Bozeman BPW

BOZEMAN BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S ORGANIZATION BYLAWS (BPW/USA Mandatory Clauses are Underlined)

Section l The name of this local organization shall be the Bozeman Business and Professional Women’s Organization of Bozeman, Montana.

Section 2 It is a member of the Montana Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Organizations, and of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. of the United States of America, known as and hereafter referred to as BPW/USA.

The mission of this local organization shall be to achieve equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education and information.

The emblem shall be in the form of a circle in which the symbols of the Nike, Scroll, Torch, Wand, and Ship of Commerce are imposed above the initials NFBPWC.

Section l This local organization shall be nonsectarian, nonpartisan, and nonprofit.

Section 2 The mission and objectives and the policies and procedures of the state and national federations as applicable shall in every case also be the mission, objectives, and policies and procedures of this local organization.

Section l Membership shall be held by individuals who support the mission and objectives of BPW/USA. Membership categories shall be:

(b) Student - Individuals enrolled in college or a university, or any other accredited educational institution above the high school level;

Section 2 Membership in this local organization shall be all-inclusive for membership in:

(b) The National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs of the United States of America (BPW/USA).

Section 3 A member in good standing may request transfer from one local organization to another.

Section 4 A local organization may not refuse to accept the transfer of a member in good standing.

Section 5 The only criteria for membership shall be per Article V, Section l and the payment of appropriate dues.

(a) Shall maintain a membership of at least five (5) members and/or student members;

(c) Shall insure that the local organization bylaws are current and not in conflict with state and national bylaws and policies.

Section 2 Should membership fall below five (5) members and/or student members, this local organization shall be dropped from the state and national federation at the end of the second fiscal year.

Section 1 Dues are payable upon application for membership and renewable annually on the first day of the following month.

Section 2 Member Affiliated with a Local Organization
Annual dues for each member affiliated with a local organization shall include local, district, state, national, foundation dues as specified in the current respective bylaws. (See Appendix A for current amount). State dues shall include a subscription to the official state publication.

Section 3 Student
Annual dues for each student affiliated with a local organization shall include local, district, state, national, and foundation dues as specified in the current respective bylaws. (See Appendix A for current amounts). State dues shall include a subscription to the official state publication.

Section 4 Each local organization shall pay national annual convention dues of ten dollars ($10.00). National Convention dues are collected by BPW/USA on October 31st of each year by deducting the amount from membership renewal funds.

Section 5 A continuing member is one whose dues are paid in the same local organization through the close of the previous fiscal year.

Section 6 A member is in good standing only when local organization, state and national dues are paid.

Section 7 A member who does not pay dues within sixty (60) days of their annual renewal date shall be removed from the local organization roster.

Section 8 A person who has been removed from the local organization roster for nonpayment of current dues may be reinstated upon payment of dues for local organization, state and national.

Section l The fiscal year shall commence on the first day of June and shall end of the 31^st day of May.

Section 2 An auditor or auditing committee of three (3) members shall be appointed by the executive committee in May. The auditor or committee shall perform a special review procedures engagement of the treasurer’s records within sixty (60) days after the close of the Treasurer’s term of office and shall report to the local organization at the next regular meeting.

Section l The officers shall be a president, a first vice-president, a second vice president, a corresponding secretary, a recording secretary, and a treasurer.

Section 3 Officers shall assume their duties immediately following their installation at the second May meeting and shall serve for one year or until their successors are duly elected.

Section l Officers shall be elected at the local organization’s business meeting in May.

Section 3 At the first meeting in March, a nominating committee shall be appointed, consisting of three (3) members. The nominating committee shall present to the April meeting a slate of one or more nominees for each office. Nominations may also be made from the floor.

Section 4 Officers may be censured or removed from office for improper conduct or dereliction of duties in office. This action requires written notification specifying the reasons, to all members ten days (10) before a vote is scheduled, and will require a 2/3 vote of all members present.

