NMPRSA Bylaws

Bylaws of the New Mexico Chapter
of the Public Relations Society of America

(Ratified by the membership April 2005)

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this nonprofit professional organization shall be the New Mexico Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (NMPRSA).

ARTICLE II- OBJECTIVES

In accordance with the objectives of the Public Relations Society of America, the objectives of this Chapter shall be to advance the art and science of public relations, particularly in New Mexico; to encourage research, discussion and study of the problems and techniques of the public relations profession; to strengthen and maintain the highest standards of service and ethical conduct by all members of the profession; to exchange ideas and experiences and collect and disseminate information that may enhance or improve the professional knowledge, standards, ethics and standing of the membership; to promote fraternalism within the profession; and to promote a greater understanding of the role of public relations among businesses, governmental entities and not-for-profit organizations.

ARTICLE III- MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Eligibility. To be eligible for membership in the Chapter, a person must be a member in good standing of the national Society. Any such member of the Society is eligible for membership in the Chapter.

Section 2. Admission to Membership. Admission to membership in the Society shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of the bylaws of the Society. Any person admitted to membership in the Society shall become a member of the Chapter, if eligible, upon payment of Chapter dues.

Section 3. Retirement Status. Any member of the Chapter who has been a member of PRSA in good standing for at least five years, and is gainfully employed for less than 50 percent of the time, is eligible for retirement status. Members on retirement status shall enjoy all the rights and privileges of Chapter membership at no cost.

Section 4. Emeritus Status. Any member of the Chapter who has contributed substantially to the field of public relations as measured by 20 or more years of experience, is retired, and is gainfully employed in public relations for less than 30 percent of the time, is eligible for emeritus status. Members on emeritus status shall enjoy all the rights and privileges of Chapter membership at no cost.

Section 5. Termination of Chapter Membership. Any member who for any reason ceases to be a member of the Society or is dropped from the Society’s roll for nonpayment of dues shall cease to be a member of the Chapter and shall be dropped from the Chapter roll.

Section 6. Rights and Privileges of Membership. Subject to the bylaws of the Society, the right to serve as an assembly delegate or alternate delegate or as professional advisor to a Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter shall be limited to members who are accredited.

Section 7. Nondiscrimination. The Society shall in all deliberations and procedures subscribe to a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of race, creed, religion, disability, sex, age, color, national origin, or sexual or affectional preference.

ARTICLE IV - DUES

Section 1. Amount. The amount of Chapter dues shall be fixed annually by the Chapter’s board of directors and shall be payable in accordance with Chapter fiscal policies. Members shall be billed for annual local chapter dues by PRSA at the same time as national dues of each year.

Section 2. Nonpayment of Dues. Any member whose chapter dues are unpaid for 90 days after date of billing shall be considered not in good standing and shall not be entitled to vote, hold office or enjoy other privileges of membership, provided such members have been duly notified.

Section 3. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Chapter shall be July 1 – June 30.

ARTICLE V - BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. Composition. The governing body of the Chapter shall be a board of directors consisting of the president, president-elect, vice president, secretary, treasurer, immediate past president, membership officer and three directors-at-large.

Section 2. Assembly Delegate. The assembly delegate shall serve as the Chapter’s representative at meetings of the PRSA assembly and shall be elected by the Chapter for a three-year term in accordance with provisions of the bylaws of the Society. Assembly delegates or alternate delegates can be either accredited or chapter board members.

The President may appoint an alternate if the assembly delegate is unable to attend. If chapter funds are available, the chapter will subsidize the travel costs for the delegate to attend the national conference.  The chapter may pay for all or a portion of conference registration, the round trip airline ticket (if applicable) and the cost of lodging at a conference-approved hotel.  Meal cost and incidentals will be at the expense of the traveler.

Section 3. Ethics Officer. Three directors-at-large shall be elected each year for a two-year term beginning July 1 and must be accredited.

Section 4. Directors-at-large. Three directors-at-large shall be elected each year for a one-year term beginning July 1.

Section 5. Vacancies. In the event of death, resignation, removal or expulsion of any officer, director or assembly delegate, the board of directors shall elect a successor who shall take office immediately and serve for the balance of the unexpired term or until the next annual election.

Section 6. Removal. Any director who misses more than three consecutive board meetings without an excuse acceptable to the board may be given written notice of dismissal by the Chapter president and replaced in accordance with Section 4 above.

Section 7. Board Meetings. There shall be at least six meetings of the board of directors each year at such times and places as it may determine. It shall meet at the call of the president or upon call of any three members of the board of directors. Notice of each meeting of the board shall be given to each director personally or by mail at least seven days in advance.

Section 8. Quorum. A majority of the governing board of directors shall constitute a quorum for all meetings of the board.

ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS

Section 1. Chapter Officers. The officers of the Chapter shall be a president, president-elect, vice president, secretary and treasurer. The officers shall be elected by the Chapter membership for a term of one year beginning July 1.

Section 2. President. The president shall preside at all meetings of the Chapter and of the board of directors. He/she shall appoint all committees and shall be ex-officio member of all committees. He/she shall be authorized, along with the treasurer, to sign checks for payment of Chapter invoices.

