Fwd: Bylaws v0.20

BYLAWS Jacksonville Linux Users Group, Inc.

ARTICLE I NAME

 Section 1. Name

  1. The name of this organization shall be the Jacksonville Linux Users Group,
     Inc., hereinafter referred to as "JAXLUG".

ARTICLE II - OFFICES

 Section 1. Location of Offices

  1. The principal office of JAXLUG in the State of Florida shall be located at
     <DETERMINE LOCATION>, Jacksonville, FL xxxxx, in the County of Duval. The
     Corporation may have such other offices, either within or without the
     State of Florida, as the Board of Directors may designate or as the
     business of the Corporation may require from time to time.

ARTICLE III - PURPOSE

 Section 1. Purpose of JAXLUG

 The purpose of JAXLUG shall be to:

  1. Promote, foster, and develop skills in the use of Open Source Software.
     In particular, the GNU/Linux operating system, hereinafter referred to
     as Linux, and related software.
  2. Provide learning opportunities for group members with all levels of
     ability.
  3. Advocate the use and advancement of the Linux operating system in
     businesses and schools.
  4. Engage in charitable and educational projects that benefit the community
     as determined by the Executive committee and within the meaning of
     paragraph 5 of this section.
  5. JAXLUG is organized and will be operated exclusively for educational
     and charitable purposes within the meaning of section 501 (c) (3) of
     the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future
     tax code. No part ofthe net earnings of the Corporation shall inure to
     the benefit of any private individual. No substantial part of its'
     activities will be carrying out propagandaor otherwise attempting to
     influence legislation. JAXLUG will not participate in, or intervene
     in (including the publishing or distributing of statements) any
     political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

 Section 1. Officers

  1. The elected officers shall be a president, a vice president, a
     secretary/treasurer, and four directors.
  
  2. The three officers and the four directors make up the Executive Committee
     which operates the group. These officers shall perform the duties
     prescribed in these bylaws and by the parliamentary authority adopted by
     JAXLUG. No officer shall be permitted to hold more than one office at any
     single time.

 Section 2. Nominations and Elections

  1. The Executive Committee shall hold an election at an annual general
     meeting.
  2. No write in votes shall be allowed for the election of officers or
     directors.
  3. Officers and directors shall assume their duties immediately upon
     election.
  4. The general membership can call for a new general election at any general
     meeting by a 75% majority vote of the members in good standing present
     at that meeting. This call is to create an election committee for the
     purpose of holding a new nomination meeting leading to a new general
     election. The nomination meeting will be held at the next general meeting.

 Section 3. Term

  1. Officers and directors shall serve for a term of one year, or until they
     resign or their successors are elected.
  2. All officers shall deliver to their successors, all official material no
     later than 30 days following the end of their term.

 Section 4. Liability

  1. JAXLUG shall not hold the officers or directors liable for personal
     liability or damages incurred in the lawful performance of the business
     of JAXLUG. 
  2. No bond shall be required of officers or directors.

 Section 5. Duties of Officers and Directors

  1. President

     The president shall:

     - Preside at general and executive committee meetings.
     - Be ex-officio of all committees except the Election Committee.
     - Appoint committee chairmen to fill vacancies during his/her term of
       office.

  2. Vice President

     The vice president shall:

     - Act as an aide to the president and shall perform the duties of the
       president in the absence or disability of the president to act. 

  3. Secretary/Treasurer

     The secretary shall:

     - Record the minutes of general and executive committee meeting.
     - Record certified election results.
     - Ensure the prompt notification of the membership.
     - Maintain the archival files of all official correspondence of JAXLUG.
     - Make available copies of the Bylaws to any member upon request.
     - Receive all monies collected from whatever source and pay bills and
       other disbursements as authorized by the Executive Committee.
     - Keep complete, accurate records of receipts, disbursements and bank
       accounts.
     - Give a financial report to Executive Committee annually and when asked.
     - Prepare a financial statement for review and approval by Executive
       Committee prior to review by general membership at the annual meeting.
     - Maintain a bank account at a bank approved by Executive Committee.
       Two signatures of the Executive Committee shall be required on all
       checks.
     - File all legal financial documents as required by law. 

  4. Directors

     The responsibilities for the directors shall be as follows:

     - Voting as required of members of the Executive Committee.

 Section 6. Vacancies

  1. The vice president shall fill a vacancy in the office of president.
  2. The vacancy thus created in the office of vice president, and any other
     vacancy, shall be filled by appointment made by the Executive Committee,
     to serve until the next election. 

ARTICLE V MEMBERS

 Section 1. Membership

  1. Membership shall be open to all persons, without regard to race, color,
     religion, gender, disability, or age, who have an interest in Linux.
  2. All members in good standing shall have equal voting rights.
  3. All members in good standing shall have preferential access to group
     activities and resources. 
  4. Any member can be removed for cause by a 2/3rds vote of the Executive
     Committee.  A removed member can be reinstated by a simple majority vote
     of either the general membership or the Executive Committee. 

