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(rev.
6/10/2001 - DBB) I The name of the society is
American Mensa, Ltd., a Not-For-Profit Corporation incorporated under
the laws of the State of New York on February 10, 1971. The society is
commonly known as Mensa. II The society shall maintain
its principal office in one of the 48 contiguous states. III (1) The governing body of
the society and the Board of Directors of American Mensa Ltd. Shall be
the American Mensa Committee, as defined in this Article. (2) The voting membership
of the American Mensa Committee shall include: (a)
The elective officers. (b)
The two most recent Chairmen of the Society. (c)
Such other officers as are specifically appointed by the American Mensa
Committee to their respective positions and specifically granted the
right to vote. The number of such officers shall not be greater than
one-third the number of officers included in Sections (2)(a) and (2)(b)
above. (3) The elective officers
of the society shall be as follows: Chairman, First Vice-Chairman,
Second Vice-Chairman, the Regional Vice-Chairmen, Secretary and
Treasurer. (4) There shall be no
fewer than five and no more than ten Regional Vice-Chairmen. The Regions
represented by the Regional Vice-Chairmen shall be defined in terms of
postal ZIP codes and shall be established by the American Mensa
Committee after it has considered the membership distribution,
membership growth trends, local group preferences, and administrative
feasibility. (5) The appointive members
of the American Mensa Committee shall include the following: Membership
Officer, Communications Officer, Director of Science and Education,
Development Officer and such other officers as shall be required for the
orderly administration of the business of the society. (6) Elective officers and
appointive officers of American Mensa, Ltd., and elective officers and
appointive officers of the American Mensa Committee, and candidates for
such offices, and the Ombudsman must remain members in good standing of
American Mensa, Ltd., as defined in Article III, Section (F) of the
Constitution of Mensa. Failure to maintain this status shall constitute
resignation from office or withdrawal from candidacy. (7) Elective officers and
appointive officers of American Mensa, Ltd. must reside in the United
States of America or its territories, and Regional Vice-Chairmen must
reside in the Regions they represent; failure to maintain such residence
shall constitute resignation from office. (8) The American Mensa
Committee may also appoint individuals to non-voting membership on the
Committee. (9) The following
additional appointments may be made: (a)
The American Mensa Committee may appoint individuals to perform
specified functions without membership on the Committee. Such
appointments may be made for a definite or indefinite term, but will in
any case expire with the end of the term of office of the elective
officers in office at the time of appointment except as provided
otherwise in these bylaws. (b)
Subject to the advice and consent of the American Mensa Committee,
individual officers may appoint and remove subordinate officers and
delegate to such subordinate officers one or more of the functions for
which the appointing officer is responsible to the Committee; such
delegation, however will not negate the appointing officer's
responsibilities to the Committee. (10) (a) Elective officers
and appointive officers may be removed by resolution of the American
Mensa Committee for any of the following reasons: (i)
Mental or physical disability. (ii)
Failure to attend three consecutive regular meetings at the American
Mensa Committee without presenting an excuse satisfactory to the
Committee. (iii)
Malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance in office. (b)
The resolution of the American Mensa Committee that an officer is to be
replaced must fulfill the following requirements: (i)
It must be specific and state the reasons for the same. (ii)
It must be set out in the agenda. (iii)
It requires the concurrence of an absolute majority of the full voting
membership of the Committee. (c)
The following procedure is to be followed: (i)
The officer concerned must be given an opportunity for a fair and
impartial hearing as directed by the American Mensa Committee. (ii)
The Committee must provide an opportunity for the circulation to the
full membership of the Committee of the concerned officer's views and
for the officer's personal appearance before the Committee. (11) In the event of the
resignation, removal, advancement, or death of an elective officer, or
in the event of an office not being filled by election, the remaining
members of the American Mensa Committee shall elect a successor to fill
the office for the remainder of the term of office, provided: (a)
In the case of vacancy in the office of Chairman or First
Vice-Chairman, the officer(s) next in line shall move up and the
successor shall serve in the office of Second Vice-Chairman. (b)
In the case of a vacancy in the office of Regional Vice-Chairman the
successor shall have permanent residence in the Region to be represented. IV (1) The duties of the
Chairman shall be to administer the business of the society in accord
with the provisions of the Constitution of International Mensa, to act
as Chief Executive Officer to the Society, to preside at meetings of the
American Mensa Committee, and to act as National Representative on the
International Board of Directors. (2) The duties of the
First Vice-Chairman shall be to assist in the discharge of the
