Constitution & Bylaws
International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors
Amended July 1991

Article I

This organization shall be known as the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors.

Article II

The object of this organization shall be to encourage and promote wise and independent editorial comment, news content, and leadership in community newspapers throughout the world; to facilitate the exchange of ideas and viewpoints of community editors in order that they and their readers may become better informed; to help in the development of the community newspaper press as an instrument of mutual understanding and world peace; and to foster freedom of the press in all nations.

Article III

Section 1. Admission to membership in the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors shall be open to those who subscribe to the purposes of the organization as set forth in Article II. The Board of Directors reserves the right to approve membership.

Section 2. Payment of annual dues shall entitle members to full voting privileges, subscription to Grassroots Editor, the official publication of the Society, and to all other privileges extended by the Society as declared by the Board of Directors.

Article IV

Section 1. The Society shall hold one regular meeting each year and other such meetings as the President shall deem necessary. Members of the Society in attendance at the annual meeting shall determine the time and place for the next such meeting, provided, however, that should a quorum be lacking at any regular meeting or should it become necessary to change the time or place, it shall become the duty of the President, or his or her deputy, to set a new place of meeting and to notify the members of his or her action.

Section 2. The call of special meetings shall state the business to be transacted.

Article V

Section 1. The officers of the Society shall consist of a President, a Vice President, and an Executive Secretary, to be elected annually.

Subsection A. The President shall preside at all meetings, appoint committees, be ex-officio member of all committees, and perform any duties of the office prescribed by the Bylaws.

Subsection B. The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in his or her absence or at his or her request and shall succeed to the presidency in the case of his or her death or resignation.

Subsection C. The Executive Secretary-Treasurer shall keep full and accurate records of proceedings of all meetings of the Board of Directors and the general meetings, receive and read all communications, keep a record of the membership of the organization, send out notices of meetings, and conduct necessary correspondence.

The Executive Secretary-Treasurer shall also keep a full and complete record of all money received and paid out by the Society, receive all membership fees, and deliver to his or her successor all funds and records of the Society remaining in his or her hands at the expiration of his or her term of office. The Executive Secretary-Treasurer also shall render a financial statement at the regular meetings of the Society and the Board of Directors. The Executive Secretary-Treasurer shall also make all disbursements upon approval of the Board of Directors.

Section 2. The officers, the Immediate Past President, and four Directors at large shall constitute the Board of Directors. Three Directors shall be elected for terms of three years with one to retire at the end of each year, and one Director shall serve a one-year term.

Subsection A. The Board of Directors shall control and manage the affairs of the Society between general meetings.

Subsection B. The Board of Directors shall have the power to create, combine, and discontinue standing committees.

Subsection C. Upon refusal or neglect or inability of any member of the Board of Directors to perform his or her duties, the Directors, by a two-thirds majority of the vote, shall have the power to declare the office vacant.

Subsection D. The Board of Directors shall have the power to delegate to an Executive Committee such duties as shall be deemed expedient.

Subsection E. The Board of Directors shall have the power to adopt standing rules necessary to carry out the work of the Society.

Section 3. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, the Vice President, and the Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Society. It shall have the power between meetings of the Board of Directors to act on essential matters requiring immediate action. It shall perform duties authorized by the Board of Directors and shall report to the Board.

Article VI

A committee shall consist of the chairman and such members as shall be designated by the President. The work of all committees shall be consistent with the policies of the Society and shall be presented to the Board of Directors for approval. Article VII Nine or more members, including at least two officers of the Society, shall constitute a quorum of the Board of Directors.

Article VIII

The Board of Directors shall be empowered to levy assessments and membership dues subject to the approval of the membership.

Article IX

The official publication of the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors shall be known as the Grassroots Editor.

Article X

This constitution may be amended by the vote of two-thirds of the members in good standing of the Society in attendance at the annual meeting.

Bylaws

1. The fiscal year of the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31.
   
   
2. It shall be the policy of the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors to maintain a central office for the purpose of organizing the annual conference and any special events approved by the Board of Directors, to collect and distribute materials of professional interest to newspaper editors, to edit and produce an official publication and service letters as required to maintain communication among the members, and to provide scholarships and other financial assistance for worthy scholars and newspaper editors. Such activities shall be underwritten by the sale of subscriptions, payment for services rendered, and payment of dues, as well as by gifts which may come to the organization from time to time for the purpose of supporting the objectives stated.
   
   Because the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors operates as a non-profit organization with no material gain to the officers or members, if the organization becomes inactive through the failure to hold annual meetings in three consecutive years the organization is to be disbanded by any officer or member in control of its affairs.
   
   Any funds remaining after the settlement of all just debts shall be assigned without recourse to some other non-profit organization devoted to improving standards of journalism, provided the beneficiary is one fully recognized by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States government as entitled to exemption from the payment of income taxes by nature of its purpose and activities.