THE NEWARK SENIOR CENTER TECHNOLOGY CLUB BYLAWS
Bylaws are rules that govern the operation of an organization. The below Bylaws govern the Newark Senior Center Technology Club and are reviewed and amended as needed.
ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of this non-profit organization shall be THE NEWARK SENIOR CENTER TECHNOLOGY CLUB. The club nickname shall be SENIOR SURFERS.
ARTICLE II - OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Technology Club shall be:
To encourage computer use by seniors by providing computer related programs and activities using facilities located at the Newark Senior Center at 200 White Chapel Drive, Newark, Delaware 19713.
To assist and further the Newark Senior Center in their computer activities.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Each Newark Senior Center member is eligible to be a member of the club.
Section 2: To remain a member, annual club dues must be paid by or on the beginning of the membership year, July 1. Each member must fill out an application form and with the annual club dues submit it to a Board member or another authorized person. New members joining after April 1st will be considered paid up to the following membership year.
Section 3: A member has the privilege of attending all meetings, programs, and activities sponsored by the club. Each member is entitled to one vote in the election of each club officer and director-at-large and one vote on each issue decided at club meetings.
ARTICLE IV - VOTING AT MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
A quorum of thirty [30] club members or 20% of all club members, whichever is less, is required to vote on matters at a meeting. A majority will carry any motion placed before any such meeting. The club president or presiding officer at the meeting shall vote only in the event of a tie. There shall be no absentee voting or voting by proxy.
ARTICLE V - OFFICERS, DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THEIR DUTIES
The club shall have officers consisting of a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Section 1 - PRESIDENT (one-year elective term): The president shall conduct all meetings of the club, set the meeting agendas, determine the result of all votes, and serve as Board Chairperson. The president shall establish all committees, appoint committee chairpersons, and serve as an ex officio member on all such committees. The president shall carry out all directives of the Board of Directors.
Section 2 - VICE PRESIDENT (one-year elective term): The vice president shall assist the president. When the president is not present, the vice president shall conduct meetings and assume all presidential duties.
Section 3 - SECRETARY (one-year elective term): The secretary shall record the minutes of the Board meetings and other official meetings and shall distribute these minutes to Board members prior to the next Board meeting. The secretary is responsible for all correspondence pertaining to club activities and shall present all outgoing correspondence to the president for signature where appropriate.
Section 4 - TREASURER (one-year elective term): The treasurer shall maintain financial records of the club and give regular reports to the Board and the membership. The treasurer shall maintain a record of all club assets and keep an account of club funds received and disbursed.
Section 5 - DIRECTORS-AT -LARGE (two-year terms such that three terms expire each June 30): There shall be six (6) Directors-At-Large. They shall serve on the Board of Directors.
Section 6 - All terms of office shall coincide with the membership year.
Section 7 - BOARD OF DIRECTORS: The Club shall have a Board of Directors consisting of the officers and directors-at-large. It shall be the governing body of the club.
The Board may make recommendations to the membership regarding all matters requiring collective membership action. All Board decisions, recommendations, and directives shall be adopted by majority vote, including the vote of the chairperson. A majority of filled Board positions quorum is required for voting at a Board meeting.
Section 8 – REPLACEMENT OF BOARD MEMBERS: If any elected officer other than the president or vice president resigns, dies, or fails to attend more than three consecutive meetings, remaining Board members may vote to replace them with a Board member or club member or vacate the position until the next regular election of officers.
In the event of a vacancy of both the president and vice-president, due to resignation or availability to perform the position, the Board may designate one of the remaining officers as the interim president until availability or until the next regular election of officers.
ARTICLE VI - ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS:
Section 1 - The president shall appoint a three-member committee in January to select a slate of nominees for President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Directors-At-Large. Officers may be re-elected without limit as to number of terms served. Eligible nominees are club members who have agreed to serve in the position for which nominated and who have been a member in good standing for at least one year by the date of the election.
Section 2 – The slate of nominees shall be presented to the club at least one month prior to an election day designated by the Board. At that meeting nominations from the floor shall be called for and accepted provided each person nominated is a club member and has previously agreed to serve in the designated position, if elected. At that point nominations are closed.
Section 3 - The election of officers and directors shall take place starting at least two weeks before and concluding with an election day.
When the nominating committee presents the slate of nominees, the Board will designate a spring/summer meeting as election day. Although not a requirement, election day will typically coincide with a spring/summer social.
