The SRS Board is pleased to announce that the bylaws revision was adopted by the
SRS membership. Twenty-three percent of the eligible membership voted. 90% of respondents
voted to adopt the bylaws revision; 10% voted to not approve recommeded changes.
The SRS Board of Directors thanks all members who participated in the voting process.
Following are the bylaws of the Society.
ARTICLE 1: NAME
The name of the corporation is the Sleep Research Society, (hereinafter called the
“Corporation” or “SRS”).
ARTICLE 2: PURPOSE AND GOALS
2.1 The Corporation has been organized to operate exclusively for charitable,
scientific, and educational purposes, and more specifically:
2.1.1 To foster research in all areas of sleep. For the purpose of this
document, the term sleep research includes both sleep and circadian rhythms related
research.
2.1.2 To provide a forum for the exchange of information pertaining to
sleep research, including holding an annual scientific meeting.
2.1.3 To promote education and training in sleep research.
2.1.4 To establish and maintain standards of reporting and classifying
data in the field of sleep research.
2.1.5 To exercise all the powers conferred upon corporations formed under
the
Minnesota Nonprofit Corporation Act in order to accomplish the Corporation’s
purposes, including, but not limited to, the power to accept donations of money
or property, whether real or personal, or any interest therein, wherever situated.
ARTICLE 3: FUNDS, DUES, AND ACTIVITIES
Funds of the Corporation shall consist of monies raised by annual dues levied on
the members, voluntary contributions to the SRS, and income from any other source
approved by the Board of Directors. No part of the net earnings of the Corporation
shall inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. Except as permitted
by filing an election under Section 501(h) of the Internal Revenue Code, (or the
corresponding provision of any subsequent Federal tax law) no substantial part of
the activities of the Corporation shall consist of carrying on propaganda, or otherwise
attempting to influence legislation, and the Corporation shall not participate in,
or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements) any political
campaign on behalf of or the opposition to any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding
any other provision of these Bylaws, the Corporation shall not carry on any activity
not permitted to be carried on (a) by a Corporation exempt from Federal income tax
under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding
provision of any subsequent Federal tax law), and (b) by a Corporation to which
contributions are deductible under Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
(or the corresponding provision of any subsequent Federal tax law).
ARTICLE 4: REGULATION OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
The Corporation shall seek such sources of support, including the solicitation of
grants from governmental units and direct or indirect contributions from the general
public, as will enable it to qualify as a publicly supported organization as defined
in Section 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) and 5099(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
(or the corresponding provision of any subsequent Federal tax law).
ARTICLE 5: REGISTERED OFFICE
The registered office of the Corporation required by the Minnesota Nonprofit Corporation
Act to be maintained in the State of Minnesota is as provided and designated in
the Articles of Incorporation. The Board of Directors of the Corporation may, from
time to time, change the location of the registered office pursuant to Section 317A.123
of Minnesota Statutes, or any successor provision thereof, by filing a statement
of such change with the Secretary of State of Minnesota.
ARTICLE 6: MEMBERS
6.1 The Corporation shall be composed of diverse classes of members as
determined by the Board of Directors: Current membership includes: full members,
emeritus members, trainee members, and associate members.
6.1.1 Full Members shall be members from any country who are qualified
according to the following standards. All full members shall hold doctoral degrees
and shall have published sleep-related research and shall be actively engaged in
sleep research at the time of joining the SRS. Full members pay annual dues set
by the Board of Directors. Full members have full voting privileges.
6.1.2 Emeritus Members shall be members who have been Full members for
at least ten years and, are retired professionally or have obtained Emeritus status
at an academic or research institution, inform the Secretary-Treasurer that they
wish to change their membership status to “Emeritus.” Emeritus members will pay
lower membership dues than Full members as set by the Board of Directors. Emeritus
members have full voting privileges.
