QMA By-Laws
Article I
The purpose of this organization shall be to promote and foster quality in its members and sponsor organization. To do this it will offer public forums and other activities that provide educational opportunities.
The Quality Management Association is considered a �Chapter� of the Quality Assurance Institute (QAI). This is a loose confederation of organizations which have no financial or organizationally ties to QAI but which identify themselves with QAI and its mission. QAI provides advise and may cosponsor activities with QMA.
QMA shall be a not-for-profit organization.
Article II
QMA shall be governed by an elected Board of Directors. The Board is elected for a two year term. Officers are elected for a concurrent term. If a position becomes vacant, the Board may appoint a new Director to fill the unexpired term.
The Board shall be made up of eleven (11) members elected by the membership at large. There will be six(6) officers; President, Vice President of Operations, Vice President of Special Events, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, and Recording Secretary.
President � The President will lead the QMA day to day activities; coordinate activities; handle contact for corporate sponsors; lead the Board meetings; be the contact person for QAI; lead the annual budget process; and set the agenda for each Board meeting.
Vice President for Special Events � The Vice President for Special Events will lead the program committee in day to day activities; help plan programs; manage and coordinate special events.
Vice President for Operations � The Vice President for Operations will lead the day to day activities when the President is unavailable; handle surveys as needed and publish results.
Treasurer � The Treasurer shall keep all financial records for the organization; bill corporate sponsors; provide all book keeping services; keep all membership records; and provide a quarterly report of the organization�s to the Board.
Recording Secretary � The Recording Secretary will keep the organization�s records; prepare minutes of each Board meeting; and handle general correspondence.
Membership Secretary � The Membership Secretary will keep all mailing lists up-to-date (name, address, dues, attendance); coordinate all printing and mailing activities.
Other Board Members � The five (5) Board members will carry out assignments specified by the Board.
The Board shall establish such committees as it needs to carry out its work. Committees shall be chaired by Board members. All committee plans are subject to Board review and approval.
Article III
Each year the Board will hold an annual meeting to set the budget and dues structure for the year. This meeting shall be held at such time as to make it possible to provide membership with the annual dues/sponsorship structure for the first meeting of the calendar year. Dues and sponsorship structure shall be set so that the organization can continue to offer educational programs at reasonable rates to members and public.
No member of the Board of Directors, Sponsor or member shall receive any salary from the organization.
Membership is open to anyone who supports the aims of the organization and pays dues or is a qualified member under a sponsor�s membership.
Sponsors are corporations who choose a level of sponsorship which entitles them to specific benefits. These benefits are determined each year by the Board of Directors and may include an honorary ticket to a specified event, a specified number of individual members and other nonmonetary considerations.
General membership meeting will take place at least four (4) times each calendar year. Members are allowed to attend these meeting free of charge. Nonmembers are allowed to attend and will be asked to make a contribution to the organization.
Voting on matters that concern the entire individual membership will take place at membership meetings. Items to be voted upon must be presented to, and approved by, the Board of Directors prior to the meeting. Decisions at the general membership meetings will be by simple majority of those present.
Six (6) members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for making decisions at the Board meeting except for the budget and new slate of officers and Board members. When making decisions on the budget and new slate of officers and Board members, 75% of the Board members must be present. Decisions will be by simple majority when a quorum is present.
The President has emergency powers to make decisions for the Board when that is warranted under extreme conditions. The President must inform the Board of the decision within 24 hours and the decision must be ratified by the Board at its next meeting.
A Board member or officer may be removed from the Board, by action of the remaining Board members, if they believe that a compelling reason exists. The quorum of 75% of the Board members is required and a simple majority is required to make a decision.
