Massachusetts
Chess
Association
Inc.



Bylaws, Articles of Organization, and Related Documents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Saved: 1/26/00 9:34 PM

NOTE: This document recreates the original bylaws, with changes. Changes are noted as: (1) deleted text is “strikeout”, (2) added text is “double underlined”, unless otherwise noted.


Bylaws of the Massachusetts Chess Association, Inc.

 

(in committee as of Dec 28, 1999, Donna Alarie Chairperson)

 

Section 1

Name, Purpose, Location, Corporate Seal, and Fiscal Year

 

1.1       Name and Purpose.            The name of the corporation shall be “Massachusetts Chess Association, Inc.”. and purposes The purpose of the corporation shall be as set forth in the articles of organization. The Massachusetts Chess Association will be referred to as MACA in the balance of this document.

 

1.2            Location.         The principal office of the corporation in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall initially be located at the place set forth in the articles of organization of the corporation. The Executive Board may change the location of the principal office in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts effective upon filing a certificate with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

 

1.3            Corporate Seal.            The Executive Board may adopt and alter the seal of the corporation.

 

1.4       Fiscal Year.    The Fiscal Year of the corporation shall, unless otherwise decided by the Executive Board, end on June 30 in each year.

 

Section 2

Members and Affiliates

 

2.1            Membership and Affiliation.            Any individual or organization interested in chess may become, respectively, a member or an affiliate. There shall be four classes of memberships, and one class of affiliation.

            a. Adult Membership. Any individual 18 years of age or over, may become an Adult member upon payment of annual dues of $12.00. Adult members have full voting rights.

            b. Junior Membership. Any individual under 18 years of age may become a Junior member upon the payment of annual dues of $6.00. Junior members have no voting rights. Junior members, at their option, can convert to Adult members, by payment of the pro-rated Adult dues, upon their 18th birthday. Junior members do not automatically convert to Adult members.

            c. Life Membership. Any individual over 18 years of age may become a Life member upon the payment of one-time dues of $175.00 ($100.00 if 65 or older) and subsequent Executive Board approval. A member may be conferred a Life membership with no fee by the Executive Board’s unanimous vote (of those present and voting) at any meeting after reasonable and sufficient notice. Life members have full voting rights.

            d. Family Membership. The spouse or child or sibling of any Adult or Junior or Life member residing at the same address may become a Family member upon payment of annual dues of $4.00. Family members have no voting rights.

e. Adult, junior, and life members are voting members and can vote in elections and membership meetings. Family members cannot vote and do not receive a subscription to the official organ.

            e. f. Affiliation. Any organization may become an affiliate upon payment of annual dues of $25.00, the filing of an “Affiliate Information Form”, and the Executive Board’s 2/3 vote (of those present and voting) at any meeting after reasonable and sufficient notice.

            g.            i) Any individual may become a subscriber upon the payment of annual dues of $12.00

                        ii) Any New England primary or secondary school may become a subscriber upon payment of annual dues of $6.00.

                        iii) Any New England library may become a subscriber upon the payment of annual dues of $6.00

                        iv) Any chess club may become a subscriber upon the payment of annual dues of $12.00.

            f. h. The Executive Board may establish surcharges for special circumstances, such as the cost of Chess Horizons postage.

g. i. The Executive Board may offer, for a specified time, incentives, consistent with MACA’s tax-exempt status, for the purpose of promoting membership and raising funds.

j. The Executive Board may conclude agreements with other organizations to provide it’s magazine or other materials at rates to be set by the MACA Executive Board. Such agreements shall not confer membership status in MACA to this organization or its members, or benefits beyond receipt of such materials.

 

2.2       Length of Membership. Adult and Junior memberships and affiliations shall expire on the fifteenth day of the month, same month following year, twelve months after payment of dues. Memberships and affiliations may be extended for an additional years by paying additional appropriate annual dues.

a.            A Life membership expires immediately upon receipt of written notification by the Executive Board, of the member’s death or resignation.

b.            A membership expires immediately upon receipt of written notification by the Executive Board, of the member’s death or resignation.

c.            There is no refund of membership dues upon resignation or death.

 

2.3       Length of Affiliation.            Affiliations shall expire on the fifteenth day of the month, same month following year, after payment of dues. Affiliations may be extended for additional years by paying additional appropriate annual dues.

b.            An affiliation expires immediately upon receipt of written notification by the Executive Board, of the affiliation’s dissolution, or resignation.

c.            There is no refund of affiliation dues upon dissolution or resignation.

 

 

2.3       Powers and Rights.             In addition to the rights vested in the by-laws elsewhere and the articles of organization, the members shall have such other powers and rights as the Executive Board may designate.

 

2.4            Privileges.
            a.            Competition. A member shall be permitted to compete in any event held by the corporation, subject to such rules and regulations as may govern that event.
            b.            Subscriptions. Members, except Family members, and Affiliates shall receive annual subscriptions to the official organ.
            c.            Affiliate Services. Affiliates are entitled to such services, upon availability, as:
                        i) Initial organization kit, simultaneous exhibitions, lectures;
                        ii) Chess education materials;
                        iii) Advice on forming leagues, organizing and directing competitive chess events;
                        iv) Space in the official organ for affiliate and scholastic news;
                        v) Tournament supplies;
            d.            Agenda and Minutes. A member or an affiliate may receive all minutes, agenda to the Executive Board meetings, and proposed amendments to the articles of organization and by-laws upon payment of a prescribed fee.
 

 

 

2.5       Annual Meetings.
2.4       Types of Meetings.

a) Annual Meetings. The location and date of the annual meeting shall be specified by the Executive Board in the notice for the annual meeting and shall take place during the months of April or May at the site of the Massachusetts Championship. If an annual meeting is not held as herein provided, a special meeting of the members may be held in place thereof with the same force and effect as the annual meeting, and in such case all references in these by-laws, except in this section, Section 2.5 to the annual meeting of the members shall be deemed to refer to such special meeting. Any such special meeting shall be called and notice shall be given as provided in Sections 2.7 and 2.8. the sections titled “Special Meetings” and “Call and Notice”.

 

 

2.6  Regular Meetings.

b) Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the members may be held at such places within Massachusetts and at such times as the members may determine.

 

2.7       Special Meetings.

c) Special Meetings. Special meetings of the members may be held at any time and at any place within Massachusetts. Special meetings of the members may be called by the President or by the Executive Board upon the written application of thirty ormore voting members.

 

2.8       Call and Notice.

2.5       Call and Notice of Meetings
            a.            Annual and Regular Meetings. The call or notice for annual or regular meetings of the members shall be sent to all voting members. The call or notice must list either contracts or transactions of the corporation with interested persons, amendments to the articles of organization or to these by-laws (as adopted by the Executive Board or otherwise), or other items as required by law, the articles of organization, or these by-laws.