Sleuths' Ink Bylaws

BYLAWS – SLEUTHS’ INK MYSTERY WRITERS

REVISED September 13,2024

ARTICLE I

 

Name and Seal:

Section 1. The name of this non-profit organization shall be Sleuths' Ink Mystery Writers. Its principal office shall be located in Springfield, Missouri.

ARTICLE  II

 

Membership: Membership is open to all persons and genres, but especially those who have a special interest in mystery/suspense writing, thriller and paranormal.

 

ARTICLE III

 

General Management:           

Section 1. The general management, control and direction of the affairs, funds and property of Sleuths' Ink shall be vested in the Board of Directors.

Section 2. No part of the net earnings of Sleuths' Ink shall inure to the benefit of any member or officer of the organization, or to any private individual.

 

Section 3. Any surplus in cash at the end of the fiscal year shall be retained in the treasury of Sleuths' Ink to be used to further the purposes of the organization.

 

 

ARTICLE IV

The Board of Directors

Section 1. The Board Members shall consist of the Officers of Sleuths' Ink.

 

Section 2. Qualifications and terms of office for Officers shall be set down in Article VI.

 

Section 3. Officers shall be elected by the paid active membership of Sleuths' Ink.

 

 

ARTICLE V

 

Officers:

Section 1. The Officers of Sleuths’ Ink shall be elected by the paid active members of the group.

Section 2. The Officers of Sleuths' Ink shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Newsletter Editor.

Section 3. The JANO committee shall serve as the discretion of the board.

 

Section 4. The President shall be the first executive officer of Sleuths' Ink, and shall preside at over all membership meetings and call and preside at all meetings of the Board. The President sets goals and responsibilities, serves as ad hoc member of committees, polls board members on major decisions, keeps members informed, serves as group spokesperson, and performs such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. The President shall be elected for terms of one-year duration and may serve consecutively in the event no one else is voted in.

 

Section 5. The Vice-President shall be elected for terms of one-year duration, and may continue to serve until another member is voted in.

The Vice-President assists or substitutes for the President as required, as well as books the speakers for the group.

 

Section 4. The Secretary shall be elected for terms of one-year duration and continue to serve until another member is voted in. The Secretary shall keep minutes, handle correspondence in coordination with the President, and perform such other duties as may be directed by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5. The Treasurer shall be elected for terms of one-year duration, and may continue in this position until another member is voted in. The Treasurer shall receive all monies of Sleuths' Ink, and shall deposit the same as directed by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer, or any person or persons authorized by the Board of Directors, shall make disbursements from these funds as authorized by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall keep accurate financial accounts, maintain a checking account, and shall prepare and submit at the monthly meeting a complete financial statement.

 

Section 6. An audit of the financial statements may be requested at any time by any member of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 7. The Newsletter Editor shall be elected for terms of one-year duration and may continue in this position until another member is voted in.

The Newsletter Editor shall be responsible for compiling and e-mailing the newsletter to members.

 

Section 8. New offices may be created at any time by a majority vote as needed.

Section 9. Should there be a vacancy in the Presidency at any time, the Vice­ President shall succeed to the Presidency and shall serve until the next annual election. Should the Vice -President be unable or unwilling to accept the position, the Board of Directors shall appoint a member to carry out the remainder of the President's one­ year term. That person may then be allowed to run for the Presidency for the following term. A special election shall be held to fill any vacancies. The successor shall hold office until the next annual election.

 

Section 10. None of the officers of Sleuths' Ink shall receive any salary or compensation for services rendered.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

Committees:

Section 1. Standing Committees shall be established by the Board of Directors, as needed. Chairs of the Standing Committees may be selected from among the committee members.

 

Section 2. Ad Hoc and Pro Tem Committees shall be appointed by the President and/or Board of Directors as required.

 

 

ARTICLE VII

 

Meetings:

Section 1. Sleuths' Ink shall have at least ten (10) membership meetings per

year.

 

Section 2. Board of Directors shall determine when to cancel meetings as needed. A majority vote of the Board of Directors members shall be required.

ARTICLE VIII

 

Elections and Voting:

Section 1. An officer nominating committee will be installed in November at the discretion of the president, with elections taking place in December.

 

Section 2. Voting may be done in person or by proxy received by the Board of Directors in advance of the meeting at which voting will take place. The secretary will take votes.

