BYLAWS

                                                                         of the

                ILLINOIS LUMBER & MATERIAL DEALERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

 

                                                                   ARTICLE 1

                                            ORGANIZATION OF ASSOCIATION

 

            Section 1.  NAME.  The name of this Association shall be ILLINOIS LUMBER AND MATERIAL DEALERS ASSOCIATION, INC., and the principal office of the Association in the State of Illinois shall be located in the City of Springfield and County of Sangamon.

 

            Section 2.  SEAL.  This Association shall have a corporate seal, which shall have inscribed on it the corporate name of the company and the word "Illinois".

 

                                                                   ARTICLE II

                                                                     OBJECTS

 

            Section 1.  The objects of this Association shall be those enumerated in the Articles of Incorporation, and in furtherance thereof, no rules, regulations or bylaws shall be adopted in any manner stifling competition, limiting production, restraining trade, regulating prices or pooling profits, inconsistent with any federal or state statutes.

 

                                                                  ARTICLE III

                                                                MEMBERSHIP

 

            Section 1.  CLASSES OF MEMBERS.  The membership of this Association shall consist of four classes to be called Retail, Associate, Affiliate and Political members.

 

            Section 2.  MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS.  Any person, firm or corporation may become a member of this Association if they meet the criteria for membership, submit a written application and pay the dues prescribed by the Board of Directors.  Criteria for membership in the Association shall be:

 

                        (a) RETAIL MEMBER

           

            1.  Any person or entity maintaining a permanent retail establishment properly equipped and adequate for servicing and selling to the public at retail and not primarily for the member's own consumption; and

 

            2.  Having an office, retail outlet, storage yard(s) and warehouse(s) open during normal business hours, with facilities commensurate with the nature of the building material business and who carry any one or more of an inventory of lumber, building materials, millwork or hardware for the purpose of selling at retail.

                        3.  All regular members of the Association prior to January 1, 1990, may maintain membership as a Retail Member so long as they continue to operate in a manner and area of business consistent with their operations at the time they became a regular member.

 

                        (b) ASSOCIATE MEMBER

 

            1.  Any person or entity engaged in the business of selling merchandise, equipment or services to Retail Members.

 

                        (c) AFFILIATE MEMBER

 

            1.  Any person or entity whose business is affiliated with the lumber, building material, millwork, or hardware industries who is not a Retail or Associate Member of the Association; or

 

            2.  Any person who was an officer, director or held an ownership interest in a Retail or Associate Member but who no longer acts in that capacity: or

 

            3. Any person or company that has retired from the industry but wishes to maintain affiliation with the association and its members and events.

 

                        (d) POLITICAL MEMBER

 

            1. Any person or entity whose business is affiliated with the lumber, building material, millwork, or hardware industries who is not a Retail , Associate or Affiliate Member of the Association but wishes to support the goals and objectives of the association through involvement in its political action initiatives and programs.

 

 

            Section 3.  REVIEW OF APPLICATION.  The Board of Directors or, between meetings of the Board, the Executive Committee, shall determine whether applicants have met the requirements for one of the classifications of membership as set forth in this Article.

 

            Section 4.  DUES.  The Board of Directors shall periodically establish the dues for membership in the Association.  These dues may vary based upon membership classification.  Any Retail Member who operates more than one yard in Illinois and who has been a Retail Member for more than one year shall be required to pay the dues approved by the Board of Directors for each yard or similar facility for which the services and benefits of the Association are provided.

 

            Section 5.  RECLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERSHIP.  Any member may at any time apply for reclassification of membership.  These applications shall be reviewed and considered as provided for in Section 3 of this Article.  The filing of or rejection of a request for reclassification shall not in and of itself result in the loss or modification of the existing membership status.

 

            Section 6.  TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP.

 

            (a) RESIGNATION.  Any member may withdraw from the Association by presenting a resignation in writing to the Board of Directors, such resignation to be effective upon receipt by the Board of Directors.  Resignation of a member shall not excuse the payment by such member of any back dues and assessments that may be delinquent.

 

            (b) NON‑PAYMENT OF DUES.  Any member in default in the payment of dues shall be suspended from all privileges of membership, and if, after notice, such default shall not be corrected within a period of ninety (90) days, the membership of such member shall automatically cease and terminate.

 

            (c) EXPULSION.  Any member may be removed from membership or otherwise disciplined by a majority vote of the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the members called for such purpose for failing to meet the criteria for membership established in this Article, for actions which jeopardize the Association, its assets or membership and for such other cause as the members find to be contrary to the purposes and policies of the Association.  However, no member can be removed for cause without first having been served with written notice of the allegations against the member, having been given the opportunity to produce and cross‑examine witnesses and to otherwise be heard at the meeting at which such vote is taken.  Specific guidelines for the conduct of all such hearings shall be developed and distributed by the Executive Director of the Association.

