Article I: Members
Section 1.01. Classes of Members.
The POISE User's group, Inc. (the "Corporation") shall have one class of members.
Section 1.02. Membership Qualifications. Membership in the Corporation shall be
restricted to colleges, schools, universities, companies and other organizations
("institutions") which have any Jenzabar PX software under license. Whenever a member
institution adds or deletes, from its Campus America, Inc. ("Campus America")
subscription service contract, a Jenzabar PX software module or an operating system license, the
member shall give written notification to the Corporation within thirty (30) days. The
Corporation will also be allowed to obtain such information from Campus America.
Section 1.03. Voting Rights. Each member institution
(hereafter referred to as member) shall designate one person
who shall be that member's authorized voting representative and who shall be entitled to
one vote on each matter as to which such member has a right to vote.
Unless prohibited by the Tennessee Nonprofit Corporation Act (the "Act"), voting
on a specific issue shall be restricted to one vote for each member.
Section 1.04. Membership Dues. The annual dues assessed by the
Board of Directors (the "Board") and payable to the Corporation
by members will be used to help defray the costs of the
Corporation, its Board and any committees created by the Board
in carrying out their duties, including but not limited to,
defraying the expenses of printing, postage, materials and
travel.
Section 1.05. Membership Dues Payment. Annual payment of dues is required for an
institution to become a member or retain membership in the Corporation. The annual dues,
based on the dues schedule on the Institution Membership Application, shall be payable to
the Corporation on July 1 of each year by mailing the appropriate dollar amount and
completed Institution Membership Application to the Treasurer of the Corporation. Except
for payment of delinquent dues, which can be made at any time prior to termination of
membership, dues shall be payable as of July 1 of each year. No partial, prorated or
retroactive dues will be charged or collected.
Section 1.06. Transfer of Membership. Membership in this Corporation is not
transferable or assignable.
Section 1.07. Termination of Membership. Membership in the Corporation will
terminate upon the occurrence of any of the following events:
- (a) The written notice of a member institution that it wishes to resign its membership
in the Corporation.
- (b) The failure of a member institution to pay its annual dues within thirty (30) days
after mailing by the Corporation of written notice to the member that such payment is
overdue.
- (c) The failure of a member institution to meet, on an annual basis, the membership
criteria set forth in Section 1.02.
- (d) By affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members on the grounds of a member's
failure to comply with the Bylaws of the Corporation or any act of any member which is
found to be prejudicial to the purposes, objectives or status of this Corporation, after
an appropriate hearing by the Board, in accord with the notice and fairness requirements
of the Act, as set forth in Tennessee Code Annotated 48-56-302.
- (e) By affirmative vote of the Board, with or without cause, in accord with the notice
and fairness requirements of the Act, as set forth in Tennessee Code Annotated 48-56-302.
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Article II: Meetings of Members
Section 2.01. Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of the voting representatives
and any other persons from member institutions shall be held at a time and place
determined by the Board. Any number of a member institution's employees and
invited guests of Campus America may attend the annual meeting, but only the
member institution's voting representative may vote on issues and in elections.
Section 2.02. Time and Place of Annual Meeting. The Board will designate the
time and place for the annual meeting.
Section 2.03. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the members may be called by
either the Board of Directors or the President of the Corporation, or by ten percent (10%)
of all members in good standing entitled to vote on any issue proposed to be considered at
the proposed special meeting, and may be held at any time and at any place as shall be
determined by the President.
Section 2.04. Notice of Meetings. Written or electronic notice stating the place,
date and time of any meeting of the members of the Corporation shall be sent or delivered
to each member not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of
such meeting, by or at the direction of the President, or the Secretary, or the officers
or persons calling the meeting. The purposes for which the meeting is called and/or the
matters to be raised at the meeting shall be stated in the notice.
Section 2.05. Quorum. The voting representatives of member institutions holding
twenty-five percent (25%) of the votes which may be cast on a matter at any meeting
or by proxy shall
constitute a quorum on that matter at any meeting of members.
