A.    to exchange computer-related ideas and information among its members and the community at large;

B.    to engage in computer-related activities for the benefit of the membership and the community at large;

C.    to increase the understanding and utilization of the personal computer;

D.    to provide an opportunity for the formation of special interest groups (SIGs);

E.    to provide an opportunity for both formal and informal education in computer hardware, applications, and software technologies;

F.    to provide a medium of communication with user groups in other areas.

G.    to own, operate, lease, or otherwise acquire, hold, improve, sell, rent, and hold property for the purpose of carrying out the  objectives of LMCUG.

H.    to accept contributions and gifts or exchange goods and wares or merchandise for donations, for the purpose of promoting the
  objectives of LMCUG.

ARTICLE III:  MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Classification

A.   Membership in LMCUG shall be open to any person, without regard to sex, race, or religion, who is a resident or property owner in the community of Lake Monticello, Virginia, and who accepts the purposes of LMCUG as stated in these Bylaws.

B.    LMCUG is to have the following two (2) classes of members: individual and family. A family is defined as two people residing at the same address. Each individual member and each person who has joined LMCUG as part of a family membership shall have full voting rights and all other rights of membership.

C.    Each member shall have one vote on matters brought before the membership.

D.    All applicants for membership shall fill out the LMCUG membership application form and pay the annual dues.

Section 2.  Dues

In order to insure that LMCUG has sufficient funds to administer to its needs, the Executive Board shall determine the amount of individual and family dues for the upcoming fiscal year. Notice of the amount shall be given to the membership one month before collection commences.

A.    Annual dues shall be payable in advance on or before January 31 of each year. The Treasurer shall notify members who are two months in arrears, and those whose dues are not paid within one month thereafter shall be dropped from membership.

B.    Dues shall not be prorated except on a quarterly basis for new members.

C.   If membership ceases, either voluntarily or involuntarily, no refund of fees or dues shall be made.                                                                                                                    

ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS

Section 1.  Elected Officers

The elected officers shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Representative to the Association of Personal Computer User Groups (APCUG).

 Section 2.  Duties

All officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these Bylaws and such other duties applicable to the office, as prescribed in the adopted parliamentary authority.

 The President shall:

A.    be the official representative of LMCUG;

B.    serve as chairman of the Executive Board;

C.    preside at all annual, regular and special meetings;

D.    designate the time and place for all meetings of the Executive Board;

E.    appoint the necessary standing and special committee chairpersons;

F.     approve all meeting programs;

G.    be an ex-officio member of all committees;

H.    along with the Treasurer, be a signatory on all contracts and other obligations;

I.     serve as a backup for the Treasurer;

J.     oversee the duties and responsibilities of the other officers;

K.    be responsible for arranging the safe storage of any equipment owned by LMCUG but not be responsible for any subsequent loss or damage.

The Vice President shall:

A.    serve as the Program Director and select topics and speakers for scheduled meetings;

B.    assist the President in the work of LMCUG, and, in the absence of the President, perform all duties of the office.

The Secretary shall:

A.    record minutes of regular, annual, and called meetings of the membership and the Executive Board;

B.    maintain the archives of LMCUG;

C.    keep a current list of members and disseminate information to the membership as directed;

D.    post notice of LMCUG general meetings in the Friday Flyer.

 The Treasurer shall:

A.    collect and deposit all monies belonging to LMCUG in banks approved by the Executive Board;

B.    be responsible for collecting dues and fees;

C.    keep an accurate record of all assets and expenditures;

D.    maintain bank accounts and insurance policies;

E.    along with the President, sign all contracts and other obligations;

F.     pay bills in a timely manner;

G.    give a monthly financial status report to the membership;

H.    make no changes to bank accounts, investments or insurance policies without approval of the Executive Board or the   membership;

I.    disburse amounts for LMCUG expenses or purchases up to fifty dollars ($50.00) without approval;

J.     transfer all records and LMCUG funds at the end of the term of office, or within thirty (30) days of leaving office.

 The Representative to APCUG (Association of Personal Computer User Groups) shall:

A.    be responsible for voting in APCUG elections and recommending activities and directions for APCUG;

B.    provide input to LMCUG regarding APCUG activities;

C     serve as LMCUG’s point of contact with vendors;

D.    in coordination with the Newsletter Editor, disseminate vendor products to members for written reviews that will be published in the LMCUG newsletter.

Section 3.  Removal of an Officer

A.    Removal of an officer from his/her elected position can be accomplished by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Executive Board.

B.    The officer in question has the right to present a case for consideration and final resolution by the membership at a general meeting. Notice of this special proceeding must be given to all members at least thirty days (30) in advance.

ARTICLE V:  NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1.  Nominating Committee

A.    A Nominating Committee of three (3) members shall be appointed by the Executive Board prior to the first October meeting. 

B.    It shall be the duty of the committee to nominate candidates for the offices to be filled and to report its recommendations to the Executive Board at least one week before the annual meeting.

C.    A representative of the committee shall present candidates for each office to the membership at the annual meeting, at which time additional nominations from the floor shall be permitted.

D.    Any member in good standing is eligible to serve as an officer of LMCUG.      

Section 2.  Elections

A.    Election of officers shall take place at the annual business meeting with a quorum present, and shall be by majority vote of the members in good standing in attendance.

