BYLAWS
CENTRAL OHIO CHAPTER
SPECIAL LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION
Adopted November, 1973
Revised December, 1976
Revised November, 1987
Revised November, 1997

ARTICLE I: NAME AND OBJECTIVES

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Central Ohio Chapter, Special Libraries Association, herein referred to as the "Chapter".

Section 2. The objectives of this Chapter shall be those of the Special Libraries Association, herein referred to as the "Association" : to provide an association of individuals and organizations having a professional, scientific or technical interest in library and information science, especially as these are applied in the recording, retrieval and dissemination of knowledge and information in areas such as the physical, biological, technical and social sciences and the humanities; and to promote and improve the communication, dissemination and use of such information and knowledge for the benefit of libraries or other educational organizations.

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. The membership of the Chapter shall be those members of the Association who reside or work within the geographical boundaries of the Chapter, defined as the western and eastern boundaries of the State of Ohio, the southern boundaries of the counties of Preble, Montgomery, Greene, Fayette, Ross, Vinton, Perry, Morgan, Noble, and Monroe; the northern boundaries of the Counties of Van Wert, Allen, Hardin, Marion, Morrow, Knox, Coshocton, Guernsey, and Belmont; or who elect to affiliate with the Chapter.

Section 2. Members, Associate Members and Retired Members of the Association who are members of the Chapter shall have the right to vote, to hold any elective or appointive office in the Chapter and to receive the chapter bulletin free.

Section 3. Student Members of the Association who are members of the Chapter shall have the right to vote, to hold any appointive but not elective office in the Chapter, and to receive the chapter bulletin free.

Section 4. The rights and benefits of Sustaining Members and Honorary Members shall be determined by the Association Board of Directors.

ARTICLE III: EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1. There shall be an Executive Board, herein referred to as the "Board," that shall have the power and authority to manage the Chapter's property and to regulate and govern its affairs. The Board shall determine chapter policies within the limits of the Bylaws of the Association and of the Chapter and shall take such actions as it considers necessary to carry out the objectives of the Chapter, and shall perform such other functions as the membership may direct.

Section 2. The Board shall consist of six members elected by the membership: the President, the President-Elect, the Past President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and one Director. All members of the Board shall be Members, Associate Members or Retired Members of Special Libraries Association.

Section 3. The Board shall hold at least one meeting annually and may hold additional meetings upon call of the President or upon written request of any member of the Board. Four members of the Board shall constitute a quorum.

Section 4. A vacancy in the membership of the Executive Board, except in the office of President, shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Board. This Board-elected officer shall serve until the next annual election.

Section 5. The term of office of all elective officers shall be one year with the exception of the President-Elect who serves one year as President-Elect and the next year as President. All members of the Executive Board shall serve until their successors are elected and assume their duties. The term of office shall commence at the adjournment of the Association Annual Business Meeting, or, if there is no Annual Business Meeting, on July 1 following the election.

ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS

Section 1. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Chapter and, subject to the Executive Board, shall have general supervision and control over its affairs; shall preside at all business meetings of the Chapter and of the Executive Board; shall recommend to the Board such measures considered desirable to further the objectives and broaden the effectiveness of the Chapter; with the Secretary, shall sign all contracts and other legal documents; shall have authority to sign checks drawn upon Chapter funds unless otherwise determined by the Executive Board, shall be a member ex-officio of all committees except the Nominating Committee; with the President-Elect, shall represent the Chapter at meetings of the Chapter Cabinet and Joint Cabinet during the Association Year in which the office is held, or, if either is unable to attend, shall designate a Member, Associate Member, or Retired Member of the Chapter to serve as alternate representative; shall prepare such reports as may be required by the Association; and shall be responsible for supervising the preparation of such reports as may be required of other Chapter officers by the Association.

Section 2. The President-Elect shall assist the President in the performance of the duties of the presidency; with the President, shall represent the Chapter at meetings of the Chapter Cabinet and Joint Cabinet during the Association Year in which the office is held; and, in the event of absence or withdrawal of the President, shall assume all the duties and obligations of the presidency.

Section 3. The Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the Chapter and of the Executive Board; with the President, shall sign all contracts and other legal documents; and shall perform such other duties as the President may assign.

Section 4. The Treasurer shall have custody of the Chapter funds; may sign all checks drawn upon Chapter funds; and shall furnish such financial statements as may be required by the Executive Board, the President, or the Association.

Section 5. The Director shall be responsible for the appointment of the Nominating Committee. The Past President and the Director shall carry out such duties as the President and/or the Board may assign.

ARTICLE V: MEETINGS

Section 1. At least four meetings shall be held each year from June through May. The meeting immediately prior to the Association Annual Conference shall be the Chapter annual business meeting.

Section 2. Special meetings may be held upon call of the Executive Board or on petition of a quorum of the voting members of the Chapter. Notice of a special meeting shall specify the business to be transacted, and no business other than that stated in the notice shall be considered.

Section 3. Notice of meetings in writing or printed in the official Chapter bulletin shall be sent to each member at least two weeks before the meeting.

Section 4. A quorum for the transaction of business shall be fifteen voting Chapter members.

Section 5. When not in conflict with these Bylaws, Robert's Rules of Order [Newly] Revised (latest edition) shall govern all deliberations.

ARTICLE VI: ADVISORY COUNCIL

Section 1. Standing and special committees shall be established by the Executive Board which will delegate such powers and functions to them as the Board finds desirable for the conduct of its business and for carrying out the objectives of the Chapter. These committees shall be responsible to the Board. The chair of each committee shall serve on the Advisory Council.

