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FOR
Internationale Handelskammer Florida
A Florida not-for-profit Corporation
ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of this organization shall be Internationale Handelskammer
Florida, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as the Corporation).
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
The purposes of the Corporation shall be as set forth in the Articles
of Corporation.
ARTICLE III. FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year shall be determined by the Board of Directors of
the Corporation, from time to time, in accordance with applicable
accounting principles and regulations of the Internal Revenue Service.
ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP. The membership of the Corporation
shall be composed of persons with an interest in the principles
and goals of the Corporation, who apply for membership in the Corporation
and who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements set by the Board
from time to time.
Section 2. CATEGORIES OF MEMBERSHIP. The Board of Directors may
establish several categories of membership including, without limitation,
voting members, non-voting members, honorary members, junior members
or other categories appropriate to an organization of this type.
The Board of Directors shall establish the rights of each category
of membership.
Section 3. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP. Membership in the Corporation,
having once been obtained, may be terminated in the following manner:
a. Voluntary termination by the member through written notice of
termination directed to the Board of Directors.
b. Involuntary termination by expulsion, following a vote of at
least two-thirds of the Board of Directors.
c. Failure to pay and be current in all obligations to the Corporation.
ARTICLE V. DUES, ASSESSMENTS AND FEE CHARGES
The dues or other payments required to be paid by members to the
Corporation in order to retain membership shall be fixed, from time
to time, by the Board of Directors. Any additional assessments,
fees or charges for the operation of the Corporation, shall be set
by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VI. MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
Section 1. REGULAR MEETINGS. The Annual Meeting shall be held during
the first calendar quarter of each year at the time the Board of
Directors may designate.
Section 2. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special Meetings of the voting membership
may be called by either the President of the Corporation or upon
the written petition of not less than twenty-five (25%) percent
of the voting members of the Corporation in good standing being
presented to the President or the Vice-President or, in their absence,
to the Secretary. Notice of such meeting shall be mailed by the
Secretary to all voting members in good standing, stating the purpose
of such Special Meeting at least fifteen (15) days prior to the
Special Meeting. The meeting shall be limited to the purpose for
which it is called.
Section 3. QUORUM. A quorum at the Annual Meeting or any Special
Meeting shall consist of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the
voting members of the Corporation in good standing.
ARTICLE VII. PLACE AND NOTICE OF MEETINGS
Section 1. PLACE OF MEETING. All meetings of voting members and
Directors shall be held at the principal office of the Corporation
or at such other place designated by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. NOTICE OF MEETING. Written notice stating the place,
day and time of the meeting and in the case of a special meeting,
the purpose for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered
not less than ten nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting,
either personally, by mail, by electronic mail or by facsimile,
to each voting member or Director, as the case may be. If mailed,
such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the
United States mail, addressed to the voting member or Director,
at his or her last known address. If notice is given by electronic
mail or facsimile, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when
the confirmation is received by the facsimile machine of the sender
or the sending computer of the electronic mail, as the case may
be. Any voting member or Director may waive notice of any meeting,
either before, at or after such meeting. The attendance of a voting
member or Director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice
of such meeting, except where a voting member or Director attends
a meting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction
of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
ARTICLE VIII. OFFICERS
The Board of Directors at each annual meeting shall elect the following
officers to serve for the term of one year or until their successors
shall be elected: a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Treasurer,
a Secretary, and such other officers as the Board of Directors may
deem appropriate from time to time. The officers of the Corporation
shall not be liable for the debts of the Corporation by virtue of
their positions as officers of the Corporation.
1. President
The President shall preside at all meetings of the members and
the Directors and enforce observance of the provisions of these
Bylaws and all rules of the Corporation. The President may call
special meetings of the Board of Directors, shall be an ex officio
member of all committees and is empowered to execute all papers
and documents requiring execution in the name of the Corporation.
2. Vice President
The Vice President shall assist the President in his duties, and
in the absence or disability of the President, the Vice President
shall perform and carry out all duties and responsibilities of the
President.
3. Secretary
The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, records and minutes
of all meetings of the Board of Directors and the membership, and
the Secretary shall be responsible for giving all required notices
of meetings. The Secretary shall have custody of the Seal of the
Corporation, and all membership records shall be kept under the
Secretary's supervision.
