Northwest Region 1 Bylaws
American Institute of Parliamentarians

Contents

I -
II -
III -
IV -		 Name
Purpose
Membership
Finances		       V -
VI -
VII -
VIII -		 Officers
Duties of Officers
Board of Directors
Elections		       IX -
X -
XI -
XII -		 Committees
Conference
Parliamentary Authority
Amendments


 ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of this organization shall be “Northwest Region 1, American Institute of Parliamentarians” hereinafter referred to as NWR-1.


ARTICLE II – PURPOSE

The purpose of NWR-1 shall be:

  1. To promote the objectives and educational programs of the American Institute of Parliamentarians (hereinafter referred to as AIP);
  2. To provide leadership training and workshops in parliamentary law and procedure;
  3. To provide an opportunity for chapters to discuss issues of mutual benefit to AIP;
  4. To enhance membership retention and extension; and
  5. To hold a regional conference ("conference" hereinafter) every two years.


ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.  CLASSIFICATION

Members of AIP in good standing and living in the NWR-1 area shall be members of NWR-1.

Section 2. GOOD STANDING

A member in good standing is one whose current dues are paid to AIP and who complies with the provisions of the Bylaws and Standing rules of NWR-1.


ARTICLE IV – FINANCES AND FISCAL YEAR

Section 1. FISCAL YEAR

The fiscal year shall be June 1 through May 31.

Section 2. SIGNING OFFICERS

The signing officers of the region shall be the treasurer and any one or more additional of the elected officers of NWR-1 as determined by the Board of Directors.


ARTICLE V – OFFICERS

Section 1. ELECTED OFFICERS

The elected officers shall be the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, a Secretary and a Treasurer which shall comprise the Board of Directors.  The positions of Secretary and Treasurer may be held by the same person.

Section 2. TERM OF OFFICE

  1. An elected officer shall serve for one term or until the successor is elected and has assumed office.

  2. No elected officer may serve in the same office for more than two consecutive terms.

  3. A term of office shall be from the close of one conference until the close of the next conference.

Section 3.  VACANCIES

In the event of a vacancy in the office of Governor, the Lieutenant Governor shall become the Governor. Any other vacancy shall be filled by vote of the Board of Directors.

Section 4.  INSTALLATION

Elected officers shall be installed at the conference.

Section 5.  RETIRING OFFICERS

At the close of the conference each retiring officer shall deliver to the successor all materials and files pertaining to the office.


ARTICLE VI – DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1.  GOVERNOR.  The Governor shall:   

  1. Preside at the conference and all meetings of the board of directors;
  2. Promote the goals, policies, and programs of AIP;
  3. Maintain close liaison with the region's chapters;
  4. Encourage participation in and attendance at AIP programs;
  5. Assist in the formation of and service to chapters;
  6. File periodic reports on regional activities with AIP's Member Services Committee chairman;
  7. Appoint a conference parliamentarian;
  8. Ensure a newsletter, the Northwest Nugget, is published as needed; and
  9. Perform such other duties as determined by the Board of Directors or the conference.

Section 2.  LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.  The Lieutenant governor shall:

  1. Preside in the absence of, or at the request of, the Governor;
  2. Serve as chairman of the Membership Committee; and
  3. Perform such other duties as determined by the Board of Directors or the conference.

Section 3.   SECRETARY. The Secretary shall:

  1. Keep an accurate record of all meetings;
  2. Provide copies of minutes to such persons as the Board of Directors or Governor may direct;
  3. Conduct correspondence as directed by the Board of Directors or the conference;
  4. Provide copies of the bylaws, standing rules and amendments to NWR-1 members upon request; and
  5. Perform such other duties as determined by the Board of Directors or the conference.

Section 4. TREASURER. The Treasurer shall:

  1. Request, receive and record all regional fees and funds;
  2. Deposit all funds in a financial institution approved by the Board of Directors;
  3. Write checks for all NWR-1 bills;
  4. Submit a complete financial report to the conference;
  5. Submit the books for audit to the Auditing Committee for reporting to the conference, or at the request of the Board of Directors;
  6. Transfer all fiscal records to the newly elected Treasurer at the conclusion of the conference; and
  7. Perform such other duties as determined by the Board of Directors or the conference.


