COLORADO PROFESSIONAL RESEARCHERS FOR ADVANCEMENT
BYLAWS
Adopted June 28, 1995
(as amended March 4, 1999)
(as amended June 24, 2004)
(as amended February 3, 2006)
ARTICLE I – NAME OF ORGANIZATION
The name of the organization is COLORADO PROFESSIONAL RESEARCHERS FOR ADVANCEMENT, hereinafter known as CPRA. The organization will operate as a local chapter of a private non-profit association, The Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement, (APRA).
ARTICLE II – PURPOSE AND METHOD
The CPRA is a local chapter of a national organization for people interested in the field of prospect research. The goals of this organization are to facilitate education about research, to act as a central source of information about prospect research, and to advance cooperative relationships among the professional individuals in the field. This will be carried out in meetings, which will be held at least two (2) times per year.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP
The CPRA membership will be open to individuals who seek to foster a positive association with the development community and whose terms of affiliation shall not be contrary to the goal of the APRA, yet shall uphold the responsibilities and integrity of the APRA.
Any person wishing to join CPRA may come to one (1) meeting without being a member and at the second visit will be invited to join.
Dues for membership in CPRA shall be set by policy at (an amount to be determined) per year, per person.
ARTICLE IV – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section A. Board Membership
An elected Board of Directors comprised of at least six (6) and no more than nine (9) members of CPRA shall govern CPRA.
Section B. Term of Office
Each Director shall be elected through a process of nominations, and, under the authority of the bylaws of the association, shall serve not more than three (3) consecutive terms, a term being two (2) years. When deemed necessary by the board and membership, positions may be filled solely by approval of a volunteer by the membership, without written nomination or election.
Furthermore, a director may be re-elected only so long as she/he remains in good standing and is deemed by a majority of the Board to be eligible for continued membership. The term of office shall conform to the fiscal year ending December 31.
Each elected Board member shall have an equal vote of not more than one (1) and shall forfeit her/his vote during her/his absence at a regular Board meeting. In the event that the Board member is unable to attend, she/he may designate an alternate who may execute the Director’s vote and that alternate’s vote shall be an equal value of not less than one (1).
Section C. Election of Officer/Directors
The Vice President shall receive nominations from the Board and the membership at large during the month of November.
Election will be determined by a majority vote of the members.
Effective March 4, 1999, it is resolved that this board wishes to stagger the terms of the Board of Directors. Therefore, it is determined that the terms of one-half (or as close to one-half as possible) of its members should end every-other year.
Further resolved that beginning with the 2000 elections only, three Board of Directors positions will be for one-year terms and four Board of Director positions will be for two-year terms. The names of the candidates and the length of the terms for which they are running will be clearly stated on the ballot.
Further resolved that beginning with the 2001 elections for the Board of Directors all terms will be for two years.
Section D. Vacancies
A vacancy on the Board shall occur when and if a Board member resigns, becomes disqualified, is unable to perform her/his duties and/or board responsibilities, or whenever the Board shall elect to increase its membership. When a vacancy occurs, the Board will nominate and approve a new Board member from the membership at large to fill out the term of the vacant board seat. The new Board member will begin her/his term upon election.
Section E. Structure of the Board
The Board shall be comprised of six (6) and not more than nine (9) members, four (4) of whom will be officers. The four officers must be in good standing with APRA. (Note: Directors need not be members of APRA).
Officers:
President: Chairs all meetings, acts as spokesperson of the membership, and sets the agenda for the Board meeting. The President is responsible for signing financial documents (including checks), and contracts for CPRA.
Vice President: Responsible for board nominations and elections, and acts as President in the President’s absence.
Secretary: Takes minutes at all meetings, distributes agenda and minutes to members of the Board.
Treasurer: Handles all financial transactions and accounts for CPRA, including: collection of dues, program registration fees, and correspondence at the CPRA P.O. Box; payment of invoices; depositing checks and cash in the CPRA bank account; and preparation of accurate financial statements and reports.
Director of Membership: Responsible for maintenance and increase of membership and mailing lists; acts as liaison with membership director of APRA. Provides list support to programs, elections and other officers as needed; updates list (names/demographics/basic survey questions) with changes, additions, and deletions throughout the year and coordinates these changes with CPRA webmaster (to keep member section up to date). Sends membership renewal mailing in December of each year; tracks member dues in coordination with Treasurer’s books. Works closely with marketing to seek and track prospective CPRA members. Coordinates an informal mentorship program; acts as liaison with APRA Mentor Program Officer.
Director of Programs: Plans and evaluates chapter programs, and chairs Program Committee.
Director of Communications: Acts as liaison between CPRA and APRA by submitting information about forthcoming CPRA events to the APRA Director of Communications on a quarterly basis. Maintains communication with the webmaster regarding updates to the CPRA web page and acts as a liaison between the CPRA Board and the webmaster.
Section F. Meetings
The Board of CPRA shall meet a minimum of two (2) times during the fiscal year ending December 31 at such times as may be deemed appropriate by a majority of the Board.
Any director who is absent from two (2) consecutive meetings without reasonable or sufficient cause may, upon consideration of the Board, be removed from office. Not less than one-half (½) of the elected directors shall be required in attendance to constitute a quorum, with not less than a majority of those present and voting in order to approve and/or ratify an issue.
Agendas shall be distributed at least one week prior to the Board meeting.
Section G. Powers and Authority
The Board of Directors shall have the ultimate authority to make and execute all rules, policies and/or decisions necessary in order to conduct the affairs of CPRA in an efficient manner.
Section H. Chapter Dissolution
At such time as the Board of Directors feels it is appropriate, by a majority vote of the board and membership, to dissolve CPRA due to lack of membership, diminished interest, or other reasons, all funds remaining in the treasury after payment of debts will be given to APRA International or another APRA Chapter for scholarships and/or programming.
ARTICLE V – AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS
The Bylaws of CPRA may be amended as deemed appropriate by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board at any meeting at which all Board members are present. All amendments are subject to the approval of the majority of the general membership.
The above Bylaws were adopted by the general membership of CPRA on the 28th day of June 1995.