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ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION/BYLAWS OF THE
COLORADO SENIOR NETWORK USER'S GROUP
The undersigned persons, all of whom are fifty five years
of age or
older and are citizens of the United States, acting as responsible
organizers, hereby form an independent Non-Profit Association
and adopt
the following Articles for establishment of this organization.
The name
of the Association shall be Colorado Senior Network User's Group
located
in the city of Colorado Springs in El Paso County. This Association
is
organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes
and
coordination with other organizations that qualify as exempt
organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code, or
corresponding section of any future tax code.
Table of Contents:
ARTICLE I Name of Organization
ARTICLE II Duration of Organization
ARTICLE III Purposes
ARTICLE IV Location
ARTICLE V Directors and Officers
ARTICLE VI Membership
ARTICLE VII Dues, Contributions, Fees and Assessments
ARTICLE VIII Meetings
ARTICLE IX Committees and Duties
ARTICLE X General Powers and Limits
ARTICLE XI Rules of Order
ARTICLE XII Ratification and Amendments
ARTICLE I
Name of Organization:
The name of this organization is the COLORADO SENIOR NETWORK
USER'S
GROUP, (referred to herein as "CoSNUG").
ARTICLE II
Duration of Organization:
The period of duration is perpetual.
ARTICLE III
Purposes:
In the interest of promoting responsible citizenship, CoSNUG
has
been formed to provide seniors (i.e., those persons 55 years of
age and
older) in Colorado and the surrounding area with access to
computer-related skills, information and technology, and to assist
seniors to share this knowledge and wisdom with each other and
with
members of associations of similar nature in other communities.
To achieve these purposes:
a. CoSNUG cooperates with and supports activities and programs
of
the Colorado Springs Senior Center computer learning efforts.
These
activities include teaching and learning computer skills,
telecommunication and other utilization of computers, systems
and
selected software programs.
b. CoSNUG operates a dedicated Electronic Information Service
(EIS) to promote and facilitate communication between CoSNUG members
and
interested community persons/organizations which may include
intergenerational exchange between CoSNUG members and local elementary
and middle school students. Computer Shareware and Public Domain
Software programs are also available to club members.
c. Publishes a monthly newsletter, CoSNUG News Bytes, available
to CoSNUG members.
ARTICLE IV
Location:
The principal address and location of CoSNUG shall be the
Colorado
Springs Senior Center, located at: 1514 North Hancock Avenue,
Colorado
Springs, Colorado 80903. Correspondence should be addressed to:
ATTN:
CoSNUG, in-care-of the Colorado Springs Senior Center.
ARTICLE V
CoSNUG Officers and Directors:
Section 1. The directors of CoSNUG shall consist of four
elected
Officers and appointed Standing Committee Chairpersons designated
herein
as the Coordinating Council.
Section 2. At the annual election, the membership shall
elect the
following four officers:
1. A President. 2. A Vice President.
3. A Treasurer. 4. A Secretary.
Section 3. These officers and chairpersons shall serve without
financial compensation. The Elected Officers of CoSNUG are voting
positions. Elected Officers may not occupy or serve as Coordinating
Council Chairs during the period of their elected service.
Section 4. Eligibility: All Regular Members of CoSNUG are
eligible
to be elected as officers or be appointed as committee chairpersons
and
serve as members of the Coordinating Council.
Section 5. Term, nomination and election of CoSNUG Officers:
a. The term of office normally shall be for one year from
January 1st to December 31st or until their successors are elected.
b. The President shall appoint a nominating committee to
select candidates. This slate shall be presented to the membership
at
the regular meeting of CoSNUG one month prior to the time for
elections.
Additional nominations may be made and seconded from the floor
and shall
be added to the slate. Election of officers shall take place at
the
last meeting of the calendar year. Members shall vote by show
of hands.
The Treasurer shall determine eligibility of electors in accordance
with
these articles.
Section 6. In the event an elected officer shall not be
able to
serve his or her term due to resignation, incapacity or other
reason,
the President shall appoint a substitute officer from among the
membership, subject to approval by the Coordinating Council, to
fulfill
the term of office. In the event that the President shall not
be able
to serve his or her term, the Vice President shall assume the
office of
the President, and shall appoint a Vice President, subject to
the
approval by the Coordinating Council.
ARTICLE VI
Membership:
There shall be three categories of membership in CoSNUG;
Regular,
Participating and Community Members. Membership shall be for one
calendar year.