Section 2.06. Manner of Acting. Each member institution shall appoint an
authorized person (voting representative) to represent it at each annual and special
meeting of the members. The act of the majority of the voting representatives present at a
meeting or voting by proxy at which a quorum of members has voted shall be the act of all members except as to matters
for which a greater number of votes is required by the Act or these Bylaws.
Section 2.07.
Voting. At all meetings of the members, a member institution is
entitled to vote through the presence of its authorized voting representative or
by proxy. Acceptable forms of proxy voting will be determined by the Board.
Section 2.08. Mail Ballots. Mail ballots may be used for any proposed action as
determined by the Board and for any matters of business undecided at an annual or special
meeting because of a lack of a quorum, pursuant to the Act, as set forth in Tennessee Code
Annotated 48-57-108.
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ection 2.09. Actions Reserved to Members. The following actions are subject to
the approval of the members: operating budget; policies with regard to third party
contracts; range of services to be provided by the Corporation; policies with regard to
responsibilities of and eligibility for membership.
Section 2.10. Procedures at Meetings. Robert's Rules of Order as revised from
time to time shall govern the conduct of all meetings of the member institutions.
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Article III: Directors
Section 3 01 General Powers. The business affairs of the Corporation shall be
managed by its Board except as otherwise provided by the Act or these Bylaws.
Section 3.02. Number of Directors. The Board shall consist of nine (9) voting
representatives from member institutions.
Section 3.03. Election and Terms of Directors.
- (a) Each of the member institutions' voting representatives shall have the
right to cast one vote for the election of directors to the Board. At least
ninety (90) days prior to the annual meeting of the Board, the Board shall
appoint a Nominating Committee of three persons who are (1) not on the Board
and (2) are voting representatives of member institutions. The Nominating
Committee shall nominate one or more individuals for each seat to be filled on
the Board. The Nominating Committee shall report the names of the nominees to
the President at least forty-five (45) days prior to the annual meeting. The
President shall direct the Secretary to prepare and deliver a slate of
nominees to each of the member institutions at least thirty (30) days prior to
the annual meeting, listing all of the candidates in random order and
indicating the number of directors to be elected. Additional nominations may
be made from the floor of the annual meeting. The member institutions' voting
representatives shall cast their votes at the annual meeting of the members
whether in person or by proxy. Those candidates receiving the greatest number
of votes shall be declared elected. In the case of a tie vote for the last
seats to be filled, a new ballot shall be cast to determine which of the
nominees receiving a tie vote shall be elected.
- (b) The nine (9) elected members of the Board shall be divided into three equal
classes. The term of office for directors of the first class shall expire at the first
annual meeting after the election. The term of office of the directors for second class
shall expire at the second annual meeting after their election. The term of office of
directors for third class shall expire at the third annual meeting after their election.
Thereafter, the term of office of directors in each class shall be three years, and new
directors shall be elected to fill the directorships in one class every year. Terms of
office commence at the Board's business meeting held at the end of the annual meeting of
the member institutions.
Section 3.04. Regular Meetings. A regular meeting of the Board shall be held
without notice other than this provision at the same time and place as the annual meeting
of the member institutions. The Board may provide by resolution the time and place for the
holding of additional regular meetings without other notice than such resolution.
Section 3.05. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by
or at the request of the President or a majority of the directors.
Section 3.06. Notice of Special Meetings. Notice of any special meeting shall be
given at least thirty (30) days previous thereto, and must include the date, time, and
place, but not necessarily the purpose, of the meeting.
Section 3.07. Quorum. A majority of the directors in office at the beginning of
the meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any regular or
special meeting of the Board.
Section 3.08. Manner of Acting. The act of a majority of the directors present
at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board except as
otherwise provided by any applicable provision of the Act or these Bylaws.
