Missouri Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs (MOMOTC) By-Laws (Revised October, 2004)

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of this organization is THE MISSOURI ORGANIZATION OF MOTHERS OF TWINS CLUBS and hereinafter referred to as the Missouri Organization.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

Section 1. The Missouri Organization is organized exclusively to:

A. Cooperate with and participate in projects conducted by researchers and
doctors in medical and psychological research with multiple birth children and/or siblings;
B. Educate parents, teachers and others having direct responsibility and interest in the special aspects of child development which relates especially to multiple birth children;
C. To unite Mothers of Twins Clubs in Missouri so they may share procedures, ideas and educational material, and to assist in the formation of new clubs in Missouri.

Section 2. No part of the net earnings of the Missouri Organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, officers, or other private persons, except that the Missouri Organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in the furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article II Section 1 hereof. No substantial part of the activities of the Missouri Organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Missouri Organization shall not participate in, or intervened in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any other candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, Missouri Organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax codes.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership shall be extended to Mothers of Twins Clubs in Missouri and to Mothers of Twins Clubs in bordering states where a state organization is nonexistent. All clubs shall agree and conform to these requirements:

A. Remittance of annual dues;
B. Acceptance of these by-laws and standing rules;
C. Membership in the National Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs, Inc.

Section 2. Annual dues are due July 31st and are delinquent August 1st.

Section 3. Clubs whose memberships are delinquent must pay a delinquent fee and applicable dues.

Section 4. The fiscal year is August 1st through July 31st.

Section 5. Newly forming clubs will receive a one-year Membership to MOMOTC to help in organizing. These clubs will also have a year’s waiver in joining the National Organization at this time.

ARTICLE IV. MEETINGS AND CONVENTION

Section 1. Regular meetings shall be held in April and October. Place, date, time and program shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

A. Notice of the place, date, time and program shall be mailed to each member club’s designated representative.
B. Regular meetings will not be canceled except in cases of extreme emergency as determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 2. A convention in October shall include a regular meeting, elections, and installation of officers.

Section 3. A voting body shall consist of the Board of Directors and one (1) delegate per member club.

Section 4. Even though a member can hold two (2) voting positions, she shall be entitled to only one (1) vote.

Section 5. Special meetings of the Missouri Organization must be called by the President upon written request of fifty-one percent (51%) of the member clubs for any purpose at any time. Special meeting must be called within thirty (30) days of receipt of written request.

A. The purpose(s) of such a meeting shall be stated in the written request. No business shall be conducted except that for which the meeting has been called.
B. Notice of the place, date, time and purpose(s) of the meeting shall be issued by the President and mailed to each member club not less than twenty-one (21) days prior to the meeting.

Section 6. A quorum shall be a majority of the delegates representing the member clubs.

ARTICLE V. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. The Board of Directors shall consist of the elected officers, standing committee chairmen, and the Nominations Committee Chairman.

Section 2. The Board of Directors shall be subject to the Missouri Organization and none of its actions shall conflict with those of the Missouri Organization.

Section 3. The duties of the Board of Directors shall be:

A. To conduct business between regular meetings of the Missouri Organization;
B. To make recommendations to the Missouri Organization;
C. To perform such other duties as may be specified in these by-laws.

Section 4. The Board of Directors shall hold at least two (2) meetings per year; one immediately following the Convention.

Section 5. Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be called by the President upon written request of four (4) board members.

Section 6. A quorum shall be four (4) members of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VI. ELECTION AND OFFICERS

Section 1. Nomination Committee

A. The President shall appoint a Nominations Committee Chairman.
B. The Nominations Committee shall be comprised of the Nominations Committee Chairman and one (1) representative from each member club. The Chairman shall designate a committee member as Chairman of the Tellers.
C. The Nominations Committee shall select at least one (1) nominee for each office and shall present these nominees to the member clubs sixty (60) days prior to elections. Nominations may be made from the floor provided the eligibility of the individual(s) has been secured.
D. Term of office for the Nominations Committee Chairman and Committee shall begin upon acceptance of appointment and shall end at the close of Elections.

Section 2. Elections

A. Ballots shall be distributed to the Board of Directors and to the registered delegates. The Nominations Committee shall tally the votes.
B. Majority vote shall elect. If majority is not obtained on the first ballot, plurality shall elect on the second ballot. There shall be no vote by proxy.
C. The Chairman of the Tellers shall submit written results of the election to the Nominations Committee Chairman who shall announce the election outcome.
D. Ballots and tally sheets will be sealed and held by the Recording Secretary. The ballots may be recounted upon majority vote of the voting body. At the close of the Convention, the ballots are destroyed and the results are final.