Chairman's duties and to act as substitute during the Chairman's absence
or inability to serve. (3) The duties of the
Second Vice-Chairman shall be to assist in the discharge of the
Chairman's duties and to act as substitute during the First
Vice-Chairman's absence or inability to serve. (4) The duties of the
Secretary shall be to act as secretary at meetings of the American Mensa
Committee, and to cause records of its proceedings to be made and kept. (5) The duties of the
Treasurer shall be to act as Financial Officer of the Society, to be
responsible for the financial records, and to provide for an annual
audit of the books and records of the society. The annual report shall
be published in the September issue of the journal following
presentation of the annual report to the membership at the Annual
Business Meeting. (6) The duties of the
Regional Vice-Chairmen shall be to act as liaison between local groups
in their respective Regions and the American Mensa Committee, and to
carry out in their respective Regions the policies and programs
formulated by the American Mensa Committee. (7) The duties of the
Membership Officer shall be to deal generally with membership questions
including, but not limited to, services and the scheduling of gatherings. (8) The duties of the
Communications Officer, Director of Science and Education and (9) The duties of such
other officers as shall be appointed shall be set forth at the time of
such appointment. V (1) The elective officers
other than the Regional Vice-Chairmen shall be elected by a majority of
the votes received during the election period which shall begin on April
15 and end on May 31 of every odd-numbered year. Votes shall be cast by
mail on ballots provided by the Mensa Election Committee. Only members
in good standing as of the first day of the first month of the voting
period shall be eligible to vote. Proxies shall not be used and each
eligible member, as defined in these bylaws, shall be entitled to cast
one vote for each officer. If there are more than two candidates for any
office, a preferential voting system shall be used. (2) The Regional
Vice-Chairmen shall be elected in a manner and for periods of time
similar to the national elective officers, except that: (a)
Candidates must be residents of the Region in question. (b)
Each member furnishing a signature for nomination by petition must be a
member of a local group, as defined by AML geographic assignment or
member preference, in the Region in question. (c)
Only members of local groups, as defined by AML geographic assignment
or member preference, in the Region in question may vote in an election
for the Regional Vice-Chairman for that Region. (3) In order to be elected
to an office whose duties include financial responsibilities, a
candidate must be bondable in a sum sufficient to protect the society,
as determined by the American Mensa Committee. Upon being elected, the
officer shall be bonded at the expense of the society. (4) The terms of office of
officers of American Mensa Ltd. shall be as follows, except in case of
resignation, death or removal from office under the provisions of Art.
III Section (10): (a)
In the case of elective officers, a period of approximately two years,
beginning upon the adjournment of the Annual Business Meeting at the
Annual Gathering following their election and ending upon the
adjournment of the Annual Business Meeting at the third Annual Gathering
following their election. However, if the successor to an elective
officer has not been certified before the adjournment of the Annual
Business Meeting which would mark the end of the elective officer's term
of office, such officer shall remain in office until a successor is
certified. (b)
In the case of appointive officers: (i)
If appointed for a definite term, the expiration of that term. (ii)
If not so appointed, the expiration of the term of office of the
appointing officer(s). VI (1) No later than the
August 1st preceding each election, the American Mensa Committee shall
appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of at least seven members,
none of whom shall be members of the American Mensa Committee. Members
of the Nominating Committee shall be chosen so as to represent a broad
spectrum of the membership, with regard to both geography and general
trends of views. (2) No later than the AMC
meeting following each Annual Gathering, the American Mensa Committee
shall appoint an Election Committee consisting of three to seven
members, none of whom shall be a member of the American Mensa Committee
or the Nominating Committee. The Election Committee shall be chosen from
among members not interested in the outcome of the election, and
selected for their ability to assist in the conduct of elections. A
majority of its members should, if practicable, be willing and able to
meet in person. The Election Committee shall be responsible for the
conduct of the election, including but not limited to the establishment,
updating and publication of a detailed Code of Election Procedures, the
preparation of ballots and written material, the distribution of
ballots, and the selection of the independent agency to record and count
the returned ballots, and the publication of election results. The Code
of Election Procedure shall specify that the deadline for Election
Committee receipt of nominations by petition is March 1st preceding the
election. The Code of Election Procedure shall not be changed or
amended between submission for publication as stated herein and the day
following the official announcement of the ballot election results.
