Bylaws

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These are the official (but not the canonical) bylaws of the KGB organization. They are very important.

ARTICLE I. NAME AND OBJECTIVES

Section 1. Name

The name of the organization shall be KGB.

Section 2. Objectives

The objectives of the organization shall be:

• to promote a spirit of fellowship among its members.
• to take an active and positive role in campus life.

Section 3. No Profit

The organization shall not be conducted or operated for profit and no part of any profits or remainder or residue from dues, donations, or other sources of income to the organization shall inure to the personal benefit of any member or individual.

ARTICLE II. DEFINITIONS

Section 1. Standing Definitions

The terms defined as follows shall be considered standing definitions:

a. Majority

A majority shall be defined as a number greater then one-half (1/2), or fifty percent (50%), of the total.

b. Organization Quorum

A quorum of the organization is required in order to hold meetings as set forth in Article IV, Sections 1 and 2, and shall be either a majority of the voting members or seventy-five percent (75%) of the active members.

c. Board Quorum

A quorum of the Board is required in order to hold meetings set forth in Article IV, Sections 3, 4, and 5, shall be a majority of the Board members.

d. Written Petitions

All written petitions shall bear the signatures of either ten (10) members, or twenty percent (20%) of the voting membership, whichever is greater.

e. Member in Good Standing

A member is in good standing whose dues are current and whose other monetary obligations to the organization are fulfilled

1. within sixty (60) days of the obligation's creation, or
2. by the Annual Meeting (as defined in Art. VI, Sec. 2)

whichever comes first unless such obligations are created within seven (7) days prior to the Annual Meeting, in which case clause 2 shall not apply.

f. Voting Member

A voting member is a member in good standing who has attended at least one (1) previous meeting during their current term of membership.

g. Mailing

A mailing may be by physical or electronic means. Such mail must be individually addressed to each recipient, and may not only be to a single central bulletin board or other medium.

h. Active Member

An active member shall be a voting member who has attended at least one of the three (3) previous regular organization meetings as set forth in Article IV, Section 1 of these bylaws.

i. Annual Meeting

The annual meeting is the meeting at which the officers shall be elected for the ensuing year, and at which other significant business is conducted in accordance with these bylaws, and is described in Article VI, Section 2 of these bylaws.

j. Random Process

A random process shall be any method of choice which assigns an equal probability of selection to each option.

k. Duck

Anything that looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck.

l. Zombie Dollar

One zombie dollar is the equivalent of the fee assessed members with a body temperature equal to or less than fifty (50) degrees Fahrenheit, as defined in Article III, Section 2 of these bylaws.

m. Term of Membership

A member's term of membership is the length of time covered by their most recent payment of dues, or the period dating back to when they most recently became a member of KGB, whichever is shorter.

Section 2. Provisional Definitions

All terms not previously defined as standing Definitions shall be defined according to the current edition of MERRIAM-WEBSTER'S COLLEGIATE DICTIONARY.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership

Each individual voting member shall have one (1) vote. Each member shall receive one (1) copy of any notices, publications or other distributed documents of the organization.

Section 2. Becoming a Member

Any person whose dues have been paid to the Treasurer and whose body temperature is above fifty (50) degrees Fahrenheit shall be considered a member. However, the second requirement can be waived for the fee of six (6) dollars.

Section 3. Dues

Membership dues for the next year shall be suggested annually by the Executive Board in March, and approved or changed by the voting membership at the April meeting. Dues shall be payable on or before the thirtieth day of September each year.

Section 4. Termination

Memberships may be terminated voluntarily:

a. Resignation

Any member may resign from the organization upon written notice to the Recording Secretary.

b. Lapsed Memberships

A membership will be considered as lapsed and automatically terminated if such member's dues remain unpaid thirty (30) days after the deadline for payment of dues. However, the Executive Board may grant an additional thirty (30) days grace period to such delinquent members in exceptional cases. In no case may a person be entitled to vote at any organization meeting whose dues are unpaid as of the date of that meeting, or who are sixty (60) days in arrears of other monetary obligations to the organization.

