Bylaws of Global Association of Risk Professionals, Inc.
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ARTICLE I - OFFICES/CORPORATE STATUS
Global Association of Risk Professionals,
Inc. ("GARP" or the "Association") shall maintain its principal
offices in New York, New York or New Jersey, USA. The Association
may also have offices at such other places both within and without
the States of New York and New Jersey and the United States of
America as the Board of Trustees may from time to time determine or
as the affairs of the Association may require.
The Association shall be a not-for-profit
entity. Any for-profit subsidiaries created by the Association's
Board of Trustees shall be wholly-owned by the Association. Any
change to the Association's not-for-profit status shall be first
submitted to a vote of the Membership in accordance with Section
10, Article V herein.
ARTICLE II - PURPOSES
The purposes of the Association are as
follows:
a) to promote an
exchange of views and to raise questions in the areas of risk
management;
b) to foster high
standards of commercial honor and business conduct among its
members;
c) to provide
forums for discussion of issues relevant to participants in the
risk management profession;
d) to establish
educational standards in the professional practice of risk
management;
e) to develop and
administer examinations designed to test individual competence and
skill in the professional fields of knowledge pertinent to the risk
management profession, including granting the right to use the
Financial Risk Manager (FRM) designation;
f) to develop,
establish, promulgate, and maintain the Association Code of Ethics
and Standards of Professional Conduct for individuals
professionally engaged in the risk management profession;
g) to instruct and
train Individual Members and Affiliate Members, Member Chapters and
the general public in the sound and trustworthy principles,
practices, and conduct with regard to the risk management
profession;
h) to inform its
members of legislative and administrative developments affecting
participants in the risk management profession and to represent
effectively the common interests of its members before legislative
and administrative bodies and international or quasi-public
institutes, boards and other bodies; and
i) to exercise any
and all powers in carrying out the Association's purposes that may
be conferred upon corporations formed pursuant to the
Not-for-Profit Corporation Law of the State of New Jersey or that
may be necessary or incidental to the powers so conferred.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1.
Eligibility. The Association shall have four (4)
classes of members. The designation of each such class and the
qualifications of the membership of each such class shall be as
follows:
a) Fellow
Member. Each applicant seeking to become a Fellow Member shall
be an individual who has satisfied:
i) the requirements
to become an Individual Member;
ii) the
requirements of the FRM Program as established by the Association
and achieved the minimum passing score as determined in accordance
with Article VI, Section 11.b. of the Bylaws; and
iii) completed and
submitted any additional application procedures or requirements
established by the Association.
Upon satisfaction
of the requirements in this Section 1.b. and acceptance by the
Association, an applicant shall become a Fellow Member and be
granted the right to use the FRM (FRM) designation.
b) Individual
Member. Any person or entity not eligible for membership in
the Association as a Fellow Member and who provides professional
risk management or similar services to corporations, partnerships,
associations or persons (including, without limitation, law firms,
accounting firms and consulting firms) may be eligible for election
to membership in the Association as an Individual Member. To be
eligible for election to membership in the Association as an
Individual Member the applicant shall:
i) hold a
bachelor's degree from an accredited academic institution or have
equivalent education or work experience as determined by the
Association;
ii) have attained
at least three (3) years of acceptable professional work
experience;
iii) at the time of
their application be engaged in employment as an individual who
provides professional risk management services;
iv) have signed and
submitted to the Association a Membership Agreement stating that
the applicant shall adhere to all applicable rules and regulations
including the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, the Code of
Conduct and other rules relating to professional conduct and
membership, which may be amended from time to time; and
v) annually pay
membership dues.
c) Affiliate
Member. Any person not eligible for membership in the
Association as an Individual Member but who has an interest in the
risk management profession may submit an application for membership
in the Association as an Affiliate Member.
d) Student
Member. Any person enrolled in a university and pursuing a
degree in a financial- related field may submit an application for
membership in the Association. Except as otherwise provided in
these Bylaws, upon acceptance of the application by the
Association, the Student Member shall be eligible for all benefits
accorded an Individual Member upon paying an annual membership dues
as set from time-to-time by the Board.
Fellow Members,
Individual Members, Affiliate Members and Student Members shall
have such rights and privileges as are provided in these By-laws
and such additional rights and privileges (not inconsistent
herewith) as may be provided by resolutions of the Board of
Trustees. The Board of Trustees may further classify members of the
Association for purposes of voting, the payment of dues, or for any
other purpose deemed appropriate by the Board of Trustees, and may
from time to time change such classification or the classification
of any member.
