BYLAWS

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IBEW 613 Women’s Committee

Article I Name and Purpose

Section 1.01. Name. The name of this organization shall be IBEW 613 Women’s Committee.

Section 1.02. Purpose. The organization is organized and operated for the charitable and educational purposes of life as an I.B.E.W. Woman. Our mission is to provide the support and encouragement needed for women to not only succeed, but to thrive as members of the IBEW. Through solidarity, we will empower ourselves and each other to create a more achievable, sustainable, and equitable industry for women.

Article II Membership

Section 2.01. Qualification. All visitors are welcome into attendance. Applicants must be at least eighteen (18) years of age, be an I.B.E.W. electrical tradesman, and submit a primary email address to the Executive Board to be considered a voting member of the organization. The facility Owner and Staff shall be non-voting, advisory members of the organization. 

Section 2.02. Rights and Responsibilities. The members shall have the right and responsibility to attend meetings and events sponsored by the organization, serve on the committees, and be nominated and elected to office. Voting members shall have the right to vote for the officers, review and approve the annual budget, and approve amendments to these bylaws.

Section 2.03. Meetings. Standard meetings shall alternate between the second (2nd) Wednesday or Thursday of every other month, starting in February of the standing year. There shall be at least one general annual meeting of the membership in October at which the officers are elected. Such additional business or special meetings may be held alone or in conjunction with an event sponsored by the organization as is determined by the Executive Board or at the request of fifteen percent (15%) or more members in writing to the Executive Board. 

Article III Executive Board

Section 3.01. Membership. The Executive Board shall consist of the elected officers of the organization. 

Section 3.02. Authority. The affairs, activities and operation of the organization shall be managed by the Executive Board. The Executive Board shall transact necessary business during the intervals between the meetings of the membership and such other business as may be referred to by the membership or these bylaws. It may create Standing and Special Committees, approve the plans and work of standing and special committees, prepare, and submit a budget to the membership for approval, and, in general, conduct the business and activities of the organization.

Section 3.03. Meetings. The Executive Board shall meet monthly to prepare for general membership meetings and to conduct the affairs of the organization.

Section 3.04. Quorum. A quorum of the Executive Board for the conduct of business shall consist of at least two (2) officers in attendance. Either the Chairwoman or Co-Chair must be in attendance. 

Section 3.05. Action Without a Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Executive Board (including amendment of these bylaws) or of any committee may be taken without a meeting if all the members of the Board or committee consent in writing to taking the action without a meeting and to approving the specific action. Such consents shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the Board or of the committee.

Section 3.06. Participation in Meeting by Video or Audio Conference Call. Members of the Executive Board may participate in a meeting through the use of video or audio software/applications or similar communications equipment, so long as members participating in such meeting can hear one another.

Section 3.07. Reimbursement. Executive Board members shall serve without compensation with the exception that expenses incurred in the furtherance of the organization’s business are allowed to be reimbursed with documentation in accordance with the organization’s financial policies, and prior approval.

Article IV Officers and Their Elections

Section 4.01. Officers. The officers of this organization shall include one Chairwoman, one or more Co-Chair, a Recording Secretary, a Treasurer, and such additional officer(s) as may be elected or appointed by the Executive Board from time to time.

Section 4.02. Election. A nominating committee composed of the current Chairwoman and at least one additional officer shall begin seeking nominees in August of the year in which the candidates will be elected and develop a slate of candidates. The candidates shall be announced to the membership as soon as possible. Additional nominees may be solicited from the floor on the day of the election. Candidates for all officers must be a in good standing with the local union and have consented to serve. In addition, candidates for Chairwoman shall be a woman and a Journeyman Wireman. Officers shall be elected at the October meeting of the organization by the members present. Officers shall assume their official duties on the last day of the current fiscal year following their election.

Section 4.03. Term. Officers shall serve a two-year term.

Section 4.04. Vacancies. A vacancy occurring in any office shall be filled for the unexpired term by a person elected by a written majority vote by the committee, at the following meeting. If the need should arise, the Chairwoman may appoint officers and/or restructure as necessary. If the Chairwoman position should fall vacant at any time, it is the duty of the Executive Board to appoint or restructure as need be. 

