A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION
AMENDED DECEMBER 1, 2004
Preamble
The Association shall be non-profit and governed by these By-Laws and any standing
rules of the corporation adopted by its Board of Directors.
The purpose
of the corporation shall be:
(i) to further the education and expertise of its members in the field of commercial
real estate;
(ii) to promote the economic development of Montgomery County, Texas;
(iii) to advocate the orderly and aesthetically pleasing commercial development
of Montgomery County to prospective business and developers; and
(iv) to publicize current and future business and commercial activity in Montgomery
County, Texas.
(v) to engage in charitable activities which benefit residents in Montgomery
County, Texas.
ARTICLE
I.
OFFICES
1.01 Principle
Office. The principle office of the corporation shall be located in Montgomery
County, Texas at such address as the Board of Directors may, from time to time,
determine.
1.02 Registered Office and Registered Agent. The corporation shall have and
continuously maintain in the State of Texas a registered office, and a registered
agent whose office is identical with such registered office, as required by
the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act. The address of the registered office may
be changed from time to time by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE
II.
MEMBERS
2.01 Class of Members. The corporation shall have two (2) class of member as follows:
(a) Regular
Members. Regular Members shall be individuals who have paid in full dues as
set forth by the Standing Rules of the Corporation, and whose membership has
not otherwise been terminated.
(b) Lifetime members. Lifetime Members shall be individuals who have performed
notable service for both the corporation and the commercial real estate industry.
Lifetime members shall be nominated by an affirmative vote of a quorum of the
Board of Directors, and approved by an affirmative vote of the majority of those
present at any regularly constituted meeting.
(c) All members shall conduct their business and personal lives in compliance
with professional standards applicable to their particular professional or commercial
activities. Members shall not conduct their professional or commercial activities
in a fashion which would discredit or dishonor the corporation.
2.02 Election of Members. Members shall be elected by the affirmative vote of
a quorum of the Board of Directors, provided, however, that all members of the
corporation at the time of the adoption of these by-laws shall be and remain
members of the corporation.
2.03 Voting Rights. Each member shall be entitled to one vote on each matter
submitted to a vote of the members.
2.04 Termination of Membership. Following a hearing before the Board of Directors,
the Board by a majority vote of a quorum of the Board, may suspend or expel
a member for cause. The Board, in its sole discretion, may determine that a
Member has acted in a manner, which discredits or dishonors the corporation.
If such a determination is made by a majority vote of all Board members, that
Member may be suspended or expelled. In addition, the corporation may, by majority
vote of those present at any regularly constituted meeting, terminate the membership
of any member who becomes ineligible for membership, or suspend or expel any
member who shall be in default in the payment of dues for the period fixed in
these By-Laws.
2.05 Transfer of Membership. Membership in this corporation is not transferable
or assignable.
ARTICLE
III.
MEETINGS OF MEMBERS
3.01 Annual
meeting. The annual meeting of the members shall be held on the second Monday
in January of each year, beginning with the year 2005 at the hour of 12:00 o’clock
noon for the purpose of installing Directors and Officers and for the transaction
of other business as may come before the meeting. If the day fixed for the annual
meeting shall be on a legal holiday in the State of Texas, such meeting shall
be held on the next succeeding Monday.
3.02 Regular Meetings. In addition to the annual meeting of the members, there
may be one regular meeting a month of the members of the corporation, said meeting
to be held on the second Monday of each month at such time and place as shall
be designated by the Board of Directors. Upon the direction of the Board of
Directors, the monthly meeting date, time and place can be changed provided
notice is given to the membership 21 days in advance of the rescheduled meeting
date.
3.03 Special Meetings. In addition to the annual and regular meeting of the
corporation, special meetings of the members may be called by the President,
the Board of Directors, or twenty-five percent (25%) of the members.
3.04 Place of Meeting. The Board of Directors may designate the place within
Montgomery County, Texas as the place of meeting for any of the annual, regular,
or special meetings.
3.05 Notice of Meetings & Activities. Electronic (e-mail), written or printed
notice stating the place, day, and hour of the annual meeting and any special
meeting of members shall be delivered either personally, or by mail, or e-mail,
to the last known address of members, to each member entitled to vote at such
meeting. Such notices shall not be sent less than ten nor more than fifty days
before the date of such meeting, by or at the direction of the President, 2nd
Vice President, or the Secretary. There shall be no requirement for notice of
any regular meeting of the members.