Section 2. Election to
Membership. Unless waived by the Board of Trustees,
any applicant seeking election to any class of membership in the
Association shall make written application, in a form containing
information specified by the Board of Trustees, to the Secretary of
the Association. Upon receipt of such application, the Secretary
shall promptly furnish a copy thereof to the Board of Trustees or
to such committee of the Board of Trustees as the Board may from
time to time designate. The Board or such committee, as the case
may be, shall cause such examination to be made as it deems
appropriate to determine whether the applicant is eligible for
membership and the appropriate class of membership. Members of the
Association shall be elected by a majority vote of the whole Board
of Trustees.
Section 3. Termination of
Membership. Any member, with the exception of
Affiliate Members who may terminate their membership in the
Association at any time without notice, may terminate its
membership in the Association at any time by giving notice in
writing to the Secretary prior to the end of such calendar year of
its intention to resign its membership or by not renewing its
membership by failing to pay the annual dues when due and owing.
Any member may be suspended or removed at any time by a vote of
three-fourths of the Trustees present at any meeting of the Board
of Trustees.
ARTICLE IV - DUES AND ASSESSMENTS
Section 1. Amount and Time of
Payment. Members of each class of membership shall
pay initial membership fees and annual dues in such amounts, in
such manner and at such times as may from time to time be
determined by the Board of Trustees. Each member shall receive
written notice of its requisite amount of initial membership fees
and annual dues.
Section 2. Assessments for
Special Projects. The Board of Trustees may levy an
assessment against a specified member of the Association, or levy
pro rata assessments against several specified members for any
special projects undertaken for which the Board of Trustees deems
it appropriate to levy an assessment against such members, provided
that no member shall become obligated to pay such an assessment
without such member's consent. Payment by a member, in whole or in
part, of any such assessment shall constitute such member's consent
to such assessment.
Section 4. No
Refunds. No initial membership fees, annual dues or
assessments shall be refunded to any member whose membership
terminates or is suspended for any reason.
ARTICLE V - MEETINGS OF MEMBERS
Section 1. Annual
Meeting. A meeting of the members of the Association
for the election of members of the Board of Trustees and for the
transaction of such other business as may properly come before the
meeting shall be held annually at such time and place as may be
determined by the Board of Trustees.
Section 2. Special
Meetings. In addition to such special meetings as are
provided for by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, special
meetings of the members of the Association may be called at any
time by the Board of Trustees or by the Chairman of the Board of
Trustees and may be held at such time, on such day and at such
place as shall be designated in the notice of such meeting.
Section 3.
Attendance. The attendance at a meeting of the
members of the Association of an officer, partner, principal,
employee or other designee of an Individual Member, selected by
such member, or of the Individual Member shall constitute
attendance by such member at such meeting.
Section 4. Notice of
Meetings. Except as otherwise provided by law,
written notice of each meeting of members shall be given either by
delivering a notice personally, or mailing by first class mail a
notice to each member, or by delivering such notice electronically
to each member entitled to vote at such meeting. If mailed, the
notice shall be directed to the member in a postage-prepaid
envelope at its address as it appears in the records of the
Association unless, prior to the time of mailing, it shall have
filed with the Secretary a written request that notices intended
for it be mailed to some other address, in which case the notice
shall be mailed to the address designated in such request. Notice
of each meeting of members shall be in such form as is approved by
the Board of Trustees and shall state the purpose or purposes for
which the meeting is called, the date and time when and the place
where it is to be held, and shall be delivered personally or by
mail or electronic means not more than 50 days and not less than 20
days before the day of the meeting. Except as otherwise provided by
law, the business which may be transacted at any such meeting of
members shall consist of and be limited to the purpose or purposes
so stated in such notice. No notice need be given of any adjourned
meeting if the time and place to which the meeting is adjourned are
announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken.
Section 5. Waiver of
Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given under
any provision of law or of the Association's certificate of
incorporation, as amended from time to time (the "Certificate of
Incorporation"), or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing or by
telex, telegraph, electronic mail, cable or other form of recorded
communication, signed by the member entitled to notice, whether
before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent
to notice. Attendance of a member at a meeting of members shall
constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the
member attends such meeting for the express purpose of objecting,
at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business
because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the
business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of
members need be specified in any waiver of notice unless so
required by the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 6. Organization and
Conduct of Meeting. The Chairman of the Board of
Trustees shall preside at all meetings of the members at which he
or she is present. If the Chairman of the Board shall be absent
from any meeting of the members of the Association, one of the Vice
Chairmen shall preside at such meeting. In the absence of the
Chairman and the Vice Chairmen, a chairman shall be elected by the
plurality vote of the Fellow and Individual Members present to
preside at such meeting. The Secretary of the Association or in his
absence an individual designated by the person presiding a meeting
of the members shall act as secretary of such meeting.
