By Laws

UPPER MERION SENIOR SERVICE CENTER BYLAWS---Amended and Approved: October 13, 2010 at the General Membership Meeting

Article I - Name

The name of this organization shall be the Upper Merion Senior Service Center (UMSSC).

Article II – Mission Statement

The objective of the Upper Merion Senior Service shall be to identify and to assist in meeting the needs of older adults in a multi-use environment for physical, educational and recreational activities.

Article III - Financial Accountability

Four signatures shall be listed on UMSSC’s bank signature cards including the President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Executive Director. All checks shall require two signatures. The fiscal year shall be from July 1 through June 30. Each year the Board of Directors shall arrange for an independent audit and shall see that the audit report is available for inspection upon the request of any member.

Article IV - Membership

Section 1: There shall be three classifications of members: honorary, resident and nonresident. Honorary members shall be persons recognized by the Board of Directors for their outstanding contributions to the Upper Merion Senior Service Center. Resident members are individuals who live in the Upper Merion Area School District; those residing in any other district are nonresident members. Resident and nonresident members shall be fifty-five years of age or older. A spouse may become a member regardless of age.

Section 2: Each resident and nonresident member shall annually complete a membership application. Each shall also pay annual dues in the amount set in June of each year by the Board of Directors. The membership year shall be a calendar year from January 1 to December 31. The membership drive shall begin on December 1, 2011 and each year on December 1 thereafter.

Article V - Officers, Executive Committee and Board Of Directors

Section 1: The officers of this organization shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary and a Treasurer and they shall make up the Executive Committee. The Board of Directors shall consist of the officers and nine additional members who have been duly elected or appointed. All who serve in any position shall perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws and the parliamentary authority adopted by the organization.

Section 2: The duties of the Executive Committee shall be to review problems and to propose solutions to the Board of Directors.

Section 3: The duties of the Board of Directors shall be to provide leadership by adopting goals, policies and procedures, to provide general supervision of the organization and to advance its mission.

Section 4: The President shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors and the General Membership. The President shall appoint all committee chairpersons with the approval of the Board. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee. After concluding his/her term, the President may serve a one-year term on the Board of Directors.

Section 5: The Vice-President shall exercise the powers of and perform the duties of the President in his/her absence and assist the President when the need arises.

Section 6: The Secretary shall keep a record of all the proceedings of the organization; all minutes will be posted. If the Secretary is unavailable, the Vice President shall record the minutes.

Section 7: The Treasurer shall be responsible for all funds and shall make full financial reports at meetings of the Board of Directors and the General Membership. The Treasurer shall also serve as chairperson of the Budget and Finance Committee.

Article VI - Nominations and Elections

Section 1: No member shall run for more than one office at a time. Board Members shall not remain in office for more than two consecutive terms, but officers shall be eligible to serve unlimited terms in the same office. No two members of one family shall be eligible to hold office at the same time.

Section 2: At the October meeting of the Board of Directors and at the General Meeting the Nominating Committee shall present nominations for President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, whose terms are for one year, along with nominations for Board Members who shall be elected for three year terms. Members may add nominations from the floor if all requirements are met. At the November General Meeting the Nominating Committee shall present a complete slate. All candidates shall be listed in the notice for elections in the December newsletter and all candidates will be introduced at the December General Meeting.

Section 3: The election of Officers and Board Members shall take place on the day of the December General Meeting under the direction of the Nominating and Membership Committees. Eligible voters shall be those resident members who were in good standing as of the previous August 31st.

Section 4: The Nominating and Membership Committees shall develop procedures for absentee voting which shall be approved and implemented by the Board of Directors.

Section 5: If a vacancy arises in the office of the President, the Vice President shall serve as President for the balance of the term. If there is a vacancy in other offices or the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors at their next regular meeting shall hear recommendations and shall then elect a person to fill the vacancy for the balance of the term. A majority of those present shall be necessary for election.

Section 6: If an Officer or Board member misses three (3) consecutive board meetings, the Board of Directors shall have the option to elect a replacement after hearing recommendations from the Board of Directors. A majority of those present shall be necessary for election.

Article VII - The Executive Director and Staff

The Board of Directors shall be responsible for selecting an Executive Director and any other staff members. The Executive Director shall work in concert with the Officers, Board Members and volunteers as required for the successful operation of UMSSC, its programs, activities, policies and its business functions. The Executive Director shall attend and present a report at all meetings of the Board of Directors and the General Membership. The Board of Directors shall review the performance of all staff members at the end of six months and annually thereafter.

Article VIII - Meetings

The Board of Directors shall meet monthly; the quorum shall be one more than half of the members of the Board of Directors. The General Membership shall meet at least ten times a year. Special meetings may be called by the President or by the Board of Directors and the purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call. Except in cases of an emergency, at least seven (7) days notice shall be given.

Article IX - Committees

Section 1: The President, with approval of the Board of Directors, shall be authorized to appoint committees as required to accomplish the UMSSC mission. Chairpersons shall make reports as requested by the President for various meetings and for filing in the UMSSC archives. Chairpersons who are not members of the Board of Directors shall attend Board Meetings at the request of the President but may not initiate nor second a motion and may not vote.

Section 2: The Standing Committees of this organization shall be:

A. Budget and Finance Committee The Treasurer shall serve as chairperson of this committee which shall as needed propose procedures to be approved by the Board of Directors to ensure sound financial management. The Budget and Finance Committee shall prepare the budget and submit it for approval to the Board of Directors at their June meeting. This committee shall also review the organization’s fiscal status and propose amendments to the budget as needed.

B. Legislative/Bylaws Committee The Bylaws Committee shall annually review the Bylaws and shall present recommendations to the Board of Directors. This committee shall also review any suggestions from members and report their findings to the Board of Directors for action.

C. History Committee The History Committee shall provide the Board of Directors with an annual report of the organization’s activities and special events. This report shall be approved, filed and posted for members’ review in January of the following year.

D. The Membership Committee The Membership Committee shall receive and approve all membership applications and maintain accurate records; all receipts shall be turned over to the Treasurer. The Membership Committee shall provide a list of eligible voters for the Nominating Committee.

E. The Nominating Committee The Nominating Committee shall consist of at least three (3) members and a Nominating Committee Chairperson who is a member of the Board of Directors.

F. Properties The Executive Director shall be responsible for maintaining records of all UMSSC properties and their maintenance. The Executive Director shall report safety and security issues to the Board of Directors.

G. The Publicity/Public Relations Committee The Publicity/Public Relations Committee shall be responsible for organizing information for the local media, for newsletters and for all special publications.

Article X - Parliamentary Procedure

Parliamentary Authority Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised: 2004 Edition shall govern the organization in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are consistent with these Bylaws and with any procedures the organization may adopt.

Article XI - Amendment of the Bylaws

Amendments to these Bylaws may be initiated by any member who is a resident of the Upper Merion Area School District who shall propose a change in writing to the Bylaw Committee. This committee shall review the proposal and report findings to the next Board Meeting. The Board of Directors shall present a report of pros and cons plus recommendations, if any, at the next General Meeting. At the following General Meeting, a positive vote by two-thirds of the members in attendance is required to amend.