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GEORGIA
CREDIT UNION AFFILIATES
BYLAWS
May,
2001
ARTICLE
I. ORGANIZATIONAL PURPOSE
Section
1. Name
The
name of this organization shall be the Georgia Credit
Union Affiliates.
Section
2. Purpose
A.
To provide personnel and other support services for the
Georgia Credit Union League, Inc., Georgia Central Credit
Union, Cooperative Services, Inc., their subsidiaries
and other affiliated organizations.
ARTICLE
II. OWNERSHIP
Georgia
Credit Union Affiliates is a stock corporation ("Corporation")
whose ownership is evidenced by certificates of stock as
determined by Article VI of these bylaws.
ARTICLE
III. MEETINGS OF THE MEMBERS/STOCKHOLDERS
Section
1: Annual Meetings
The
annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held at such
time and place, within or without the state of Georgia,
as may from time to time be fixed by the Board of Directors;
provided that failure to hold the annual meeting shall
not work a forfeiture or give cause for dissolution of
the Corporation, except as provided in Section 14-2-285
of the Georgia Business Corporation Code in case of deadlock
among directors or stockholders, nor shall such failure
affect otherwise valid corporate acts.
Section
2: Notice of Meetings
Written
or printed notice stating the place, day and time of all
meetings of stockholders shall be delivered not less than
thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date
of the meeting. Such notice must be delivered in written
form, either personally, by first class mail or by any
electronic medium, by or at the direction of the Chairman
or Secretary/Treasurer to each stockholder of record entitled
to vote at such meeting. The notice of any special meeting
of stockholders shall state the purpose or purposes for
which the meeting is called. Notice of any meeting of
stockholders need not be given to any stockholder who
signs a waiver of notice, either before or after the meeting.
Attendance of a stockholder at a meeting either in person
shall of itself constitute the waiver of notice and waiver
of any and all objections to the place of the meeting,
the time of the meeting, or the manner in which it has
been called or convened, except when a stockholder attends
a meeting solely for the purpose of stating at the beginning
of the meeting, any such objection or objections to the
transaction of business.
Section
3: Special Meetings
Special
meetings of stockholders may be called at any time by
a majority vote of the Board of Directors or the Chairman
of the Board. The Board of Directors shall also call a
special meeting of stockholders within ninety (90) days
when requested in writing by stockholders representing
not less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the capital
stock of the Corporation. Special meetings of the stockholders
shall be held at such time and place, within the state
of Georgia, as may be determined by the Board of Directors.
Notice shall be given no less than thirty (30) days prior
to the date specified for a special meeting.
Section
4: Quorum
The
presence, in person, of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding stock entitled to vote shall be necessary
to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business,
but a lesser number may adjourn to some future time not
less than ten (10) nor more than thirty (30) days later,
and the Secretary shall thereupon give at least ten (10)
days notice to each stockholder entitled to vote who is
absent from such meeting.
Section
5: Voting
At
all meetings of the stockholders, each holder of shares
of the Corporation shall be entitled to cast one vote,
in person, for each share standing in the stockholder's
name on the books of the Corporation. At all meetings
of the stockholders, all questions, the manner of deciding
which is not specifically regulated by statute, shall
be determined by vote of the stockholders present in person;
provided, however, that a stock vote shall be by ballot,
each of which shall state the name of the stockholder
voting and number of shares owned by the stockholder.
Section
6. Order of Business
I.
Determination of Quorum
II.
Approval of the Minutes for Preceding Meeting
III.
Reports - Chairman's Report - Secretary/Treasurer's Report
IV.
Unfinished Business
V.
New Business VI. Elections - if any
VII.
Adjourn
Stockholders
assembled at any annual meeting may suspend or amend the
above order of business upon majority vote of the Stockholders
present at the meeting.
ARTICLE
IV. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section
1. Management
The
affairs and business of this Corporation shall be managed
by its Board of Directors, which shall have and may exercise
all the powers that may be exercised or performed by the
Corporation including the power to declare dividends.