Section 3. President-elect. The president-elect, in the absence or disability of the president, shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of the president. If the president is unable to continue in his/her capacity, if it is within the last six months of the term, the president-elect will take over. If it is within the first six months of the term, the president-elect will take over and another election will be held. He/she also shall assist the president with the coordination of strategic planning for NMPRSA, and perform such other duties as shall be prescribed by the board of directors. The president-elect automatically becomes Chapter president the following term.

Section 4. Vice president. The vice president shall be responsible for programs for all regular Chapter meetings. This includes soliciting speakers for regular meetings, promoting speakers and meetings, and making all arrangements for speakers such as transportation, lodging and audiovisual equipment.

Section 5. Secretary. The secretary shall keep records of all meetings of the Chapter and of the board of directors, and send copies of such minutes to Society headquarters, the Southwestern District chair, and the Chapter’s board of directors; and, shall  perform all other duties customarily pertaining to the office.

Section 6. Treasurer. The treasurer shall receive and deposit all Chapter funds in the name of the Chapter, in a bank or trust company selected and approved by the board of directors. He/she shall issue receipts and make authorized disbursements by check after proper approval by the president or board of directors. He/she shall prepare the Chapter’s budget, make financial reports to the board of directors at all scheduled board meetings, render an annual financial statement for review by the board of directors, provide a committee consisting of the president, the president-elect and one director-at-large with all records for a year-end annual review, and perform all other duties incident to the office.

Section 7. Compensation and Reimbursement. No elected officer of the Chapter shall be entitled to any salary or other compensation. The board of directors may reimburse elected officers or assembly delegates, ethics officer or their alternates for their expenses incurred in connection with performance of their duties.

ARTICLE VII - TERMS OF OFFICE

The officers and directors-at-large shall be elected by the Chapter membership for a term of one year beginning July 1. No officer having held an office for two successive terms shall be eligible to succeed himself/herself in the same office. Officers and directors-at-large may not serve on the board for more than six consecutive years. A one-year hiatus is required before such a person may serve on the board again.

ARTICLE VIII - NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1. Nominating Committee. A five-person nominating committee shall issue a call for nominations from the membership through the January or February chapter newsletter, and shall present a recommended slate of officers (president-elect, vice president for programming, secretary and treasurer), membership officer and three directors-at-large to the board at its March meeting. The nominating committee shall be comprised of the president, president-elect, immediate past president and two non-board members-at-large appointed by the president with input from board members. The members-at-large must have been New Mexico Chapter members for at least two years. The president-elect chairs the nominating committee. It is the nominating committee’s responsibility to contact each person on the proposed slate to assure that he or she is willing to serve in that capacity if elected. Following approval by the board at its March meeting, the election process may proceed.

Section 2. Elections. Ballots presenting the board-approved slate of officers and directors shall be mailed with a postage-paid return envelope to the membership no later than March 31 with a return date of no later than April 30. Ballots received after April 30 shall not be counted in the election. Write-in votes will be accepted on the ballot. Ballots shall be returned to and counted by the nominating committee. The committee shall report the results to the President on or before May 10. A quorum of the members must participate for the election to be valid. A majority of the votes cast is required to win. Results of the election will be announced at the Chapter’s May meeting and in the Chapter’s June newsletter.

ARTICLE IX - COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing Committees. In addition to the nominating committee, there shall be standing committees on program and professional development, newsletter, accreditation, awards and student chapter liaison. The membership officer and the newsletter editor maintain or cause to be maintained the roll of membership and mailing labels for same.

Section 2. Special Committees. Special committees may be established and appointed by the president with approval of the board of directors.

Section 3. Committee Reports. The chair of each committee shall report its activities regularly to the board of directors. All committee activities shall be subject to approval by the board of directors.

ARTICLE X - CHAPTER MEETINGS

Section 1. Regular Meetings. There shall be regular meetings at least nine times a year at such times and places as may be designated by the board of directors.

Section 2. Annual Meeting. There shall be an annual meeting in May at the regular membership meeting for that month. At this meeting, results of elections will be presented, and other business as appropriate will be discussed.

Section 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Chapter may be called by the president, the board of directors or on written request by 25 percent of the Chapter members.

Section 4. Notice of Meetings. Notice of regular or special meetings shall be mailed to each member at least 20 days in advance.

Section 5. Quorum. A majority of the members in good standing of the Chapter shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE XI- AMENDMENTS

Chapter bylaws shall be reviewed by two board members at least every three years. Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, or by a two-thirds vote by mail ballot in which a quorum of the members participate, provided such proposed amendment(s) has been approved by the Chapter’s board of directors and at least 30 days’ notice has been given to all members of any proposed amendment(s). Amendments adopted in accordance with this provision become effective only after approval by the Society’s national board of directors.

ARTICLE XII - CHAPTER DISSOLUTION

If the Chapter, for whatever reason, is disbanded, all remaining funds in the treasury shall be transferred to the national Society and distributed as directed by the Society’s board of directors. The New Mexico Chapter recommends that the funds be given to the University of New Mexico scholarship endowment fund previously established in the Department of Communication and Journalism.