Bylaws of Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin, Inc.
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the Corporation shall be DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION OF WISCONSIN, INC.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSES AND POWERS
2.1 Purpose. The purpose of the Corporation shall be to provide individuals with Down syndrome the opportunity to achieve their full potential and to encourage and support their full participation in community life; to promote positive awareness of Down syndrome; to facilitate positive self esteem in individuals with Down syndrome.
2.2 Powers. The Corporation shall enjoy all powers allowed to nonprofit corporations by Chapter 181 of the Wisconsin Statutes and the United States Internal Revenue Code except as may otherwise be provided by the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
2.3 Limitations. No part of the net earnings of the Corporation shall inure to the benefit of or be distributable to its directors, officers, or other private persons, except that the Corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments in furtherance of the purposes set forth herein.
ARTICLE III
OFFICES
3.1 Registered Office and Agent. The address of the initial registered office of the Corporation is 9401 W. Beloit Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53227, and the name of the initial registered agent at this address is Gary Zanoni. Either may be changed as provided by law, and the bylaws shall be deemed to be amended accordingly.
3.2 Other Offices. The Corporation may have offices at such place or places as the Board of Directors may from time to time appoint or the business of the Corporation may require or make desirable.
ARTICLE IV
DIRECTORS
4.1 General Powers. The Board of Directors, hereinafter referred to as the Board, shall have the authority to control and manage the affairs and property of the Corporation, to adopt rules and regulations governing the action of the Board, staff, and volunteers. The Board shall have authority to engage such employees, consultants, contractors, etc. as it may deem necessary and proper to carry out the purposes of the Corporation as set forth in the Articles of Incorporation. In addition to the powers and authority by these Bylaws expressly conferred upon it, the Board may exercise all powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not prohibited by law, by the Articles of Incorporation or by these Bylaws.
4.2 Number of Directors. The Board shall consist of no less than three (3) Directors, with such maximum of Directors as may be established from time to time by a two-thirds vote of the Board.
4.3 Election and Term of Office. New Board members shall be nominated and elected at any Board meeting by majority vote of the Board to serve for 3 year terms, or until their successors are elected. The Chairman may call for a voice vote instead of a ballot. Their terms of office shall begin at the close of the Board meeting at which they are elected.
4.4 Vacancies. Vacancies in the Board which occur between annual meetings shall be filled by two-thirds vote of the remaining Board members for the unexpired portion of the term of the vacancy.
4.5 Removal. Any Board member may be removed by two-thirds vote of the full Board then in office. Removal of a Board member will be based on the following criteria:
4.51 absence from three consecutive Board meetings or six Board meetings a year; 4.52 failure to fulfill specified duties; 4.53 conflict of interest, disloyalty, unbecoming conduct, or any public action bringing discredit to the Corporation.
4.6 Resignation. A Board member may resign by giving written notice to the Chairperson, to be effective on the date therein specified.
4.7 Compensation. Directors shall not be compensated for serving in the capacity of Director. The Corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered, and to make payments in furtherance of the purposes set forth herein.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
5.1 Titles and Duties. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board and shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. These officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these Bylaws, and as follows:
5.11 President. The President shall be subject to the direction of the Board, serve as the official representative of the Corporation and as its spokesperson on matters of corporation policy and positions, and shall serve as an exofficio member of all committees. The President shall perform all duties incident to the office, and other duties as may be assigned by the Board.
5.12 Vice President. The Vice President shall perform all duties and exercise all powers of the President when the President is absent or otherwise unable to act. The Vice President shall perform such other duties as assigned by the Board.
5.13 Secretary. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meeting of the Board, shall be the custodian of corporate records, shall give notices as are required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation, or by the Bylaws, or any duties which may be assigned by the Board.
5.14 Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of all funds of this Corporation, shall insure that all funds are deposited as required by the Board, shall insure that adequate and correct accounts of the Corporations properties and business transactions are kept and maintained, shall render reports and accounting to the Board as required by the Board, or by law, and shall perform in general all duties assigned by the Board.
5.15 Other agents of the Corporation may be appointed by the Board as it deems necessary and shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. They shall have only such authority and shall perform only such duties as shall be delagated to them by the Board.
5.2 Election. The officers shall be elected at the annual meeting by a majority vote of the Board to serve for one year or until their successors are elected. Voting may be by voice or ballot. Their terms of office shall begin at the close of the annual meeting at which they are elected. The Board Chairman may call for a voice vote instead of a ballot vote at the annual meeting.
5.3 Restrictions on Office. No officer may hold more than one office at a time unless approved by the Board.
5.4 Resignation. Any officer or agent may resign by giving written notice to the President.
5.5 Removal. Any officer may be removed from office, or agent removed from service, by two-thirds vote of the Board.
5.6 Vacancies. Vacancies in any office shall be filled by majority vote of the full Board from the unexpired term of the office.
ARTICLE VI
MEETINGS
6.1 Regular. Regular meetings of the Board shall be held at a time and place to be determined by the Board.
6.2 Annual. The Annual Meeting of the Corporation shall be held in September of each calenday year at such time and place to be determined by the Board. At such Annual Meeting Officers and Board members shall be elected and other appropriate business may be transacted.
6.3 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairperson of the Board. Any and all business to be transacted at any special meeting shall be specified in the notice thereof. Any and all business shall be transacted at any special meeting.
6.4 Notice of Meetings. Notice of the time and place of each annual, regular, or special meeting of the Board shall be given by or at the direction of the person or persons calling the meeting. Notice of the annual and special meetings shall be mailed to each Board member at least five (5) days prior to the meeting. Notices of regular and annual meetings need not specify the business to be transacted.