3.06 Quorum. One-fourth of the paid membership shall constitute a quorum at
any meeting; however, lack of a quorum shall not prevent the presentation of
the program.
3.07 Conduct of Meetings. All regular meetings and the annual meeting of the
members of the corporation shall be conducted under and governed by Roberts
Rules of Orders.
ARTICLE
IV.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
4.01 General
Powers. The affairs of the corporation shall be managed by its Board of Directors.
4.02 Number, Tenure and Qualifications. The Board of Directors shall consist
of six (6) elected directors, and the immediate past-president and all current
officers of the corporation, as ex-officio directors. Each Director shall hold
office until his successor has been elected and qualified. Initially one Director
shall be elected to serve a one-year term; three Directors shall be elected
to serve two-year terms each; and the final two Directors shall be elected to
serve terms of three years each. Thereafter, annual elections shall be held
to fill the offices of the Directors whose terms are expiring, which successors
shall be elected to serve two-year terms. Election of Directors shall be held
in October of each year.
4.03 Disqualification of Directors. Each Director shall be required to attend
all regular and annual meetings of the members. In the event a Director fails
to attend two consecutive meetings of the membership or two consecutive meetings
of the Board of Directors without just cause, the office occupied by such director
may, upon the affirmative vote of a quorum of the Board of Directors, be declared
vacated. In such event, such vacancy shall be filled as provided herein below.
4.04 Meetings. The regular annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be
held without other notice than this By-Law, immediately after, and at the same
place as, the annual meeting of members. The Board of Directors may provide
by resolution the time and place within the County of Montgomery, Texas for
the holding of additional regular meetings of the Board without other notice
than such resolution. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called
by or at the request of the President or any two directors.
4.05 Telephonic and Electronic Meetings. Subject to provisions of the Non-Profit
Corporation Act for notice of meetings, members of the Board of Directors can
participate in and hold a meeting of the Board by means of telephone or similar
communication equipment by which all persons participating in the meeting may
communcicate with one another. An oral vote of Board members may be taken electronically
or by telephone.
4.06 Quorum. Two-thirds (2/3) of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum
for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board.
4.07 Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors and any directorship
to be filled by reason of increase in the number of directors shall be appointed
by the Board of Directors. A Director appointed to fill a vacancy shall be appointed
for the unexpired term of his predecessor in office.
4.08 Compensation. Directors shall not receive any stated salary for their services.
4.09 Informal Action by Directors. Any action required by law to be taken at
a meeting of Directors, or any action, which may be taken at a meeting of Directors,
may be taken without meeting if a consent in writing setting forth the action
so taken shall be signed by all of the Directors.
4.10 Limitations of Liability of Directors. A Director of the Corporation shall
not be liable to the Corporation or its members for monetary damages for an
act or omission in the Director’s capacity as a Director, except as expressly
provided under the terms of the Texas Miscellaneous Corporation Law Act or Texas
Non-Profit Corporation Act.
ARTICLE
V.
OFFICERS
5.01 Officers.
The officers of the corporation shall be a President, Vice-President, 2nd Vice
President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
5.02 Election and Term of Office. In November of each year the members shall
elect the officers of the corporation for one-year terms. No officer shall be
eligible to hold the same office for more than two consecutive terms.
5.03 Vacancies. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, disqualification
or otherwise may be filled by the Board of Directors for the unexpired portion
of the term.
5.04 President. The President shall be the principal executive officer of the
corporation and shall in general supervise and control all of the business and
affairs of the corporation. The President shall preside at all meetings, appoint
special committees and perform such other duties pertinent to the office. The
President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.
5.05 Vice-President. In the absence of the President or in the event of his
inability or refusal to act, the Vice-President shall perform the duties of
the President, and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject
to all restrictions upon the President. In addition, the Vice-President shall
be an aid to the President and shall serve as Program Chairperson.
5.06 2ndVice–President. The 2ndVice-President shall be responsible to
the Board and the corporation for general communications, public relations,
the sales of advertising space on the corporation website, to serve as a spokesperson
for the corporation when directed by the Board, and overseeing internal communications
from the corporation to its membership.
