ACW_-_Bylaws

RESTATED BYLAWS OF ARAB CENTER OF WASHINGTON

ARTICLE 1.  OFFICES

The principal office of the corporation shall be located at its principal place of business or such other place as the Board of Directors (“Board”) may designate.  The corporation may have such other offices, either within or without the State of Washington, as the Board may designate or as the business of the corporation may require from time to time.

ARTICLE 2.  MEMBERSHIP

2.1              Classes of Members

The corporation shall have five classes of members (collectively, “Members”).  Additional classes of Members, the manner of election or appointment of each class of Members, and the qualifications and rights of each class of Members may be established by amendment to these Bylaws.

2.1.1 A Family Unit is collectively, a parent or parents and their dependent household.  Each Family Unit shall be entitled to two votes.  Individual Members, Student Members, Honorary Members, and Low Income Members that are part of a Family Unit shall be entitled to vote as provided below, separate from the Family Unit’s vote; provided that such member meets the membership qualifications pursuant to this Article 2.

2.1.2 Individual Members are individuals who are least 18 years of age.  Each Individual Member shall be entitled to one vote.

2.1.3 Student Members are individuals currently enrolled in school, who are least 18 years of age, including but not limited to high school, college, technical school, and graduate school.  Student Members must provide recent student identification for verification.  Each Student Member shall be entitled to one vote.

2.1.4 Honorary Members are individuals who display distinction in the service of the corporation, the Arab community, or Arab causes in general.  Honorary Members must be recommended by at least one Director and approved by at least a majority of Directors.  Each Honorary Member shall be entitled to one vote.

2.1.5 Low Income Members are those individuals who request that their membership dues be waived due to financial hardship.  Low Income Members must submit a written request to the Treasurer.  The “low income” designation shall be decided by the individual applying for such designation.  Each Low Income Member shall be entitled to one vote.

2.2              Qualifications for Membership

In order to qualify for membership, a Member shall be any person with an interest in the corporation’s mission and objective.  Prospective Members must complete a membership application and membership dues shall be due within 30 days after receipt of application by the corporation except for Low Income Members.  Members may have such other qualifications as the Board may prescribe by amendment to these Bylaws.

2.3              Membership Dues

The Board shall establish the amount of annual dues, the method for collection and other procedures to effect the efficient collection of membership dues.

2.4              Suspension; Termination

2.4.1    Suspension

The majority of the Board may suspend a Member’s membership after notifying that Member of his or her Misconduct.  Such Member’s membership shall be reinstated as determined by a majority of the Board.  Misconduct includes but is not limited to a Member that:  (a) fails to pay membership dues, if applicable; (b) is convicted of a felony; (c) commits any act of fraud or material dishonesty against the corporation; or (d) breaches the Membership Handbook, in any material way, in each case as determined by the Board, whose determination shall be conclusive and binding (“Misconduct”).

2.4.2    Termination

The majority of the Board may terminate a Member’s membership after notifying that Member of his or her Misconduct.  Such Member may request a hearing before the Board at the Board’s sole discretion.  In no event, shall a suspended or terminated Member receive a refund of any membership dues.

2.5              Voting Rights

Except for the sole right to elect directors, or unless otherwise required by law, or unless the Board elects to submit any matter to the Members for approval or adoption, no Member or class of Members shall have voting rights.  Each Member entitled to vote at an election of Directors may cast on a non-cumulative basis, one vote for as many persons as there are Directors to be elected (but two votes for a Family Unit) and for whose election such Member has a right to vote.  Additional voting rights of Members may be established by amendment to these Bylaws.  Each Member entitled or requested to vote with respect to the subject matter of an issue submitted to the Members shall be entitled to cast one vote (but two votes for a Family Unit) on each such issue.

2.6              General Assembly Annual Meeting

The General Assembly Annual Meeting shall be held during the month of February on a date chosen by the Board for the purpose of electing Directors and transacting such other business as may properly come before the meeting.  If the day fixed for the General Assembly Annual Meeting is a legal holiday at the place of the meeting, the meeting shall be held on the next succeeding business day.  If the General Assembly Annual Meeting is not held on the date designated therefor, the Board shall cause the meeting to be held as soon thereafter as may be convenient.

2.7              Special Meetings

The President or the Board may call special meetings of the Members for any purpose.

2.8              Place of Meetings

All meetings of Members shall be held at the principal office of the corporation or at such other place within or without the State of Washington designated by the President or the Board.

