Wisconsin Chess Association

Contents

1. Name
2. Purpose
3. Membership
4. Board of Directors
5. Officers
6. Meetings
7. Finances
8. Sundry Bylaws

1. NAME: The name of this organization shall be the State of Wisconsin Chess Association, commonly called the Wisconsin Chess Association, WCA.
2. PURPOSE: The purpose of the WCA is to promote chess in Wisconsin, through tournaments and strengthening local clubs.
3. MEMBERSHIP:
   1. Membership shall be open to any person who pays the prescribed dues.
   2. Dues: The Board of directors shall establish the annual dues to cover the period between the openings of two successive annual meetings. A change in the amount of dues shall be announced at least thirty days in advance of the annual meeting and become effective thirty days after the meeting. Effective 1998 membership meeting, the annual dues shall be set at $5 per annum. Players participating in any WCA sponsored event shall receive free membership to the WCA for that year.
   3. Honorary Life Membership: Honorary Life membership may be conferred by a three-fourths vote of the members present at an annual meeting upon a person who has rendered notable service to the Association.
   4. All members shall have all rights and privileges, except that only Wisconsin residents may vote or hold office. Students attending Wisconsin schools, military personnel stationed in Wisconsin, and members living in out-of-state areas which are suburban to Wisconsin cities are considered to be Wisconsin residents.
4. BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
   1. The Board of Directors shall consist of nine members of the Association, three to be selected to three year terms at each annual meeting from those nominated at that meeting, to hold office until their successors are elected and qualified.
   2. The newly elected Board shall meet within one week after the annual meeting and elect the Officers of the Association, from among the members of the Board.
   3. The Board of Directors is the governing body of the Association. The Board shall transact the Association business between annual meetings, provided no act conflicts with actions taken by the membership meetings. The Board shall arrange such tournaments, activities, and affiliations as promote the purpose of the Association.
   4. The President shall appoint a replacement for the unexpired term of any member of the Board who resigns or dies or becomes a non-resident under Bylaw 3.4 .
   5. The Board has the right to remove members that miss four consecutive meeting with a three-fourths vote.
5. OFFICERS:
   1. The officers of the Association are a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, who are elected by the Board, and such committee chairmen as the president may appoint. The Board, at its option, may elect one person to serve as both Secretary and Treasurer. The officers shall perform the duties described by the parliamentary authority in Bylaw 8.2 and the specific duties delineated herein, including formulation of general policy, management of the Association, and holding elections.
   2. The President shall call and preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Board. He shall appoint chairmen and members for the committees approved by the membership or by the Board, and exercise active and general supervision over the conduct of Association affairs.
   3. The Vice-President shall assist the President in the discharge of his duties and perform those duties in the absence of the President.
   4. The Secretary shall keep minutes of the proceedings of the Association and the Board, send notices of all board meetings, and keep such records and make such reports as are required.
   5. The Treasurer shall receive all Association revenues, keep accounts of all receipts and disbursements and such other accounts as the Board may require, make a financial report at each Board meeting , and provide an annual statement to the membership at the annual meeting.
6. MEETINGS:
   1. The annual membership meeting of the association shall be held in conjunction with the State Championship, at a time and place fixed by the Board.
   2. A special meeting of the membership, following thirty days notice, shall be called upon a majority vote of the Board or upon written request by ten members.
   3. Each member 16 years of age or older present in person shall have one vote at a membership meeting and may vote no more than one proxy from an absent member. Twenty members present in person constitute a quorum.
   4. The Board shall hold at least four regular meetings per year. In the interim between regular meetings, the Board may conduct business by mail, telephone, or electronic communication (specifically including, but not limited to, Electronic Mail [E-Mail]). The Board has the right to adopt additional methods for the conduct of business upon approval by a two-thirds vote. A special meeting of the Board may be called by the President or upon written request of three Board members. Five Board members present in person constitute a quorum. The Board may establish rules for recognition of proxies for absent Board members.
7. FINANCES:
   1. No obligation shall bind the Association unless; (a) authorized by the membership or the Board and (b) authenticated in writing by the President or the Treasurer.
   2. The Treasurer shall deposit all receipts in a bank approved by the Board and disburse them only by check bearing his signature, provided that each disbursement be supported by a voucher authorized by the President or, in his absence, by the Vice-President.
8. SUNDRY BYLAWS:
   1. Amendments: These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at a meeting called for that purpose and so announced in the meeting notice.
   2. Parliamentary Authority: Robert's Rules of Order shall govern all Association business conduct, when not specifically provided for in these Bylaws.
   3. OFFICE: The principal office of the Association shall be in care of the secretary.
   4. IRS Limitations: No part of the income of the Association shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, officers, or other private persons, excepting reasonable compensation for services and payments in furtherance of the purposes in Bylaw 2.
   5. The Association shall carry on no propaganda activity or otherwise attempt to influence legislation. The Association shall not participate in any way in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
   6. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws, the Association shall carry on no activity not permitted (a) by an association exempt from Federal income tax under 501 ( c ) (3) of the Internal Revenue code of 1954 (or the corresponding provisions of any future law) or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under 170 ( c ) (2) of the cited code and future law.
   7. Upon dissolution of the Association, the Board shall pay all liabilities and dispose of all remaining assets exclusively for the purposes in Bylaw 2 or to such organizations as then qualify as exempt under 501( c )(3) of the cited code and future law.
   8. Participation fee: For participation in events requiring Association membership, a fee equal to the annual dues may be paid on behalf of a computer or device not eligible for the usual membership. Acceptance of the fee and the participant shall be at the discretion of the director of the event.