All matters coming before this Board of Directors shall
be decided by a majority vote. Each Director shall be
entitled to one vote except that a Director representing
multiple stockholders will be eligible to cast an equivalent
number of votes.
Section
2. Duties of Directors
The
Board of Directors shall have the control and general
management of the affairs and business of the Corporation.
Such Directors shall in all cases act as a Board, regularly
convened, by a majority and they may adopt such rules
and regulations for the conduct of their meetings and
the management of the Corporation, as they may deem proper,
not inconsistent with these Bylaws and the laws of the
State of Georgia.
Section
3: Number and Election
The
number of Directors shall be less than or equal to the
number of shareholders. Each Class of Common Stock Stockholder
shall be entitled to elect or appoint one Director. Members
of the Board of Directors shall be appointed at the Annual
Meeting of the Stockholders.
Section
4: Qualifications
A.
Each Director shall hold office until the next Annual
Meeting of stockholders or until his successor shall have
been elected or appointed and qualified. Each Stockholder
shall notify the Secretary of the Corporation by the Certificate
of its own Secretary or Assistant Secretary, as to the
name(s) of its initial and any subsequent, additional
or replacement representative(s).
Section
5: Removal of Directors
Any
one or more of the Directors may be removed either with
or without cause, at any time by a vote of the stockholders
holding three-fourths (3/4) of the stock, at any special
meeting called for the purpose.
Section
6: Vacancies
Vacancies
on the Board of Directors occurring between Annual Meetings
may be filled for the unexpired portion of a term by appointment
of an individual qualified under Article IV, Section 4
of these Bylaws at the direction of the Stockholder entitled
by reason of the vacancy.
Section
7: Emergency Powers
In
the event of a National Emergency, Common Disaster or
Catastrophic Loss involving one or more members of the
Board of Directors, a majority of the remaining Directors
shall constitute a quorum, and be authorized to continue
the operations of the Corporation until replacements for
the deceased or incapacitated officers can be appointed.
Section
8: Director Attendance
To
properly fulfill the requirements of his/her office, a
Director must be present at regular and scheduled meetings
of the Board of Directors. A Director must attend two
regular meetings of the Board of Directors during a 12-month
period or if he/she otherwise fails to perform the usual
duties of his/her office, without prejudice, his/her office
may be declared vacant and the Board shall appoint a successor
to serve until the expiration of his/her term.
CHAPTER
V. CORPORATE OFFICERS
Section
1: Number
The
officers of this Corporation shall be a Chairman of the
Board and Secretary/Treasurer.
Section
2: Election
The
Chairman and Secretary/Treasurer shall be elected annually
at the first meeting of the Board of Directors held after
each annual meeting of the stockholders, and shall hold
office for the term of one (1) year or until their successors
are duly elected. The Board may at any time elect or appoint
a President who shall serve until his/her successor is
elected or appointed or until his/her death, resignation
or removal.
Section
3: Eligibility
The
Chairman and Secretary/Treasurer must be elected from
the members of the Board of Directors.
Section
4: Chairman
The
Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings, both
of the Board of Directors and the stockholders; shall
be ex-officio a member of all committees; and shall perform
all duties as may be imposed upon him/her by the Board
of Directors.
Section
5: Secretary/Treasurer
The
Secretary/Treasurer shall perform or cause the following
duties to be performed: (a) have charge and custody of
and be responsible for all funds and securities of the
Corporation; (b) receive and give receipts for monies
due and payable to the Corporation from any source whatsoever,
and deposit all such monies in the name of the Corporation
in such credit unions, banks, trust companies or other
depositories as shall be selected in accordance with the
provisions of Article X, Section 4 and, in general, perform
all of the duties incident to the office of Treasurer
and have such other duties and exercise such other authority
as may be delegated or assigned to him/her by the Chairman
or the Board of Directors.
