URTV Bylaws - ourasheville.org

URTVBylaws
June2005
Article1.
LOCATION,
CORPORATE
SEALand FISGALYEAR
NAME,MISSION,PURPOSES,
in
1. Name.The nameand purposesof thiscorporation
shallbe URTV,Inc.(hereinafter
"Corporation"),
referred
to
the
unless
and
until
changed
by
amendment
as
theseBylaws
of the Articlesof Organization.
is to empowereveryresidentof our
2. Mission.The Missionof the Corporation
providing
to createand presenttelevision
means
and
opportunities
equal
communityby
principles
programming
of freespeech.
in keepingwithFirstAmendment
shallbe as setforthin the Articlesof
3. Purposes.The purposesof the Corporation
butnotlimitedto:
Incorporation
andthesebylaws,including
. Operatea publicaccesschannelwhichwillincludeprogramming
produced
by
members
o Protectand utilizethe FirstAmendment
rightto freedomof expression
on the
Countycablesystems;
Asheville
and Buncombe
. Promotecitizeninvolvement,
and educationby providinga forumfor
awareness,
of civicimportance;
of information
the dissemination
. Increase
throughtrainingand
communication
andmedialiteracy
community
groups,
in producingnonto individuals,
or organizations
technicalassistance
programming
publicaccess
for the designated
commercial,
community-oriented
channel(s);
o Providesoundfinancialandoperational
management
to ensurepublicaccess
services;
o Ensureavailability
basis;
of publicaccessresources
on a nondiscriminatory
. Reflectthe diversityof the community
in termsof the board,staff,and users.
withinthe
charitable,
scientific
andeducational
shallbe exclusively
Suchpurposes
meaningof Section501(c)(3)of the InternalRevenueCodeof 1954,as amendedfrom
timeto time.
in the Stateof NorthCarolinashall
4. Location.The principalofficeof the Corporation
maychangethe
NC28804.The Directors
be locatedat 595OldTollRd.in Asheville
principal
effective
filing
a
with
the
Secretaryof
locationof the
office
upon
certificate
Stateof NorthCarolina.
mayadoptandalterthe sealof the Corporation.
5. CorporateSeal.The Directors
shallendon June30 of eachyear,
6. FiscalYear.Thefiscalyearof theCorporation
unlessothenryise
decidedby the Boardof Directors.
Article 2.
MEMBERSHIP
z
1. Eligibility.Membership
in the Corporation
is opento all persons,organizations,
institutions,
corporations,
andotherentities
workingor residing
(1)in Aiheville,(2)in
BuncombeCounty,or (3) in thoseareasso designated
by the Boardof Directors.
Members
shallbe in harmony
withtheCorporation's
purposes,
abideby its Bylaws,and
contribute
to the Corporation
in the formof membership
duesor otherdonationsas
approvedby the Boardof Directors
andamendedby the Boardfromtime-to-time.
2. VotingMembers.Votingmembership
is opento (a)anyduespayingindividual
memberand (b)onedesignated
representative
of a duespayingorganizational
member. Votingmembersin goodstandingas of 60 dayspriorto the dateof the
membership
meetingshallbe entiiledto vote.
3. Categoriesof Membership.The Boardof Directors
mayfromtime-to{imecreate
anddissolvecategories
of membership,
anddetermine
thefees,obligations,
rightsand
benefitsthatapplyto eachcategoryof membership.
4. VotingRights.At everyregularor specialmeeting
of themembership,
each
votingmembershallbe entitled
to one(1)voteon eachmattersubmitted
to a
voteof the membership.
5. Proxies.No proxyvoteswill be allowedon anymattersubmitted
to a voteof
the membership.
Article 3.
MEETINGS
OF THEMEMBERSHIP
l. AnnualMeeting.An annualmeetingof members
shallbe heldon or beforethe last
Saturdayin June.Theannualmeetingshallbe opento thegeneralpublic.
2. SpecialMeetings.A specialmeetingof members
maybe calledat anytimeby a
majorityvoteof Directors
at a dulyconvenedBoardmeetingor by a writtenrequest
submitted
to the Clerkof the Corporation
by a minimum
of 15 members
or ten percent
(roundedup)of the votingmembersof the Corporation
as of the dateof the request
whicheveris greater.Saidrequestshallstatethe purposeor purposesfor whichthe
meetingis to be held,andonlybusiness
germane
to thosepurposes
shallbe
transacted.
Specialmeetings
shallbe convened
notlessthan30 daysandnotmore
than60 daysfollowing
the callfor suchmeeting.
