Category : BBS Programs+Doors
Archive   : BBSLAW03.ZIP
Filename : 410B.BLD

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@001 Enter the name of the association:
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ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION


OF


@001



To further the purposes set forth herein, the members agree to
be, and hereby are, organized under these Articles of Association
as a not for profit service and social club.


ARTICLE I - THE ORGANIZATION


1.0 Name of Association


The name of this Association shall be: @001


2.0 Offices of Association


The principal office of the Association shall be at the home of
the President of the group. The Association may have such other
offices as may from time to time be designated by its members or
its Executive Board.


3.0 Purposes


The primary purposes of the Association is to provide a community
service by:


- improving personal and business computing productivity:


- share technical information and computing techniques:


- educate and encourage newcomers to computing:


- provide social activities for members:


- further the art, science, and enjoyment of personal computing


The activities of the Association shall be held and maintained in
the spirit of these purposes.


4.0 Powers


The Association shall have all the powers necessary to provide
activities to conduct its purposes including, but are not limited
to, the power to collect, hold and disseminate information
consistent with its purpose: to conduct seminars and workshops
associated with computing for the user group, to publish its
newsletter, own and operate a Bulletin Board System and the power
to collect dues and disperse funds for the membership.


5.0 Membership


Any individual interested in personal computing is welcome to be
a member in the Association as long as said member remains in
"good standing". A member is in "good standing" when: - the
member pays his/her annual membership dues when required.


A member is no longer in "good standing" when:
- the member fails to pay his/her annual membership dues when
required.


- in the judgment of the majority of the members, the member no
longer supports the best interests of the Association.


If a member so elects, he or she may include within his or her
membership any or all of the interested parties who reside in his
or her household. In the event of such an election by a member,
said member and all of the interested parties who reside in his
or her household who he or she has elected to include within his
or her membership shall be deemed to be one member of the
Association and entitled to one newsletter. In addition,
regardless of the number of such interested parties, any member
may elect to include within his or her membership, each member of
the Association shall be entitled to only one vote on each
Association matter to be decided by a vote of the members.
Additionally, household memberships are limited to one entry into
any prize drawing that require membership. Yet, at any time any
member of an included household, may become a voting member by
paying dues appropriate to becoming a member.


Complementary memberships are extended to both students and
faculty of any bona-fide institution of learning, to include:


Additional complementary memberships may be granted to persons in
key positions of authority as deemed appropriate by the Executive
Board, and voted upon by the general membership.



6.0 Dues, Assessments and Fees


The Association's activities shall be funded through the use of
annual membership dues, assessments, and fees charged to the
individuals who take part in the Association's various
activities. Except for any excess fees refunded as provided
hereafter, all the funds collected by the Association shall be
used by it to provide for the various activities permitted by
these Articles.


The annual membership dues required for membership in the
Association, and any assessments which may be required of the
members, shall be established by a majority vote of the members
of the Association, upon the recommendation of the Executive
Board. The annual membership dues for any fiscal year shall be
established at such an amount per member as will, when multiplied
by the number of individuals which the Executive Board estimates
will be members for the fiscal year for which the annual
membership dues are being established, be sufficient to pay at
least 80% of the "normal operating costs" which the Executive
Board estimates will be required to operate the Association for
the fiscal year for which the annual membership dues are being
established. The balance of the "normal operating costs", if
any, shall be paid from assessments assessed against the
membership, investment income, and/or surplus funds available
from prior fiscal years. The annual membership dues and any
assessments may be varied from fiscal year to fiscal year, but
any such dues and/or assessments in effect for any fiscal year
shall be the same for all individuals.


Fees shall be charged by the Association to pay the costs of any
of its activities, or parts thereof, which do not fall within the
meaning of "normal operating costs". Said fees shall be
established by the Executive Board at an amount per individual
per activity, or part thereof, which shall not exceed the amount
which is reasonably estimated to be necessary to pay the costs of
said activity, or part thereof, which do not fall within the
meaning of "normal operating costs". Should the fees established
and collected for any activity or part thereof, not be sufficient
to pay all the costs which do not fall within the meaning of
"normal operating costs" which are generated by said activity, or
part thereof, the deficiency shall be paid as a "normal operating
costs" of the Association. Should the fees collected from any
activity, or part thereof, exceed the costs of such activity, or
part thereof, which do not fall within the meaning of "normal
operating costs", and should such excess exceed the greater of
$200 or 20% of said non "normal operating costs" incurred to
provide said activity, or part thereof, said excess shall be
refunded pro-rata to the individuals who paid the fees for
suchactivity, or part thereof. The fees established for any
activity, or part thereof, shall be the same for all individuals
who take part insuch activity, or part thereof, regardless of
whether they are members of the Association or non-members.