Each newly appointed Election Committee must affirmatively adopt a Code
of Election Procedure for each election. No later than the deadline for
the January issue of the journal preceding each election, the Election
Committee shall submit the Code of Election Procedure to the journal
for publication therein, or shall submit the Code to another national
publication for publication therein, or shall send the same by mail to
the membership. If the Code is submitted to the journal, it shall be
published in the next available issue. (3) No later than the
October 1st preceding each election, the Nominating Committee shall
nominate one or more candidates for each of the elective offices of
American Mensa Ltd., of whom the nominee(s) for the position of Chairman
shall (unless no individuals with the requisite qualifications are
willing to run for that office) be member(s) of the American Mensa
Committee then in office, or have served at least one year on a prior
American Mensa Committee. The Nominating Committee shall submit a list
of the nominated candidates to the American Mensa Committee and to the
Election Committee. No later than the deadline for the January journal
preceding each election, the Nominating Committee shall submit the list
of nominated candidates to the journal for publication therein, or shall
send the same by mail to the membership. If the list is submitted to the
journal, it shall be published in the next available issue. (4) No later than the
January 1st preceding each election, the Election Committee shall
publish a notice to the effect that nominations by petition for the
elective offices shall be directed to the Election Committee at an
address to be given in the notice, accompanied by the signatures of at
least 50 members in good standing as of that January 1st, in a format
prescribed by the Election Committee, and by a signed acceptance of
nomination by the candidates, said petitions to reach the Election
Committee not later than the March 1st preceding the election. (5) The Election Committee
shall publish the names of the nominees by petition in a similar manner
immediately upon the close of the nominating period. (6) Between March 1st and
March 10th of election years, the Election Committee shall review the
nominations. In order to be validly nominated, candidates must have
renewed their membership by the last business day of February for the
year in which the election falls. For offices for which there is only
one valid nomination, the Election Committee shall declare the nominee
elected. All other valid nominations shall be placed on the ballot. (7) The ballot shall
contain the names of those nominated by the Nominating Committee as well
as those nominated by petition, the order in which the names of
candidates for each office shall appear on the ballot being determined
by lot. Candidates shall be designated on the ballot to indicate whether
they have been nominated by the Nominating Committee, by petition, or
both. If two or more candidates decide to run jointly, the ballot shall
so indicate. (8) With each ballot there
shall be included: (a)
The necessary voting instruction. (b)
A brief biography of each candidate in a format approved by the
Election Committee. (c)
The answers by each candidate to any question which may be propounded
to all candidates, or to all candidates for a particular office, by the
American Mensa Committee, the number of words permitted to be determined
by the American Mensa Committee. (d)
A campaign statement, the maximum length of which shall be specified by
the Election Committee. Candidates running jointly may pool their
allocations. Materials submitted to the Election Committee by candidates
for publication in conformance with Election Committee regulations shall
be published without editing. (9) No member of the
Nominating Committee shall be eligible for any national or Regional
office at the election concerned. VII (1) There shall be at
least three regular meetings of the American Mensa Committee each
calendar year. Special meetings may be called by the Chairman or a
majority of the elective officers on ten days' notice to all members of
the Committee. (2) The American Mensa
Committee shall act in accordance with the following policy: (a)
No action may be authorized or taken, nor may any previous
authorization or action be adopted, confirmed, or ratified, nor may any
resolution be adopted, by the American Mensa Committee unless the same
be authorized, adopted confirmed or ratified, as the case may be, by a
majority of those present and voting, and provided that such vote
includes the concurring affirmative votes of at least one-third (1/3) of
the full voting membership of the American Mensa Committee. (b)
Whenever a question arises which requires action by the American Mensa