3. Placeof Meetings.All meetings
of themembers
shallbe heldat the principal
office
of the Corporation
in Asheville,
or at suchotherplaceas the Boardof Directors
mayfix.
4. Noticeof Meetings.A writtennoticeof everyregularor specialmeetingof the
membersshallbe mailed,or distributed
viaelectronic
means,at leastteh (10)days
beforethe meetingto eachmemberat his or heraddressas it appearsuponthe
recordsof the Corporation.
The callfor the meetingshallbe madeby the Clerkor in the
caseof hisor herabsenceor incapacity,
by anyotherofficer,
andshallstatethe date,
hours,andpurposeof the meeting,
andplaceat whichit is to be held.
3
a quorumshallconsistof
5. Quorum.At anyannualor specialmeetingof the members,
according
to the membership
ten percentof the votingmembersof the Corporation
rosteras of 60 dayspriorto the meeting.
Article 4.
BOARDOF DIRECTORS
shallbe managedby the Boardof
1. Powersand Duties.The affairsof the Corporation
powers
who shallhaveand mayexerciseall
of the Corporation,
exceptthose
Directors,
powersreservedto the membersby law,the Articlesof Organization,
or theseBylaws.
shallnot be greaterthaneleven(11). After
2. Number.The numberof votingDirectors
process
the boardstructureshallbe as follows:
the initialthree-yearinitiator/startup
. Two (2) Directors
votingmembers;
shallbe electedby andfromthe Corporation's
. Two (2) Directors
by the AshevilleCityCouncil;
shallbe appointed
. Two (2) Directors
shallbe appointedby the BuncombeCountyCommissioners;
and
. Five(5) Directorsshallbe selectedby the sittingBoardof Directors.
3. SelectionProcessfor Directorsselectedby the sitting Boardof Directors.
A Nominating
Committee
createdby the Boardof Directors
for
shallproposecandidates
eachopeningfor a selectedmemberon the Board.The Nominating
Committeeis
for the Boardrepresent
encouraged
to ensurethatnominees
as closelyas possiblethe
racial,ethnic,geographic,
cultural,
andeconomic
diversity
of the communities
served.
The proposedslateof candidates
shallbe communicated
to the Board,in a manner
(14)
determined
by the Board,no lessthanfourteen
dayspriorto the firstregularboard
meetingfollowingthe annualmeeting,at whichthe selectionshalltakeplace. The
Boardshallattemptto makethe selections
for eachof the selectedseatsby consensus
(3/4)
of the sittingBoard;failingthat,the selections
shallbe madeby a three-quarter
majorityvoteof the sittingBoard.
4. Voting. EachvotingDirectorshallhaveone (1)vote,withthe exceptionof the
President,
whoshallnotvoteunlessto breaka tie.
5. Term of Office.
(a) lnitialThree-Year
lnitiatorlStartup
Process:The CorporationBoardwill begin
operationwithselectedandappointed
seats. Six (6) of the initialDirectorsof the
Corporation
willservefor three-year
terms,andfive(5) Directors
willservefor
two-yearterms.lnitialtermswillbe determined
by lot. Oncethe initialDirectors
termsare completed
and beginning
withthe secondannualmeeting,all Directors
will servetwo-yearterms.
(b) OngoingStructure;Afterthe initialthree-yearinitiator/startup
processthe
term of eachDirectorshallbe two (2) years.No memberof the Boardof
Directorsshallservemorethantwo (2) consecutive
termswithouta two (2) year
periodoff the board.
4
6. Resignationor Removal.A Directormayresignby delivering
hisor herwritten
resignation
to the Corporation
at its principal
office,or by presenting
it in writingto the
Presidentor the Boardat a Boardmeeting.Suchresignation
shallbe effectiveuponits
acceptance
by the Boardof Directors.
A Director
whofailsto attendthree(3)consecutive
regularly
scheduled
Boardmeetings
withoutnoticeto the President
andfor goodcausemaybe removedfromthe Boardof
Directorsat a regularor specialmeetingof the Boardof Directors.
(2/3)majorityof the votingDirectors
A Directormay be removedby a voteof two-thirds
proposed
thenin office.A Director
to be removed
shallbe entitled
to at leastten (10)
daysnoticein writingby mailbeforethe Boardmeetingat whichsuchremovalis to be
votedupon,and shallbe entitledto speakon the matterpriorto the vote.
