2. PRESIDENT:

a. On January 1 following the completion of his/her term, the President elect shall assume the office of President for one two year term or until a successor assumes the office of President. The President shall be eligible for re-election for one additional term.

b. The President shall preside at all business meetings of the Branch, the Board, and Executive Committee and shall represent the Branch at all meetings of The Association's Branch Council.

c. The President shall provide leadership to the Branch; shall be an ex-officio member of all committees, except the Nominating Committee; and shall perform such other duties as are incident to this office, or as may be properly required of the President by the actions of the Branch or the Board.

d. At the conclusion of the term of office, the President shall serve as an Ex-Officio member of the Board for one year.

e. The powers, duties, authority, and limitations of the position of the President shall devolve, temporarily, during any absence or disability of the President, to the President Elect, or, if there is no President Elect, upon the Vice President. The Executive Committee shall resolve any question about the existence or nonexistence of disability on the part of the President.

3. PRESIDENT ELECT:

a. In the annual election in 2006 and every two years thereafter, when the Nominating Committee determines that a President-elect shall be nominated, one individual, from among present or former Board members, shall be elected by the membership as the President Elect for a one year term.

b. On the January 1 following the conclusion of his/her term, the President Elect shall assume the office of President.

4. VICE PRESIDENT:

a. In an annual election in 2005 and every two years thereafter, one individual, from among present or former Board members, shall be elected by the membership as Vice-president for a two year term.

b. The Vice President shall be responsible for Branch programs, and such other duties as are necessary or assigned by the President or the Board. The Vice-president is eligible for re-election for one additional term.

5. SECRETARY:

a. In an annual election in 2004 and every two years thereafter, one individual, from among the Branch's membership, shall be elected by the membership as Secretary for a two year term. The Secretary is eligible for re-election for one additional term.

b. The Secretary or in his/her absence, a Secretary pro tem appointed by the President, shall take attendance and minutes at all meetings of the Board and the Executive Committee; present minutes to the Board, the Advisory Board, the International Office, and the President of The Association. The Secretary shall keep a record of all of the proceedings of the Branch.

c. The Secretary shall ensure that all amendments to the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws, and other corporate documents are properly recorded and distributed.

d. The Secretary shall ensure that any new policies enacted by the Board are added to the Branch's policy manual.

e. The Secretary shall cause to be received, all ballots, coordinate the counting of the same, and report the results of all Branch elections and votes to the membership of the Branch and to The Association. A member of the Branch may cast his/her ballot in person at the Annual Meeting or by mailed ballot, provided such ballot reaches the Secretary before the polls are declared closed at the beginning of the business session of the Annual Meeting.

f. The Secretary shall maintain a roster of current Directors and Officers including their current addresses and telephone numbers, and shall maintain a current member roster including addresses and telephone numbers.

g. The Secretary shall perform such other duties as are necessary or assigned by the President or the Board.

6. TREASURER:

a. In an annual election in 2005 and every two years thereafter, one individual, from among the Branch's membership, shall be elected by the membership as Treasurer for a two year term. The Treasurer is eligible for re-election for 1 additional term.

b. The Treasurer or bonded agent appointed by the Treasurer, with the approval of the Board, shall receive and deposit in a depository designated by the Board; all funds collected by and paid to the Branch; keep available accurate and current accounts of all such receipts and disbursements; render to the President and the Board an account of the financial condition of the Branch semiannually; render to the Executive Committee an account of the financial condition of the Branch quarterly; have power to sign checks, and to endorse, for collection only, all check drafts and other negotiable instruments payable to the Branch; and acts as chairperson of the Budget and Finance Committee. All checks in the amount of $1000 and over must have prior approval of the President and/or approval by the Board.

7. IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT:

At the conclusion of his/her term, the President shall serve a one year term as a member of the Board in the position of Immediate Past President. Thereafter, for a period of one year, the individual shall be ineligible for election to the Board.

8. REPLACEMENTS:

a. In the event of the removal, resignation, or death of the President, the President Elect, shall assume the office of President, finishing the remainder of that term, and then continue with his/her regular two year term. If there is no President elect, the Vice President shall assume the duties of the President until such time as the Nominating Committee can meet and nominate a replacement, subject to election by the affirmative votes of a simple majority of the total members of the Board. Upon election the replacement shall immediately assume the office of President and shall serve out the balance of the unexpired term.

b. In the event of the removal, resignation, or death of the President elect, the Nominating Committee shall nominate a replacement, subject to election by affirmative votes of a simple majority of the total members of the Board. Upon election the replacement shall immediately assume the office of President-elect and shall serve out the balance of the unexpired term, at which time, he/she will assume the office of President.

c. In the event of the removal, resignation, or death of the Vice President, the Secretary, or the Treasurer, the President shall nominate a replacement, subject to election by the affirmative votes of a simple majority of the total members of the Board. Consideration should be given to recommendations from the Nominating Committee. Upon election the replacement shall immediately assume office and shall serve out the balance of the unexpired term.

