AMERICAN NURSING INFORMATICS
ASSOCIATION-CARING BYLAWS
(Effective January 1, 2010)
ARTICLE I
NAME
Section 1 The name of the organization shall be the American Nursing Informatics Association-CARING, a Virginia nonstock corporation (the “Corporation”).
ARTICLE II
OFFICES
Section 2.1 Registered Office The registered office of the Corporation shall be located within the Commonwealth of Virginia at an address designated by the Board of Directors. The registered agent of the Corporation shall also have an address within the Commonwealth, at the same location as the registered office.
.ARTICLE III
PURPOSE
Section 3.1 Purpose The purpose is to advance the field of nursing informatics through communication, education, research and professional activities. The Corporation is organized to operate as a professional organization within the meaning of Section 501(c) (6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
ARTICLE IV
MEMBERS
Section 4.1 Classes of Members
The Corporation shall have three (3) classes of members: Regular, Corporate and Honorary. The designation of the classes and the qualifications and rights of the members of the classes shall be as follows:
1. Regular Members Anyone interested in the advancement of Nursing Informatics Practice and the automation of health care information systems. Regular members may vote and hold an elected office.
2. Corporate/Organization
Members Any company or organization interested in the advancement of Nursing Informatics Practice and the automation of health care information systems.
3. Honorary Members May be extended by a majority vote of the Board to individuals who have rendered distinguished service and leadership to the Corporation or who have made outstanding contributions to the field of Nursing Informatics. These members shall retain all the privileges of regular membership and shall pay no dues. This is a lifetime honorarium.
Section 4.2 Establishment of Membership Membership in the Corporation shall become effective when a completed formal application has been accepted by the Corporation and the designated dues payment has been received.
Section 4.3 Termination of Membership:
4.3.1 Resignation. A member may resign any time by filing a written resignation to the Corporation, with no refund of dues.
4.3.2 Nonpayment of Dues. Membership shall be terminated for nonpayment of dues.
4.3.3 Action of the Board. By affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of all of the members of the Board, the Board may suspend or expel a member for cause after an appropriate hearing. “Cause” shall exist if the member is declared of unsound mind by an order of court, or indicted for a felony, or for other reason found to be against the Corporation’s best interests by the Board.
4.3.4 Reinstatement. Upon written request signed by a former member and filed with the Secretary, the Board members may, by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Board members, reinstate the former member to membership upon such terms as the Board members may deem appropriate.
Section 4.4 Transfer of Membership Membership in this Corporation is not transferable or assignable.
ARTICLE V
MEETINGS OF THE MEMBERS
Section 5.1 Annual Meeting A meeting of the members shall be held annually, on such date and at an hour and site designated by the Board members for the purpose of updating the membership on the business of the Corporation. Officers and directors shall also take office at the annual meeting, which shall be the time that their terms commence (except for officers or directors filling a vacancy in an unexpired term). The meeting will be open to all members. The Board shall hold additional meetings at its discretion.
Section 5.2 Place of Meeting The Board may designate any place as the place of meeting inside or outside the Commonwealth of Virginia for the annual meeting or for any special meeting called by the Board.
Section 5.3 Special Meetings Special meetings of the members may be called by the President, a majority of the Board members, or upon written or electronic transmission request of 1/8 of the members.
Section 5.4 Notice of Meetings Notice will be provided posted on the website and delivered via electronic mail (“email”) or other electronic transmission at least 30 days prior to the meeting.
Section 5.5 Quorum At any meeting of members, a quorum will consist of a majority of members present who participated in the voting.
Section 5.6 Informal Action by Members Any action required by law to be taken at a meeting of the members, or any action which may be taken at a meeting of members, may be taken without a meeting if the majority of voting members agree with respect to the subject matter of the action.
ARTICLE V1
The BOARD; OFFICERS
Section 6.1 Eligibility Only Regular and Honorary members shall be eligible to serve as members of the Board. Only Board members are eligible to serve as officers of the Corporation.