And,
the Secretary/Treasurer shall: (a) keep or cause to be
kept the minutes of the meetings of the stockholders and
of the Board of Directors; (b) see that all notices are
duly given in accordance with the provisions of these
bylaws or as required by law; (c) keep or arrange for
the keeping of a register of the post office address of
each stockholder which shall be furnished to the Secretary/Treasurer
by such stockholder; (d) sign with the President, or a
Vice President, certificates for stock of the Corporation,
the issuance of which shall have been authorized by resolution
of the Board of Directors; (e) have general charge of
the stock transfer books of the Corporation; and (f) in
general perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary/Treasurer
and have such other duties and exercise such authority
as from time to time may be delegated or assigned to him/her
by the Board of Directors.
Section
6: President
The
President shall be the chief executive officer of the
Corporation and, subject to the control of the Board of
Directors, shall supervise and control all of the business
affairs of the Corporation. He/she shall have authority:
(a) as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors, to
hire employees of the Corporation, to prescribe their
duties and compensation, and to delegate authority to
them; (b) to sign, execute and acknowledge, on behalf
of the Corporation, all deeds, mortgages, bonds, stock
certificates, contracts, leases, reports and all other
documents or instruments necessary or proper to be executed
in the course of the Corporation's regular business, or
which shall be authorized by resolution of the Board of
Directors; (c) as provided by law or the Board of Directors,
to authorize any Vice President or agent of the Corporation
to sign, execute and acknowledge such documents or instruments
in his/her place and stead. The President shall be responsible
for all duties delegated to him/her and for securing and
providing office space complete with utilities, furniture,
fixtures and equipment necessary for the operation of
the Corporation as authorized by the Board of Directors.
The President shall also have authority to perform all
duties incident to the office of President and such other
duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section
7: Removal
Any
officer or agent elected or appointed by the Board of
Directors may be removed by the entire Board of Directors
at any time with or without cause by a majority vote whenever
in its judgment the best interests of the Corporation
will be served thereby, but such removal shall be without
prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person
so removed. Election or appointment shall not of itself
create contract rights.
Section
8: Vacancies
A
vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal,
disqualification or otherwise, may be filled by the Board
of Directors for the unexpired portion of the term.
ARTICLE
VI. STANDING COMMITTEES
Section
1: Additional Committees
The
Board of Directors may, by resolution adopted by a majority
of the entire Board, at any time and from time to time,
appoint one or more additional committees consisting of
at least two (2) Directors. The number of members of each
committee may be increased or decreased by the Board at
any time from time to time.
ARTICLE
VII. CERTIFICATES OF STOCK
Section
1: Description of Stock Certificates
The
certificates of stock shall be numbered and registered
in the order in which they are issued. They shall be bound
in a book and shall be issued in consecutive order therefrom,
and in the margin thereof shall be entered the name of
the person or corporation owning the shares therein represented,
with the number of shares and the date thereof. Such certificates
shall exhibit the holder's name and the number of shares.
They shall be signed by the Chairman and countersigned
by the Secretary/Treasurer and sealed with the seal of
the Corporation. All certificates surrendered to the Corporation
for transfer shall be cancelled and no new certificate
shall be issued until the former certificate for a like
number of shares shall have been surrendered and cancelled,
except that in case of a lost, destroyed or mutilated
certificate, a new one may be issued therefore upon such
terms and indemnity to the Corporation as the Board of
Directors may prescribe.
Section
2: Issuance of Stock
All
stock shall be issued only on resolution by the Board
of Directors of the Corporation and shall be evidenced
by certificates of stock.
Section
3: Transfer of Stock
The
stock of the Corporation shall be assignable and transferable
on the books of the Corporation only by the person in
whose name it appears on said books, or his/her legal
representatives. In case of transfer by attorney, the
power of attorney, duly executed and acknowledged, shall
be deposited with the Secretary/Treasurer. In all cases
of transfer, the former certificate must be surrendered
up and cancelled before a new certificate may be issued.
No transfer shall be made upon the books of the Corporation
within ten (10) days next preceding the annual meeting
of the stockholders.
Section
4: Restrictions on Transfer
In
order to preserve the community of interest among this
Corporation's stockholders and to maintain the closely
held nature of this Corporation's stock, the following
restrictions are hereby imposed upon the stockholders
of this Corporation:
A.