Section 7. Order of
Business. The order of business at each meeting of
members shall be as determined by the person presiding at such
meeting or as may otherwise be determined by the vote of a majority
of the Members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote
at such meeting.
Section 8.
Adjournments. Any annual or special meeting of
Members, regardless of whether Members attending such meeting shall
constitute a quorum, may, by vote of the majority of such Members,
be adjourned to a subsequent date.
Section 9. Quorum.
A meeting of Members shall not be organized for business unless a
quorum is present. The presence in person or by proxy of not less
than one-half of the entire Membership shall constitute a quorum.
Affiliate and Student Members shall not count toward the presence
of a quorum. If a quorum is found to exist at a meeting of members,
it shall be deemed to exist until adjournment notwithstanding the
withdrawal of enough Members to leave less than a quorum.
Section 10.
Voting. Each Fellow Member and Individual Member
shall be entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of
the membership. Except as may be required by law, Affiliate Members
and Student Members shall not be entitled to vote. Subject to any
provision of law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these
Bylaws, the affirmative vote of a majority of votes entitled to be
cast by the Members present in person or by proxy at a meeting at
which a quorum is present shall be necessary for the adoption of
any matter voted upon by the Members.
Section 11. Consent in Lieu of
Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken
by the Members at a meeting may be taken without a meeting if a
consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be
signed by a majority (or if a greater number is required by law,
the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, such greater
number) of the Members entitled to vote with respect to the subject
matter thereof, and mailed to, and received by, the Secretary of
the Association. Such consent shall have the same force and effect
as a vote taken at a properly convened meeting of the members of
the Association. A certificate of the Secretary or another officer
of the Association with respect to such consent, or a signed copy
of such consent (which may be executed in counterparts), shall be
filed in the minute book of the proceedings of the members of the
Association.
ARTICLE VI - BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Section 1. Powers.
The management of the property, affairs, business and activities of
the Association shall be vested in the Board of Trustees, which
shall have all powers necessary and proper for the conduct of the
Association's business and the advancement of its purposes.
Section 2. Qualifications of
Trustees. Each member of the Board of Trustees
elected in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 4(g)
of this Article must be a Fellow Member or an Individual Member.
If, due to a merger, acquisition or for any other reason, more than
one employee of any Member is serving as a Trustee, such Member
shall cause one such employee to resign from the Board of Trustees
effective with the date of the next meeting of the Board of
Trustees. A Trustee, if any, appointed in accordance with the
procedures set forth in Section 4(h) of this Article must be the
President of the Association.
Section 3. Number.
The number of Trustees which shall constitute the whole Board of
Trustees shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the
Board of Trustees, but shall not be less than 3 nor more than 25.
Any newly created trusteeships or any decrease in trusteeships
(other than the trusteeship described in Section 4(i) of this
Article) shall be so apportioned among the classes of Trustees
described in Section 4(a) of this Article as to make Class A and
Class B classes as nearly equal in number as possible. The number
of Class C Trustees shall be set at the sole discretion of the
Board and in accordance with Section 4(e) below. The Class A , B
and C Trustees elected in accordance with the procedures set forth
in Section 4(e) and 4(h) of this Article and the Trustee, if any,
appointed in accordance with the procedure set forth in Section 4
(i) of this Article shall constitute the whole Board of
Trustees.
Section 4.
Election.
a) The Trustees
shall be elected or appointed in accordance with the procedures set
forth in Sections 4(e), 4(h) and 4(i) of this Article and the
Trustees referred to in Sections 4(b) and 4(d) shall be classified,
with respect to the time for which they severally hold office, into
two classes which shall be as nearly equal in number as possible,
in each case to hold office until their successors are elected and
qualified, except the following individuals who are Trustees as of
the date of initial adoption of these Bylaws, and who shall serve
until their successors shall be elected and qualified at the first
elections to be held by the Association no later than June 2002:
Robert Jarrow, Charles Smithson, Peter Tufano, David Shimko, Glenn
Labhart, William Martin, Donald van Devender and Ken Abbott. Two
classes of Trustees, Class A and Class B, shall be elected to
succeed the initial Trustees at the first elections to be held no
later than June 2002.
b) At the annual
meeting of members held in 2002, the Trustees in Class A ("Class
A") shall be elected and qualified to serve as Trustees until the
annual meeting of Members held in 2003 and until their successors
shall be elected and qualified.
c) At the annual
meeting of Members held in 2003 and at all subsequent annual
meetings of Members at which the terms of office of Class A expire,
Class A shall be elected to serve until the annual meeting of
Members held in the second year following the year of their
election and until their successors shall be elected and
qualified.
d) Trustees in
Class B ("Class B") shall be elected and qualified to serve as
Trustees until the annual meeting of Members held in the second
year following the year of their election and until their
successors shall be elected and qualified.
