Article VIl: Special Interest Groups

Section 1.
Purposes
Special Interest groups (SIGs), including Councils, provide an opportunity for the exchange of information in areas relating to unique interests of particular segments of the association membership.

Section 2.
Councils
Councils shall be chartered and shall be affiliated with the association.

Section 3.
Membership
As stated in the Constitution [Art. IX, § 2], membership in SIGS shall be restricted to association members or members of organizations that the association has formal written alliances that permit such participation. The SIG may invite non-members to attend SIG meetings and events in accordance with such policies and procedures, if any, adopted by the association Board of Directors.

Section 4.
Organization
Each Council shall adopt a set of bylaws approved by the association Board of Directors as provided in the following section. The association Board may adopt model Council bylaws for the advice of association members organizing a Council. The Council bylaws shall provide that

1. the Council will abide by applicable law, the association’s Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, and these Bylaws, and policies and procedures adopted by the association’s Board;
2. the Council is organized and operated exclusively for purposes consistent with Section 501 (c) (6) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 501 (c) (6), or the corresponding provisions of any successor statute;
3. the Council is a separate entity and the association is not financially responsible for it;
4. the Council shall immediately notify the association’s President of the results of Council elections of officers;
5. Council delegates shall be selected directly by the Council members or indirectly by officers or a board of directors elected by the Council members; and
6. the Council shall furnish all records and reports requested by the association’s President, including regular reports on the financial condition of the Council. All subsequent changes in the Council bylaws must be approved by the Board of Directors.

Section 5.
Formation Requirements
To become an association Council, the organizers of the proposed Council must submit and the association Board of Directors must approve:

1. The names of a minimum of 25 association members who are eligible for membership under the proposed Council bylaws;
2. The names, addresses, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers of the members who will serve as temporary officers of the Council; and
3. A printed and dated proposed set of bylaws.

Section 6.
Recertification
Each Council shall submit a request for recertification to the association's President each year by the date established by the association’s President. The request shall include such information as required by the policies and procedures adopted by the association’s Board of Directors. The association’s Board of Directors shall review the request for recertification and approve or deny the request based upon the professional activity of the Council and its officers. The Board may grant conditional recertification upon such terms and conditions as the Board deems appropriate.

Section 7.
Suspension and Termination
For failure

1. to obtain recertification;
2. to meet financial obligations, or;
3. to conduct itself according to the association’s Constitution and Bylaws or policies and procedures adopted by the association’s Board of Directors, a Council may be suspended by the association’s Executive Committee or terminated by the association’s Board of Directors. Suspension shall result in
   1. the immediate cessation by the Council of all activity except such activity as is necessary to maintain the solvent existence of the Council;
   2. suspension of remittance of dues attributable to the Council by the association’s President; and
   3. the suspension of any Council delegates from participation in the House of Delegates.
      If the Council is suspended, the association’s Board shall consider Council termination at its next meeting. The association’s Board may reverse a suspension by the association’s Executive Committee. If the association’s Board determines that the circumstances listed in this section exist, it may terminate the Council and revoke its charter or choose to continue to recognize the Council as an active unit upon such terms and conditions as the association’s Board deems appropriate.

Section 8.
Dissolution
In the event that the Board terminates a Council or a Council votes to dissolve voluntarily, the Council shall immediately return its charter to the association’s President. The Council shall then take all action necessary to dissolve. If the Council is unable to dissolve and liquidate its assets, the association’s President shall be deemed the Council’s representative and may perform all acts useful and necessary for the dissolution of the Council and the liquidation of its assets. Any properties, funds or moneys, securities or other assets remaining in the treasury of, or held to the account of, or otherwise belonging to the Council shall be disposed of as follows:

1. All liabilities and obligations of the Council shall be paid and discharged or adequate provision shall be made by the members of the Council to do so;
2. All remaining assets held by the Council shall be transferred or conveyed, without obligation or restriction, to the association to be used in whatever manner the association’s President and Board shall deem appropriate.