Section 1. Regular Members - shall be persons at least 55
years of
age or older. They have the right to vote, to be elected as officers
of CoSNUG, and to serve as members of the Coordinating Council
and
participate in all club functions.
Section 2. Participating Members - shall be individuals
who
participate in voluntary supportive activities of CoSNUG such
as
teaching, advising, and consulting, but may not be eligible for
regular
membership because of age. Participating membership shall be offered
to
individuals approved by the Coordinating Council.
Section 3. Community Members - shall be individuals and
educational, corporate, business, and professional organizations
that
support the purposes of CoSNUG. Community membership shall be
designated by the Coordinating Council.
Note: Participating and Community Members are encouraged
to attend
and participate at CoSNUG meetings but do not have voting privileges.
These special CoSNUG associates will have membership privileges
of the
EIS.
ARTICLE VII
Dues, Contributions (, Fees and Assessments)
Section 1. Regular members shall pay annual dues to CoSNUG.
The
amount and schedule of dues payment shall be recommended by the
Coordinating Council to the CoSNUG membership at a regular meeting
and
approved by a majority vote of attending members provided they
constitute a quorum. Participating Members, Community Members
and
others may make contributions to CoSNUG in cash or in kind. No
other
fees or assessments may be levied on members of any class unless
approved by a majority vote of members attending a regular meeting
provided they constitute a quorum.
Section 2. Termination of membership: Nonpayment of dues
on the
due date terminates membership. However, any individual who is
otherwise
eligible for membership and who professes economic hardship may
be
excused from payment of dues upon petition to and with approval
of the
Coordinating Council. The names of excused members shall not be
made
public. CoSNUG Membership may be terminated for gross abuse of
the
privileges of membership, willful abuse of hardware, software,
or
infringement of the rights of others. The decision for such termination
shall be made by a majority vote of the CoSNUG Officers and Coordinating
Council members.
Section 3. Participating and Community CoSNUG Members are
not
required to pay dues.
ARTICLE VIII
Meetings:
Section 1. Regular meetings of the membership shall be conducted
once a month at a place and at times agreeable to the membership.
Two
weeks notice shall be given of the time and place of membership
meetings. A regular meeting may be canceled by a majority vote
of the
membership present at any prior meeting. Special meetings of the
membership may be convened at the request of ten or more CoSNUG
members
or by a majority vote of the Coordinating Council. Twenty percent
of
the the members in good standing or more shall constitute a quorum
of
the CoSNUG membership.
Section 2. The Coordinating Council shall hold special meetings
as
determined by business requirements at a time to be fixed by the
Coordinating Council members. The time and place of such meetings
shall
be announced sufficiently in advance to ensure attendance by all
members. The General Membership is invited to attend meetings
of the
Coordinating Council. Special meetings may be convened at the
request
of two or more members of the Coordinating Council. A majority
vote of
the Coordinating Council members shall constitute a quorum.
Section 3. Notice of special meetings or other notice required
by
these articles shall be deemed received by members when announced
in the
monthly CoSNUG News Bytes newsletter, posted in a message on the
EIS or
upon telephone notification.
ARTICLE IX
Committees:
Section 1. The Coordinating Council shall serve as an Executive
Committee to conduct the regular business of CoSNUG, and shall
serve as
its Board of Directors. Chairpersons serve at the discretion of
the
President. Members of committees serve at the discretion of the
Committee Chairperson. Coordinating Council, by majority vote,
may
remove any other member from any position of responsibility within
CoSNUG for ause, in its function as Board of Directors.
Section 2. Standing Coordinating Council (voting) Chairs/
Committees shall be:
(a) Program Chair/Committee
(b) Education Chair/Committee
(c) Publicity Chair/Committee
(d) EIS Manager Chair/Committee
(e) Funding and Research Chair/Committee
(f) Librarian Chair/Committee
(g) Membership Chair/Committee
(h) Hospitality Chair/Committee
(i) Newsletter Chair/Committee
(j) APCUG Rep Chair
Section 3. Ad hoc Committee (nonvoting) Chairs may be appointed
by
the President with advice of the Council as follows:
(a) Finance Committee, fourth quarter for budget preparation.
(b) Nomination Committee, for the election of officers.
(c) Special Committees, as required
Section 4. CoSNUG Chairpersons for standing and ad hoc committees
shall be appointed by and shall serve at the pleasure of the CoSNUG
President, with advice from the Coordinating Council.
Section 5. Chairpersons shall report to the President, and
upon
request of the President, directly to the membership. Committee
members
shall report to their Chairperson.
