Section 1. Classes. There shall be four (4) classes of members:
(A) Active Members. Any individual officially connected with a law library, or with a law collection in any library in Wisconsin, or who has had such connection within the past seven (7) years, may become an active member upon payment of annual dues. Such membership cannot be transferred or assigned.
(B) Associate Members. An individual not connected with a law library or law collection may become an associate member upon payment of annual dues. An active member may become an associate member when no longer officially connected with a law library or law collection. An associate member shall not be eligible to vote or hold office in the corporation.
(C) Sustaining Members. Any individual or any company or institution or representative thereof, other than a law library, interested in supporting law librarianship may become a sustaining member. A sustaining member shall not be eligible to vote or hold office in the corporation.
(D) Student Members. Any individual currently enrolled in any institution of higher education who has an interest in law librarianship may become a student member. A student member shall not be eligible to vote or hold office in the corporation.
Section 2. Rights and Privileges. The right to hold office and the rights of voting shall be restricted to active members. Each member shall be entitled to one vote on any matter submitted by the Board of Directors to a vote of the members. The matters as to which the members have voting rights shall include:
(1) Election and removal of the Board of Directors and officers of the Corporation.
(2) Amendment of the Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws.
(3) Merger, consolidation or dissolution.
(4) Sale, lease or exchange of substantially all of the corporate assets.
(5) Any matter which the Board of Directors voluntarily submits to a vote of the members.
Section 3. Dues.
Dues and any reasonable increase in same for each class of membership shall be determined by the Board of Directors, subject to approval by two-thirds of the members present and voting at any regular meeting, provided that notice was sent either via regular or electronic mail to the members at least 60 days in advance of the meeting.
The dues year is June 1 to May 31 of the following year. Dues are payable on June 1 of each year. Sustaining members shall pay dues at three times the rate of the individual membership dues. Associate members and student members shall pay dues at one-half the cost of the individual membership dues. These dues are non-refundable.
Transfers; Terminations. No member may transfer membership or any right or rights arising therefrom. Membership shall be terminated by death or resignation and thereafter all the rights of the member shall cease. Members failing to pay dues more than three (3) months after the due date for such dues and after due notice by the treasurer shall be suspended from membership. Suspended members may be reinstated at any time upon payment of the full current year's dues.
Section 4. Meetings.
(A) Quarterly Meetings. The members of the corporation shall meet quarterly at such times and places as the Board of Directors or its delegates shall direct.
(B) Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of the members shall be held at the fourth quarterly meeting of each year. Failure to hold the annual meeting shall not work a forfeiture on or dissolution of the corporation.
Section 5. Place of Meetings. Meetings of the members may be held at any place within or without Wisconsin.
Section 6. Notices. Notice of any meeting of the members of the corporation, in each case specifying the place, date and hour of the meeting shall be given to each member by delivering notice, orally or in writing, not less than fourteen (14) days prior to the date of the meeting unless a different time shall be prescribed for a particular action by law.
Section 7. Quorum; Action. Fifteen of the active members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Every act or decision done or made by a majority of the members present at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act or decision of the members, unless the law, the Articles of Incorporation, or these By-Laws require a greater proportion.
Section 8. The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure. The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure in the latest edition shall govern all deliberations by the membership when not in conflict with the Articles of Incorporation, these By-Laws, or special rules of the corporation. If the rules contained in the Standard Code do not adequately address the issue, then Robert’s Rules of Order will be consulted.
Section 9. Organization. The president, or in the absence of the president the vice-president/president elect, or in the absence of the vice-president/president elect any active member delegated by the president or vice-president/president elect, shall act as chair at every meeting of the members. The secretary of the corporation, or in the absence of the secretary any active member delegated by the secretary, president, or the vice-president/president elect shall act as secretary of the meeting.
Revised: May 2010