(a) In the event of death, resignation, removal or incapacity of the president, the first vice-president shall become the president for the unexpired term of the term;

(b) Vacancies in offices other than president shall be filled for the unexpired term by the executive committee.

Section 6 No member shall hold the same office for more than two consecutive terms.

Section 7 Six months or more shall be considered a term of office in determining eligibility for re-election.

Section 1 The president shall be the principal officer of the local organization and shall:

(a) Preside at all meetings of the local organization, the board of directors, and the executive committee;

(b) Appoint the standing and special committee chairs with the approval of the executive committee, and may also appoint a parliamentarian;

(c) Have the authority with the approval of the executive committee to remove any appointee who fails to perform the duties of the assigned position.

(e) Bring to the attention of the local organization all pertinent information from the state and national federations;

(f) Authorize all expenditures according to financial policies of the local organization.

(1) The names and addresses of all officers and chairs immediately following their election or appointment;

(h) Prepare the President’s annual report for the state president, and submit to the state president by April 15 of each year for inclusion in the state convention manual.

(a) Perform the duties of the president in the absence of the president and act in an advisory capacity at all times;

(b) Become president for the unexpired term in case of the death or resignation, removal, or incapacity of the president;

(a) Perform the duties of the president and first vice-president in their absence and shall act in an advisory capacity at all times;

(b) Become president for the unexpired term in case of the death or resignation, removal, or incapacity of both the president and first vice-president;

(a) Take and record accurate minutes of the proceedings of all meetings of the local organization, the board of directors and the executive committee and see that they are posted on the Bozeman BPW website;

(b) Preserve, in a permanent file, all records and letters of value to the local organization and its officers, including official corporation documents, such as the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws (it is suggested that Bylaws be maintained on a computer diskette for easier updating).

(a) Have charge of all monies of the local organization and shall report thereon at all regular meetings;

(d) Pay all bills upon the written authorization of the president and finance chair; and obtain 2 signatures on all withdrawals;

(e) Keep an itemized record, in a permanent file, of all receipts and expenditures and give a written report of the same at frequent intervals;

(f) Forward promptly to the treasurer of the state federation all monies payable to the state federation; forward promptly to BPW/USA all funds payable to the national federation and all local, state and national dues for all new members;

(g) Pay district dues, based on the previous fiscal year’s membership as of May 31, to the secretary/treasurer of district prior to Spring District Conference.

(i) Deliver to the successor within 35 days after expiration of term of office, all books, records, and papers.

Section 7 Each officer, except the treasurer, shall deliver to the successor immediately after retiring from office all accounts, records, books, papers and other property belonging to the local organization. A report of any special procedures and any recommendations should be included.

Section 1 Regular meetings shall be held at least monthly The time and dates of the meetings will be set by the Board of Directors.

Section 2 It is suggested that one meeting of the month shall be a business meeting, and the second be a program meeting, at which time some phase of the year’s program shall be developed. The business meeting in May shall be designated the annual meeting, at which time reports summarizing the year’s activities shall be given.

Section 3 Special meetings may be called by the president or any five members, provided all members are notified of time, place, and purpose of such meeting.

Section 5 No member shall have more than one vote, and no voting by proxy shall be allowed.

Section l The elected officers and standing committee chairs shall constitute a board of directors.

(d) Transact any business between meetings of the local organization and report thereon at the next business meeting.

Section 3 The board of directors shall hold a minimum of four meetings during the year, the dates to be determined by the board at its first meeting.

Section 4 Special meetings of the board of directors may be called by the president or by one-third of the board members provided two are elected officers.

Section 6 No member shall have more than one vote and no voting by proxy shall be allowed.

Section l The elected officers of the local organization shall constitute the executive committee.

Section 2 The executive committee shall have authority to act for the board of directors between meetings of the board, and shall report thereon at the next meeting of the board.

Section 3 The executive committee shall meet on call by the president, or by any two members of the committee, for the consideration of special matters between regular meetings of the local organization and the board of directors.

Section 4 Standing and special committee appointments made by the president shall be subject to the approval of the executive committee.