Section 5. Refund of Dues

Membership dues will not be refunded either wholly or in part for any reason save extreme circumstances as determined by the membership.

Section 6. Benefits of Membership

All members in good standing shall receive all benefits of membership except as stipulated in the bylaws.

ARTICLE IV. MEETINGS AND VOTING

Section 1. Regular Organization Meetings

Regular meetings of the organization shall be held as directed by the Executive Board. Written notice of such meetings shall be mailed to the membership at least six (6) days prior to the date of the first such meeting of each semester by the Corresponding Secretary through the official organization newsletter or by other mailing, as well as upon any change in the announced time.

Section 2. Special Organization Meetings

Special meetings of the organization may be called by the President, or by a majority vote of the members of the Executive Board who are present and voting at any regular or special meeting of the Board, or by the Recording Secretary upon receipt of a written petition. Written notice of such meetings shall be mailed by the Corresponding Secretary at least three (3) and not more than fifteen (15) days prior to the date of the meeting. Such notice shall state the purpose(s) of the meeting, and no other organization business may be transacted thereat.

Section 3. Regular Executive Board Meetings

Regular meetings of the Executive Board shall be held as directed by the Board, with a minimum of two (2) such meetings per semester. Notice of such meetings shall be mailed to the membership at least six (6) days prior to the date of the first such meeting of each semester by the Corresponding Secretary and upon any change in the announced time. Such meetings shall be closed to non-members of the organization unless the individual(s) should be specifically invited by the Board, in which case the cause for the non-member presence shall be the first order of business, and after which the non-member may be asked to leave the meeting.

Section 4. Special Executive Board Meetings

Special meetings of the Executive Board may be called by the President, or by the Recording Secretary upon the receipt of a written petition signed by at least three (3) members of the Board. Notice of such meetings shall be given to the membership at least five (5) days prior to the meeting. Such notice shall state the purpose of the meeting and no other business may be transacted thereat. In addition, all restrictions in Section 3 of this article shall apply to special meetings of the Board.

Section 5. Emergency Board Meetings

Emergency meetings of the Board may be called by the President or First Vice-President and may be held by phone. Notice of such meetings shall be given to the officers at least one (1) day prior to the meeting. Any majority decision reached will be entered into the minutes of the next regular Board meeting.

Section 6. Voting

Each voting member shall be entitled to one (1) vote at any regular meeting of the organization at which the member is present. Absentee voting will be permitted only for elections. Absentee ballots must be submitted to all the election proctors at least twelve (12) hours in advance of the commencement of the Annual Meeting, unless the proctors decide to accept absentee ballots after this deadline. Absentee ballots may be submitted by electronic mail, in person, or by any other method the proctors deem acceptable.

ARTICLE V. OFFICERS AND REPRESENTATIVES

Section 1. Executive Board

The officers of the organization shall constitute the Executive board. The power necessary for the general management of the organization's affairs shall be entrusted to the Board, except as follows.

a. Supremacy of the Organization

The Board shall be subject to the orders of the organization, and none of its acts shall conflict with action taken by the organization, and the organization may countermand any decision of the board by a majority vote, thus opening up the question for consideration by the organization.

b. Distribution of Funds

The Board shall not distribute the organization's funds except as directed by the organization.

Section 2. Officers

The organization officers, consisting of the following, shall serve in their respective capacities both with regard to the organization and its meetings and the Board and its meetings.

a. President

The President shall preside at all meetings of the organization and of the Board, and shall have the duties and powers normally applicable to the office of President in addition to those provided for in these bylaws.

b. First Vice-President

The First Vice-President shall be in charge of fellowship and shall actively recruit new members.

c. Second Vice-President

The Second Vice-President shall be in charge of organizing fellowship activities.

d. Corresponding Secretary

The Corresponding Secretary shall have charge of all correspondence pertinent to the organization other than the correspondence reserved for the Recording Secretary and Treasurer. The Corresponding Secretary shall be the Editor of the organization Newsletter.