 

                                                                  ARTICLE IV

                                                                   MEETINGS

 

            Section 1.  ANNUAL MEETINGS.  An annual meeting of the Retail Members shall be held at the same time and location as the annual meeting of the Board of Directors or at such other place and on such other dates as may be determined by the Board of Directors.  The annual meeting shall be held for the purpose of electing the appropriate number of directors, hearing a status report on the Association, for approval of the financial statements of the Association and for such other purposes as may be specified in the call of the meeting.

 

            Section 2.  SPECIAL MEETINGS.  Special meetings of the Retail Members may be called by the President or by the Board of Directors or by not less than one‑fifth of the Retail Members of the Association.

 

            Section 3.  PLACE OF MEETING.  The Board of Directors may designate the day and place, either within or without the State of Illinois, as the day and place of meeting for any annual meeting of the Retail Members or for any special meeting of the Retail Members called by the Board of Directors.

 

            Section 4.  NOTICE OF MEETINGS.  Written or printed notices stating the place, day and hour of the meeting and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not less than five (5) nor more than forty (40) days before the date of the meeting, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the President, or the Secretary, or the officers or persons calling the meeting, to each member entitled to vote at such meeting.  If mailed such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the member at the address as it appears on the records of the Association, with postage thereon paid.

 

            Section 5.  QUORUM.  A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Retail Members of the Association.

 

 

            Section 6.  VOTING.  Any Retail Member present at the membership meeting may vote on matters coming before the membership.  Each Retail Member shall have one vote, notwithstanding that the member may have more than one line yard.  Only Retail Members shall be entitled to a vote at any meeting of the Retail Members of the Association.

 

                                                                   ARTICLE V

                                                                  DIRECTORS

 

            Section 1.  GENERAL POWERS.  The business and affairs of the Association shall be managed by its Board of Directors.

 

            Section 2.  NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS.  The Board of Directors shall consist of not less than thirteen (13) persons who are Retail and Associate Members of the Association.  The Board shall be made up of the following:

 

                        a.  PAST‑PRESIDENT.  The immediate Past President of the Association shall become a Director upon retirement from the office of President and shall serve as a Director for an additional two terms,  (4) years beyond the years of Presidency.

                       

                        b.  ELECTED OFFICERS.  The elected officers of the Association shall be Directors of the Association during their term of office, except those officers of the Association who are also members of the executive staff of the Association shall not be Directors.  Each officer’s term shall be two years.

 

                        c.  DIRECTORS.  There shall be at least nine (9) Directors who shall serve for a term of three (3) years or until a successor or successors shall have been elected and qualified.  No Director shall serve more than two (2) full consecutive three‑year terms, and shall be eligible for re‑election as a Director after an intervening one‑year term has elapsed.  The Directors shall be elected, as necessary, by the Retail Members present at the annual meeting of members. Notice shall be provided to Retail Members of the nominations for the position of Director at the same time as the notice of meeting required by Article IV, Section 4.

 

                       

                        d. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR.  There may be two Directors appointed from the Associate Member Class.

 

            Section 3.  REGULAR MEETINGS.  The annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be the last meeting of the Board of Directors in a calendar year and shall be held without other notice than provided in these bylaws at such time and place as the Board of Directors may prescribe by resolution.  The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place, either within or without the State of Illinois, for the holding of additional regular meetings without other notice than such resolution.

 

            Section 4.  SPECIAL MEETINGS.  Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the President or any seven (7) Directors who may fix the time and place, either within or without the State of Illinois, for the holding of any

special meeting of the Board of Directors called by them.

 

            Section 5.  NOTICE.  Notice of any special meeting shall be given at least five (5) days previous thereto by written notice delivered personally or mailed to each Director at their business address or by telegram.  If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail in a sealed envelope so addressed, with postage thereon prepaid.  If notice be given by telegram, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when the telegram is delivered to the telegraph company.  Any Director may waive notice of any meeting.  The attendance of a Director at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a Director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.  Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the business of, any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of such meeting.

           

            Section 6.  QUORUM.  A majority of the Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors.  The act of the majority of the Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.

           

            Section 7.  VACANCIES.  Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors may be filled by the Board of Directors itself.  A vacancy shall be deemed to exist when a duly elected or appointed Director resigns or is removed from the position of Director.  A Director elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office during the unexpired term of a predecessor in office and until a successor is elected and qualified.

 

            Section 8.  REMOVAL.  Any Director may be removed from office by a two‑thirds vote of the Directors present at any annual or special meeting of the Directors called for any of the reasons specified in Article III, Section 5 (c) for termination of membership.  However, no Director shall be removed without first being served with written notice of the allegations against him/her, having been given the opportunity to produce and cross‑examine witnesses and to otherwise be heard at the meeting at which such vote is taken.  Specific guidelines for the conduct of all such hearings shall be developed and distributed by the Executive Director of the Association.

