NATIONAL CHRYSLER RETIREE ORGANIZATION (NCRO)
MISSION & BYLAWS (revised 11-18-09)
ARTICLE I – Mission
The National Chrysler Retirement Organization is open to Chrysler non-union
retirees and future retirees, as defined in Article II, Section 7, and has the
following mission:
1. Protect pension and other benefits
2. Inform, Educate, and Communicate
3. Support American workers, jobs, and products
4. Build camaraderie and fellowship
The NCRO establishes lines of communication and works with other individuals,
organizations, the press, the public, and with all levels of the government in
pursuing these objectives. The NCRO also allows other individuals to become
supporting members of the NCRO organization if they support our mission.
ARTICLE II - Board of
Directors & Members
Section 1. Directorship. The Organization is organized upon a
directorship basis. The property business and affairs of the Organization will
be managed by its Board of Directors, (sometimes referred to herein as “the
Directors” and individual members are sometimes referred to herein as
“Director”).
Section 2. Number, Criteria, and Term of Office. The Board of
Directors of this Organization will consist of not less than three persons and
no more than fifteen persons, as determined by the Board of Directors. Each
member of the Board of Directors must be a retiree member as described in
Article II Section 7 below and will serve until his or her resignation or
removal.
Each member of the Board of Directors must be a regular member of the
Organization (Article II, Section 7) and will serve until his or her resignation
or removal.
Members of the Board of Directors guide the Organization, are involved in
advocacy actions/projects, but are not necessarily involved in the day-to-day
decisions and activities. Criteria to be a member of the Board of Directors are
as follows:
+ Visionary and strategic;
+ Committed to the National Chrysler Retirement Organization mission;
+ Involved in grassroots legislative efforts in his/her own state;
+ May represent specific areas or subgroups (i.e., Florida, women, etc.)
+ All officers (President, Vice Presidents, Secretary and Treasurer) will be
members of the Board of Directors.
Each member of the Board of Directors must be a regular member of the
Organization (Article II, Section 7) and will serve until his or her resignation
or removal.
Section 3. Resignation, Removal and Vacancies. A Director may resign
by written notice to the Organization. The resignation will be effective upon
its receipt by the Organization or a subsequent time as set forth in the notice
of resignation. A Director may be removed, either with or without cause, by the
Directors then in office, as described in Article II, Section 2.
If a vacancy has occurred among the members of the Board as a result of
death, resignation, removal, or otherwise, the vacancy may be filled by the
affirmative vote of the remaining Directors, as described in Article II, Section
2.
Section 4. General Powers as to Negotiable Paper. The Board of
Directors may, from time to time, authorize the making, signature or endorsement
of checks, drafts, notes and other negotiable paper or other instruments for the
payment of money and designate the persons who will be authorized to make, sign
or endorse the same on behalf of the Organization.
Section 5. Powers as to Other Documents. All material contracts,
conveyances and other instruments may be executed on behalf of the Organization
by either the President or any Vice President, and, if necessary, attested by
the Secretary or the Treasurer.
Section 6. Compensation. Directors will serve without compensation but
may be reimbursed for actual, reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by a
Director in his or her capacity as a Director. The Treasurer will set up a
reimbursement procedure that will be approved by the Board of Directors.
Section 7. Members. Non-union retirees and future retirees, (their
spouses and surviving spouses), of Chrysler LLC, or its predecessors or
successors, or any subsidiary whose pensions and or benefits are funded,
controlled or administered by Chrysler LLC or its predecessors and successors,
are eligible to be regular members of the National Chrysler Retirement
Organization, providing they support the mission and pay the membership fee and
annual dues, as set by the Board of Directors.
Section 8. Supporting Members. Supporting members are other
individuals (including spouses and surviving spouses) who support the mission
and contribute financially to the organization. Supporting members cannot be on
the Board.
ARTICLE III - Conducting
Business/Meetings
Section 1. Conducting Business. Business will be conducted by email,
phone, mail, and/or meetings. Any Board of Director member may submit material
for information and discussion.
Section 2. Consensus and Votes. The preferred method of conducting
business is to discuss an issue and work out a compromise where there is
consensus (general agreement of all) on a direction. If consensus cannot be
reached and a vote is required, a motion is made and 5 days are allowed for a
second, discussion, and a vote. The decision will be a majority rule, based
those Board members who vote.
Section 3. Business. There are three types of business – annual
business, regular business, and special business.
The annual business of the Directors of the Organization will be conducted
between January and April of each year, for the purpose of electing Directors
and officers for the ensuing year and for the transaction of other business
properly brought before the Board.
