BYLAWS2

		BYLAWS


		Article I - Name
		The name of this organization shall be Leadership Bedford. It is a program sponsored by the Shelbyville-Bedford County Chamber of Commerce, but which operates autonomously pursuant to these bylaws.

		Article II - Statement of Purpose and Objectives
		The purpose of Leadership Bedford is to conduct an annual program which will help meet the needs of the future in Bedford County by developing a diversified corps of informed, committed, and qualified individuals which will provide a source of trained leaders for Bedford County organizations, both public and private.

		The Objectives of Leadership Bedford are:

		(a) to provide and develop potential and existing leaders in business, government, and the community, and to help them better prepare for responsibilities in the community;

		(b) to provide these leaders with a practical, clear, and simple understanding of major problems

		(c) to facilitate access between emerging leaders and the current leadership of the

		(d) to improve the communities network among leaders from diverse backgrounds and interests;

		(e) to create an avenue for persons of demonstrated commitment to the community to meet and exchange ideas; and,

		(f) to stimulate increased participation in and commitment to community affairs and activities.

		Article III - Board of Directors

		The direction and control of Leadership Bedford is vested in a Board of Directors consisting of sixteen (16) members. Fifteen members shall be elected by the Board. The Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce shall be an ex-officio member of the Board, and serve as a regular member of the Board, to be counted in the quorum, with the right to make and debate motions and vote.

		Five (5) directors shall be elected annually at the May meeting of the Board. Directors shall serve a three (3) year term, commencing June 1st following their election. No Board member shall be re-elected to the board until the lapse of two (2) years after the expiration of his or her prior term.

		The Board shall fill Directors vacancies by utilizing a nominating committee appointed by the President and approved by a note of the Board. The nominating Committee shall nominate only candidates who have expressed a willingness to serve, and no fewer candidates than the number of openings on the Board.

		Any Board Member absent from the three consecutive regular board meetings and not excused by the President or Secretary shall be removed as a member of the Board; provided however, this provision shall not apply to the Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce.

		Article IV - Meeting

		The Board of Directors will hold a regular monthly meeting, at a time and place established by resolution. Seven (7) days prior notice for regular monthly meetings.

		Special meetings may be called by the President or five (5) members of the Board of Directors. At least twenty-four (24) hours notice must be given to all Board members for special meetings.

		A special meeting shall be called each May for the purpose of honoring in a graduation ceremony that year's class participants who have successfully completed the leadership program, which shall be held with that year's leadership class participant and invited guests attending.

		Eight (8) Board members shall constitute a quorum at any meeting.

		Article V - Officers

		The officers of the organization shall be a President, a president-elect, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. These will be elected from the Board of Directors.

		At the regular meeting in June, on nominate from the floor, the President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected by voice vote, or on motion and a majority vote, by ballot, to serve, along with the President, for a one year term or until their successors are elected, and their term shall begin immediately following their election.

		In the event the President is absent, or if the office of the President becomes vacant between elections, the President-Elect shall preside, if present, or shall fill the vacancy. If the office of President-Elect becomes vacant, the Board shall at its next regular monthly meeting on nominations from the floor elect by majority vote a president-elect.

		The President may appoint an active Board member to conduct business in his or her absence and in the absence of the President-elect.

		Article VI - Committees

		All committees shall be appointed by the President, and the President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.

		Standing committees shall be:
		(a) Budget and Finance; (b) Curriculum (c) Recruitment; (d) Alumni; (e) Retreat; (f) Publicity; and, (g) Youth Leadership Program

		Article VII - Headquarters and Staff

		The Board of Directors is authorized to maintain, in suitable quarters, a business office for the organization.

		The Board of Directors may employ an Executive Director or Coordinator, who may be a paid employee. The Executive Director or Coordinator will will perform such duties as are assigned by the Board, under the direction of the President.

		Article VIII - Finance and Administration

	The fiscal year for the organization shall be June 1st to May 31st

	The Budget and Finance Committee shall present for adoption by the Board at the July meeting a proposed of revenues and expenses for the current fiscal year.

	All disbursements shall be for expenditures contained in the approved budget or an amendment to the budget, and made by check. All officers of the organization are authorized to be signatories of the operating checking account.

	The Treasure is responsible for maintaining all financial accounts and submitting all financial accounts and submitting all financial reports. The Treasurer will submit a statement of income and expenditures and account balances at each regular monthly meeting of the Board.

	Leadership classes that raise or otherwise acquire funds for their project shall submit quarterly financial statements to the Treasurer of the Board for so long as they maintain a cash balance. Class financial statements shall include a balance sheet and an income and expense statement. A list of cash contributors and their contributions shall be submitted when fundraising is completed. Classes who have completed their project, but maintain a cash balance for purposes associated with their project, may, with Board approval, submit annual financial statements at the close of each fiscal year.

	Article IX - The Leadership Program

	Any person residing or employed in Bedford County may apply for a seat in a Leadership Bedford leadership class; provided however, upon recommendation by the Youth Leadership Program Committee, the Board of Directors my adopt requirements for participation in the Youth Leadership Program which are separate and distinct from the requirements for participation in Leadership Bedford.

	Leadership Bedford, through the Recruitment Committee, shall actively solicit applications from candidate representing all demographic segments of the community. A maximum of twenty (20) people will be selected to participate in any on leadership class.

	Participants in each class are selected by the Board of Directors, based on the recommendations of the Recruitment Committee. In addition to the requirements of section 1 hereof, the criteria for selection are:

	(a) a desire for personal growth opportunities; (b) a commitment to quality leadership in Bedford County community activities; (c) a desire to improve the quality of life in Bedford County; and, (d) a desire to learn more about the challenges facing the Bedford County community.

	The Board shall use its best efforts to select to candidates for participation in the leadership class who represent a cross-section of the community in terms of sex, race, age, and occupation.

	The Board of Directors, on the recommendations of the Curriculum Committee, shall establish the leadership training program for each class. Leadership classes will be held one full day each month from September through May. The Board of Directors may call additional meetings of the leadership class at its discretion.

	In order to graduate, a class participant must:
	(a) Attend an orientation retreat; (b) Attend seven of the eight monthly leadership class days; provided, however, the Board of Directors may approve for good cause one additional absence for a candidate. Participants who miss more than two monthly meetings will not be eligible to graduate; (c) Participate in completing one Community Project; and, (d) Complete a number of community activities specified by the Curriculum Committee and approved by the Board of Directors.

	The Board of Directors shall establish a fee for participation in the leadership program. Participants who have failed to pay the fee 90 days after its due date shall be expelled from the program. The Board of Directors may extend this period or waive the fee requirements for good cause, by a two-third vote of the membership.

	Article X - Youth Leadership Program

	The Board of Directors is authorized to establish a Youth Program.

	The Youth Leadership Program shall be under the direction and control of the Board of Directors acting through the Youth Leadership Program Committee.

	The Board of Directors shall adopt, upon the recommendation of the Youth Leadership Program Committee, a statement of operating policies and procedures for the Youth Leadership Program.

	Article XI - Parliamentary

	The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the organization may adopt.

	Article XII - Amendments

	These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting by two-thirds majority vote of the Board of Directors; provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing at a prior regular meeting.