Bylaws
ASHLAND BUSINESS ALLIANCE
PO BOX 921
ASHLAND, WI 54806
REVISION DATE (MARCH 2, 2015)
THE NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION SHALL BE THE "ASHLAND BUSINESS ALLIANCE"
ARTICLE I - PURPOSE
Section 1:
The Ashland Business Alliance was formed to provide an advocacy for the Ashland Business Community so that business and government might promote a better partnership in addressing issues or situations that affect both government and business environments.
ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1:
Application for voting membership shall be open to any organization or individual that supports the purpose statement. Annual dues will be set and administered by the Board of Directors. Membership in the Ashland Business Alliance shall be granted upon a majority vote of the Board. Continuing good membership standing is contingent upon being up to date on dues. A member may be dropped from membership by a three-fourths vote of the elected Board of Directors.
Section 2:
Each voting member of the Alliance shall appoint one person to vote at the annual meeting.
Section 3:
The Board shall have the authority to establish and define non-voting or ad-hoc memberships.
ARTICLE III - MEETING OF MEMBERS
Section 1:
Regular Board Meetings: The Board shall meet monthly at an agreed upon time and place.
Section 2:
Biannual and Annual Meetings: Biannual and Annual meetings shall be scheduled by the Board of Directors who shall designate the time and location.
Section 3:
Special Meetings: Special meetings may be called by the President, a simple majority of the Board of Directors or a petition of ten percent of the voting membership. Notices of special meetings shall be forwarded by the Director via normal communication.
Section 4:
Meeting Notification: Notice of scheduled meetings shall be forwarded to each voting member by the Director or Secretary via normal communication.
Section 5:
Quorum: Before Alliance business can be transacted or motions made and passed, a quorum consisting of at least forty percent of elected board members must be in attendance.
ARTICLE IV - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1:
Board Role - Board Size - Board Composition: The Board of Directors is responsible for overall policy and direction of the organization. They will delegate responsibility for day to day operation to the Executive Director, President, other Board Officers, and Committees. The Board shall have a minimum of five members. Of this composition, there shall be five elected board officers. The Board receives no compensation other than reasonable expense reimbursements as approved by the Board.
Section 2:
Elected Officers and Duties: There shall be five officers of the Board of Directors: President, Past President, Vice-President, Secretary and a Treasurer. Other than the Past President, the officers shall be elected by the board at a scheduled meeting.
President: Shall convene regularly scheduled meetings, shall approve the meeting agenda, and shall preside or arrange for other members of the executive committee to preside at each meeting in the following order: Vice-President, Past President, Secretary, or Treasurer.
Past President: Shall mentor the President as needed, and may be assigned other duties as assigned by the Board.
Vice-President: Shall chair committees assigned by the President and on special subjects as designated by the Board.
Secretary: Shall be responsible for keeping records of board actions, including overseeing the taking of minutes at all meetings, distributing copies of minutes to the Director and each board member (in the absence of the Director) and insuring that corporate records are maintained.
Treasurer: Shall make a report at each board meeting and the annual meeting. Treasurer shall chair the Finance Committee, assist in the preparation of the budget, help develop fundraising plans, make financial information available to board members and the general membership, and is responsible for the collection and mailing of notices of dues.
Section 3:
Board Membership: New Board of Directors members must be nominated by any current Board member and will need a second. New members must have a 51% approval of a quorum board.
Section 4:
General Membership: may place a general member on the ballot with a petition of at least 5% of the signatures of current paid memberships. Election of board members must have a 51% of quorum board approval.
ARTICLE V - ELECTIONS
Section 1:
Board Elections: All elections will be in accordance with procedures established and approved by the Board of Directors. New Board of Directors candidates filling expired terms shall be appointed by the board.
Section 2:
Election Procedures: A current Board member is responsible for nominating a member candidate to join the Board. Nominees selected must be members in good standing with the Ashland Business Alliance. Nominees receiving the largest number of votes in each category shall be elected to those vacancies which exist.
Section 3:
Terms: Board members may serve an indefinite number of consecutive terms.
Section 4:
Resignation, Termination, and Absences: Resignation from the Board must be in writing and received by the Director or Secretary. A board member shall be dropped for excess absences from scheduled meetings by affirmative vote if they have three unexcused absenses from meetings in a year. The President decides if the meeting is excused or unexcused. A board member may be removed for other reasons by a three-fourths vote of remaining directors.
ARTICLE VI - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND STAFF
Section 1:
Executive Director: The Board of Directors is responsible for hiring the Executive Director. The Director would then be responsible for hiring and supervising other staff.
The Executive Director will have day to day responsibility for the Business Alliance including carrying out organization goals and policies. The Director will attend board meetings, report on the progress of the Business Alliance, answer questions of board members and carry out the duties assigned by the Board. The Board may designate other duties as necessary or required.
In the absense of an Executive Director the President and Executive Committee will have day to day responsibility for the Ashland Business Alliance.
ARTICLE VII - BY-LAWS AMENDMENTS
Section 1:
By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the Board of Directors. Proposed amendments must be submitted to the Secretary or Executive Director to be distributed to the Board with regular board announcements and agendas.
ARTICLE VIII - METHOD OF COMMUNICATION
Section 1:
The normal method of communication of meeting notices and other information to members will be via e-mail or fax when possible. Where deemed necessary by the board, general postal service or publication in local media sources will be used. Annual and biannual meetings will also be advertised in the local media.
ARTICLE IX - GENERAL INFORMATION
Section 1:
In the event that the Ashland Business Alliance is dissolved any monies will be equally dispersed by the Treasurer, among the current members who are in good standing.