The election will be by secret ballot. The names of nominees on the ballot for each position shall be listed in alphabetical order. For the voting period, a ballot shall be provided to all members upon request. Upon providing that ballot, the member’s name shall be marked on a master list so that duplicate ballots are not provided. Completed ballots shall be deposited into a sealed ballot box.
The President will select an ad-hoc election committee that may be the same as the nominating committee providing that no member of the nominating committee appears on the ballot. At the close of voting, the election committee will count the ballots. The results will be announced to the membership by an election committee member.
ARTICLE VII - COMMITTEES
Section 1 - The following shall be Standing Committees:
Education Committee
Laboratory Operations Committee
Membership Committee
Programs Committee
Public Relations Committee
Social Committee
Website Committee
Each standing committee shall have a Board member serving on it.
Section 2 - The president may establish ad hoc committees.
Section 3 - The president shall appoint all chairpersons from club membership. Each will serve until their resignation, replacement, or until the committee is no longer needed, whichever occurs first.
Section 4 - Committee chairs shall present timely reports, as required, at Board meetings.
ARTICLE VIII - FISCAL MATTERS
Section 1 – The Board of Directors shall set the annual club dues which are nonrefundable. All funds received by the club from any source become the property of the club.
Section 2 - All funds received by the treasurer shall be deposited to a bank checking account maintained for the benefit and convenience of the club. One signature from an authorized club officer shall be required on each check drawn on this account.
Section 3 - The Board of Directors shall authorize all individual club expenditures up to $300.00. The Board of Directors shall present at the next membership meeting all expenditures more than $300.00 to the club membership for consideration and approval.
ARTICLE IX - PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
The latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of all club meetings and orders of business.
ARTICLE X - BYLAWS AMENDMENTS
These bylaws may be amended by Board approval and a majority vote of club members attending a scheduled club meeting as described in ARTICLE IV above. A notice of proposed amendments shall be publicized to all club members and posted on the Newark Senior Center Technology Club bulletin board at least seven days prior to the meeting in which the vote is to be taken.
ARTICLE XI - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Upon dissolution of the Newark Senior Center Technology Club, all club assets shall be distributed to the Newark Senior Center as directed by the Newark Senior Center Technology Club Board of Directors.
Original – October 8, 1998
Amended: June 4, 2001
Amended: June 2005
Amended: March 23, 2006
Amended: May 21, 2007
Amended: March 1, 2012
Amended: March 13, 2014
Amended March 17, 2016
Amended February 21, 2019
Amended June 16, 2022
The name of this non-profit organization shall be THE NEWARK SENIOR CENTER TECHNOLOGY CLUB. The club nickname shall be SENIOR SURFERS.
ARTICLE II - OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Technology Club shall be:
To encourage computer use by seniors by providing computer related programs and activities using facilities located at the Newark Senior Center at 200 White Chapel Drive, Newark, Delaware 19713.
To assist and further the Newark Senior Center in their computer activities.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Each Newark Senior Center member is eligible to be a member of the club.
Section 2: To remain a member, annual club dues must be paid by or on the beginning of the membership year, July 1. Each member must fill out an application form and with the annual club dues submit it to a Board member or another authorized person. New members joining after April 1st will be considered paid up to the following membership year.
Section 3: A member has the privilege of attending all meetings, programs, and activities sponsored by the club. Each member is entitled to one vote in the election of each club officer and director-at-large and one vote on each issue decided at club meetings.
ARTICLE IV - VOTING AT MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
A quorum of thirty [30] club members or 20% of all club members, whichever is less, is required to vote on matters at a meeting. A majority will carry any motion placed before any such meeting. The club president or presiding officer at the meeting shall vote only in the event of a tie. There shall be no absentee voting or voting by proxy.
ARTICLE V - OFFICERS, DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THEIR DUTIES
The club shall have officers consisting of a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Section 1 - PRESIDENT (one-year elective term): The president shall conduct all meetings of the club, set the meeting agendas, determine the result of all votes, and serve as Board Chairperson. The president shall establish all committees, appoint committee chairpersons, and serve as an ex officio member on all such committees. The president shall carry out all directives of the Board of Directors.
Section 2 - VICE PRESIDENT (one-year elective term): The vice president shall assist the president. When the president is not present, the vice president shall conduct meetings and assume all presidential duties.
Section 3 - SECRETARY (one-year elective term): The secretary shall record the minutes of the Board meetings and other official meetings and shall distribute these minutes to Board members prior to the next Board meeting. The secretary is responsible for all correspondence pertaining to club activities and shall present all outgoing correspondence to the president for signature where appropriate.
