Explorer Parents Chapter By-Laws

Article 1. Name, Purpose and Fiscal Year

1.1 Name. The name of this Chapter shall be the Explorer Parents Chapter of the Northwest Gifted Child Association. It shall exist and operate as a unit thereof.

1.2 Purpose. The purpose of the Chapter shall be to inform the public of the special needs of gifted children by disseminating information; by encouraging the development of programs responsive to the needs of gifted children; by supporting legislation on behalf of gifted children; and by supporting any other policies or practices which promote these purposes.

1.3 Fiscal year. The fiscal year of the Chapter will be from July 1 to June 30.

Article 2. Chapter Membership in Association

2.1 Members of a given school district, city, county, or regional area may form a Chapter. Chapters may become participating members of the Association provided: That they subscribe to the purposes of the Association; that they endorse in writing the Association and Chapter by-laws and that they have elected officers consisting of at least a President and Treasurer.

2.2 The Chapter shall be bound by the by-laws of the Northwest Gifted Child Association and may not take action which is contrary thereto.

Article 3. Membership in the Chapter

2.1 Any individuals or families who subscribe to the purposes of the Association are eligible to become members of this Chapter by timely payment of Association dues and fees. The Chapter officers and Chapter membership may levy dues and/or fees in addition to those provided for by the Board of Directors of the Association. A Chapter shall consist of a minimum of 5 members.

2.1 Dues. Dues shall be payable to the Association Treasurer in any month of each year. To be in good standing a member must pay the dues for the up-coming year on or before the expiration date of his/her current membership.

Article 4. Membership Meetings

4.1 There shall be at least four meetings of the Chapter membership each year, one of which shall be designated as the Chapter Annual Meeting.

4.2 Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the Chapter shall be held before June 15.

4.3 Quorum. A quorum shall consist of those members present at a regularly scheduled meeting.

Article 5. Structure

2.1 Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer, plus other positions as appointed by the President. The Executive Committee shall carry on the day to day business of the Chapter between meetings of the membership and shall report its actions thereto.

5.2 Duties of the Executive Committee. The affairs of the Chapter shall be managed by the Executive Committee. Such officers shall act as a Board, regularly convened, and they may establish such policies for the Chapter and such rules and regulations for the conduct of their meeting and the management of the Chapter as they deem proper, not inconsistent with these by-laws and the laws of the State of Washington.

Article 6. Officers

6.1 There shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and a Treasurer. Other officers may be established by these by-laws. All officers shall be members of Explorer Parents.

6.2 Duties of Officers

6.2.1 President. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Chapter and shall preside at all meetings of the chapter and of the Executive Committee. The President shall appoint all standing and special committees, shall perform all duties ordinarily incident to the office, and shall recommend such action as the President deem proper. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all Chapter committees.

6.2.2 Vice-President. The Vice-President shall serve as program chairman of the Chapter meetings, shall succeed the President in the event the office becomes vacant, and shall perform such duties as requested by the President.

6.2.3 Secretary. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of meetings, send out notices, serve as custodian of corporation records and correspondence files, and perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Executive committee. Upon being succeeded in office, the Secretary shall turn over all corporation records.

6.2.4 Treasurer. The Treasurer shall receive all funds of the Chapter and shall supervise the keeping of the accounts of the chapter in a thorough and proper manner and shall render statements of the financial affairs of the Chapter in such form and as often as required by the President or Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall render to the President and to the Chapter, within four weeks from the close of the fiscal year of the Chapter, a statement of assets and liabilities of the Chapter as of the end of the preceding fiscal year and of receipts and disbursements for such preceding fiscal year. The Treasurer shall perform all other duties commonly incident to the office and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the President or Executive Committee.

Article 7. Election of Officers

7.1 All officers and directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Chapter and shall hold office for one year or until their successors take office. No officer shall be eligible for more than two consecutive terms in the same office.

7.2 In case of vacancy in the office of President, the Vice-President shall automatically become President and shall preside until a new president is elected. Vacancies in other offices shall be filled by the Executive Committee.

7.3 Nominations. A Nominating Committee consisting of at least three members shall be appointed at least 30 days before the Chapter annual meeting. It shall present a slate of candidates for officers at the annual meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor. Elections shall be by the majority vote of the members present and voting.

Article 8. Procedure

8.1 Except as therein provided, all proceedings of this Chapter shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised.

8.1 Publicity. Association information and news releases shall be made to the public in the name of the Association by the Executive Committee through the President.

Article 9. Amendments

Articles of these by-laws may be amended by majority vote at any meeting of the Chapter provided notice of such proposed amendments shall have been sent to each member at least ten days before the meeting.

Adopted: November 16, 1987