ARTICLE IX
FISCAL YEAR, DUES AND ASSESSMENTS

SECTION 1— FISCAL YEAR — The fiscal year of the Association shall extend from July 1 through June 30.

SECTION 2— ANNUAL DUES — The Annual Dues for Regular Members will be $25.00 and for Associate Members $15.00 due and payable to the Treasurer on or before the First of July of each year. Such dues include subscription fee for all Association publications. Applicants for Regular membership will tender the annual dues of $25 if application is made between July First and December Thirty-First of a year and the sum of $12.50 if application is made from the First of January and the Thirtieth of June. Applicants for Associate Membership will tender the annual dues of $15.00 with the application regardless of the time of year in which the application is made. All dues are payable in United States Dollars.

SECTION 3— LIFE MEMBERSHIP

  A. Any member may become a Life Member by applying for Life Membership and making a one-time payment at the time of application of the required life membership fee for his or her particular type of membership.

  B. Becoming a Life Member does not change the member's type of membership  as set forth in Article II of these By-Laws.

  C. The Life Membership fee shall be based on an actuarial table periodically compiled and published by the Treasurer. This table will take into account both the age of the applicant as well as the current Association dues structure. The table must be approved by the Board of Directors prior to implementation.

  D. Upon acceptance as a Life Member, the member will be exempt from Annual Association dues for the remainder of his or her life.

  E. (Effective July 1, 1995 for those members joining or converting to Life Member status on and after that date.) Upon the death of a Life  Member, a surviving spouse will automatically become an Associate Member at no cost for the remainder of the then current Fiscal Year. The surviving spouse is eligible to retain Associate Member status by paying annual dues commencing with the next Fiscal Year.

SECTION 4— ASSESSMENTS — Assessments shall be proposed by the Board of Directors and shall be binding and collectible only after the approval of a majority of the general membership voting in an election conducted by mail. The ballot suspense date for any assessment vote must be at least 30 days from the date the ballot was mailed.

ARTICLE X
CHAPTERS

SECTION 1— APPLICATIONS — Upon written petition signed by ten (10) members in good standing, the Board of Directors may authorize the formation of a Chapter. The petitioners must reside, be employed or have a business office within the area for which the Chapter is proposed.

SECTION 2— CHAPTER CHARTERS — If the chapter formation is approved by the Board of Directors, the Secretary, on behalf of the Board, shall issue a Chapter Charter and letter establishing the chapter's geographic area.

 SECTION 3— ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING — Upon issuance of a Chapter Charter, the petitioners shall issue an invitation to all known Association members in the assigned geographic area to attend an organizational meeting of the new chapter. A majority of the petitioners shall constitute a quorum.

SECTION 4— CHAPTER GOVERNANCE — The Chapter shall be subject to these By-Laws and to rules and conditions prescribed by the Board.

SECTION 5— ELIGIBILITY FOR CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP — Any Association Member in good standing who resides, is employed, or who maintains a business office within the Chapter's assigned geographical area shall be eligible for membership in the Chapter. On a chapter-by-chapter discretionary basis, the spouses of Association members may be granted Chapter membership and enjoy full entitlements and privileges as pertain to local Chapter activities and affairs only. Spousal members are specifically precluded, however, from being elected to or holding the office of Chapter Chair or Chapter Delegate to any National Convention.

SECTION 6— SUSPENSION OF CHAPTER MEMBERS — By a majority vote of the members present at a regularly called meeting of the Chapter, a Chapter may recommend to the President of the Association the suspension of a member from good standing in the Chapter. The President of the Association shall have the authority immediately to suspend such member from good standing in the Chapter. However, final adjudication of any such matter will be made in accordance with Article II, Section 4C of these By-Laws.

SECTION 7— CHAPTER MEETINGS — Chapters shall meet at least four (4) times each year. The Chairman of the Chapter shall designate the time and place of the meetings. Notice of meetings shall be given to all Chapter members, by mail or personally, at least five (5) days before the date of the meeting.

SECTION 8— CHAPTER DUES — Chapters may assess reasonable dues, the amount to be determined by a majority vote of the Chapter membership.

SECTION 9— SPECIAL CHAPTER MEETINGS — A special meeting may be called by the Chapter Chairman or upon the written application of five percent (5%) of the Chapter members, but not less than three of the Chapter members, setting forth the purposes and reasons therefore. Upon such written application, the Chairman must call a special meeting. Notice of any special meeting shall be sent to all Chapter members at least five (5) days before the date of the meeting and shall indicate the purpose for which the special meeting is being called.

SECTION 10— QUORUM — Fifteen percent (15%) of the Chapter members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any regular or special meeting.

SECTION 11 — CHAPTER OFFICERS — The officers of each Chapter shall be a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and either a Vice-Chairman or Chairman-Elect, all to be elected at a regular meeting of the Chapter held prior to the First of June of any odd numbered year.

SECTION 12— TERMS OF OFFICE — The Chapter officers shall serve for a term of two years beginning on the First of July following the date of their election.

SECTION 13— VACANCIES — The resignation of a Chapter officer shall be tendered in writing to the Chapter Chairman or in the case of the Chapter Chairman to the Vice-Chairman or Chairman-Elect. Any Chapter officer may be removed from office for cause by the Board of Directors. If a vacancy occurs in the office of the Chapter Chairman, it shall be filled by the Vice-Chairman or Chairman-Elect. If a vacancy occurs in any other office, it shall be filled by appointment by the Chapter Chairman.