Section 6.2 Functions and Powers The Board shall oversee the control and administer the affairs of the Corporation to meet the purposes of the Corporation including, but not limited to, oversight of the execution of the strategic plan, the Corporation budget and finances, ability to authorize audits, programs, publications, awards, recognition, and liaison with other organizations.
Section 6.3 Composition of the Board The number of Board members shall be twelve (12) Directors of the Corporation. Each Director shall be elected for a term of three (3) years. The Directors shall have staggered terms so that four (4) Directors are elected each year. Four (4) Board members shall also serve as President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
Section 6.4 Officers
Section 6.4.1 President The President shall be the principal executive officer of the Corporation and shall in general supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the Corporation. He or she shall preside at all meetings of the members and the Board of Directors. He or she may sign, with the Secretary or any other proper officer of the Corporation authorized by the Board of Directors, any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, or other instruments which the Board of Directors has authorized to be executed, except in cases where the signing and execution shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws or by statute to some other officer of agent of the Corporation; and in general he or she shall perform all duties incident to the office of President and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 6.4.2 Vice President The Vice President is responsible for leading the evaluation of the Corporation’s progress in meeting strategic objectives and proposing recommended actions. The Vice President shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her by the President or by the Board. In the absence of the President or in the event of his or her inability of refusal to act, the Vice President shall perform the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President.
Section 6.4.3 Treasurer Provides oversight and reporting of the Corporation’s financial status. The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the Corporation; receive and give receipts for moneys due and payable to the Corporation from any source; and deposit all such moneys in the name of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositaries as shall be selected in accordance with these Bylaws; and in general perform all the duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as may be assigned to them 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 his or her duties in such sum and with such surety as the Board of Directors shall determine.
Section 6.4.4 Secretary The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the members and of the Board of Directors; see that all notices are given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law; be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the Corporation; see that the seal of the Corporation is affixed to all documents when necessary or desirable, the execution of which on behalf of the Corporation under its seal is authorized in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws; and in general perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary, and such other duties as may be assigned by the President or by the Board of Directors.
Section 6.4.5 Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries The Board may elect Assistant Treasurers and/or Assistant Secretaries as it deems appropriate. Such officers may, but need not be, members of the Board of Directors. If required by the Board of Directors, the assistant Treasurers shall give bonds for the faithful discharge of their duties in such sums and with such sureties as the Board of Directors shall determine. The assistant Treasurers and assistant secretaries, in general, shall perform the duties assigned to them by the Treasurer or the Secretary, respectively, or by the President or the Board of Directors.
Section 6.4.6 Directors All Directors shall assist the officers and perform others duties assigned by the President or the Board of Directors.
Section 6.5 Composition of the management committee
Section 6.5.1 The management committee shall be composed of the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. The management committee shall have and may exercise all of the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, except as provided otherwise in these Bylaws or the Articles of Incorporation. The management committee shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board of Directors at each regular meeting of the Board.
Section 6.6 Compensation Directors as such shall not receive any stated salaries for their services, but by resolution of the Board members a nominal fixed sum and expenses of attendance, if any, may be allowed for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Board.
Section 6.7 Meetings and Procedures
6.7.1 Meetings Board meetings shall be held regularly throughout the year. In addition, a regular annual meeting of the Board members shall be held without other notice than this bylaw, in conjunction with the annual conference and annual meeting of members. The Board members may provide by resolution the time and place, for the holding of additional regular meetings of the Board without other notice than the resolution.
6.7.2 Special Meetings Special meetings of the Board members may be called by or at the request of the President or any two Directors.
6.7.3 Notice Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given at least two (2) days prior to the meeting in written or printed format, delivered in person, via email or other electronic transmission.
6.7.4 Quorum 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 law or by these Bylaws. A majority of the Board members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board. A quorum for a twelve (12) member Board is seven (7) people. If less than a majority of the Directors are present at the meeting, a majority of the Directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice.