7. Vacancies.A vacancyon the Boardof Directors
arisingat anytimeandfromany
causemaybe filledfor the unexpired
term.
. Vacancies
of electedDirectors
shallbe filledby election
of the membersin the
mannerdescribed
in Article8.
. Vacanciesof selectedDirectors
shallbe filledby selectionof the Boardin the
mannerdescribed
in Article4.3.
. Vacanciesof Cityappointed
Directors
shallbe filledby appointment
of the City.
. Vacanciesof CountyappointedDirectors
shallbe filledby appointment
of the
County.
8. Disqualification.No memberof the Corporation's
staffshallserveon the Boardof
Directors.No Directormayapplyfor a staffpositionwithoutfirstresigning
fromthe
Board.
9. Compensation.Directors
shallnot be compensated
for servicesas a Directornorfor
providingany non-board
relatedservicesto the Corporation.
The Corporation
may
reimburseany Directorfor necessary
expensesincurredin the execution
of his or her
Boarddutiesandresponsibilities.
10.Gonflictof lnterest.No employee
or representative
of anycableoperatorin
the franchiseareamayserveas a Directoron the Board.
Article 5.
MEETINGS
OF THEBOARDOF DIRECTORS
1. RegularMeetings.Regularmeetings
of the Directors
maybe heldat suchplaces
and at suchtimesas the Directors
maydetermine.
Thereshallbe at leasteight(B)
peryear,oneof whichshalloccurwithinfour(4)
regularmeetingsof the Directors
Meeting
weeksfollowing
theAnnualMembership
andanothershalloccurwithinfour(4)
weeksfollowing
All regularmeetings
shallbe opento the generalpublic.
thatmeeting.
in the
Noticesof regularBoardMeetings
willfollowtheguidelines
specified
postedat thefacilities
of the
Management
Agreement(s)
andbe prominently
5
Corporation
at leastseven(7) dayspriorto suchmeetingand noticesof regular
mail,or distributed
via fax or e-mail,to eachof
meetingsmustbe mailedby first-class
the directorsat leastseven(7) daysbeforesuchmeeting.
2. SpecialMeetings.A specialmeetingof the Directors
maybe calledby the President
or by four(4) or moreDirectors,
of the Boardof Directors,
and shallbe heldat suchtime
and for suchpurposesas maybe specifiedin the callfor saidmeeting.Schedulesand
postedat leastfive (5) daysin
noticesof SpecialBoardMeetings
will be prominently
advanceof suchmeetingat the facilities
of the Corporation
and noticesof Special
BoardMeetingsmustbe mailedby first-class
mail,or distributed
via fax or e-mail,to
eachof the directorsat leastseven(7)daysbeforesuchmeeting.
3. Quorum.Six directorsor a majorityof the votingDirectors
currentlyin office,
whicheveris greater,shallconstitute
a quorumfor the transaction
of business.
4. Action of the Boardof Directors.Theact of the majorityof the Directorspresentat
a meetingat whicha quorumis presentshallbe the act of the Boardof Directors,
unlessthe act of a greaternumberis requiredby lawor by thesebylaws.Thereshallbe
no vote by proxy.
5. ExecutiveSession.The Boardof Directors
maygo intoExecutive
Sessionby a
majorityvoteof the quorumpresent.
Article6. OFFICERS
1. Officers.The Officersof the Corporation
shallincludea President,
Vice-President,
Treasurer,
and Clerk.The Boardof Directors
shallelectall Officersfromamongits
members.Boardmembersmusthaveservedat leastone yearon the Boardto be
eligibleto holdexecutiveoffice.
2. Term.Officersshallhavetermsof oneyearand mayholdthe sameexecutiveoffice
for a maximumof two consecutive
one-yearterms.
3. President.The President
shallchairall meetingsof Membersand Directors,
act as
the principaladvisorby whichthe Corporation
canaccomplish
its business,and be
familiarwithall phasesof activitywithinthe Corporation.
The President
shallnominate
the chairpersons
of all othercommittees.
4. Vice-President.
TheVice-President
shallperformallfunctions
andassumeall
responsibilities
of the President
whenthe President
is unableto do so.
5. Treasurer.TheTreasurershallserveas the chieffinancialofficerand shalladvise
and overseethe booksand recordsof the Corporation.
6. Glerk.The clerkshallact as the secretary
of the corporation
and maintaincustodyof
the corporateseal. The Clerkshallrecord,prepare,maintainanddisseminate
minutes
of the meetings,issuenoticesof all meetingsof the Boardof Directorsand performany
otherdutiesrequiredby theseBylaws.