Section 2. The President shall appoint the members and designate the chair of all committees except the Nominating Committee. Appointment to standing committees shall be for one year, unless determined otherwise by the Executive Board. No member may serve continuously on any one committee in excess of six consecutive years.

Section 3. Committee chairs may participate in meetings of the Executive Board but shall not have the right to vote.

Section 4. Each committee shall submit to the Executive Board a written annual report of its activities, together with any recommendations considered necessary or advisable. Additional reports may be submitted by a committee or requested by the Board or the President.

Section 5. Funds for committee expenses shall be authorized by the Executive Board through an annual allotment or upon submission of an estimated budget.

ARTICLE VII: GROUPS SUBUNITS

Section 1. GroupsSubunits relating to definite areas of interest within a Chapter may be established by the Executive Board upon written petition of 30 members of the Chapter who desire to participate in the activities of the proposed group. Groups Subunits shall receive needed operating funds from the Chapter and shall submit to the Chapter Executive Board an annual report including a financial statement. Should dissolution of a Group subunit occur, its assets shall revert to the Chapter. Formation or dissolution of a Groupsubunit shall be reported to the Chapter Cabinet officers.

ARTICLE VIII: FUNDS, CONTRACTS, AND PROPERTY

Section 1. Funds for Chapter expenses shall be derived from Chapter activities and from the Association as an allotted share of the annual dues paid by Chapter members. Eligibility for this allotment is based on the submission to the Association of the Chapter's financial statement for the previous year and on its acceptance by the Association. Requests for additional funds or loans may be submitted to the Chapter Cabinet officers for presentation to the Association Board of Directors for its consideration. All funds received by the Chapter shall be used for purposes incident to the fulfillment of the Chapter's objectives. Should dissolution of the Chapter become necessary, its assets shall revert to the Association.

Section 2. Any agreement or contract or obligation entered into by the Chapter including the purchase of property such as office machines, filing cabinets, computer equipment, etc., shall have advance written approval of the Executive Board. If cost or liability exceeds $2,000, it shall have advance approval of the Chapter members. If cost or liability exceeds $5,000, the transaction must be reviewed and signed by the Association's Executive Director; any which exceed the Chapter's available or budgeted funds requires advance approval by the Association's Board of Directors.

Section 3. All affiliate and contractual relationships shall be directed toward the best interest of the Chapter and the Association and shall protect the property and identity of the Chapter and the Association.

ARTICLE IX: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1. A Nominating Committee for each election of members to the Executive Board shall be appointed by the Chapter Director no later than six months prior to the Chapter annual business meeting. This Committee shall be composed of a Chairman and two members, no more than one of whom shall be a member of the current Board, but one of whom shall be a former officer or a member of a previous Nominating Committee.

Section 2. Each year the Nominating Committee shall present candidates for President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and Director. The Nominating Committee shall confirm with the membership chair that nominees are eligible for office. The Committee shall obtain the written acceptance of each nominee prior to submission of its report.

Section 3. The report of the Nominating Committee shall be read at a Chapter meeting preceding the Chapter annual business meeting. Additional names may be placed in nomination at that time, provided acceptance by the nominee is obtained. The final report of the Nominating Committee shall be at the annual business meeting.

Section 4. Election shall be by secret printed ballot mailed to each Chapter member at least three weeks before the Chapter annual business meeting. The candidate who receives the largest number of votes for each office shall be elected. In the event of a tie, election shall be by a majority vote of the members present at the annual business meeting. There will be an election only for those offices for which there is more than one candidate.

ARTICLE X: PUBLICATIONS

Section 1. The Chapter shall publish an official bulletin and membership directories and such other publications for its members as the Executive Board may authorize. Control of all publications of the Chapter for its members shall be vested in the Executive Board.

Section 2. The Chapter shall not be responsible for statements or opinions advanced in its publications or at meetings of the Chapter, or for statements by any of its members, except those authorized by the Chapter Executive Board, or those reflecting duly established policies of the Chapter or the Association.

ARTICLE XI: CHAPTER REPRESENTATION AND AFFILIATION

Section 1. Chapter representatives to joint committees and meetings of other societies having objectives allied to those of the Chapter and of the Association shall be appointed by the President. Such representatives shall submit at least one written report to the Executive Board during the year.

Section 2. Upon approval by a majority of the Chapter members voting, the Chapter may affiliate or disaffiliate with a local common interest organization provided that:

1) The objectives of such organization are consistent with those of the Chapter and of the Association, and

2) The activities of such organization are not in conflict with Article I: Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Association Bylaws.

Any other affiliation, including that with a national or international organization, shall be approved by the Association Board of Directors. Notices of affiliations and disaffiliations shall be reported to the Association.

ARTICLE XII: AMENDMENTS

Section 1. These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any Chapter meeting, provided written notice containing the text of the proposed amendment has been sent to each voting member at least thirty days before the meeting at which it is to be considered.

Section 2. Amendments may be proposed by the Executive Board, the Bylaws Committee or a quorum of members of the Chapter. Proposals originating in the Executive Board or in the Bylaws Committee shall be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Board before the submission to the members. Proposals originating by membership petition shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Board and shall be presented to the members with the recommendation of the Board.

Section 3. Any revisions in or amendments to the Chapter Bylaws shall be submitted to the Association Bylaws Committee for review before presentation to the Chapter membership.

These Bylaws were:

Approved by the Bylaws Committee, Special Libraries Association

________________________________, Chair, ____________________________ (Signed) (Date) Approved by the Chapter membership,

_______________________________, President, ______________________________ (Signed) (Date)