2.9              Notice of Meetings

2.9.1 The President, the Secretary, or the Board shall cause to be delivered to each Member entitled to notice of or to vote at the meeting, either personally, by mail, or by e-mail, not less than ten nor more than fifty days before the meeting, written notice stating the place, day and hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.  If such notice is mailed, it shall be deemed delivered when deposited in the official government mail properly addressed to the Member at his or her address as it appears on the records of the corporation with postage thereon prepaid.

2.9.2 Notices may be provided in an electronic transmission and be electronically transmitted.  Such notices shall be effective with respect to those Members who have consented, in the form of a record, to receive electronically transmitted notices and which Members have designated in such consent the address, location or system to which such notices may be electronically transmitted.  Such Members may revoke consent by delivering a revocation to the corporation in the form of a record.  Such consent shall be automatically revoked if the corporation is unable to electronically transmit two (2) consecutive notices given by the corporation, and this inability becomes known to the person responsible for giving notice.  Notice provided in an electronic transmission is effective when it is electronically transmitted to an address, location or system designated by the recipient for that purpose.

2.9.3 Notice may be provided to Members who have consented to receipt of electronically transmitted notices by posting the notice on an electronic network and delivering to such Members a separate record of the posting, together with comprehensible instructions regarding how to obtain access to the posting on the electronic network.  Notice is effective when it has been posted to an electronic network and a separate record of the posting has been delivered to the recipient as provided by this Section 2.9.3.

2.8.4 Members are responsible for providing timely written notification to the Secretary of any change in their postal and/or email address.

2.10          Waiver of Notice

Whenever any notice is required to be given to any Member under the provisions of these Bylaws, the Articles of Incorporation or applicable Washington law, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.

2.11          Quorum

In the event that approval or adoption of an action by Members of the corporation is required by law, or in the event the Board elects to submit any matter to the Members for approval or adoption, a majority of the Members of the corporation represented in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of the Members.  If less than a majority of the Members is represented at a meeting, a majority of the Members so represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice.

2.12          Manner of Acting

The vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the Members represented in person or by proxy at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be necessary for the adoption of any matter voted upon by the Members, unless a greater proportion is required by applicable Washington law, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

2.13          Proxies

A Member may vote by proxy executed in writing by the Member or by his or her attorney-in-fact.  Such proxy shall be filed with the Secretary of the corporation before or at the time of the meeting.  A proxy shall become invalid eleven months after the date of its execution unless otherwise provided in the proxy.  A proxy with respect to a specific meeting shall entitle the holder thereof to vote at any reconvened meeting following adjournment of such meeting but shall not be valid after the final adjournment thereof.

ARTICLE 3.   BOARD OF DIRECTORS

3.1              General Powers

The affairs of the corporation shall be managed by a Board of Directors.

3.2              Number

The Board shall consist of not less than three nor more than nine Directors, the specific number to be set by resolution of the Board.  The number of Directors may be changed from time to time by amendment to these Bylaws, provided that no decrease in the number shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent Director.

3.3              Qualifications

Directors shall be active Members, in good standing, have paid dues (except for those Members whose dues have been waived by the Board) and have legal status in the United States.  The President and the Vice President must be (a) U.S. citizens or (b) permanent residents of Arab descent.  Directors may have such other qualifications as the Board may prescribe by amendment to these Bylaws.

3.4              Election of Directors

3.4.1 Each year as their terms of office expire, Directors shall be elected by the Members at the General Assembly Annual Meeting described in Section 2.6 of these Bylaws.

3.4.2 Directors may serve no more than two consecutive two-year terms.

3.5              Term of Office

Unless a Director dies, resigns or is removed, he or she shall hold office until his or her term expires or until his or her successor is elected, whichever is later.

3.6              Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of the Board shall be held without notice immediately following and at the same place as the General Assembly Annual Meeting for the purposes of electing officers and transacting such business as may properly come before the meeting.

3.7              Regular Meetings

By resolution, the Board may specify the date, time and place for holding regular meetings without other notice than such resolution.  The Board shall have at least one regular meeting each month.

3.8              Special Meetings

Special meetings of the Board or any committee designated and appointed by the Board may be called by or at the written request of the President or any four Directors, or, in the case of a committee meeting, by the chairman of the committee.  The person or persons authorized to call special meetings may fix any place either within or without the State of Washington as the place for holding any special Board or committee meeting called by them.