B.    Election shall be by ballot.  If there is only one nominee for an office, the election for that office may be by voice vote.

C.    The term of office shall be for one (1) year or until their successors are elected, and shall begin at the adjournment of the annual meeting at which they are elected.

Section 3. Vacancies:

A.    In case of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice President shall accede to the office and shall serve for the remainder of the term.

B.    Vacancies occurring in other elected offices shall be filled by the Executive Board for the remainder of the term. An elected officer may be appointed to fulfill the duties of a vacant office but may assume the duties of no more than two (2) offices in a term. 

C.    Any member filling a vacancy in office for more than half a term shall be considered to have served a   full term.

ARTICLE VI:  MEETINGS

Section 1.  Business meetings and programs shall be held on the second Thursday of each month or at such other times as the membership decides. Meetings shall normally be held at the Lake Monticello Clubhouse.

Section 2.  The meetings are for members, but are open to the Lake Monticello general public.

Section 3.  The annual business meeting shall be the December meeting of the calendar year, at which time election of officers and annual reports shall take place.

Section 4.  A quorum for all business meetings of the membership shall be twenty (20).

ARTICLE VII:  EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1.  The Executive Board shall be composed of the five (5) elected officers of LMCUG.

Section 2.  The affairs of LMCUG shall be conducted and administered between regular meetings by the Executive Board. It shall be responsible for authorizing major expenditures and formulating policy proposals to bring before the membership.

Section 3.  The Executive Board shall be subject to the orders of LMCUG and none of its acts shall conflict with action taken by LMCUG.

Section 4.   Meetings of the Executive Board shall be held each quarter and at such other times as the Board may determine.

Section 5.  The quorum for meetings of the Executive Board shall be three (3) members.

ARTICLE VIII:  FINANCES

Section 1.  The fiscal year shall be from January 1 through December 31.

Section 2.  LMCUG shall not borrow money to finance its operations or the acquisition of capital equipment unless such loans are approved, in advance, by the membership.

Section 3.  The Executive Board shall approve expenditures of fifty dollars ($50.00) or greater. This approval shall be in writing. However, amounts in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) may be disbursed only with the approval of the membership

Section 4.  The Executive Board is authorized to make contributions of up to fifty dollars ($50.00) to charitable groups. The membership shall approve charitable donations of over fifty dollars ($50.00). 

ARTICLE IX:  EQUIPMENT

Section 1.  LMCUG may obtain and use PCs, projecting equipment, etc., for the purpose of supporting the user group as required.

Section 2. All equipment owned by LMCUG is for the use of the user group only.

ARTICLE X:  COMMITTEES AND SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

Section 1.  Standing committees shall, at the discretion of the Executive Board, be established for programs, fund-raising, and providing assistance to the members.

A.    A Program Committee shall be established in the event that there is no Vice President to fulfill that duty.

B.    A Fund-raising Committee, with the approval of the Executive Board, shall engage in activities to bring in additional funds so that LMCUG can purchase equipment and pay other expenses incurred in the performance of its educational function.

C.    A “Help Squad” committee shall be established to give education and troubleshooting assistance to members. The chairperson of this committee shall decide how, where, and when this service is given.

Section 2.  The Executive Board may establish additional standing and/or special committees as necessary to carry out the objectives of LMCUG.

Section 3.  The Executive Board may form Special Interest Groups to allow a subset of the membership to share their interest in selected areas of computing, such as genealogy or the Internet.

A.    Special Interest Groups shall be named as follows: The first portion of the name will convey the basic interest of the group, i.e., Genealogy, Online, etc., and the name will end with the words "Special Interest Group (SIG)" (Example: Genealogy Special Interest Group).

B.    The Executive Board shall designate an individual(s) who will be called the “Group Leader(s)" to be the overall coordinator for each Special Interest Group.

C.    Each SIG is authorized to manage itself as it deems necessary.

D.    Each SIG will publicize its meetings subject to the oversight of the Executive Board.

E.    Each SIG will keep the Executive Board informed of its activity. 

F.     SIG meetings are for members, but are open to the Lake Monticello general public.

Section 4.  Committees and Special Interest Groups shall operate as part of LMCUG and as such shall be eligible for funding support from LMCUG, not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25.00) each per year, or as decided by the Executive Board. Requests for such funds should be made (in writing) to the Treasurer.

Section 1.  LMCUG shall publish a newsletter. The Executive Board shall appoint the editor, who may select a staff to assist in this endeavor.

Section 2.  A Webmaster, appointed by the Executive Board, shall be responsible for creating and maintaining the LMCUG Web site. The Webmaster may select a staff for assistance.

ARTICLE XII:  RESTRICTIONS

Section 1.  No part of the net earnings of LMCUG shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that LMCUG shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article II hereof.

Section 2.  No substantial part of the activities of LMCUG shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and that LMCUG 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 pubic office.

ARTICLE XIII:  DISSOLUTION

Upon the dissolution of LMCUG, its assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose.

ARTICLE XIV:  PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the current issue of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the proceedings of LMCUG in all cases to which they are applicable and to which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws.

ARTICLE XV:  AMENDMENT

These Bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting, provided that:

A.    the amendment has been submitted in writing to the Executive Board, who shall insure the correctness of the amendment format;