Massachusetts
Chess
Association
Inc.


Bylaws, Articles of Organization, and Related Documents

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 3, 2000

NOTE: This document recreates the original bylaws, with changes. Changes are noted as: (1) deleted text is "strikeout", (2) added text is "double underlined", unless otherwise noted.

Bylaws of the Massachusetts Chess Association, Inc.

(Proposed Amendments 2/3/00)

Section 1

Name, Purpose, Location, Corporate Seal, and Fiscal Year

1.1 Name and Purpose. The name of the corporation shall be "Massachusetts Chess Association, Inc.". and purposes The purpose of the corporation shall be as set forth in the articles of organization. The Massachusetts Chess Association, Inc. will be referred to as MACA in the balance of this document.

1.2 Location. The principal office of the corporation in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall initially be located at the place set forth in the articles of organization of the corporation. The Executive Board may change the location of the principal office in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts effective upon filing a certificate with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

1.3 Corporate Seal. The Executive Board may adopt and alter the seal of the corporation.

1.4 Fiscal Year. The Fiscal Year of the corporation shall, unless otherwise decided by the Executive Board, end on June 30 in each year.

Section 2

Members and Affiliates

2.1 Membership and Affiliation. Any individual or organization interested in chess may become, respectively, a member or an affiliate. There shall be four classes of memberships, and one class of affiliation.

a. Adult Membership. Any individual 18 years of age or over, may become an Adult member upon payment of annual dues of $12.00. Adult members are voting members and can vote in elections and membership meetings..

b. Junior Membership. Any individual under 18 years of age may become a Junior member upon the payment of annual dues of $6.00. Junior members have no voting rights. Junior members, at their option, can convert to Adult members, by payment of the pro-rated Adult dues, upon their 18th birthday. Junior members do not automatically convert to Adult members.

c. Life Membership. Any individual 18 years of age or over may become a Life member upon the payment of one-time dues of $175.00 ($100.00 if 65 or older) and subsequent Executive Board approval. A member may be conferred a Life membership with no fee by the Executive Board’s unanimous vote (of those present and voting) at any meeting after reasonable and sufficient notice. Life members are voting members and can vote in elections and membership meetings.

d. Family Membership. The spouse or child or sibling, of any Adult or Junior or Life member, residing at the same address as the member may become a Family member upon payment of annual dues of $4.00. Family members have no voting rights.

e. Adult, junior, and life members are voting members and can vote in elections and membership meetings. Family members cannot vote and do not receive a subscription to the official organ.

e. f. Affiliation. Any organization may become an affiliate upon payment of annual dues of $25.00 and, the filing of an "Affiliate Information Form", and the Executive Board’s 2/3 vote (of those present and voting) at any meeting after reasonable and sufficient notice.

g. i) Any individual may become a subscriber upon the payment of annual dues of $12.00

ii) Any New England primary or secondary school may become a subscriber upon payment of annual dues of $6.00.

iii) Any New England library may become a subscriber upon the payment of annual dues of $6.00

iv) Any chess club may become a subscriber upon the payment of annual dues of $12.00.

f. h. The Executive Board may establish surcharges for special circumstances, such as the cost of Chess Horizons postage.

g. i. The Executive Board may offer, for a specified time, incentives, consistent with MACA’s tax-exempt status, for the purpose of promoting membership and raising funds.

j. The Executive Board may conclude agreements with other organizations to provide it’s magazine or other materials at rates to be set by the MACA Executive Board. Such agreements shall not confer membership status in MACA to this organization or its members, or benefits beyond receipt of such materials.

2.2 Length of Membership. Adult and Junior, and Family memberships and affiliations shall expire on the fifteenth day of the month, same month the following year, twelve months after payment of dues. Memberships and affiliations may be extended for an additional years by paying additional appropriate annual dues. A life membership expires upon the member’s death or resignation.

a. A membership (including Life membership) expires immediately upon notification to the Executive Board of the member’s death or receipt by the Executive Board of written notification of the member’s resignation.

b. There is no refund of membership dues upon resignation or death.

2.3 Length of Affiliation. Affiliations shall expire on the fifteenth day of the month, same month the following year, after payment of dues. Affiliations may be extended for additional years by paying additional appropriate annual dues.

a. An affiliation expires immediately upon receipt of written notification by the Executive Board, of the affiliation’s dissolution, or resignation.

b. There is no refund of affiliation dues upon dissolution or resignation.

 

2.3 Powers and Rights. In addition to the rights vested in the by-laws elsewhere and the articles of organization, the members shall have such other powers and rights as the Executive Board may designate.