BUG CONSTITUTION
May  2002
(Replaced May 2004)

Article # 1 NAME:

The name of this organization shall be the BARRIE USERS GROUP, hereinafter referred to as BUG.

Article # 2 PURPOSE:

The purpose of this organization is to allow members, with a common interest in COMPUTERS to get together. Membership is open to all people regardless of their choice of computers.

Members with a common interest may create a SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP, hereafter referred to as a "SIG", with the approval of the EXECUTIVE BOARD of BUG.

Article # 3 MEMBERSHIP:

(F) FAMILY - all immediate family members living at the same address. Each person in the family is entitled to one (1) vote and will be listed on the BUG roster.

(R) REGULAR - a (1) person. Entitled to one (1) vote.

(S) STUDENT - any full time student. Entitled to one (1) vote.

(H) HONOURARY - chosen by the EXECUTIVE BOARD for such an honour, and passed by a majority vote at a general meeting. The length of time for the duration of this honour shall also be determined by a majority vote at the same general meeting. Such a member is entitled to the same privileges as a REGULAR member.

Non-Members are welcome to all general meetings but do not have voting privileges.

Section # 2 Fees and Dues:

MEMBERSHIP may be purchased at any general meeting or by remitting the correct amount to the membership officer. Annual membership will be effective for 12 months from 1st of month in which it was purchased.

The EXECUTIVE BOARD shall have the authority to review and amend, on an annual basis, the membership fees and dues for BUG.

Sufficient funds will be maintained by the Barrie Users' Group that will ensure the payment of fixed costs throughout the Fiscal Year, that runs from September to August.

Each SIG must have and maintain a minimum of 5 members whose interest is in using a specific type of computer, before it will be authorized to operate with full SIG rights and privileges.

Each SIG shall have the following rights and privileges:

to elect one (1) member to act as SIG COORDINATOR;

to designate one volunteer as SIG LIBRARIAN;

to have representation on the EXECUTIVE BOARD;

to be eligible to receive financial assistance from BUG.

All BUG funds shall be banked in one account under the control of the Treasurer and the President or Vice-President.

Article # 4 THE EXECUTIVE BOARD:

The EXECUTIVE BOARD shall consist of the elected officers and the appointed committee heads.

Except on a temporary basis, each member of the EXECUTIVE BOARD shall serve in only one official capacity.

The EXECUTIVE BOARD shall handle the regular business of the club.

BYLAWS may be enacted, amended or revoked by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of all attending members eligible to vote, at any executive meeting.

Regular meetings of the EXECUTIVE BOARD shall be held within fourteen (14) days after the general meeting, or when situations require an emergency meeting. Only EXECUTIVE BOARD members shall attend executive meetings. Anyone not on the EXECUTIVE BOARD, may attend only when authorized by the President. Authorization to attend may be granted no later than one (1) day in advance of the meeting.

A quorum for conducting the business of the EXECUTIVE BOARD shall not be less than sixty-six percent (66%) of the members of the BOARD empowered to vote.

BUG expenditures, in excess of $50, shall require an affirmative vote of 66% of the members of the EXECUTIVE BOARD in attendance.

It shall be the responsibility of the EXECUTIVE BOARD to:

Ensure that the CONSTITUTION and the current BUG BYLAWS are available to the members.

Ensure that the minutes of the EXECUTIVE BOARD meeting, shall be included in the next published newsletter. The current monthly minutes shall also be posted on the BUG web site.

Article # 5 EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS

There shall be the following elected officers

President - no vote, except to break a tie.

Vice-President - one vote

Recording Secretary - one vote

Treasurer - one vote

SIG Coordinators and SIG Librarians - one vote per SIG.

EXECUTIVE members, who miss three (3) executive meetings in a row, or do not comply with their assigned responsibilities, may be removed from office by a majority vote of the EXECUTIVE BOARD. This section does not apply to SIG Coordinators, or SIG Librarians as they are under the control and responsibility of their individual SIGs.

The heads of committees may be nominated by any member of the Executive Board. The nomination must be approved through a majority vote of the elected Executive Board.

Appointed EXECUTIVE BOARD members described in Section #3 include but are not limited to:

Newsletter Editor

Membership Chairperson

Webmaster

Membership Services Chairperson

Each appointed member of the Executive Board has one vote.

An invitation shall be extended to the immediate past President to, attend executive meetings, with one (1) vote. Attendance shall be at his/her discretion.

Section # 5

Each SIG may have two (2) officers: (1) SIG Coordinator, elected into office by a majority vote of that SIG, plus (1) SIG Librarian, an appointed volunteer from within that SIG. Either officer may be relieved of office and a new person installed, by a majority vote of their SIG. Should the SIG Coordinator be unable to attend the executive meeting, the SIG Librarian may attend, with the power to vote for that SIG.

A Nomination/Election Committee consisting 3 Members shall be appointed by the President at the March General Meeting. These members may not run for an elected position.

The Nomination/Election Committee may receive nominations at any time after their appointment until the vote for the position starts. Nominees must have been a member in good standing for one (1) year, and may be nominated for more than one position.

The members of the Executive for the following year are to be elected at a General Meeting to be held each year within a 14 month period. Voting will be by secret ballet. All members in good standing, with voting rights, at the time of nomination closing is eligible to vote. The elections will be held in the following order: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary.

Officers shall be elected for a term of one year. They shall serve from the time of installation until the succeeding installation of officers in the following year.

There shall be a meeting of the EXECUTIVE BOARD immediately following installation. It should include the outgoing and incoming Officers and the Committee Chairpersons. Upon the introduction of new business, the files and charter are turned over to the newly installed President.

On the creation of a vacancy on the EXECUTIVE BOARD By-elections may be held to fill the position. If the vacancy occurs within 3 months of the annual election of officers, the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE may appoint an interim acting officer.

Nominations will be taken from the floor of the general meeting following the vacancy of the position. Voting will take place at the following general meeting.

The EXECUTIVE BOARD members shall perform their assigned responsibilities in accordance with the BUG BYLAWS.

Article # 8 MEETINGS:

There shall be an annual meeting during the month of MAY. Notice of the meeting shall be given to the members at least thirty days before the meeting.

Special meetings shall be called by the President. Notice of the special meetings shall be given to the members at least seven days in advance.

The CONSTITUTION can only be amended at the MAY annual meeting or at a meeting designated for that purpose. Copies of the proposed amendments shall be given to the members at least thirty days prior to that meeting. The constitution may be amended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of all attending members elligible to vote.

 

Article # 10 DISSOLUTION:

In the event a SIG dissolves or decides to disassociate itself from BUG, all property held by that SIG belonging to BUG must be returned to the EXECUTIVE, or may be purchased from BUG at a depreciated value as determined by the EXECUTIVE.

In the event of the dissolution of the BARRIE USER GROUP, remaining assets, after the satisfaction of all obligations of the club, shall be donated to the Simcoe County Board of Education, or upon their refusal, shall be donated to the Barrie Public Library, or upon their refusal, sold to the highest bidder and the proceeds donated to the Royal Victoria Hospital.