e. Recording Secretary

The Recording Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the organization and of the Board and of all matters of which a record shall be ordered by the organization. The Recording Secretary shall keep a roll of the members of the organization with applicable information, including attendance at meetings of the general body; furthermore, the Recording Secretary shall carry out such other duties as are prescribed in these bylaws, and shall have the duties and powers normally applicable to the office of Secretary, except for those duties and powers assigned to another officer by these bylaws. In the absence of the Recording Secretary, the duties and powers thereof shall be executed by the Corresponding Secretary, or in the absence thereof, the most senior officer present not presiding over the meeting.

f. Treasurer

The Treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys due or belonging to the organization, and shall deposit the same in a bank satisfactory to the Board, in the name of the organization. The Treasurer's books shall be open at all times to the inspection of the Board, and the Treasurer shall report to the Board and the general membership at every meeting the condition of the organization's finances. At the annual meeting, the Treasurer shall render an account of all moneys received and expended during the previous fiscal year. During the month of September the Treasurer shall mail to each member a statement of dues for the ensuing year. The Treasurer shall disperse funds as directed by the Executive Board. The Treasurer shall also be responsible for filing all financial forms applicable to the organization. In the absence of the Treasurer, the Recording Secretary shall record allocations made or debts incurred by or to the organization; however, the Recording Secretary shall not disburse or collect moneys, unless authorized so to do by the Board.

g. Sergeant-at-Arms

The Sergeant at Arms shall assist in preserving order as the chair may direct, and other duties as set forth in the standing rules of order.

Section 3. Officer Requirements

All Officers of the organization shall be voting members who are Activities Fee-paying students.

Section 4. Vacancies

Any vacancy of an officer position occurring on the Board during the year shall be filled for the unexpired term of office by a majority vote of all the remaining members of the Board by the second regular meeting of the board following the creation of such vacancy.

Section 5. Recall of Officers

Any officer may be recalled for misconduct or dereliction of duty. A written petition, stating the reason(s) for recall, shall be filed with the Board. Written notice of such a petition shall be mailed to the membership. At the next regular meeting at least six (6) days after the mailing, a hearing on the matter will be held and a two-thirds (2/3) vote will be required to sustain the recall.

Section 6. Seniority

Seniority of offices is: President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, and Sergeant-at-Arms.

ARTICLE VI. ORGANIZATION YEAR, ANNUAL MEETING, ELECTIONS

Section 1. Organization Year

The organization's fiscal year shall begin on the first day of September and end on the thirty-first day of August. The organization's official year shall begin immediately at the conclusion of the election at the annual meeting and shall continue through the election at the next annual meeting.

Section 2. Annual Meeting

No later than the last meeting in the month of December the board shall set the date for the Annual Meeting. The annual meeting shall be held in the month of April of each year. At the Annual Meeting the Officers for the ensuing year shall be elected by secret, written ballot from among those nominated in accordance with Section 4 of this article. They shall take office immediately upon the conclusion of the election and each retiring officer shall relinquish all properties and records relating to that office within fifteen (15) days after the election.

Section 3. Elections

The color of elections shall be purple.

a. Proctors

For the duration of the elections at the Annual Meeting, a set of at least three proctors shall preside and keep order at the meeting. Ballots shall be counted by at least two proctors. Proctors shall be ineligible to run in that year's elections. Proctors shall be voting members of the organization except as discussed in section VI.3.b.

b. Normal Proctor Selection

At least two weeks prior to the Annual Meeting, a slate of at least three consenting members shall be nominated as proctors at a meeting of the Board. A member shall not be nominated if any member of the Board objects. At any meeting of the general body thereafter prior to the Annual Meeting, the slate may be modified or approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote. At any such time, if it has not yet approved a slate of proctors, the organization may elect to request proctors from an external source with a two-thirds (2/3) vote.

c. Emergency Proctor Selection

If, at the Annual Meeting, less than three approved proctors are in attendance, the general body shall again have the opportunity to modify and approve the slate of proctors. If no proctors have yet been approved, after at least two failed votes to approve the current slate of proctors the chair may declare an impasse. In such an impasse, five present members not presently nominated for office shall be selected as proctors by random process; or, if five such members cannot be found, five members from the total attendance shall be so selected, but shall remain eligible for election.

