ARTICLE I
OFFICES
SECTION 1. The Corporation shall continuously maintain in the State of Illinois a registered office and a registered agent whose office is identical with such registered office and may have other offices within or without the State.
ARTICLE II
MEMBERS
SECTION 2. The Corporation shall have as its members those persons who shall pay annual membership dues in such amounts as may be determined by the Board of Directors. The members shall have the ability to attend such meetings of the Board of Directors as shall be designated “open meetings”, and to provide input regarding any items to be voted upon by the Board of Directors at such meetings. In addition, the members shall have the authority to elect the Directors as provided in Article III. The Secretary of the Corporation shall update the membership list at least annually.
ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 3.1. GENERAL POWERS. The affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by its Board of Directors.
SECTION 3.2. NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS. The initial Directors shall be the five persons named in the Articles of Incorporation. At the first meeting of the initial Board of Directors, the Directors shall elect a regular Board of Directors, numbering not less than three nor more than five. The Directors shall serve for such term as the Board of Directors shall designate, but not for a period of more than three years. The term of the Directors shall be staggered so that each year at least one Director’s position shall be up for renewal or replacement. Thereafter, such number of Directors whose term shall have ended shall either be re-elected or replacement Directors to fill such vacancies shall be elected each year at the annual meeting by a majority of the members in attendance. Each Director so elected shall continue in office until a successor shall have been elected and qualified. Any Director may be removed, with or without cause, at a special meeting of the Directors called for that purpose, by a majority of all Directors.
SECTION 3.3. REGULAR MEETINGS. The Board of Directors shall meet at such time and place as may be designated by the Directors at least one time per year, during the month specifically designated in its first meeting [or in the absence of such designation, on the first Tuesday in the month of the incorporation of the Corporation], but may meet more frequently as the business of the Corporation demands. The Board of Directors may provide by resolution the time and place for the holding of regular meetings of the board without other notice than such resolution.
SECTION 3.4. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the President or any two Directors who notify the President in writing of such a request. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the board may fix any reasonable place as the place for holding any special meeting of the board called by them.
SECTION 3.5. NOTICE. Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be mailed or sent by electronic mail not less than 14 days prior to the date of the meeting.
SECTION 3.6. QUORUM. A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the board, provided that if less than a majority of the Directors is present at said meeting, a majority of the Directors present may adjourn the meeting to another time without further notice.
SECTION 3.7. MANNER OF ACTING. The act of a majority of the Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors, unless the act of a greater number is required by statute, these by laws, or the Articles of Incorporation.
SECTION 3.8. VACANCIES. Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors by resignation or otherwise, shall be filled by an affirmative vote of the majority of the Board of Directors, for the unexpired term of the preceding Director.
SECTION 3.9. COMPENSATION. Directors shall not receive any stated salaries for their services as a board member, but by resolution of the Board of Directors a fixed sum and expenses of attendance, if any, may be allowed for each regular or special meeting of the Board; provided that nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any Director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving reasonable compensation therefor, subject to the Corporation’s Conflict of Interest Policy.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
SECTION 4.1. OFFICERS. The officers of the Corporation shall be a President, a Treasurer, a Secretary, and such other officers as may be elected by the Directors. Officers whose authority and duties are not prescribed in these by laws shall have the authority and perform the duties prescribed, from time to time, by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 4.2. ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at the regular annual meeting of the Directors. If the election of officers shall not be held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as conveniently may be. Vacancies may be filled or new offices created and filled at any meeting of the Directors. Each officer shall hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected and shall have qualified or until his death or until he shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided. Election of an officer shall not itself create contract rights.
SECTION 4.3. REMOVAL. Any officer elected or appointed by the Directors may be removed by the Directors with a majority vote of all of the Board of Directors. Such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed.
SECTION 4.4. PRESIDENT. The President shall be the principal executive officer of the Corporation and shall be in charge of the business and affairs of the Corporation, subject to the direction and control of the Board of Directors. The President shall discharge all duties incident to the office of President and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors. The President shall preside at the meetings. Except in those instances in which the authority to execute is expressly delegated to another officer or agent of the Corporation or a different mode of execution is expressly prescribed by the Board of Directors or these by laws, the President may execute for the Corporation any contracts, deeds, mortgages, bonds, or other instruments which the Board of Directors has authorized to be executed; and the President may accomplish such execution individually or with the Secretary or any other officer thereunto authorized by the Board of Directors, according to the requirements of the form of the instrument.
SECTION 4.5. TREASURER. The Treasurer shall be the principal accounting and financial officer of the Corporation. The Treasurer shall see to the responsibility of the maintenance of adequate books of account for the Corporation, have charge and custody of all funds and securities of the Corporation, and be responsible therefor, and for the receipt and disbursement thereof, and perform all the duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the President or by the Board of Directors. If required by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall give a bond for the faithful discharge of the duties of such office, in such sum and with such surety or sureties as the Board of Directors shall determine.