9. DETRIMENTAL ACTIONS:

An Officer may be removed from office by the affirmative votes of a simple majority of the total members of the Board when the actions of the Officer are judged detrimental to the Branch.

10. ASSUMPTION OF OFFICE:

The Officers, Directors, and members of the Nominating Committee shall assume office on January 1 following their election at the Annual Meeting.


ARTICLE V BOARD OF DIRECTORS

1. There shall be a Board vested with the authority and responsibility for establishing policy, managing all affairs of the Branch, and advancing the interests of the Branch in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the Branch and the Bylaws of The Association.

2. The Board of Directors shall consist of its Officers and not less than 12 elected members of the Branch, to be known as Directors. All voting members of the Board must be members of the Branch.

3. Directors of the Board shall be elected for a term of three years. Following the completion of two full consecutive terms, a Director shall be ineligible for reelection for a period of one year. Elections for 2005 shall be slated to supplement existing terms of office such that one third of the directors' terms will expire in 2006, one third in 2007, and one third in 2008. In following years, terms of office will continue to be slated in the same manner.

4. Directors shall assume office on January 1 following their election at the Annual Meeting.

5. No employee of the Branch or The Association shall be eligible for nomination or election as a Director or Officer or appointment to any of the Branch's committees.

6. There shall be at least four meetings of the Board per year. In addition, the Board may meet as many times and in such places as it shall deem necessary for the fulfillment of its duties.

7. The President must call a meeting of the Board upon the written request of five members of the Board and the reason for such meeting must be stated in advance.

8. Notice of meetings of the Board, including date, time, and purpose of said meeting, shall be sent to the members at least two weeks in advance of the meeting unless a condition of emergency exists.

9. A majority of the entire membership of the Board, in addition to the President or the presiding Officer, shall constitute a quorum.

10. A Director may be removed from the Board by the affirmative votes of a majority of the members of the board when the actions of the Director are judged to be detrimental to the Branch.

11. In the event of the removal, resignation, or death of a Director, the President shall nominate a replacement, subject to election by affirmative votes of a simple majority of the total members of the Board. Consideration should be given to recommendations from the Nominating Committee. The replacement shall immediately assume the position and shall serve out the balance of the unexpired term. If the term is less than a one half term, the replacement is eligible to be elected to two full terms in his/her own right. If the remainder of the term is longer than a one half term, the replacement is eligible to be elected to one further successive term.

12. All voting members of the Board shall serve without compensation.

13. Each Board member, present or past, shall be indemnified to the extent of the Branch's insurance coverage against liabilities and reasonable costs and expenses incurred as a result of any suit or proceeding in which he/she may be involved because of such office. Such indemnification shall exclude liability or expense incurred by action known at the time by such person to be unlawful, or arising from willful malfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties of such office.

14. Any money raising activity or solicitation of gifts or grants by the Branch shall conform strictly to policies approved by The Association.

15. Upon dissolution of the corporation, the Board shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all of the liabilities of the corporation, dispose of all assets for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall distribute assets to the federal, state, or local government for a public purpose. Any remaining assets, not so disposed of, shall be disposed of by a court of competent jurisdiction, in the county in which the principle office of the organization is then located, exclusively for public purposes.

ARTICLE VI EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

1. The Executive Committee shall consist of all Officers of the Branch: the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and when in effect, the President-elect, and/or the Immediate Past-president, and one member of the Board appointed by the President.

2. The Executive Committee shall:

a. act in lieu of the Board between Board meetings;

b. carry out directives of the Board;

c. determine the duties, responsibilities, and salaries of any employees;

d. review any salaries annually prior to formulation of the budget by the Budget and Finance Committee; and

e. approve the auditor as recommended by the Budget and Finance Committee.

3. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be called at the discretion of the President.

4. A quorum of the Executive Committee shall consist of a majority of the committee's current membership.

5. The minutes of all meetings of the Executive Committee shall be recorded by the Secretary or other Officer designated by the President in the Secretary's absence and shall be sent to all members of the Board, the International Office, and the President of The Association by the Secretary.

ARTICLE VII COMMITTEES
1. COMMITTEES:

The standing committees of the Board shall be the Budget and Finance, Membership, and Nominating committees and any other such standing committees as determined by the Board that are required to conduct the purposes and goals of the Branch. Ad hoc committees may be established by the President with the approval of the Board.

2. APPOINTMENT TO COMMITTEES:

The chairperson and members of each committee, unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws or Board policies, shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the President. Each committee chairperson shall be accountable to the Board as a whole.

3. BUDGET RESPONSIBILITIES:

Annually, and in a timely fashion, each chairperson shall submit a budget request to the Treasurer covering the proposed activities of that committee for the ensuing fiscal year.