6.1.3 Trainee Members shall include individuals who are enrolled in a college
or university pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree, on at least a half-time
basis in a program of study with a sleep research related component; or an individual
who holds a doctoral degree and is enrolled in an advanced training program related
to sleep research or sleep medicine, such as medical residency or clinical or research
fellowship, or other program deemed acceptable by the Board of Directors, where
the individual is in training and does not hold a full-time academic faculty or
other independent position as a research scientist. Trainee members must be endorsed
by a Full or Emeritus member and will pay lower membership dues than Full Members.
Such dues shall be set by the Board of Directors. Trainee members do not have voting
privileges.
6.1.4 Associate Members shall be members professionally engaged in sleep
research, but who do not hold a doctoral degree. Associate members are not eligible
for another membership category. Associate members must be endorsed by a Full Member
or Emeritus Member. Associate members dues will be determined by the Board of Directors.
Associate members do not have voting privileges.
6.1.5 Corresponding Members shall be non-US resident scientists in the
field of sleep research whose financial and academic situation renders it difficult
for them to pay full members dues. Corresponding members may be exempt from dues
as determined by the Board of Directors and may receive SRS publications free of
charge, as determined by the Board of Directors. Corresponding members do not have
voting privileges.
6.2 Procedures for Membership. Those who desire to become a member of the
SRS must submit an official application to the national office.
6.3 Annual Business Meeting of Members. There shall be at least one annual
business meeting of the SRS held during the APSS Annual Meeting. Additional meetings
of the membership may be held if the Board of Directors so decides. Actions taken
by members at the annual meeting shall be effective only if a quorum consisting
of not less than fifteen percent (15%) of the voting members of the SRS are present
and voting.
6.4 Special Meeting of Members. Upon the written request of fifteen percent
(15%) of the voting members, or by majority vote of the Board of Directors, the
Board of Directors shall call a special meeting of members to consider a specific
subject. Notice of any special meeting shall be given to the members, twenty days
prior to the meeting, by mail and/or electronic means. No business other than that
specified in the notice of meeting shall be transacted at any special meeting of
the members of the SRS.
ARTICLE 7: SECTIONS
7.1 Sections are established to provide Society members the opportunity
to develop an affiliation with a group of peers who share common interests. Section
sponsored activities and programs should encourage and promote research and education
in its area of interest. The SRS shall have no fewer than three (3) or more than
seven (7) Sections.
7.1.1 Section Membership. Members of the SRS are encouraged to join one
or more Sections of interest, but if they join multiple sections they must designate
a Primary Section. Members may change Primary Section affiliation between the months
of July and February if they so desire.
7.1.2 Section Leadership. Each Section shall elect a Section Chair annually
by a vote of SRS voting members who have Primary membership in that Section. Section
Chairs may serve up to three one-year terms. The responsibilities of the Section
Chair shall be designated by the Board of Directors.
7.1.3 Creation of New Sections. Creation of a new Section requires a petition
to the Board of Directors signed by a minimum of 8% of the Full voting members of
the SRS, requesting primary membership in the new Section. The creation of a new
Section must subsequently be approved by the Board of Directors.
7.1.4 Elimination of Sections. Sections are considered no longer viable
when primary membership in a Section falls below 8% of the Full voting members of
the SRS for two consecutive years.
ARTICLE 8: BOARD OF DIRECTORS
8.1 The Board of Directors Composition, The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, President-Elect, Immediate Past-President, Secretary-Treasurer, and seven Directors elected by the eligible voting members of the SRS.
8.2 The Affairs of the Corporation will be managed by its Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors shall have and exercise all powers necessary to set fiscal
and administrative policy of the SRS.
8.2.1 No contract, debt, or obligation shall be binding unless contracted under
the direction of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may hold or dispose
of such property real or personal as may be given, devised or bequeathed to it or
entrusted in its care and keeping. The Board may purchase, acquire and dispose of
such property as may be necessary. The Board shall have the control and management
of the property of the SRS with the power to borrow money for corporate purposes.
