Join us in creating a new virtual chapter!WE still need 10 people to join the American Bamboo Society, so that we can form a new Chapter that will work on grant funding for the Plantation Crop Substitution Project; which will attempt to get the grasses going on a meaningful scale, in the USA. The Plantation Chapter would be a new "Virtual Chapter", which is a departure from the Regional Chapters that exist in the ABS, now. That will make it open to everyone who is interested in The Plantation Crop Substitution Project. The target is the Cotton subsidy, and the mission is Job Creation through Vocational Training...that's where the Grant money is right now. Every Congressperson wants to create new jobs, so if we can make the case for our projects on that basis, we may finally get going with the "Bamboo Revolution" that has been ignored in the USA. The only way to do that is to get together, and create a movement that can get some articulate young people to help us spread the word to their elected Representatives...so far that has not happened...no one seems to want to have anything to do with "politics", and that's why we are in the sad situation that we face in the next election, where everyone assumes that the Neocons will make any chance of progress even more impossible than it has done since Obama was elected, alas... We just received a "CEASE & DESIST" ORDER FROM THE ABS, SAYING THAT I AM "PROMOTING MY BUSINESS".... I DON'T SEE IT THAT WAY! Here is the original proposal to the NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER OF THE ABS: The Plantation Crop Substitution Project It takes about 7-10 years to get a large Bamboo Plantation established. During
that time there is a lot of work to do in order to introduce Bamboo to American
Agro Business. The Project is designed to address that fact, and to provide a
site where some of that work can be done. One such site is located in Kern
County CA. adjacent to large scale cotton operations, along side of I-5, near Bakersfield. The site is used to discard treated waste water from a cluster of roadside businesses at the rate of about
14,500,000 gal/day, via evaporation and ground saturation. This is ideal for Bamboo. Other potential sites are being considered in Texas, Louisiana, and Hawaii. Simultaneous Project sites are
anticipated as details are negotiated. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UNFORTUNATELY,THEY "DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT" So I started thinking about using the ABS BYLAWS to get the new "virtual chapter" recognized. Dear Plantation Chapter Members; Sorry that I haven't written before now, but I had a little problem after the ABS annual meeting in SF, with some of the people from my Chapter, about the way that we are starting the new chapter. In order to keep everyone informed, I am enclosing below, a copy of everything that has transpired, and my tentative reply to the ABS board. I would appreciate your input and comments as well as any corrections or additions that you might have before I send it to the Board. We now have about 16 members who want to be part of the Plantation Chapter, and a few more "may bees", but I would like to have each of you certify that you are in fact dues paying members of the ABS, as David King (ABS Secretary) has been harping on the fact that we all must be "actual members"; and he and the other Mr. King (ABS President) are looking for any excuse to delay the Project. This unfortunate circumstance has caused me to rethink the whole concept of the Project....perhaps there isn't the will to support such a large scale attempt to demonstrate the viability of Bamboo. We might decide to start by focusing on a program of education and information instead of trying to get some bamboo growing in an inhospitable site. Perhaps we could pool our own small plots into some sort of program that would provide sufficient mass to concentrate on one aspect of technology at a time....or start to solicit cooperation from public agencies such as waste water treatment facilities which might have suitable land available.....this approach relies upon dedicated people to meet with and present information to decision makers, and stake holders....in a political movement. I know from experience that this is a long path, and frankly, I am not going to be around long enough to see it through, so we must agree to cooperate if we want bamboo to play any part in the attempt to remediate the problems that are rapidly overtaking the planets ability to maintain life as we know it. I received a certified letter from The ABS president stating that the Board of the ABS had instructed him to order me to remove any references to the ABS, and to the Plantation Chapter of the ABS from the website: bambooisgrass.com. The letter states that I am using the names to further my "personal bamboo business" (I'm sorry that I cannot enclose the actual letter in this dispatch, but I don't have a scanner, nor the ability to figure out the way to do it without copying it, and I'm probably the world's worst typist). Please read the website and see if you agree with that. As I see it, my advocacy of all things bamboo