 Section 2. Liability

  1. JAXLUG shall not hold any member liable for personal liability or damages
     incurred in the lawful performance of the business of JAXLUG.

 Section 3. Dues and Fees

  1. Dues may be established by a quorum of the Executive Committee.
  2. Changes in dues shall be established by the elected Executive Committee,
     subject to ratification by two-thirds (2/3) of the membership present and
     voting at the annual business meeting.
  3. Dues, if collected, shall be collected annually, the collection date being
     at the discretion of the Executive Committee. 
  4. Dues, if collected, for new members shall be based on a pro-rata schedule
     provided as follows:

     - January through March:   100%
     - April through June:       75%
     - July through September:   50%
     - October through December: 25%

  5. Persons who have paid their dues, if established, in full are considered
     Members in Good Standing.
  6. Members who regularly attend meetings and support group activities and
     members, regardless of their status of dues, are considered Members in
     Good Standing

ARTICLE VI Meetings

 Section 1. Executive Committee Meetings

  1. Executive Committee Meetings will be held as needed.
  2. Voting will be limited to meetings where a quorum is met, and notice is
     given at least 72 hours in advance via electronic mail in the private
     mailing list for executive committee members.
  3. Executive Committee meetings can be called by any executive committee
     member or by a 50% vote of the membership in a General meeting.

 Section 2. General Membership Meetings

  1. General meetings are open to the public, and will be held regularly.
  2. General meetings will not be held with less than 15 days notice.
  3. Business Meetings will be held once yearly to satisfy corporate
     requirements.
  4. The executive committee must give 30 days notice to all members regarding
     the date of the yearly Business Meeting.
  5. The Business Meeting can coincide with a General Meeting. 

 Section 3. Special Events

  1. Special Events are Executive Committee sanctioned events that involve no
     formal call to order.
  2. A committee may be formed by the Executive Committee to produce the
     Special Event.  Special Events may be restricted to members in good
     standing only.  Special Events may be restricted to paid admission only.

ARTICLE VII Committees

 Section 1. Executive Committee

  1. The Executive Committee will be comprised of the President, Vice
     President, Secretary, Treasurer and 3 directors.

     The Executive Committee shall: 

     - Be responsible for the stewardship of JAXLUG.
     - Approve and oversee all expenditures.
     - Ensure an annual election of the Executive Committee members.
     - Appoint an Election Committee, for each election.
     - Define, disband or redefine all committees other than those defined in
       the bylaws.
     - Appoint or remove any committee members other than the Executive
       Committee members. 

 Section 2. Election Committee

  1. The Election Committee shall be comprised of three voluntary members in
     good standing.
  2. Election committee members cannot be nominated to office for the duration
     of their election committee membership, and the executive committee will
     inform prospective election committee members of that fact.
  3. Election Committee members shall be committed for one election.
  4. The Election Committee shall accept nominations from the floor of any
     general meeting at least 1 month prior to the general meeting at which
     elections are to be held.
  5. The Election Committee shall present the slate.  Nominations from the
     floor shall be in order at that time.
  6. The Election Committee will hold a vote at the general meeting following
     the nomination meeting. 
  7. The Election Committee shall count the votes immediately following the
     voting process.  The Election Committee shall certify and sign the
     election results.  Certified voting results will then be remanded to the
     Secretary.

 Section 3. Formative Executive Committee

  1. The Formative Executive Committee will dissolve upon the first election.
     Until that time, the Formative Executive Committee will function as the
     Executive Committee. The primary goals of the Formative Executive
     Committee are to incorporate and hold the first election after
     incorporation.

ARTICLE VIII - Quorum

 1. An executive committee quorum shall consist of 50% of the executive
   committee members. 
 2. Any vote by the general membership requires the presence of 10 or more
    members in good standing, of whom less than half are executive committee
    members. 

ARTICLE IX Rules of Order

 1. The rules contained in the current edition of JAXLUG RULES OF ORDER shall
    govern JAXLUG in all cases in which they are not covered with these bylaws.

ARTICLE X Amendments to Bylaws

 1. These bylaws may be amended at any Executive Committee meeting of JAXLUG,
    provided that the amendment has been submitted at the previous Executive
    Committee meeting or has been sent to each member at least 10 days prior
    to the Executive Committee meeting at which it is to be considered. If the
    Executive Committee passes the amendment, the amendment must then be
    ratified by a majority vote of the attending members at a general meeting
    before it is instituted. 

ARTICLE XI Dissolution

 1. In the event of dissolution of JAXLUG, the assets shall be liquidated and
    distributed to a non-profit status organization qualifying under the scope
    of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code or any amendment
    thereof.  None of the funds shall inure to the benefit of individuals. 

Copyleft 2001. Jacksonville Linux Users Group (JAXLUG).