e) Trustees in
Class C ("Class C") shall be nominated by the Executive Committee
and elected as Trustee by a simple majority vote of the Trustees
present at the Board meeting when the vote is taken, shall serve
for a period of one year following their election. A Class C
Trustee upon the expiration of his or her term shall be eligible to
stand for reelection upon nomination of the Executive Committee but
shall not be eligible to vote on his or her re- nomination. Class C
Trustees shall possess all the rights and privileges of a Class A
and B Trustee except that they shall not be eligible for election
as an officer of the Association pursuant to Article VIII. In no
case shall Class C Trustees at the time of their election comprise
more than 33% of the total number of Board Trustees as set by
resolution of the Board pursuant to Section 3 of the Article.
f) If the number of
Class A or B Trustees constituting the Board is changed by the
Board of Trustees, any newly created trusteeship or any decrease in
the number of trusteeships shall be so apportioned between the
Class A and B Trustees as to make both classes as nearly equal as
possible; provided, however, that no decrease of the number of
Trustees shall shorten the term of any incumbent Trustee. Any
increase or decrease of Class C Trustees shall not effect the
number or proportion of Class A or B Trustees.
g) Except as set
forth in Section 4(b) of this Article, all Class A and B Trustees
shall serve until the annual meeting of members held in the second
year following the year of their election and until their
successors shall be elected and qualified. Trustees elected by the
Board of Trustees pursuant to Section 15 of this Article shall
serve for the term provided for in such Section. Any Trustee
elected pursuant to Section 4(e) shall serve for a term of one
year.
Any Trustee
appointed pursuant to Section 4(i) shall serve a term of one year
or as otherwise determined in the resolution of the Board of
Trustees establishing the appointment of such Trustee.
h) The Members of
the Association shall elect Class A and Class B members of each
Board of Trustees in accordance with the following procedures. At
least 30 days prior to each annual meeting of the members of the
Association or each special meeting called pursuant to Section 15
of this Article, the incumbent Board of Trustees shall, in the
manner provided by Section 1 of Article VI, appoint a nominating
committee consisting of members of the Board of Trustees to
nominate candidates for election to the Board of Trustees at such
annual or special meeting of members. No less than a majority of
the members of the nominating committee shall consist of some or
all of the Trustees elected pursuant to this Section 4(h) whose
term of office is not expiring at the time of such meeting. The
nominating committee shall, by resolution adopted by affirmative
vote of a majority of the whole nominating committee, propose for
each class of Trustees a number of candidates for the Board of
Trustees equal to the number of Trustees to be elected in each such
class at such annual or special meeting. A list of such nominees
shall be delivered or mailed to all members of the Association not
less than 20 days before the date of the annual or special meeting.
Members of the Association may nominate candidates for election as
Trustees in addition to those nominated by the nominating committee
by submission of a nominating petition to the Secretary of the
Association at least two weeks prior to such annual or special
meeting, provided that the nominating petition relating to any such
proposed nominee shall be effective only if it bears the signatures
of no less than one (1) percent of those entitled to vote in
accordance with Section 10 of Article V as determined by the
President as per the Association's official records as of midnight
of November 30 of the year immediately prior to the February
election shall be memorialized in the official Minutes of the
Executive Committee at its December meeting. At such annual or
special meeting, each Member of the Association (or its proxy)
entitled to vote shall be requested to vote for a number of
nominees equal to the number of Trustees to be elected. Ballots
purporting to vote for a greater number of nominees shall not be
counted. In any election of Trustees pursuant to Section 4(a) or
Section 15 of this Article VI, the nominees in each class of
Trustees for which one or more Trustees are to be elected at such
election who are validly nominated under these Bylaws and who
receive the greatest number of the votes cast among the persons
nominated for such class, up to the number of Trustees to be
elected in each such class in such election, shall be deemed
elected.
i) In addition to
the Trustees elected in accordance with the procedures set forth in
Subsection 4(h), the Board of Trustees may, by affirmative vote of
a majority of the whole Board of Trustees, appoint the President of
the Association as a Trustee of the Association by virtue of his or
her office in the Association. The President may be appointed for a
term of office as designated by the Board of Trustees (subject to
annual reappointment by each new Board of Trustees at its
organization meeting), but in no case shall the President's term of
office continue if that individual ceases, for any reason, to be
the President of the Association. The Board of Trustees will not be
required to classify the trusteeship held by the President as
described in Sections 3 and 4(a) of this Article.
Section 5. Place of
Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Trustees may be
held at any place, within or without the States of New York and New
Jersey and the United States of America, from time to time
designated by the Board of Trustees.