Article V Duties of Officers

Section 5.01. Chairwoman. The Chairwoman shall be the principal executive officer of the organization and, subject to the control of the Executive Board shall in general supervise and control all the activities of the organization. The Chairwoman shall be a member of the Executive Board and, when present, shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Board and all meetings of the membership. The Chairwoman shall select and appoint the chairpersons of all Standing and Special Committees and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees of the organization.

Section 5.02. Co-Chair(s). The Co-Chair shall be a member of the Executive Board and, in the absence of the Chairwoman, shall perform the duties of the Chairwoman, with the exception of the occurrence of a sub-journeyman Co-Chair the Alternate officer will assume the duties of the Chairwoman. The Co-Chair shall perform such other duties as are assigned by the Chairwoman or the Executive Board. 

Section 5.03. Recording Secretary. The Recording Secretary shall be a member of the Executive Board. The Recording Secretary shall keep the minutes of the proceedings of the membership and the Executive Board, shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with these Bylaws, shall be responsible for the publishing of meeting minutes, shall manage and keep an accurate tally of the volunteer records and, in general, perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as may be assigned by the Chairwoman or the Executive Board.

Section 5.04. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be a member of the Executive Board. The Treasurer is the authorized custodian to have oversight of all funds of the organization in accordance with the organization’s financial policies. The Treasurer will organize, document, and record all financial activities. The Treasurer will be diligent and conscientious in ensuring all funds are received and spent in accordance with the organization’s tax status, bylaws, and budget. The financial records belong to the organization and must be available to the other officers and members upon request.

The Treasurer shall:

• Prepare an annual budget for review and approval by the members.
• Ensure that numbered receipts are provided for cash received by the organization.
• Ensure that all funds are timely deposited in the organization’s authorized bank account(s).
• Ensure that payments and disbursements are authorized by an approved budget, or an amendment to the budget.
• Present a written financial report (including income and expenditures and comparing budgeted amounts to actual year-to-date amounts), at each General Membership Meeting of the membership and at other times as requested by the Executive Board.
• See that an annual financial review or audit, as appropriate based on budget size, is conducted and presented to the Executive Board, General Membership, and other stakeholders.

Article VI Finances

Section 6.01. Budget. The Executive Board shall present to the membership at the first regular meeting of the membership after the officers have been elected, or as soon thereafter as practicable, a budget of anticipated revenue and expenses for the year. This budget shall be used to guide the activities of the organization during the year, including serving as approval for anticipated expenditures. Any substantial deviation from the budget must be approved in advance by the membership.

Section 6.02. Obligations. The Executive Board may authorize any officer or officers to enter into contracts or agreements for the purchase of materials or services on behalf of the organization.

Section 6.03. Loans. No loans shall be made by the organization to its officers or members.

Section 6.04. Checks. All checks, drafts, or other orders for the payment of money on behalf of the organization shall be signed by the Treasurer or by any other person as authorized in writing by the Executive Board, except that checks of $250 or more must have the signature of at least two officers, such as the Treasurer and the Chairwoman. 

Section 6.05. Banking. The Treasurer shall ensure that all funds of the organization are timely deposited to the credit of the organization in such banks or other depositories as determined by the Executive Board. All deposits and disbursements shall be documented by a receipt, an invoice, or other written documentation. Sequentially numbered receipts shall be provided, with a copy kept, whenever cash is turned over or collected. All deposits and/or disbursements shall be made as soon as practicable upon receipt of the funds, normally daily, immediately after received and counted. If debit or credit cards are established in the name of the organization, a policy approved by the Executive Board shall be developed and used that includes a list of the authorized users, daily/monthly/annual spending limits, and review and oversight provisions. No personal charging on the card by the authorized users shall be allowed.

Section 6.06. Financial Controls. The organization shall adopt appropriate financial controls to ensure the integrity of its funds. Specifically, without limitation, the organization shall maintain separation of financial controls so that, minimally:

• All expenses must be approved by the membership by way of approval of an annual budget, or amendments thereto, or be approved by separate resolution of the Executive Board.
• Checks exceeding $250 must be endorsed by at least two officers authorized by resolution of the Executive Board. 
• An officer or other person without check signing authority designated by the Executive Board shall review and reconcile all bank statements monthly; and,
• A committee of at least two (2) people without check signing authority shall annually audit all corporate finances or hire and supervise an outside accountant or auditing firm to conduct a review of corporate financial records.

