Bylaws

In accordance with the objectives of the Public Relations Society of America, the objectives of this Chapter shall be to advance the art and science of public relations in the public interest; to encourage research, discussion and study of the problems and techniques of the public relations profession; to strengthen and maintain the highest standards of service and ethical conduct be all members of the profession; to exchange ideas and experiences and collect and disseminate information that may enhance or improve professional knowledge, standards, ethics and standing of the membership; and to promote fraternalism within the profession.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Eligibility. To be eligible for membership in the Southern Arizona Chapter, a person must be a member in good standing with the society. Any such member of the Society is eligible for membership in the Chapter.

Section 2. Admission to Membership. Admission to membership in the Society shall be governed be the pertinent provisions of the Bylaws of the Society. Any person admitted to membership in the society shall become a member of the Chapter, if eligible, upon payment of Chapter dues.

Section 3. Retirement Status. Any member of the Southern Arizona Chapter who has been a member of PRSA in good standing for at least five years, and is gainfully employed for less than 50 percent of the time, is eligible for retirement status. Members on retirement status shall enjoy all the rights and privileges of membership.

Section 4. Termination of Chapter Membership. Any member, who for any reason ceases to be a member of the Society, or is dropped from the society’s roll for non-payment of dues, shall cease to be member of the Chapter and shall be dropped from the Chapter roll.

Section 5. Rights and Privileges of Membership. Subject to the Bylaws of the Society, the right to serve as an assembly delegate or alternate delegate, or as professional advisor to a PRSSA chapter, shall be limited to members who are Accredited.

ARTICLE IV – DUES

Section 1. Amount. The amount of chapter dues shall be reviewed annually by the Chapter's board of directors. If the amount is changed, the National office will be made aware of the change in order to alter their billing of members, which is done on an anniversary basis on behalf of the chapter.

Section 2. Nonpayment of Dues. Any member whose Southern Arizona Chapter dues are unpaid after March 31 shall be considered not in good standing, and shall not be entitled to vote, hold office, or enjoy other privileges of Chapter membership, provided such members shall have been duly notified.

Section 3. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Southern Arizona Chapter shall be the calendar year.

ARTICLE V – BOARD OF DIRECTORS (or Trustees)

Section 1. Composition. The governing body of the Southern Arizona Chapter shall be a board of directors consisting of a president, president-elect, secretary, treasure, immediate past president, assembly delegate, and seven directors-at-large.

Section 2. Term of Service. The terms of office for the president shall be one year, preceded by one year as president-elect and followed by one year as past-president. The remaining officers shall be elected for a period of two (2) years, with staggered terms, resulting in election of either one or two of the remaining three directors each year. The initial slate of directors shall draw straws to establish which two will serve a one year term to initiate the staggered election cycle. Directors-at-large shall serve one-year terms, or until such time as a successor is elected and installed.

Section 2.a. Assembly Delegate. The assembly delegate shall serve as the chapter’s representative at meetings of the PRSA Assembly and the Western District and shall be elected by the chapter for a three-year term. When the chapter reaches growth increments allowing for additional assembly delegates the chapter will vote, based on budgetary limitations, to increase the size of its Western District representation.

Section 3. Directors-at-Large. The directors shall be elected by the Southern Arizona Chapter membership at its Annual Meeting in October, for a term of one year and until their successors are elected and installed. No director having held an office for two successive terms shall be eligible to succeed himself/herself in the same office.

Section 4. Vacancies. In the event of death, resignation, removal or expulsion of any officer, director, or assembly delegate, the board of directors shall elect a successor who shall take office immediately and serve for the balance of the unexpired term, or until the next annual election.

Section 5. Removal. Any director who misses more than three consecutive board meetings, without an excuse acceptable to the board, may be given written notice of dismissal by the Chapter President and replaced in accordance with section 4 above.

Section 6. Board Meetings. There shall be at least ten meetings of the board of directors at such times and places as it may determine. It shall meet at the call of the president or upon the call of any three members of the board directors. Notice of each meeting shall be given by the secretary by mail or private carrier, telephone, facsimile or other form of wire or wireless communication and shall be given at least seven (7) days prior to such meeting.

Section 7. Quorum. A majority of the board of directors shall constitute a quorum for all meetings of the board.

ARTICLE VI – OFFICERS

Section 1. Chapter Officers. The officers of the Chapter shall be a president, president-elect, secretary, treasurer and immediate past president. The officers shall be elected by the Southern Arizona Chapter membership at its Annual Meeting, for a term of one year and until their successors are elected and installed. No officer having held an office for two successive terms shall be eligible to succeed himself/herself in the same office.