leads me to seek new members who might see the potential for large scale bamboo cultivation in the USA. This idea seems to be new to some ABS members who are growing Bamboo in relatively small amounts, for sale to gardeners; and who are perhaps feeling threatened by the thought of bamboo as a commodity/industrial resource..... At the National meeting, many of the attendees fell into that category. However, no one voiced any objections to my activities, during the Board meeting or the open sessions of the meeting. Perhaps I was a bit too enthusiastic about the fact that we finally had enough support to claim the right to form the new chapter, but it has been a long struggle to get that far; and I passed out about 4 or 5 cards with the words "American Bamboo Society Plantation Chapter" with my name as "Project Manager" and my contact website information, to some of the people who signed up. Someone on the Board saw one of those cards and from that has deduced that I have abused the ABS name. I disagree, and have tried to explain my side of the issue in the reply to Mr. King. I hope that I can resolve this controversy. I am willing to do what ever it takes to make the Plantation Chapter a reality, and am mostly relying upon the ABS Bylaws to support my actions. I do feel an obligation to those people who want to form the new chapter, to conduct myself in an appropriate fashion, so please let me know if I have breeched that trust; and I won't pass out any more of those cards, until we are "up and running"! For your information, I am including my letters to the ABS requesting help in forming a new chapter, before the response to the "cease and desist" letter....This is a LONG document, but I just want everyone to be aware of what is happening, so have a glass of wine and read it in little bits, and again, I apologize for the poor layout. Some of the letters are not fitting into the view window, and I don't know how to fix it at 3: am in a motel room. The first letter (below) is my response to the “cease and desist” letter from William King rr To the American Bamboo Society, Board of Directors I received your letter of November 24, 2008, which requests that I not use the name or logo of the ABS in my “commercial bamboo business”, and that I not refer to the Plantation Chapter of the ABS. I immediately called C. William King, to try to ameliorate the misconceptions inherent in his letter, and got a rather frosty rendition of the “process” that I should have begun in order to get the Plantation Chapter recognized by the Board. This process is described in the Bylaws of the ABS, in Article VI, under the heading “Chapters”; and was included in the letter to me. I have read the Bylaws, and think that we did indeed, followed the “process”. Section 1 sets the minimum number of members at 10, and we have at least that many as of November 12, 2008. Please see the enclosed list. Section 2 requires that the new Chapter must be organized as a Scientific, “literary”, and educational organization. That is the type of 501-[c]-3 that we are, and I thought that the board would be able to discern that fact from the letter of Nov 2, 2008, which went into detail about the purposes of the Chapter [enclosed for your convenience]. If not, please be aware that the Plantation Chapter is designed as an educational and scientific demonstration of the uses of, and potential for Eco remediation, that Bamboo offers. Section 3 establishes the independence of the Chapters and a little about the election of officers and operations, which we will adhere to. Section 4 Grants the right to hold “National Meetings” Section 5 enumerates the existing Chapters. Please read my letter (Nov.2), and determine where I erred in the request for a vote to form the Chapter. I assumed that everyone had read the letter, and I did not hear any objections at the National Board meeting which we attended on Nov. 8. During the afternoon session, we announced our intention to form the Chapter. I distinctly asked for recognition of the new Chapter, and stated that all of the objections about fear of liability had been addressed. There were no objections raised. The fact that we are forming a new Chapter should alleviate any such fears, as we will operate as a separate entity, In accordance with Section 3 [above]. During the brief conversation with Mr. King, I denied using the ABS name and logo for my “personal Bamboo business”. That is a fact that can be verified, and should need no further explanation. I do have a website entitled bambooisgrass.com where I discuss bamboo issues and advocate the formation of a not for profit corporation to operate the “Plantation Crop Substitution Project”, and tell a little about why it makes sense. I am not selling anything, nor trading on the name of the ABS; but merely seeking input from interested people who may chose to join the ABS, and vote to form the Plantation Chapter. In response, I have had a few people express interest, and in turn, I have suggested that the ABS would be a good organization to join. The website can be reworded if necessary, and I welcome any and all input from the ABS. In fact, I submitted most of the same