8.2.2 The Board of Directors shall have the power to enter into contracts, leases
and cooperative relationships with other organizations when in their judgment such
a relationship is desirable toward achieving the objectives of the SRS. The Board
of Directors shall, should it deem necessary, employ an Executive Director, define
their duties and fix compensation. The Board may, should it deem necessary, engage
the services of a management company to manage the day-to-day affairs of the SRS
under the supervision of the President and the Board of Directors.
8.2.3 The Board of Directors shall meet at least quarterly. The President may call
additional meetings at their discretion or as deemed necessary to fulfill the obligations
of the Board. Further, the Board of Directors, and between meetings of the Board
of Directors, the Executive Committee, shall exercise all corporate powers, except
as otherwise expressly required by the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws,
or by law.
8.3 The Terms of Office.
8.3.1 The Terms for the President-Elect, President, and immediate Past-President
shall be one-year, commencing at the end of the annual meeting of the Corporation.
The President-Elect shall be elected annually by mail ballot or by secure electronic
ballot by the eligible voting membership. After serving one year in this capacity,
the President-Elect will automatically become President for the succeeding year
and Past-President for the following year. The person elected to the office of President-Elect
shall not serve as SRS President for more than one term.
8.3.2 The Term of office for the Secretary-Treasurer shall be a three-year term,
which commences at the end of the annual meeting of the Corporation following their
election by mail ballot or secure electronic ballot by the eligible voting membership.
The Secretary-Treasurer shall hold office until his successor has been duly elected
and shall have qualified.
8.3.3 The Term of office for the remaining seven members of the Board of Directors
shall be a three-year term, which commences at the annual meeting of the Corporation
following their election by mail ballot or secure electronic ballot by the eligible
voting membership. Each such director shall hold office until his successor has
been duly elected and shall have qualified.
8.3.4 No more than five terms of the Board of Directors shall expire in any given
year.
The Board of Directors shall be free to adjust terms of officers to satisfy this
latter requirement provided the adjustment is not for more than one year and not
more than once for any one Board member’s term of office.
8.3.5 A Director, other than a presidential officer, elected by the eligible voting
membership shall be eligible to serve two three-year terms.
8.3.6 Directors elected to serve an unexpired term shall serve the unexpired portion
of the term. Service of two or more years of an unexpired term shall be considered
a full term.
8.4 Vacancies shall be filled in the following manner.
8.4.1 A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by the President-Elect
who shall complete the unexpired term as well as the presidential term for which
elected. The President-Elect office shall be filled at the discretion of the Board
of Directors.
8.4.2 In the event of a vacancy in the office of the Secretary-Treasurer the Board
of Directors shall appoint a Board member to fill the vacancy until the next annual
election at which time a Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected to fill the unexpired
term. Until the Board of Directors can convene to fill such vacancy, the President
shall assume the duties of the Secretary-Treasurer in addition to their other responsibilities.
If the Secretary-Treasurer vacancy occurs prior to December 31, the Board, at its
discretion, may fill the newly vacant Board position until the next election. If
such vacancy occurs after December 31, the eligible voting membership will elect
someone to the vacancy for the unexpired term at the next regularly scheduled election.
8.4.3 The Board shall have the power to fill the unexpired term of any member of
the Board between annual elections. Vacancies in the seven Director positions shall
be filled at the discretion of the Board of Directors if such vacancy occurs prior
to December 31. At the next regularly scheduled election after such vacancy, the
eligible voting membership shall elect a Director to fill the unexpired term. If
such vacancy occurs after December 31, the position shall remain vacant until the
next regularly scheduled election, at which time the eligible voting membership
will elect someone to fill the unexpired term.
8.5 Quorum. Six members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum
for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board .
8.6 Duties of officers.
8.6.1 The President shall be the principle elected officer and chief spokesperson
of the SRS. No statement shall be made by the President or designated alternate
that advocates a group boycott by members or violation of federal or state antitrust
or any other laws. The President shall be chairperson of the Board of Directors,
Executive Committee, and member ex-officio of all committees of the SRS. The President
shall preside at the annual meeting of the SRS. In addition, the President shall
perform such duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to
time. The President shall neither encumber the SRS with indebtedness nor assume
any financial obligation in the name of the SRS without prior authorization of the
Board of Directors. The President shall, upon expiration of one term as President,
serve on the Board of Directors for one year as Immediate Past-President.