Section 6. Organization
Meeting. A newly elected Board of Trustees shall meet
and organize, and also may transact any other business which might
be transacted at a regular meeting thereof, within two months after
each annual meeting of members. Such organizational meeting may
take place at the same place where such meeting of members took
place, without notice of such meeting, or may be held at any other
time or place which may be specified in a notice given in the
manner provided in or pursuant to Section 7 or 8 of this Article
for regular or special meetings of the Board of Trustees, or in a
waiver of notice thereof
Section 7. Regular
Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Trustees
shall be held at such times as may be determined by resolution of
the Board of Trustees and no notice shall be required for any
regular meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law, any business
may be transacted at any regular meeting of the Board of
Trustees.
Section 8. Special Meetings;
Notice and Waiver of Notice. Special meetings of the
Board of Trustees shall be called by the Secretary on the request
of the Chairman of the Board or one of the Vice-Chairmen or on the
request in writing of any two other Trustees stating the purpose or
purposes of such meeting. Notice of any special meeting shall be in
form approved by the Chairman of the Board or one of the
Vice-Chairmen, as the case may be. Notices of special meetings
shall be mailed to each Trustee, addressed to him or her at his or
her residence or usual place of business, not later than five days
before the day on which the meeting is to be held, or shall be sent
to him at such place by telex, telegraph, cable, email or other
form of recorded communication or be delivered personally or by
telephone not later than three days before such day of meeting.
Notice of any meeting of the Board of Trustees need not be given to
any Trustee if he shall sign a written waiver thereof either before
or after the time stated therein, or if he shall attend a meeting,
except when he attends such meeting for the express purpose of
objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of
any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or
convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose
of, any special meeting of the Board of Trustees need be specified
in any notice or written waiver of notice unless so required by the
Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws. Unless limited by
law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, any
and all business may be transacted at any special meeting.
Section 9. Organization of
Meetings. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at
all meetings of the Board of Trustees at which he is present. If
the Chairman of the Board shall be absent from any meeting of the
Board of Trustees, one of the Vice-Chairmen shall preside at such
meeting, and in the absence of both the Chairman and the
Vice-Chairmen, then the most senior officer of the Association
present, if he is a member of the Board of Trustees, shall so
preside unless the Board of Trustees shall otherwise provide. If no
such officer is present at such meeting, one of the Trustees
present shall be chosen by the members of the Board of Trustees
present to preside at such meeting. The Secretary of the
Association shall act as the secretary at all meetings of the Board
of Trustees, and in his absence a temporary secretary shall be
appointed by the person presiding at the meeting, unless the Board
of Trustees shall otherwise provide.
Section 10. Quorum and Manner of
Acting. At every meeting of the Board of Trustees a
quorum shall consist of no fewer than 33% of the total number of
Trustees constituting the whole Board of Trustees except that any
such quorum shall consist of at least a majority of Class A and B
Trustees. In no event shall a quorum consist of fewer than three
Trustees. Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate
of Incorporation, or in the case of (i) filling a vacancy on the
Board of Trustees, (ii) appointing committees, (iii) filling a
committee vacancy, (iv) removing an elected officer or (v) amending
these Bylaws (all of which require the vote of a majority of the
whole Board of Trustees), the vote of a majority of the Trustees
present at any such meeting at which a quorum is present shall be
the act of the Board of Trustees. In the absence of a quorum, a
majority of the Trustees present may adjourn any meeting, from time
to time, until a quorum is present. No notice of any adjourned
meeting need be given other than by announcement at the meeting
that is being adjourned. Members of the Board of Trustees or any
committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board of
Trustees or of such committee by means of conference telephone or
similar communications equipment by means of which all persons
participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation
by a member of the Board of Trustees in a meeting pursuant to
Section 10 of this Article shall constitute his presence in person
at such meeting.
Section 11.
Voting.
a) On any question
on which the Board of Trustees shall vote, the names of those
voting and their votes shall be entered in the minutes of the
meeting if any member of the Board of Trustees so requests at the
time.
b) An act of a
majority of the Board members voting at a meeting (including
meetings called for the purpose of determining the minimum passing
score(s) of the FRM examination) at which a quorum is present,
shall be the act of the Board.
Section 12. Action Without a
Meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law or by
the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required or permitted
to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Trustees or of any
committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if prior to such
action all members of the Board of Trustees or of such committee,
as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or
writings (which may be executed in counterparts) are filed with the
minutes of proceedings of the Board of Trustees or the
committee.
Section 13.