Committee, or of any sub-committee thereof, which should not await a
regular or special meeting, the members of the body may vote by written
ballot distributed by mail or other means, by telephone, or by other
electronic means, provided that all members of the respective committee
have consented to having such a vote conducted by such stated means. The
action shall be announced at the next meeting of the American Mensa
Committee and shall be reported in the minutes of that meeting. The
resolution shall be filed with the proceedings of the American Mensa
Committee. (c)
Any one or more members of the American Mensa Committee may participate
in a meeting of the Committee except for the Annual Meeting of the
Committee, by means of telephone or on-line conference, or similar
communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the
meeting to communicate with each other at the same time. Participation
by such means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting. (3) (a) The American Mensa
Committee may by resolution designate from among its members an
Executive Committee and other standing committees. Each such committee
shall consist of three or more members of the American Mensa Committee
and, notwithstanding the provisions of Article VII (6)(a), shall have
the authority of the American Mensa Committee to the extent provided in
the resolution. (b)
The American Mensa Committee may by resolution create such special
committees as may be deemed desirable. Special committees shall have
only the powers specifically delegated to them. (c)
The committees in foregoing paragraphs (a) and (b) shall have no
authority as to the following matters: (i)
The submission to members of any action requiring members' approval. (ii)
The filling of vacancies on the American Mensa Committee or on any
committee. (iii)
The amendment or repeal of the bylaws or the adoption of new bylaws. (iv)
The amendment or repeal of any resolution of the American Mensa
Committee which by its terms shall not be so amendable or repealable. (4) No officer of Mensa
shall receive any salary or compensation in carrying out the officer's
duties, except reimbursement of actual expenses incurred. (5) American Mensa Limited
shall not enter into a business relationship with any individual, firm,
partnership, or corporation where there exists a real or potential
conflict of interest or where any member of the American Mensa Committee
or any member of the immediate family of same, or any employee(s) of
Mensa or the immediate family of such employee(s), shall receive any
commissions, fees, financial benefits, or other benefits of pecuniary
value; unless the following conditions are met: (a)
Full disclosure in the Minutes recording the authorization of such
business relationship, of the circumstances and the nature of such
conflict(s) or financial benefit(s), and the identification of the
individual(s) involved. (b)
Bona fide arms-length dealing, in which a clear benefit to Mensa is
apparent. (c)
The recorded abstention(s) from voting of the individual(s) concerned. (6) The American Mensa
Committee shall arrange for the regular publication of a journal. The
cost of a subscription to the journal may be included in each member's
annual dues. VIII (1) There shall be an
Ombudsman for American Mensa. (2) The Ombudsman shall be
elected by a two-thirds majority of the full voting membership of the
American Mensa Committee. (3) The terms of reference
of the Ombudsman shall be as follows: (a)
The Ombudsman, who is not a member of the American Mensa Committee,
should be treated in every respect as such; the Ombudsman is not a
member of that body only because of the required freedom of action with
respect to it. The Ombudsman should receive copies of Agendas, of
Minutes, and of everything else circulated to members of the Committee. (b)
The services of the Ombudsman are available, subject to the conditions
stated in the By-Laws, to the American Mensa Committee, to its
individual members, to any Regional or Special-Interest Groups, and to
their individual members, to Local Groups and their individual members,
to members of American Mensa generally, and to Mensa employees. (c)
The Ombudsman of American Mensa is to cooperate with the International
Ombudsman, to accept matters received from the International Ombudsman
which relate to American Mensa and any of the entities set out in (b)
above, and to refer to the International Ombudsman such matters received
which relate to the international rather than the national scene. (d)
The Ombudsman has the right to the documents or other written materials
concerning any matter received for review and decision. Every member,
employee, and entity of Mensa shall cooperate with the Ombudsman by
furnishing information or documents. The documents furnished may be
originals or copies; in the case of copies, the person responsible for