3.9              Meetings by Telephone

Members of the Board or any committee designated by the Board may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time.  Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.

3.10          Place of Meetings

All meetings shall be held at the principal office of the corporation or at such other place within or without the State of Washington designated by the Board, by any persons entitled to call a meeting or by a waiver of notice signed by all Directors.

3.11          Notice of Special Meetings

3.11.1    In Writing

Notices in writing may be delivered or mailed to the Director at his or her address shown on the records of the corporation.  If notice is delivered via regular mail, the notice shall be deemed effective when deposited in the official government mail properly addressed with postage thereon prepaid.  Neither the business to be transacted at nor the purpose of any special meeting need be specified in the notice of a special meeting.

3.11.2    Personal Communication

Notice may be by personal communication with the Director not less than 10 days before the meeting.

3.11.3    Electronic Transmission

Notices may be provided in an electronic transmission and be electronically transmitted.  Notice in an electronic transmission is effective only with respect to those Directors that have consented, in the form of a record, to receive electronically transmitted notices and designated in such consent the address, location or system to which these notices may be electronically transmitted.  A Director who has consented to receipt of electronically transmitted notices may revoke the consent by delivering a revocation to the corporation in the form of a record.  Furthermore, the consent is automatically revoked if the corporation is unable to electronically transmit two consecutive notices given by the corporation, and this inability becomes known to the person responsible for giving notice.  Notice provided in an electronic transmission is effective when it is electronically transmitted to an address, location or system designated by the recipient for that purpose.

3.11.4    Posting Electronic Notice

Notice may be provided to Directors who have consented to receipt of electronically transmitted notices by posting the notice on an electronic network and delivering to such Directors a separate record of the posting, together with comprehensible instructions regarding how to obtain access to the posting on the electronic network.  Notice is effective when it has been posted to an electronic network and a separate record of the posting has been delivered to the recipient as provided by this Section 3.11.4.

3.12          Waiver of Notice

3.12.1    In Writing

Whenever any notice is required to be given to any Director under the provisions of these Bylaws, the Articles of Incorporation or applicable Washington law, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.  Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board need be specified in the waiver of notice of such meeting.

3.12.2    By Attendance

The attendance of a Director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a Director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

3.13          Quorum

A majority of the number of Directors fixed by or in the manner provided by these Bylaws shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any Board meeting.  If a quorum is not present at a meeting, a majority of the Directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice.

3.14          Manner of Acting

The act of the majority of the Directors present at a meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board, unless the vote of a greater number is required by these Bylaws, the Articles of Incorporation or applicable Washington law.

3.15          Presumption of Assent

A Director of the corporation present at a Board meeting at which action on any corporate matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless his or her dissent or abstention is entered in the minutes of the meeting, or unless such Director files a written dissent or abstention to such action with the person acting as the secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof, or forwards such dissent or abstention by registered mail to the Secretary of the corporation within three business days after the adjournment of the meeting.  Such right to dissent or abstain shall not apply to a Director who voted its favor of such action.

3.16          Action by Board Without a Meeting

Any action which could be taken at a meeting of the Board may be taken without a meeting if a consent in the form of a record, which consent clearly sets forth the action to be taken, is executed by all the Directors.  Any such record shall be inserted in the minute book as if it were the minutes of a Board meeting.  For purposes of this Section 3.16, record means information inscribed on a tangible medium or contained in an electronic transmission.

3.17          Resignation

Any Director may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the President or the Secretary at the registered office of the corporation, or by giving oral or written notice at any meeting of the Directors.  Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, or if the time is not specified, upon delivery thereof and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

3.18          Removal

One or more Directors (including the entire Board) may be removed from office, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors fixed by or in the manner provided by these Bylaws.

3.19          Vacancies

A vacancy in the position of Director may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Directors though less than a quorum of the Board.  A Director who fills a vacancy shall serve for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor in office.

