SMUG Bylaws | Salem Macintosh Users Group

Article I – NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Salem Macintosh Users Group, hereafter called SMUG.

Article II – OBJECTIVE

The objective of SMUG is the advancement of knowledge and use of the Macintosh operating system and computers using this system.

Article III – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Interest in the objective of SMUG is the only prerequisite for membership. Membership is determined by completion of the registration form, and payment of SMUG annual dues.

Section 2. A member’s membership date shall be the first day of the month following the month in which the member initially joined SMUG. Payment of dues shall be due annually on the member’s membership date.

Section 3. No member shall have the right to vote, to hold office, to serve on committees, or to represent SMUG officially, who is more than 3 months in arrears in payment of dues to SMUG.

Article IV – OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, Librarian, Program Director, Newsletter Editor, and two Members at Large.

Section 2. The officers shall be elected from the membership at the January meeting. The terms shall begin at the close of the January meeting and continue until their successors are elected and qualified. All officers shall serve for one year.

Section 3. A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by the Vice President. Other vacancies shall be filled, for the unexpired term, by the Board of Directors.

Section 4. The President shall preside at meetings of SMUG and the Board of Directors.

Section 5. The Vice President shall preside at meetings in the President’s absence.

Section 6. The Secretary-Treasurer shall maintain records of the membership.

Section 7. The Librarian shall have control of the software, publications and other library materials owned by SMUG.

Section 8. The Program Director shall arrange a program supportive of SMUG’s objective for each meeting and shall have control of the podium materials owned by SMUG.

Section 9. The Newsletter Editor shall produce a newsletter on a regular basis for distribution to paid members and others in accordance with policy established by the Board of Directors.

Article V – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. The officers shall constitute the Board of Directors. Five members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.

Section 2. The Board of Directors shall govern and administer SMUG, and shall maintain a record of current policy for matters such as: frequency and location of meetings, newsletter publication and promotional distribution, advertising rates, dues structure and rates, etc.

Article VI – MEETINGS

Section 1. General meetings shall be held on such dates and at such places as the Board of Directors designates. A majority of the members in good standing may call a general meeting and designate date and place.

Section 2. Notice of each general meeting shall be provided to each member in good standing.

Section 3. The Secretary-Treasurer shall give a report at each general meeting.

Section 4. General meetings are open to the public.

Section 5. Board of Directors’ meetings are open to all SMUG members.

Article VII – COMMITTEES

Section 1. The President shall appoint a nominating committee in November.

Section 2. The President shall appoint other committees deemed necessary with the approval of the Board of Directors.

Article VIII – FINANCES

Section 1. There shall be no initiation fee. The Board of Directors will publish in the newsletter from time to time a structure of dues and rates for approval by the membership at the following general meeting. If the proposal fails, the previous dues structure shall remain unchanged. Members in good standing have full privileges.

Section 2. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection and maintenance of dues, receipts from fund-raising events, and other sources of income. He or she shall receive and deliver all monies in a bank account (the Treasury) established and approved by the Board of Directors. He or she shall deliver to the Newsletter Editor monthly reports on the status of the Treasury. Payment of obligations shall be made only by check, and checks will be signed by the Secretary-Treasurer and another officer. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be responsible to maintain the financial records of SMUG. These records shall be audited by the Board of Directors annually.

Article IX – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the deliberations of SMUG, except where otherwise specifically stated in the bylaws.

Article X – AMENDMENTS

These bylaws may be amended only by the following procedures:

(Proposed amendments shall be voted upon by members in good standing by written ballot at the meeting following publication in the group newsletter.
To pass, an amendment must receive a majority of the votes of the members voting.
An amendment may be initiated by any member in good standing by presenting the proposed amendment to the Board of Directors who shall cause it to be published in the next group newsletter.

Article XI – PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE POLICY

SMUG discourages the unlawful duplication of commercial software and encourages payment for shareware which members keep and use. Persons who do not adhere to these guidelines bear sole responsibility for their actions.