7. Electionand Tenureof Officers.EachOfficershallbe electedannuallyat the
secondBoardmeetingafterthe annualmeetingof the members,andshallholdoffice
untilthe secondBoardmeetingafterthenextannualmeetingof members
and untilhis
or hersuccessor
is chosen,unlessa shorterperiodhasbeenspecified
by thetermsof
his or herelectionor appointment,
or untilhe or she resigns,is removed,or rotatesoff
the Board.
8. Resignationor Removal.AnyOfficermayresignby delivering
hisor herwritten
resignation
to the Corporation
at its principal
office,or by announcing
hisor her
resignation
in personat a Boardmeeting.Suchresignation
shallbe effectiveuponits
acceptance
by the Board.The Boardof Directors
mayremoveany Officerfromofficeby
a two-thirds(2/3)voteof the Boardwhenever,
in theirjudgment,the bestinterestsof the
Corporation
willtherebybe served.
9. Vacancies.lf anyofficebecomes
vacant,the Boardof Directors
shallappointa
successorto comoletethe termof the vacantoffice.
Article7. COMMITTEES
OF THEBOARD
The boardshallcreatethreestanding
Executive
Finance
committees;
Committee,
Committee
andNominating
Committee.
ThePresident
shallappointthe chairpersons
and membersof all standingcommittees,
exceptthe Executive
Committee,
subjectto
the approvalof the Boardof Directors.
Eachstandingcommittee
shallconsistof at leastthree(3) BoardMembers.No member
of the Boardshallsit on morethantwo standingcommittees.
The ExecutiveDirector
shallbe a non-voting
memberof eachstanding
Fromtime-to-time,
committee.
as needdictates,the Boardmaycreateothercommittees.
1. ExecutiveCommittee.The Executive
Committee
shallconsistof the Officersof the
Corporation.
The Boardmayat times,by majority
vote,givethe Executive
Committee
the powerto makespecific
Any
decisions
whenno regularBoardmeetingis scheduled.
actionsof the Executive
Committee
shallbe reportedto the nextregularmeetingof the
Boardof Directorsandshallbe subjectto revisionandalteration
by the Boardof
providedthatno rightsof thirdpartiesshallbe affectedby suchrevisionsor
Directors,
alterations.
2. FinanceGommittee.
The President
shallconvene
a FinanceCommittee
chairedby
theTreasurer.The FinanceCommittee
shallreviewtheannualfinancial
statements,
the
approveannualfiscalauditreports,and recommend
to the Boardof Directors
public
lt shallbe
selectionof an independent
certified
for the Corporation.
accountant
financial
reportto the
the responsibility
of the FinanceCommittee
to submita quarterly
Boardof Directors;
on thescopeandadequacy
of theannualauditandrelatedfees;
advisingthe Boardof Directors
on the effectiveness
andadequacyof the Corporation's
internalaccounting
criticisms
or
controls,
andincludeitsfindingon errors,omissions,
recommendations
developed
fromtheannualauditof the independent
certified
accountant.
Committee,
shallconvenea Nominating
3. NominatingCommittee.The President
proposecandidates
for
whennecessary,
whichshallannually,andfromtime-to-time
will
Committee be
eachopeningfor a selectedmemberon the Board.The Nominating
for the Boardrepresent
as closelyas possiblethe
to ensurethatnominees
encouraged
served.
racial,ethnic,geographic,
cultural,andeconomicdiversityof the communities
Committee
shallalsooverseethe electionof Directorsas outlinedin
The Nominating
ArticleB below.
maycreateand dissolveotherstanding
4. Other Gommittees.The Boardof Directors
The Boardshalldefinethe objectives,
dutiesand
as required.
or temporarycommittees
grant
and
them
rightsof thesecommittees,
establishcriteriafor theirmembership,
powerssubjectto theircompliance
withthe Articlesof Organization
and theseBylaws.
Article 8.
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
1. Nominationby Petition.Any individual
memberin goodstanding
maybe nominated
by the membership
usingthe followingprocedure:
(a) No lessthansixty(60)dayspriorto the annualmeeting,the Board's
Nominating
Committee
shallsendnoticeto all membersof the Corporation
notifyingthemof the procedures,
timeframe,and deadlinefor filinga petitionfor
nomination
to the Boardof Directors.Suchnoticeshallindicatethe numbersof
Directorsto be electedin eachyear.
