About The Organization
Singles Outreach By-Laws
Singles Outreach Board of Directors
Ethics Policies & Procedures
How to Join
By-Laws of
SINGLES OUTREACH SERVICES, INC.
June 5, 2002
ARTICLE I - MEMBERSHIP - GENERAL
1.1 Classes of Membership: The Corporation shall consist of
two (2) classes of Members:
a. Voting Members having been elected by The Board of Directors
as a Director of the Corporation.
b. Non-Voting Members who are eligible to participate in the
Corporation's activities, having been elected to such Membership
by The Board of Directors.
1.2 Corporate Member Eligibility: No person shall be eligible
for Corporate Membership unless such a person shall be, and
remain, a Network Member in good standing during such person's
term of office on The Board of Directors.
1.3 Network Member Eligibility: Any adult who is single by
reason of divorce, death, separation, or never having been married,
and is of good character, shall be eligible for Membership.
The Board of Directors may waive the ineligibility of an active
regular Member who marries and wishes to continue to participate
in program activities, with his/her spouse. The Board of Directors
shall consider each request on its own merits. However, in no
event shall the number of waivers of marital ineligibility exceed
five (5) percent of the Membership.
ARTICLE II - NETWORK MEMBERSHIP
2.1 Definition:
a. A Regular Member is one whose application has been accepted,
and is not otherwise delinquent in the payment of dues. A Regular
Member shall have the right to receive the Network Newsletter
and other mailings; participate in all scheduled program activities;
serve on committees; and receive notice of special events and
benefits limited to Regular Members.
b. Termination/Suspension of Membership a member with notice
may be terminated for cause by a majority vote of the Board
of Directors.
2.2 Election to Network Membership: An applicant for Network
Membership shall complete an approved application form and submit
the form to the Corporation's office, together with one years'
Membership dues. The Executive Director shall review each application
and recommend to The Board of Directors that the application
be approved, denied, or returned without action. Doubtful applications
shall be referred to the Ethics Committee. The Board of Directors
and the Ethics Committee shall not discriminate on the basis
of race, religion, age, sex, nationality, or disability.
2.3 Dues: The dues for each Membership year, and participant
fees for scheduled program activities, shall be determined by
The Board of Directors. Renewal dues shall be payable on or
before the Member's expiration date. Dues shall include payment
for newsletters or other such publications as are authorized
by The Board of Directors. No eligible single person shall be
denied Network Membership, admission to Corporation events,
or participation in Corporation activities, solely because he/she
is unable to afford the cost.
2.4 Meetings: Special meetings of Network Members may be called
by The President or The Board of Directors.
ARTICLE III - VOTING MEMBERSHIP
3.1 Defined: The Membership of the Corporation shall consist
of "eligible persons" on The Board of Directors of
the Corporation, and such other Network Members whom The Board
of Directors may elect to Corporate Membership.
3.2 Annual Meeting: The Annual Meeting of the voting members
shall be held on the first Wednesday of May in each year, at
7:00 p.m., for the purpose of electing directors, and such other
business as may come before the meeting.
3.3 Special Meetings: Special meetings of the Members may be
called by the President, or The Board of Directors, at such
time and place as The Board of Directors may determine.
3.4 Quorum; Adjournments: A majority of the Members present
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If
a quorum is not present at any meeting of Members, no official
business shall be transacted. A majority of the Members present
may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further written
notice, until a quorum shall be present.
3.5 Action by Consent: Any action required or permitted to
be taken at any meeting of the Membership may be taken without
a meeting, if a written consent to such action is signed by
all Members, and such written consent is filed with the minutes
of the proceedings.
ARTICLE IV - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
4.1 General Powers: The business and affairs of the Corporation
shall be managed by its Board of Directors, which may exercise
all powers of the Corporation and perform all lawful acts not
required to be performed by the Corporate Members. The Executive
Director shall serve as a staff resource to The Board of Directors
and all Committees.