Regular business of the Board of Directors may be conducted without notice if
the time and place (if a meeting) of conducting business has been determined by
resolution of the Board.
Special business of the Directors may be conducted by the President. Also, if
two or more Directors request, special business may also be initiated. Any
request for a special business by the Directors must state the purpose or
purposes of the proposed business. Any material requiring a vote will be sent
out by one of the Officers.
Section 4. Notice of Meeting. Except as otherwise provided by these
Bylaws, written notice containing the time and place of all meetings of the
Board of Directors will be given either personally or by email/mail to each
Director not less than ten days before a regular meeting and not less than two
days before a special meeting. Notice of a regular meeting need not state the
purpose or purposes of the meeting nor the business to be transacted at the
meeting. Notice of a special meeting must state the purpose or purposes of the
meeting.
Attendance of a Director at a meeting constitutes a waiver of notice of the
meeting, except where the Director attends the meeting for the express purpose
of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting was not
lawfully called or convened.
Section 5. Quorum and Voting. A majority of all the Directors will
constitute a quorum at any meeting. Consensus and voting are in Section 2 above.
Section 6. Conduct at Meetings. Meetings of the Directors will be
presided over by the President. The Secretary of the Organization or, in their
absence, a person chosen at the meeting will act as Secretary of the meeting.
Section 8. Telephonic Conferences. A Director may participate in a
meeting of Directors by conference telephone or similar communications equipment
by which all persons participating in the meeting may hear each other if all
participants are advised of the communications equipment and the names of the
participants in the conference are divulged to all participants. Participation
in a meeting pursuant to this section constitutes presence in person at the
meeting.
ARTICLE IV - Officers
Section 1. Election or Appointment. The Board of Directors will elect
officers (President, a Vice-President, a Secretary and a Treasurer of the
Organization) at the annual meeting and may elect assistant officers for each
position. The Directors may also appoint any other officers and agents as they
deem necessary for accomplishing the purposes of the Organization.
Section 2. Term of Office. The term of offices will be 2 years. The
term of office of all officers will commence upon their election or appointment.
Terms will be “staggered” to provide continuity and will continue until the next
or following annual meeting of the Organization and until their respective
successors are chosen or until their resignation or removal. The same person may
hold and be reelected to office and may hold any two or more offices, but no
officer will execute, acknowledge or verify any instrument in more than one
capacity. Any officer may be removed from office at any meeting of the
Directors, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the Directors then
in office (Article II, Section 2), whenever in their judgment the best interest
of the Organization will be served.
An officer may resign by written notice to the Organization. The resignation
will be effective upon its receipt by the Organization or at a subsequent time
specified in the notice of the resignation.
Section 3. Compensation. Any officer who is an employee of the
Organization will receive reasonable compensation for his or her services as
fixed by the Board of Directors.
Section 4. The President. The President will be the chief executive
officer of the Organization and will have general and active management of the
activities of the Organization. The President will see that all orders and
resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. The President
will execute all authorized conveyances, contracts or other obligations in the
name of the Organization except where required by law to be otherwise signed and
executed and except where the signing and execution is expressly delegated by
the Directors to some other person. The President will preside at meetings of
the Directors and in his or her absence, the Directors present at the meeting
will designate another presiding officer.
Section 5. Vice President. The Vice President will, in the absence or
disability of the President, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the
President and will perform any other duties prescribed by the Board of Directors
or the President.
Section 6. The Secretary. The Secretary will attend all meetings of
the Board of Directors and record the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be
kept for that purpose. The Secretary will also document all other decisions made
and keep them in the book. The Secretary will give or cause to be given notice
of all meetings of the Board of Directors for which notice may be required and
will perform any other duties prescribed by the Directors.
Section 7. The Treasurer. The Treasurer will oversee the financial
activities of the Organization. The Treasurer will perform all duties incident
to the office of Treasurer and other administrative duties as may be prescribed
by the Board of Directors. All books, papers, vouchers, money and other property
of whatever kind belonging to the Organization which are in the Treasurer’s
possession or under his or her control will be returned to the Organization at
the time of his or her death, resignation or removal from office.
Section 8. Assistant Officers. The assistant officers, in the absence
of any officer, will perform the duties and exercise the powers of that officer,
and will perform any other duties prescribed by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE V - Committees
Section 1. Executive Committee. The Board of Directors may establish
an Executive Committee consisting of five or more members of the Board. The
Executive Committee, subject to those limitations as may be required by law or
imposed by resolution of the Board of Directors, may exercise all powers and
authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and
affairs of the Organization between meetings of the Board of Directors, except
that such Executive Committee will not have power or authority to:
(a) Amend the Articles of Incorporation;
(b) Adopt an agreement of merger or consolidation;
(c) Approve the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the
Organization’s property and assets;
(d) Approve the dissolution of the Organization or a revocation of
dissolution;
(e) Amend the Bylaws of the Organization;
(f) Fill vacancies on the Board; or
(g) Fix compensation of the Directors for serving on the board or on a
committee.