6.7.5 Participation by Telephone or Similar Device Directors may participate in a Board meeting by use of telephone or any other means of communication by which all members participating may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting. A director participating in a meeting by this means is deemed to be present in person at the meeting.
6.7.6 Parliamentary Procedure The Board shall consult the usual parliamentary rules of order contained in "Roberts Rules of Order Revised" to govern all meetings of the Corporation.
Section 6.8 Informal Action by Directors Any action required by law to be taken at a meeting of the Directors, or any action which may be taken at a meeting of the Directors, may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting out the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the Directors. Directors may signify their consent by email or other electronic transmission.
Section 6.9 Forfeiture of and Removal from Office Any Board member shall automatically forfeit their Board position if they lose eligibility for, or are expelled from membership in the Corporation. A Board member may also be removed for “cause” by a 2/3rds vote of the Board members after proper notice and an opportunity to be heard at a meeting of the Board held prior to the vote. “Cause” shall exist if the Board member is declared of unsound mind by an order of court, or indicted for a felony, or for other reason found to be against the Corporation’s best interests by the Board.
Section 6.10 Vacancies Any vacancy occurring in the Board members shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining Board members. A director elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor in office.
Section 6.11 Officer Vacancies If the position of President should become vacant; it will be filled by the Vice President until the next officer election. A Director, selected by the Vice President and ratified by a secret ballot majority vote of the Board members, shall become the Vice President. Vacancies in the positions of Secretary or Treasurer shall be filled by secret ballot majority vote of the Board of Directors, from among the non-officer Directors. The person placed in the vacant position shall assume all the obligations and rights of the position that he/she fills, and shall serve until the next officer election.
Section 6.12 Property of the Corporation It shall be the duty of every Director to turn over to their successor, upon retirement from office, all property of the Corporation which is within their possession, custody or control.
ARTICLE VII
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 7.1 Nominating Committee
7.1.1 The Nominating Committee shall be composed of a minimum of three (3) members: One (1) director, the Immediate Past President, and one (1) person elected by the general membership. The Chairperson of the Committee will be the Immediate Past President of the Corporation. The members shall be appointed or elected for a one (1) year term or until their successors are appointed or elected.
7.1.2 Nominating Committee members cannot nominate themselves for Board positions.
7.1.3 The role of the Nominating Committee will be to oversee the distribution, collection and counting of the Board election ballots.
Section 7.2 Nominations for the Directors and Nominating Positions
7.2.1 The nomination process shall be conducted annually. The Nominating Committee shall present not less than six (6) qualified candidates for the four (4) first year Director Positions.
7.2.2 A call for nomination for the four (4) Director positions and one (1) general member Nomination Committee position for the-upcoming year shall be published and distributed to all members of the Corporation at least 60 days before the scheduled date of the election.
7.2.3 All candidates must be regular or honorary members in good standing of the Corporation (including any predecessor organization) for at least two (2) successive years prior to their nomination.
7.2.4 After receiving nominations from the membership, the Nominating Committee shall prepare a list of candidates for the vacant Director and Nominating Committee member positions for Board approval.
Section 7.3 Notice of Elections Notice stating the position(s), and date of the election shall be delivered not less than 45 nor more than 90 days before the date of the election to each member of the Corporation entitled to vote in such election.
Section 7.4 Voting
An election may be conducted electronically, in the manner that the Board members shall determine in accordance with law.
Section 7.5 Officer Elections
7.5.1 The Chair of the Nominating Committee shall obtain a written statement from each of the Board members no later than 40 days prior to the Board meeting at which officers will be elected regarding their interest in and objectives of their candidacy for an officer position. President and Vice President positions will be filled by second or third year Board members. All Board members may apply to serve as Secretary or Treasurer. A Board member may be nominated for no more than two positions. These positions shall be elected by the Directors. All other positions will be appointed by the President.