6.5 Quorum and Vote Required for Action. At all meetings of the Board, the presence of the majority of the number of Directors then in office shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The act of the majority of the Directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by law, by the Articles of Incorporation, or by the Bylaws. In the absence of a quorum a majority of the Directors present at any meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum be established.
6.6 Action by Directors Without a Meeting. Any action required or permitted of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if written consent is signed by all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, and is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board or committee.
6.7 Proxy Votes. Directors may not vote by proxy.
6.8 Procedure of Meetings. Every meeting of the Board shall be presided over by the Chairperson of the Board, or in the absence of that officer, by the Vice Chairperson. The Secretary of the Board shall act as the Secretary of the meeting, but in the absence of the Secretary, the presiding officer may appoint any person to act as Secretary of the meeting. All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the parliamentary authority described by these Bylaws or otherwise adopted by the Board.
ARTICLE VII
COMMITTEES
7.1 Appointment. With the exception of the Executive Committee, over which the President shall preside, each committee chairperson shall be appointed by the Chairperson of the Board. All committee appointments expire at the end of the corporate year but not until successors are appointed.
7.2 Committees. The general membership by resolution adopted by a majority of the general membership may designate one or more committees, each of which shall consist of two or more members, which committees to the extent provided in said resolution or by these Bylaws shall have and exercise the authority of the general membership in the management of the organization.
7.3 Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and such other members as the Board may appoint. Meetings of the Executive Committee may be called during intervals between meetings of the general membership by the President or Secretary or when requested by any two members of the Executive Committee. All actions of the Executive Committee between meetings of the general membership shall be presented to the membership at its next succeeding meeting. A simple majority of members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting thereof. The act of a majority of the members of the Executive Committee present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Executive Committee.
7.4 Other Committees. The general membership may authorize such other committees, including both standing and ad hoc committees, as it may deem advisable from time to time for the purpose of advising or aiding the officers in the management of the affairs of the Corporation. Such committees shall have such authorities and duties as the membership may from time to time prescribe.
ARTICLE VIII
MEMBERSHIP
8.1 Membership. The Board of Directors may admit persons to membership in the Corporation on and subject to the terms and conditions of the Articles of Incorporation and these Bylaws. Members shall not have any property rights in the assets of the Corporation. A member pays nominal annual dues for which he/she receives meeting notices and publications. A member has a right to nominate officers and Board members from the floor and vote at the Annual Meeting.
8.2 Regular Meetings. General Membership meetings shall be held at least annually, at a time and place to be determined by the Board.
8.3 Annual Meetings. The Annual Meeting of the membership shall be held in September of each calendar year at such time and place to be determined by the Board. At such Annual Meeting, the President, Officers and Directors of the Board shall be elected as appropriate by a majority of the ballots submitted by mail.
8.4 Dues. The Board shall establish annual dues at each Annual Meeting.
ARTICLE IX
PRESIDENT
9.1 Election. The President shall be elected by the membership.
9.2 Term of Office. The President shall serve a three year term.
9.3 Duties and Responsibilities. The President shall be the principal executive officer and shall in general supervise all of the business and affairs of the Corporation. The President shall preside at all meetings of the general membership. The President may sign, with the secretary, or any other proper office authorized by the general membership, any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts or other instruments, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the general membership or by these Bylaws or by statute or by statute to some other officer or agent of the Corporation; and shall in general perform all duties as may be prescribed by the general membership from time to time.
9.4 Compensation. The President shall not be compensated for services to the Corporation except as allowed by the Board.
ARTICLE X
CONTRACTS, CHECKS, BANK ACCOUNTS, AND INVESTMENTS
10.1 Checks, Notes, and Contracts. The Board is authorized to select such banks for depositories as it shall deem proper for the funds of the Corporation. The Board shall determine who shall be authorized from time to time, on the Corporation’s behalf, to sign checks, drafts, or other orders for the payment of money, acceptances, notes or other evidences of indebtedness, to enter into contracts or execute and deliver documents and other instruments.
ARTICLE XI
INDEMNIFICATION
11.1 Indemnification. The Corporation may, in its discretion and to the fullest extent allowed by applicable law, agree to indemnify any person from and or any claim, suit, action, proceeding, prosecution, judgment, fine, loss, damage, and/or cost including reasonable attorney’s fees, reasonably arising from the fact that said person, or his or her testator or intestate:
11.11 is or was a director, officer, employee, advisor, consultant, contractor, or agent of the Corporation; or
11.12 served any other corporations, organization, or enterprise in any legal capacity at the request of the Corporation; and so long as such liability reasonably arose from acts or omissions performed in good faith and reasonably believed to be in, or in the case of service for another corporation, organization, or enterprise, not reasonably opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and, with regard to criminal actions, were performed with reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was in fact lawful.
ARTICLE XII
AUDIT
12.1 AUDIT. At least 60 days prior to the close of the fiscal year, which date shall be determined by the Board, the Board shall appoint or retain a auditor who shall be responsible for preparing the Corporation’s Annual Financial Report.
ARTICLE XIII
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
13.1 Parliamentary Authority. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised as published by the trustees as Robert’s Rules Association, as amended, shall govern the Corporation in all cases to which they are applicable and not inconsistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of order that the Corporation may adopt from time to time.
ARTICLE XIV
AMENDMENT AND RESCINDING OF BYLAWS
14.1 Rescinding Prior Bylaws. By adopting the above Articles, all Bylaws of the Corporation existing prior to the adopting of said Articles are rescinded.
14.2 Amendment of Bylaws. These Bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Corporation by two-thirds vote of those present, providing that the amendment has been submitted in writing and distributed to each Board member at the previous regular meeting.
