BYLAWS

OF

THE GEORGIA ASSOCIATION OF BLACK WOMEN ATTORNEYS

 

BYLAW ONE:    DUES

(a)        Amount of dues shall be as follows:

Regular Members:        $75.00

Associate Members:     $60.00

Student Member:          $30.00

(b)        Due Date:

Regular and Associate Members shall pay dues by January 31 of each year.  Student Members shall pay dues by October 1 of each year.  The Executive Board may assess a late fee or impose other restrictions for non-payment of dues.

BYLAW TWO:    MEETINGS

(a)        General Body Meetings.

The regular meetings of the general body of the organization shall be held on the third Thursday of every month.

Every effort shall be made to hold the August meeting in the Albany, Macon, Augusta or Columbus area on a Saturday to be determined by the President and the hosting Regional Vice President.  If the August meeting cannot be held in one of those cities, the location shall be determined by the President.

Likewise, every effort shall be made to hold a regional meeting during the annual State Bar Convention, the time and date of which shall be determined by the President.

(b)        Special Meetings.

Special meetings may be called by the President, with the approval of the Executive Board, for exigent circumstances.

(c)        Quorum.          

For purposes of conducting business during a General Body meeting, a quorum shall consist of ten (10) Regular Members.

(d)        Order of Business.

The order of business at the regular General Body and Executive Board meetings shall follow the most current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.  The order of business may be altered or suspended at any meeting by a majority vote of the members present.  The usual parliamentary rules as set forth in Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern.

BYLAW THREE:    ELECTIONS

(a)        Elections.         

Officers shall be elected at the November General Body Meeting.  A majority of votes cast shall be required to elect officers.  The elected officers shall ascend to office effective January 1 of the upcoming year.

(b)        Nominations.

In September of each year, the President shall appoint an Ad Hoc Elections Committee.  This committee shall consist of a maximum of six Regular Members of the organization who will not be eligible for elective office.  The Elections Committee shall determine the eligibility of the nominees for officers and administer the election.  Nominations shall close at the conclusion of the October General Body Meeting.

(c)        Absentee Ballots.

Absentee ballots may be obtained from the Elections Committee two (2) weeks prior to the November General Body Meeting.  Each Voting Member must return the ballot to the Elections Committee by 8:00 p.m. on the second Thursday of November.  The Election Committee shall maintain a list of members having voted by absentee ballot in that election.  This list shall be available for inspection at the November General Body Meeting.

(d)        Proxy Voting.

Votes by proxy shall not be accepted.

BYLAW FOUR:    ELECTRONIC VOTING

            The Executive Board may adopt policies and procedures by which its members may vote on the affairs of the organization through electronic means.  Electronic voting may not be utilized by the general membership or to amend the Constitution or Bylaws of the organization.

 

 

BYLAW FIVE:    AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS

The Bylaws shall be amended by the Executive Board at any regularly-scheduled Executive Board meeting by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board members in attendance at that meeting.  All Executive Board members shall be provided with at least ten (10) days written notice of the proposed amendment and the date, time and location of the meeting at which that amendment will be considered.  Neither the Executive Board nor any committee shall have the power to endorse candidates for office or borrow money without the express consent of a majority of the Regular Members present at a meeting of the organization.

BYLAW SIX:  LIABILITY

 

            By undertaking membership in this organization, no member is deemed to be a partner, shareholder, or any other legally recognizable entity in relation to the organization for any purpose.

 

            No member, officer, agent or employee shall be liable for the act or failure to act of any other member, officer, agent or employee of the association.  Nor shall any member, officer, agent or employee be liable for her acts or failure to act under these bylaws, excepting only acts or omissions arising out of her willful misfeasance or cross negligence.