Bylaws of the Hawaii Professional Chapter The Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi

 

ARTICLE 1 – Scope and Purpose

NAME: The name of this organization shall be the Hawaii Professional Chapter of The Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi

PURPOSE: The purpose of this organization shall be the promotion of high standards of journalistic efforts and of good fellowship among Hawaii professional journalists.

 

 

ARTICLE 2 – Membership

MEMBERSHIP: Membership shall be open to current members of the national Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi, of which this chapter is a branch, upon payment of dues to the chapter.

NOMINATION: Any member may submit for membership the name of a proposed new member and it shall be the duty of the chapter’s board of directors to determine whether the nominee is eligible for membership under the bylaws of the national society.

 

 

ARTICLE 3 – Government

OFFICERS: Officers of the chapter shall consist of president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. They shall perform the duties associated with these offices.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: The chapter shall have a board of nine directors consisting of the four current officers of the chapter, the immediate past president, and four other professional members. At least one member of the board shall represent the neighbor islands. The current student presidents of campus chapters, or their representatives, shall be invited to attend board meetings as ex-officio members. All shall be elected to a term of one year, to commence at the beginning of the calendar year. However, no more than two non-officer directors may be elected for two years to allow for staggered terms should a majority of the board agree.

RESPONSIBILITY: The board of directors shall be responsible for these functions: (1) membership and attendance; (2) regular and special meetings; (3) betterment of journalism program; (4) professional program; (5) planning; (6) National Convention representation; and (7) cooperation with SPJ, SDX National Headquarters in all matters furthering the programs and goals of The Society. This shall specifically include submission to National Headquarters of membership rosters and financial and other required reports.

BOARD MEETINGS: The board of directors shall meet at each regular meeting of the chapter. The board of directors is empowered to meet at such times and places as a majority of its members shall deem necessary. The president may call a meeting upon her/his initiative, and she/he must call a meeting when requested by a majority of board members. At least seven calendar days notice must be given board members of a board meeting. Five members shall constitute a quorum. All questions shall be decided by a majority vote of those present. The chapter president shall serve as presiding officer of the board and shall preside at meetings. The presiding officer shall cast a vote only to break a tie.

EMERGENCY BOARD MEETINGS: An emergency meeting of the board may be called with 24 hours notice by any board member and/or officer. At least six board members and/or officers must concur to call such a meeting. The standard quorum and vote rule shall apply at an emergency meeting.

ELECTION: The president shall appoint, no later than July 1, a nominating committee which shall nominate at least one candidate for each office and board position prior to the chapter’s general membership meeting closest to September 1, when nominations shall be made from the floor by chapter members. All nominations shall be made only with the consent of the nominees. Ballots, including a brief biography of each nominee, shall be mailed by the secretary to all chapter members in good standing within one week after that general membership meeting. Those nominees who receive the most votes among ballots received by chapter headquarters no later than two days prior to the next general membership meeting shall be those elected. Ties shall be decided by the board of directors. The nominating committee shall tally the votes and announce the results of at the general membership meeting. The new officers shall take office at the beginning of the next calendar year.

COMMITTEES: Committees shall be established to carry out the chapter’s programs as determined by the president and upon approval of the board of directors. Those committees shall include, but not be limited to: Program, Membership, Newsletter, Freedom of Information, Quill and Publicity, Awards, Ethics, Financial and Nominating.

VACANCIES: Vacancies among officers or board members shall be filled by a majority vote of the directors present at any board meeting call pursuant to these bylaws.

ATTENDANCE OF BOARD MEETINGS: Board meetings shall be open to all interested parties. Only those members of the chapter in good standing may present matters for consideration not already on the agenda.

 

 

ARTICLE 4 – Meetings

REGULAR: There shall be at least five regular meetings each calendar year. At least one of these meetings shall address Freedom of Information. The time and place of meeting shall be determined by the program committee chairman and approved by the board of directors.

SPECIAL: Special meetings shall be called by the president or the board of directors should circumstances warrant.

NOTICE: Chapter members in good standing shall be given reasonable notice of regular meetings.

 

ARTICLE 5 – Authority to Act

PROCEDURE: All business of this chapter, except modification of the bylaws, shall be conducted by the board of directors; except insofar as any action of the board may be repealed or modified by the membership. All regular business shall be determined by a simple majority vote of those present at a meeting at which a quorum exists. Failure to gain a majority through a tie vote shall defeat the measure. Bylaws may be amended only by a two-thirds majority of members present at a meeting. Proxy ballots shall not be allowed. Bylaws votes shall be by written ballot. Such amendments shall be voted upon at a regular meeting only after chapter members in good standing have received adequate notice of proposed changes through the chapter newsletter and/or by mail.

RULES: Robert’s Rules of Order, insofar as they do not conflict with these bylaws, shall govern the conduct of chapter general membership and board of directors meetings.

 

ARTICLE 6 – Dues

CHAPTER: The amount of local dues to be paid by each member of the chapter shall be fixed by the board of directors, subject to ratification by the membership. Chapter dues shall be waived for students affiliated with the professional chapter. Chapter dues shall be paid at the time of application for new membership or renewal of membership.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 7 – Dissolution

DISSOLUTION: In event this chapter is dissolved for any reason whatsoever, all cash or other assets are to be turned over, after payment of just debts, without further restriction to the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation for use in connection with any worthwhile endeavor, carrying out the general purposes of this organization, that the Foundation may deem proper.

 

Adopted Dec. 10, 1983

By the

Board of Directors

Hawaii Professional Chapter

Buck Buchwach, president

Amended Sept. 28, 1998

By the members

Hawaii Professional Chapter

Christie Wilson, president

Hawaii SPJ