furnishing the same must certify that the copies are full, true and
complete copies and that, unless expressly stated, nothing has been
omitted, altered or added. (e)
Parties are encouraged to seek the Ombudsman's advice on matters which
have not yet led to dispute, but which are potential sources of serious
conflict, and in any event to submit matters to the Ombudsman at as
early a stage as possible, so that the opportunities for the parties to
modify their position(s) are as great as possible. (f)
The Ombudsman may choose any manner of communication with the parties,
committees or groups, and specify whether such communication shall be
confidential, for internal circulation only, or public. (g)
The Ombudsman may submit matter for "publication" to the newsletter,
journal or other publication of any group(s) affected. The editor of all
such publications should deem a communication from the Ombudsman, marked
"for publication", a matter of the highest practicable priority. (h)
The Ombudsman may express opinions, settle disputes, render substantial
justice, and promote the general welfare of American Mensa. The
Ombudsman may act as an arbitrator, or arrange for another person to act
as an arbitrator either at the Ombudsman's own motion or at the request
of one or more of the parties; if all parties have agreed upon
arbitration, or accept the Ombudsman's offer to arbitrate, the arbitral
decision shall be binding upon them. (4) The Ombudsman shall
render a yearly report which shall be submitted to the American Mensa
Committee and to the International Ombudsman for their respective
information, and to the journal for publication. (5) The term of office of
the Ombudsman is not affected by the expiration of the term of office of
the appointing American Mensa Committee. The Ombudsman shall remain in
office until resignation or removal from office. Removal from office
shall follow generally the procedure set out in Art. III Section (10) of
these bylaws, except that the vote to remove the Ombudsman shall require
a two-thirds majority of the full voting membership of the American
Mensa Committee at each of two separate regular meetings of the
Committee. IX (1) Membership in the
society shall be open to all persons found qualified in accord with the
eligibility requirements set forth in the International Constitution. (2) Every member shall be
obligated to: (a)
Pay annual dues in such amount as may be fixed by the American Mensa
Committee. Members shall be given due notice that a change in dues is
being considered, either through publication in the journal or
publication in the Agendas of two consecutive American Mensa Committee
meetings. At least 60 days shall pass between first publication and any
vote. (b)
Permit his/her name and address to be published in membership lists. (3) Every member shall
have the same rights and privileges accorded every other member, without
qualification or limitation, unless sanctioned under sections (5) or (6)
of this Article. (4) The American Mensa
Committee shall have the authority to: (a)
Exempt a member from payment of all or part of dues for good cause
shown. (b)
Declare a membership to have lapsed for failure of the member to pay
dues. (5) A member may be
suspended from specific activities, offices, positions or functions, for
a specified time, or suspended from membership for a specified time, or
expelled from membership, for acts inimical to the society. No member
shall be suspended or expelled from American Mensa, Ltd. except
following a fair and impartial hearing by the Hearings Committee at
which hearing the member shall have the right to present his/her case. A
decision by the Hearings Committee to suspend or expel a member from
American Mensa, Ltd., shall require the concurrence of the American
Mensa Committee. (a)
The Hearings Committee shall be composed of the three most recent Past
Chairmen, provided that each is a dues-paid member of American Mensa,
Ltd., and not involved in the matter(s) in controversy. In the event
that one or more of the three most recent Past Chairmen be unavailable
-- or incapacitated, in the judgment of the remainder of the Hearings
Committee, following a challenge by any of the parties involved --
vacancies, using the same criteria, shall be filled, in order, from the
three most recent First Vice-Chairmen who are not currently serving on
the American Mensa Committee; and following them, from the three most
recent Second Vice-Chairmen not currently serving on the American Mensa
Committee; and following them, from the three most recent Secretaries
not serving on the American Mensa Committee. The Hearings Committee
shall be chaired by the least recent Past Chairman and serving on it,
or, if none is available, the least recent First Vice-Chairman, or, if