information in a “hard copy” version to the Northern California Chapter at the first meeting that I attended, soon after joining the ABS. At that time, our most prominent member, Hastings Schmidt, took a perfunctory look at it, and announced to me and the local board members that “we already know all of this stuff”. Then several others, (most notably, Darrel Deboer) started telling me that “no one wants to work on it”. I replied that I was not asking anyone to do anything, and that I and others would “do all of the work”. I was relying on the ABS Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation for guidance, so I did not understand why I couldn’t get my local chapter to support the project if it was not going to make any more work for anyone who wasn’t interested in it. I had noticed that the Northern California Chapter was not very active in its mission to be an educational and scientific organization, and supposed that the project would eventually become more interesting to the members, but I did not expect them to suddenly become involved. I distinctly recall the very casual manner that the local board used to vote for the officers, at that meeting. It was more like an open question….”who wants to be president?”, and Darrell sort of said that he would do it if no one else would…and the vote was just a chorus of “ayes”, down through the other offices, which were “exchanged” between one and another board members in a sort of “musical chairs” fashion. The next order of business was the annual plant sale, for which I volunteered my help. Since that time, I have attended a few ABS events, and have never witnessed much in the way of “education”, nor “science”, and have never met more than the same few people at those events. This is not a criticism, but I still can not fathom why such an inactive Chapter wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to live up to the vision of the founders of the ABS; or why it matters if someone else wants to try. At that time, (4years ago), the objection was that “we don’t know you”. I recall Gib Cooper (of BOTA ), telling me that it would take “5 years before they will consider your project”, and I thought that was rather too long to wait; so I started trying to enlist ABS members and to plan the project. I joined the Southern California Chapter, and got the same sort of reception from Mike McMillan (sic?), who was the Chapter president after being a member for “only two or three years”…he related the same story about no one wanting to be President, and worries about “potential liability”. That is when I realized that the ABS was functioning as a social association of bamboo enthusiasts, and nursery owners, and that I would have to try to form a new type of chapter to do the kind of things that F.A. McClure envisioned as the work of the ABS. The Plantation Chapter of the ABS will be a place where the ABS and other grass roots organizations can work on the pressing issues of our times. A description of the Project can be seen at the website. That is only one version of what the project could encompass, and we welcome input, additions and criticism from anyone. We want to operate a large scale demonstration of the viability of Bamboo in the United States, because we are facing the “Inconvenient Truth”….we are running out of clean air, water, and wood, among other things, and bamboo is very good for those things. We are moving toward emissions reductions, and “Cap and Trade”. It is important to know that Bamboo could serve as the quickest and easiest way to create “home grown” Carbon Credits and that it could serve as feed stock for bio fuels and bacterial Hydrogen. Bamboo may be the easiest thing to use to purify water, and remediate polluted land. These possibilities should be of interest to anyone who cares about the bio sphere, and should be the subject of intense research. That is why we want to have a relatively large demonstration project; so that have enough bamboo of enough types to try new uses on a meaningful scale. Please realize that we are wasting time that would be better spent growing bamboo, and that we are already behind other countries in the “Bamboo Revolution” that has begun as a result of new discoveries. The ABS exists because the USDA cut the funding for bamboo research. So, that should be a part of the work that we are doing; revisiting the work that taxpayers have already funded; so that future researchers will have a solid foundation to build upon….sounds like “scientific education,” doesn’t it? The last thing that Mr. King said was that “it takes 3 years to get a 501-(c)-3 going”. That is a problem, if it is true, but again, the ABS bylaws allow a Chapter to operate “as if” it has that status while the application is in process. So that is how we will operate, if the need for a new Chapter is not abrogated by the willingness of one or the other California Chapters to allow us to operate under it’s auspices….that would be the most expeditious way foreword, but it seems as if that is not going to happen. Again, I must ask why my own Chapter will not allow that; other than the previously noted frivolous reasons cited above. We could