7.5.2 The ballot listing the candidates for the Board positions shall be electronically sent to all voting Board members at least 15 days prior to the election Board meeting. The candidates receiving the highest level of votes in their respective races at a meeting or by electronic voting shall be elected.
ARTICLE VIII
WHISTLEBLOWER POLICY
Section 8.1 Overview The Corporation is committed to operating in furtherance of its tax-exempt purposes and in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and prohibits fraudulent practices by any of its Board members, employees, or members. This policy outlines a procedure for employees, members and others to report actions that a person reasonably believes violates a law or regulation, or that constitutes fraudulent accounting or other practices. This policy applies to any matter which is related to the Corporation’s business and does not relate to private acts of an individual not connected to the business or activities of the Corporation. Now is the time f
Section 8.2 Reporting Procedure If an employee, Board member, member, or other person has a reasonable belief that an employee, officer, Board member, or member of the Corporation has engaged in any action that violates any applicable law or regulation, or constitutes a fraudulent practice, the person with knowledge of the violation is expected to immediately report it to the Corporation’s President. If the person does not feel comfortable reporting the information to the President, he/she is expected to report the information to any other officer.
Section 8.3 Investigation All reports will be followed up promptly, and an investigation conducted. In conducting its investigations, the Corporation will strive to keep the identity of the complaining individual as confidential as possible, while conducting an adequate review and investigation.
Section 8.4 No Retaliation The Corporation will not retaliate, nor permit retaliation or any other harmful action, against a reporting person because that person: (a) reports to a supervisor, to the President, another officer, the Board of Directors or to a federal, state or local agency what the person believes in good faith to be a violation of the law; or (b) participates in good faith in any resulting investigation or proceeding, or (c) exercises his/her rights under any state or federal law(s) or regulation(s) to pursue a claim or take legal action to protect his/her rights.
The Corporation may take disciplinary action, including termination in case of an employee, against anyone who in the Board of director’s assessment has engaged in retaliatory conduct in violation of this policy.
ARTICLE IX
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Section 9.1 General The Board shall administer Corporation’s affairs honestly and economically and exercise their best care, skill, and judgment for the benefit of the Corporation. The Directors shall exercise the utmost good faith in all transactions relating to their duties for the Corporation. They shall not use their position, or knowledge gained there from, so that a conflict might arise between the Corporation’s interests and that of the individual. All acts of Directors shall be for the benefit of the Corporation in any dealing. The Directors shall not accept any favor that might adversely or improperly influence their actions affecting the Corporation or its members.
Section 9.2 Disclosure of Conflict of Interest Each Director and nominee for a Board position shall make a written disclosure of any interest that might result in a conflict of interest upon nomination to office, before appointment to fill a vacancy in office, and annually during the term of office. During their terms of office, Directors shall promptly make full disclosure to the President of any existing or new employment, activity, investment, or other interest that might involve a conflict of interest.
Section 9.3 Definition of Conflict of Interest: Procedures A conflict of interest exists if a member of the Board or nominee for a Board position has a financial, personal, or official interest in any matter relating to the Corporation, of such nature that it prevents or may prevent that member from acting on the matter in a disinterested manner. Any member of the Board with such a conflict of interest will offer to the Board to voluntarily excuse him/herself and will vacate his seat and refrain from discussion and voting on said item. A transaction involving a conflict of interest must thereafter be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors on the Board of Directors, or on the committee.
Section 9.4 Resolution of Conflict of Interest Upon disclosure of a conflict of interest or a challenge on that basis, any Director or nominee shall resolve such conflict in a manner consistent with policies adopted by the Board, or by any other manner approved by the Board.
9.4.1 A director who fails to submit a written disclosure or is found to have an unresolved conflict of interest that may substantially impair his/her judgment in the duties of the position shall be removed from the position or nomination.
9.4.2 The President shall schedule a meeting of the Board to be held within no more than 10 working days after notification of the conflict or potential conflict, for all disinterested directors to determine a disposition of the conflict and any further action necessary.