4.2 Qualifications: Any member in good standing may run for
election to The Board of Directors.
4.3 Number: A majority of the entire Board of Directors may,
at any time, upon proper notice, increase or decrease the number
of Directors of the Corporation, except that the number shall
not be less than three (3).
4.4 Term of Office: The term of office of a Director shall
total two (2) years, and shall not be affected by any change
in the total number of directors. Upon expiration of their respective
terms, Directors shall be eligible for reelection at the Annual
Meeting of Corporate Members. Each Director elected shall hold
office for the duration of his/her term, or until a successor
is elected and shall qualify. At the first annual election,
one-half of the number of Directors shall be elected to serve
one year, and the remainder two years. Thereafter, all Directors
shall be eligible for reelection to rotating two-year terms.
4.5 Vacancies: Any vacancy occurring in The Board of Directors
for any reason other than an increase in the number of Directors,
may, unless otherwise provided in the By-Laws, be filled by
a majority of the remaining Members of The Board of Directors,
even if such majority is less than a quorum. Any vacancy occurring
because of an increase in the number of Directors may, unless
otherwise provided in these By-Laws, be filled by action of
a majority of the entire Board of Directors. A Director elected
by The Board of Directors to fill a vacancy shall be elected
to hold office until expiration of said vacant Director's term,
or until his/her successor is elected and shall qualify.
4.6 Removal; Resignation: Failure to attend three (3) regular
consecutive meetings, without excuse, shall be deemed to be
sufficient basis for removal. A Director may be removed, with
or without cause, at any meeting of the Directors, upon notice,
duly called, and at which there is a quorum. The affirmative
vote of two-thirds of all the Members shall be necessary to
effect such removal. Any Director may resign at any time by
giving notice in writing to The Board of Directors.
4.7 Place of Meeting: The Board of Directors may hold meetings,
whether annual, regular, or special, either within or without
the State of New York, on seven (7) days notice to each Director.
4.8 Meetings: Annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall
be in June. Regular meetings of The Board of Directors shall
be held periodically, at such time and place as may be determined
by The Board of Directors.
4.9 Special Meetings: Special meetings of The Board of Directors
may be called by the President of The Board of Directors, or
by a majority of Directors. Emergency meetings may be called
by the President, at any time that a quorum can be assembled,
on notice to all Directors.
4.10 Quorum; Adjournments: At all meetings of The Board of
Directors, a majority of the number of Directors then in office
actually present, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of The
Board of Directors, the Directors present may adjourn the meeting,
from time to time, without further written notice, until a quorum
shall be present.
4.11 Action by Consent: Any action required or permitted to
be taken at any meeting of The Board of Directors may be taken
without a meeting, if written consent to such action is signed
by all Members of The Board of Directors, and such written consent
is filed with the minutes of The Board of Director's proceedings.
4.12 Meetings by Telephone: The Board of Directors may participate
in meeting by means of a conference telephone or similar communications
equipment, by means of which all Directors participating in
the meeting can communicate with each other at the same time.
4.13 Indemnification: Any Director shall be indemnified by
the Corporation against judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement,
and reasonable expenses and costs, including attorney's fees,
actually and necessarily incurred by him/her, in connection
with any claims asserted against said Director, by action in
court, or otherwise, and any appeal therein, by reason of being
or having been a Director, except in relation to matters as
to which the Director shall have been guilty of a crime or misconduct
in respect to the matter in which indemnity is sought.
ARTICLE V - OFFICERS
5.1 Designations: The Officers of the Corporation elected by
The Board of Directors shall be a President, a Secretary, and
a Treasurer. The Board of Directors may also choose a Vice President
or Vice Presidents, and one or more Assistant Secretaries and/or
Assistant Treasurers.
5.2 Term of Office: The Board of Directors, at the Annual Meeting
following The Annual Meeting of The Corporate Members, shall
choose a President, and/or a Secretary, and/or Treasurer, when
those offices become vacant. The Officers of the Corporation
shall hold office for one (1) year terms or until their successors
are chosen and shall qualify.