4. Treasurer
The Treasurer shall cause to be collected, held and disbursed,
under the direction of the Board of Directors, all monies of the
Corporation, and it shall be the Treasurer's duty to collect monies
due the Corporation from the issuance of memberships, dues of members
of the Corporation, and all amounts due from others. The Treasurer
shall keep or cause to be kept regular books of account and all
financial records of the Corporation, and shall prepare budgets
and financial statements, when and in the form requested by the
Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall deposit or cause to be deposited
all monies of the Corporation in an account or accounts in the Corporation's
name, in savings and loan associations, savings banks, or banks
designated by the Board of Directors.
5. Other Officers
The Board of Directors may fill vacancies in any office or new
office created at any meeting of the Board of Directors.
6. Duties of Officers
Any officer may be given additional assignments and duties by the
Board of Directors.
7. Removal From Office
Any officer may be removed from office, with or without cause,
by a two thirds vote of the voting members of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IX. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. COMPOSITION. The Board of Directors shall not be less
than one (1) nor more than fifteen (15). The Board may from time
to time, increase or decrease the number of its members by a resolution
passed by the affirmative vote of at least seventy-five percent
(75%) of those persons then serving on the Board of Directors. The
number of members of the Board may only be decreased either to remove
vacant seats or with the additional affirmative vote of at least
sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66%) of the voting members.
Section 2. MEETINGS. The Board of Directors shall hold regular
meetings at such times as the Board shall determine. Members of
the Board may attend the meetings in person or through conference
call. Special meetings shall be held at the call of the President
or upon the written request of 3 members of the Board. A majority
of the voting members of the Board of Directors shall constitute
a quorum.
Section 3. TERM. The term of office of the members of the Board
of Directors shall be for a period of two (2) years.
ARTICLE X. POWERS OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
1. Management of the Corporation
The Board of Directors shall exercise all powers of the Corporation
and do all acts and things necessary to carry out the purposes of
the Corporation. The Board shall have general control over all officers
and any committees and shall have full power and authority to do
any and all things that are proper to be done by the Corporation,
except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws.
2. Duties and Powers
The Board of Directors shall:
a. Elect the officers of the Corporation;
b. Appoint committees and assign duties;
c. Fill vacancies on the Board of Directors due to death, resignation,
inability to perform duties, or otherwise, until the next election
of Directors by the voting members.
d. Establish, levy and collect assessments, fees and other charges
for the operation of the Corporation and use the proceeds of assessments
in the exercise of its powers and duties.
e. Establish the amount of dues, fees, maximum spending requirements
and other charges;
f. Have the power to replace any Director who shall fail to attend
three consecutive regular meetings of the Board of Directors either
in person or by conference call;
g. Have the power to expend funds, make contracts, borrow money
and incur indebtedness on behalf of the Corporation. All contracts,
obligations, deeds, notes, bonds, mortgages or other evidences of
indebtedness and instruments must be signed by the President or
a Vice President.
h. Have the power to open bank accounts on behalf of the Corporation,
or designate the Officers of the Corporation to do same.
i. All such other acts and things as are permitted by the laws
of the State of Florida with respect to not for profit corporations,
as those laws now exist or as they may hereafter provide.
3. Issuance of Memberships
The Board of Directors shall have authority to issue, cancel and
transfer memberships and shall have a certificate of membership
prepared in form and content consistent with the provisions of the
Articles of Incorporation and these Bylaws.
4. Compensation
No director shall receive a salary or any other compensation whatsoever,
but shall be entitled to reimbursement for all expenses reasonably
incurred in performing any duties pursuant to these Bylaws.
5. Interpretation of Bylaws
The Board of Directors shall have the corporate power to generally
do everything permitted by not for profit corporations by law, statute,
its Articles of Incorporation and these Bylaws, and to determine
the interpretation or construction of these Bylaws, or any parts
thereof, which may be in conflict or of doubtful meaning, and their
decision shall be final and conclusive.
6. Action Without Meetings
Any action which may be taken by the Board of Directors, or any
committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all of the
Directors entitled to vote consent to such action, in writing, and
the written consent to such action is filed in the minutes of the
proceedings of the Board of Directors.
