ICON Bylaws

Sept. 2009

 

Article I. Title

Section 1.

The name of the organization is ICON.

Section 2.

ICON is a Nebraska nonprofit corporation, governed by its Articles of Incorporation and Articles of Amendment thereto.

 

Article II. Objectives

Section 1.

The objectives of the consortium are:
A. Promote shared use of resources.
B. Provide educational and networking opportunities for those interested in health science information and resources.
C. Promote library use.
D. Provide a forum for open communication among members.

 

Article III. Membership

Section 1. Institutions

A. Eligibility. Institutional membership is open to any institution which agrees to share information resources and to work toward the attainment of consortium objectives.

B. Dues Institutional dues shall be determined by membership vote. Dues are payable in the first month of the fiscal year

C. Rights and Privileges Each institutional member shall designate an authorized representative who is eligible to vote, serve on committees, and hold office. Only such institutional representatives shall be eligible to vote on matters affecting the activities and welfare of institutional members. In the event that such designated person is unable to attend a meeting, a proxy may be named for purposes of debating issues and casting votes for the institution giving the proxy. In no case shall an institution have more than one vote on any issue affecting institutional members.
D. Withdrawal or Removal Institutional members may withdraw from the organization at any time.  Institutional members may be removed for just cause by two-thirds vote of the institutional representatives present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, provided that such proposed removal has been included in the call for that meeting.
E. No dues monies shall be returned to members withdrawn or removed.

Section 2. Individuals

A. Eligibility Individual membership is open to persons who agree to work toward the attainment of consortium objectives.
B. Dues. Individual dues shall be determined by membership vote. Dues are payable in the first month of the fiscal year.

C. Rights and Privileges Each individual member is eligible to vote, serve on committees, and hold office.
D. Withdrawal or Removal Individual members may withdraw from the organization at any time.  Individual members may be removed for just cause by two-thirds vote of the institutional representatives present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, provided that such proposed removal has been included in the call for that meeting.
E. No dues monies shall be returned to members withdrawn or removed.

Section 3. Students

A. Eligibility. Student membership is open to students who agree to work toward the attainment of consortium objectives.
B. Dues. Student fees are waived.

C. Rights and Privileges. Student members may vote and serve on committees, but may not serve as chairs of committees.
D. Withdrawal or Removal Student members may withdraw from the organization at any time.  Student members may be removed for just cause by two-thirds vote of the institutional representatives present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, provided that such proposed removal has been included in the call for that meeting.

Section 4. Fiscal year

The fiscal year of the consortium is from January 1 through December 31 of each calendar year.

Section 5. Voting

All individual members are eligible to vote. For those items specifically related to institutional membership, only the designated institutional representative or his proxy is eligible to vote.

Unless stated otherwise in the bylaws, all general issues, including elections, shall be approved by simple majority present in person or by written proxy.

Article IV. Officers

Section 1. Elected officers

The elected officers constitute a three member Executive Board. They will be designated as the Senior, Junior, and Freshman members.

Section 2. Election and term of office

A.    Election of Executive Board Members shall be held at the last meeting of the fiscal year.
B. The term of office for each Executive Board member shall be three years. The term of office shall be staggered with one new Executive Board member elected each year. The most recently elected member will be referred to as the Freshman member of the Executive Board. The term of office shall begin at the close of the meeting at which the election was held. The Executive Board member who has completed three years shall rotate off the Executive Board.
C. Vacancies in Executive Board positions shall be filled by a majority vote of those members present at the next business meeting. The elected Board member will become the Freshman member of the Board and serve a three-year term of office. Remaining Board members will move up one level in seniority.

 

 

Section 3. Duties of elected officers

A. The Senior member, beginning his third year in office, shall preside at all regular and special meetings of the consortium, prepare the agenda, preside over the Executive Board, chair the nominating committee appoint committee chairs and serve as a member of the Special Projects committee.
B. The Junior member, beginning his second year in office, shall preside at all meetings in the absence of the Senior Executive Board member, is responsible for programs and serve on the Education committee.
C. The Freshman member, beginning his first year in office, shall act as recording secretary at all executive and regular meetings of ICON.
D. All Executive Board members shall review and approve ICON honors and awards.

Section 4. Executive Board

A. The Executive Board shall consist of three elected Board members and shall meet as necessary between regular business meetings.
B. The Executive Board shall act on behalf of ICON as empowered by the general membership and report all actions to the members not later than the next scheduled meeting.

Section 5. Appointed Positions

A.    Executive Secretary
An executive secretary shall be appointed by the Board for an unspecified term. The executive secretary shall be a non-voting member of the Executive Board. The executive secretary shall maintain records of all membership information, financial transactions to include collection of dues, disbursement of funds in payment of debts and for approved purchases, provide a reckoning to the Executive Board, conduct communications and correspondence as necessary, and ensure the orderly transition to the next executive secretary of all membership information and financial matters pertaining to ICON.  The Executive Secretary shall also act as parliamentarian.
B. Communications Coordinator
A communications coordinator shall be appointed by the Board for an unspecified term. The communications coordinator shall be a non-voting member of the Executive Board. The communications coordinator shall electronically post the minutes of the meetings, and other relevant news and information on the ICON website, maintain the ICON website, act as the ICON liaison to the website host company, and coordinate web activities.

 

Article V. Committees

Section 1. Standing Committees

Standing committees may be created or discontinued only by amending the bylaws. The standing committees of ICON are as follows:

Continuing Education
Special Projects

 

 

Section 2. AD Hoc Committees

Ad hoc committees may be created by the Executive Board to conduct organization business.

Section 3. Committee Funding

Funds for committee expenses shall be authorized by the Executive Board.

 

Article VI. Meetings

Section 1. Regular Meetings

Regular meetings shall be held quarterly.

Section 2. Special Meetings

A special meeting of the consortium may be called by a member of the Executive Board and must be called within sixty days of a request by the majority of the membership.

Section 3. Quorum

A quorum shall consist of a majority of those members present, in person, or by written proxy.

 

Article VII. Amendments

These bylaws may be amended at any meeting by a two-thirds vote of the membership present, in person or by written proxy, provided there is thirty days notice. The subject(s) of proposed amendments must be included in the call for the meeting.

 

Article VIII. Parliamentary Authority and Procedure

The rules of parliamentary procedure governing ICON shall be those of the latest edition of Robert's Rules of order.

 

Original bylaws approved January 1990
Revision Approved May 1994
Revision Approved January 17, 1996
Revision Approved September 17, 1997
Revised and Approved June 5, 1998
Revised and Approved December 10, 1999
Revised and Approved June 28, 2002
Revised and Approved December 9, 2005

Revised and Approved Sept. 18, 2009