3.20          Board Committees

3.20.1    Standing or Temporary Committees

The Board, by resolution adopted by a majority of the Directors in office, may designate and appoint one or more standing or temporary committees, each of which shall consist of two or more Directors.  Such committees shall have and exercise the authority of the Directors in the management of the corporation, subject to such limitations as may be prescribed by the Board except that no committee shall have the authority to: (a) amend, alter or repeal these Bylaws; (b) elect, appoint or remove any Member of any other committee or any Director or officer of the corporation; (c) amend the Articles of Incorporation; (d) adopt a plan of merger or consolidation with another corporation; (e) authorize the sale, lease, or exchange of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the corporation not in the ordinary course of business; (f) authorize the voluntary dissolution of the corporation or revoke proceedings therefor; (g) adopt a plan for the distribution of the assets of the corporation; or (h) amend, alter or repeal any resolution of the Board which by its terms provides that it shall not be amended, altered or repealed by a committee.  The designation and appointment of any such committee and the delegation thereto of authority shall not operate to relieve the Board or any individual Director of any responsibility imposed upon it or him or her by law.

3.20.2    Quorum; Manner of Acting

A majority of the number of Directors composing any committee shall constitute a quorum, and the act of a majority of the members of a committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee.

3.20.3    Resignation

Any Member of any committee may resign at any time by delivering written notice thereof to the President, the Secretary or the chairman of such committee, or by giving oral or written notice at any meeting of such committee.  Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, or if the time is not specified, upon delivery thereof and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

3.20.4    Removal of Committee Member

The Board, by resolution adopted by a majority of the Directors in office, may remove from office any Member of any committee elected or appointed by it.

3.21     Compensation

By Board resolution, Directors and committee members may be reimbursed their reasonable expenses, if any, of attendance at each Board or committee meeting, or a fixed sum for attendance at each Board or committee meeting, or a stated salary as a Director or committee member, or a combination of the foregoing.  No such payment shall preclude any Director or committee member from serving the corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

ARTICLE 4.  OFFICERS

4.1              Number and Qualifications

The officers of the corporation shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, each of whom shall be elected by the Board.  Other officers and assistant officers may be elected or appointed by the Board, such officers and assistant officers to hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as are provided in these Bylaws or as may be provided by resolution of the Board.  Any officer may be assigned by the Board any additional title that the Board deems appropriate.  Any two or more offices may be held by the same person, except the offices of President and Secretary.  All officers must be Directors of the corporation and the President and the Vice President must be (a) U.S. citizens or (b) permanent residents of Arab descent.  .

4.2              Election and Term of Office

The officers of the corporation shall be elected each year by the Board at the annual meeting of the Board.  Unless an officer dies, resigns, or is removed from office, he or she shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the Board or until his or her successor is elected.  The President shall not be re-elected as an officer for more than two years.

4.3              Resignation

Any officer may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the President, the Vice President, the Secretary or the Board, or by giving oral or written notice at any meeting of the Board.  Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, or if the time is not specified, upon delivery thereof and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

4.4              Removal

Any officer or agent elected or appointed by the Board may be removed from office by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the Board whenever in its judgment, the best interests of the corporation would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed.

4.5              Vacancies

A vacancy in any office created by the death, resignation, removal, disqualification, creation of a new office or any other cause may be filled by the Board for the unexpired portion of the term or for a new term established by the Board.

4.6              President

The President shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation and, subject to the Board’s control, shall supervise and control all of the assets, business and affairs of the corporation.  The President shall preside over meetings of the members and the Board.  The President shall also act as liaison from and a spokesperson for the Board.  The President may sign deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, or other instruments, except when the signing and execution thereof have been expressly delegated by the Board or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the corporation or are required by law to be otherwise signed or executed by some other officer or in some other manner.  In general, the President shall perform all duties incident to the office of President and such other duties as are assigned to him or her by the Board from time to time.

4.7              Vice President

In the event of the death of the President or his or her inability to act, the Vice President shall perform the duties of the President, except as may be limited by resolution of the Board, with all the powers of and subject to all the restrictions upon the President.  The Vice President shall have, to the extent authorized by the President or the Board, the same powers as the President to sign deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts or other instruments.  The Vice President shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the President or by the Board.

4.8              Secretary

The Secretary shall:  (a) keep the minutes of meetings of the Members and the Board and any minutes which may be maintained by committees of the Board; (b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law; (c) be custodian of the corporate records of the corporation; (d) keep records of the post office address and class, if applicable, of each Member and Director and of the name and post office address of each officer;  and (e) in general perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the President or the Board.

4.9              Treasurer

The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the corporation; receive and give receipts for moneys due and payable to the corporation from any source whatsoever, and deposit all such moneys in the name of the corporation in banks, trust companies or other depositories selected in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws; render from time to time, as may be required, an account of all transactions of the corporation and of the financial condition of the corporation; and in general perform all of the duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the President or the Board.