Resignations. Any Trustee may resign at any time upon
written notice of resignation to the Association. Any resignation
shall be effective immediately unless a date certain is specified
for it to take effect, in which event it shall be effective upon
such date, and acceptance of any resignation shall not be necessary
to make it effective, regardless of whether the resignation is
tendered subject to such acceptance. If any person elected or
appointed as a Trustee shall cease for any reason to be a Fellow or
Individual Member of the Association, or the President of the
Association of so appointed to the Board of Trustees, such person
shall immediately cease to be a Trustee and shall be deemed to have
resigned pursuant to Section 13 of this Article regardless of
whether the Board of Trustees shall have received written notice of
such resignation and without the necessity for any action by the
Board of Trustees.
Section 14. Removal of
Trustees. Any Trustee may be removed, either with or
without cause, at any time upon the recommendation of the Board of
Trustees, by action of a majority of the Members of the Association
entitled to vote either at a meeting of such Members or, whenever
permitted by law and the Certificate of Incorporation, without a
meeting by their written consents thereto.
Section 15. Filling of
Vacancies.
a) Except as
otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, in
the case of any increase in the number of Trustees of any class, or
of any vacancy in the Board of Trustees, the additional Trustee or
Trustees may be elected, or, as the case may be, the vacancy or
vacancies may be filled, either by the Board of Trustees at any
meeting by affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Trustees
though the remaining Trustees be less than the quorum provided in
Section 10 of this Article, or by a sole remaining Trustee or (b)
except for a Class C Trustee by the requisite vote of the Members
of the Association either at an annual meeting of members or at a
special meeting of such members called for that purpose; provided,
however, that any Class A or B Trustee elected by the Board of
Trustees shall serve until the next annual meeting of members of
the Association at which time the members shall elect a Class A or
B Trustee to serve out the remaining balance, if any, of the
original term of the new or vacated trusteeship (unless the Board
of Trustees shall have reduced the number of Trustees). Any Class A
or B Trustee chosen pursuant to Section 15 of this Article shall
hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of
Trustees in which the new Trusteeship was created or the vacancy
occurred and until such Trustee's successor shall have been elected
and qualified, or until his earlier resignation or removal.
At any time a vote
of Members of the Association is conducted at an annual or special
meeting pursuant to Section 15 of this Article the nomination and
election of any Trustee pursuant to such vote shall be conducted in
accordance with the procedural requirements of Article VI, Section
4(g), provided, however, that each class of Trustees for which one
or more candidates are nominated pursuant to Section 4(h) of this
Article or this Section 15 of this Article shall be voted upon
separately from any other class. Nothing in this Section 15(a)
shall apply to any Trustee appointed by the Board of Trustees in
accordance with the procedure set forth in Section 4(i) of this
Article.
b) In the case of a
vacancy in the trusteeship previously held by the President
appointed by the Board of Trustees in accordance with the procedure
set forth in Section 4(i) of this Article, the number of Trustees
that shall constitute the whole Board of Trustees shall be
automatically reduced by one, until such time as another Trustee is
appointed by the Board of Trustees pursuant to the procedure set
forth in Section 4(i) of this Article.
Section 16. Annual
Report. The Board of Trustees shall direct the
Chairman and Treasurer of the Association to present at the annual
meeting of the Members a report, certified by an independent or
certified public accountant or a firm of such accountants selected
by the Board, showing in detail the following:
a) the assets and
liabilities, including trust funds, of the Association as of the
end of a twelve-month fiscal period terminating not more than six
months prior to the said meeting;
b) the principal
changes in assets and liabilities, including trust funds, during
said fiscal period;
c) the revenue or
receipts of the Association, both unrestricted and restricted, for
the general and restricted purposes, during said fiscal
period;
d) the expenses and
disbursements of the Association, for both general and restricted
purposes, during said fiscal period; and
e) the number of
Members of the Association as of the date of the report together
with a statement of increase or decrease in such number during said
fiscal period, and a statement of the place where the names and
places of residence of current Members may be found.
ARTICLE VII - COMMITTEES
Section 1. Constitution and
Powers. The Board of Trustees may, by resolution
adopted by affirmative vote of a majority of the whole Board of
Trustees, appoint one or more committees of the Board of Trustees
consisting of three or more members of the Board of Trustees. Each
such committee shall have such powers as the Board of Trustees
shall properly determine in accordance with the Not-for-Profit
Corporation Law of the State of New Jersey.
Section 2. Place of
Meetings. Meetings of any committee of the Board of
Trustees may be held at such place as may be designated from time
to time by the Board of Trustees or such committee.
Section 3. Meetings; Notice and
Waiver of Notice. Regular meetings of any committee
of the Board of Trustees shall be held at such times as may be
determined by resolution either of the Board of Trustees or of such
committee and no notice shall be required for any regular meeting.