5.3 Removal; Vacancies: Any Officer elected by The Board of
Directors may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote
of two-thirds of the Directors then in office, when, in their
judgement, the best interests of the Corporation will be served
thereby. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation
may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by The Board
of Directors.
5.4 The President: The President shall perform all duties incident
to the Office of President, and shall see that all resolutions
of The Board of Directors are carried into effect. He/she shall
preside at all meetings of The Board of Directors and the Executive
Committee, and be ex officio Member of all Committees. The President
shall submit an Annual Report of the Operations of the Corporation
to The Board of Directors at its Annual Meeting.
5.5 The Vice President: The Vice President, if any, shall in
the absence of the President, or in the event of his/her disability,
perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President,
and shall generally assist the President and perform such other
duties as from time to time may be assigned by the President
or The Board of Directors.
5.6 The Secretary: The Secretary shall give notice of meetings
of Members, The Board of Directors, and the Executive Committee.
He/she shall keep a Record of the Membership of the Corporation,
and shall keep the minutes of meetings of the Members, Board
of Directors, and the Executive Committee. He/she shall send
copies of the minutes of all meetings to The Board of Directors.
He/she shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to
him/her from time to time by the President or The Board of Directors.
5.7 The Treasurer: The Treasurer shall oversee the receipts
and disbursements and all other financial records of the corporation.
He/she shall see that complete and accurate records are maintained
of all corporate transactions. He/she shall present a monthly
financial report to The Board of Directors, and such other financial
reports as are requested by the President or The Board of Directors.
5.8 The Assistant Secretary: The Assistant Secretary, if any,
shall, in the absence of the Secretary, or in the event of his/her
disability, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the
Secretary, and shall perform such other duties and have such
other powers as may from time to time be designated by the President
or Board of Directors.
5.9 The Assistant Treasurer: The Assistant Treasurer, if any,
shall, in the absence of the Treasurer, or in the event of his/her
disability, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the
Treasurer, and shall perform such other duties and have such
other powers as may from time to time be designated by the President
or The Board of Directors.
5.10 Resignations: Any Officer may resign at any time by delivering
a written resignation to The Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VI - COMMITTEES
6.1 Executive Committee: By resolution of The Board of Directors,
the President may appoint an Executive Committee of Board Members,
consisting of at least two. Each Member of the Executive Committee
shall continue to be a Member thereof until the next Annual
Meeting, or earlier resignation or removal.
a. Powers: The Executive Committee shall have all the powers
of The Board of Directors as authorized by the Not-For-Profit
Corporation Law. However, any actions of the Executive Committee
must be reported to and approved by The Board of Directors.
b. Procedure; Meetings: The Executive Committee shall fix its
own rules of procedure, and shall meet at such times and at
such places as may be provided by such rules, or as the Members
of the Executive Committee may determine. The Executive Committee
shall keep regular minutes of its meetings, and deliver such
minutes to The Board of Directors. The President of The Board
of Directors shall preside at the meetings of the Executive
Committee.
c. Quorum: A majority of the Executive Committee shall constitute
a quorum for the transaction of business, and the affirmative
vote of a majority of the Members of the entire Committee shall
be required for any action of the Executive Committee.
6.2 Standing Committees: Standing Committees shall be the Finance
Committee and the Ethics Committee. The President shall appoint
the members and Chairpersons of such committees with the approval
of the Board of Directors. The Ethics Committee shall consist
of not less than three Board Members. The committee shall function
in accordance with the Policies and Procedures as established
by the Board of Directors.
6.3 Special Committees: By resolution of the Board of Directors,
the President shall appoint such other Committee or Committees
as he/she, or The Board of Directors, shall deem advisable,
and with such functions and duties as they shall approve. Committee
Members need not be Members of The Board of Directors, but must
be Members of the Network.
6.4 Vacancies: The President shall have the power to fill vacancies
in any Committee.