none is available, the least recent Second Vice-Chairman, or, if none is
available, the least recent Secretary. (b)
Within 30 days following a complaint to its chairperson, the Hearings
Committee shall notify all parties concerned and the AMC that a
complaint has been made and the specifics of that complaint. (c)
Within 60 days from receipt of the initial complaint, the Hearings
Committee shall decide if the alleged acts inimical to the society
warrant having a hearing, and establish the date and time of the hearing
if so warranted. There shall be a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of
120 days between the receipt of the notification for a hearing and the
date of the hearing. (d)
Summary reports of Hearing Committee actions shall be available to the
membership. (6) A member whose
recurring conduct has been demonstrably harmful to a local group or to
individual members, to the extent that it may be considered inimical to
the society may also be suspended from office in that group, or barred
from its functions, or suspended from the group itself by the American
Mensa Committee upon recommendation of a Regional Hearings Committee.
Such recommendations shall be made only after the member has been given
a fair and impartial hearing. (a)
If good-faith efforts to end the harmful conduct have failed, officers
and/or members of the local group may request their Regional
Vice-Chairman to convene a Regional Hearings Committee to consider
charges against the member. The request shall be in writing, shall
describe fully the conduct deemed harmful, and shall be signed by
officers and/or members of the local group numbering no less than 150%
of the number of elective officers of the local group. (b)
If the Regional Vice-Chairman decides that a hearing should be held, he
or she shall appoint a Regional Hearings Committee composed of three
members, each from a different group, exclusive of the accused member's
group. Within five days of selecting the committee, the Regional
Vice-Chairman shall notify the accused member of the impending hearing,
the names of the committee members, the charges, and his or her right to
be heard and to present witnesses. Copies of this notification shall be
sent to the Local Secretary of the accused member's group, the Chairman
of the American Mensa Committee, and the Ombudsman. (c)
The hearing shall commence between 21 and 30 days after notification to
the accused member. Unless extended for good cause by the Regional
Vice-Chairman, the hearing shall be completed within 45 days from its
commencement. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with rules
and procedures promulgated by the American Mensa Committee. (d)
A member's violation of sanctions imposed by the American Mensa
Committee following a regional hearing shall constitute an act inimical
to Mensa for which further sanctions may be imposed by the national
Hearings Committee. (e)
The accused member or the complainant may file a written protest with
the Ombudsman if either feels that the hearing was conducted unfairly or
with prejudice. The Ombudsman shall investigate the protest and report
to the American Mensa Committee. (7) Charges brought
against a member under (5) or (6) of this Article shall not be
considered dropped if the member resigns or allows his or her membership
to lapse. Upon rejoining, the member shall face the same charges and
hearings. X (1) An application to form
a Local Group shall be referred to the appropriate Regional
Vice-Chairman for investigation and recommendation. (2) On recommendation of
the appropriate Regional Vice-Chairman, the American Mensa Committee may
grant permission for the formation of a Local Group, which is then
subject to the following: (a)
Each Local Group must designate a Local Secretary who shall report to
the appropriate Regional Vice-Chairman. (b)
Each Local Group shall adopt and maintain bylaws, which meet the
minimum standards set by the American Mensa Committee. Such bylaws, and
any amendments thereto, shall be effective when approved by both the
American Mensa Committee and the membership of the Local Group. (c)
Local Groups may levy local dues in reasonable amounts to finance Local
Group activities, provided that: (i)
the membership of the Local Group shall first have approved the levying
of such dues in a referendum. (ii)
a procedure for exempting members from payment of local dues for a good
cause shown is also included in the local bylaws. (iii)
failure to pay local dues shall not exclude members from participating
in local elections or from local business meetings. (iv)
the foregoing is without prejudice to the continued authority of Local
Groups to finance their activities in other ways, including voluntary
contributions or subscriptions to local publications. (3) It is at the
