CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS SYRACUSE PRESS CLUB
(The Syracuse Press Club was organized in November, 1951. Its basic constitution was placed in force January 1, 1952. Amendments were made in 1953, 1954, 1957, 1958, 1962, 1965, 1969, 1980, 1981, 1989, 1992, and 1998.)

ARTICLE I - NAME
This organization shall be known as "Syracuse Press Club."

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE
The purpose of the organization shall be to promote the interests of the working press, radio and television news personnel; fellowship, fraternity and sociability; to foster ethical standards of the profession; to support the public's right to know; and to sponsor and/or support appropriate projects aimed at community betterment.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

Section A.
Membership in the club shall consist of active, charter, associate, affiliate, honorary, life and student members.

Section B.
Active members shall be limited to persons employed full-time on the staffs of daily or weekly newspapers, radio or television stations, and wire services and general circulation magazines of the following capacities:
1.Daily or weekly newspapers -- Reporters, rewrite personnel, copyreaders, photographers, editorial writers, editors, editorial artists, cartoonists, assistant to publishers, publishers and proprietors.
2.Radio or television stations and cable systems -- Reporters, photographers, news show producers, editors, news directors, and other staff members regularly assigned to cover special news events as reporters or commentators.
3.Wire services -- Correspondents, reporters, editors and photographers.

Section C.
Associate members shall be those persons in any of the following categories:
1. A person who spends at least 50 percent of professional time in working with the editorial staffs of the newspapers and radio and television stations in public relations, or who bears the official title of public relations agent, officer, director, representative or
2. A person who has left the news or public relations field while a member of the club and who wishes to retain his or her membership.
3. A person who is employed as a full-time member of the faculty of an institute of higher learning spending a majority of time in teaching, research or administration in the field of communication arts.
4. A person who is employed or who serves as editor of a company or institutional publication.

Section D.
Charter members shall remain as active members for life, regardless of any change in employment.

Section E.
Affiliate members shall be persons invited to join the club as outstanding members of the community, who are not eligible for either active or ssociate membership.

Section F.
Honorary members shall be those designated as such by the club by a majority vote at a regular or special meeting for a term of one year - or onger, if authorized by the Board.

Section G.
Life members shall be any active or associate member who has retired permanently from full-time employment and who has been a member of he club for five years immediately preceding retirement and is a member in good standing at the time of retirement. Such members become xempt from any further payment of dues, but retain all rights and privileges pertaining to the former status of membership.

Section H.
Anyone, who while duly enrolled in college or post -secondary education and is employed either full-time or part -time or as an intern in a professional media related field* or who works full-time or part -time for a campus or other post -secondary media outlet, or whose major is media related* is eligible for membership as a "student member." "Student members" will be entitled to all club privileges with the exception of voting and
the right to hold office. (* Television, radio, newspaper, magazine, public relations, advertising, photography, broadcast journalism, or any combination of these.)

ARTICLE IV - ADMITTANCE OF MEMBERS
Section A.
Charter members shall be those persons who were so designated during the organization of the club, and who have been carried on the rolls as harter members since that time in accordance with the official list of such members.

Section B.
Active members, associate members and student members shall be admitted, after investigation by a membership committee into their qualifications, by a majority vote at a meeting of the Board of Directors. Acceptance of the application shall be announced in the newsletter. The board shall be the sole judge in the evaluation of qualifications of any applicant.

Section C.
Honorary members shall be admitted by an oral vote of the Board.

Section D.
Life members may be designated at any regular or special meeting.

Section E.
Affiliate members shall be admitted only after an investigation by the membership committee, and by the same vote as for active or associate embers.

Section F.
Any former member, who has resigned or left the club, may request re-admittance by letter accompanied by the current year's dues as set forth by the club, and shall be readmitted upon a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

Section G.
Former members of news gathering and writing professions may join as Associate members.

ARTICLE V - RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES AND DUTIES OF MEMBERS

Section A.
Active members in good standing shall have a right to vote and hold office. It shall be the duty of active members to attend all meetings of the club, both regular and special, to work on club projects, promote the interests of fellow members and conduct themselves in such ways as to reflect credit and honor on the club at all times.

Section B.
Associate members shall have the same duties and rights as active members, except that associate members may not hold the offices of president and vice president.

Section C.
Honorary, affiliate and student members shall be excused from all duties, but shall be encouraged to attend meetings and to participate in club activities, without the right to vote.

Section D.
Life members shall be exempt from the payment of dues. They shall, however, be permitted to vote on club business and in club elections

ARTICLE VI - INITIATION FEES
There being no initiation ceremony, no fee for initiation shall be charged.

ARTICLE VII - DUES

Section A.
Annual dues for active, associate, affiliate and student members shall be set by the board of directors upon approval of two -thirds of the membership present and voting at any regular or special meeting.

Section B.
Annual dues shall be paid in advance. Members shall lose all rights and privileges unless such dues are paid by March 15 of each year. Members those dues are not paid by March 15 will be carried on the membership roster until June 1, when they shall be dropped. The treasurer shall inform delinquent members by mail no later than March 30 of each year.

Section C.
The Board may waive the dues, in whole or in part, of any member for any reason deemed sufficient.

