By-Laws of Farthest North Unit 426

As amended 6 September 2008

The Unit: The Unit functions within the By-laws and Regulations of the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) and its District.

Objects of the Organization

The objects of the organization are:

(a)    To preserve and promote the best interest of and to stimulate interest in the art of playing competitive duplicate contract bridge and any modifications thereof;

(b)    To cooperate with, and assist the League in the promotion and conduct of contract bridge tournaments;

(c)    To encourage the highest standards of conduct and ethics by its members, and to enforce such standards;

(d)    To promote the development and organization of affiliated clubs within the Unit;

(e)    To cooperate in the League’s charity program, and to sponsor and conduct charity events with the object of realizing funds to be devoted to worthy humanitarian causes;

(f)     And to conduct such other activities as may be in keeping with its principle objectives.

ARTICLE I

UNIT JURISDICTION

The geographical area within which this Unit shall have jurisdiction shall be the Fairbanks North Star Borough, and any area as is presently or may in the future be assigned to it by the Board of Directors of the ACBL.

Article II

MEMBERSHIP

(a)    Any person of good moral character and residing within the jurisdiction of the Unit, subject to District regulations, is eligible for membership, and no person shall be denied membership because of race, creed or color.

(b)    Such person, upon favorable action, shall become and remain a member unless:

(1)    He changes his residence to a place outside the jurisdiction of the Unit, in which case he shall become a member of the new Unit immediately on processing by the League of his change of address;

(2)    He has failed to pay his dues in accordance with regulations of the ACBL;

(3)    He has been suspended or expelled from membership in accordance with regulations established by the ACBL and the Board of Directors of the Unit, provided, however, that such regulations shall conform to the rules of due process applicable to membership corporations, and such regulations as are established by the Board of Directors of the Unit shall not be in conflict with the regulations of the ACBL.

(c)    Membership in the Unit carries with it membership in the ACBL.

ARTICLE III

DUES

Annual dues shall be in the amount fixed by the ACBL.

ARTICLE IV

MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

(a)    There shall be an annual meeting of the members, which may be held in connection with a tournament or special even which Unit members attend.

(b)    The Unit Board of Directors shall fix the time and place of the annual meeting and shall give appropriate notice by mail and/or email as appropriate of such meeting.

(c)    Special meetings of the members may be called at any time to consider specific subject matters by the Unit Board of Directors or by the President, or by petition of the members. Notice of the time and place of any special meeting shall be given by mail at least ten (10) days before such meeting. The notice of any special meeting shall contain an Agenda of the matters to be taken up at such meeting. No other business shall be acted upon at such special meeting.

(d)    A quorum for the transaction of business at any annual or special meeting shall consist of four (4) members.

(e)    No proxies shall be permitted.

ARTICLE V

UNIT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

(a)    Number of Directors

The affairs of the Unit shall be managed and conducted by the Unit Board of Directors which shall consist of five persons, all of whom must be members of the Unit.

(b)    Term of Office

Each Director shall hold office for a period of two (2) years, and shall continue to hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected. Half the members of the Board of Directors shall be elected each year, with the odd member being elected in odd-numbered years.

(c)    Nomination and Election of Directors

Candidates for Board of Director shall be nominated by the membership and elected from and by the membership of the Unit. Elections shall take place at the annual membership meeting. Nominations shall be declared open no fewer than thirty (30) days before the annual meeting, and shall be open for no fewer than fourteen (14) days total.

(d)    Vacancies

Any vacancy on the Unit Board of Directors shall be filled by the Board of Directors and the persons so appointed shall hold office for the balance of the term.

(e)    Meetings

The Unit Board of Directors shall hold a minimum of three meetings a year, one of which shall be designated the annual meeting. Subsequent regular meetings thereafter shall be held pursuant to regulations established by the Board of Directors, on appropriate notice.

(f)     Quorum

A quorum of the Unit Board of Directors for the transaction of business shall consist of not less than a majority of the Board.

(g)    Powers and Duties

In addition to the powers herein granted by other provisions hereof, and by the laws of the State of Alaska, the Unit Board of Directors shall have powers and duties including but not limited to:

(1)    The conduct, management, supervision and control of the business of the Unit;

(2)    Conduct of Unit tournaments; and

(3)    The employment and discharging of independent contractors and the supervision of their conduct and fixing of their compensation.

(h)    Roberts Rules

The Unit Board of Directors shall operate under Roberts Rules of Order, Revised, except for specific rules contained in the By-Laws.

ARTICLE VI

UNIT OFFICERS

(a)    Number

The officers of the Unit shall consist of a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary and a Treasurer.

(b)    Election of Unit Officers

The Unit Board of Directors shall elect all Unit Officers at its annual meeting, and the persons elected shall hold office for one year or until their successors have been duly elected.

(c)    Vacancies

Vacancies due to death, resignation, or other cause shall be filled by the Unit Board of Directors.

(d)    Duties

The duties of the officers shall be those outlined in the Unit Bylaws and Regulations, and such others as may be assigned by the Unit Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VII

IMPEACHMENT

Any officer or director may be removed for cause at any meeting of the Unit Board of Directors provided two thirds of those present constituting a quorum shall so vote. Any officer or director against whom impeachment charges shall be brought shall be notified in writing, by registered mail, of the charges against him, at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting and shall be given an opportunity to be heard before the Unit Board of Directors and to be represented by counsel of his own choosing. Absence from three (3) consecutive meetings shall be cause for removal of a Director.

ARTICLE VIII

COMMITTEES

The President shall appoint such committees as may be necessary to perform the functions of the organization. Standing committees shall be appointed with the approval of the Unit Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS

Amendments to the By-laws may be made by the members of the Unit upon petition signed by at least ten (10) members and submitted to the Secretary at least thirty (30) days in advance of the annual meeting or any special meeting called for the purpose, or upon petition signed by at least three (3) members of the Unit Board of Directors. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to incorporate the text of the proposed amendment in the notice of the meeting. The concurrence of two-thirds of all members present and voting shall be required to pay any amendment.

Original Unit By-Laws approved by General Membership on April 20, 1986.

Ty Mowrey, President/Board Member

Kirby Peltier, Vice-President/Board Member

Roger Sheriden, Board Member

Ivan Grondin, Board Member

Amendments to Article V approved by the General Membership on August 25, 2002, increased the size of the Board of Directors from four to five, staggered their terms, and changed the nomination procedure, allowing the general membership to nominate candidates.

Amendments made September 6, 2008, included “housekeeping” items, making consistent the use of ACBL, the citing of numbers such as “fourteen (14)”, and providing the word“and” immediately prior to the final item in a string or list of items; splitting the offices of Secretary and Treasurer, and listing duties for all officers; specifying the use of Roberts Rules of Order, revised; changing the word “employees” to the words “independent contractor”; and allowing for notification by mail, in person, or by email as a measure to reduce printing and postage costs.

Board members were Bob Serchen, Patti Merritt, David Williams, Betty Chavez, and President Shirley Liss. Elections subsequent returned David Williams to the board, and added Gordon Bower in place of Bob Serchen.