Section 2. President. The president shall preside at all meetings of the chapter and of the board of directors. He/she shall appoint all committees with the approval of the board of directors and shall be ex-officio member of all committees. He/she shall perform all other duties incident to the office.

Section 3. President-elect. The president-elect, in the absence or disability of the president, shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of the president. He/she also shall assist the president and perform such other duties as shall be prescribed by the board of directors.

Section 4. Secretary. The secretary shall keep records of all meetings of the Chapter and of the board of directors, send copies of such minutes to Society Headquarters, the South Pacific District Chair and the board of directors, issue notices of all meetings, maintain or cause to be maintained the roll of membership, and perform all other duties customarily pertaining to the office.

Section 5. Treasurer. The treasurer shall receive and deposit all chapter funds in the name of the Chapter, in a bank or trust company selected and approved by the board of directors. He/she shall issue receipts and make authorized disbursements by check after proper approval by the president or board of directors. He/she shall prepare the Chapter’s budget, make regular financial reports to the board of directors, render an annual financial statement to the Chapter membership, and perform all other duties incident to the office.

Section 6. Compensation and Reimbursement. No elected officer of the Chapter shall be entitled to any salary or other compensation. The board of directors may reimburse elected officers, assembly delegates or their alternates, for their expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties.

ARTICLE VII – NOMINATION AND ELECTIONS

Section 1. Nomination Committee. There shall be a Nomination Committee consisting of the president, president-elect and immediate past-president, appointed by the president with approval of the board of directors, at least sixty days prior to the Annual Meeting of the Chapter in October.

Section 2. Nomination. The Nominating Committee shall name a qualified nominee for each officer, assembly delegate, and director whose term is expiring. It shall ensure that each nominee has been contacted and agrees to serve if elected. Additional nominations, if any, shall be accepted from members at the Annual Meeting, provided the nominee have been contacted and agree to serve if elected.

Section 3. Notice of Membership. At least 30 days before the Annual Meeting of the Chapter in October, notice of each meeting shall be given by the secretary by mail or private carrier, telephone, facsimile or other form of wire or wireless communication and shall be given at least seven (7) days prior to such meeting.

Section 4. Elections. Officers, directors and assembly delegates shall be elected at the Annual Meeting of the Chapter. Election shall be by majority vote of the members in good standing present and voting. Balloting in contested elections shall be by secret ballot.

ARTICLE VIII – COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing Committees. In addition to the Nominating Committee, there shall be standing committees on Accreditation, Awards, College Relations, Directory, Job Bank, Membership & Eligibility, Newsletter, Professional Development, Programs and Publicity, membership, Internal Communication, External Communication, Mentoring, Primus, Sponsorship, APR, Ethics, Collegiate Relations, Professional Development.

Section 2. Special Committees. Special committees may be established and appointed by the president with approval of the board of directors.

Section 3. Committee Reports. The chair of each committee shall report its activities regularly to the board of directors. All committee activities shall be subject to approval by the board of directors.

ARTICLE IX – CHAPTER MEETINGS

Section 1. Annual Meeting. There shall be an Annual Meeting in October at such time and place as may be designated by the board of directors.

Section 2. Regular Meeting. In addition to the Annual Meeting, there shall be regular monthly meetings at least six times a year, at such times and places designated by the board of directors.

Section 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Chapter may be called by the president, the board of directors, or on written request by 25 percent of the Chapter members. Such meetings may be held by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment so that all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this section shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 4. Notice of Meetings. Notice of the annual Meeting shall be provided by mail or private carrier, telephone, facsimile or other form of wire or wireless communication to each member at least 30 days in advance. Notice of regular meeting (or special meeting) shall be provided by mail or private carrier, telephone, facsimile or other form of wire or wireless communication to each member at least 10 days in advance.

Section 5. Quorum. A majority of the members present of the Chapter shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Chapter.

ARTICLE X – AMENDMENTS

These bylaws may by amended by a two-thirds cote of the members present at any meeting at which quorum is present, provided such proposed amendment(s) has been approved by the Chapter’s board of directors and at least 30 days’ notice has been given to all members of any proposed amendment(s). Amendments adopted in accordance with this provision become effective only after approval by the Society’s National Board of Directors.

ARTICLE XI - NATIONAL BYLAWS

Payment of annual dues to the Society shall constitute an agreement to abide by the ByLaws of the Society and the Code of Ethics and the procedures for its enforcement.

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