d. Election Procedure

The election of each officer shall be concluded before the election of the next begins, and these elections shall be held in order of the chain of command. Write-in ballots or other invalid ballots shall be considered as abstentions. The candidate receiving a majority of the votes cast for each office shall be declared elected. In the case of an all-way tie, an additional round shall be run. Should the tie repeat, the winner shall be decided by the proctors of the election by random process. Otherwise, candidates shall be eliminated by the following method:

1. Sort candidates into tiers of people with the same number of votes.
2. Starting with the lowest ranking tier, remove tiers from the running in increasing order of rank until removing another would bring the total number of votes removed above 1/3. If there are no tiers with a number of votes below 1/3, remove the lowest ranking tier.
3. If more than one candidate remains, run another round.

The winner shall be announced by the election proctors. At least three of the election proctors shall sign a document in triplicate containing the names of the new executive board. Vote totals shall not be announced. The ballots shall be destroyed upon completion of the elections.

e. Election Quorum

Election of officers may proceed in the absence of quorum if the presence at the meeting of every absentee voter would be sufficient to reach quorum.

Section 4. Nominations

No person may be a candidate in an organization election who has not been nominated or who is not a voting organization member in good standing. During the last quarter of the official year the Executive Board shall select a Nominating Committee consisting of four (4) members willing to so serve, not more than one (1) of whom shall be a member of the Board. The Recording Secretary shall immediately notify the committee members of their selection. The Board shall name a Chairperson for the committee and it shall be this person's duty to call a committee meeting which shall be held on or before March 1. Once the first meeting has been held, the membership of this committee cannot be altered by the board. No person who has served on the Nominating Committee will be eligible to run in that year's elections.

a. Duties of the Nominating Committee

The committee shall encourage as many able members to nominate themselves for offices as possible. If any office has no nominations for candidates, one (1) week before nominations are closed, Nominating Committee shall nominate one (1) person to that position, and after securing the consent of each person so nominated, shall on or before the fourth day before nominations are closed report their nominations to both the Recording and Corresponding Secretaries in writing. Nominating Committee is to do everything in its power to maintain the appearance of neutrality.

b. Membership Notification of the Report of the Nominating Committee

Upon receipt of the Nominating Committee's report, the Corresponding Secretary shall on or before the third day before nominations are closed notify each member in writing of the candidates so nominated.

c. Ad hoc Nominations

Additional nominations may be made at any meeting after the report of the nominating committee and before the annual meeting by any member in attendance provided that the person so nominated does not decline when his or her name is proposed, and provided further that if the proposed candidate is not in attendance at this meeting, the proposer shall present to the Recording Secretary a written statement of the candidate's willingness to be so nominated. A voting member may be nominated and run for more than one (1) office, but shall only be allowed to hold one (1) office.

d. Membership Notification of the Final List of Nominees

Upon finalization of the nominations and at least three days before the annual meeting, the Corresponding Secretary shall notify each member in writing of the list of candidates.

e. Exclusion of Other Nominations

Nominations cannot be made at the annual meeting or in any manner other than as provided for in this section.

ARTICLE VII - COMMITTEES

Section 1. Ordinary Committees

The Board may each year appoint standing ordinary committees to advance the work of the organization. Special ordinary committees may also be appointed by the Board to aid it on particular projects. Such committees shall always be subject to the final authority of the Board.

Section 2. Revision of Ordinary Committees

Any ordinary committee appointment may be terminated by the Board upon written notice to the appointee, and the Board may appoint successors to those persons whose services have been terminated.

Section 3. Extraordinary Committees

The organization may appoint extraordinary committees to advance the work of the organization. Each such committee has an owner, who must be a member in good standing of the organization. The owner appoints and replaces the chair of the committee as deemed appropriate.

Section 4. Ownership of Extraordinary Committees

The owner of an extraordinary committee is determined by auction, the proceeds of which are payable to the organization. In the event of a vacancy in ownership of an extraordinary committee, the organization may fill the vacancy by auction.