9.4.3 Persons subject to conflict of interest review shall be kept fully informed by the President of the Board’s decisions and any other relevant actions.
Section 9.5 Disinterested Director A “Disinterested Director” is a director who, at the time action is to be taken by the Corporation and/or its Board of Directors, does not have (i) a financial interest in a matter that is the subject of such action, or other interest greater than other directors in such action, or (ii) a familial, financial, professional, employment, or other relationship with a person who has a financial interest in the matter, either of which would reasonably be expected to affect adversely the objectivity of the director when participating in the action.
ARTICLE X
COMMITTEES
Section 10.1 Board Committees Standing and Ad Hoc Committees shall be appointed by a majority vote of the Board members. The term of office for committee members shall be annual, or as determined by the Board based on the function of the committee. The appointment of any such committee and the delegation of authority shall not operate to relieve the Board members of any responsibility imposed upon it by law.
Section 10.2 Quorum Unless otherwise provided in the resolution of the Board members 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 10.3 Rules Each committee may adopt rules of its own government that are consistent with the Bylaws or with rules adopted by the Board members.
Section 10.4 Limitation on Powers No committee will have the authority of the Board members in reference to amending, altering or repealing the Bylaws; electing, appointing or removing any member of any such committee, or any director or officer of the Corporation; amending the Articles of Incorporation; adopting a plan or merger or adopting a plan of consolidation with another Corporation; authorizing the sale, lease, exchange or mortgage of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation; authorizing the voluntary dissolution of the Corporation or revoking proceedings therefore; adopting a plan for the distribution of the assets of the Corporation; amending, altering or repealing any resolution of the Board members which by its terms provides that it shall not be amended, altered or repealed by the committee; or any other action delegated by the Bylaws, the Articles of Incorporation, or law to another person or entity.
ARTICLE XI
CONTRACTS, CHECKS, DEPOSITS AND FUNDS
Section 11.1 Contracts The Board members may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents of the Corporation, in addition to the officers so authorized by these Bylaws, 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 11.2 Checks, Drafts, etc. All checks, drafts or orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation, shall be signed by those authorized officers or agents of the Corporation and in a manner as shall be determined by resolution of the Board members. In the absence of a specific determination by the Board members, the instruments shall be signed by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, following approval in the following manner:
- Expenses over $5,000.00 but less than $10,000.00: approval of one (1) Board officer (other than Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer) required.
- Expenses $10,000.00 and over: approval of two (2) Board officers (other than Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer) required.
Section 11.3 Deposits All funds of the Corporation shall be deposited to the credit of the Corporation in the banks, trust companies or other depositaries as the Board members may select.
Section 11.4 Gifts and Donations The Board members may accept on behalf of the Corporation any contribution, gift, bequest or devise for the general purposes or for any special purpose of the Corporation.
ARTICLE XII
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day of January and end on the last day of December in each year.
ARTICLE XIII
DUES
Section 13.1 Annual Dues The Board members may determine the amount of initiation fee, if any, and annual dues payable to the Corporation by members of each class.
Section 13.2 Payment of Dues Dues shall be payable in advance on the first day of January in each fiscal year. The Board may implement procedures to allow for quarterly or other pro rating of dues, provided that each member is committed to paying the full amount of dues annually.
ARTICLE XIV
DISSOLUTION
Section 14.1 Dissolution of the Organization Upon the dissolution of the Corporation, the Corporation’s assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by a Court of Competent Jurisdiction of the county in which the principal office of the Corporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes. Should the Corporation be holding any assets at time of dissolution from a 501(c)(3) Corporation or any other organization that may be restricted in use, such assets shall be distributed in accordance with their restrictions.
ARTICLE XV
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 15.1 Indemnification
15.1.1 Subject to the other provisions of this Article XV, the Corporation shall indemnify, as set forth below, and to the fullest extent to which it is empowered to do so by the Virginia Nonstock Corporation Act or any other applicable laws as may from time to time be in effect, any person who, by reason of being or having been a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation, or who is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, and who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding.