try submitting the Project concept to any or all of the Chapters, but I think that it is important to have it in California, for a number of reasons, all of which have to do with funding. As things stand now, there is a need for the Project. There are enough ABS members who want to work on it; and we are wasting time over a few petty concerns voiced by people who have the power to make it difficult. That is why we went to the Annual meeting, and put up a display seeking members for the new Chapter, and that is why we shall continue to recruit new members to the ABS. It is unfortunate that the time thus spent isn’t more productive, because we aren’t getting much accomplished, and aren’t getting any younger, either. The “financial meltdown” is having all sorts of effects, and I think that funding for this project will not be readily available. I also think that it will have a negative effect on the ABS membership, as people cut out non essential expenditures. That said, I still want to try to grow the organization, and to contribute to the effort to introduce bamboo to the general public; and this project has the potential to help do both. I am sorry that this response has taken so long, but I was obliged to send it to the other Plantation Chapter members for their input and advice, before sending it out under our name. Respectfully, Robert Roark ABS Northern California Chapter bambooisgrass@yahoo.com The following is background leading up to the Annual Meeting, and is included so that people can decide if we have tried to follow the “process” leading to ABS recognition of the Project in a forthright manner. rr November 3, 2008 (this is to Brad Salmon)
November 3, 2008 American Bamboo Society To the Board: This is a request for American Bamboo Society (California Chapters) sponsorship of the Plantation Crop Substitution Demonstration Project (the project) as detailed on the website: Bambooisgrass.com. The Project is designed to demonstrate the efficacy of large scale Bamboo cultivation as a reaction to important environmental and world trade developments. The Project complies with the requirements of the American Bamboo Society Bylaws, and will enhance the revenues and prestige of the Society. The project will be eligible for Grant funding only if it has the sponsorship of a valid 501-C-3 organization such as the ABS. The Project is designed to be self supporting, and will not result in any cost to the Society. Therefore, as a member of the society, I am putting this request before the board for immediate consideration. As a member in good standing of the ABS Northern and Southern California Chapters, I, Robert Roark, move to place the question of American Bamboo Society Sponsorship of the project before the Boards of Directors of the California Chapters. I also request the right to import sufficient Bamboo plant stock to start the project under the guidelines and supervision of the Society’s plant quarantine program. The Project has identified potential Phyllostacheys Bamboo Tissue Cultures which are available, and that could provide the plant stock necessary for the project. I will do all of the work to pot the plantlets and provide a drip irrigation system too, if that is what is required at the quarantine site. I suggest that the Society’s portion of the grant monies (subject to negotiation, this might be as much as 10% of the total amount raised) might initially be dedicated to upgrading the quarantine sites; as they may prove to be inadequate for future requirements, as bamboo demand increases. I have been somewhat gratified by the degree of interest that the Project has garnered so far. I have enlisted the guidance of ABS member Harry Simmons, who is presently working on Bamboo Plantation issues. The following excerpt of his correspondence with me, will attest to the viability of the Project concept. He writes: “I was intrigued and excited by your ideas. Yes, your Crop substitution/carbon credit idea is inspired. With enough world pressure and scientists protesting The “head in the sand policies of our government, we will eventually be scrambling to plant Carbon Off-setting crops. The World Bamboo Organization has taken scientists estimates of the average carbon consumption of an American citizen to calculate daily, monthly and yearly amounts of sequestered carbon needed to offset this consumption. While this information is easy to find, the intriguing concept (and more difficult to find info.) is that they will sell a plot of land (planted in bamboo) to offset the consumption based on how much carbon is sequestered by a bamboo field (they estimate 12 tons/hectare/year). I think the program has since been discontinued. However, based on this concept, if everyone in the US (or the government) bought a plot, The US atmospheric carbon production would be ‘0’. While there are a lot of variables unaccounted for (different species sequester different amounts based on size, climate, precipitation, soil, etc.) and many assumptions made (no changes in fuel consumption, consumer habits or permanency of carbon removal), the idea is sound. A large number of industries could be built around these large plantings (charcoal, plywood, paper, fabric, fuel, fiber board, etc.). The USDA investigated bamboo as a crop for most of the last century. As a raw material for paper pulp, Phy. makino was considered to be a crop equal to or greater in value, volume and quality than southern pine. Other species were imported and investigated as well. Unfortunately, the program funding was discontinued in the late 1960’s/early 1970’s (unceremoniously by congressman and senators representing the US timber industry). While I have never been a conspiracy theory proponent, the billions of dollars invested in the US timber industry would indeed be threatened by a cheap; fast growing; easily harvestable alternative. A lot of ideas...all of them great. I know Kinder Chambers and his wife very well. They have always been supportive of anything bamboo. I think if we develop a business plan first, he would be much more willing to be onboard. I know he would donate rhizomes and/or plants to the cause (as long as someone else digs them). I am willing to start a tissue culture lab for long-term plant materials. I can find a few empty lots when I return to Texas this summer... What do you think are the most immediate steps to be done? With much encouragement, Harry Simmons” This Project can offer the Society a venue for all sorts of bamboo research projects. I encourage all members to formulate their ideas for inclusion in the Project...especially with regard to the “business plan” referred to by Mr. Simmons. I envision a “two prong” approach to the funding problem. The first being Grants that are available for projects that address environmental problems, and the second, private funding of the various research projects that can be done once a plantation has been established. The first category is critical, because it will demonstrate that there is recognition of the importance of Bamboo as an environmentally important component to any attempt to offset pollution. The second part will allow practical applications of Bamboo based technology to be perfected and implemented. Those found to have profit potential can eventually form the basis of industrial business ventures. Neither funding source can sustain the project alone, since the 501-C-3 Grants have a short duration; and the private funds will only materialize after something tangible can be demonstrated. As most of the members of the board probably know, it takes about 5-6 years to get a bamboo plantation up and running. I am trying to get the project started this year, with a target goal of having some plants growing at the site, by sometime next year. The interval between planting and initial harvest will be spent on developing the political base that must accompany the introduction of large scale bamboo cultivation in the US. That is where my time can best be spent; however, I cannot proceed without the backing of the ABS, in the form of either; an existing Chapter, or as a new Plantation Chapter. This is a formal request for a vote of the general membership on the following question: Should the American Bamboo Society authorize the formation of a new chapter; under the original ABS Articles of Incorporation; to be known as the Plantation Chapter? An affirmative vote from at least ten members is required, and I have been told that we have the votes of at least that many members, so lets set a schedule for the voting, and send an announcement to each member, please. I am willing to write the announcement, and do any other work that this request generates I have the articles of incorporation and the Bylaws ready to file once the Chapter is authorized. I need a way to send the announcements to everyone, without copying each name and address, so may I have a disk with that info? Sincerely, Robert Roark Bambooisgrass@yahoo,com (415) 250-3214 TH_________________________________________________________ ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: ROBERT ROARK <bambooisgrass@yahoo.com> To: bamboo-plantations@yahoogroups.com Cc: bob Dimattia <bamboo9bob@cox.net>; David King <bamboo@king-usa.com>; hastings Schmidt <bamboo@monitor.net>; Jefree Trudeau <bamboo@bambootechnologies.com>; "Kevin Sustainable Futures, water treatment" <burgesskj@yahoo.com>; David King <bamboo@king-usa.com>; Steve <bamboo.75@hotmail.com> Sent: Saturday, November 1, 2008 5:46:02 PM Subject: ABS Annual Meeting in San Francisco, Vote to form the Plantation Chapter Hello Group: I will be at the ABS Annual Meeting on November 8 & 9, and would like to meet with anyone who wants to help form the new Plantation Chapter. We will have a poster and some information available and will be announcing the start of our effort to establish a Plantation Crop Substitution Project that will demonstrate the viability of large scale Bamboo as an alternative to other crops; most notably, Cotton, and Southern White Pine. I have submitted the Articles of Incorporation and applied for 501- (c)-3 status, so we are now officially eligible for State and Federal Grant funding. So please stop bye and introduce yourselves, so we can add your name to our list of ABS members who think that we should work on Bamboo Research and Development, in the