Helping Our Community Grow

Constitution and By-Laws of West Hempstead

Chamber of Commerce  

ARTICLE I:  NAME

                        The name of the organization shall be West Hempstead Chamber of Commerce (hereinafter “the Chamber”).

ARTICLE II:  OBJECTS

                        The Chamber of Commerce shall promote better business relationships, provide for a forum for discussions of mutual interest, and represent the membership in its relationships with the public and with municipalities.  Our mission statement is: “Striving to Enhance the Quality of our Community”.

ARTICLE III:  MEMBERSHIP

                        In accordance with the New York State Not-for-Profit Corporation Law, Section 1410, this Chamber of Commerce will have a membership from diverse lines of business and will not be restricted to businesses engaged in the same or similar lines of business.  Membership shall be open to any business owner, professionals and associates for the same who work, transact business in or reside in the generally accepted region of the unincorporated area of West Hempstead .  It shall also provide that businesses that border West Hempstead may also be a member of the Chamber.

                        There shall be three classes of members:

1.      Corporate, voting;

2.      Corporate-employee, non-voting; and

3.      Other, voting (organizations, civic groups, etc.)

Any additional employee of a corporate member expressing a desire to participate, upon application, may become a corporate-employee member without voting privileges.

ARTICLE IV: FEES AND DUES

                        The membership shall establish annual dues and the payment schedule.  Membership dues are as follows:  A corporate business member with ten (10) or less employees shall pay $75 per year.  A corporate/business member with greater than (10) employee shall pay an additional $35 for each employee of the same business.  The Chamber calendar year for dues will be January 1 through December 31.

ARTICLE V:  MEETINGS

                        The Annual Meeting of this Chamber of Commerce shall be in June of each year, at such time and place as is decided by the membership.  Notice of the Annual Meeting is to be given by the Secretary of the Chamber.

                        The Chamber shall schedule no less than three (3) general meetings, in addition to the Annual Meeting.  The President or the Board, at their discretion, may call more than three (3) regular meetings a year.

                        Special Meetings of the Chamber may be called by the President or by two (2) officers.  Upon the written request addressed to the President or Secretary of at least ten (10) voting members of the Chamber in good standing, the President shall call a Special Meeting to take place thirty (30) days after the receipt by him/her of such written request.  Notices for a Special Meeting shall state the agenda of such meetings, shall designate the time and place thereof, and shall be sufficient if given in person, email or by mail addressed to each member of the Chamber in good standing.  Notices shall be sent not less than seven (7) days, nor more than fourteen (14) days prior to the date of said meeting.  Those requesting a Special Meeting must propose an agenda and no business shall be transacted at such Special Meetings except that called for by the agenda.

ARTICLE VI:  QUORUM FOR MEETINGS

                        The quorum for all meetings shall consist of four (4) voting members of which two (2) are Officers and two (2) are Executive Board Members of the Chamber in good standing. 

ARTICLE VII:  OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES

The officers of the Chamber shall consist of the President, 1^st Vice-

President, 2^nd Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary and Recording Secretary.  No two (2) offices may be held by one person.  No person shall be elected to the office of President without first having served a minimum of two (2) years on the Board of Directors.

PRESIDENT:  The President shall preside at all meetings of the Chamber.  He/she shall call Special Meetings of the Chamber whenever required or desirable.  He/she shall enforce order at all meetings and cause the Laws of the Chamber to be fully observed and executed.  He/she shall establish committees, may countersign all drafts, checks, warrants, and orders for payment of money.  He/she shall, as President, execute all agreements when directed to do so.  He/she shall be an ex-officio member of all committees of the chamber.  In the event of a tie vote by the board, the President’s vote shall count twice.

The President shall appoint the Chairman of all committees in consultation with the Board of Directors.  The following standing committees of the organization shall consist of, but not be limited to, Special Events, Street Fair, Publicity, Beautification, Membership, Website, Programs, Speakers Bureau and Historian.

1^st VICE-PRESIDENT:  The Vice-President shall assist the President in the discharge of the latter’s duties.  Should the President fail or be unable to carry out his/her duties, the 1^st Vice-President shall discharge all the duties of the President and may countersign financial instruments.  In the event that the 1^st Vice-President is unavailable then the duties would fall to the 2^nd Vice-President.

2^nd Vice-President:  Will assume the same role as the 1^st Vice-President. In addition, the 2^nd Vice-President is responsible for recruiting new members and sending any correspondence to new members.