Special meetings of any committee shall be called by the secretary
thereof upon request of any member thereof. Notice of any special
meeting of any committee shall be in form approved by the Chairman
of the Board or, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, one
of the Vice-Chairmen. Notices of special meetings shall be mailed
or emailed to each member, addressed to him at his residence or
usual place of business, not later than five days before the day on
which the meeting is to be held, or shall be sent to him at such
place by telex, telegraph, cable or any other form of recorded
communication or be delivered personally or by telephone not later
than three days before such day of meeting. Neither the business to
be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any special meeting of any
committee need be specified in any notice or written waiver of
notice unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation or
these Bylaws. Notices of any such meeting need not be given to any
member of any committee, however, if waived by him in the same
manner as is provided in Section 8 of Article VI, and the
provisions of such Section 8 with respect to waiver of notice of
meetings of the Board of Trustees shall apply to any meeting of any
committee as well.
Section 4. Organization of
Meetings. The chairman, if any, of each committee
shall preside at all meetings of such committee at which he is
present. If such chairman shall be absent from any meeting of such
committee, or if such committee shall not have a chairman, the most
senior officer of the Association present, if he is a member of the
committee, and, if not, the Trustee present who has served the
longest as a Trustee shall preside at such meeting, unless the
Board of Trustees, or the committee, shall otherwise provide. The
Secretary of the Association shall act as secretary at all meetings
of any committee and in his absence a temporary secretary shall be
appointed by the person presiding at the meeting, unless the Board
of Trustees, or the committee, shall otherwise provide.
Section 5. Quorum and Manner of
Acting. One-third but in no event fewer than two of
the members of any committee (except an Executive Committee) then
in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business, and the vote of a majority of those present at any
meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of such
committee. A majority but in no event fewer than three of the
members of an Executive Committee then in office shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business, and the vote of a majority
of those present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall
be the act of the Executive Committee. In the absence of a quorum,
a majority of the members of any committee present may adjourn any
meeting, from time to time, until a quorum is present. No notice of
any adjourned meeting need be given other than by announcement at
the meeting that is being adjourned.
Section 6. Voting.
On any question on which any committee shall vote, the names of
those voting and their votes shall be entered in the minutes of the
meeting if any member of such committee so requests.
Section 7.
Records. All committees shall keep minutes of their
acts and proceedings, which shall be filed with the minutes of the
Board of Trustees meetings kept by the Association and shall be
reported to the Board of Trustees at the next regular meeting of
the Board of Trustees unless sooner submitted at an organization or
special meeting of the Board of Trustees.
Section 8.
Vacancies. Any vacancy among the appointed members of
any committee of the Board of Trustees may be filled by affirmative
vote of a majority of the whole Board of Trustees.
ARTICLE VIII - OFFICERS
Section 1. Elected Officers -
Qualifications. The elected officers of the
Association shall be a Chairman of the Board or two Co-Chairmen,
one or more Vice-Chairmen, a President, a Secretary and a
Treasurer. The Chairman of the Board or two Co-Chairmen and each
Vice- Chairman shall be elected from among the members of the Board
of Trustees. Each elected officer other than the President must be
a Fellow Member or an Individual Member. Except as otherwise
provided by the Board of Trustees, the President shall be a
full-time employee of the Association selected by the Board of
Trustees.
Section 2. Election and Term of
Office of Elected Officers. So far as is practicable,
all elected officers of the Association other than the President
shall be elected at the organizational meeting of the Board of
Trustees in each year. Subject to Sections 3, 4 and 10 of this
Article, each elected officer shall hold office until the next
organizational meeting of the Board of Trustees and until their
respective successors shall be elected and qualified. The President
shall hold office for such period as is approved from time to time
by the Board of Trustees.
Section 3. Removal of Elected
Officers. Any elected officer may be removed at any
time, with or without cause, by an affirmative vote of a majority
of the whole Board of Trustees at any regular meeting of the Board
of Trustees or at any special meeting called for such
purpose.
Section 4.
Resignations. Any officer may resign at any time upon
written notice of resignation to the Association. Any resignation
shall be effective immediately unless a date certain is specified
for it to take effect, in which event it shall be effective upon
such date, and acceptance of any resignation shall not be necessary
to make it effective, regardless of whether the resignation is
tendered subject to such acceptance. If any person elected or
appointed as an officer other than the Executive Trustee shall
cease for any reason to be an officer, partner, principal or
employee of the member with which such person was affiliated at the
time of his election or appointment, such person shall immediately
cease to be an elected officer and shall be deemed to have resigned
pursuant to this Section 4 of Article VIII regardless of whether
the Association shall have received written notice of such
resignation and without the necessity for any action by the Board
of Trustees.