ARTICLE VII – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1.  COMPOSITION AND AUTHORITY

  1. The Board of Directors shall be composed of the elected officers.
  2. The Board of Directors shall have power and authority over the affairs of the region between conferences.

Section 2.  DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  1. Transact all business of the region between conferences.
  2. Serve as the minutes approval committee if the conference does not appoint one.
  3. Assist in forming new chapters.
  4. Such other duties as provided in these bylaws or as directed by the conference.

Section 3.  BOARD MEETINGS AND QUORUMS

  1. The Board of Directors shall meet immediately following the conference to transact such business of the region as required by these bylaws or the conference.
  2. The Board of Directors may transact business by mail (including e-mail) or by telephone conference call. Mail voting must be completed within three weeks.  A signed ballot shall be obtained (including by fax) for any action taken by e-mail.
  3. The governor or any two officers may call meetings of the Board of Directors naming the date, time and place of the meeting.
  4. A quorum of the Board of Directors shall be a majority of the elected officers.
  5. Each board member shall be notified at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to the time of the proposed meeting.


ARTICLE VIII – NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1. NOMINATIONS

  1. Nominations shall be made by a nominating committee, if any, and from the floor at conference.
  2. Nominations shall be made only with the consent of the nominee.
  3. Nominations submitted to the Board of Directors, or the nominating committee if any, in advance of the conference shall be announced in the call to conference edition of the Northwest Nugget if possible.

Section 2. ELECTIONS

Officers shall be elected at the regional conference.  Election of officers shall be by ballot unless there is only one nominee for an office, in which case the election for that office may be declared by the presiding officer.


ARTICLE IX – COMMITTEES

Section 1.  STANDING COMMITTEES

  1. Audit
  2. Bylaws
  3. Conference

Section 2. DUTIES OF STANDING COMMITTEES

  1. The Audit Committee shall:
    1. Audit the Treasurer’s records; and
    2. Submit an audit report to the conference.
  2. The Bylaws Committee shall:
    1. Recommend amendments to the bylaws and standing rules as needed, including any proposed amendments from the membership;
    2. Submit proposed amendments to the Editor for publication in the Call to Conference edition of the Northwest Nugget; and
    3. Prepare resolutions when necessary.
  3. The Conference Committee shall:
    1. Prepare a budget, including registration fees, for the conference, per other bylaw provision; and
    2. Make all arrangements for the conference, including registration and facilities for meetings, meals and lodging.

Section 3.  SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Special committees may be created by the conference, the Board of Directors, or the Governor.

Section 4.  COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN AND MEMBERSHIP

The conference, the Board of Directors, or the Governor, in that ranking order, shall appoint the chairman and members of each committee not otherwise delineated in these bylaws.  The Governor shall be an ex officio member of all committees except any nominating committee.

Section 5.  RETIRING COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN

Retiring committee chairmen shall deliver to their successors all materials and files pertaining to the position, at the close of the conference if at all possible. In the absence of a successor, files shall be delivered to the Governor or Governor-elect.


ARTICLE X – CONFERENCE

Section 1. CONFERENCE

  1. A conference shall be held every even-numbered year in March, April or May at a time and place set by the Board of Directors.
  2. The official call to conference shall be issued by the Governor not less than forty-five (45) days prior to the conference and shall be published in the Northwest Nugget.
  3. The voting body of the conference shall be NWR-1 members attending the conference.
  4. The conference shall be open to all AIP members and guests.
  5. Registration fee amounts shall be set by the conference committee such that the conference is self-supporting, unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors.
  6. Any profit for a conference shall be paid over to NWR-1.
  7. The site of the conference shall be rotated throughout the region, as much as practicable, with local chapters serving as hosts where possible.

Section 2. QUORUM

The quorum for the conference shall be ten (10) members.


ARTICLE XI – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure not specifically covered by the bylaws or other higher-ranking rules.


ARTICLE XII – AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may be amended at any conference by a two-thirds (2/3) vote provided notice of the proposed amendment(s) has been given to the members at least forty-five (45) days prior to the conference.

Revision adopted 2004-05-29 at the Region Conference in Tukwila.
Amended 2006-05-13 at the Region Conference in Spokane.

STANDING RULES

(None.)