SECTION 14— CHAPTER CHAIRMAN — The Chapter Chairman shall perform the duties of the chief executive officer, preside at the Chapter meetings and maintain close liaison with the Association.

SECTION 15 — CHAPTER VICE-CHAIRMAN OR CHAIRMAN-ELECT — The Chapter Vice-Chairman or Chairman-Elect, in the absence of the Chapter Chairman, shall perform the duties of the Chapter Chairman.

SECTION 16 — CHAPTER SECRETARY — The Chapter Secretary shall:

  A. Attend meetings of the Chapter and keep a record of the proceedings of all meetings;

   B. Send one copy of all meeting minutes to the Executive Officer, to the Editor of the Global Alliance and to the President;

  C. Maintain a current roster of the Chapter members;

  D. Act as  custodian of all books and records of the Chapter and upon completion of his term of office turn these over to his successor;

  E. Give due notice of all Chapter meetings to the Chapter membership;

   F. Promptly notify Chapter officers of their election; and

  G. Perform such other duties as his office may require.

SECTION 17 — CHAPTER TREASURER — The Chapter Treasurer shall:

  A. Receive and deposit in an account in the name of the Chapter in a financial institution, all monies, securities, funds and monetary credits of or on behalf of the Chapter;

  B. Take, receive, hold and safely  keep, as custodian for the Chapter, all property and other physical assets which may come into the ownership, possession or control of the Chapter;

  C. Keep regular accounts of all receipts and disbursements and make such books and records available at all reasonable times for inspection by all officers, Chapter members, and representatives of the Board of Directors;

  D. Obtain and maintain vouchers covering all disbursements whenever it is practical to obtain them; and

  E. Prepare and submit a Chapter financial report.

SECTION 18— ELIGIBILITY FOR OFFICE — Subject to such additional conditions as regards Chapter membership as may be determined by the Chapter, any member of the Chapter who is a member in good standing of the Association and Chapter shall be eligible for election to any Chapter office.

SECTION 19— CHAPTER NOMINATING COMMITTEE — The Chapter Nominating Committee shall consist of at least three members, none of whom shall be a Chapter or National Officer. The members of the Chapter Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the Chapter Chairman prior to April First of any odd numbered year.

SECTION 20— DUTIES OF THE CHAPTER NOMINATING COMMITTEE — It shall be the duty of the Chapter Nominating Committee to:

  A. Nominate from the Chapter members in good standing, candidates for election to the office of  Chairman, Vice-Chairman or Chairman-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer;

  B. Submit the names of its nominees to the Secretary of the Chapter not less than 15 days prior to the Chapter election; and

  C. Elect a Chairman of the committee and otherwise provide for the committee's operation.

SECTION 21— METHOD OF CHAPTER ELECTION — The election of Chapter officers shall be by open voting or secret ballot at a regular meeting of the Chapter or by mail ballot, as determined and prescribed by the Chapter officers.

 SECTION 22— NOMINATIONS FROM THE MEMBERSHIP — If a Chapter election is held at the regular meeting, nominations for all elective offices may be made and seconded from the floor by any Chapter member; and upon a motion duly made, seconded and adopted, voting will be by secret ballot. If voting is by mail the members may write-in a vote for any eligible member for a particular office.

SECTION 23— ELECTION — The member receiving the most votes for any office shall be declared elected to that office by the presiding officer. If the election is held by mail, the ballot shall be prepared, mailed, returned, tabulated and recorded in the manner prescribed by Chapter action or in the Chapter By-Laws.

SECTION 24— DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL CONVENTION — Each Chapter shall elect two delegates to the National Convention of the Association.

SECTION 25— NOTIFICATION OF ELECTIONS — Before July First of any odd numbered year, the Chapter Secretary will advise the Association Secretary and Executive Officer of the results of the election, giving the name and address of each of the newly elected Chapter officers and furnishing the names of the Chapter National Convention delegates.

SECTION 26— CHAPTER COMMITTEES — Each Chapter Chairman shall designate such committees as are deemed necessary for the proper conduct of the business of the Chapter. Suggested committees include, but are not limited to: Chapter Activities, Chapter Membership, Local AFOSI Liaison, Community Relations, Scholarship Program Support, Global Alliance/Publicity, Convention Affairs, and Veteran's Affairs.

SECTION 27 — CHAPTER BY-LAWS —  By a majority vote of its members, a Chapter may adopt Chapter By-Laws. All Chapter By-Laws must be in conformity with these By-Laws and any applicable rules or regulation adopted by the Board of Directors. A copy of such By-Laws shall be filed with the Secretary of the Association. All Chapter By-Laws will comply with local State laws governing such association.

SECTION 28 — ROLE OF THE BOARD IN CHAPTER AFFAIRS — The Board of Directors of the Association may amend, cancel, suspend, or revoke the Charter of a Chapter for any good cause. A failure to meet four times in any one year as specified in Section 5 of this Article shall be deemed to constitute good cause to revoke the charter of the Chapter. Such action by the Board shall be final and conclusive. Upon cancellation, suspension or revocation of the Charter of any Chapter, the Board of Directors shall have the right and power through its designated agents to take possession, custody, and control of all records, property and assets of said Chapter and to make such disposition of them as the Board shall deem advisable.

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