Section 5. The Chairman of the
Board. The Chairman of the Board or the Co-Chairmen
shall preside at all meetings of the members of the Association and
at all meetings of the Board of Trustees. If there shall be
Co-Chairmen, each shall be entitled, severally, to exercise the
full powers of the office of the Chairman of the Board. The
Chairman of the Board or either Co- Chairmen shall be entitled to
appoint such committees as may from time to time be provided for by
these Bylaws or by resolution of the Board of Trustees or as he or
they may deem necessary or desirable for the conduct of the
business of the Association, subject in each case to the authority
of the Board of Trustees.
Section 6.
Vice-Chairmen. Each Vice-Chairman shall have
authority to exercise all powers delegated to him by the Board of
Trustees or the Chairman of the Board or either Co-Chairman. If the
Chairman of the Board or both Co-Chairmen should for any reason be
unable to act or if, subject to Section 10 of this Article, the
office of the Chairman of the Board should at any time for any
reason become vacant, the duties of the Chairman of the Board shall
be carried on by the Vice-Chairmen, acting singly or
together.
Section 7. The
President. The President shall be the chief executive
officer of the Association. The President shall report to the
Chairman of the Board and shall be responsible for the management
of all activities of the Association in a manner consistent with
the policies established by the Board of Trustees. The President
shall employ and may terminate the employment of members of the
staff necessary to carry on the work of the Association and fix
their compensation within the approved budget. The President shall
define the duties of the staff, supervise their performance,
establish their titles and delegate those responsibilities of
management as shall be in the best interests of the Association.
The President shall approve the expenditure of the monies
appropriated by the Board of Trustees in accordance with the budget
approved by the Board of Trustees. The President shall make
periodic reports to the Board of Trustees concerning the programs
and activities of the Association as directed by the Chairman of
the Board.
Section 8. The
Secretary. The Secretary shall perform all the duties
usually appertaining to the office of Secretary. He or she shall
attend to the giving of all required notices of meetings of the
members, the Board of Trustees or any committee thereof. He or she
shall keep minutes of all such meetings or, where some other person
has kept such minutes, shall maintain custody of such minutes. He
or she shall have charge of the corporate seal and shall have
authority to attest any and all instruments or writings to which
the same may be affixed.
Section 9. The
Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge and
custody of and have responsibility for all funds and securities of
the Association and shall present an annual report of the finances
of the Association and such interim reports as the Board of
Trustees may from time to time require. In the absence of the
Secretary, he or she shall have authority to attest any and all
instruments or writings to which the corporate seal of the
Association may be affixed.
Section 10. Vacancies in Elected
Offices. In the case of the death, resignation or
removal of any elected officer, a simple majority of the Board of
Trustees may appoint a qualified person to serve out the remaining
term of such officer.
ARTICLE IX - MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1. Seal.
The Board of Trustees shall provide a suitable seal containing the
name of the Association and the year of its incorporation. The seal
shall be in the charge of the Secretary.
Section 2.
Auditors. The Board of Trustees may each year
designate a firm of certified public accountants to act as auditors
for the Association for the current fiscal year.
Section 3.
Limitation. No committee or officer shall have any
power to incur or contract any liability in excess of specific
appropriations made by the Board of Trustees.
Section 4.
Investments. The Board of Trustees may authorize the
investment of surplus funds of the Association in such securities
or otherwise as it may deem proper, with full power to sell or
exchange such securities, and it may delegate such power as it in
its discretion sees fit.
Section 5. Powers of
Execution. All contracts, leases and other
instruments shall be signed in the name of the Association by the
Chairman of the Board, one of the Vice-Chairmen or by any other
Trustee or elected or appointed officer authorized to sign such
instrument by the Board of Trustees, and those documents requiring
the seal of the Association shall be attested by the Secretary or,
in his absence, the Treasurer. All checks for payment of funds of
the Association shall be signed by such elective or appointive
officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board of
Trustees may from time to time designate.
Section 6. Fiscal
Year. The fiscal year of the Association shall be
fixed by resolution of the Board of Trustees.
Section 7.
Indemnification. Any Trustee or elected or appointed
officer of the Association acting with due authority on behalf of
the Association shall be indemnified by the Association to the full
extent permitted by the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law of the State
of New Jersey or other applicable law.
Section 8.
Amendments. The Bylaws may be altered, amended or
repealed (i) by a vote of the majority of the Members present in
person or by proxy at any annual or special meeting of the members,
provided that, in the case of a special meeting, notice of such
proposed alteration, amendment or repeal be included in the notice
of meeting or (ii) except as otherwise expressly provided in any
Bylaw adopted by the Members, by the Board of Trustees by
affirmative vote of a majority of the whole Board of
Trustees.
Revised 11-16-04