Chapter Bylaws

Central Ohio Professional Chapter
The Society of Professional Journalists

(effective July 1, 1984; amended November, 2001)

ARTlCLE I. NAME, LOCATION, AFFlLlATION
Section 1. The Central Ohio Chapter, founded April 17, 1949, and based in Columbus, Ohio, is an affiliate of the national Society of Professional Journalists, formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, and hereafter referred to as the National Society. Formal presentation of the charter to the Central Ohio Chapter was made April 25, 1950.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSES
Section 1. To associate journalists in an organized unit dedicated to the basic elements of journalism — talent, truth and energy.
Section 2. To advance the standards of the news media and enhance the prestige of journalism in this part of Ohio by support for, and promotion of, the National Society’s Code of Ethics.
Section 3. To encourage talented young people at the high school and college levels to pursue journalism as a career, to nurture their interest, and to help them achieve this goal.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHlP
Section 1. All members in good standing with the National Society may affiliate with the Central Ohio Chapter by paying the Chapter’s annual membership dues.
Section 2. Journalism practitioners who are not members of the National Society may apply for membership through the Chapter. The applicant is required to submit a National Society application, along with the necessary fee, to the Chapter Board of Directors or directly to the National Society for a determination of eligibility.
Section 3. Student members in good standing with the National Society automatically become professional members upon graduating from college, and may affiliate with the chapter by paying the dues.

ARTlCLE IV. BOARD OF DlRECTORS
Section 1. Chapter administration is the responsibility of the Board of Directors, which consists of 15 members, including the Officers.
Section 2. The Board of Directors and Officers (see ARTlCLE V) shall be responsible for: (1) Membership and attendance at meetings for the Chapter membership; (2) Regular and special Board meetings; (3) Professional programs (4) Finances; (5) Planning and (6) Convention representation.
Section 3. Directors’ terms of office shall be for three years. Terms shall be staggered so that five (5) Directors are elected or re-elected annually, except for special circumstances, including Board representation of university journalism schools in the chapter area, officers in line of succession and the immediate past president. Directors shall serve no more than three consecutive, three-year terms. Directors who serve three consecutive three-year terms shall be eligible to serve on the Board after a one-year absence from the Board.
Section 4. The Board of Directors shall hold regular meetings at such times and places as the Directors may decide, but not fewer than eight meetings per Chapter year. Special meetings may be called at the request of three Directors to the President, or at the request of the President and two other Directors. Board members must receive notice of all meetings by first-class mail, e-mail or telephone at least 72 hours before such meetings are to be held.
Section 5. Action by the Board of Directors shall require the vote of a majority of the Directors attending. Attendance of a majority of Directors shall constitute a quorum to conduct official Chapter business. In the event of a tie vote, the presiding officer may cast the deciding vote. In the event action needs to be taken between meetings, an e-mail vote may be conducted upon the agreement of three directors. Passage requires a majority of the board. Results shall be recorded in the minutes of the next regular meeting.
Section 6. Directors are required to attend a minimum of five board meetings per Chapter year. The Board shall declare vacant the seat of any Director failing to meet the attendance requirement.
Section 7. Any Director who becomes ineligible for continuing membership in the National Society or the Chapter, automatically vacates a seat on the board.
Section 8. The Board shall appoint replacements for in-term Board vacancies. Appointees shall serve for the duration of unexpired terms.

ARTICLE V. OFFlCERS
Section 1. Officers of the Chapter shall be: President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Section 2. Officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors and serve one year, or, in the case of in-term vacancy, until a successor is elected and qualified. Regular terms of office begin with formal installation of officers at the annual Founder’s Day banquet meeting.
Section 3. The President shall preside at meetings of the Chapter and Board of Directors, appoint appropriate committees, be the Chapter spokesperson, and direct the execution of authorized Chapter projects and business.
Section 4. The First Vice-President shall be the President-elect, preside in the absence of the President, serve as program chairman, and have the primary duty of planning and arranging general membership meetings, normally held from September through May.
Section 5. The Second Vice-President shall preside in the absence of higher officers and have the primary duty of membership chairman. In that position, the Second Vice-President shall recruit members, keep the roster current, and, in cooperation with the treasurer, re-enroll Chapter members each year.
Section 6. The Secretary shall write the minutes of the Board meetings, send out notices of Board meetings, handle the balloting for Board members and new officers each year, and keep track of the Chapter’s historic records.
Section 7. The Treasurer shall have custody, under bond, of regular and special Chapter funds, make collections as necessary and pay all authorized Chapter debts. The Treasurer’s books shall be audited annually prior to the installation of new Chapter officers.

