Bylaws

Draft Bylaws of the Internet Society Accessibility Special Interest Group

Article I. - Name

1. This organization shall be called the Accessibility Special Interest Group of the Internet Society, which may be abbreviated to the numeronym A11ySIG

Article II. - Purpose

1. This SIG shall have as its purpose ensuring equal access to the Internet and its features to all regardless of disability.
2. This SIG will support activities to improve accessibility to the Internet for people with disability.
3. This SIG is chartered by the Internet Society. These bylaws neither supersede nor abrogate any of the Bylaws of the Internet Society that regulate its SIG/SIGaffairs.

Article III. - Membership

1. All members of the SIG shall also be members of the Internet Society. Membership is not necessary, however, for participation in activities of the society or its chapters.
2. All individuals and organizations falling within the defined scope of the SIG shall be eligible for membership without discrimination.

Article IV. - Officers

1. The officers of this SIG shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
2. The officers shall be elected at the annual Election (or Business) meeting. They shall take office on December 31 ] and serve for [ 2 Years.]

Article V. - Duties of Officers

1. The President is the principal officer and is responsible for leading the SIG and managing its activities in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Internet Society and these bylaws. The President shall preside at all meetings of this SIG and of its Executive Council. [With the advice of the SIG's Executive Council, the President shall appoint all members of committees of this SIG and all Committee chairmen.]
2. The Vice President shall preside at meetings in the absence of the Chair (President).
3. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all SIG and Executive Council meetings. Other duties of the Secretary include: (Some reporting to ISOC Headquarters is required by ISOC Policies include: an annual activity report, officer information, and an annual financial report. It is common to assign the duties for the first two of those to the Secretary.)
   1. Preparation of the Annual SIG Report for presentation to the SIG at the Annual Election Meeting.
   2. Preparation of the SIG's Activity Report and submission of this report to ISOC Headquarters.
   3. . Notification to ISOC Headquarters of any changes in the elected officers of the SIG.
   4. Submission of any proposed amendment to these bylaws to ISOC's Vice President of Chapters (As noted, in Article XI of these sample bylaws, proposed amendments must be approved before they can be submitted to the Chapter's membership for a vote.)
4. The Treasurer shall collect dues, pay all bills, and maintain the SIG's financial records. Duties of the Treasurer shall also include:
   1. . Preparation of the SIG's Annual Financial Report for presentation to the SIG at the Annual Election meeting.
   2. . Completion and submission of the Annual Financial Report to ISOC Headquarters.

Article VI. - Executive Council

The Executive Council shall consist of the present SIG officers, the immediate Past President, the chairmen of the Chapter's standing committees and up to two Members-at- Large. (Some SIG Councils consist of the current officers, the Past Chair, the chairmen of all committees, and representatives to other organizations. This structure is in lieu of any Members-at-Large.) The term of the members of the Council shall coincide with the terms of the officers. They shall take office on the first day of the calendar year and serve for two years.

Article VII. - Standing Committees

1. The Standing Committees of the SIG shall be determined by the membership and executive committee. (The number and functions of committees is determined by your SIG activities and goals. Think about what you want to do this year and the in the foreseeable future and establish standing committees that correspond to those activities and the corresponding assignment of duties. Then define the general duties of the committees.)
2. The Program Committee shall plan and make arrangements for the technical programs of the Chapter's meetings in accordance with the membership's interests and the aims of the SIG as set forth in Article II. [Include the descriptions of the other standing committees here.]

Article VIII. - Temporary Committees

1. With the advice of the SIG Executive Council, the President may appoint such temporary committees as appropriate.
2. A Nominating Committee, consisting of at least three members of this SIG, at least two of whom shall not be members of the Executive Council, shall be appointed by the SIG President at least two months prior to the Election meeting. (Some SIGs assign this function to the Past Chair, if available, as the person with no other required duties who knows what all the jobs required. You can also include when the slate of officers must be presented. The Committee can also be responsible for identifying people who may serve on the various committees.)

Article IX. - Meetings

1. The SIG shall hold meetings only in places that are open and accessible to all members of the Society. Meetings shall be held as planned by the Program Committee. These meeting will be both in person and electronic as determined by available facilities. (You may have additional local government requirements about openness to the public and accessibility for the Persons With Disabilities.)
2. The Annual Business meeting shall be held at the last meeting of the program [ on June 30 ] year. At this meeting, the Secretary and Treasurer each shall present a report. Also, the election of officers shall be held. (This ties to Article IV, Officers, and their election. If you choose an alternative there, this section should correspond. For Chapters that conduct their elections by mail ballot, this section could read: Also, the Chair shall announce the results of the election of officers for the coming year.)
3. Notices of the place and time of all meetings shall be distributed to all members at least one week prior to any meeting, by Internet mail or by oral, telegraphic, or other written notice,duly served on or mailed . (Your SIG may want to define how many meetings their will be each year.)

Article X. - Disbursements and Dues

1. Disbursements from the Treasury for SIG expenditures shall be made by the Treasurer with authorization of the Executive Council and shall be included in the minutes of its meetings.
2. Dues shall be fixed annually by the Executive Council.

Article XI. - Amendment and Voting Procedures

1. All proposed changes to these SIG Bylaws shall have been approved by the Vice President of Chapters before being presented to the SIG membership for a vote.
2. No official business of the SIG shall be conducted unless a quorum of the SIG is present.
3. A quorum of the SIG shall be defined as [ 50 ] percent of the voting membership of the SIG or [ at least 10 ] members, which ever is greater.
4. A simple majority of the members present and voting shall be required to carry a motion.
   1. (To vote on the Bylaws, the SIG should have a quorum -50% of the members present unless specified otherwise- and the action will be passed by a plurality of affirmative votes -majority of those voting yea or nay.-)
5. Officers will be elected by a plurality of votes cast.

Article XII. - Dissolution of the SIG

1. Dissolution of this SIG by consent of the members shall consist of unanimous agreement of all its officers together with a majority vote at a meeting which has been publicized in advance to all members of the SIG for the purpose of taking this vote.
2. Should this SIG be dissolved, its assets shall be transferred to Triangle United Way, 1100 Perimeter Park Drive Morrisville, NC 27560 in Raleigh, NC.