Section 3. Officers

A. The elected officers shall be a President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer and Editor.
B. A Candidate for elected office shall:

(1) be a member in good standing of a member club for at least one year;
(2) have a qualified resume on file with the Nominations Committee;
(3) President and Treasurer must have held an elected office for at least one year in a member club. The remaining officers must have held a position as elected officer or chairmanship for at least one-year in a member club.

C. Officers shall assume their duties at close of the Convention at which they were elected.
D. Officers shall serve a term of one year with no more than two (2) consecutive years in the same office.
E. A vacancy in the office of the President shall be filled by the Vice President. A vacancy in any other office shall be filled by majority vote of the Board of Directors.

Section 4. Duties of Officers

A. President: shall preside at all regular meetings and Board of Director meetings of the Missouri Organization; shall serve as a National Representative for the Missouri Organization; shall appoint chairmen of standing and special committees; shall be responsible for seeing that the actions of the Board and direction of the membership are carried into effect and reporting to the membership and the Board on activities of the Missouri Organization; shall sign documents and checks as required; and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominations Committee.

(1) MOMOTC will provide the following funds for the President to serve as National Representative for the Missouri Organization; ½ of travel, ½ of Registration and 2 nights hotel stay.

B. Vice President: shall assist the President; shall perform the duties of the President in her absence; and shall initiate, coordinate, conduct and evaluate the recruitment and orientation of new member clubs.
C. Recording Secretary: shall keep accurate records of all regular meetings, Board of Director meetings; shall make available upon request of the membership meeting records and minutes and shall coordinate external correspondence for the Missouri Organization.
D. Treasurer: shall be responsible for monitoring the receipt, custody, and control of all assets of the Missouri Organization; shall monitor all disbursements as authorized; shall report receipts, use and disbursement of all assets of the Missouri Organization; and shall sign documents and checks as required.
E. Editor: the chairman shall publish and/or write and/or edit the Missouri Organization’s newsletter. The newsletter shall be published bi-annually. Each member club shall receive two (2) copies of the newsletter.

ARTICLE VII. COMMITTEES

Section 1. Committee Chairmen shall be appointed by the President with no more than two (2) chairmen originating from the same club. The chairman shall in turn appoint members of her committee.

Section 2. The chairman and members of Standing Committees shall serve for a term of one (1) year with the exception of the scholarship chair/co-chair who will serve for a term of two (2) years.

Section 3. The Standing Committees shall be:

A. Convention – the chairman shall be appointed by the President upon recommendation of the hostess club. Sub-committees shall be appointed by the chairman as needed to carry out the convention functions. The chairman shall coordinate, conduct, and evaluate the Annual Convention.
B. Historian – the chairman shall keep records of the activities and functions of the Missouri Organization; and shall present an annual review to the membership.
C. Parliamentarian – the chairman shall manage matters relating to the By-Laws; and shall advise on questions of parliamentary law and matters of procedure according to Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised.
D. Publicity – the chairman shall initiate, coordinate, conduct, and evaluate all Missouri Organization public relations.
E. Scholarship Chair/Co-Chair - The President shall appoint the Scholarship Chair and Co-Chair for a two year term on alternating years. The Co-Chair will become the Chair during the second year of their term. They shall initiate, coordinate, conduct and evaluate the granting of the MOMOTC Scholarship as outlined in the Scholarship Guidelines. The Board will vote and approve the monetary amount. The Chair and Co-Chair shall be selected from two different member clubs.

ARTICLE VIII. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Section 1. Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be the parliamentary authority governing the meetings of the Missouri Organization subject of state law, these by-laws, and any special rules of order adopted by the Missouri Organization.

Section 2. These by-laws may be amended at the Annual Convention by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the delegates present and eligible to vote provided notice in writing has been sent to all member clubs at least sixty (60) days prior to the convention at which the amendment is to voted upon. The proposed amendments shall be submitted to the Parliamentarian in writing at least ninety (90) days prior tot he convention at which the amendment is to be voted upon.

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STANDING RULES

1. Dues shall be as follows effective 8/1/04: 1-100 members: $1.00 per member or 100+ members $100.00 per club

2. A delinquent fee of five ($5.00) dollars shall be assessed all clubs whose dues are delinquent.

3. INCENTIVES

A) A stipend will be given to the Board of Directors and the member club’s State Representatives who attend all required meetings within their given term.
B) Board of Directors must attend five (5) meetings: Post-Convention, Spring Board, Pre-Convention, General Session, and the following Post-Convention meeting.
C) Member Club’s designated State Representatives must attend four (4) meetings: Spring Board, Pre-Convention, General Session, and Post-Convention.
D) The Board shall determine the amount and type of stipend for the incentive at the Spring Board meeting for the following year.
E) A list of attendees shall be kept by the President, Treasurer, and Secretary for determining verification and presentation of the incentives