8.6.2 The President-Elect shall be elected annually by the eligible voting
membership by mail ballot or secure electronic ballot. The duties of the President-Elect
shall be designated by the Board of Directors. The President-Elect shall be a member
of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. The President Elect shall
perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President. The President-Elect,
when so acting, shall have the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions
placed upon the President. Upon expiration of the term of office of the President,
the President-Elect shall assume the presidency of the Corporation.
8.6.3 The Secretary-Treasurer. In addition to the rights and duties ordinarily
placed on the Secretary-Treasurer of a corporation by law, custom or parliamentary
usage, and those granted and imposed in other provisions of these bylaws, the Secretary-
Treasurer shall be the official custodian of all records and all securities and
the income therefrom owned by the corporation, subject to the direction and disposition
of the Board of Directors. The Secretary-Treasurer shall chair the Budget Committee.
The Board of Directors may select a bank or trust company to act as custodian in
place of the Secretary-Treasurer of all or any part of such securities and to act
as agent of the corporation in collecting the income therefrom. The Secretary-Treasurer
shall perform other duties as may be directed by the Board of Directors.
8.7 The Trainee Member at Large shall be appointed by the Board of Directors
for a one-year term and shall not be eligible for reappointment. The Trainee Member
at Large shall have primary responsibility for representing the interests of the
Trainee members of the Corporation on the Board of Directors. The Trainee Member
at Large is a non-voting member of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE 9: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
9.1 Executive Committee Composition, Terms, and Duties.
9.1.1 The Executive Committee shall be made up of the following positions
of the Board of Directors – President, President-Elect, Past-President, and
Secretary- Treasurer.
9.1.2 The Term of Office for the Executive Committee shall commence at
the end of theannual meeting of the SRS following the election
until the successor has been elected and qualifies. The terms of the executive committee
shall coincide with their elected terms.
9.1.3 Quorum - Three members of the Executive Committee shall constitute
a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Committee.
9.1.4 Meetings of the Executive Committee shall occur at least
once a year or as often as deemed necessary to provide executive leadership and
to debate issues of importance so as to provide advice and proposed actions to the
Board of Directors. The Executive Committee shall be empowered to make all decisions
ordinarily made by and authorized by the Board of Directors when action needs to
be taken between Board of Directors meetings. All actions taken by the Executive
Committee shall be reported and acted upon by the Board of Directors at its next
scheduled meeting.
ARTICLE 10: COMMITTEES
10.1 There shall be three types of Committees: Standing Committees, Board Committees,
and Presidential Committees.
10.1.1 Standing Committees shall be appointed by the Board to perform continuing
functions and service.
10.1.2 The Board shall appoint such other committees as necessary to address issues
of interest to the membership and to fulfill Society functions. Committees shall
be appointed to address such issues as research, education and membership. The name,
composition and mandate of such committees shall be at the discretion of the Board.
10.1.3 The President may appoint Presidential committees to address issues of interest
to the president. The mandate of such committees may not duplicate the mandate of
standing or Board committees. These groups report directly to the President and
are disbanded at the conclusion of the President’s term in office.
10.1.4 Subcommittees may be appointed by the Board or the Chair of a standing committee.
Should a committee chair determine the need for a subcommittee, it must consist
only of members of the full committee. The Board may appoint subcommittees and at
its discretion it may include some members not currently members of the committee.
Such appointments should be limited to those members with special expertise in the
subject area that the committee is addressing.
10.1.5 Committee membership is restricted to members of the SRS except when the
purpose of the SRS requires the addition of knowledgeable individuals from other
fields. Non SRS members will not be voting members of the committee. The President
shall be an ex officio member of each committee. The principle staff person responsible
for administering the day-to-day affairs of the SRS shall also be an ex officio
member of all committees.
