BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I. OFFICES

A. PRINCIPLE OFFICE
The principle office of the association shall be located in Rock County, Wisconsin and the address shall be 2939 W. Finley Road, Beloit, Wisconsin 53511.

B. OTHER OFFICES
The association may also have offices at such other places as the Officers may designate.

ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP

A. ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP
Voting Members of the organization shall consist of licensed midwives providing maternity care to women and their families in an out-of-hospital location and temporary license holders. Students, non-practicing midwives, and other maternity care professionals may be non-voting members by paying their dues.

B. APPLICATION AND ACCEPTANCE FOR MEMBERSHIP
Application for membership shall be made to the Treasurer and acceptance as a member shall occur upon payment of the current membership fees.

C. PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP

1. All Members shall be entitled to attend meetings of the association and other functions of the organization at the fee in existence at the time in question.

2. Voting Members may chair meetings, make motions, vote at meetings, be members and chairs of committees, hold office in the association, and may be listed on the Web site of the organization.

D. VOTING RIGHTS OF MEMBERS
Each voting member shall be entitled to one vote.

E. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP AND REINSTATEMENT OF MEMBERSHIP

1. Termination: Membership may be terminated by:

a. Resignation;

b. Non-payment of dues.

2. Reinstatement: Membership terminated by:

a. Resignation shall be restored in the original manner.

b. Non-payment of dues shall be restored by payment of the current year's dues.

ARTICLE III. DUES AND FINANCE

A. FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year shall start September 1.

B. MEMBERSHIP DUES
Annual membership dues shall be the amount recommended by the Treasurer subject to the approval of a majority of the membership at the annual meeting the second Wednesday in September.

C. DUES DATE
Dues shall be due by September 1st of each year.

1. Any member whose dues are not paid by October 1st is delinquent.

2. Any member whose dues are not paid by November 1st shall forfeit membership.

3. Members who join after March 1st will have their first year of membership extended through August of the following year.

D. SIGNATURES
The president and the treasurer shall be authorized to sign checks and documents for the association.

ARTICLE IV. CONDUCT OF THE AFFAIRS OF THE ASSOCIATION
The affairs of the association shall be conducted by the membership at meetings of the association; by the officers according to their job descriptions with the approval of the membership, and by committees of the association with approval of the membership.

ARTICLE V. OFFICERS

A. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Officers shall be elected at the annual membership meeting the second Wednesday in September. Nominations for officers will be due by the May meeting. Paper ballots will be available from the Secretary by request of the membership; voting may also be done online as well as in person at the September meeting. Deadline for online voting will be noon on the day of the annual meeting.

B. TERM OF OFFICE
Officers shall take office at the close of the annual meeting at which their election is declared, and shall serve a term of three years, or until their successors are elected.

C. DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Officers of the association shall have the following duties:

1. President: The president shall provide leadership to the association; have general supervision of the affairs of the association; preside at meetings of the association; be authorized to sign or endorse checks in the absence of the treasurer; be coordinator of committees, and perform such other duties as are necessarily incident to the office of president.

2. Secretary: The secretary of the association shall be responsible for the minutes of meetings of the association and for the appropriate distribution of the minutes; for the agenda of meetings in cooperation with the president, and for the proper distribution of the agenda and for such other duties as pertain to the office.

3. Treasurer: The treasurer shall be custodian of the funds of the association; give an itemized report at each meeting; make recommendations and invest money with the approval of the membership; process membership applications, and perform such other duties as pertain to the office.

D. VACANCY IN OFFICE
Vacancies in office shall be filled by a special election at the next membership meeting.

ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS

A. ANNUAL MEETING
The annual meeting shall be held the second Wednesday in September at a location to be determined by the president, with notice to the membership. The date of the annual meeting may be changed by the membership at a prior meeting with notice to the membership.

B. OTHER MEETINGS
The membership may meet at mutually agreeable times and places with proper notice to all members. Generally the association shall meet bi-monthly with a regular meeting day to be set by the membership.

C. QUORUM FOR MEETINGS
A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum.

D. NOTICE FOR MEETINGS
Notice of a change in the meeting day shall be contained in the minutes and sent to all members. Notice of a special meeting shall be given at least five days in advance.

ARTICLE VII. COMMITTEES
The president or the membership of the association may, from time to time, as the need arises, establish standing or temporary committees to carry out the purposes and interests of the association.

ARTICLE VIII. DECISION MAKING
Decision making will be done by majority vote. If a quorum is not present to participate, a majority vote will be taken and an Internet ballot on the issue will be provided to the membership for voting within a two week period following the meeting. The outcome of the Internet ballot will be added to the vote at the meeting and a decision will be made.

ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS
The by-laws of the association may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at any membership meeting. Changes in the by-laws shall be published in the minutes of the meeting in question.

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