Section 6. Duties of Officers: Officers shall attend meetings
of
the membership and of the Coordinating Council.
The President shall preside at meetings of the membership
and the
Coordinating Council. (In the absence of the President, the Vice
President shall preside. In the absence of both the President
and Vice
President, meetings may be conducted by any other Coordinating
Council
Chair member agreeable to the other Coordinating Council members).
The Secretary shall keep and provide records of meetings
and shall
conduct correspondence necessary to the business of CoSNUG as
directed
by the President and the Coordinating Council. The secretary shall
post
(upload) the minutes of the General Membership and Coordinating
Council
meetings to the appropriate area of the CoSNUG EIS.
The Treasurer shall have custody of funds belonging to CoSNUG,
shall
collect and receive dues from the membership, receive other funds
on
behalf of CoSNUG, and shall disburse funds as authorized by the
Coordinating Council. Funds shall be deposited in account(s) approved
by the Coordinating Council. The Treasurer shall maintain a current
inventory of all assets and property owned by CoSNUG. The Treasurer
shall make timely financial reports on request to the President
and the
Coordinating Council and the membership. The Treasurer shall also
keep
a roster of CoSNUG members 'in good standing', it being understood
that
this roster is for the exclusive use of CoSNUG Officials.
Section 7. Standing Council Chairpersons duties and
responsibilities are defined in the Administrative Procedures
Manual of
CoSNUG as approved by the Coordinating Council.
ARTICLE X
General Powers and Limits of power.
Section 1. CoSNUG shall govern itself essentially in accordance
with IRS Pub 557, Section 501(c)(3).
Section 2. No member of CoSNUG shall be individually or
personally
liable for the debts or liabilities contracted by CoSNUG in the
conduct
of routine business and procurement to be used for CoSNUG purposes,
unless that member in a document signed by that member or his
or her
agent assumes that debt or liability. Further, there is no presumption
or inference that any member of CoSNUG has consented or agreed
to the
incurring of any obligation by CoSNUG from the mere fact of joining
or
being a member or by signing its governing articles.
Section 3. No part of the net earnings or grants of the
association shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable
to its
members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except
that the
association shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable
compensation for services rendered and to make payments and
distributions within and for the Colorado Senior Network User's
Group.
Any financial obligation, direct or indirect, loan or grant of
CoSNUG
owned assets, services or funds outside of the Colorado Springs
Senior's
Network User's Group (CoSNUG) will require a quorum vote of the
Coordinating Council and the General Membership. In the event
both
bodies vote, the General Membership vote shall prevail.
Section 4. No substantial part of the activities of the
association shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise
attempting to influence legislation, and the association shall
not
participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or
distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of
or in
opposition to any candidate for any public office.
Section 5. Notwithstanding any other provision of these
articles,
the association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted
to
be carried on (a) by an association exempt from federal income
tax under
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding
section
of any federal tax code, or (b) by an association, contributions
to
which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue
Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
ARTICLE XI
Rules of Order:
Except as otherwise provided in these articles, meetings
and other
CoSNUG Functions shall be governed by the currently available
edition of
Robert's Rules of Order.
ARTICLE XII
Ratification/Amendments/Dissolution
Section 1. These articles may be adopted and ratified, and
may be
amended by a majority vote of CoSNUG members present at a regular
or
duly called special meeting.
Section 2. In an emergency declared by a majority vote of
the
Coordinating Council, the Coordinating Council may temporarily
suspend
these articles of Organization/Bylaws. Such suspension of these
Articles of Organization/Bylaws being subject to the approval
by the
General Membership at the next General Membership Meeting. These
Articles of Organization/Bylaws will be reestablished when the
emergency
has been resolved.
Section 3. Upon dissolution of the association, assets shall
be
distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning
of
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding
section
of any future tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal
government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose.
(It
is recommended that such assets be turned over to the Colorado
Springs
Senior Center.) Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed
of
by the County Court of El Paso County, Colorado exclusively for
such
purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court
shall
determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such
purposes.
Note: These Articles were approved at the October 23rd,
1992
meeting of the General Membership and have been amended and approved
at
the March 26th, 1993; March 25th, 1994, March 24th, 1995, and
April
28th, 2000 meetings of the General Membership by a majority vote.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have signed these Articles of Organization
this:
date: April 28, 2000
President: William Dewar __/s/__________________________
Vice President: Robert Fineberg __/s/__________________________
Treasurer: Morgan Flaherty __/s/__________________________
Secretary: Inez Moll __/s/__________________________