7.0 Fiscal Year


The Association shall operate with the calender year as its
fiscal year.


8.0 Funds Management and Authorities


No individual member has the authority to obligate the
Association in any way. In doing so that member becomes
personally responsible for that obligation and not the
Association.


Elected Executive Board Members may obligate the Association for
up to $25 on non-recurring expenses.



The President with the approval of the treasurer may obligate the
association for up to $100 on non-recurring expenses. The
President and Treasurer should monitor all increases in recurring
expenses.


The Executive Board in simple majority, may obligate the
Association for up to $200 on non-recurring expenses.


The Membership in simple majority must approve non-recurring
expenditures in excess of $200.


New recurring expenses must be approved by simple majority of the
membership. Increases in existing recurring expenses do not
require approval of the membership.


These Articles describe the rules by which the Association is to
be governed. Any situation concerning the governing of this
Association which are not specifically described in these
Articles shall be governed by "Robert's Rules of Order". In any
situation in which these Articles conflict with "Robert's Rules
of Order", these Articles shall prevail.


ARTICLE II - THE EXECUTIVE BOARD


1.0 OFFICERS' DUTIES


The Executive Board is composed of the officers elected by the
general membership at the November general membership meeting.
The officers are responsible for the daily operation of the
Association as described in the officers' duties. The order
listed below indicates the order of succession to the presidency.
The following describes the duties of each of the officers:


PRESIDENT - The office of President is the primary person
responsible for the business operation of the Association and
presides at the regular membership meetings and the Executive
Board meetings.


VICE PRESIDENT - There shall be one Vice President.He/She will
have one vote on the Executive Board. The Vice President is
responsible for the performance of the President's duties in the
absence of the President. The Vice President, along with the
Executive Board, are responsible for the program planning for the
general membership meetings. He/She shall schedule speakers for
each month's meeting and publish the planned topics and speakers'
names in the newsletter on the month prior to when the topic is
scheduled. The Vice Presidents are also responsible for the
coordination of obtaining audio-visual materials required by the
speakers.


SECRETARY/TREASURER - The Secretary is responsible for
maintaining the non-financial records of the Association's
operations. The Secretary provides meeting notes of all general
membership and Executive Board meetings. These notes/minutes
will be recorded in a Secretary's book and will be available
(posted on the BBS or in the newsletter) for the general
membership to review. The Secretary is also responsible for all
non-financial correspondence for the Association business
activities. The Secretary shall act as the Treasurers primary
alternate to conduct the everyday business of collecting dues and
signing up new members. The Treasurer is responsible for all the
funds of the association. The Treasurer shall maintain a
detailed listing of the clubs membership and dues records. This
listing will be updated at least monthly and be made available on
the BBS. The Treasurer shall publish a monthly financial
statement, report to the membership and publish a summary report
in the Association's newsletter. The Treasurer shall maintain a
record which he or she shall make available for inspection within
five calendar days of his or her receipt of a written request for
such an inspection from any member or a written or verbal request
for such an inspection from the Executive Board. The President or
Vice-President may perform the duties of Treasurer as required.
The Treasurer shall maintain the membership records for the
Association.


MEMBERS AT LARGE -There shall be two members at large whose
duties shall be deemed by the President.


2.0 ELECTION OF OFFICERS


Nominations will be opened at the September general meeting and
close just prior to the election at the November general meeting.
Absentee ballots will be accepted, if delivered prior to the
November general meeting. Nominations and ballots will be
published in the November newsletter. The election will be held
at the November meeting with the results announced at the end of
the meeting. Officers will be installed at the January meeting.
Each officer shall serve for a term of one year from the date of
his or her installation and until his or her successor is duly
elected and qualified. In the month of October the President
will select a nominating committee, subject to the confirmation
of the Executive Board. The committee will choose a slate of
candidates and will place their names in nomination. In
addition, nominations for any office may be made from the floor
or written-in, prior to elections being held, by any member. If
the members who have been so nominated consent to run and to
serve if elected, and if their respective nominations have been
duly seconded, their names shall be placed on the ballot along
with the names of the members chosen by the nominating committee.
The election of officers shall be a simple plurality of ballots
presented to the Secretary during the November meeting.


Officers must be members in good standing at the time of their
election and must maintain their good standing throughout their
term of office.


