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	New England Chapter American Society of Indexers Bylaws

Changes of November 2006 are in (crossed out) red type.

ARTICLE I. Name

The name of this Chapter shall be the New England Chapter of the American Society of Indexers. 

ARTICLE II. Chapter Bylaws

These bylaws shall be submitted to the Chapter Relations Committee of the American Society of Indexers (ASI) for review prior to their being submitted to Chapter members. The ASI Chapter Relations committee will then submit these bylaws to the ASI Board of Directors. These bylaws shall become effective upon approval of a simple majority of the Chapter membership. 

ARTICLE III. Objectives

The objectives of this Chapter shall be in keeping with the objectives of the American Society of Indexers. They include 

(a) provide a local forum for better communication among indexers;

(b) improve the quality of indexing by offering continuing education of indexers; and

(c) promote the importance of indexes as a standard component of all media, print and electronic.

ARTICLE IV. Policies

The policies and procedures of the American Society of Indexers, as applicable, shall also be the policies and procedures of this Chapter. 

ARTICLE V. Membership

Membership in the Chapter shall be held automatically by those members of the American Society of Indexers who reside within the six New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, and may be held by other members of the American Society of Indexers who request to join the Chapter. The Chapter Relations Committee will be called upon to resolve any disputes that cannot be worked out. 

ARTICLE VI. Chapter Requirements

Section 1. This Chapter shall: 

(a) maintain a membership list of at least 10 active (dues- paying) ASI members,

(b) not be an integral part of any other national organization, and

(c) ensure that the Chapter bylaws are current and are not in conflict with the bylaws and policies of the American Society of Indexers.

Section 2. Should the Chapter fail to observe these requirements, Article XVI applies. 

ARTICLE VII. Dues

The American Society of Indexers will allocate the per member allotment as determined by the ASI Board of Directors to the local Chapter, at the end of each fiscal year for the previous fiscal year. (Members of the local Chapter include all members of the American Society of Indexers who reside within the geographic area of the Chapter, regardless of their activity in the local Chapter.) 

ARTICLE VIII. Fiscal Responsibility

Section 1. The fiscal year shall correspond to the fiscal year of the
American Society of Indexers (January 1 through December 31) and the local
Chapter is financially responsible to ASI.

Section 2. An auditor or auditing committee of 2 members shall be appointed by the Chapter President. The auditor(s) shall audit the Treasurer's records within two weeks following the Treasurer's term of office and shall report to the Chapter at the next meeting. 

Section 3. The Treasurer's records shall be presented at the annual meeting of the Chapter (the last meeting of the fiscal year). 

ARTICLE IX. Officers 

Section 1. There shall be five officers: 

(a) President 

(b) Vice-President (President-Elect)

(c) Secretary

(d) Treasurer

(e) Chairman of Continuing Studies

The officers form the Executive Committee. 

Section 2. A term of office shall be 1 year, with the exception of the Treasurer, who shall serve two years. 

Section 3. Officers shall assume their duties at the beginning of each year (January 1) and shall serve for 1 year (except for the Treasurer, who shall serve 2 years) or until their successors are duly elected or appointed.

ARTICLE X. Nominations and Elections

Section 1. Officers shall be elected by the local Chapter prior to the Chapter's Annual Meeting. 

Section 2. Only ASI members in good standing shall be eligible for office. 

Section 3. The Chapter President shall appoint a nominating committee of at least two members. The nominating committee shall select a slate of one or more nominees for each office. The Chapter membership shall vote by mail ballot. The Secretary shall mail a ballot not later than 6 weeks before the annual meeting, allowing members 30 days to return their ballots. 

Section 4. Vacancies in office shall be treated as follows: 

(a) In the event of resignation, incapacity, or death of the President, the Vice-President (President-Elect) shall become President for the remainder of the unexpired term. If the office of the Vice-President (President-Elect) is vacant, then the remaining members of the executive committee shall hold a vote to elect one of its members to fill the unexpired term.

(b) Vacancies in offices other than President shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term by the Executive Committee.

Section 5. No member shall hold the same office for more than 2 consecutive terms. 

Section 6. Six months or more shall be considered a term of office in determining eligibility for reelection. 

ARTICLE XI. Duties of Officers

Section 1. The President shall be the principal officer of the Chapter, and shall perform the following duties: 

(a) Preside at all meetings of the Chapter and the Executive Committee.

(b) Appoint standing and special committee chairpersons with the approval of the Executive Committee.

(c) Serve as ex-officio member of all committees except the nominating committee.

(d) Bring to the attention of the Chapter all pertinent information from the American Society of Indexers.