 

Section 3. Only paid members of Sleuths' Ink shall be eligible to vote.

 

Section 4. The Nominating Committee shall deliver to the newsletter editor the nominations list, which shall be publicized to the membership in the next Newsletter and/or special mailing.

 

 

ARTICLE IX

 

Notices: All notices to members shall be sent via email. If member does not have an email address, the notice will be mailed to the latest address furnished by the member to the Secretary. Notices shall be sent to all paid members of Sleuths' Ink.

 

ARTICLE X

 

Dues: Each member shall pay dues, the amount of which shall be determined by a simple majority vote. Membership dues must be paid by January 1st. Dues shall be prorated as follows: From January through June, dues will be paid at the full yearly amount. After June 30th, dues shall be half the yearly amount.

ARTICLE XI

 

Discipline:

Section 1. Misconduct. "Misconduct" is here defined as conduct inimical

or harmful to the purposes and/or good repute of Sleuths' Ink or Sisters in Crime, Inc. The Board may suspend or expel a member for misconduct but may do so only after a full investigation has been made. The investigation shall include (a) notification in writing to the member of the charge and by whom made; (b) arrangement for a hearing, either before the Board or before a committee appointed by the Board; and (c) holding the hearing, in circumstances that will give the accused member ample opportunity to present a defense. If the hearing is before a committee, the committee may recommend, but the decision shall be made by the Board. If the accused member is unavailable, or refuses to participate in the hearing, or makes unreasonable demands regarding the arrangement, the Board may proceed with the investigation, and act, without a hearing.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

Bylaws and Amendments:

Section 1. These bylaws as prepared by the Bylaws Committee shall constitute the bylaws pro tern of Sleuths' Ink upon approval of the Board and shall continue as bylaws pro tern until amended and/or approved by membership at a regular meeting.

 

Section 2. Upon such approval by the Board, the bylaws pro tern shall be distributed to the membership of Sleuths' Ink during the next membership meeting, accompanied by an announcement that a vote on the bylaws will take place at that meeting. Approval of the bylaws shall require an affirmative vote of a majority of the members who participate in the vote.

 

Section 3. No proposal for amendment of the permanent bylaws shall be acted upon unless it shall have been authorized by the Board. To become effective, an amendment to the bylaws must be submitted to all members, with ballots sent to voting members under the direction of the , and it must be approved by sixty (60%) of the members who vote on the amendment.

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

Dissolution:

Section 1. Dissolution of Sleuths' Ink shall take place only after a proposal for same has been accepted by three-fourths (3/4) of the  and thereafter distributed in writing to the entire membership. Voting on the proposal may take place during any scheduled meeting. Such voting shall be done by members, in person or by proxy, and shall require a three-fourths (3/4) affirmative vote by the members who participate in the voting.

 

Section 2. Upon any dissolution of Sleuths' Ink, property and assets shall be distributed as follows:

 

(a)            All liabilities and obligations of Sleuths' Ink, shall be paid, satisfied, and discharged, or adequate provision made hereafter.

(b)            Assets held by Sleuths' Ink, requiring return, transfer, or conveyance, which condition occurs by reason of the dissolution, shall be returned, transferred, or conveyed in accordance with such requirements.

(c)            Any remaining assets shall be distributed among such tax-exempt institutions whose purposes are in whole or part compatible with those of Sleuths' Ink, and within the meaning of Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. These institutions may be designated by resolution of the Board and approval by two-thirds vote by those active members present in person or by proxy at a special meeting of Sleuths' Ink called for the purpose.

ARTICLE XIV

 

Rules of Procedure and Parliamentary Authority:

Section 1. Any policies or procedures not contrary to law or these bylaws may be approved or amended by a majority vote of the Board. A record of such policies shall be compiled by the Secretary, or other person appointed by the Board. Notification of the policy or procedure changes will be published in the next newsletter or special mailing, after said changes have been approved.

Additional copies will be available at cost to any member who requests them in writing, from the Secretary.

 

Section 2. Any meeting of Sleuths' Ink and/or its Board shall be conducted in accordance with the parliamentary procedure prescribed by the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, or by any other generally accepted procedure agreed upon by the Board and announced to the members, excepting that the President of Sleuths, Ink shall in all events be full voting members of the organization and of the Board.