NAL Organization

BYLAWS OF THE NASA ALUMNI LEAGUE JOHNSON SPACE CENTER CHAPTER

(As ratified by the Chapter membership on 09/24/2002)

I.  NAME, AFFILIATION, LOCATION

        Section 1.   The name of this organization shall be the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Alumni League Johnson Space Center Chapter (NAL-JSC).

       Section 2.   NAL-JSC is a subsidiary chapter of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Alumni League, a non-profit organization incorporated in, and with Headquarters in, the District of Columbia.

       Section 3.  The office of NAL-JSC shall be located in the Houston, Texas area at a location determined by the NAL-JSC Officers and Board of Directors from time to time.  The office may be a Post Office box location or the permanent address of the current chapter President.

II.  OBJECTIVES AND GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

         Section 1.  The objectives of the NAL- JSC shall be consistent with those of the national organization, and shall include, but not be limited to:

                              a.  The conduct of aeronautical and space activities for charitable, scientific or educational purposes for the benefit of all humankind, and in support of the goals, objectives, programs, and activities of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as outlined in the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, as amended.  Such activities shall be related to the assigned mission of the Johnson Space Center.

               b.  The fostering of the development of beneficial aerospace technology in support of the assigned mission of the Johnson Space Center.

                c.  The furthering of the education of future space scientists and engineers in support of the mission of the Johnson Space Center and the objectives of the national organization.

               d.  The organization of social and educational activities in the Houston, Texas area to provide fellowship and current information about NAL and NASA activities to the chapter membership.

       Section 2.  The Bylaws of the NAL-JSC shall be consistent with the Bylaws of the national organization.

III.  MEMBERSHIP

 The membership of the NAL-JSC consists of former employees of NASA or the Jet Propulsion Lab who are current members of the national organization, being current in their dues, and who reside in the state of Texas.  The amount of dues is determined by the national organization, which allocates a portion of those dues to the NAL-JSC for its purposes.

IV.  MEETINGS

        Section 1.  The NAL-JSC shall hold at least one general membership meeting per year at a location in the Houston, TX area, for the purpose of transacting any appropriate chapter business and reporting on chapter activities to the membership, in fulfillment of the chapter objectives. Business may be transacted at any general membership meeting by a majority of those members present and voting.

       Section 2:  Special or additional general membership meetings of the NAL-JSC may be called at any time by a majority of the Governing Board of the Chapter (consisting of the Officers and Directors), at a time and place designated by the Governing Board.

       Section 3.  Special meetings of the NAL-JSC general membership shall be called promptly by the Governing Board upon the petition, delivered to the Secretary, of fifteen of the current members or ten percent of the membership, whichever is smaller, of the NAL-JSC.

       Section 4.  Notice of all meetings of the NAL-JSC general membership shall be mailed or transmitted electronically to the membership at least two weeks prior to the meeting date, and shall state the purpose, location, date and time, and other requirements of the meeting.

       Section 5.  The Governing Board of the NAL-JSC shall meet periodically and regularly to conduct business and plan chapter activities. The President or her/his designee will schedule the business meetings.  Any Officer or Director may request the president to call a business meeting, and the request will be honored promptly.  Any chapter member in good standing may attend any NAL-JSC business meeting.  Business may be transacted at any business meeting by a majority vote of the Officers and Directors present and voting. At least three business meetings will be held annually.

V.  OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

       Section 1.  Officers of the NAL-JSC shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.  No person may hold more than one office.

       Section 2.  There shall be a minimum of three Directors and a maximum of six Directors who shall serve with the Officers in the conduct of NAL-JSC business and activities. One Director shall be the immediate past President of the Chapter, who shall serve for at least one term as Director, unless he/she specifically declines the position.

       Section 3:  The Officers and Directors of the NAL - JSC shall constitute the Governing Board of the NAL - JSC.

       Section 4.  Officers and Directors shall be elected from among the general membership who are current in their dues. 

       Section 5.  The term of office for Officers and Directors shall be two years.  There is no limit on the number of consecutive terms that an individual may serve in one or more Officer or Director positions.

       Section 6.  Officers and Directors shall not receive any compensation for their services, but the Governing Board may, by resolution, authorize fair and reasonable reimbursement of expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

VI.  DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

        Section 1.  The President shall: preside at all general meetings, business meetings and other NAL-JSC functions; administer all affairs of the chapter in accordance with the decisions of the Officers, Directors, and membership;  act as the official representative of the chapter;  sign all agreements to which the chapter is party;  act as liaison between the NAL-JSC and the national organization;  have signature authority on all chapter financial accounts;  delegate responsibilities and powers, including the establishment and appointment of committee chairs, to other members of the chapter, as may be appropriate. After completion of the term of President, the outgoing President shall serve one term as a Director of the chapter.

       Section 2.  The Vice-President shall:  attend all general meetings, business meetings and other NAL-JSC functions and preside at any meeting when the President is not present;  oversee committees established by the chapter; carry out the duties of the President in the event of the President's inability to serve or act. The Vice-President shall succeed to the office of President in the event the President is removed from office or is unable to complete the elected term of office.

       Section 3.  The Secretary shall attend all general meetings, business meetings and other NAL-JSC functions and maintain official records of business transacted at these meetings and functions; provide minutes of all meetings promptly to the Officers and Directors; be responsible, as requested, for official correspondence directed by the Officers and Directors; and assist in other administrative functions such as maintaining current membership lists, and in issuing notification of meetings and chapter functions. The Secretary shall be supplied a copy of any chapter correspondence initiated by any Officer or Director, for purposes of maintaining official chapter files.