Section 3.09. Vacancies. Any vacancy that may occur on the Board of Directors by
reason of death, resignation, or otherwise, will be filled by the voting representatives
at the next annual meeting of members by the unelected candidate receiving the largest
number of votes for the class of directors being elected at that annual meeting. If any
vacancy results in the number of directors remaining in office constituting less than a
quorum, the Board may fill the vacancy by a majority vote of the directors remaining in
office.
Section 3.10. Action by Directors Without Meeting. Unless specifically
prohibited by these Bylaws, any action required to be taken at a meeting of the Board, or
any other action which may be taken at a meeting of the Board, may be taken if consents
setting forth the action so taken shall be signed by all of the directors entitled to vote
with respect to the subject matter thereof. Any such consent signed by all of the
directors shall have the same effect as the unanimous vote of the directors, and may be
stated as such in any filed documents.
Section 3.11. Compensation. Directors shall not receive any compensation for
their services as directors, but the Board may authorize reimbursement for any expenses
incurred by a director in the performance of the director's duties.
Section 3.12. Termination of Directorship. An elected director's position will
be considered vacant and the incumbents tenure terminated:
- (a) Upon the director's death or resignation;
- (b) Upon the termination of the membership in the Corporation of the institution for
which the director is the voting representative;
- (c) Upon the director's failure to attend three (3) consecutive Board meetings, regular
or special;
- (d) Upon vote of the members, for cause, in accord with the Act, as set forth in
Tennessee Code Annotated 48-58-108.
Section 3.13. Personal Liability of Directors.
- (a) General Rule. A director of this Corporation shall not be personally liable for
monetary damages for any action taken or any failure to take any action, except to the
extent that exemption from liability for monetary damages is not permitted under law. The
provisions of this subsection (a) are intended to exempt the directors of this Corporation
from liability for monetary damages to the maximum extent permitted under any law now or
hereafter in effect.
- (b) Specific Rule. without limitation of subsection (a) above, a director of this
Corporation shall not be personally liable for monetary damages for any action taken or
any failure to take any action, unless; (i) the director has breached or failed to perform
the duties of the office, and (ii) the breach or failure to perform constitutes improper
and unauthorized dealing, willful misconduct or recklessness. The provisions of the
preceding sentence shall not exempt a director from: (i) the responsibility or liability
of a director pursuant to any criminal statute; or (ii) the liability of a director from
the payment of taxes pursuant to local, state or federal law.
- (c) Modification or Repeal. The provisions of this section may be modified or repealed
in accordance with the procedures for amending the Bylaws; provided, however, that any
such modification or repeal shall not have any effect upon the liability of a director
relating to any action taken, any failure to take any action, or events which occurred
prior to the effective date of such modification or repeal.
Section 3.14. Conflict of Interest. No contract or transaction between this
Corporation and one or more of its member institutions, directors or officers shall be
void or voidable solely because any member institution, director or officer has a
financial interest in such contract or transaction or is present at or participates in a
meeting of the member institutions or Board which authorizes such contract or transaction
provided one of the following conditions is met:
- (a) The material facts as to the relationship or interest as it relates to the contract
or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board and the Board in good faith
authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
disinterested directors even though the disinterested directors are less than a quorum; or
- (b) The material facts as to the relationship or interest as it relates to the contract
or transaction are disclosed or are known to the member institutions entitled to vote
thereon and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by a vote
of the majority of member institutions; or
- (c) The contract or transaction is fair to this Corporation at the time it is
authorized, approved or ratified by the Board or the member institutions.
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Interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a
meeting of the Board which authorizes such contract or transaction.
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Article IV: Officers
Section 4.01. Composition. The Officers shall consist of a President, a
President-elect, a Treasurer, a Secretary, and such other assistant officers as determined
by the Board of Directors from time to time. Except for the other assistant officers
appointed from time to time, all officers shall be chosen from among the members of the
Board. The President shall be from a member institution.
Section 4.02. Election of Officers and Term. Officers are to be elected by the
Board at the annual meeting of the Board. All such officers shall serve for a period of
one year or until their successors are elected and have qualified. The President-elect
shall become the next President.