Section 5. Voluntary Transfer of Ownership of Extraordinary Committees

The owner of an extraordinary committee may transfer the ownership of the committee to another member in good standing by notifying the Recording Secretary.

Section 6. Records of Committees

The Recording Secretary shall maintain a record of the membership of all ordinary committees and of the ownership of all extraordinary committees.

ARTICLE VIII. REPRIMAND, SUSPENSION, AND EXPULSION

Section 1. Responsibility

Any member of the organization shall be held accountable for any conduct considered injurious to the organization or its purposes and objectives. The gravity of such conduct shall first be considered at a hearing before the Executive Board. Considering said charges of conduct, the Board may, at its discretion, enforce any of the following punitive actions:

a. Reprimand

The Board may reprimand the member for minor offenses, which can include, but shall not be limited to, written reprimand, verbal warning, restitution, or organization service.

b. Suspension

For offenses of a more serious nature, the Board may suspend membership privileges of the member for any length of time, up to the next Annual Meeting of the organization.

c. Expulsion

Considering the most heinous of offenses, the Board may propose to the organization membership expulsion of the member. The organization shall then vote at the next Regular Meeting of the organization, and the proposal for expulsion shall require a two-thirds (2/3) vote for approval.

Section 2. Notice of charges

Any member so charged shall be given written notice of said hearing at least ten (10) days prior to that hearing, and such member shall have the right to be present at said hearing for the purposes of defense.

Section 3. Appeal of reprimand or suspension

Any member affected by Section 1, Parts (a) and (b), of this Article, shall have thirty (30) days to appeal said proceedings. Written notice of appeal shall be presented to the Recording Secretary. The Board shall then, in turn, present the matter to the voting membership at the next Regular organization meeting. An affirmative two-thirds (2/3) vote shall be required to sustain the actions of the Board.

Section 4. Reinstatement

Any person whose membership is terminated according to Section 1 of this article must present his or her application for reinstatement to the Executive Board for approval prior to being voted upon by the general membership.

ARTICLE IX. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the current edition of ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER NEWLY REVISED shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of order the organization may adopt.

ARTICLE X. AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Proposal of Amendments

Amendments to these bylaws may be proposed by the Executive Board or by written petition addressed to the Recording Secretary. Amendments proposed by such petition shall be promptly considered by the Board and must be submitted to the members with the recommendations of the Board by the Recording Secretary for a vote within thirty (30) days of the date when the petition was received by the Recording Secretary.

Section 2. Approval of Amendments

These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote at any regular or special meeting called for the purpose, provided the proposed amendments have been included in the notice of the meeting and mailed to each member at least six (6) days prior to the date of the meeting.

ARTICLE XI. DONATIONS

The organization may accept donations in the form of money, equipment or other property to be used for the exclusive benefit of the membership, provided however, that all contributions and donations to the organization shall be subject to approval by the Board.

ARTICLE XII. DISSOLUTION

The organization may be dissolved at any time by the written consent of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the voting members in good standing. In the event of the dissolution of the organization, whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law, none of the property of the organization nor any proceeds thereof nor any assets of the organization shall be distributed to any members of the organization. After payment of the debts of the organization, its property and assets shall be given to a similar organization or sold and the money donated to a charitable organization selected by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE XIII. SUGGESTED ORDER OF BUSINESS

Section 1. Organization meetings

At meetings of the organization, the order of business, so far as the character and nature of the meeting may permit, shall be as follows:

1. Reading and correction of the minutes of the last regular organization meeting and any special meetings or Board meetings held in the interim
2. Reports of officers
3. Reports of committees
4. Old business
5. New business
6. Elections (at annual meeting)
7. Actual Real Relevant Announcements Pertaining to the Business of KGB as an Organization.
8. Open floor

Section 2. Board meetings

At meetings of the Board, the order of business, unless otherwise directed by majority vote of those present, shall be as follows:

1. Reading and correction of the minutes of the last regular Board meeting and any special meetings or organization meetings held in the interim
2. Reports of officers
3. Reports of committees
4. Old business
5. New business