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TIA: Tennessee Inventors Association in Knoxville Tenn and Oak Ridge TN
Oak Ridge and Knoxville, TN  

2007 Bylaws of the TIA

BYLAWS OF THE
TENNESSEE INVENTORS ASSOCIATION

1.    Membership

Membership in the TIA is open to individuals interested in the process of invention and innovation, the promotion of inventors, and willing to assist the TIA in achieving its goals.  Until otherwise amended, there shall be two classes of members:  a class of adult voting members; and a class of non-voting student members.  Each of the voting members is entitled to one vote when polling of members be comes necessary.  Additional classifications of members (e.g., corporate members) may be added to the Bylaws by a two-thirds vote of the Board.

2.     Dues

Dues in the TIA shall be set annually by the Board; provided, however, until changed, the dues shall be $30.00 per year for each adult member, and $1.00 per year for each student member.  The amounts of these charges are to be changed by amending these Bylaws.  The assessed dues cover the time period from January 1 of each year through December 31 of that year, the fiscal year for TIA.

3.     Meetings

There shall be at least three (3)  meeting of the general membership of TIA each year, with one being designated as the Annual Meeting.  Additional meetings may be authorized by the Board.  Until changed by amendment of these Bylaws, the Annual Meeting shall be the November meeting of TIA members.  The business of the Annual Meeting shall be at least the outcome of the balloting for Officers and Directors, a report by the President on the health of the TIA, and a report by the Treasurer on the financial status of TIA.  Reports by committees may also be given when in the discretion of the Board they are desirable.  Each meeting shall provide an opportunity for any member or visitor to be heard.  Notices of each meeting shall be sent to all members at least one (1) week in advance of the meeting.  Due to the balloting, the notice of the Annual Meeting shall be sent at least two (2) weeks in advance of the meeting.

4.     Amendment of Bylaws

Suggested amendments to the Bylaws may be sent to the President or to any Board member for consideration by the Board at its next meeting.  A two-thirds affirmative vote of the Board is required to amend the Bylaws.  The determination of the Board will be final.

5.     Nominating Committee

A nominating committee to select candidates for office shall be appointed by the Board from the membership.  The chairman of the nominating committee shall be a past president of TIA.  Provision for nominations by the members shall be provided for by the Board prior to the election.

6.     Balloting Procedure, Election of Board Members

A ballot with the names of candidates for office shall be forwarded to the voting members at least two (2) weeks before the Annual Meeting.  The election of persons to fill normal vacancies of the Board will be held at the Annual Meeting.  Candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be considered elected, and shall be considered installed in those offices at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting.  Their term of office shall begin January of the following year.  The official (fiscal) year of TIA shall be twelve (12) months beginning with January.

7.     Terms of Office

Officers shall serve for one (1) year, and non-officer Board members shall serve for two (2) years. 

The terms of two of the non-officer Board members shall expire each year.  The President and the Vice President may succeed themselves for no more than two (2) consecutive one-year terms.  The Treasurer and the Secretaries may succeed themselves, but not for more than three (3) consecutive years.  There is no limit to the number of consecutive terms to be served by a non-officer Board member.

8.     Filling of Vacancies

Offices vacated more than one month prior to an Annual Meeting are to be filled by action of the Board until the next election; provided, however, if more than one-third of the Board becomes vacant at any time, a special election shall be called to fill the vacancies by a vote of the membership.

9.     Membership Applications

Applications for membership in TIA shall be in writing on a form approved by the Board.  The applicant shall be admitted to membership upon favorable vote of the Board and the payment of appropriate dues.

10.     Quorum

For the purposes of conducting business other than for elections, a quorum shall be considered present if ten (10) TIA members are in attendance at any meeting of the membership.

11.     Meetings of the Board

The number of meetings of the Board, and time of the meetings, shall be determined by the Board.  The number may vary with need, but there shall be not less than one (1) Board meeting a year.

12.     Duties of Officers

The duties of the President, Vice President, Secretaries and Treasurer shall be those normally proper for those offices.  The President will preside over the meetings of the Board, the Annual Meeting, and any other meetings of TIA.  In the absence of the President, the vice President shall carry out the duties of the President.  The Corresponding Secretary will distribute information concerning TIA.  The Recording Secretary shall be responsible for the records of TIA including, but not limited to, a roster of the members and minutes of all meetings.  The Treasurer shall be the chief financial officer responsible for the financial matters of the TIA, subject to the direction of the Board.

13.     Termination of  Members

Reasons for termination may be failure to pay dues as provided for in the Bylaws, by resignation, or for conduct considered by the Board to be not in the best interest of TIA.  Should a question be raised by a member or a board member as to the conduct of any member as affecting TIA, this will be heard by the Board, and the member may be removed from membership in TIA by a two-thirds vote of the Board after a hearing on the charges.  The member shall be informed of the charges, and may be represented by counsel at the hearing.

14.     Rules of Order

Parliamentary procedures of the TIA shall be regulated according to Robert’s Rules of Order (Revised) except as otherwise provided for in the Constitution and/or bylaws of TIA.  The TIA shall conform with the laws of the State of Tennessee and the United States of America.