ARTICLE IV — BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1 — Board role, size, and compensation: The board is responsible for overall policy and direction of the association, and delegates responsibility of day-to-day operations to the staff and committees. The board shall have up to 10, but not fewer than 3 members. The board receives no compensation other than reasonable expenses.

Section 2 — Terms: All board members shall serve two-year terms, but are eligible for re-election for up to five consecutive terms.

Section 3 — Meetings and notice: The board shall meet at least quarterly, at an agreed upon time and place. An official board meeting requires that each board member have written notice at least two weeks in advance.

Section 4 — Board elections: New directors and current directors shall be elected or re-elected by the voting representatives of members at the annual meeting. Directors will be elected by a simple majority of members present at the annual meeting.

Section 5  — Qualifications for board and officer positions: Candidates for a board or officer positions must be members in good standing for at least 1 year prior to running for office or the board. 

Section 6 — Election procedures: A Board Development Committee shall be responsible for nominating a slate of prospective board members representing the association’s diverse constituency. In addition, any member can nominate a candidate to the slate of nominees. All members will be eligible to send one representative to vote for each candidate, for up to 10 available positions each year. In the event of a tie, Executive Committee Members shall cast the deciding vote. 

Section 7 — Quorum: A quorum must be attended by at least forty percent of board members for business transactions to take place and motions to pass.

Section 8 — Officers and Duties: There shall be five officers of the board, consisting of a chair, vice-chair, secretary, treasurer and membership officer. Their duties are as follows:

• The chair shall convene regularly scheduled board meetings, shall preside or arrange for other members of the Executive Committee to preside at each meeting in the following order: vice-chair, secretary, treasurer. The chair also appoints committee chairs. 

• The vice-chair shall chair committees on special subjects as designated by the board. 

• The secretary shall be responsible for keeping records of board actions, including overseeing the taking of minutes at all board meetings, sending out meeting announcements, distributing copies of minutes and the agenda to each board member, and assuring that corporate records are maintained.

• The treasurer shall make a report at each board meeting. The treasurer shall chair the finance committee, assist in the preparation of the budget, help develop fundraising plans, maintain not for profit status with the state of IL, maintain IRS tax exempt status, and make financial information available to board members and the public.

• The membership officer shall be responsible for the recruitment of new members and engagement of current members. This officer shall propose engagement and recruitment plans to the board for approval and maintain regular communications with members. 

Section 9 — Board members-at-large: Board members who do not hold officer positions shall be considered board members-at-large. They are required to attend board meetings and entitled to vote on board decisions. They may hold additional duties as assigned by the board chair. 

Section 10 — Vacancies: When a vacancy on the board exists mid-term, the secretary must receive nominations for new members from present board members two weeks in advance of a board meeting. These nominations shall be sent out to board members with the regular board meeting announcement, to be voted upon at the next board meeting. These vacancies will be filled only to the end of the particular board member's term.

Section 11 — Resignation, termination, and absences: Resignation from the board must be in writing and received by the Secretary. A board member shall be terminated from the board due to excess absences, more than two unexcused absences from board meetings in a year. A board member may be removed for other reasons by a three-fourths vote of the remaining directors.

Section 12 — Special meetings: Special meetings of the board shall be called upon the request of the chair, or one-third of the board. Notices of special meetings shall be sent out by the secretary to each board member at least two weeks in advance

ARTICLE VII — CHAPTERS

Section 1 — Affiliate Chapters: Groups may affiliate with Hometown Connect, Inc. as chapters. These chapters can operate under the not-for-profit and tax exempt status of Hometown Connect, Inc. 

Section 2 — Establishing a chapter: To affiliate, groups must complete an application to join Hometown Connect as a chapter. That application requirements and approval of applications shall be determined by the Executive Committee. 

Section 3 — Chapter requirements: Chapters must have elected officers and offer membership. Chapters must create their own bylaws. Chapter leadership may determine who is eligible for membership, programming and the amount of dues.  

Section 4 — Chapter dues: Chapters will pay 5% of their gross annual revenue as dues for membership in Hometown Connect. Dues will cover administration of Hometown Connect, Inc.