Article 1 – Name

Section 1. The name of this local organization shall be the North Fulton Business and Professional Women’s Club.

Article II – Mission

Section 1. The mission of this local organization shall be to achieve equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education and information.

Article III – Emblem

Section 1. 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.

Article IV – Policies

Section 1. This local organization shall be non-sectarian, nonpartisan, and nonprofit.

Section 2. The mission, objectives and 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.

Article V – Membership

Section 1. Membership shall be held by individuals who support the mission and objectives of BPW/USA.

Membership categories shall be:

(a) Active: Membership shall be open to all individuals

(b) Student: Individuals enrolled in college or a university, or any other accredited educational institution above the high school level. Members employed full time cannot be considered as student members.

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

(a) The Georgia Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc. (BPW/GA);

(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 1, and the payment of appropriate dues.

Article VI - Local Organization Requirements

Section 1. This local organization, to remain in good standing:

(a) Shall maintain a membership of at least five (5)  active members.

(b) Shall not be an integral part of any other national organization, and;

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

Section 2. Should membership fall below five (5) active members, this local organization shall be dropped from the state and National federations at the end of the second fiscal year.

Article VII - Dues

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

Section 2. Annual dues for each active member shall include local, state and national dues as specified in the current respective bylaws. State dues shall include a subscription to the official state publication.

Section 3. Dues for each student member shall include local, state and national dues as specified in the current respective bylaws. State dues shall include a subscription to the official state publication.

Section 4. Each local organization shall pay National annual Conference dues of ten dollars. ($10.00)  National Conference dues shall be postmarked to BPW/USA by June 15th of each year.

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 the local organization, state and National dues are paid.

Section 7. Any member who does not pay her dues within 60 days of the 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 dues may be reinstated upon payment of all delinquent dues for local organization, state and National.

Article VIII - Fiscal Responsibility

Section 1. The fiscal year shall commence on the first day of May and shall end on the 30th day of April.

Section 2. An auditor or auditing committee of two members shall be elected at the March meeting.  The committee shall audit the treasurer's records within ten (10) days after the close of the treasurer's term of office and shall report to the local organization at the next meeting.

Article IX - Officers

Section 1. The officers shall be a president,  a president-elect, one (or more) vice-president(s),  secretary, and a treasurer.

Section 2. A term of office shall be one year.

Section 3. Officers shall assume their duties immediately following the April meeting and shall serve for one year and/or until their successors are duly elected.

Article X - Nominations and Elections

Section 1. Officers shall be elected at the local organization's annual meeting in March.

Section 2. Only individuals who are members in good standing shall be eligible for office. 

Section 3. At the business meeting preceding the annual meeting, the local organization shall elect a nominating committee of at least three members.  The nominating committee shall present to the annual meeting a slate of one or more nominees for each office.  Nominations may also be made from the floor. 

Section 4. Vacancies in office shall be handled as follows:

(a) In the event of death, resignation, or incapacity of the president, the president-elect shall become the president for the unexpired portion of the term.

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

Section 5. No member shall hold the same office for more than two consecutive years.

Section 6. Six months or more shall be considered a term of office in determining eligibility for reelection.

Article XI - Duties of Officers

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

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

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

(c) Serve as ex-officio member of all committees except the nominating committee.

(d) Bring to the attention of the local organization all pertinent information from the state and National federations.

(e) Sign all orders upon the treasurer for disbursement of funds, as directed by the local organization.

(f) Be responsible for sending to the State Recording Secretary:

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

(2.) An immediate report of all changes affecting the above items.           

Section 2. The president-elect shall:

(a) Perform the duties of the president in the absence of the president.

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

(c) Serve as the Issues Management chair.

(d) Serve in such capacities as assigned by the president.

Section 3. The vice-president shall:

(a) Perform the duties of the president in the absence of both the president and president-elect.

(b) In case of the death or resignation of both the president and president-elect, become president for the unexpired term.