(b) lrrespective
petitionsfor
of the numberof membersof the Corporation,
nomination
mustcontaina totalof at leastten (10)signatures
of individual
membersor representatives
of organizational
members.Onlyone signatureper
organizational
memberis allowed.All petitions
for nomination
mustalsoinclude
paragraph
an informational
aboutthe nomineeto be suppliedto all membersas
partof the ballot.
2. Ballot. The Board'sNominating
Committee
shallverifyall petitions
for nomination
and createthe ballotto be distributed
in the Corporation.
to all classesof membership
The ballotwill includethe proposedslateof candidates
for openelecteddirector
position(s).Theslatewillincludeindividuals
nominated
by petition
andmayinclude
othersidentified
by the Nominating
Committee.The ballotshallclearlyindicatethe
deadlineit mustbe returnedby the memberto be considered
valid.
3. Electionby MailedBallot.Electionof all of the electedDirectors
shallbe
accomplished
by distributed
ballot
(a) Eachmembershall,on the suppliedballotform,castvotesfor not morethan
the numberof positions
thatare available.
Eachvoteshallbe for a different
person.
(b) Violationof any provision
of thisSectionshallinvalidate
the member'sentire
ballot.
(c) In the eventthattwo (2) or morepersonseachreceivethe samenumberof
votes,the Chairperson
of the Nominating
Committee
shalldetermine,
by lot,
whichperson(s)
shallbe seatedas a Boardmember.
8
4. Certificationof Election.At the annualmeetingof the Corporation
the resultsof the
electionof Directors
shallbe announced
andcertifiedandthe newDirectors
shalltake
theirseatsuponthe Board.
Article 9.
PARLIAMENTARY
AUTHORITY
1. ParliamentaryAuthority.Robert'sRulesof Order,NewlyRevisedshallserveas
Parliamentary
Authority
at all meetings.
Article10.
GENERALMANAGER
1. GeneralManager.TheBoardof Directors
willhirea GeneralManager
whoshall
havethe authorityand responsibility
to manageandoperatethe Corporation's
affairsin
general
policies
accordance
withthe
anddirections
specifiedby the Boardof Directors,
and shallhavesuchadditional
authority
anddutiesas the Boardof Directorsmayfrom
prescri
time-to-time
be.
Article11. INDEMNIFICATION
1. Indemnification.
TheCorporation
indemnify
shall,to theextentlegallypermissible,
eachof its Directors
againstall liabilities,
counsel
feesandexpenses,
including
amounts
paidin satisfaction
of judgments,
in compromise
or as finesand penalties,
that he or
she reasonably
incursin connection
withthe defenseor disposition
of any action,suitor
othercivilor criminalproceedings
in whichhe or she maybe involvedor withwhichhe
or she may be threatened
by reasonof beingor havingbeena Director,
exceptwith
respectto any matterin whichhe or she is adjudicated
notto haveactedin goodfaithin
the reasonable
beliefthathisor heractionwas in the bestinterests
of the Corporation.
The rightsof indemnification
herebyprovidedshallnot be exclusive
of or affectany
personnel
otherrightsto indemnification
to whichcorporate
maybe entitledby law.
Article12.LIQUIDATION
OR DISSOLUTION
1. Liquidationor Dissolution.In theeventof the liquidation
or dissolution
of the
Corporation,
no Director
or membershallbe entitled
to anydistribution
or divisionof its
remainingpropertyor its proceeds.The balanceof all moneyand otherproperty
receivedby the Corporation
fromanysource,afterthe paymentof all debtsand
obligations
of the Corporation,
shallbe distributed
by the Boardof Directors
to such
for
organization
or organizations
whichare organized
andoperatedexclusively
charitablepurposesandwhichshallat thattimequalifyas tax-exempt
underSection
provision
501(c)(3)
of the lnternalRevenue
Codeof 1954or thecorresponding
of any
futureUnitedStatesInternalRevenuelaws,or to a unitof government
to the extent
requiredby the termsof any management
agreement
thenin effect.
Article13.AMENDMENTS
1. Amendments.Any partor allof theseBylawsmaybe altered,
amended,
or
presentat a regular
(2/3)voteof the Boardof Directors
repealedby a two-thirds
provided
thata quorumof
or specialBoardmeetingdulycalledforthatpurpose,
of the proposed
the Boardof Directorsis presentand noticeof the substance
to the Boardand postedat
amendments
or repealswas distributed
alterations,
principal
less
seven(7) daysbeforesuch
no
than
location
of
the
Corporation
the
meeting.