Chamber By-Laws

By-Laws of Edinburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Incorporated

Article 1 - Name

The name of this organization shall be Edinburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Incorporated.

Article 2 - Object

The object of the Edinburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Incorporated, shall be set forth in the charter

Article 3 - Limitation of Methods

The Edinburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Incorporated, in its activity shall be non-partisan, nonsectional and nonsectarian.

Article 4 - Membership

Section 1

The membership of the Edinburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Incorporated, shall meet in regular annual meeting at such time and place as may be fixed by a resolution of the Board of Directors during the month of June each year. Special meetings of the members may be called by the President and/or the Board of Directors on signed petition of 10% of the duly qualified members.

Section 2

Each member of the Chamber shall be given notice of every regular or special meeting by mailing a postal card or letter to his last known address five days in advance of the meeting date.

Section 3

Six duly qualified members in good standing shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any regular or special meeting of the chamber.

Section 4

No member shall be entitled to speak more than twice nor more than ten minutes each time on any subject brought before the Chamber for consideration without special permission by a majority vote of the members present.

Article 5 - Elections

The method of election of Directors shall be as follows: At least thirty days prior to the annual meeting of the membership the President shall appoint a nominating committee consisting of not less than three nor more than five duly qualified members of the Chamber who shall not be officers or directors.

This nominating committee shall submit to the meeting of the members in 1961 a list of four nominees to serve as directors for one year, four nominees to serve as directors for two years and four nominees to serve as directors for three years. After 1961 the nominating committee shall submit a list of four nominees for directors who shall be elected for a term of three years. Additional nominees may, of course, be made from the floor at any time. The members in attendance shall decide in each meeting before the balloting whether to vote for the nominees individually or as a whole. Those nominees receiving a majority vote of the members present in person shall be elected as directors for the ensuing term.

Article 6 - Board of Directors

The government of the Edinburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Incorporated, the direction of its work and the control of its property shall be vested in a Board of Directors consisting of twelve members, one third of whom shall be elected annually for a term of three years as herein provided. Within ten days after each annual election the Board of Directors shall meet and organize by electing from the Board, a President, a Vice-President, a Treasurer and a Secretary. No member shall hold more than one of these positions. The Directors shall fill all vacancies in the Board within 30 days after such vacancies occur. The Board of Directors may adopt such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the provisions of the charter and/or law, at it may deem necessary and proper for conducting the business of the Chamber. The Board of Directors shall meet not less frequently than once a month and shall submit in writing at the annual meeting of the members a full report of the work and finances of the organization.

Article 7 - Officers

The duties of the respective officers shall be such as their titles, by general usage, law and parliamentary procedure require and/or indicate and such as my from time to time be assigned to them respectively, individually and/or collectively, by the Board of Directors.

Article 8 - Committees

The President shall, within thirty days after his election, appoint a membership committee, a finance committee and an Auditing committee and such other committees as may in his judgment and/or the judgment of the Board of Directors be expedient and necessary for the conduct of the business of the Chamber. It shall be the function of the committees to investigate, recommend and report to the Board of Directors on matters coming within their jurisdiction and no standing or special committee shall represent the Chamber in advocacy of or opposition to any movement or project without the specific direction of the Board of Directors.

Article 9 - Seal

The Chamber of Commerce shall have a seal of such design as the Board of Directors may adopt.

Article 10 - Parliamentary Rules

The proceedings of the meeting of members and Board of Directors shall be governed by and conducted in accordance with the latest edition of Roberts rules of Order.

Article 11 - Disbursements

No disbursements of the funds of the Chamber shall be made unless the same shall have been approved and ordered by the Board of Directors. All disbursements shall be made by check, signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the President, upon written order of the Secretary. No appropriations of money or other property of the Chamber shall be made for any purpose other than to defray the legitimate expenses of the Chamber, except of affirmative vote of three fourths of the Directors present at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors.

Article 12 - Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Chamber shall begin on the 1st day of July and end on the 30th day of June each year. The term of all officers and committees shall run with the fiscal year.

Article 13 - Dues

Section 1

The annual dues of each member of the Edinburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Incorporated, shall be fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section (i) of the charter. Dues shall be payable as provided by the Board of Directors in advance

Section 2

If any member shall fail to pay his dues within three months after date of maturity, written notice of delinquency shall be given him at the end of the three month period. If at the end of ten days from the date of such notice he still remains delinquent, him membership shall be automatically terminated.

Article 14 - Amendments

These by-laws may be amended or altered as provided by section (k) of the Charter.