Section D.
Dues shall be set by the Board of Directors at levels deemed appropriate for each membership classification, except for "Life" membership or honorary" membership, which pay no dues.

ARTICLE VIII - MEETINGS
Section A.
The club shall meet regularly, except during July and August, unless a special meeting is called.

Section B.
The president, with the advice of the board of directors, may call a special meeting at any time, but each available member must be notified three days in advance of said meeting.

Section C.
Upon the written request of ten or more active or associate members in good standing, it shall be the duty of the president to call a special eeting of the club to be held within ten days for the transaction of any club business.

Section D.
Robert's Rules of Order (revised) shall be the standard parliamentary practice.

Section E.
Fifteen members in good standing, of which at least half shall be active members, shall constitute a quorum for any regular or special meeting.

Section F.
A majority of members of a committee shall constitute a quorum for a committee meeting.

ARTICLE IX - STANDING COMMITTEES
The standing and other committees of the club shall be appointed by the president and shall perform the duties assigned to them. The committees Shall be appointed as soon as practical after the president takes office, except for a nominating committee, which shall be appointed in November as hereinafter provided.

ARTICLE X - OFFICERS AND DUTIES

Section A.
The Officers of the club shall be president, first vice president, second vice president, third vice president, secretary, treasurer, and membership secretary. Each person shall be elected for a term of one year and may stand for reelection in subsequent club elections.

Section B.
President: It shall be the duty of the president to preside over all meetings of the club and of the board of directors; to call special meetings when seemed necessary in his or her judgment; to appoint all committees; to enforce the observance of the Constitution and Bylaws; and to install newly lected officers, directors and members.

Section C.
The first, second and third vice presidents shall share equally the duties of vice president. In the event of disability of the president, the first vice president shall serve as chair of the Board of Directors.

Section D.
Secretary: The secretary shall cause to be kept a complete record of all proceedings of the organization and the board of directors; shall cause to be kept a record of those attending all regular or special meetings; shall cause to be maintained a roster of members and their places of residence; shall cause to be answered all communications pertaining to the organization; shall cause to have notice given of all meetings and other functions;
and make such reports as the president or Board of Directors may require.

Section E.
Treasurer: The treasurer shall receive all monies belonging to the organization, including dues, fees, assessments or donations; pay all bills and issue all necessary checks. He or she shall keep accurate account of all receipts and disbursements; submit his or her books for auditing when called upon by the board of directors to do so, and shall make such reports as the president or board of directors may require.

Section F.
If any vacancies shall occur in the offices other than that of president, the vacancy or vacancies shall be filled by a special election at the next regular meeting.

Section G.
It shall be the duty of each officer to attend scheduled meetings of the Board of Directors and of the club.

Section H.
Assistant Secretaries: There may be one or more persons aiding the secretary with duties assigned by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE XI - BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section A.
A Board of Directors shall have general charge of the affairs of the organization and shall have the power and authority to enforce all rules and regulations set forth in this Constitution and Bylaws. The board may act upon matters pertaining to the organization, but it is directly responsible to the organization for its actions.

Section B.
The Board of Directors shall consist of 15 members, including the president, who shall act as chair of the board. The other members shall include the two most recent past presidents, and three vice presidents, secretary, treasurer and membership secretary; as well as six additional members chosen from the general membership, three of whom shall be active members and three of whom shall be associate members.

Section C.
The terms as directors of all the club officers on the board shall be concurrent with their one-year term as officers. The terms of each of the six directors chosen from the general membership, in accordance with Section B of this article, will be for three years.

Section D.
The Board of Directors shall meet at least 10 times annually, at the call of the president, or by petition of five or more board members, with at least two days notice. A quorum shall be seven members.

Section E.
The Board of Directors shall be empowered to investigate and recommend to the club membership the removal of any officer or director who misses at least three of a year's scheduled club and Board of Directors meetings. Removal shall be effected by a majority of votes by active and associate members in good standing.

ARTICLE XII - AMENDMENTS
Section A.
Amendments to this constitution may be proposed at any regular meeting in response to a newsletter announcement, but proposed amendments must be tabled for one regular meeting before being voted upon.

Section B.
Amendments to this constitution may also be proposed by petition of 10 percent of the total of active and associate members in good standing.

Section C.
All active, associate and life members must be notified by mail of any proposed amendment.

Section D.
To be adopted, any proposed amendment must receive the affirmative vote of two -thirds of the active, associate and life members in good standing, voting at a regular meeting or by ballot.

ARTICLE XIII - ELECTIONS
Section A.
Nominations for the positions of officers and directors shall be submitted each year at the regular December meeting by a nominating committee appointed by the president in November. Nominations may also be made from the floor at the regular December meeting.

Section B.
Ballots may be hand-delivered or mailed, and they will be counted immediately prior to the first general membership meeting of the new year.

Section C.
Officers and directors shall be elected by a plurality of members in good standing and eligible to vote.

ARTICLE XIV - DISSOLUTION
This organization may be dissolved only on the affirmative vote of the club by written ballots. In the event of such dissolution, all outstanding indebtedness shall be paid in a manner to be determined by the Board of Directors. In the event assets, including real and personal property, shall remain after the payment of indebtedness as herein provided, said assets shall be distributed to one or more organizations as determined by the board.
Revised 11/1998