USA. I would like to hear from any ABS members who are not going to be there too, because I would like to have a long list of active ABS members to submit to the National Board at the meeting.. It takes ten members to form a new Chapter, and So far I have about that many, I think. These people have spoken in support of the Plantation Chapter. If you are on this list, please let me know if you can still be counted as a vote to form the Chapter....you do not have to change your membership from your local Chapter, just add the Plantation Chapter to your membership ($15.00 extra/year) Harry Simmons Fu Jinhe A. C. Lakshimana Dan Nurco Jefree Trudeau Greg O'Neal Lea Walters Tina Guise Nora Hild Robert Roark So, please join us and we will make Bamboo an important resource for the future. Rob Roark ABS Northern California Chapter Plantation Chapter bambooisgrass.com So, that’s it so far, I hope that everyone who signed up with the PC will respond to this missive with additions and suggestions, so that I can send the letter in response to the concerns of certain members, asap rr THE PLANTATION CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN BAMBOO SOCIETY BYLAWS I. NAME 1.0 The name of this organization is The Plantation Chapter of the American Bamboo Society. The Plantation Chapter of the American Bamboo Society Operates as a 501-c-3, Not For Profit Corporation in the state of: The records of registration for this Corporation shall be held at: II. PURPOSE 2.0 The purpose of the Plantation Chapter shall be to: Promote knowledge of and interest in Bamboo, as a viable crop with many uses. To develop and present educational programs that further the development of Bamboo as a sustainable alternative to many common materials. To encourage the growth and propagation of Bamboo in American agriculture. To aid in the importation of and quarantine of bamboo according to the USDA guidelines. To provide support facilities where records, books, publications, and other pertinent information will be made accessible to interested people. To engage in and encourage such projects as may further the best interest of and the objectives of the Chapter. To cooperate with other Organizations, Foundations, and Institutions in the furtherance of its objectives. . To operate Demonstration Bamboo Plantations and to carry out research that furthers the knowledge and use of bamboo as a practical substitute for other materials. To obtain funding for the operation, maintenance, and acquisition of any property necessary to accomplish the goals of the Chapter. III. MEMBERSHIP 3.0 The Plantation Chapter membership shall be open to anyone who has a genuine interest in bamboo and the purposes and polices of the Chapter. Memberships shall not be restricted on the basis of race, religion, sex, or national origin. Membership classifications shall be determined by the Board of Directors. All applications for membership shall be submitted to the Treasurer; accompanied by dues. 3.1. RIGHTS: Memberships are non-transferable. Each member is entitled to one vote. Any Member may examine the Chapter records and attend meetings of the Board of Directors. 3.2. ATTACHMENT: Memberships are not subject to attachment. There is no provision for proxy voting. 3.4. TERMINATION: Any member may terminate his or her membership voluntarily. Any member who fails to pay dues by September 15th of the membership year may be terminated from membership. Membership may be terminated for any member, for just cause, as determined by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. IV. DIRECTORS 4.0 The Plantation Chapter of the American Bamboo Society shall be governed by an Elected Board of Directors composed of five members. Two alternate Board members shall be elected to fill vacancies on the Board, in accordance with Section 4.8. 4.1. Terms of Board Members: Directors shall serve for a term of three (3) years. Alternates shall serve for one year. The term of office shall begin at the close of the Annual Business Meeting. 4.2. POWERS & DUTIES: The Board of Directors shall have the following duties: To hold elections for officers from the membership. To establish policies, bylaws, and goals. To direct business, educational, and social affairs of the Chapter. To authorize expenditures. To establish committees as it deems necessary to ensure the proper functioning of the Chapter. 4.3. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY: The Board of Directors may delegate it’s authority to individual officers to take action on particular matters. 4.4. MEETINGS: The Board of Directors shall set the time of all Board meetings at least one week prior to those meetings. There shall be at least one annual meeting, and as many Board meetings as necessary to carry out the objectives of the Chapter. 4.5. TELEPHONIC AND INTERNET MEETINGS: The Board of Directors is authorized to conduct meetings via the use of any suitable electronic format. 4.6. QUORUM: .A quorum of the Board of Directors shall consist of three or more members. 4.7. ABSENCES In the event of absences that cause the lack of a quorum; the alternate Board members may temporarily assume the powers and duties of absent board members to complete a quorum. . 