Section 5 A majority of the voting members shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of the executive committee.

Section 6 No member shall have more than one vote, and no voting by proxy shall be allowed.

Section l The standing committees of the local organization shall be finance, foundation, issues management, legislation, membership, media relations, individual development program, and Young Careerist.

Section 2 To be eligible to serve as a chair or as a member of a standing committee, a member must:

Section 3 Committee chairs and members shall be appointed for a term of one year and may be reappointed. No committee chair shall serve as chair more than three consecutive years on the same committee.

Section 4 The finance committee shall be composed of a chair and at least two members. The treasurer shall serve as an ex-officio member. It shall be the duty of the finance committee to prepare an annual budget for the local organization, to have general supervision of all expenditures, and to assist the local organization in developing a sound financial policy. The finance chair shall be a member ex-officio without vote, of all committees which disburse money.

Section 5 The foundation chair shall promote interest in and support of the National and State Business and Professional Women’s Foundation.

Section 6 The issues management committee shall be composed of a chair and the chairs of other standing and special and optional committees. The chair shall be the first vice-president. It shall be the duty of the issues management committee to plan and implement a well coordinated annual program based on federation objectives. The committee shall meet immediately after appointment to consider the annual program suggested by state and national federations and develop a program which shall involve all areas of local organization activities. The issues management chair shall present the annual program to the board of directors for approval.

Section 7 The legislation committee shall be composed of a chair and at least two members. It shall be the duty of the legislation committee to carry out the legislative programs adopted by the state and national federations. The committee shall study local legislative needs in order to make recommendations to the local organization.

Section 8 The membership committee shall be composed of a chair and at least two members. The chair shall be the second vice-president. It shall be the duty of the membership committee to promote, expand, stabilize, orient the membership, and maintain membership records.

Section 9 The media relations committee shall be composed of a chair and at least two members. It shall be the duty of the media relations committee to present national, state and local programs and activities through available news media.

Section 10 The individual development program planning committee will be composed of a chair and at least two members. It shall be the duty of the individual development program planning committee to provide training and practice opportunities in public speaking, general communication, job performance skills for women, parliamentary procedure and mission/vision of BPW/USA.

Section 11 The Young Careerist committee will be composed of a chair and at least two members. It shall be the duty of the Young Careerist committee to develop and coordinate programs for young women. The Young Careerist committee shall:

Section 12 Optional committees may be developed to meet the current needs of the local organization in promoting special interests of the membership. The issues management committee shall present such committees for approval of the board of directors each year.

Section 1 Representation at the State Convention shall be by members of this local organization.

Section 2 No individual shall have more than one vote and no voting by proxy shall be allowed.

The rules of parliamentary procedure comprised in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern all proceedings of the local organization, the board of directors, and the executive committee, subject to such special rules as have been or may be adopted.

Section 1 Amendments to these bylaws may be proposed by the board of directors, the executive committee, or the bylaws committee.

Section 2 All proposed amendments, except mandatory provisions are not voted upon, shall be sent to every member at least ten (10) days before they are to be voted upon.

Section 3 All proposed amendments shall be presented to the board of directors prior to presentation to the local organization.

Section 4 These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at any regular meeting.

Section 5 The final adoption by the local organization of amendments to or revisions of these bylaws shall be contingent upon the approval of the state president.

Section 6 When an amendment is adopted to national or state bylaws which affects local organization bylaws, the local organization shall automatically amend its bylaws to conform. The Model Local Organization bylaws are automatically amended as well. Any conflict shall be resolved in accordance with state and national federation policy and procedure.

Upon dissolution of this organization all of its assets remaining after payment of all costs and expenses of such dissolution shall be distributed to a BPW state federation, a BPW district, a BPW local organization, the BPW foundation, or a State BPW Foundation that has qualified for exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and state tax regulations. None of the assets will be distributed to any member, officer, or trustee of this organization.

Bozeman BPW
P.O. Box 644
Bozeman, MT 59771