RING NO. 362 OF THE
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF MAGICIANS

RING BYLAWS

ARTICLE I, MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION AND PRIVILEGES

Section 1. Applications for membership must be made on an approved membership application form and be properly signed by the applicant. Applicants for membership must be members or applicants for membership in the International Brotherhood of Magicians. The applications must be countersigned by two current Active, Associate or Honorary members of the Ring. The application will be accompanied by the current membership fees established by the Board of Directors. Active members must be at least 18 years of age with an interest in magic for a minimum of two years prior to application. Active members are entitled to the full benefits of membership including the right to vote at meetings and hold office.

Section 2. Junior Memberships are secured by the same procedures as is required for Active membership. Junior members must be at least 10 but no more than 18 years of age and have at least one year's prior interest in magic. Junior members may not vote at meetings or hold office. They may serve on committees. Junior members may become Active members once they turn 18 years old.

Section 3. Associate Memberships are secured by the same procedures as is required for Active membership. Associate members must be a spouse or bona fide assistant of an Active or Honorary member. Associate Members shall enjoy the same privileges as Active members.

Section 4. Honorary Membership in the Ring may be granted to Active Ring members who have attained distinction in the Magical Arts. Recommendations for Ring Honorary Membership shall be initiated by a unanimous recommendation of the Board of Directors and shall be decided by a three fourths majority vote of the members present at a regular meeting in which this item of business is on the published agenda or via a mail ballot. In addition to their distinction, Honorary Ring Members shall possess the same privileges as an Active Member but pay no Ring dues.

ARTICLE II, MEMBER SUSPENSION AND EXPULSION

Section 1. Members may be suspended from membership or removed from the executive offices of the Ring for any conduct that is not in the best interest of the Ring (e.g. violation of the Code of Ethics, violation of the Ring Constitution and Bylaws, expulsion from the International Brotherhood of Magicians). The decision to suspend, expel or remove from office rests on the following:

1. An investigation by the Board of Directors into any allegation that could result in suspension, expulsion or removal from office,
2. The right of any member under threat of suspension, expulsion or removal from office to meet with the Board of Directors during the investigation in an effort to resolve the issue and the exercise of that right,
3. A recommendation by the Board of Directors to suspend, expel or remove a member from office after steps 1 and 2 have been concluded,
4. A meeting of the general membership with at least 30 days prior notice of the recommendation to suspend, expel or remove from office, and
5. A three-fourths majority vote of the members present at the meeting specified for the vote.

ARTICLE III, DUES

Section 1. The Board of Directors shall establish annual dues for all membership classes during the annual budgetary review. Any changes in rate will be published in the Ring newsletter. Dues shall be payable before January 1 for the following calendar year.

Section 2. Any member in arrears may be subject to late payment fees. If a member remains in arrears for a period greater than three months, he shall forfeit his membership and be subject to reinstatement only upon making application as a new member, subject to the decision of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IV, DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. It shall be the duty of the President to be the Chief Executive Officer of the Ring and guide it after due council with the Board of Directors; preside at all meetings of the organization and serve as an ex officio member of all committees.

Section 2. The President shall, after due counsel with the Board of Directors, appoint standing and ad hoc committees as necessary to carry out the Ring's activities and functions. It is mandatory that the President upon assuming office promptly assigns the following positions and committees:

1. An Accounting Review Committee, which shall review the books of the treasurer at the end of the fiscal year and provide a written record of their review to the Ring Board of Directors.
2. A Budget Committee, which shall present a proposed annual budget to the Board of Directors within forty-five days after the start of the fiscal year.
3. A Scribe who shall submit monthly reports and other articles to The Linking Ring.
4. An Historian who shall maintain the historical archives and critical permanent records of the Ring.
5. An Editor who will be responsible for the publication of the Ring newsletter.