Section 4 - TREASURER (one-year elective term): The treasurer shall maintain financial records of the club and give regular reports to the Board and the membership. The treasurer shall maintain a record of all club assets and keep an account of club funds received and disbursed.
Section 5 - DIRECTORS-AT -LARGE (two-year terms such that three terms expire each June 30): There shall be six (6) Directors-At-Large. They shall serve on the Board of Directors.
Section 6 - All terms of office shall coincide with the membership year.
Section 7 - BOARD OF DIRECTORS: The Club shall have a Board of Directors consisting of the officers and directors-at-large. It shall be the governing body of the club.
The Board may make recommendations to the membership regarding all matters requiring collective membership action. All Board decisions, recommendations, and directives shall be adopted by majority vote, including the vote of the chairperson. A majority of filled Board positions quorum is required for voting at a Board meeting.
Section 8 – REPLACEMENT OF BOARD MEMBERS: If any elected officer other than the president or vice president resigns, dies, or fails to attend more than three consecutive meetings, remaining Board members may vote to replace them with a Board member or club member or vacate the position until the next regular election of officers.
In the event of a vacancy of both the president and vice-president, due to resignation or availability to perform the position, the Board may designate one of the remaining officers as the interim president until availability or until the next regular election of officers.
ARTICLE VI - ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS:
Section 1 - The president shall appoint a three-member committee in January to select a slate of nominees for President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Directors-At-Large. Officers may be re-elected without limit as to number of terms served. Eligible nominees are club members who have agreed to serve in the position for which nominated and who have been a member in good standing for at least one year by the date of the election.
Section 2 – The slate of nominees shall be presented to the club at least one month prior to an election day designated by the Board. At that meeting nominations from the floor shall be called for and accepted provided each person nominated is a club member and has previously agreed to serve in the designated position, if elected. At that point nominations are closed.
Section 3 - The election of officers and directors shall take place starting at least two weeks before and concluding with an election day.
When the nominating committee presents the slate of nominees, the Board will designate a spring/summer meeting as election day. Although not a requirement, election day will typically coincide with a spring/summer social.
The election will be by secret ballot. The names of nominees on the ballot for each position shall be listed in alphabetical order. For the voting period, a ballot shall be provided to all members upon request. Upon providing that ballot, the member’s name shall be marked on a master list so that duplicate ballots are not provided. Completed ballots shall be deposited into a sealed ballot box.
The President will select an ad-hoc election committee that may be the same as the nominating committee providing that no member of the nominating committee appears on the ballot. At the close of voting, the election committee will count the ballots. The results will be announced to the membership by an election committee member.
ARTICLE VII - COMMITTEES
Section 1 - The following shall be Standing Committees:
Education Committee
Laboratory Operations Committee
Membership Committee
Programs Committee
Public Relations Committee
Social Committee
Website Committee
Each standing committee shall have a Board member serving on it.
Section 2 - The president may establish ad hoc committees.
Section 3 - The president shall appoint all chairpersons from club membership. Each will serve until their resignation, replacement, or until the committee is no longer needed, whichever occurs first.
Section 4 - Committee chairs shall present timely reports, as required, at Board meetings.
ARTICLE VIII - FISCAL MATTERS
Section 1 – The Board of Directors shall set the annual club dues which are nonrefundable. All funds received by the club from any source become the property of the club.
Section 2 - All funds received by the treasurer shall be deposited to a bank checking account maintained for the benefit and convenience of the club. One signature from an authorized club officer shall be required on each check drawn on this account.
Section 3 - The Board of Directors shall authorize all individual club expenditures up to $300.00. The Board of Directors shall present at the next membership meeting all expenditures more than $300.00 to the club membership for consideration and approval.
ARTICLE IX - PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
The latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of all club meetings and orders of business.
ARTICLE X - BYLAWS AMENDMENTS
These bylaws may be amended by Board approval and a majority vote of club members attending a scheduled club meeting as described in ARTICLE IV above. A notice of proposed amendments shall be publicized to all club members and posted on the Newark Senior Center Technology Club bulletin board at least seven days prior to the meeting in which the vote is to be taken.
ARTICLE XI - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Upon dissolution of the Newark Senior Center Technology Club, all club assets shall be distributed to the Newark Senior Center as directed by the Newark Senior Center Technology Club Board of Directors.
Original – October 8, 1998
Amended: June 4, 2001
Amended: June 2005
Amended: March 23, 2006
Amended: May 21, 2007
Amended: March 1, 2012
Amended: March 13, 2014
Amended March 17, 2016
Amended February 21, 2019
Amended June 16, 2022