Section 2. Other Committees. The Board of Directors may designate
other committees as deemed appropriate. The committees will have the authority
as delegated to them by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Procedure. All committees, and each member thereof, will
serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will
have the power at any time to increase or decrease the number of members of any
committee, to fill vacancies thereon, to change any member thereof, and to
change the functions or terminate the existence of any committee. Regular or
special business of any committee may be held in the same manner provided in
these Bylaws for business of the Board of Directors, and a majority of any
committee will constitute a quorum at the meeting.
ARTICLE VI - Indemnification
Section 1. Indemnification. The Organization will, to the fullest
extent now or hereafter permitted by law, indemnify any Director or officer of
the Organization (and, to the extent provided in a resolution of the Board of
Directors or by contract, may indemnify any volunteer, employee or agent of the
Organization) who was or is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending, or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of the
fact that the person is or was a Director, officer, volunteer, employee or agent
of the Organization, or is or was serving at the request of the Organization as
a director, trustee, officer, partner, volunteer, employee or agent of another
organization, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, whether for
profit or not for profit, against expenses including attorneys’ fees (which
expenses may be paid by the Organization in advance of a final disposition of
the action, suit or proceeding as provided by law), judgments, penalties, fines
and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in
connection with the action, suit or proceeding if the person acted (or refrained
from acting) in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be
in or not opposed to the best interests of the Organization, and with respect to
any criminal action or proceeding, if the person had no reasonable cause to
believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
Section 2. Rights to Continue. This indemnification will continue as
to a person who has ceased to be a Director or officer of the Organization.
Indemnification may continue as to a person who has ceased to be a volunteer,
employee or agent of the Organization to the extent provided in a resolution of
the Board of Directors or in any contract between the Organization and the
person. Any indemnification of a person who was entitled to indemnification
after such person ceased to be a Director, officer, volunteer, employee or agent
of the Organization will inure to the benefit of the heirs and personal
representatives of that person.
ARTICLE VII - Conflicts of
Interest
Section 1. Disclosure. When a member of the Board or an officer is
affiliated with an organization seeking to provide services or facilities to the
Organization, or when a member of the Board or officer has any duality of
interest or possible conflict of interest, real or apparent, such affiliation or
conflict of interest should be disclosed to the Board of Directors and made a
matter of record, either when the interest becomes a matter of Board action or
as part of a periodic procedure to be established by the Board. An affiliation
with an organization will be considered to exist when a Board member or officer
or a member of his or her immediate family or close relative is an officer,
director, trustee, partner, employee or agent of the organization, or has any
other substantial interest or dealings with the organization.
Section 2. Voting. Any Board member or officer having a duality of
interest or possible conflict of interest on any matter should not vote or use
his or her personal influence on the matter, and should not be counted in
determining a quorum for the meeting at which the matter is voted upon, even
though permitted by law. The Board should obtain and rely on appropriate
comparability data, when appropriate. The minutes of the meeting should reflect
that the disclosure was made, that the interested Board member abstained from
voting, that his or her presence was not counted in determining a quorum, and
that comparability data was considered and used as a basis for making the
decision.
Section 3. Statement of Position. The foregoing requirements should
not be construed to prevent a Board member or officer from stating his or her
position on the matter under consideration, nor from answering questions of
other Board members relating to the matter.
Section 4: Added Conflict of Interest. The foregoing requirements are
supplemented by the IRS Conflict of Interest statement attached to these bylaws
and incorporated in these bylaws.
Purpose
The purpose of the conflict of interest policy is to protect this tax-exempt
organization’s (Organization) interest when it is contemplating entering into a
transaction or arrangement that might benefit the private interest of an officer
or director of the Organization or might result in a possible excess benefit
transaction. This policy is intended to supplement but not replace any
applicable state and federal laws governing conflict of interest applicable to
nonprofit and charitable organizations.
Definitions
1. Interested Person
Any director, principal officer, or member of a committee with Board of
Directors delegated powers, who has a direct or indirect financial interest, as
defined below, is an interested person.
2. Financial Interest
A person has a financial interest if the person has, directly or indirectly,
through business, investment, or family:
a. An ownership or investment interest in any entity with which the
Organization has a transaction or arrangement,
b. A compensation arrangement with the Organization or with any entity or
individual with which the Organization has a transaction or arrangement, or
c. A potential ownership or investment interest in, or compensation
arrangement with, any entity or individual with which the Organization is
negotiating a transaction or arrangement. Compensation includes direct and
indirect remuneration as well as gifts or favors that are not insubstantial.
