San Francisco Public Relations Roundtable Bylaws
Article I: PURPOSE
The San Francisco Public Relations Round Table (“SFPRRT”) is an organization of active public relations professionals. Its main function is to bring together such professionals at regular meetings to hear speakers or discussions on subjects relevant to the members’ professional activity.
The SFPRRT is organized for not-for-profit purposes, and the individual members will not derive pecuniary gain or profit from the organization, in compliance with Section 23701 of the Revenue and Taxation Code of the state of California and applicable federal regulations. The specific and primary purpose of the Round Table is to operate a professional association within the meaning of Section 23701 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code.
Article II: MEMBERS
Persons qualified for membership shall be individuals who perform, to a significant degree, a function for an organization or individual that evaluates public attitudes, identifies the policies and procedures of the organization or individual with the public interest, and executes a program of action to earn public acceptance and understanding.
Individuals are eligible for membership if they have at least five consecutive years of public relations experience, if they are the most senior public relations professionals in their organization, or if they have experience acceptable to the Board of Governors, and are presently employed in this profession.
The professional and personal reputation of the applicant will be considered by the board in an application proposed by a member of good standing and be sponsored by two members, two of whom must have known the applicant for at least six months. The board, at its discretion, may waive the requirement that sponsoring members must have known the applicant for at least six months.
Preferred candidates for membership are those applicants who occupy senior managerial positions with public relations functions in trade, professional, or business organizations or who are ranking public relations officers in political bodies, at military bases, or for public agencies, installations, or facilities, or who are senior partners in a firm of independent public relations professionals.
Multiple memberships of qualified people within an organization are encouraged. In the event the senior public relations person is not already a member or declines membership, this will not preclude other qualified public relations professionals in that organization from applying for membership.
Members are required to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Board of Governors, a continuing interest in the activities of the SFPRRT to remain in good standing.
Members who have reached retirement age and have retired from full-time public relations work may continue their membership in the SFPRRT by paying one-half of the current annual dues. Individuals eligible for retired, half-pay membership who have served as Chair of the Board of Governors, or who, over an extended period, have rendered outstanding service to the SFPRRT in one or more positions of responsibility may be elected to honorary life membership, with all dues waived, by a vote of the Board of Governors.
Individuals who are not currently active in the field of public relations but who are in allied professions are eligible to become associate members of the SFPRRT entirely at the discretion of the Board of Governors. These members must be principals or the highest ranking local representatives of the businesses they represent. Associate members must pay the same dues as regular members, but are not eligible to serve on the Board of Governors (Amendments adopted February 4, 1993 and January 5, 1995). Individuals who have discontinued their membership but who wish to rejoin the SFPRRT may be reinstated at the discretion of the Board of Governors.
Article III: MEETINGS
The SFPRRT shall meet the fourth Tuesday of each month at a time and place to be fixed by the Board of Governors. Any meeting may be rescheduled or canceled by action of the Board, or in unusual circumstances, by the Chair of the Board of Governors.
Article IV: BOARD OF GOVERNORS AND OFFICERS
The Round Table shall be governed by a Board of Governors made up of 12 members. Term of office shall be three years, with four members of the Board elected each year to serve staggered terms of office. A term of office officially runs January 1 of the first year following elections through December 31 of the third year.
Election of the members of the Board shall be by ballot of the members of the SFPRRT conducted in October of each year. Nominations for the election of members of the Board shall be made by the Nominating Committee as provided for by Article V. Nominations can also be made by a petition signed by at least ten percent of the membership.
The incoming Board of Governors shall elect, at its November meeting, officers for the coming calendar year; officers will be a Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer who will serve for one-year terms. Nominations for the election of officers of the Board shall be made by the Nominating Committee, as provided for by Article V. Nominations of alternative candidates also can be made by a member in good standing of the Board of Governors to the Nominating Committee Chair (as provided in Article V) no less than 10 days prior to the November Board meeting, so that their eligibility under Article II can be confirmed.
If an officer or Board member does not perform his/her assigned duties of office in the opinion of the Chair, the Chair may request the resignation of that individual. In extreme cases, the matter shall be brought to a vote of the Board of Governors. The individual shall be removed if at least seven of the Board of Governors vote in favor of a removal.
If any vacancy occurs on the Board of Governors, the Board shall fill the vacancy, from among candidates recommended by the Chair. All past Chairs of the Board of Governors shall be Ex Officio members of the Board.
The Board shall meet monthly at a time and place fixed by the Chair. A quorum of five members is required for transaction of business.
If a member of the Board of Governors is unable to be present for a Board meeting, that individual may give his or her proxy to the Chair for the purposes of establishing a quorum and voting on matters before the Board.
Article V: COMMITTEES
The Chair of the Board of Governors shall appoint such committees, and chairs of same, as are necessary for the conduct of the business of the Round Table. Standing committees include but are not limited to Program, Membership, Newsletter, House, Roster, Scholarship, Nominations, Special Events, and Website.
Standing committees shall be composed of the Committee Chair and as many additional members as desired and as approved by the Board of Governors, except for the Membership and Nominations Committees, each of which shall have a chair and at least two additional members.
The Nominations Committee shall be chaired by the Immediate Past Chair and composed of three Past Chairs, as recommended by the Immediate Past Chair and appointed by the Board of Governors. The Chair of the Board of Governors shall appoint special committees for any purpose that may arise.
Article VI: FINANCIAL
Annual dues shall be fixed by the Board of Governors and shall be due and payable by January 1 and, unless paid by February 15 of each year, the member shall be dropped at the discretion of the Board of Governors. New members who have never had a membership in the SFPRRT and who join in the last quarter of the calendar year (between October 1 and December 31) will be considered to have “paid in full” for the subsequent calendar year.
The Treasurer shall keep records of all dues payable, pay all proper bills against the Round Table, and give a monthly accounting to the Board.
Article VII: AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be amended or rescinded at any time by an affirmative vote of at least seven of the 12 members of the Board of Governors.
Any member of the Round Table may propose a change in the By-Laws in writing to the Immediate Past Chair, who will present the recommended amendments to the Board of Governors. All proposed changes to these By-Laws must be submitted to the Board at least 30 days prior to any vote on such changes. The By-Laws should be reviewed for possible changes at least annually.