ARTlCLE VI. CHAPTER YEAR, NOMINATIONS, ELECTIONS
Section 1. The Chapter’s membership, administrative, and financial year shall begin with the installation of officers at the annual Founder’s Day banquet meeting and end at the next installation.
Section 2. Early in February each year, the President shall appoint a committee of three directors to nominate Chapter members to fill impending vacancies on the Board, and at the same time shall invite nominations from the membership. Nominations shall be reported to the President no later than March 15. The Secretary will prepare and mail a ballot to every Chapter member along with instructions to return it prior to a date set by the Board. The committee will tally the ballots and announce the result to the Board.
Section 3. The nominating committee shall meet again and from the personnel of the newly-constituted Board of Directors, nominate one person for each of the five Chapter officers. This slate shall be presented to the Board at the regular meeting, at which time the Directors shall be given an opportunity to make further nominations from the Board personnel. A ballot vote shall be taken in any case where more than one candidate is nominated for an office. A majority vote of the Directors present shall determine the new officers.
Section 4. Results of the voting shall be announced and the new Officers and Directors installed at the Chapter’s annual Founder’s Day meeting.

ARTlCLE VII. DUES AND FEES
Section 1. Annual chapter dues shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Billing and distribution of local chapter dues shall be the responsibility of the National Society offices.

ARTlCLE VIII. CHAPTER MEETlNGS
Section 1. The Chapter shall hold at least six general membership meetings each year, with the Directors determining their time, place and nature. The meeting in May is designated the Founder’s Day meeting.
Section 2. The Board of Directors is authorized to call special meetings of the Chapter membership.

ARTlCLE IX. SCHOLARSHlP lNVESTMENT FUND
Section 1. The Chapter shall maintain a scholarship investment fund.
Section 2. Proceeds from the investments shall fund the Chapter’s annual scholarships and scholarship-related activities. A secondary purpose of such proceeds is to support Freedom of lnformation activities approved by the Board.
Section 3. There shall be a standing Trustee Committee, consisting of three (3) board members appointed by the president, to monitor and manage the Chapter’s lnvestment Fund and to make recommendations to the Board of Directors pertaining to the investments that constitute the lnvestment Fund. The Trustee Committee shall elect one of its members annually as chairman. The Treasurer must be exempt from serving on this committee.
Section 4. The Chapter Treasurer shall maintain records of the lnvestment Fund, provide timely reports to the chairman of the Trustee committee, and serve in an advisory capacity to the Trustee Commitee.

ARTlCLE X. SCHOLARSHlP FUND
Section 1. The Board is authorized to make annual withdrawals from the Chapter’s investment fund and/or Scholarship lnvestment Fund to honor and encourage outstanding college journalism students with scholarships in amounts determined by the Board.
Section 2. Upon the death of a Chapter member, the Treasurer shall transfer a sum of money, as determined by the board, from the Chapter treasury to this fund as a memorial to the deceased, and the President shall so inform the next of kin. Members and friends of the Chapter shall be encouraged to make personal donations, including bequests in their wills, to this fund.
Section 3. The President shall appoint a Scholarship Committee, including at least two campus representatives, to recommend recipients of the scholarships and make related recommendations to the Board of Directors.

ARTlCLE XI. SCHOLARSHlP QUALlFlCATlONS
Section 1. To be considered for Chapter scholarships, college journalism students shall meet the following criteria: 1) Be enrolled at an accredited school of journalism in the Chapter’s membership area; 2) be a member in good standing in the National Society; 3) show potential for success in journalism as evaluated by the journalism staff making the nomination; 4) intend to pursue a career in journalism.

ARTlCLE XII. AWARDS PROGRAM
Section 1. The Chapter shall have an awards program to recognize individuals and organizations for journalistic accomplishments.
Section 2. The awards shall be: advancement of the principles of freedom of expression (First Amendment Award); distinguished service to the chapter (Distinguished Service Award); contributions to journalism (Appreciation Award); and individual(s) or group(s) who have obstructed dissemination of information (Brick Wall).
Section 3. The First Amendment, Distinguished Service, Appreciation and Brick Wall Awards shall be awarded by and at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Chapter members or non-members may make nominations and are eligible for the awards.

ARTICLE Xlll. COMMlTTEES
Section 1. The President shall appoint standing committees of three or more members annually on Freedom of Information, the Scholarship Fund and the awards.
Section 2. There shall be a standing Chapter Executive Committee on Freedom of lnformation to act promptly on FOI issues that arise between meetings of the board.
Section 3. There shall be a standing Trustee Committee. (See Article IX)
Section 4. The President each year shall designate individuals or committees to write and produce a chapter newsletter, to maintain liaison with area colleges having journalism programs, to publicize chapter events in Columbus and other Ohio news media, to serve as correspondent to The Quill, to audit financial records, and to handle such other chapter activities as may be authorized by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Chairmen of standing and other committees shall maintain their own records and files in such condition that they can be passed along to their successors and also provide prompt information about their activities to the Board of Directors.

ARTlCLE XIV. CONVENTION, CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE
Section 1. The Chapter shall be represented at the Society’s national convention by one delegate and alternate chosen by the Board. Registration fees will be paid by the Chapter. The Chapter also shall strive to participate in each regional conference.

ARTlCLE XV. AMENDMENTS
Section 1. The Board of Directors may have Chapter Bylaws amended by proposing an amendment at one regular Board meeting and, with a majority of the members present voting favorably, have the proposal printed in detail and mailed with the notice for the next general membership meeting. The proposal shall be mailed immediately to all Chapter members for approval. Votes must be received by return mail or e-mail within two weeks to be counted. A two-thirds affirmative vote by those responding shall be required for approval of the amendment.