Section 3. The Vice President shall assist the President in the duties of that office and, in the absence of the President, serve as the Ring's presiding officer. The Vice President may serve as an ex officio member of committees in substitution for the President and assume other duties assigned to him. The Vice President will serve on the Budget Committee and, jointly with the Secretary, maintain the Policy and Program Manual.

Section 4. The Secretary shall keep a true record of all meetings, maintain files of significant correspondence related to the Ring, execute in a timely manner the Ring correspondence including submission of required reports and requested information to the executive office and officers of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, and perform other duties as delegated by the Board of Directors. The Secretary, in conjunction with the Vice President, is responsible for updating the Ring's Policy and Program Manual on an annual basis.

Section 5. The Sergeant At Arms will assure the hospitality of the Ring is extended to members and guests. The Sergeant At Arms will assure that all persons attending Ring closed meetings are members of the Ring in good standing or approved guests.

Section 6. The Treasurer shall oversee all deposits and receipts of money for the Ring and shall assure prompt payment of all properly approved Ring obligations. The Treasurer shall maintain accurate accounting records of all receipts and disbursements and report the status of these against the Ring's budget to the Board of Directors (or the Ring Membership) on a schedule specified by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer will also chair the Budget Committee, review the Ring's financial accounts, and recommend alternative banking facilities and investments.

Section 7. The routine business of the Ring shall be administered by the Board of Directors. They shall consider and take action on any proposals submitted to it by members of the Ring. They may act upon such proposals or prepare from them a suitable motion to be presented for consideration at any regular meeting of the Ring.

Section 8. In the case of the death, resignation or inability of any officer to serve, the Board of Directors shall appoint a successor. Such successor will serve until the next annual election.

Section 9. The Board of Directors shall investigate all grievances arising from conduct unbecoming a Ring officer or member. They may present proposals to the membership for action to expel, suspend or remove from office any members for such conduct.

ARTICLE IV, FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS & SECURITY BOND

Section 1. No officer or other member of the Ring shall make any expenditure or enter into any contract that becomes a financial obligation of the organization, unless the expenditure or contract has been approved by the Board of Directors (or the Ring) either as a special commitment or as part of its annual budget. Committee Chairs of major functions, e.g. public shows and banquets, shall submit a budget to the Board (or the Ring) for approval prior to commitment of funds.

Section 2. An emergency fund in an amount agree upon by the Board or Ring members shall be established for President's use to cover unforeseen expenses. Payments made from this fund must be reported to the Board of Directors (or Ring members) who may sustain it at the authorized level. Approval for payment of an extraordinary expense beyond the limit of the fund shall be authorized only upon the approval of the Board of Directors (or Ring membership).

Section 3. A fiduciary bond payable to the Ring and equivalent to the maximum amount in the treasury may be secured on the Treasurer and other officers and members deemed necessary by the Board of Directors. The Ring shall pay the premium for this bond.

ARTICLE V, METHOD OF ELECTION

Section 1. The Board of Directors will annually recommend candidates for nomination for the elected offices of the Ring. This shall be completed by ninety days prior to the date of the annual election, the first regular meeting in January. Such recommendations shall not exceed two candidates for each office and shall be published in the Ring newsletter at least sixty days prior to the election. In addition any qualified member may be nominated for offices of the Ring by petition, provided said petition is submitted to the Ring Secretary before October 1 and is signed by 10 percent of the Active, Associate or Honorary members. (Note elections may be accomplished by mail as described here at the discretion of the Board of Directors or if there is not a Quorum at a regular Ring meeting where the election was to be held or at a petition of the members at or before the meeting when the election was to be held. Under these circumstances the current Board of Directors will continue to function until the new Board can be elected.)

Section 2. Thirty days prior to the annual election an official ballot, containing the names of all qualified nominees, shall be distributed to each Active, Associate and Honorary member. Ballots shall be marked and returned no later than the date designated on the ballot and to the address shown. The ballots shall be sent in an envelope marked "Election Ballot" and delivered to a Ballot Committee, consisting of three members appointed by the Board. The Ballot Committee shall secure and count all ballots and report the results to the Board within one week of the election. The decision of the Ballot Committee shall be final in instances involving the validity or questionable marking of a ballot. Election to all offices shall be by a simple majority of the ballots cast. Nominees named for elective offices, who are uncontested, shall be elected without balloting.

