Constitution and Bylaws
Revised, October 7, 1994)
ARTICLE I
Purpose
Section l. The purpose of this Association shall be to promote the interests of the press and of the Association's membership, to cultivate and encourage friendly relations among members and newspapers statewide, to provide and encourage scholarship support for college journalism students, and to cultivate programs that will advance the professional capacities of members.
ARTICLE II
Membership
Section l. Membership of this Association shall consist of three classes: Regular; individual; and honorary.- Regular membership shall consist of newspaper establishments and their employees located in the 54 southernmost counties of Illinois, or from any other such counties that may seek membership. The primary counties shall be Alexander, Bond, Calhoun, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Greene, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jersey, Johnson, Lawrence, Macon, Macoupin, Madison, Marion, Massac, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Perry, Piatt, Pike, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Richland, St. Clair, Saline, Sangamon, Scott, Shelby, Union, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, White and Williamson.
- Individual membership shall include any person, firm, corporation or organization involved in serving the newspaper publishing industry or otherwise interested in the concerns and welfare of the newspaper business.
- Honorary membership may be granted by a majority vote of the Association's Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may grant to such members whatever rights and privileges it deems appropriate.
Section 2. Applications for membership may be made at any time, with payment of membership dues, to the treasurer of the Association. Payments made during the first 11 months of the calendar year will be for that year's membership. Those paid in December will cover the remainder of the current year and all of the following year. All membership applications may be subject to approval of the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Annual dues for the three membership classifications shall be as determined by the Board of Directors from time to time. The membership assessment shall include both the annual dues as well as a complimentary, or "exchange," subscription to the member's newspaper. The newspaper shall be mailed to the Media Public Affairs Communication Resources department at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Section 4. The membership year shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31.
Section 5. The Board of Directors may levy equal assessments on regular members for reasons of financial exigency or for special programs approved by a majority of the Association members present at a regular meeting or voting by mail.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 1. The Association's business shall be conducted by six executive officers and an executive board of 10 members. The entire group of 16 officers shall comprise the Board of Directors.
Section 2. The executive officers of the Association shall be a president, first vice-president, second vice-president, executive secretary, recording secretary and treasurer. They shall be elected at the Association's annual spring meeting and shall hold office until their successors are elected. Vacancies may be filled by the Board of Directors for the unexpired terms of officers who resign, die, or are no longer able to serve.
Section 3. The Association membership shall elect three members to the executive board each year at the Association's spring meeting. Each shall serve a three-year term. The outgoing president of the Association shall be appointed each year by the new president to a one-year term as honorary member of the executive board.
Section 4. Qualifications for officers:
- the president, first vice-president, second vice-president and recording secretary must be active Association members and have served actively on the Board of Directors.
- the treasurer must be an active member of the Association and have demonstrated an interest in the Association's financial affairs.
- the executive secretary shall be a representative from Media Public Affairs Communication Resources at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Section 5. Qualifications for executive board members: a) must be active, interested members of the Association.
Section 6. None of the officers or board members, with the exception of the treasurer and executive secretary, shall hold office for longer than two consecutive terms. If there be a failure to hold an annual meeting, members in office shall hold over until an election at the next annual meeting.
Section 7. A quorum of four officers, or six executive board members or nine members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of Association business.
ARTICLE V
Meetings
The Association shall meet regularly in the spring and late summer or early fall of each year. The annual spring meeting shall be scheduled by the executive secretary with advice from the officers. The summer-fall meeting shall be held at a site to be selected by the president, with the president serving as organizer and host. Association members shall receive notice of meetings no fewer than 10 days in advance.
ARTICLE VI
Amendments
Section 1. This constitution or these by-laws may be amended at any regular meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members present. Proposed amendments must be circulated to the membership 30 days prior to voting.
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I
Section 1. The duties of the president, first vice-president, second vice-president, recording secretary, treasurer and executive secretary shall be such as usually devolve upon such officers.
Section 2. The first vice-president shall preside in the absence of the president; the second vice-president shall take the place of the first vice-president in the event of the latter's absence.
Section 3. The recording secretary shall maintain a record of all Association meetings and perform other duties as may be set forth in Association by-laws or by the Board of Directors.
Section 4. The treasurer shall have custody of all Association funds and shall receive and pay all bills against the Association. The treasurer shall maintain records of all funds disbursed and shall make an itemized report to the Association at the annual spring meeting. The treasurer is authorized to accept donations to the Association and to invest those and other Association funds in consultation with the Financial Advisory Committee. Members of the committee shall be appointed by the president at the annual spring meeting.
Section 5. The executive secretary shall manage the Association's routine day-to-day business. He or she shall organize and manage the Association's annual spring meeting and Better Newspaper Contest and shall write and distribute the Association's newsletter. He or she shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or in the Association by-laws.
ARTICLE II
Section 1. The Association shall have four standing committees, to be appointed by the president at the annual meeting:
Executive Committee, comprising the president, first vice-president, second vice-president, executive secretary and treasurer.
- Program Committee, which shall be responsible for developing programs at Association meetings and special programs to benefit members at locations throughout the membership area.
- Nominating Committee, which shall be responsible for nominating new board members and officers at the spring meeting or at any time when a vacancy occurs during a term in office.
- Financial Advisory Committee, which shall consult with the treasurer on financial matters, including investment of Association funds and Association-managed scholarship endowments.
Section 2. Each member of the board of directors shall serve on at least one Association committee, alongside non-members.
Section 3. The president may establish other committees and appoint members as the need arises.