Section 4.03. President. The President shall preside at all meetings of the
Board and of the members and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are
carried into effect. The President shall make an annual report to the member institutions
with regard to actions taken by the Board since the last annual meeting.
Section 4.04. President-elect. The President-elect shall perform the duties and
have the powers of the President during the President's absence, sickness or other
disability. In addition, the President-elect shall perform such other duties and have such
other powers as the Board shall designate.
Section 4.05. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the oversight of
the Corporation accounts and finances and for making such reports to the Board as shall be
requested by the Board concerning the financial condition and operations of the
Corporation. The Treasurer shall make an annual financial report to the member
institutions either at the annual meeting or through the United States mail. All
expenditures of the Corporation must be approved by the President and the Treasurer.
Checks must be endorsed by the President or the Treasurer.
Section 4.06. Secretary. The Secretary shall act as Secretary of the Board and
shall keep a record of all proceedings in a minute book. The Secretary shall see that due
and proper notice is given of all meetings, shall be the custodian of the minute book,
shall maintain a current mailing list of all member institutions' voting representatives
and software module contact persons, shall have responsibility for authenticating the
Corporation's records, and shall perform all the duties usually performed by the Secretary
of a like Corporation, and such other duties as may be required from time to time by the
Board.
Section 4.07. General duties of Officers. In general, the powers and duties of
the officers of the Corporation shall be those usually incident to their respective
offices.
Section 4.08. Officer Removal. Any officer may be removed by the Board whenever,
in its judgment, the best interests of the Corporation will be served thereby.
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Article V: Committees
Section 5.01. General. The Board may by resolution create committees as needed
to carry out the purposes of this Corporation. The resolution or resolutions
creating any such committees shall specify the duties and responsibilities
thereof including, but not limited to, provisions with respect to membership of
such committees, selection of committee officers, and the conduct of committee
business. Any such resolution may be amended or repealed by the Board.
Section 5.02. Specific Committees. The Board may by resolution create committees
to specifically serve at least the following purposes:
- (a) Selection of time and place for the annual meeting;
- (b) Annual meeting planning including selection of conference theme, presentations to
be given, program content, and agenda;
- (c) Publications;
- (d) Elections;
- (e) Software and member institution studies.
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Article VI: Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Section 6.01. General Rule. The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent of the
law, indemnify any person (and said person's heirs, executors and administrators) who was
or is a party, witness or other participant or is threatened to be made a party, witness
or participant to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (including, without limitation, actions
by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that said person is or was a
director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the
Corporation as a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the
request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another Corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against all expenses (including attorneys' fees,
court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts and witnesses, travel expenses and all
other similar expenses), judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement
actually and reasonable incurred by said person in connection with such action, suit or
proceeding. Indemnification shall not be provided in any case where the conduct giving
rise to the claim for indemnification is determined by a court to have constituted willful
misconduct, recklessness or improper and unauthorized self-dealing.
Section 6.02. Advance Payment of Expenses. The Corporation shall advance all
reasonable expenses (including attorneys' fees, court costs, transcript costs, fees of
experts and witnesses, travel expenses and all other similar expenses) reasonably incurred
in connection with the defense of or other response to an action, suit or proceeding
referred to in Section 6.01 above upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the
person seeking the advance to repay all amounts advanced if it shall ultimately be
determined upon final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding that said person is
not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation.
Section 6.03. No Duplication of Payments. The Corporation shall not be liable
under this Article to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and
to the extent that the person seeking indemnification has otherwise actually received
payment therefore under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise. In the
event that the corporation makes an advance payment of expenses to a person, such person
shall repay to the Corporation the amount so advanced, if and to the extent that said
person subsequently receives payment therefore under any insurance policy, contract,
agreement or otherwise.
Section 6.04. Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain at its own
expense one or more policies of insurance to protect itself and to protect any director,
officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or of another Corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss incurred
by such person in such capacity, whether or not the Corporation would have the authority
to indemnify such person against any such expense, liability of loss under this Article or
under law.
