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Section 1. Purpose and Frequency.
Once every three (3) years, on a date and at a place to be fixed by the Board of Directors, a National Convention shall be convened for the election of directors and officers, the review of annual reports of the Board of Directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.
Section 2. Attendance and Participation.
The following persons shall be entitled to attend and participate at meetings of the National Convention. The total number of Delegates to the National Convention shall be determined as of a date at least sixty (60) days prior to the date of the Convention.
(a) Delegates to the National Convention
1. Chapter Delegates from chapters provisionally and permanently chartered. There shall be one (1) Delegate from Chapters
with 25-199 members, two (2) Delegates from Chapters with 200-499 members, and three (3) Delegates from Chapters with 500 or more members. Delegates shall be elected by the Chapters they represent and must be a member of those Chapters. Delegates shall serve from the beginning of the National Convention to prior to the beginning of the following National Convention. Each Chapter Delegate shall have one (1) vote. A Chapter may replace its Delegate(s) at any time by sending notice to the National President. A Delegate shall serve no more than two (2) consecutive three (3) year terms.
2. Coordinating Body Delegates. Coordinating Bodies with membership under 1000 members shall elect one (1) Delegate;
Coordinating Bodies with 1000-1999 members shall elect two (2) Delegates; Coordinating Bodies with 2000 or more
members shall elect three (3) Delegates. Coordinating Body Delegates shall serve from the beginning of the National
Convention to prior to the beginning of the following National Convention. Each Delegate will have one (l) vote. A
Coordinating Body may replace its Delegate(s) at any time by sending notice to the National President. A Delegate shall serve no more than two (2) consecutive three year terms.
3. Officers and Directors
4. Honorary President
5. Honorary Vice President(s)
6. Past Presidents' Council
(b) Alternates to the National Convention
1. Chapter Alternates. Each chapter may elect one (1) Alternate who may attend as a replacement for the regular Chapter
Delegate.
2. Coordinating Body Alternates. Each Coordinating Body may elect one (1) Alternate who may attend as a replacement for
the regular Delegate. All other members of the organization in good standing may attend the National Convention at their own expense.
Section 3. Notice(s) of National Convention.
An official written or printed "Call to the Convention" shall be issued at least six
months prior to the Convention date. Written or printed Notice of the National Convention, stating the place and date of the
Convention, shall be given either personally or by mail to each Delegate of record to the Convention at the address of such
Delegate not less than ten (10) days nor more than fifty (50) days before the date of the meeting.
Section 4. Quorum.
At the National Convention, (a) a quorum, for all purposes other than the election of Officers and Directors, shall consist of at least one hundred (100) Delegates or ten percent (10%) of the total number of Delegates entitled to vote at such meeting, whichever is less. (b) A quorum, for purposes of election of Officers and Directors shall consist of at least one hundred (100) Chapter Delegates or ten percent (10%) of the total number of Delegates entitled to vote for Officers and Directors, whichever is less.
Section 5. Voting.
(a) Election of Officers and Board of Directors
1. Only Chapter Delegates shall be entitled to vote in the election of Officers and the Board of Directors. This body of chapter
delegates will be known as the "House of Delegates." The election shall take place at a meeting of the House of Delegates.
2. Voting Procedures for the Election of Officers. Voting for the election of Officers shall be by voice vote or by a show of
hands, at the discretion of the Chair, if there is only one candidate for the office. If there are two or more candidates, then
voting shall be by ballot, and a majority vote shall be required in the case of two candidates and a plurality of the votes cast
shall be sufficient in the case of more than two candidates for the same office.
3. Voting Procedures for the Election of the Board of Directors. The election of the Board of Directors shall be by voice vote or
a show of hands, at the discretion of the Chair, if there are no additional candidates other than those proposed by the
Nominating Committee. If there are additional candidates, then voting shall be by ballot and the twenty-seven (27) candidates
receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected. (b) All matters other than the election of Officers and Board of Directors.
All delegates shall be entitled to vote on all matters other than the election of Officers and the Board of Directors.
Section 6. Action Between National Conventions.
(a) Unless otherwise specified by these Bylaws, or required by law, actions taken at a National Convention may be modified or
repealed in whole or in part between meetings of the National Convention by (1) the vote of the Board of Directors and
thereafter also by the approval of two-thirds (2/3) of the voting members required for a quorum at the Annual Meeting of
Members, voting at a special Meeting of Members or (2) by two-thirds (2/3) of the members at the Annual Meeting of
Members as set forth in Article V.
(b) Special Meetings of Members may be called by the Secretary upon the direction of the President, the Board of Directors or
ten percent (10%) of the total number of members.
(c) Notice of a special meeting shall also state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called and shall indicate that it
is being issued by or at the direction of the person or persons calling the meeting.
(d) Notice of Meeting. Notice of place, day and hour of any Special Meeting of Members shall be given by the Secretary by
mailing a copy of said notice by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to each member of the Organization, or by
delivering the same to her in person, at least ten (10) and no more than fifty (50) days before the date of the meeting, or by
such other legal means available.
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