discretion of the appropriate Regional Vice-Chairman to appoint an
Acting Local Secretary for any geographical area, to coordinate the
activities of members. The appointment of such an Acting Local Secretary
shall continue until an approved Local Group designates its Local
Secretary. XI (1) Any group of members
may apply to the American Mensa Committee for recognition as a
Special-Interest Group for the pursuit of any common interest provided: (a)
Neither the title of such a group, nor the name of the board or other
body which directs the activities of such a group, nor the initials or
other abbreviations by which the group or its board are to be known may
contain language which may cause it to be confused with American Mensa,
Ltd. or with the American Mensa Committee, with Local Groups, and with
other preexisting activities. (b)
Such group shall not speak for or on behalf of the society, nor in any
manner give the impression that it is an official arm of the society. (c)
Such group shall furnish to the American Mensa Committee such reports
and information, including copies of its correspondence and minutes of
its meetings, as the Committee may reasonably require. (2) The American Mensa
Committee may grant recognition of Special-Interest Groups, subject to
the preceding and any additional requirements or limitations it deems
necessary. XII (1) These bylaws shall not
be amended except on the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the ballots
cast by mail. Proxies shall not be used. (2) Amendments may be
proposed in any of the following ways: (a)
By submission to the American Mensa Committee of the proposed amendment
by 250 members of the society subscribing their names thereto. (b)
By a vote of a majority of the members participating in the annual
business meeting at an Annual Gathering. (c)
By two-thirds of the members at regularly scheduled business meeting(s)
of one or more Local Groups attended by a combined total of at least 150
members; provided the Local Secretaries of the group(s) concerned notify
the American Mensa Committee of the dates, of the number of members
present and voting, and of the number approving. At least one month's
notice of the inclusion of the proposed amendment(s) on the Agenda of
the business meeting(s) of the group(s) concerned shall be given all
members thereof by direct mailing, through the journal or by means of
the publications of the Local Group(s) concerned if such publications
are sent to all members of such group(s). (d)
By a vote of two-thirds majority of the American Mensa Committee
following inclusion of the proposed amendment(s) in the written agenda
circulated prior to the meeting. (3) On receipt of
proposals for amendment to the bylaws which conform to Section 2 of this
Article, the American Mensa Committee shall submit the proposals to a
mail referendum. (4) Referenda shall be
classified as "ordinary" or "special." "Ordinary" referenda shall be
held concurrently with elections during election years, and shall be
held during the same period as that specified for elections in these
bylaws in non-election years. "Special" referenda shall be held during a
time frame other than that in which "ordinary" referenda are held. The
eligibility requirement(s) in these bylaws regarding voting for national
officers also apply to voting on referenda. The publication schedule
for referenda shall be as follows, counting the first day of the month
of publication as the official date of publication: (a)
At least 105 days before the start of the voting period, each
referendum item shall be published, along with a solicitation for
statements in favor of and opposed to each proposed referendum item. (b)
At least 60 days after the publication referred in section (a), each
referendum item shall be re-published, along with statements in favor
and opposed. (c)
At least 30 days after the publication referred to in section (b), each
referendum item shall be re-published, along with a ballot. (5) Tallying of the
ballots shall be handled in the same manner as for regular elections. XIII (1) An Annual Gathering of
the Society shall be held between June 1st and July 15th of every year
in a place to be picked by the American Mensa Committee, for the purpose
of reporting to the members the state of the society and the activities
of the society's committees during the previous year. (2) At least one month
prior to the Annual Gathering, the membership shall receive reports of
the officers by a special mailing or by inclusion in the journal. XIV To the extent permitted by
law the society shall act in accord with the provisions of the
International Constitution. Adopted November 1964 Includes Amendments
adopted 1964, 1965, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1979, 1981, 1983,
1985, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000, and 2001. |