5.07 Secretary. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the
members and of the Board of Directors in one or more books, provided for that
purpose; give all notices in accordance with the provisions of these By-Laws
or as required by law; be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal
of the corporation; keep a register of the address of each member which shall
be furnished to the Secretary by each member; shall conduct all correspondence
of the corporation and prepare the membership directory.
5.08 Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge and have custody of and be responsible
for all funds of the corporation; receive and give receipts for all monies due
and payable to the corporation from any source whatsoever, and deposit all such
monies in the name of the corporation in such depositories as shall be selected
by the Board of Directors; pay all just liabilities of the corporation as authorized
by the Board of Directors; collect dues of the members; and perform all duties
incident to the office of Treasurer.
5.09 Concurrent Offices. No person or officer of the corporation may hold two
or more offices of the corporation, with the exception of a person who may hold
the offices of Secretary and Treasurer.
ARTICLE
VI.
COMMITTEES
6.01 Creation
of Committees. The President of the Corporation and the Board of Directors shall
be empowered to create any committee, which they deem to be necessary to further
the purposes of the Corporation.
6.02 Nominating Committee. The President shall appoint a committee consisting
of the current Past-President (Chair), two current Board members, and two non-Board
members for the purpose of nominating a slate of officers to serve the following
calendar year. In the absence, or unwillingness, of a Nominating Committee member
to serve on the Nominating Committee, the President may appoint a replacement
member who is of like status. The slate shall be decided prior to, and will
be included in the publication of the November newsletter.
ARTICLE
VII.
CONTRACTS, CHECKS, DEPOSITS, FUNDS
7.01 Contracts.
The Board of Directors may authorize an officer or officers, agent or agents
of the corporation to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument
in the name of and on behalf of the corporation, provided in no event shall
the Board of Directors, officers, or agents of the corporation be empowered
to enter into a contract in any amount in excess of $2,500.00 without the consent
of a quorum of the members of the corporation. Such authority may be general
or confined to specific instances.
7.02 Checks and Drafts. All checks, drafts, or orders for the payment of money,
notes, or other evidence of indebtedness issued in the name of the corporation
shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents, of the corporation
in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the
Board of Directors; provided, however, than any expenditure in excess of $200.00
shall not be authorized unless signed by the Treasurer and co-signed by one
other elected officer of the corporation.
7.03 Deposits. All funds of the corporation shall be deposited from time to
time to the credit of the corporation in such banks or other depositories as
the Board of Directors may designate, provided any such depository shall be
insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the Federal Savings
and Loan Insurance Corporation.
ARTICLE
VIII.
BOOKS AND RECORDS
8.01 The
corporation shall keep correct and complete books and records of account and
shall also keep minutes of the proceedings of the members, Board of Directors,
and Committees having any authority of the Board of Directors, and shall keep
at the registered or principle office records giving the names and addresses
of the members entitled to vote. All books and records of the corporation may
be inspected by any member of his agent or attorney for any purpose at any reasonable
time.
Annually, and within thirty (30) days of the end of the fiscal year of the corporation,
the books and records of the corporation shall be reviewed for accuracy and
compliance with applicable laws and regulations by a certified public accountant
and the President shall report the findings of such review to the members at
the next following meeting of the members.
ARTICLE
IX.
FISCAL YEAR
9.01 The fiscal year of the corporation shall begin on the first day of January and end on the last day of December in each year.
ARTICLE
X.
DUES
10.01 Annual
Dues. The Board of Directors may determine from time to time the amount of the
annual dues payable to the corporation by the members, subject to ratification
by a quorum of the general membership.
10.02 Payment of Dues. Dues shall be due and payable in advance on the first
day of January in each fiscal year.
10.03 Default and Termination of Membership. When any member shall be in default
in the payment of dues for a period of 90 days from the beginning of the fiscal
year or a period for which such dues become payable, his membership may thereupon
be terminated by the Board of Directors in the manner provided in Article III
of these By-Laws.
10.04 Proration of Dues. Membership in the corporation requires payment in full
of dues owed, regardless of the time of year an individual joins. At no time
shall dues be prorated.
ARTICLE
XI.
AMENDMENT TO BY-LAWS
11.01 These By-Laws may be altered or amended by a majority of a quorum of the members, if at least 15 days of written notice is given of an intention to alter or amend these By-Laws at such meeting.