2.2 Removal from Office


Any officer may have his or her duties suspended by a unanimous,
unopposed vote of the remaining members of the Executive Board.
The suspended officer may request a reinstatement vote by the
general membership, following the rules of elections of officers
at the next general membership meeting. If the suspended officer
does not request a reinstatement vote or if the vote is opposed
to reinstatement, the Executive Board must then select a
successor to fill the vacant position. The selection is subject
to general membership confirmation by a majority vote at the next
regular meeting.


ARTICLE III - APPOINTMENTS


The President or Executive Board may select members to serve
special assignments of need. The appointments will be subject to
approval by the general membership.


ARTICLE IV - ADVISORY BOARD


The Advisory Board is composed of the appointed members appointed
by the president and approved by the Executive Board. The
members of the advisory board positions are not appointed for a
specific duration and may be replaced at any time by the
President with the Executive Boards approval. The appointees
serve as technical advisors and subject matter experts to provide
added expertise to the executive board and meet with the
Executive Board at the Executive Board meeting. The position
listed below serves only as a guide to the advisory board's
positions and are not limited to those positions.




PUBLIC DISK LIBRARIAN - Maintains a library of pre-prepared
public domain disks for sale to club members.


SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP LEADERS - The leaders of the special
interest group provide insight to the executive board as to the
current activities of their particular SIG.


BBS SYSOP- Operator of the club's computer bulletin board system.


1.0 General Membership Meetings


The entire membership meets monthly. The meetings are conducted
by the President or designated alternate. Meetings shall consist
of programs of general interest to the membership, brief
announcements, and club business. A minimum of 10 members must
be present to conduct FORMAL club business.


2.0 Executive Board Meetings


The Executive Board shall be called by the President as needed or
as designated for purposes indicated at the General Membership
Meeting by a majority vote of the membership present. The
Executive Board Meetings shall be open to the general membership.
Executive Board Meetings and location shall be announced in
advance to the membership whenever possible. A minimum of 3
voting members (or designated representation) must be present to
conduct club business.


3.0 Special-Interest Group Meetings


Special-Interest Group Meetings (dir SIGs) are comprised of
members with a special, common interest which discusses a
particular topic in more depth than can be practically done
during general membership meetings. Membership to SIGs may be
limited only by the club membership criteria. SIGs shall
designate a coordinator or coordinators who will report each SIGs
activity in the newsletter.


ARTICLE VI - NEWSLETTER


l.0 Purpose


The content of the newsletter shall be under the control and
responsibility of the newsletter Editor and approved by the
Executive Board. The club will only publish articles
(information) which are clear and free of legal encumbrances and
copyrights. Members will be permitted free classified
advertising for the sale of personal items (computer related
only) at prices which shall not constitute a personal profit (at
or below the price paid for the item).


2.0 Publication


The newsletter shall be published and made available at the
General Membership Meetings to members in good standing. Anyone
providing articles or notices is required to provide the
information to the Editor for publication at least 10 days before
scheduled publication.


ARTICLE VII - REPRESENTATION OF THE CLUB


The use of the name of this Association or its identifying
symbols by any person or organization will be subject to the
consent of the majority of the Executive Board.


ARTICLE VIII- AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES

Two methods exist to propose an amendment to, addition to, or
repeal of, any provision of, or all of these Articles of
Association.


1.0 By Executive Board


The Executive Board may propose any such change in these Articles
by presenting said changes at a General Membership Meeting.


2. By Members


Any member may propose any such change in these Articles by
submitting to any member of the Executive Board a petition which
sets forth the proposed change and which is signed by at least
2/3 of the members at a meeting to be voted on at the next
meeting. The membership list of the month previous to the month
in which the petition is submitted shall be used for determining
the membership count.


Any proposed change must be published in the newsletter or on the BBS
one month prior to the meeting in which the votes are due to be
submitted. Approval of any amendment to, addition to, or repeal
of, any provision of, or all of, these Articles of Association
requires a majority of the submitted signed, votes received from
the members.


ARTICLE IX - DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS


In the event that the Association ceases to function, or in the
event that the members decide to terminate it, the Executive
Board shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of
all of the Association's liabilities, distribute all of the
remaining assets of the Association to such organization or
organizations which the Executive Board shall select which are
then qualified as exempt under Section 501 (c) (3) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, (or the corresponding
provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law). Any
assets not so distributed shall be distributed by the Court of
Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of the
Association is then located, or was most recently located if the
Association has ceased to function, to such organization or
organizations which said Court shall select which are then
qualified as exempt under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, (or the corresponding provision
of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).