Sisters in Crime,
Rocky Mountain Chapter
By Laws

Bylaws Sisters in Crime - Rocky Mountain Chapter

The name of this nonprofit organization shall be Sisters in Crime, Rocky Mountain Chapter (hereafter known as Sisters in Crime/RMC). Its seal shall be identical to Sisters in Crime, Inc., the “parent” organization. Its principal office shall be located in Colorado.

To further the careers of women in the mystery writing field, to correct imbalances in the treatment of women writers, to promote recognition of their contribution to the field, to work in conjunction with Sisters in Crime, Inc.

Membership is open to anyone who has a special interest in mystery writing and in furthering the purposes of Sisters in Crime.
Section 1 - Active Membership. An active member is a paid-up member of the organization who lives in the Rocky Mountain area.
Section 2 - Honorary Membership. An honorary member is a person who is elected as such by a two-thirds vote of the membership.
Section 3 - Institutional Membership. An institutional member is an organization such as an educational institution, business firm, or other group.

Section 1 - The general management, control, and directions of the affairs, funds, and property of Sisters in Crime/RMC will be vested in its Executive Board, which will consist of the officers and chairpersons of any standing committees.
Section 2 - No part of the net earnings of Sisters in Crime/RMC will inure to the benefit of the any member of the organization, or to any private individual. All monies are to be used for expenses as provided for elsewhere in the Bylaws.

Section 1 – The officers of Sisters in Crime/RMC will be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. They will be active members of Sisters in Crime. No officer may serve for more than three consecutive terms.
Section 2 – The President will be responsible for the overall management of Sisters in Crime/RMC, and will establish goals and responsibilities for the organization. She or he will conduct the monthly chapter meeting; chair Executive Board meetings; in conjunction with the program committee, plan speakers and special programs and plan and arrange field trips; meet with members of the press; and act as liaison with other Sisters in Crime chapters, with Sisters in Crime, Inc., and with other related organizations.
Section 3 – The Vice President will substitute for all or part of the above if the President is unable to fulfill her obligations; attend Executive Board meetings; and take on special projects assigned by the President.
Section 4 – The Secretary will take minutes at all Executive Board meetings and at monthly chapter meetings when appropriate; be responsible for writing and mailing notices of monthly chapter meetings, as well as all special mailings; and retain and handle chapter written correspondence.
Section 5 – The Treasurer will be responsible for all financial matters of Sisters in Crime/RMC, including collection of dues and other income, and payment of expenses; maintain bank account(s); keep accurate financial accounts and prepare and submit a complete financial statement whenever the Executive Board requests it; and attend Executive Board meetings.
Section 6 – Should there be a vacancy in the presidency, the Vice President will succeed to the presidency and serve until the next annual election. Any other vacancy of an office will be filled by the Executive Board, and the successor will hold office until the next annual election.
Section 7 – None of the officers of Sisters in Crime/RMC or any member of the Executive Board will receive salary or compensation for services rendered.
Section 8 – Expulsion of Officers. Officers can be impeached by majority vote of the active membership for dereliction of duty or malfeasance. Impeachment includes (a) notifying the officer in writing of the charge(s) and by whom made, as well as filing said charge(s) with the Executive Board, and (b) investigation of the charge(s) by a committee of active members, none of whom is a member of the Executive Board, and chaired, if possible by a former president or other officer of Sisters in Crime. The committee will be selected by a majority vote of the Executive Board. Following the investigation, if a majority of the committee votes to proceed, the committee will hold a hearing under the circumstances that will give the accused officer ample opportunity to present a defense. If, by a two-thirds vote, the investigation committee recommends impeachment, notification of the call for impeachment must be mailed to all members, together with a statement summarizing the recommendations of the investigating committee. The membership will vote on impeachment by mailing in votes via email or regular mail.

Section 1 – Standing committees will be established by the Officers. Chairpersons will be appointed by and will serve at the pleasure of the officers. They must be active members of the organization. All chairpersons of standing committees will be Executive Board members.
Section 2 – The Membership Committee will keep a computerized list of all members; send membership renewal announcements; keep a computerized mailing list of nonmembers and update the list as necessary; create all mailing labels; and send membership information to those who request it.
Section 3 – The Program Committee will, in conjunction with the president and other Executive Board members, plan the chapter’s monthly program meetings; contact speakers; and make all necessary arrangements.
Section 4 – The Publicity/Newsletter Committee will submit the chapter’s news to the Sisters in Crime national newsletter; write a chapter newsletter on an ad hoc basis; contact the press and respond to press inquires as needed; and keep a record of member’s published work.
Section 5 – Ad hoc committees will be appointed by the Executive Board as needed. All chairpersons of ad hoc committees may attend Executive Board meetings.