6.5 Action by Consent: Any action required, or permitted to
be taken at any meeting of any Committee of The Board of Directors,
may be taken without a meeting, if a written consent to such
action is signed by all Members of the Committee, and such written
consent is filed with the minutes of its meetings.
6.6 Meetings by Telephone: The Members of any Committee may
participate in a meeting of such Committee by means of a conference
telephone, or similar communications equipment, by means of
which all Members participating in the meeting can communicate
with each other at the same time.
ARTICLE VII - NOTICES
7.1 Form; Delivery: Whenever notice to Directors or Members
is required by law, or the Certificate of Incorporation, or
these By-Laws, such notice may be given in writing, by mail,
addressed to such Director or Member, at his/her Post Office
address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. Such
notice shall be deemed to be given at the time it is deposited
in the United States Mail. Notice may also be given personally,
or by telephone, email, or telegram.
7.2 Waiver: Whenever notice to Director or Members is required
by law, or the Certificate Incorporation, or these By-Laws,
a written waiver, signed by the person or persons entitled to
said notice and filed with the records of the meeting, whether
before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed to
be equivalent to such notice. In addition, any Member who attends
a meeting of the Members in person, or any Director who attends
a meeting of The Board of Directors, or any Member of a Committee
who attends a Committee Meeting, shall be conclusively presumed
to have waived notice of such a meeting.
ARTICLE VIII - CORPORATE FINANCES
8.1 Deposit of Funds: All funds of the Corporation not otherwise
employed, shall be deposited in such banks or trust companies
as The Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
8.2 Checks, etc: All checks, drafts, notes, and evidence of
indebtedness of the Corporation shall be signed by the Executive
Director or such other Officer or Officers of the Corporation
as The Board of Directors from time to time may determine.
8.3 Annual Audit: There shall be an annual financial report
of the finances, operations, and assets of the Corporation,
prepared by the Treasurer, which shall be furnished to The Board
of Directors. The Board of Directors shall designate a committee
to verify such annual financial report of the Corporation.
8.4 Compensation: No Member or Director of the Corporation
may receive compensation merely for acting as a Member or Director.
However, any Member, Director, or Officer of the Corporation
is authorized to receive reasonable compensation from the Corporation,
for services actually rendered to, or in behalf of the Corporation,
when duly authorized by The Board of Directors.
8.5 Contracts with Members, Directors, and Officers: No Member,
Director, or Officer of the Corporation shall have a financial
interest, directly or indirectly, in the net earnings of the
Corporation, or in any contract relating to the Corporation,
nor in any contract for furnishing services or supplies to it,
unless such contract shall be authorized by The Board of Directors
and unless the fact of such interest shall have been disclosed
or known to The Board of Directors at the meeting at which such
contract is so authorized.
ARTICLE IX - MISCELLANEOUS
9.1 Employees: The Board of Directors may employ an Executive
Director to manage the day to day operations of the Corporation,
and such other employees as may be necessary to carry out the
program of the Corporation.
9.2 Fiscal Year: The Fiscal Year of the Corporation shall be
from January 1 to December 31 of each year.
9.3 Amendments: The Board of Directors shall have the power
to make, amend, and repeal these By-Laws, and to adopt new By-Laws,
by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Directors present
at such a meeting, provided that such notice of the proposal
to make, alter, or repeal these By-Laws, or to adopt new By-Laws,
was included in the notice of the meeting of The Board of Directors
at which such action takes place.
9.4 Offices: The Principal Office of the Corporation shall
be located in the State of New York, within a fifty (50) mile
radius of the County of Albany, of the State of New York, at
such place as The Board of Directors shall, from time to time,
designate. The Corporation may maintain additional offices at
other places, within a fifty (50) mile radius of the County
of Albany, of the State of New York, as The Board of Directors
designates.
9.5 Policies and Procedures: The Board of Directors may from
time to time adopt policies and procedures by an affirmative
vote of two-thirds of Directors present at any meeting of the
Board of Directors.
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