No stockholder in this Corporation shall offer, sell,
transfer, pledge or hypothecate his stock in this Corporation
without having first offered to sell said stock to this
Corporation.
B.
The price at which this Corporation or the party designated
by it shall purchase any shares offered to it pursuant
to this provision, shall be the lesser of either (1)
the purchase price paid by the stockholder for the shares;
or (2) the book value of the share or shares, as determined
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
to be applied by certified public accountants satisfactory
to this Corporation, and the determination of said accountants
shall be binding upon this Corporation and the offering
stockholder.
C.
No stockholder in this Corporation shall offer, sell,
transfer, pledge or hypothecate his stock in this Corporation
without the prior written approval of counsel satisfactory
to the Corporation.
ARTICLE
VIII. FINANCES
Section
1: Dividends
The
Board of Directors may from time to time declare and the
Corporation may pay, dividends on its outstanding shares
in the manner and upon the terms and conditions provided
by law and in its Articles of Incorporation.
Section
2: Fiscal Year/Annual Audit
The
fiscal year of this corporation shall end at the close
of business on the thirty-first day of December. An annual
audit will be performed by an outside independent CPA
firm.
ARTICLE
IX PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES
Robert's
Rules of Order Revised shall govern in all meetings of the
Corporation, Board of Directors and committees in all cases
to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent
with the articles of incorporation, constitution, bylaws,
or other rules of order of the Corporation.
ARTICLE
X. INDEMNIFICATION
The
Corporation shall and hereby does indemnify to the extent
permitted by Section 14-2-851 of the Georgia Business Corporation
Code all present and former officers, directors, and employees
of the Corporation for expenses and costs (including attorney's
fees) actually and necessarily incurred by him/her in connection
with any claim asserted against him/her be it action in
court or otherwise, by reason of his/her being or having
been such director, officer or employee, except in relation
to matters as to which he/she shall have been found guilty
of negligence or misconduct in respect to the matter in
which indemnity is sought.
ARTICLE
XI. AMENDMENTS
These
bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed and new bylaws
may be adopted by an affirmative vote of the stockholders
representing two-thirds (2/3) of the issued and outstanding
common capital stock, at an annual meeting or at a special
meeting called for that purpose.
ARTICLE
XII. CONFLICT OF INTEREST
No director,
committee member, officer, agent or employee of the Corporation
may in any manner, directly or indirectly, participate in
the deliberation upon the determination of any question
affecting his pecuniary interest or the pecuniary interest
of any corporation, partnership, or association in which
he is directly or indirectly interested (other than the
credit union support organizations). In the event of the
disqualification of any director respecting any manner presented
to the Board of Directors for deliberation or determination,
such director shall withdraw from such deliberation or determination;
and in such event, the remaining qualified directors present
at the meeting, if constituting a quorum with the disqualified
directors, may exercise with respect to this matter, by
majority vote, all the powers of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE
XIII. DISCLOSURE/CONFIDENTIALITY
The
officers, directors, members of committees and employees
of the Corporation shall hold in strictest confidence all
transactions of the Corporation with its shareholders and
all information respecting their personal affairs. Upon
written request, the Corporation promptly shall mail to
any stockholder of record a copy of the most recent balance
sheet and profit & loss statement.
ARTICLE
XIV. CONTRACTS, LOANS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS
Section
1: Contracts
The
Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers,
agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute
and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf
of the Corporation, and such authority may be general
or confined to specific instances.
Section
2: Loans
No
loans shall be contracted on behalf of the Corporation
and no evidences of indebtedness shall be issued in this
name unless authorized by a resolution of the Board of
Directors. Such authority may be general or confined to
specific instances.
Section
3: Checks, Drafts, etc.
All
checks, drafts or other orders for payment of money, notes
or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name
of the Corporation, shall be signed by such officer or
officers, agent or agents of the Corporation and in such
manner as shall from time to time be determined by resolution
of the Board of Directors.
Section
4: Deposits
All
funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall
be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Corporation
in such credit unions, banks, trust companies or other
depositaries as the Board of Directors may select.
5/94
Revised
4/01
Revised
5/01
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