Sleep Research Society

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, (here-inafter called the “Corporation” or “SRS”).

ARTICLE 2: PURPOSE AND GOALS
The Corporation has been organized to operate exclusively for charitable, scientific, and educational purposes, and more specifically:

To foster

To provide

To promote

To establish

To exercise

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 sub-stantial part of the activities of the Corporation shall consist of carry-ing 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 name of the corporation is the Sleep Research Society, (here-inafter called the “Corporation” or “SRS”). 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 corre-sponding 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, student members, associate members, and corresponding 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 or documentation of research. Full members pay annual dues set by the Board of Directors. Full members are subscribed to publications owned or operated by the SRS and receive all other member informational mailings. 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 who, having attained the age of 65, 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 Student Members shall be persons who are engaged in an academic program of study with a sleep research related component on at least a half-time basis. Student members must be endorsed by a full or emeritus member in good standing. Student members pay lower membership dues than Full members as set by the Board of Directors. Student members do not have voting privileges.

6.1.4 Associate Members shall be members actively engaged in sleep research, usually as a member in the laboratory of a full, emeritus, or corresponding member, but are not eligible for another membership class as determined by their curriculum vitae. 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 created to provide Society members the opportunity to establish an affiliation with a group of professionals who share common interests and ideas. Section sponsored activities and programs should encourage and promote research and education in its area of specialty. The SRS shall have neither fewer than three (3) nor more than seven (7) Sections.

7.1.1 Section Leadership. Each Section shall elect a Section Chair annually. Section Chairs may serve up to three one-year terms. The responsibilities of the Section Chair shall be designated by the Board of Directors.

7.1.2 Section Members. Members of the SRS from all membership classes shall be encouraged to designate one Section of primary interest. Membership in a section is limited to SRS members. Members may join only one section. Members may contact the registered office of the SRS to change Section affiliation if their area of concentration changes.

7.1.3 Creation of New Sections.Creation of a new Section requires a petition to the Board of Directors signed by greater than 10% of the voting members of the SRS and approved by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may establish new Sections should it determine there is a need created by scientific advancement and development in the field.

7.1.4 Elimination of Sections. Sections are considered no longer viable when voting membership in a Section falls below 10% of the voting members of the SRS for two consecutive years. . The members of eliminated Sections may select a section of primary interest from among existing sections.

ARTICLE 8: BOARD OF DIRECTORS
8.1 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. At least one Director shall be elected from each section. The remaining positions may represent any Section or constituency of membership that carries full voting privileges.

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 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 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 student 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 annual 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 authority establishing any committee shall 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 therefor, 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 principal 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.
A. 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:

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
16.1 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.

16.1.1 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

16.1.2 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

16.1.3 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.