4.10          Salaries or Compensation

Salaries

The reasonable salaries of the officers and agents shall be as fixed from time to time by the Board or by any person or persons to whom the Board has delegated such authority.  No officer shall be prevented from receiving a reasonable salary by reason of the fact that he or she is also a Director of the corporation.

ARTICLE 5. STANDARD OF CONDUCT FOR OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Officers and Directors shall discharge their respective duties, including the duties of any committee of the Board upon which a Director may serve:

(a)        in good faith;

(b)        with such care, including reasonable inquiry, as an ordinary prudent person in like position would exercise under similar circumstances; and

(c)        in a manner such officer or Director believes to be in the best interests of the corporation.

ARTICLE 6. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The corporation may employ an Executive Director who shall be appointed, employed, and discharged by the Board.  If employed, the Executive Director shall manage the affairs of the corporation according to the policies, principles, practices and budget authorized by the Board, and shall be responsible for management of personnel, finances and programs.  If employed, the Executive Director shall be responsible for staff management including hiring, training, disciplinary action, and discharge.  If employed, the Executive Director shall serve as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Board.  For the purpose of determining the number of Directors serving the corporation, the Executive Director shall not be considered a member of the Board.

ARTICLE 7. ADVISORY BOARD

The Board of Directors may appoint an Advisory Board of two or more persons to provide advice and assistance to the Board.  Members of the Advisory Board may be invited to meetings of the Board, but shall not be entitled to vote or exercise other powers of a director of the corporation; provided, however, to the extent permitted by law, members of the Advisory Board shall be entitled to the same limitations on liability and rights to indemnification as directors of the corporation.  The Board of Directors may determine by separate resolution the operational rules which shall govern the Advisory Board.  Advisory Board members may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board.

ARTICLE 8.  INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS
AND OFFICERS

8.1              Compensation

Directors who receive any compensation for services in any capacity, directly or indirectly, from the corporation may not vote on matters pertaining to that Director’s compensation.

8.2              Conflict of Interest

Directors and officers shall disclose to the Board any financial interest which the Director or officer directly or indirectly has in any person or entity which is a party to a transaction under consideration by the Board.  The interested Director or officer shall abstain from voting on the transaction.

8.3              Review of Certain Transactions

Prior to entering into any compensation agreement, contract for goods or services, or any other transaction with any person who is in a position to exercise influence over the affairs of the corporation, the Board shall establish that the proposed transaction is reasonable when compared with a similarly-situated organization for functionally comparable positions, goods or services rendered.

ARTICLE 9.  ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL PROVISIONS

9.1              Contracts

The Board may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the corporation.  Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

9.2              Loans

No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the corporation and no evidences of indebtedness shall be issued in its name unless authorized by a resolution of the Board.  Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

9.3              Loans or Extensions of Credit to Officers and Directors

No loans shall be made and no credit shall be extended by the corporation to its officers or Directors.

9.4              Checks, Drafts, Etc.

All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers, or agent or agents, of the corporation and in such manner as is from time to time determined by resolution of the Board.

9.5              Deposits

All funds of the corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Board may select.

9.6              Books and Records

The corporation shall keep at its principal or registered office copies of its current Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws; correct and adequate records of accounts and finances; minutes of the proceedings of its Members and Board, and any minutes which may be maintained by committees of the Board; records of the name and address and class, if applicable, of each Member and Director and of the name and post office address of each officer; and such other records as may be necessary or advisable.  All records of the corporation shall be open at any reasonable time to inspection by any Member of three months’ standing or a representative of more than five percent of the membership.

9.7              Corporate Seal

If the Board determines that it is advisable, the corporation shall have a corporate seal consisting of the name of the corporation, the state of its incorporation and the year of its incorporation.

9.8              Accounting Year

Unless a different accounting year is at any time selected by the Board, the accounting year of the corporation shall be the twelve months ending December.

9.9              Rules of Procedure

The rules of procedure at meetings of the Board and committees of the Board shall be rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, so far as applicable and when not inconsistent with these Bylaws, the Articles of Incorporation or any resolution of the Board

ARTICLE 10.  AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed and new Bylaws may be adopted at any meeting of the Board by the vote of a majority of the number of Directors fixed by or in the manner provided by these Bylaws, or by the written consent of each of the Directors.