       Section 4.  The Treasurer shall:  attend all general meetings, business meetings and other NAL-JSC functions; receive, record and safeguard all moneys paid to the NAL-JSC; have signature authority on all chapter financial accounts; keep full, timely and accurate accounts of all financial transactions and the financial status of the chapter; provide periodic financial status reports to the Officers and Directors at business meetings; render a yearly report of financial condition of the chapter when requested by the Officers and Board of Directors; participate and support a yearly audit of chapter financial records by an Audit Committee appointed by the President;  pay all duly approved bills of the chapter in a timely manner; operate the financial activities of the chapter in a responsible manner by documenting all transactions, requiring receipts, etc.; make recommendations to the Officers and Directors concerning the management of the chapter accounts; provide all tax documentation for local or national chapter requirements.

       Section 5.  Directors shall:  attend all general meetings, business meetings and other functions of the NAL-JSC; provide support and guidance to the Officers of the chapter; chair committees as requested by the President; identify opportunities for chapter service and activities; help to secure support and resources for the chapter, as approved by the President.

One Director position shall be filled by the outgoing President after each chapter election.

VII.  ELECTIONS/VACANCIES/REMOVAL FROM OFFICE

        Section 1.  Officers and Directors shall be elected bi-annually (every two years, in even numbered years) by a majority of those Chapter members voting via a ballot sent to the Chapter membership.

       Section 2.  A  Chapter Nominating Committee, consisting of at least one Governing Board member and one general member, shall be appointed by the President during the February - April time period of election years. The Nominating Committee shall formally solicit the Chapter membership for candidates for the Officer and Director positions, and shall provide an official slate of nominees to the Governing Board by April 30 of election years.  All nominees/candidates shall be current Chapter members in good standing.

       Section 3.  Ballots shall be provided to the Chapter membership listing all candidates for the Officer and Director positions during the period May - July of election years.  Ballots may be provided by electronic means or by paper mail; must allow two weeks for the membership to respond;  and must be returned to the designated Chapter address by July 31, of election years in order to be considered.  Write - in votes will be permitted for all positions, and the ballot shall specifically contain a place for write - in votes for each position.

       Section 4.  The Chapter Governing Board shall serve as the Teller Committee and shall count all valid ballots, and shall notify all candidates, and the general membership, of the election results.

       Section 5.  Officers and Directors shall assume their elective positions no later than August 15 of election years, and shall serve normal terms of two years from the time they enter office.

       Section 6.  If an Officer or Director position becomes vacant, the remaining members of the Governing Board may appoint, by majority vote, a replacement to serve the remainder of the term from among the regular members of the Chapter in good standing.

       Section 7.  An Officer or Director may  be removed from office for cause by a vote of two - thirds of the Governing Board acting on its own authority.  Removal may also be initiated by a petition to the Governing Board, delivered to the Secretary, signed by at least fifteen members of the Chapter or ten percent of the membership, whichever is smaller, whereupon the Governing Board will solicit input from the general membership, and vote on the petition.  An Officer or Director who is being considered for removal will have the right to present his/her position on the issue in question, and defense, to the Governing Board.   A removal from office will be immediate upon affirmative vote of the Governing Board and there will be no appeal.

VIII.  STANDING AND TEMPORARY COMMITTEES

        Section 1.  The Governing Board may establish standing committees to carry out the regular and routine business of the Chapter. The President shall appoint standing committee membership and chairs.

       Section 2.  The President may establish temporary committees, as necessary, to carry out special and transient activities and requirements of the Chapter. The President shall appoint temporary committee membership and chairs, and shall designate the responsibilities, duties and duration of the temporary committees.

       Section 3.  The Vice - President shall routinely oversee the activities, progress and products of all standing and temporary committees.

 IX.  GENERAL PROVISIONS

        Section 1.  The NAL - JSC fiscal year shall be from January 1 to December 31 of each year.

       Section 2.  Annually, during the month of January, the President, working with the Treasurer, shall appoint an Audit Committee to review the financial activities and records of the previous fiscal year and to provide a report on the findings to the Governing Board no later than February 15.

       Section 3.  Parliamentary authority shall be governed by the rules in the  current issue of ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER for points not covered by these By Laws.

       Section 4.  The NAL - JSC shall use its funds only to accomplish the stated Objectives and Requirements of the Chapter, and no part of the Chapter funds shall inure to or be distributed to the members of the NAL - JSC upon dissolution of the Chapter.

       Section 5.  Upon dissolution of the NAL - JSC the residual funds and resources shall be distributed to the parent Chapter of the NASA Alumni League, in Washington. D.C. or to an appropriate charity, as required by the chapter's not-for-profit status.

X.  RATIFICATION AND AMENDMENT

        Section 1.  The initial ratification of these By - Laws must be accomplished by the affirmative vote of two thirds of the members voting on their acceptance. The By - Laws will be in force immediately upon ratification.

       Section 2.  These By - Laws may be amended upon the recommendation of two thirds of the existing Governing Board members, and the recommended amendment will be submitted promptly in writing to the general membership for consideration. The amendment will be adopted upon the affirmative vote of two - thirds of the members voting, and will be implemented within one month of the completion of the vote.

       Section 3.  These By - Laws may be amended by a petition for amendment, delivered to the Secretary, signed by fifteen members, or ten percent of the membership, whichever is smaller. Upon verification by the Governing Board of the validity of the amendment petition, it will be promptly submitted in writing to the general membership for consideration. The amendment will be adopted upon the affirmative vote of two - thirds of the members voting, and will be implemented within one month of the completion of the vote.