ARTICLE I
NAME AND OBJECTIVES

SECTION I. The name of this organization shall be LAVONIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INCORPORATED.
SECTION II. THE LAVONIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INC.  is organized for the purpose of promoting and supporting business, tourism, and educational growth in our community.
SECTION III. The Chamber shall be non-partisan, non-sectional and non-sectarian.

SECTION I. Any person, association, corporation, partnership or estate shall beeligible for membership in the LAVONIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INC. Membership shall be composed of active members and honorary members.
SECTION II. Each active member shall pay membership dues in advance annually.  The amount of dues to be determined by the Board of Directors. Election to active membership shall require approval of the Board of Directors.
SECTION III. Any individual, firm, association or corporation shall be entitled to cast one vote for each membership held.
SECTION IV. Distinction in public affairs shall confer eligibility to honorary membership. Honorary membership shall include all of the privileges of active membership, except that of holding office, with exemption of payment of dues. Election to honorary membership shall require the recommendation by affirmative vote of the Board of Directors and the affirmative vote of the membership in regular meeting.

SECTION I. The government of the Chamber and the direction of its works shall be vested in a Board of Directors, consisting of not less than fifteen members, one third (five) of whom shall be elected annually for a term of three years and shall serve until their successors are elected.  The Directors shall have the power to approve vacancies in the Board recommended by the Executive Committee.They may adopt rules and regulations for conducting the business of the Chamber.They shall meet on the second Thursday of each month. The immediate past President and the current President shall be ex-officio members of the Board of Directors.
SECTION II. The Board of Directors shall be elected at the November meeting of the Chamber, or at a special meeting called for that purpose.
SECTION III. A Nominating Committee of not less than three members shall be appointed by the President thirty or more days prior to the election, whose duty it shall be to nominate for the membership of the Chamber as many candidates for the Board of Directors as there are vacancies to be filled. The Nominating Committee shall file a list of the nominees recommended with the Executive Secretary not less than twelve days before the election. Nominations other than those recommended by the Nominating Committee may be made by any member from the floor, or by filing the name of the nominee with the Executive Secretary.
SECTION IV. If a member of the Board of Directors misses three consecutive board meetings, they forfeit their right to be a board member. A Director may be removed from office when such action will serve the best interests of this Corporation by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the remaining Directors present.
SECTION V. Board members whose term has expired shall not be eligible for re-election to the Board of Directors for a period of one year.

SECTION I.    At each annual meeting, or a special meeting called for the purpose, with at least ten days notice to members in advance of the meeting, the membership shall meet and elect officers for the ensuing year, consisting of: President,  First Vice-President,  Second Vice- President and  Treasurer.
SECTION II. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Chamber and at all meetings of the Board of Directors. In case of his/her absence, the First Vice-President or the Second Vice-President, in that order shall preside.  The President shall appoint all committee chairpersons, and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees. The Executive Committee shall meet prior to the Board of Directors meeting.
SECTION III. The Executive Secretary shall supervise the official correspondence, preserve all books, documents and communications, keep books of the accounts and maintain an accurate record of the proceedings of the Chamber and the Board of Directors. Additional duties may be prescribed by the President, Executive Committee, and the Board of Directors.
SECTION IV.  The Treasurer shall receive and disburse the funds of the Chamber.  All disbursements shall be made by checks, which shall be signed by two of the following, the President, the First Vice-President, the Second Vice- President, in that order, and the Treasurer. At quarterly intervals, the Treasurer shall make a report available to the membership. The Treasurer will give monthly reports to the Board.
SECTION V. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the preparation of a budget for the ensuing year which shall be presented at the February meeting.

SECTION I. The Board of Directors shall authorize and define the powers and dutiesof all committees.
SECTION II. The President shall appoint all committee chairpersons, subject to the confirmation by the Board of Directors.
SECTION III. The Executive Committee shall act for and on behalf of the Board of Directors when the Board is not in session, but shall be accountable to the Board for its actions. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the President as Chairman, the two Vice-Presidents, the Treasurer and the committee chairpersons 2/3 of these shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
SECTION IV. The responsibilities of each committee chairperson are to manage projects and coordinate events (including the publicity, budget, and volunteers), and to report  the comittees’ progress at monthly Executive Committee meetings.

SECTION I. Until otherwise changed by vote of the membership, there shall be heldmonthly membership meetings on the fourth Thursday in every month,with called meeting whenever the President or the Board of Directors shall consider the same necessary or desirable.
SECTION II. The Board of Directors shall hold meetings at least monthly on such dates and at such places as such Board may determine.
SECTION III. A membership meeting may be called upon the petition of not less than ten percent of the members.
SECTION IV. The Annual Meeting of the Chamber, until changed by the action of the membership, shall be the fourth Thursday in January of each year.
SECTION V. Five percent of the members in good standing shall constitute a quorum for all membership meetings. Reasonable efforts shall be made to notify members of all meetings.

SECTION I. The current edition of Roberts Rules of Order shall be the final source of authority in all questions of parliamentary procedure which are not covered specifically by the Charter or By-Laws of the Chamber.

SECTION I.    These By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of those present at any regular or special meeting of  the Chamber, provided notice of the proposed change shall have been given all members not less than ten days prior to such meeting.
SECTION II. The power to alter, amend, or repeal the Articles of Incorporation or the By-Laws of this Corporation, to the extent allowed by law, is vested in the Board of Directors. Such action must be taken pursuant to a resolution approved by a two-thirds majority of the voting Directors.