Section 6.05. Indemnification Agreements. The Corporation shall have authority
by vote of a majority of the directors to enter into an Indemnification Agreement with any
person who may be indemnified by the Corporation pursuant to the provisions of this
Article or otherwise. Any such Indemnification Agreement may contain such terms and
conditions as a majority of the directors shall, in the exercise of the discretion,
determine to be necessary or appropriate. Such terms and conditions may include provisions
for greater or lesser indemnification than provided for in this Article, provisions
establishing procedures for the processing or approval of indemnification claims, and
other provisions. The fact that the Corporation has not entered into an Indemnification
Agreement with any person shall not in any way limit the indemnification rights of such
person under this Article or otherwise.
Section 6.06. Non-Exclusivity. The right to indemnification and to the payment
of expenses incurred on defending against or otherwise responding to any action, suit or
proceeding in advance of its final disposition as set forth in this Article shall not be
exclusive of any other rights which any person may now have or hereafter acquire under any
agreement, vote of disinterested directors, or under any applicable law or otherwise.
Section 6.07. Survival of Rights. The indemnification rights provided to a
person under the provisions of this Article shall continue after such person ceases to be
a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or of another entity, as to any
action taken, any failure to take action, or any events which occurred while such person
was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or of another entity.
Section 6.08. Modification or Repeal. The provisions of this Article may be
modified or repealed in accordance with the procedures for amending these Bylaws;
provided, however, that any such modification or repeal shall not have any effect upon the
indemnification rights of any person as they relate to any action taken, any failure to
take action, or events which occurred prior to the effective date of modification or
repeal.
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Article VII: Alterations. Amendments and Revisions of Articles
Section 7.01. Alterations. Amendments and Revisions of Bylaws. These Bylaws may
be altered, amended or revised by a vote of two-thirds of the member institutions' voting
representatives at any called meeting of the member institutions, provided that
written or electronic notice of the proposed alteration, amendment or revision has been
sent to all member institutions' voting representatives at least thirty (30) days in
advance of the meeting, and provided further that the proposed amendments as to which
proper notice has been given may be further amended at the meeting, but only by a vote of
two-thirds of the member institutions' voting representative.
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Article VIII: Miscellaneous
Section 8.01. Mailing List. No person except the Board shall use the mailing
list of the Corporation.
Section 8.02. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the
first day of September in each year and end on the last day of August in each succeeding
year.
Section 8.03. Dissolution of Corporation. Upon the dissolution of the
Corporation, the assets of the Corporation shall be distributed in a lawful manner by
action of the Board in accordance with normal procedures for a like Corporation, and
pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act.
Section 8.04. Notice. Notice shall be deemed to have been properly given to a
director or member institution when delivered personally to the director or member
institution's authorized voting representative, as the case may be; or when deposited in
the United States mail, first class, postage prepaid, directed to the address appearing on
the books of the Corporation or supplied by the director or member institution to the
Corporation for the purposes of notice; or when delivered by overnight express service; or
when sent via facsimile transmission; or when sent by electronic mail.
If the notice is sent by mail it shall be deemed to have been given to the person entitled
thereto when deposited in the United States mail.
Section 8.05 Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be
given to a director or member institution's authorized voting representative, a waiver
thereof in writing, signed by said person, either before or after the time stated therein,
and whether before or after the meeting, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of due
notice.
Section 8.06. Participation by Conference Telephone. A director may participate
in a meeting of the Board of Directors by means of conference telephone or similar
communication equipment so long as all persons participating in the meeting can hear and
speak to each other. Participation in a meeting in this manner shall constitute presence
at such meeting.
ection 8.07 Compliance with the Act. If and to the extent that any provision of
these Bylaws is in conflict with any present or future provision of the Act, the provision
of the Act shall be deemed to be a part of these Bylaws and controlling.
CERTIFICATION
I certify that these Bylaws were adopted at the organizational meeting of the
Corporation held on the 22nd day of June, 1991, and were approved by all
members on that date.
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