Section 3. The Board of Directors shall in establishing the rules and timetables for the conduct of the election are guided by the principle that all qualified members should have the privilege of voting. Voting by proxy will not be permitted in general and will be allowed only if pre-approved by the Board of Directors or by a two thirds majority of the members at least 30 days before the vote. If proxy votes are allowed it will be by written proxy and will apply to the specific question and the specific date of the vote.

Section 4. Elected Officers assume their responsibilities after the first regular meeting in January.

ARTICLE VI, MEETINGS

Section 1. The Ring shall hold its regular meetings monthly. At the discretion of the Board of Directors, meeting dates that conflict with holidays or other events may be canceled or moved to a different date. The Board of Directors may shift the meeting night to accommodate special events and it may add additional meetings for lectures and other magic or social activities.

ARTICLE VII, AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS

Section 1. Amendments to the By Laws may be made at any regular business meeting of this organization by a two thirds vote of the members present, provided that the membership has been notified of the proposed changes by mail at least two months prior to meeting, the proposed amendments have been posted in the two business meetings immediately prior to that in which when the vote is taken and a quorum of members are present at the meeting.

ARTICLE VIII, GENERAL

Section 1. A call for a descriptive term that is to be appended to the Ring name may be made at the yearly meeting or by a unanimous vote of the Board of Directors. Proposed names are to be given to the Board at least 60 days before the yearly meeting. All proposed names must be reviewed by the Board of Directors and a name may be excluded if it is determined to be demeaning to Magic or inappropriate in any other way. The proposed names will be given to the members and each member will be given one entry for the fee of their yearly dues. Additional entries may be purchased by any member of good standing for a fee set by the Board of Directors. Entries may be mailed in but must be received at least 48 hours before the yearly meeting. Entries must have the proposed descriptive term, the date, and the name of the member. The descriptive term will be selected fairly by a method determined by the Board of Directors. Such method will be designed to assure a fair and random choice. The descriptive term will be added to the name of the Ring for the next year and will be preserved for the duration of the existence of the Ring by the Ring Historian.

Section 2. Awards and competitions may be proposed to the Board of Directors by any member of the Ring at any time. Endowments for awards and competitions will be provided by the individual or group proposing them and they will have the first choice of naming the award or competition. The Board of Directors will review all name suggestions and has the power to refuse a name on the grounds that it is demeaning to Magic or is inappropriate in any other way. Awards and competitions are renewable yearly by the members unless they were created and endowed for longer periods of time. It is the responsibility of the Board of Directors to administer all awards and competitions in the manner intended by its creators and endowers.

ARTICLE IX, DISSOLUTION

Section 1. In the event of the dissolution of the Ring, the Board of Directors shall after the payment of organization's financial liabilities, dispose of all its assets to an organization or organizations organized explicitly for the advancement and support of the magical arts. Such organization(s) shall at the time be qualified and operating explicitly as an exempt organization, organized under Section 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or future provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

Section 2. The Board of Trustees will maintain a Policy and Program manual to provide working guidelines for the Ring officers and membership. The Policy and Program Manual will be updated annually and will be based on Board decisions that delegate responsibilities and create actions that maintain direction and focus to Ring activities and policies.

Section 3. Robert's Revised Rules of Order shall govern Ring meetings when not in conflict with the Ring's Constitution and Bylaws or The State of Maine laws covering this organization. The Robert's Rules may be simplified by a majority vote of the members present at a meeting, and if the meeting is run under these rules it is so noted in the Secretary's report. Sections of a meeting dealing with modifications of the By-Laws, Constitution, or Financial Budget matters must be run under the formal Robert's Rules of Order.