4. LIMITATIONS ON EXPENSES:

No chairperson or member of a committee shall, beyond the limits of the approved budget, expend or commit money without prior approval of the Board.

5. THE BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE:

This committee shall consist of the Treasurer, who shall be chairperson and at least two other members of the board. It shall:

a. prepare annually for Board approval a budget of estimated revenue and expenses;

b. ensure that the branch is in compliance with all state and federal financial filing requirements;

c. provide a set of guidelines for the collection, disbursement, and deposit of money;

d. study and recommend investment and financial policies;

e. investigate the availability of grants from foundations and other sources;

f. determine ways in which revenue may be obtained from materials which may be rented or sold to the public; and

g. make recommendations regarding the aforementioned to the Board.

6. THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE:

This committee shall consist of a Chairperson and at least two other members of the Branch.

The committee shall:

a. promote growth of the Branch, and

b. develop recruitment and retention strategies

7. THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE

a. This committee shall consist of three members, adequately distributed professionally and geographically, who shall serve one year terms. Two of the members shall be elected by the members at the time of the Annual Elections and one member shall be nominated by the President and elected by the Board of Directors.

The chairperson shall be appointed annually by the President from among the members of the Nominating Committee. Nominating Committee members are eligible for two additional terms.

b. No employee of the Branch or The Association shall serve on the Nominating Committee.

c. The committee shall:

1) encourage all members of the Branch to suggest candidates for vacancies and give full consideration to all such suggestions;

2) complete a slate of recommended candidates for all vacancies that are to be filled at the Annual Meeting by election by the members of the Branch. This Committee shall present the proposed slate of prospective nominees for election which includes the forthcoming Nominating Committee members, all Officers, and any existing vacancies to the Board.

These recommendations shall be made no later than six weeks before the Annual Meeting at which such elections shall occur;

3) include in such slate any nominations for a particular vacancy that is supported by a petition bearing the signature of not less than twenty members of the Branch, provided that:

a) the petitioning members are adequately distributed geographically,

b) the petition candidate(s) meets the eligibility requirements for the named position and if elected is willing to serve the position for the specified term,

c) the nomination is submitted in writing at least eight weeks in advance of the Annual Meeting, and

d) the petition is accompanied by biographical information of the type required by the Nominating Committee guidelines;

4) ensure that the slate submitted to the members of the Branch by the Nominating Committee shall offer candidates for election to the next Nominating Committee, officership, and Directorship that is to be filled at the time;

5) ensure that the slate of Officers, Directors, and Nominating Committee shall be mailed on an official printed ballot and sent to the most recent known address of each member of the Branch;

6) recommend to the Board the names of candidates to fill any vacant or expired term of a member of the Board unless otherwise stated in these Bylaws;

7) keep current a cumulative roster of those who have served and are serving as Directors, Officers and/or Committee Chairpersons and members, by which the Nominating Committee and its successors shall determine eligibility for possible re-nomination; and

8) keep current a cumulative roster of other members who may be considered as possible future candidates.

d. In the event of a vacancy on the Nominating Committee such member shall be promptly replaced by election by 2/3 of the entire membership of the Board of Directors.


ARTICLE VIII MEETINGS OF MEMBERS

1. An Annual Meeting of the membership shall be held in the Fall for the purpose of transacting the business of the Branch and electing Directors, Officers, and Nominating Committee members. Advance notice of such meetings and ballots shall be mailed to each member in order to permit a period of one month to elapse before closing the polls.

2. Special meetings of the Branch may be called by the President, the Board of Directors, or upon the written request of ten members in good standing and approved by the President and Board of Directors. Notice of such meetings, with a statement of the business for which it is to be called, shall be given at least four weeks in advance.

3. Members present at any meeting of the membership shall constitute a quorum for that meeting.


ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS

1. The Bylaws may be amended, added to, or rescinded by the following method:
The proposition may be submitted by any member, in writing, to the Board. If the proposition receives the affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members of the Board, it shall be submitted for review and approval to the Chair of the appropriate committee of The Association, then, to the membership, in writing, either immediately or at the time of the Annual Meeting. The urgency of the proposition shall be determined by the Board. Two thirds vote of the members voting shall carry the proposition.

2. A period of one month shall be allowed from the time of mailing for the members to cast their votes.

3. If any amendment(s) to these Bylaws is being submitted to the membership for action, the ballot shall provide space for voting on such amendment(s) and shall be accompanied by the written text of such amendment(s)


ARTICLE X PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

1. The rules contained in ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, NEWLY REVISED shall govern the Branch in all cases to which they are applicable and are not inconsistent with the Bylaws of the Branch.

2. A member of the Board shall be appointed by the President, with the approval of the Directors, to the position of Parliamentarian and shall advise upon the propriety of procedure and of amendment.