10.1.6 No member of a committee shall serve more than three consecutive one-year
terms on the same committee, but an individual may serve three additional years
if made a chairman or vice chairman.
10.1.7 Committees shall submit timely reports of their activities, findings, recommendations
and progress to the appointing authority.
10.1.8 Joint Committees may be established with other community, governmental or
scientific organizations.
10.1.9 The Board of Directorsshall have the right to dissolve the
committee, enlarge the committee, appoint consultants or advisors, remove any member,
and fill any vacancy.
ARTICLE 11: DISSOLUTION OR LIQUIDATION
In the event of the dissolution or final liquidation of the Corporation, none of
the property of the Corporation nor any proceeds thereof shall be distributed to
or divided among any of the directors or officers of the Corporation or inure to
the benefit of any individual. After all liabilities and obligations of the Corporation
have been paid, satisfied, and discharged, or adequate provisions made therefore,
all remaining property and assets of the Corporation shall be distributed to one
or more organizations designated (1) by the
Corporation's Board of Directors, (2) pursuant to a plan of distribution adopted
as provided for in the State of Minnesota Nonprofit Corporation Act, or (3) if there
is no appropriate plan of distribution, as a court, pursuant to the provisions of
the State of Minnesota Nonprofit Corporation Act, may direct; provided, however,
such property shall be distributed only to organizations which are organized and
operated exclusively to promote and advance research on sleep and comply with all
of the following conditions:
A. Such organization shall be organized and operated exclusively for charitable,
scientific, or educational purposes;
B. Transfers of property to such organization shall, to the extent then permitted
under the statutes of the United States, be exempt from Federal gift, succession,
inheritance, estate or death taxes (by whatever name called);
C. Such organization shall be exempt from Federal income taxes by reason of Section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of
any subsequent Federal tax law).
D. Contributions to such organizations shall be deductible by reason of Section
170 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any
subsequent Federal tax law).
ARTICLE 12: CONTRACTS, BANKING, AND GIFTS
12.1 Contracts and Other Documents - The Board of Directors, except as
otherwise required by law, the Articles of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, may authorize
any officer or officers, agent or agent of the Corporation, in addition to the officers
so authorized by these Bylaws, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver
any instrument or document in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation and such
authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
12.2 Checks, Drafts, and Loans - All checks, drafts, loans, or other orders
for the payment of money, notes or other evidence of indebtedness shall be issued
in the name of the Corporation in such manner as shall be from time to time determined
by the Board of Directors. In the absence of such determination, such instruments
shall be signed by the Secretary-Treasurer.
12.3 Deposits - All funds of the Corporation shall be deposited to the
credit of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories
as the Board of Directors may from time to time select.
12.4 Gifts - The Board of Directors may accept on behalf of the Corporation
any contribution, gift, bequest, or devise for the general purpose or for any special
purpose of the Corporation.
ARTICLE 13: BOOKS AND RECORDS
The Corporation shall keep correct and complete books and records of account and
shall also keep minutes of the proceedings of its Board of Directors, Executive
Committee, and committees having any authority of the Board of Directors, and shall
keep at its principle office a record giving the names and addresses of the Board
of Directors. All books and records of the Corporation may be inspected by any Director,
or his agent or attorney, for any proper purpose at any reasonable time.
ARTICLE 14: FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day of January and end
on the last day of December in each calendar year.
ARTICLE 15: INDEMNIFICATION
15.1 General Provisions.
15.1.1 Definitions.
A. For purposes of this section, the terms defined in this subsection 15.1.1 have
the means given them.
B. "Corporation" means the Sleep Research Society, a Minnesota Corporation,
the Association for the Psychophysiological Study of Sleep, a New Mexico corporation,
and any domestic or foreign Corporation that was the predecessor of this Corporation
in a merger, a consolidation, or other transaction in which the predecessor's existence
ceased upon completion of the transaction.