(e) Approve all disbursement of funds. Countersign all checks or designate, in writing, a person to counter-sign.

(f) Send the names and addresses of all officers and chairpersons to the Chapter Relations Chairperson immediately following election or appointment; and immediately report of any changes affecting the officers. 

Section 2. The Vice-President (President-elect) shall perform the following duties: 

(a) Preside, in the absence of the President, at all meetings of the Chapter and Executive Committee.

(b) Become President on expiration of term of office as Vice-President, and for the unexpired term in case of resignation, incapacity, or death of the President.

(c) Serve in such capacities as assigned by the President.

(d) Assume responsibility for program planning for the Chapter.

Section 3. The Secretary of the Chapter shall perform the following duties: 

(a) Take and record accurate minutes of the proceedings of all meetings of the Chapter and Executive Committee.

(b) Preserve in a permanent file all records and letters of value to the Chapter and its officers.

(c) Maintain chapter membership list as well as contact information for non-members

(d) Moderate the NEASITalk listserv

(e) Serve as registrar for Chapter meetings

Section 4. The Treasurer shall perform the following duties: 

(a) Have charge of all monies of the Chapter and shall report about the current financial state of the Chapter at all meetings.

(b) Apply for and receive per member allotment of the Chapter from the Treasurer of the American Society of Indexers, to be used for activities of the local Chapter.

(c) Pay all bills upon written authorization of the President, who also must countersign, or designate someone to countersign, all checks.

(d) Keep an itemized record, in a permanent file, of all receipts and expenditures.

(e) Deliver within 2 weeks after expiration of term of office, all books, records, and papers to the newly elected Treasurer. 

Section 5. The Chairperson of Continuing Studies shall be responsible for any special Chapter projects, as approved by the Executive Committee, such as a newsletter, a member directory, and/or an annual conference. 

Section 5. Each officer shall deliver, immediately after retiring from office, all accounts, books, records, papers, and other property belonging to the Chapter to the newly elected officer. 

ARTICLE XII. Meetings 

Section 1. Regular meetings shall be held at least twice a year unless otherwise ordered by the Chapter membership or the Executive Committee. 

Section 2. The last regular meeting of each fiscal year shall be designated the Annual Meeting, at which time reports summarizing the year's activities shall be given. 

Section 3. Special meetings of the Chapter may be called by the President or by any 5 members, provided that all members are notified of time, place, and purpose of the meeting at least 15 days prior to the meeting. 

Section 4. Ten (10) Chapter members shall constitute a quorum. 

ARTICLE XIII. Executive Committee 

Section 1. The elected officers of the Chapter shall constitute the Executive Committee. 

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall meet on call by the President, or by any 2 members of the Committee, for the consideration of special matters between regular meetings of the Chapter. A meeting may be conducted in person, by conference call, or by electronic conferencing. 

Section 3. Standing and special committee appointments made by the President shall be subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. 

Section 4. A majority of the elected officers shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of the Executive Committee. 

ARTICLE XIV. Standing Committees

Section 1. The Standing Committees of the Chapter shall be the Membership Committee, the Program Committee, and the Publicity/Web Site Committee. The responsibility of maintaining the web site (webmaster) lies with either the chair or with a member or members of the Publicity/Web Site Committee.

Section 2. Only ASI members in good standing shall be eligible for the chairmanship of the standing committee. 

Section 3. Committee chairpersons and members shall be appointed for a term of 1 year and may be reappointed. No committee chairperson shall serve more than 3 consecutive years as chairperson of the same committee.

Section 4. Standing Committees may consist of only one member, but then the member, as chair, may stay sole member for a maximum of three consecutive years.

ARTICLE XV. Amendments

Section 1. Amendments to the bylaws may be proposed by the Executive Committee or by a Bylaws Committee. Individual members may submit suggested bylaw changes to the Chairperson of the Bylaws Committee or to any member of the Executive Committee. 

Section 2. All proposed amendments shall be sent in writing (by mail, fax or electronic mail) to every member of the Chapter. 

Section 3. Amendments to bylaws may be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Chapter membership. 

Section 4. The final adoption by the Chapter of amendments to or revisions of these bylaws shall be contingent upon the approval of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Indexers. 

Section 5. When an amendment that affects Chapter bylaws is adopted by the American Society of Indexers, the Chapter shall automatically amend its bylaws to conform. 

ARTICLE XVI. Dissolution

Upon dissolution of this Chapter, all its assets remaining after payment of all costs and expenses shall be distributed to the American Society of Indexers, and none of its assets will be distributed to any member or officer of this Chapter.