Section 1 – Since Sisters in Crime/RMC is a chapter which is widely scattered geographically, the organization will attempt to organize meetings in various locations along the Colorado Front Range on an ad-hoc basis with the goal of having at least one event a month. Members and nonmembers are welcome.
Section 2 – Executive Board meetings will be held on an ad hoc basis (usually nine or ten times a year).

Section 1 – Election of officers will take place every November. The vote will be by secret ballot and will be conducted via email and/or regular mail. Only fully paid-up members may vote. Election will be by a simple majority of the votes. In the event of a tie, a run-off election will be held. Governance will change hands the following January 1.
Section 2 – A Nominating Committee will be selected by the Executive Board. The deadline for submission of candidates is the September 20 before the November election. The Nominating Committee will select a slate of nominees from submitted names and will announce them in October

Article IX – Dues Section 1 – Each member will pay dues, the original amount of which will be determined by the Executive Board. Bills for dues will be sent to members in November for the coming fiscal year, which will run from January 1 to December 31. If a new member joins on November 1 or after, the dues will cover the following year as well.
Section 2 – Any increase in dues will be proposed by the Executive Board and voted on by the membership. A simple majority is required to vote a dues increase.
Section 3 – Members of Sisters in Crime/RMC are required to also be members of Sisters in Crime, Inc.

Section 1 – Nonpayment of dues. Membership may be terminated if dues have not been paid by March 31st.
Section 2 – Misconduct. “Misconduct” is here defined as conduct inimical or harmful to the purpose and/or good repute of Sisters in Crime. The Executive Board may suspend or expel a member for misconduct but only after a full investigation has been made. The investigation will include (a) written notification to the member of the charge and by whom made; (b) arrangement for the hearing, either before the Executive Board or a committee appointed by the Executive Board; and (c) holding the hearing in circumstances that will give the accused member ample opportunity to present a defense. If the hearing is before a committee, the committee may recommend, but the decision will be made by the Executive Board. If the accused member is unavailable, or refuses to participate in the hearing, or makes unreasonable demands regarding the arrangements, the Executive Board may proceed without the investigation and act without a hearing.

Section 1 – These bylaws will constitute the bylaws of Sisters in Crime/RMC upon approval of the Executive Board and Sisters in Crime, Inc. They will continue as bylaws until amended and approved by a majority of the active membership who vote at a regular meeting or by absentee ballot.
Section 2 – Proposals to amend the bylaws will be authorized by the Executive Board or will be presented to the Secretary over the signature of 20 percent of the membership. Amendments must be approved by a majority of the active membership who vote, either by voting at a regular meeting or by absentee ballot.

Section 1 – Sisters in Crime/RMC will be dissolved only after a proposal has been accepted by two-thirds of the Executive Committee and then distributed in writing to the entire membership. Voting on the proposal will take place at the November meeting of the current fiscal year. Dissolution will require a two-thirds vote, in person or by absentee ballot, of the members who participate in the voting.
Section 2 – Upon dissolution, the property and assets of Sisters in Crime/RMC will be distributed as follows:
(a) All liabilities and obligations of Sisters in Crime/RMC will be paid, satisfied, and discharged, or adequate provision made.
(b) Assets held by Sisters in Crime/RMC that require return or transfer will be returned or transferred in accordance with applicable requirements.
(c) Remaining assets will be distributed among charities and/or tax-exempt institutions whose purposes are compatible with those of Sisters in Crime, with special emphasis on organizations concerned with crimes against women. Such distribution will be approved by two-thirds of the active members present in person or by proxy at a special meeting of Sisters in Crime/RMC called for the purpose.

Section 1 – Any policies or procedures not contrary to law or these bylaws may be approved or amended by a majority vote of the Executive Board. A record of such policies and procedures will be kept by the secretary, or her designee. Notification of policy or procedure change will be sent to members in the next regular mailing, announced at the next regular meeting, and published in the next edition of the chapter’s newsletter.
Section 2 – All meetings of Sisters in Crime and its Executive Board will be conducted in accordance with the parliamentary procedures described by the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, or by another generally accepted procedure agreed upon by the Executive Board and announced to the members. The one exception is that the president of Sisters in Crime/RMC shall be a full voting member of the organization and of the Executive Board.

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Sisters in Crime-Rocky Mountain Chapter