TREASURER:  The Treasurer shall collect and receive all the funds of the Chamber.  He/she shall maintain a roster of the membership of the chamber.  He/she shall report to the 1^st Vice-President the failure of any member to pay yearly dues.  He/she shall, together with any authorized officer, sign all checks, drafts, warrants, and orders for payment of money.  He/she shall keep a true record of all receipts and disbursements and report upon them as frequently as may be requested. 

Secretary:  He/she shall annually present to the Chamber a report of activities of the Chamber and Board for the proceeding (12) months and will prepare all meeting notices, agendas and speakers. He/she will maintain list of members and perspective members. He/she shall send notices and key information to ensure website is up to date. 

He/she shall alert media of meetings and events and oversee preparations for the annual installation of officers and directors.

Recording Secretary: The Recording Secretary shall keep the minutes of the Chamber Board and General Meetings, keep attendance records and act as the corresponding secretary as well as assist the secretary in his/her duties. The Recording Secretary is responsible for sending welcome packets to new members and sending out correspondences via email that secretary sends.

ARTICLE VIII:  BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND DUTIES

The Chamber shall be managed by a Board of Directors.The Board shall

consist of six (6) Officers and (6) Board members.  Decisions of the Board shall be carried by a simple majority of board members present.  The Board shall meet at such intervals as it determines to be necessary, however, it will not meet fewer than six (6) times a year.  The Board may invite members and non-members to address the Board and participate in Board discussions.  Under no circumstances is any non-board members allowed to vote on issues before the board.

                        The Board will appoint directors by a majority vote of Directors currently serving.  Directors are expected to attend all meetings.  A board member who misses (3) consecutive board meetings, without valid reason shall be deemed as having resigned.

The duties of the Board of Directors shall be to chair one of our six (6) committees, and to assist in any other duties needed.

The minutes of all Board meetings shall be transcribed and made available to all members.

ARTICLE IX:  ELECTIONS OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS,

 TERM OF OFFICE, VACANCIES, AND REMOVAL OF OFFICE

All the officers and directors of the Chamber shall serve for a period of

two (2) years from the date of their election, and shall continue until their successors have been elected.  Procedures for removal of officers and directors shall be governed by the New York State Not-For Profit Corporation Law.

A President can only serve two successive terms.  However, a President

would be eligible to hold office again after spending one term out of office.  The officer will appoint the directors.  There shall be six (6) directors.

                        Only voting members in good standing in the Chamber and present in person may vote on any question at any meeting of the Chamber.  A corporate/business member must designate one person who will cast the vote for the corporate/business member.  All other employees of that corporate/business member may not vote.  Only the official designee of the corporate/business member may hold office as a director or officer.

                        No less than sixty (60) days prior to the Annual Meeting, the President shall appoint a nomination committee consisting of no less than two (2) and no more than four (4).  Such committee shall report the slate of nominations of the February meeting.

                        Nominations may be made from the floor at the Annual Meeting of the Chamber.  Current directors will be presumed to be available for re-election, but others nominated must be present or have otherwise notified the President of the Chamber of their willingness to serve.

                        The officers and Board shall have the power to nominate and fill any vacancy or officer or other board member.

ARTICLE X:  COMMITTEES

                        The Board of Directors of the Chamber shall, from time to time, establish committees to perform such duties, as they may deem advisable, necessary and expedient.

                        Only members of the Chamber in good standing may serve on any committee.

                        The Chamber shall establish the following standing committees:  Publicity Committee, Special Events (i.e., Street Fair), Website, Programs, Speakers Bureau, Membership Committee, Beautification Committee and Historian.

                        The Board will determine the size and composition of each committee.  Membership in the committees is open to all members of the Chamber who are in good standing.

ARTICLE XI:  AMENDMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS

                        These Bylaws may be amended, modified or revised at any Annual Meeting of the Chamber, or at any Special Meeting of the Chamber called for that purpose, but in either event only as follows:

(a)    The proposition to amend, modify or revise, must be detailed and submitted in writing, signed by at least five (5) voting members in good standing.

(b)   An affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the members of the Chamber present at said meeting, and entitled to vote thereon, shall be necessary to adopt any amendment, modification or revision of these bylaws.

These Bylaws have been duly adopted and approved at the Meeting of January 26, 2010 .

 ______________________________ 

Karl Riesterer, President

 ______________________________

Bob Forelli, 1^st Vice-President

 ______________________________

Bob Manuella 2^nd Vice-President

 _____________________________

Fred Sorrentino, Treasurer

 _______________________________

Vita Zorbo, Secretary

 _______________________________

Hilda Manuella Recording Secretary

Dated January 26, 2010