C. "Official capacity" means (1) with respect to a director, the position
of director in the Corporation, (2) with respect to a person other than a director,
the elective or appointive office or position held by an officer, member of a committee
of the board, or the employment or agency relationship undertaken by an employee
or agent of the Corporation, and (3) with respect to a director, officer, or employee,
or agent of the
Corporation who, while a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation,
is or was serving at the request of the Corporation or whose duties in that position
involve or involved service as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or
agent of another organization or employee benefit plan, the position of that person
as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent, as the case may be,
of the other organization or employee benefit plan.
D. "Proceeding" means a threatened, pending, or completed civil, criminal,
administrative, arbitration, or investigative proceeding, including a proceeding
by or in the right of the Corporation.
E. "Special legal counsel" means counsel who has not represented the Corporation
or a related organization, or a director, officer, member of a committee of the
board, or employee, or agent whose indemnification is in issue.
15.1.2 Indemnification Mandatory; Standard.
A. Subject to the provisions of 15.1.4, the Corporation shall indemnify a person
made or threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of the former or
present official capacity of the person against judgments, penalties, fines including,
without limitation, excise taxes assessed against the person with respect to an
employee benefit plan, settlements, and reasonable expenses, including attorney’s
fees and disbursements, incurred by the person in connection with the proceeding,
if, with respect to the acts or omissions of the person complained of in the proceeding,
the person: 1. Has not been indemnified by another organization or employee benefit
plan for the same liability described above with respect to the same acts or omissions;
2. Acted in good faith; 3. Received no improper personal benefit, and, if applicable,
the provisions of Minnesota Statutes Section 317A.255 (Director Conflicts of Interest)
have been satisfied; 4. In the case of a criminal proceeding, did not have reasonable
cause to believe the conduct was unlawful; and 5. In the case of acts or omissions
occurring in the official capacity described in 15.1.1, paragraph (c), clause (1),
or (2), reasonable believed that the conduct was in the best interests of the Corporation,
or in the case of acts or omissions occurring in the official capacity described
in 15.1.1, paragraph (c), clause (3), reasonably believed that the conduct was not
opposed to the best interests of the Corporation. If the person's acts or omissions
complained of in the proceeding relate to conduct as a director, officer, trustee,
employee, or agent of an employee benefit plan, the conduct is not considered to
be opposed to the best interests of t he Corporation if the person reasonably believed
that the conduct was in the best interests of the participants or beneficiaries
of the employee benefit plan.
B. The termination of a proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or
upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent does not, of itself, establish
that the person did not meet the criteria set forth in this subsection.
15.1.3 Advances. Subject to the provisions of 15.1.4, if a person is made
or threatened to be made a party to a proceeding, the person is entitled, upon written
request to the Corporation, to payment or reimbursement by Corporation of reasonable
expenses, including attorneys' fees and disbursements, incurred by the person in
advance of the final disposition of the proceeding, (a) upon receipt by the Corporation
of a written affirmation by the person of a good faith belief that the criteria
for indemnification set forth in 15.1.2 have been satisfied and a written undertaking
by the person to repay all amounts so paid or reimbursed by the Corporation, if
it is ultimately determined that the criteria for indemnification have not been
satisfied, and (b) after a determination that the facts then known to those making
the determination would not preclude indemnification under this section. The written
undertaking required by clause is an unlimited general obligation of the person
making it, but need not be secured and shall be accepted without reference to financial
ability to make the repayment.
15.1.4 Prohibition or Limit on Indemnification or Advances. There are no
prohibitions against or conditions on indemnification or advances of expenses other
than as set forth in this article.
15.1.5 Reimbursement to Witnesses. This section does not require, or limit
the ability of the Corporation to reimburse expenses, including attorneys' fees
and disbursements, incurred by a person in connection with an appearance as a witness
in a proceeding at a time when the person has not been made or threatened to be
made a party to a proceeding.