15.1.2 Except as provided in subsection 15.1.4, the Corporation may indemnify an individual made a party to a proceeding because the individual is or was a director against liability incurred in the proceeding if the director:
1. Conducted self in good faith;
a. In the case of conduct in their official capacity with the corporation, that their conduct was in its best interests; and
b. In all other cases, that their conduct was at least not opposed to its best interests; and
3. In the case of any criminal proceeding, that they had no reasonable cause to believe that their conduct was unlawful.
15.1.3 The termination of a proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, is not, of itself, determinative that the Director did not meet the relevant standard of conduct described in this section.
15.1.4 Unless ordered by a court under appropriate circumstances, a corporation may not indemnify a director under this section:
1. In connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation except for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding if it is determined that the director has met the relevant standard under subsection 15.1.2; or
2. In connection with any other proceeding charging improper personal benefit to the Director, whether or not involving action in their official capacity, in which they were adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by them.
ARTICLE XVI
NONDISCRIMINATION
Section 16.1 Nondiscrimination The Corporation recognizes the rights of all persons to equal opportunity in employment, compensation, promotion, education, positions of leadership and power, and in receipt of services. The Corporation shall conduct its activities and shall offer its services to all persons equally, without discriminating against any employee, applicant for employment, Director, officer, member, contractor, or any other person with whom it deals, because of race, creed, color, national origin, handicap, sex or age.
ARTICLE XVII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 17.1 Waiver of Notice Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of the applicable Virginia law governing nonstock Corporations or under the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, a waiver in writing signed by the persons entitled to the notice, whether before or after the time stated there, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of notice.
Section 17.2 Amendments to Bylaws These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed and new Bylaws may be adopted by 2/3rds of the directors present at any regular meeting or at any special meeting, if at least thirty (30) days’ written notice is given of intention to alter, amend or repeal or to adopt new Bylaws at the meeting. Unless otherwise specified herein, the following action shall require a majority vote by the voting members: qualification for membership; changing, adding or eliminating classes of membership; number of directors; terms of directors; compensation of directors.
Section 17.3 Review of Bylaws the Board shall convene an ad hoc committee to review the Bylaws within three years of the last revision. The Secretary shall maintain a record of all revisions to the Bylaws, including effective dates.
Section 17.4 Bylaws, Minutes and Membership Records The Corporation shall maintain the original copy of the Bylaws at its principal office, together with all amendments thereto, the minute books/files, including membership records. All files/books and records of the Corporation may be inspected by any member, or his agent or attorney for any proper purpose at any reasonable time.
Section 17.5 Notice
17.5.1 Notice required to be given to a director or member shall be in writing. Notice by electronic transmission (“email”) is written notice.
17.5.2 Written notice by the Corporation to a member, if in a comprehensible form, is effective (i) upon deposit in the United States mail, if mailed postpaid and correctly addressed to the member's address shown in the Corporation's current record of members, or (ii) when electronically transmitted (by email) to the member in a manner authorized by the member.
17.5.3 Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to members, any notice to members given by the Corporation shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission (including email) consented to by the member to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the member by written notice to the Corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if (i) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent and (ii) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or other person responsible for the giving of notice, provided, however, that the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action. Notice given pursuant to this subsection shall be deemed given: (a) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the member has consented to receive notice; (b) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the member has consented to receive notice; (c) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the member of such specific posting when such notice is directed to the record address of the member or to such other address at which the member has consented to receive notice, upon the later of such posting or the giving of such separate notice; and (d) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when consented to by the member.
Section 17.5.4 In any instance where these Bylaws authorize the sending of meeting notices, votes, or other communications by email or other electronic transmission, such communications must be sent in a way that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.
These Bylaws were approved in accordance with law and the procedures set forth herein on January 1, 2010.