(c) Serve in such other capacities as assigned by the president.

(d) Serve as the membership chair.

Section 4. The secretary shall:

(a) Take and record accurate minutes of the proceedings of all meetings of the local organization, the board of directors, and the executive committee.

(b) Keep a roll and attendance record of all members.

(c) Conduct the correspondence of the local organization.

(d) Serve in such other capacities as assigned by the president.

(e) Preserve in a permanent file all letters and records of value to the local organization and its officers.

Section 5. The treasurer shall:

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

(b) Collect all monies coming into the local organization from whatever source and give a proper receipt therefore.

(c) Keep a list of the names, addresses and occupations of all members.

(d) Pay all bills upon the written authorization of the president.

(e) Keep an itemized record, in a permanent file, of all receipts and expenditures.

(f) Forward promptly to the state treasurer 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) Serve as an ex-officio member of the finance committee. 

(h) Deliver to the successor within 15 days after expiration of term of office, all books, records, and papers, requesting receipt therefor.

Section 6. Each officer, except the treasurer, shall deliver to her successor immediately after retiring from office all accounts, records, books, papers and other property belonging to the local organization.

Article XII - Meetings

Section 1. Regular meetings shall be held monthly on the first Thursday of the month, unless otherwise ordered by the local organization or the executive committee.  The day of the meetings may be changed by a two-thirds vote of the members present at the previous meeting, except in an emergency when the executive committee, by a two-thirds vote, may change the day of the meeting.

Section 2. The regular March meeting of each year shall be designated as 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 by any five members, provided all members are notified in writing of time, place and purpose of such meeting.

Section 4. One-fourth of the members shall constitute a quorum.

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

Article XIII - Board of Directors

Section 1. The elected officers and standing committee chairs shall constitute the board of directors.

Section 2. The board shall:

(a) Supervise the affairs of the local organization.

(b) Make recommendations for the local organization's growth and prosperity.

(c) Make recommendations to the local organization regarding proposed amendments to the bylaws.

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

(e) Report at the annual meeting the business transacted by the board of directors during the local organization year.

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

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

Section 5. A majority of voting members shall constitute a quorum.        

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

Article XIV - Executive Committee

Section 1. 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 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 the meeting of the executive committee.

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

Article XV - Standing Committees

Section 1. The standing committees of the local organization shall be the finance, foundation, legislation, membership, issues management, public relations, and young careerist.

Section 2. Only individuals, who are active members in good standing, shall be eligible to serve as standing committee chairs.

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

Section 4. The finance committee shall be composed of a chair and two members.  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 Business and Professional Women's Foundation.

Section 6. The legislation committee shall be composed of the chair and 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 legislation needs in order to make recommendations to the local organization.

Section 7. The membership committee shall be composed of a chair and two members.  It shall be the duty of the membership committee to promote, expand. stabilize, and orient the membership.

Section 8. The issues management committee shall be composed of a chair and two members.  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 an annual program suggested by state and National federations and develop a program that shall involve all areas of the local organization activities.  The issues management chair shall present the annual program to the board of directors for approval.

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

Section 10. The young careerist committee shall be composed of a chair and two members.  It shall be the duty of the young careerist committee to coordinate programs and activities for young people.

Article XVI - Representation

Section 1. The voting body at all meetings of the Georgia Federation of BPW shall be any individual who has paid a full conference registration fee and is a member in good standing.  .

Section 2. The local organization shall have representation at the annual conference of BPW/USA as follows: The voting body at the National Conference shall be any individual who has paid a full conference registration fee and is a member in good standing.

Section 3. No member shall have more than one vote, and no voting by proxy shall be allowed.

Article XVII - Parliamentary Procedure

Section 1. 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.

Article XVIII - Amendments

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 shall be sent in writing 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.

Any conflict shall be resolved in accordance with state and national federation policy and procedure.

Article XIX - Dissolution