, 2002 Region 1 Conference, Portland, Oregon. 

STANDING RULES

  1. The site of the Region Conference shall be rotated throughout the Region as much as is practicable with local chapters serving as hosts where possible.
  2. The Region conference shall be held prior to May 31.
  3. All proceedings from a Conference in excess of expenses shall revert to the treasury of the Region.
  4. Region will be self-supporting.
Standing Rules were amended at the May 11, 2002 Region 1 Conference, Portland, Oregon.

2006-03-22    16:47:40