4.8. VACANCIES: Vacancies on the Board of Directors shall be filled by the first and second alternates; and thereafter through appointment by the Board of Directors from the general membership. Any such replacement shall be for the unexpired term of the Board member being replaced and shall include all powers and duties of full Board membership. 4.9. REMOVAL. Directors and alternates shall be subject to removal from the Board for just cause by a two thirds(2/3) vote of the Board. Unexcused failure to attend two (2) Board meetings within one year will automatically require a vote of removal. V. MEETINGS 5.0. REGULAR MEETINGS: Regular meetings of the Chapter shall be held quarterly, in January, April, July and October, at a date set by the Board of Directors with notice sent to the membership at least one month prior to the scheduled meeting date. 5.1. ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING: One regular meeting shall be designated as the Annual Business Meeting. This meeting shall present to the Membership, an opportunity to attend the installation of officers, and hear the results of the Audit, as well as carry out the business of a regular meeting 5.2. QUORUM: A quorum at any regular meeting shall consist of a majority of the number of members present. VI. ELECTIONS 6.0. NOMINATIONS: A nominating committee of no less than two (2) members shall be appointed by the general members at the first meeting of the year. 6.1. ELECTIONS & BALLOTING: An election of at least two (2) and not more than (3) directors and two (2) alternates shall be held in May. Election shall be by secret mail ballot, supervised by an Election Committee; appointed by the President, subject to the approval of the Board, at a regular meeting, no later than April of each voting year. The vacant Board positions shall be filled by candidates receiving the highest vote count. VII. OFFICERS 7.1. OFFICERS: Officers shall consist of the President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and two Alternates. Officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors at the first Board Meeting following the election of the new directors. The term of all officers shall be for one year, or until their successors are installed. 7.2. DUTIES: a. President. The President shall: preside at all meetings of the Chapter and its Board of Directors; appoint committees; sign all contracts and other instruments of the Chapter; retain duplicate copies of important documents of the Chapter; and be an ex officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee. b. Vice Presidents. The First and Second Vice presidents, in that order, shall perform the duties of the President in the event of absence or incapacity. c. Secretary. The secretary shall record the minutes of all meetings of the Chapter and its Board of Directors and shall make such reports as are requested by the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall have custody of all documents of the Chapter and shall sign all official documents. d. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have custody of the dues, other income, and any funds the Chapter may possess and shall keep an accurate account of all financial transactions. The treasurer shall disburse monies in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Directors and shall submit such reports and statements as are required by the Board of Directors. All official checks shall be countersigned by the Treasurer and one of three designated officers. The Treasurer shall retain duplicate copies of all financial documents of the Chapter. VIII. GENERAL 8.1. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY: All membership meetings and all meetings of the Board of Directors shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order unless they are inconsistent with these bylaws 8.2. FISCAL YEAR: The fiscal and dues year of the Chapter shall be 1 July to 30 June 4.11. AUDIT: The Directors shall annually appoint an Auditing Committee of three (3) members who shall audit the Treasurer's accounts and shall submit said audit to the Board, prior to the Annual Business Meeting. All Dues shall be held in an account at: Upon Dissolution of the Chapter, any reserve funds must be disbursed to Organizations recognized under the provisions of 501-c-3 of the Internal Revenue Code and 23701(d) of the Revenue & Taxation Code. . 8.3. AMENDMENTS: (a) These bylaws may be amended by the general membership at the Annual Business Meeting. Notice of the proposed amendment must be given in writing to all members, no later than the previous regular meeting before the Annual Business Meeting. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of all the members present at the Annual Meeting shall be necessary for adoption. (b) The Board of Directors, by a majority vote, may enact amendments which shall remain in effect only until the next Annual Business Meeting, whereupon they shall be submitted to the membership for adoption or rejection. Written notice shall be given in accordance with Section 8.3.(a). _______________
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