15.1.6 Determination of Eligibility.
All determinations as to whether indemnification of a person is required because
the criteria set forth in 15.1.2 have been satisfied and whether a person is entitled
to payment or reimbursement of expenses in advance of the final disposition of a
proceeding as provided in 15.1.3 must be made:
1. By the board by a majority of a quorum. Directors who are at the time parties
to the proceeding shall not be counted for determining either a majority or the
presence of a quorum;
2. If a quorum under the clause (1) cannot be obtained, by a majority of a committee
of the board, consisting solely of two or more directors not at the time parties
to the proceeding, duly designated to act in the matter by a majority of the full
board including directors who are parties;
3. If a determination is not made under clause (1) or (2), by special legal counsel,
selected either by a majority of the board or a committee by vote pursuant to clause
(1) or (2) or, if the requisite quorum of the full board cannot be obtained and
the committee cannot be established, by a majority of the full board including directors
who are parties;
4. If a determination is not made under clauses (1) to (3), by the members with
voting rights, other than members who are parties to the proceeding; or 5. If an
adverse determination is made under clauses (1) to (4) or under paragraph (b), or
if no determination is made under clauses (1) to (4) or under paragraph (b) within
60 days after the termination of a proceeding or after a request for an advance
of expenses, as the case may be, by a court in this state, which may be the same
court in which the proceeding involving the person's liability took place, upon
application of the person and any notice the court requires. With respect to a person
who is not, and was not at the time of the acts or missions complained of in the
proceedings, a director, officer, or person possessing, directly or indirectly,
the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of the
Corporation, the determination whether indemnification of this person is required
because the criteria set forth in 15.1.2 have been satisfied and whether this person
is entitled to payment or reimbursement of expenses in advance of the final disposition
of a proceeding as provided in 15.1.3 may be made by an annually appointed committee
of the board, having at least one member who is a director. The committee shall
report at least annually to be board concerning its actions.
15.1.7 Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on
behalf of a person in that person's official capacity against any liability asserted
against and incurred by the person in or arising from the capacity, whether or not
the Corporation would have been required to indemnify the person against the liability
under the provisions of this Article.
15.1.8 Disclosure. If the Corporation indemnifies or advances expenses
to a person under this article in connection with a proceeding by or on behalf of
the Corporation; (it) shall report to the members in writing the amount of the indemnification
or advance and to whom and on whose behalf it was paid not later than the next meeting
of members.
15.1.9 Indemnification of Other Persons. This article does not limit the
power of the Corporation to indemnify other persons.
ARTICLE 16: MISCELLANEOUS
The current Robert’s Rules of Order shall be the usual order of business
when not in conflict with the Bylaw’s of the Sleep Research Society or unless
the board of directors determines the need for variation from this order.
16.1. The usual order of Business of the Board shall be:
1. Roll Call
2. Approval of Minutes
3. Reports of Officers
4. Report of Committee on Membership
5. Election of Members
6. Report on the SRS journal(s) and other SRS publications
7. Reports of Committees
8. Unfinished Business
9. Introduction of Resolutions
10. New Business
11. Adjournment
16.2 The usual order of business of the annual business meeting of the
Corporation shall be:
1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Minutes
3. Installation of Officers for the ensuing year
4. Reports of Secretary – Treasurer, Retiring President, and President for
the ensuing year
5. Miscellaneous Business
6. Adjournment
16.3 Vote by roll call shall be had upon demand of a majority except in
matters of membership, discipline, and election, all of which shall be by ballot.
ARTICLE 17: WAIVER OF NOTICE
Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of the Bylaws or
under the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation or by the State of Minnesota
nonprofit Corporation Act, a waiver thereof in writing signed by the person or persons
entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall
be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.
ARTICLE 18: AMENDMENT
Amendments may be proposed by a majority of a quorum of the members of the Corporation
at a business meeting or by a majority of the Board of Directors or by a majority
of the Executive Committee or by a petition by at least 15% of the members of the
Corporation. Upon notification of a properly proposed amendment, the Secretary-Treasurer
shall prepare a ballot containing the proposal and send it to all members. An amendment
is adopted by a two-thirds majority of the members voting by mail ballot returned
to the Secretary-Treasurer before the specified deadline, provided the number of
returned ballots include at least 15% of the membership.