Membership: Bylaws

SALES & MARKETING EXECUTIVES, INC.,
CONSTITUTION AND BY LAWS

REVISED: June 2003

Article I - Name

This organization shall be known as the Sales & Marketing Executives, Inc., hereinafter also referred to as SME. It shall be a non-profit, educational association incorporated under the laws of the State of Wisconsin.

Article II - Purpose

Section 1 The purpose of the organization shall be to develop programs to assist members in their development as marketers of goods and services.
Section 2 To promote the importance of sales and marketing.
Section 3 Promotion of the free enterprise system.

Article III - Objectives

Section 1 To promote the profession of sales and marketing management in the Madison area, and to foster a better understanding of selling and marketing in the national economy.
Section 2 To provide a forum for the interchange of sales and marketing views and experience.
Section 3 To offer a united front against restrictions on the free flow of commerce.
Section 4 To conduct studies of sales and marketing practices and in other ways to assist members to meet more effectively their responsibilities as sales and marketing executives.
Section 5 To promote fellowship and cooperation among sales and marketing executives locally, regionally, and nationally.
Section 6 To encourage and develop interest in opportunities for youth in the fields of sales and marketing, and to promote interest in these professions as a career.
Section 7 To fully support the purposes and objectives of the SME Foundation.

Article IV - Membership

Membership shall be limited to persons meeting the following qualifications.
Section 1 Professionals in the field of sales, marketing, advertising, sales promotion, sales research and sales training managers or executives, or educators who are engaged in marketing or sales instruction or research.
Section 2 Life membership status is granted to all past presidents of SME. This status may also be granted to other members who, in the opinion of a majority of the Board of Directors, have made substantial contributions to the organization.
Section 3 Educational memberships may be granted by the Board of Directors when membership requirements are met. Such memberships shall be reviewed periodically by the Board of Directors.
Section 4 All applications for membership must be approved by a majority of the Board of Directors in attendance at a regular board meeting.

Article V - Dues

Section 1 The dues of active members shall be set annually by the Board of Directors. Such dues will cover dinners at all regular meetings. No refund of monies shall be made for meals missed, or cancellation of membership.
Section 2 Annual dues for one year will be billed at the time of joining and annually thereafter. All dues shall be payable within 30 days of the billing date.
Section 3 Life Members are not required to pay dues, but are expected to pay for meals only at meetings attended at the established guest rate.
Section 4 Educational members shall be exempt from all association of dues.
Section 5 Non-payment of dues. Termination of membership.

•  Any member whose SME dues have not been paid to SME within 60 days after dues are payable, may be notified by the president of SME that he/she will be dropped if dues are not paid within the next 30 days. Members who have been dropped from membership for non-payment of dues may be reinstated upon payment of dues for the current year and any delinquent dues.

•  Any member who has defaulted in observing any of the provisions of these By-Laws and the Board of Directors requirements of membership, and for sixty (60) days after notice thereof by SME shall have continued such default, shall have membership automatically revoked.

•  The Board of Directors shall have the power to expel members and revoke membership after a thorough investigation of all the facts.

•  Any member may terminate this membership by paying the current dues and giving written notice to SME directly.

Article VI - Board of Directors

Section 1 The association shall be governed by a Board of Directors constituted as follows:
•  Four officers who shall be elected at the annual meeting and serve one year.
•  Four directors who shall be elected for a one-year term.
•  The previous year's president.

Section 2 The duties of the officers and the directors shall begin July 1 of each year, which shall be the beginning of the program year and the fiscal year of the association.
Section 3 The Board of Directors shall fill all vacancies on the Board, including the several officers. They shall also engage any contracted services for the association. This will be done by special appointment.
Section 4 any action taken requires a majority vote by the current Board.
Section 5 At no time shall the Board of Directors authorize the expenditure of funds or contract debts in the excess of the amount of money in the club treasury.
Section 6 Approval by the Board of Directors is required for the Officer's Budget for the Program Year.
Section 7 No officer, Board member, committee chairperson, or member shall have the authority to commit the association on matters of policy or to create financial obligations. All committee plans and actions shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.

Article VII - Officers

A. President The President shall preside at all meetings of the general membership and the Board of Directors. He/she shall perform all the duties of the office including budget planning and the assignment of the duties and areas of program responsibility to the other officers as the situation demands. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.

B. Vice President The Vice President shall be responsible for those committees and program responsibilities as may be assigned by the President, and assist the President in all required areas of administration. Also, in the absence of the President, the Vice President shall preside.

C. Past President The immediate past President shall serve as chair of the nomination committee, executive of the year committee and shall perform other duties as may be assigned by the President.

D. Treasurer The treasurer shall be responsible for maintaining the organization's financial functions. These functions will include maintaining our financial reports, invoicing, writing and sending checks, and completing tax paper.

E. Secretary The secretary shall be responsible for administrative functions including checking the mail, writing agendas and meeting minutes, and sending broadcast announcements.

Article VIII - Meetings

Section 1 Member meetings shall be held monthly except July and August, on a day designated by the Board of Directors.
Section 2 Robert's Rules of Order (revised) shall govern all meetings except as they may conflict with these By-Laws.

Article IX - Nominations and Elections

Section 1 Two months before the annual meeting of the club, the President shall appoint a committee of five members to nominate officers and directors whose terms expire. This committee shall report at annual meeting.
Section 2 Nominations may also be made from the floor by a petition signed by five or more members.
Section 3 Each member shall be entitled to one vote.
Section 5 An education member who does not pay SME dues shall not be eligible to vote or hold office as an officer or director.

Article X - Organization

There shall be five standing committees and such other special committees as the President shall appoint. Standing committees shall be as follows:

Section 1 Program Committee shall be responsible for the program and facilities for meetings.
Section 2 Membership Committee shall receive and investigate proposals or applications for membership and refer them to the Board of Directors for election. The committee shall also be responsible for attendance and see that members become acquainted.
Section3 Marketing Committee shall keep the public informed concerning activities and projects of the club.
Section4 Education Committee shall work with the universities, high schools, and other educational institutions to further interest in selling and marketing as a career.

Article XI - Amendments

These By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at any meeting or electronic correspondence in the call for which notification of the amendments shall have been given.

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