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ARTICLES
NATIONAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE STATEWIDE EDITORS ASSOCIATION
Adopted Aug. 7, 1963 -- Hot Springs, Arkansas
As amended Jan. 19, 1975 – New Orleans, Louisiana
And Feb. 3, 1976 – Anaheim, California
And Aug. 23, 1987 – Washington, DC
And Aug. 23, 1992 – Washington, DC
And Aug. 20, 1995 – Denver, Colorado
And Aug. 1997– Arlington, Virginia
And March 10, 2002 – Dallas, Texas
And July 30, 2008 – Arlington, Virginia
And Aug. 7, 2011 – Columbus, Ohio
ARTICLE I
Name
The name of this association shall be the National Electric Cooperative Statewide Editors Association.
ARTICLE II
Objective
Section 1: The purpose of this association shall be to foster the continued improvement of the professional skills and techniques of editorial staff members associated with rural electrification consumer-member publications which circulate on a statewide or multi-statewide basis and to encourage professional improvement among others associated with rural electrification consumer-member and public information programs.
Section 2: This association shall be a not-for-profit association. No profit or monies shall accrue to the members or officers by action of the membership.
ARTICLE III
Membership
Section 1: Membership in the association shall be open to bona fide editorial staff members and publishers of rural electrification consumer-member publications which circulate on a statewide or multi-statewide basis, and to members of the editorial and information staffs of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Rural Utilities Service, the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation and the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative. Members in good standing may vote in any SEA business, provided that only one vote be cast on behalf of an organization. When a vote’s outcome is uncertain, the presiding officer must conduct a roll call vote, naming each organization represented by the membership. Votes must be cast in person.
Section 2: Associate membership shall be open to bona fide editorial staff members of allied groups of the disciplines of finance and telecommunications and electrification organizations. Associate members are non-voting members. Associate memberships shall be considered only upon written application made to the SEA president, wherein applicant must present its qualifications as they relate to associate membership criteria. Associate membership applications shall be acted upon by the SEA membership.
Section 3. Honorary membership shall be open to any person who has previously held membership as defined in Section 1 of this Article and is reserved for persons who have retired from organizational positions throuugh which the previously held membership was established. Honorary members are non-voting members. Honorary memberships shall be considered only upon written application made to the SEA president, wherein applicant must present their qualifications as they relate to honorary membership criteria. Honorary membership applications shall be acted upon by the SEA membership.
ARTICLE IV
Meetings
The association shall meet annually in regular meetings in connection with the annual membership meeting of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The President is authorized to call special meetings at such time and place during the year as may be deemed advisable, or a special meeting shall be called the President by petition of fifteen percent of the members. Notices including time, place, and business to be considered shall be sent to all members, associate members and honorary members at least fifteen days prior to the annual or special meetings.
ARTICLE V
Quorum
Fifteen percent of the total membership of the association shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE VI
Officers
The officers of the association shall include a President, a Vice-President, and a Secretary-Treasurer, who shall also constitute the Executive Committee of the association. These officers shall be elected by the members at the annual membership meeting for a period of two years. The President is authorized to appoint a successor, subject to confirmation by members at the next annual meeting, to fill any vacancy.
ARTICLE VII
Duties of Officers
Section 1: It shall be the duty of the President to preside over all regular and special meetings of the members, appoint such committees as may be deemed necessary, and to perform such acts and exercise such powers as may be delegated to the President by the members.
Section 2: It shall be the duty of the Vice-President to preside over regular and special meetings in the absence of the President, and to perform all other functions of the President in the event of his or her incapacity.
Section 3: It shall be the duty of the Secretary-Treasurer to keep the minutes of the regular and special meetings of the members, to ensure that proper parliamentary procedure is followed during meetings of the membership, to issue at the direction of the President proper notices of regular and special meetings, to hold in safe-keeping all monies belonging to the association, to correspond with the members from time to time on matters of interest to the association, and to assist in the coordination of all educational programs of the association.
Section 4: It shall be the duty of the three officers to serve as an Executive Committee for the association and to conduct such business of the association as may be delegated to them by the members.
Section 5: From time to time it may be necessary for the President to appoint a Task Force to assist the Executive Committee and the membership on special or ongoing projects. Such Task Force will serve at the pleasure of the President. Although the President or the SEA membership may give the Task Force power to make certain decisions to keep projects moving in a timely manner, all decisions involving expenditures of more than $1,000 of SEA funds, should be approved by the SEA membership.
ARTICLE VIII
Dues
Section 1: Annual dues for members shall be assessed and set at a level as recommended by the Executive Committee and approved by the membership. Special activities may be self-financing on the basis of voluntary participation through registration fees.
Section 2: Annual dues for associate members shall be assessed and be the same as members and will follow the recommendations of the Executive Committee as approved by the membership.
Secion 3. Annual dues for honorary members shall be assessed and shall not exceed fifteen percent of the annual dues level for members.
Section 4: Expenditure of dues monies shall be upon authorization of the President and the Secretary-Treasurer.
ARTICLE IX
Amendments
These articles may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any annual or special meeting of the members.