Section 1. GENERAL. There shall be as many or as few other committees
as are necessary to implement or promote the purposes of the Corporation.
These committees shall be designated or dissolved by the President
of the Corporation. Each Committee shall have a chairperson appointed
by the President in consultation with the Vice President. Each committee
shall have a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson and such other members
as the Chairperson and/or the President may appoint one of whom
shall act as recorder for the committee.
Section 2. COMMITTEE PROCEDURES. The following procedures shall
be followed by all committees of the Corporation:
a. Each committee shall render a report whenever called upon by
the President, and shall submit an annual report to be filed by
the Secretary with the records of the Corporation.
b. Each committee shall maintain minutes of its meetings.
c. The President may ask a Chairperson to resign before the expiration
of the period for which he or she was appointed if the individual
has been remiss in carrying out the duties of the position.
ARTICLE XII. ELECTIONS
Section 1. ELECTION PROCEDURE. Election of members of the Board
of Directors shall be held by secret ballot at the Annual Membership
Meeting.
Section 2. BEGINNING OF TERM. Newly elected members of the Board
of Directors shall take office as of the first day of the month
following the election.
Section 3. GOOD STANDING. In order to be eligible for election
as a member of the Board of Directors, a person must be a member
in good standing.
ARTICLE XIII. REMOVAL
Section 1. BOARD MEMBERS. Any member the Board of Directors may
be removed by two-thirds (2/3rds) vote of the voting members attending
a regular or special meeting of the membership at which a quorum
is present. In order to consider the removal of any member of the
Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the membership,
written notice of such proposed action shall be mailed to all members
of the organization at least fifteen days prior to such meeting.
Section 2. OFFICERS. Any officer may be removed by a majority of
the Directors attending a regular or special meeting of the Board
at which a quorum is present.
ARTICLE XIV. FINANCES
Section 1. DEPOSIT OF FUNDS. All funds received by the Corporation
shall be deposited in federally insured banking or savings institutions,
or may be invested in short-term direct obligations of the United
States government or its agencies, all as shall be designated by
the Board of Directors from time to time.
Section 2. EXPENDITURES. All expenditures shall be by check, signed
any one of the Officers.
ARTICLE XV. CONTRACTS AND PROCEDURES
Section 1. OFFICIAL ACTS. All contracts, conveyances and other
instruments entered into by the Corporation shall be executed by
the President or Vice President, and shall be attested to by the
Secretary.
ARTICLE XVI. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
Section 1. CONDUCT OF MEETINGS. The rules contained in "Robert's
Rules of Order Revised", shall govern all meetings of the Corporation,
of the Board of Directors, and of the Committees, except as otherwise
specifically provided herein.
ARTICLE XVII. AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
Section 1. PROPOSAL. Amendments to or of the Bylaws shall be proposed
upon the recommendation of a majority of the Board of Directors
or upon the written petition of twenty-five percent (25%) of the
voting members of the Corporation in good standing, provided that
said amendments have been previously submitted to and read before
the Board of Directors at a regular or special meeting.
Section 2. APPROVAL. Provided there is a quorum, these Bylaws may
be amended by a vote of a majority of those voting members present
at any Annual or Special Meeting called for that purpose, after
fifteen (15) days notice has been given, and a copy of the proposed
Amendment has been mailed to each voting member before such meeting
or by a vote of a majority of the Board of Directors present at
any regular or special Board meeting.
XVIII. AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
Section 1. PROPOSAL. Amendments to the Articles of Incorporation
shall be proposed upon the recommendation of a majority of the Board
of Directors or upon the written petition of twenty-five percent
(25%) of the voting members of the Corporation in good standing,
provided that said amendments have been previously submitted to
and read before the Board of Directors at a regular or special meeting
thereof.
Section 2. APPROVAL. Provided there is a quorum, the Articles of
Incorporation may be amended by a vote of a majority of those voting
members present at any Annual or Special Meeting called for that
purpose, after fifteen (15) days notice has been given, and a copy
of the proposed Amendment has been mailed to each voting member
before such meeting or by a vote of a majority of the Board of Directors
at any regular or special Board meeting.
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