The Bylaws of the Kenosha Chess Association   

Article I. NAME

The name of the organization is Kenosha Chess Association, Inc., hereinafter referred to as the Association.

Article II. PURPOSE

The purpose of the Association shall be to broaden and develop chess as a significant element of cultural life in Wisconsin and Illinois. The Association shall cooperate with chess clubs, schools, and other groups and institutions throughout Wisconsin and Illinois in teaching chess and conducting tournaments. The Association shall be affiliated with the United States Chess Federation. The Association is pledged to (A) operate exclusively for educational purposes; (B) that no part of the net earnings of the Association shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, officers, or other private persons, and (C) that the Association is not operated for profit, and that neither principal nor income of any of its funds may be used in any attempt to influence legislation.

Article III. MEMBERSHIP

Any person may become a Member upon payment of the annual dues specified below. A corporation may become a Member on application to the Board of Directors, which is empowered to accept corporate member application by majority vote. Persons or corporations desiring to become a Member agree to abide by the Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws and other rules and regulations adopted by the Association.

  1. Membership dues: Association Dues for adults age 21 or over shall be $10.00 for one year. Annual dues for Juniors under age 21 shall be $5.00 for one year. Family Membership shall be $20.00 per household for one year, and includes one or two adults and their children under age 18 in the household living at the same address.

  2. Rights and Privileges: Each member age 18 or over shall be entitled to participate and vote in all meetings of the Membership. Voting to elect members of the Board of Directors shall be in person. Voting on other matters may be in person or via electronic mail, at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

  3. Duties: It is the responsibility of each voting member age 18 or over to maintain a current email address on the Association email list.

  4. Suspension and Expulsion: The Board of Directors has the power to suspend or expel any Member for cause after conducting a hearing. The Member has the right to attend the hearing and to call witnesses in his behalf.

Article IV. MEETINGS

  1. Annual Meetings: The President shall call an annual meeting of the Membership, held in the month of September, for the purposes of hearing reports, electing and installing new Officers, and considering other Association business.

  2. Special Meetings: The President shall call special meetings of the Membership at such times as may be expedient for the purpose of considering any Association business. Upon petition of seven Members of the Association, the President shall call a special meeting of the Membership for the reason stated on the petition, and the meeting shall be only for discussion of the petitioned reasons.

  3. Quorum: The members present at any properly announced meeting shall constitute a quorum.

  4. Notice: The Secretary shall give the Members advance notice of each meeting by email to the Association group email list, not less than one week prior to the meeting. The notice shall include an agenda. Business transacted at special meetings will be limited to only those items noted on the notice for that meeting.

Article V. RECORD KEEPING

  1. Books: The Association shall keep correct and complete books and records of account, and shall keep minutes of the proceedings of its Members, Board of Directors, and Committees having any of the authority of the Board of Directors, and shall keep at its registered office or principal office in this state a record of the names and addresses of the Members entitled to vote. All books and records of the Association may be inspected by any Member or his agent or attorney, for the proper purpose at any reasonable time.

Article VI. OFFICERS

  1. The Primary Officers of the Association shall consist of a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and two Members-at-Large to serve on the Board of Directors. All Primary Officers must be at least 18 years of age at the date of election.

  2. The Primary Officers will serve staggered terms of three years. All six Primary Officers will be elected in 2010 for full or partial terms. In 2011 elections will be held for Secretary and Vice President. In 2012 elections will be held for Treasurer and First Member-At-Large. In 2013 elections will be held for President and Second Member-At-Large.

  3. A Junior Officer shall be elected annually to serve on the Board of Directors. The Junior Officer shall be under 21 years of age at the date of election.

  4. Election: The election shall be by Voice.

Article VII. DUTIES OF OFFICERS

  1. President: The President shall call and preside at all meetings of the Membership, represent the Association officially on occasion, report annually to the Membership, and carry out all requirements of these By-Laws. The President shall appoint such additional Officers and Committees as may advance Association purposes, including the representatives of the Association in all affairs of the United States Chess Federation.

  2. Vice President: The Vice President shall assist the President and carry out assignments received from the President. The Vice President shall execute the duties of the President when the President is unable to serve.

  3. Secretary: The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the Membership, act as custodian of the By-Laws and such documents as the President may entrust to the Secretary, and carry out all duties as prescribed by these By-Laws and such other Association duties as the President may assign. The Secretary shall maintain the membership records of the Association. The Secretary shall preside at any meetings of the Membership if the President and Vice President are unable to attend.

  4. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall keep records of all funds collected and disbursed by the Association, make a financial report at the annual meeting, file required annual paperwork with the IRS and the state of Wisconsin, and carry out all duties prescribed by these By-Laws and duties assigned by the President. The Treasurer shall preside at any meeting of the Membership if the President, Vice President, and Secretary are unable to attend.

  5. Junior Officer: Provide representation for those under 21 years of age.

Article VIII. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  1. The President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and two Members-at-Large, shall be elected and shall constitute the Board of Directors, which shall as Officers and Board Members, between meetings of the Membership, execute all Association business and affairs, including contracts.

  2. The Junior Officer shall function as a full voting member of the Board of Directors, except for matters related to Removal of a Board Member.

  3. The President of the Association shall be the chairman of the Board of Directors.

  4. A decision of the Board of Directors shall require the affirmative vote in person, by mail, by telephone, or by Email, of a majority of the Board of Directors. Proxy votes are not allowed.

  5. The Board of Directors, at its discretion, may remove any officer by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Primary Officers. The Junior Officer would not participate in the proceedings nor vote in them.

  6. If a vacancy should occur on the Board of Directors, the remaining Members of the Board are empowered to appoint a Member to fill the vacancy until the next annual meeting.

  7. No person may be on the Board of Directors for more than ten consecutive years.

Article IX. PROCEDURE

Robert's Rules of Order Revised shall be used at all meetings of the Membership.

Article X. AMENDMENT

These By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Members voting at any meeting of the Membership, provided that advance notice, including the purpose of the amendment has been provided to each member.

Article XI. FINANCES

  1. The signature of two officers is required for the disbursement of Association funds.

  2. The President and Treasurer are authorized to sign for the disbursement of Association funds. Additional Directors may be authorized to sign for the disbursement of Association funds by vote of the Board of Directors.

  3. Disbursement of petty cash funds (up to fifty dollars) may be approved by the Treasurer and the President jointly.

  4. Disbursement of larger amounts must be approved by majority vote of the Board of Directors.

  5. The Treasurer shall provide a financial report at the annual meeting, and additionally as requested by the President.

Article XII. COMPENSATION

  1. No officer shall for reason of his office be entitled to receive any salary or compensation, but nothing herein shall be construed to prevent an officer or director for receiving any compensation from the organization for duties other than as a director or officer.

  2. Board Members may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the service of the Association. Such reimbursement must be approved by majority vote of the Board of Directors, and the Board Member in consideration must abstain from voting on the measure.

  3. Board Members are eligible to receive trophies or prizes fairly awarded in the course of the Association’s educational and promotional program.

Article XIII. ADVISORY BOARD

At their discretion, the Board of Directors may create an Advisory Board for the Association. The Board of Directors may invite individuals to serve for one, two or three year terms on the Advisory Board. The role of Advisory Board members would be to provide recommendations and guidance to the Board of Directors to assist the Association in fulfilling its purpose specified in Article II.

Article XIV. DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION

Upon the dissolution of the Association and Corporation, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by a Court of Competent Jurisdiction of the county in which the principal office of the Association/Corporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

Revised September 16, 2015