Section 6.07. Financial Report. The Treasurer shall present a financial report at each membership meeting of the organization and prepare a final report at the close of the year in accordance with the organization’s financial policies. The Executive Board shall have the report and the accounts examined annually. If the organization grosses less than $100,000 per year, the financial practices and accounts may be reviewed by an internal audit committee. The audit committee shall consist of two or more Board or voting members of the organization who are not involved in the routine handling of the organization’s finances, including not having signature authority on bank accounts or approval authority over disbursements. If the organization grosses over $100,000 in receipts, an external professional, such as a certified public accountant (CPA), shall be hired by the audit committee to perform a financial review or compilation. A full audit shall be conducted by an external CPA when annual gross receipts equal or exceed $250,000.

Section 6.08. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the organization shall be from January 1 to December 31 but may be changed by resolution of the Executive Board.

Section 6.09. Financial Record Retention. All records of the organization shall be maintained and destroyed in accordance with law, and standard record retention guidelines. Financial records shall be maintained as follows:

RECORD

HOW TO STORE

PERIOD OF TIME

Year-end Treasurer’s financial report/statement, annual Internal Financial Review Reports, IRS Form 990s

Store in corporate record book, binder, and/or cloud-based software.

At least seven (7) years

Consider keeping permanently.

Bank statements, canceled checks, check registers, invoices, receipts, cash tally sheets, investment statements, and related documents

Compile and file records on a yearly basis. Store in binder or cloud-based software.

Seven (7) Years

Store w/financial records.

Destroy after seven years.

Treasurer’s reports (monthly)

Compile and file records on a yearly basis. Store in binder or cloud-based software.

Three (3) Years

Store w/ financial records.

Destroy after three years.

ARTICLE VII Conflicts of Interest

Section 7.01. Existence of Conflict, Disclosure. Officers, employees, and contractors of the Organization should refrain from any actions or activities that impair, or appear to impair, their objectivity in the performance of their duties on behalf of the Organization. A conflict of interest may exist when the direct, personal, financial, or other interest(s) of any officer, staff member or contractor competes or appears to compete with the interests of the Organization. If any such conflict of interest arises the interested person shall call it to the attention of the Executive Board for resolution. If the conflict relates to a matter requiring board action, such person shall not vote on the matter. When there is a doubt as to whether any conflict of interest exists, the matter shall be resolved by a vote of the Executive Board, excluding the person who is the subject of the possible conflict.

Section 7.02. Nonparticipation in Vote. The person having a conflict shall not participate in the final deliberation or decision regarding the matter under consideration and shall retire from the room in which the Board is meeting.

However, the person may be permitted to provide the Board with any or all relevant information.

Section 7.03. Minutes of Meeting. The minutes of the meeting of the Board shall reflect that the conflict was disclosed, and the interested person was not present during the final discussion or vote and did not vote on the matter.

Section 7.04. Annual Review. A copy of this conflict-of-interest statement shall be furnished to each director or officer, employee and/or contractor who is presently serving the Organization, or who hereafter becomes associated with the Organization. This policy shall be reviewed annually for information and guidance of directors and officers, staff members and contractors, and new officers and directors, staff members and contractors shall be advised of the policy upon undertaking the duties of their offices.

ARTICLE VIII Indemnification

Every member of the Executive Board, officer or employee of the Organization may be indemnified by the Organization against all expenses and liabilities, including counsel fees, reasonably incurred or imposed upon such members of the Board, officer or employee in connection with any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit or proceeding to which she/he may become involved by reason of her/his being or having been a member of the Board, officer, or employee of the Organization, or any settlement thereof, unless adjudged therein to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of her/his duties. Provided, however, that in the event of a settlement the indemnification herein shall apply only when the Board approves such settlement and reimbursement as being in the best interest of the Organization. The foregoing right of indemnification shall be in addition to and not exclusive of all other rights which such member of the Board, officer or employee is entitled.

ARTICLE IX Amendments

These Bylaws may be amended at any regular or special meetings of the membership by a majority vote of the members present, provided that at least thirty (30) days’ notice of the proposed amendments has been made to the membership, or alternatively the membership waives the required notice.

About

Web: www.613sisters.org     Email: ibew613sisters@gmail.com

Adopted 10/11/23