 

            Section 9.  COMPENSATION.  Directors shall not receive any stated salaries for their service as Director, but by specific resolution of the Board of Directors or by the Board's approval of an expense policy or guidelines may receive a fixed sum or reimbursement for expenses for attendance at regular or special meetings of the board of Directors or such other Association activities as are provided for in the expense policy or guide‑lines.  Gifts, awards or gratuities to Directors are not precluded by this Section.

 

            Section 10.  POWER TO EMPLOY.  The Board of Directors shall have power to employ accountants, attorneys and such other persons as it shall deem necessary to advise the Board or the Association, and to fix the compensation therefore upon such terms and conditions as it shall, by resolution, provide.  The Board of Directors may delegate any or all of these powers to the Executive Director by resolution.

 

Section 11.  EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The Executive Committee shall include the President, Vice‑President, the Treasurer, the Secretary, the immediate two Past Presidents of the Association and those individuals serving on the National Lumber and Material Dealers Executive Committee and/or Board of Directors.  The Executive Committee shall have and exercise the authority of the Board of Directors in the manage­ment of the Association between meetings of the Board of Directors but the designation of such Committee shall not operate to relieve the Board of Directors or any individual Director of any responsibility imposed upon it or him/her by law.  The Executive Committee shall advise the Board of Directors of actions taken by the Executive Committee between meetings of the Board.  The Executive Director shall be an ex‑officio member of the Executive Committee.

 

            Section 12.  COMMITTEES.

 

                        a.  BUDGET, & FINANCE  AND INVESTMENT COMMITTEE.  The President of the Association may appoint from the membership of the Association a standing committee consisting of not less than three (3) members to serve as a Budget,  Finance and Investment Committee.  This Committee shall report to the Board of Directors and is authorized to review the preparation of the annual budget and to make recommendations to the Board concerning the bonding of employees, the investment of surplus funds of the Association, the designation of depositories, and other matters relating to the expenditure and safeguarding of funds of the Association.

 

                        b.  OTHER COMMITTEES.  Other committees may be appointed, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, by the President, as he deems necessary.  Such committees will be advisory in nature, shall report to the Board of Directors and shall not take action to preclude the management of the Association by the Executive Director.

 

            c.  PAST PRESIDENTS COUNCIL.  The Past Presidents of the Association shall upon completion of the term as President continue to serve the Association through a social and advisory Council to be known as the Past President Council.   The function of the Council shall be to:

 

a.) seek ways to encourage continued involvement for those members who have served but are no longer involved at the Board level.

 

b.) as needed to serve the Board, the Executive Committee, and the Directors as a technical advisory task force for Board and other important Association issues

 

c.) to serve as historians and archivist for the Association.

 

 

            Section 13.  UNANIMOUS CONSENT.  Action by unanimous consent may be taken by the Board of Directors, in writing, between meetings of the Board.

 

 

                                                                  ARTICLE VI

                                                       NATIONAL DIRECTORS

 

Section 1.  The President shall nominate and the Board of Directors shall elect a Board member or past Board member to serve the Association as Director of the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association for a term of three (3) years or until a successor shall have been elected.  There shall be elected one (1) alternate for the above Director to serve for a term of three (3) years or until a successor shall have been elected and qualified. If necessary because of an inability to attend a meeting by the elected director or the alternate the Executive Director of the Association shall represent the Association as a Director of the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association.

 

                                                                 ARTICLE VII

                                                                    OFFICERS

 

            Section 1.  NUMBER.  The officers of the Association shall be a President, Vice‑President, Secretary, a Treasurer, one or more Assistant Secretaries or Treasurers as required and an Executive Director.  The offices of Treasurer and Secretary may be held by the same person.

 

Section 2.  ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE.  The Officers of the Association shall be elected by the Board of Directors to serve for a term of two years (2) or until a successor shall have been elected and qualified.  Election of officers shall take place at the last Board of Directors meeting of the calendar year.  Vacancies may be filled for the unexpired term of any office and each officer shall begin on January 1st immediately following election and each officer shall hold office until a successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until death, resignation, or removal in the manner hereinafter provided.

 

            Section 3.  REMOVAL.  Any officer of the Association may be removed by the Board of Directors for the reasons and pursuant to the procedure specified for the removal of Directors in the procedure specified for the removal of Directors in Article

V, Section 8.  

 

            Section 4.  PRESIDENT.  The President shall be the principal elected officer of the Association.  He shall preside at all meetings of the members or Board of Directors.  He may sign, with the Secretary or any other proper officer of the Association thereunto authorized by the Board of Directors, any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, or other instruments which the Board of Directors has authorized to be executed, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or these bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Association, or shall be required by law to be otherwise signed or executed, and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time.

           

 

Section 5. VICE-PRESIDENT AND TREASURER.  In the absence of the President or in the event of the inability or refusal of the President to act, the Vice‑President, or in the event of the inability or refusal of the Vice President to act, the Treasurer shall perform the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President.  Any Vice‑President or Treasurer may perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the President or by the Board of Directors.

 

 

12/09