SECTION 4.6. SECRETARY. The Secretary shall record the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors in one or more books provided for that purpose; shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these by laws or as required by law; shall be custodian of the Corporation records and of the seal of the Corporation; shall keep a register of the residence address of each Director which shall be furnished to the Secretary by such Director; and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the President or by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES
SECTION 5.1. COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS. The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the Directors then in office, may designate one or more committees, each of which shall consist of two or more Directors, which committees, to the extent provided in said resolution and not restricted by law, shall have and exercise the authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the Corporation; but the designation of such committees and the delegation thereto of authority shall not operate to relieve the Board of Directors, or any individual Director, of any responsibility imposed upon the Directors by law.
SECTION 5.2. OTHER COMMITTEES. Other committees not having and exercising the authority of the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be designated by a resolution adopted by a majority of the Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Members of such other committees need not be Directors of the Corporation but shall be members of the Corporation, and the President of the Corporation shall appoint all members of such committees. Any Members thereof may be removed by the person or persons authorized to appoint such members whenever in their judgment the best interests of the Corporation shall be served by such removal.
SECTION 5.3. TERM OF OFFICE. Each member of a committee shall continue as such until the next annual meeting of the Directors of the Corporation and until a successor is appointed, unless the committee shall be sooner terminated, or unless such members be removed from such committee.
SECTION 5.4. CHAIRPERSON. One member of each committee shall be appointed chairperson by the President of the Corporation.
SECTION 5.5. VACANCIES. Vacancies in any committee may be filled by appointments made in the same manner as provided in the case of the original appointments.
SECTION 5.6. QUORUM. Unless otherwise provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors designating a committee, a majority of the whole committee shall constitute a quorum, and the act of a majority of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee.
SECTION 5.7. RULES. Each committee may adopt rules for its own government not inconsistent with these by laws or with rules adopted by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VI
CONTRACTS, CHECKS, DEPOSITS AND FUNDS
SECTION 6.1. CONTRACTS. The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents of the Corporation, in addition to the officers so authorized by these by laws, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
SECTION 6.2. CHECKS, DRAFTS, ETC. All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation, shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents of the Corporation and in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors. In the absence of such determination of the Board of Directors, such instruments shall be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the President of the Corporation.
SECTION 6.3. DEPOSITS. All funds of the Corporation shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as the Board of Directors may select.
SECTION 6.4. GIFTS. The Board of Directors may accept on behalf of the Corporation any contribution, gifts, bequests, grants, or devises for the general purposes or for any special purpose of the Corporation.
ARTICLE VII
BOOKS AND RECORDS
SECTION 7. The Corporation shall keep correct and complete books and records of account and shall keep minutes of the proceedings of its Board of Directors, and committees having any of the authority of the Board of Directors, and shall keep at the registered or principal office a record giving the names and addresses of the Directors entitled to vote. The Corporation shall also keep a correct and current membership list. All books and records of the Corporation may be inspected by any Director or member, upon reasonable notice in advance for any proper stated purpose at any reasonable time.
ARTICLE VIII
FISCAL YEAR
SECTION 8. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
SECTION 9. These by laws may be amended by a TWO THIRDS majority vote of the members in attendance at the annual meeting. Notice of such a vote must be mailed or sent by electronic mail to all of the members not less than 14 days prior to the date of the annual meeting. Voting on amendments to these by laws or changes in any other rules of the Corporation must be by written ballot.
ARTICLE X
WAIVER OF NOTICE
SECTION 10. Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of Illinois or under the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation or the by laws of the Corporation, a waiver thereof in writing signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.
ARTICLE XI
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
SECTION 11. Indemnification. (a) The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director and/or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses for which such person has not otherwise been reimbursed (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner which was reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that the conduct in question was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which was reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding had reasonable cause to believe that the conduct in question was unlawful.
(b) The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses for which such person has not otherwise been reimbursed (including attorneys’ fees and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such suit or action if such person acted in good faith and in a manner which was reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of such person’s duty to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for such expenses which the court shall deem proper.
(c) To the extent that a director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Paragraphs 1(a) or (b) of this Article, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
(d) Any indemnification under Paragraphs 1(a) or (b) of this Article (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in such Paragraphs 1(a) or (b) of this Article. Such determination shall be made (i) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum, consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (ii) if such a quorum is not obtainable, and a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in written opinion.
(e) Expenses incurred by defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding as authorized by the Board of Directors in the specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be determined that he is entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation.
(f) The indemnification provided in this Article shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any by law, agreement, vote of disinterested directors or otherwise, or of any other indemnification which may be granted to any person apart from this Article, both as to action in its official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
SECTION 2. Insurance. The Corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of its status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this