A financial interest is not necessarily a conflict of interest. Under Article
III, Section 2, a person who has a financial interest may have a conflict of
interest only if the appropriate governing board or committee decides that a
conflict of interest exists.
Procedures
1. Duty to Disclose
In connection with any actual or possible conflict of interest, an interested
person must disclose the existence of the financial interest and be given the
opportunity to disclose all material facts to the directors and members of
committees with governing board delegated powers considering the proposed
transaction or arrangement.
2. Determining Whether a Conflict of Interest Exists
After disclosure of the financial interest and all material facts, and after
any discussion with the interested person, he/she shall leave the governing
board or committee meeting while the determination of a conflict of interest is
discussed and voted upon. The remaining board or committee members shall decide
if a conflict of interest exists.
3. Procedures for Addressing the Conflict of Interest
a. An interested person may make a presentation at the Board of Directors or
committee meeting, but after the presentation, he/she shall leave the meeting
during the discussion of, and the vote on, the transaction or arrangement
involving the possible conflict of interest.An interested person may make a
presentation at the Board of Directors or committee meeting, but after the
presentation, he/she shall leave the meeting during the discussion of, and the
vote on, the transaction or arrangement involving the possible conflict of
interest.
b. The chairperson of the Board of Directors or committee shall, if
appropriate, appoint a disinterested person or committee to investigate
alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement.
c. After exercising due diligence, the governing board or committee shall
determine whether the Organization can obtain with reasonable efforts a more
advantageous transaction or arrangement from a person or entity that would not
give rise to a conflict of interest.
d. If a more advantageous transaction or arrangement is not reasonably
possible under circumstances not producing a conflict of interest, the governing
board or committee shall determine by a majority vote of the disinterested
directors whether the transaction or arrangement is in the Organization’s best
interest, for its own benefit, and whether it is fair and reasonable. In
conformity with the above determination it shall make its decision as to whether
to enter into the transaction or arrangement. conformity with the above
determination it shall make its decision as to whether to enter into the
transaction or arrangement.
4. Violations of the Conflicts of Interest Policy
a. If the Board of Directors or committee has reasonable cause to believe a
member has failed to disclose actual or possible conflicts of interest, it shall
inform the member of the basis for such belief and afford the member an
opportunity to explain the alleged failure to disclose.
b. If, after hearing the member’s response and after making further
investigation as warranted by the circumstances, the governing board or
committee determines the member has failed to disclose an actual or possible
conflict of interest, it shall take appropriate disciplinary and corrective
action.
Records of Proceedings
The minutes of the Board of Directors and all committees with board delegated
powers shall contain:
a. The names of the persons who disclosed or otherwise were found to have a
financial interest in connection with an actual or possible conflict of
interest, the nature of the financial interest, any action taken to determine
whether a conflict of interest was present, and the governing board’s or
committee’s decision as to whether a conflict of interest in fact existed.
b. The names of the persons who were present for discussions and votes
relating to the transaction or arrangement, the content of the discussion,
including any alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement, and a
record of any votes taken in connection with the proceeding.
Compensation
a. A voting member of the Board of Directors who receives compensation,
directly or indirectly, from the Organization for services is precluded from
voting on matters pertaining to that member’s compensation.
b. A voting member of any committee whose jurisdiction includes compensation
matters and who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from the
Organization for services is precluded from voting on matters pertaining to that
member’s compensation.
c. No voting member of the Board of Directors or any committee whose
jurisdiction includes compensation matters and who receives compensation,
directly or indirectly, from the Organization, either individually or
collectively, is prohibited from providing information to any committee
regarding compensation.
Annual Statements
Each director, principal officer and member of a committee with Board of
Directors delegated powers shall annually sign a statement which affirms such
person:
a. Has received a copy of the conflicts of interest policy,
b. Has read and understands the policy,
c. Has agreed to comply with the policy, and
d. Understands the Organization is charitable and in order to maintain its
federal tax exemption it must engage primarily in activities which accomplish
one or more of its tax-exempt purposes.
Periodic Reviews
To ensure the Organization operates in a manner consistent with charitable
purposes and does not engage in activities that could jeopardize its tax-exempt
status, periodic reviews shall be conducted. The periodic reviews shall, at a
minimum, include the following subjects:
a. Whether compensation arrangements and benefits are reasonable, based on
competent survey information and the result of arm’s length bargaining.
b. Whether partnerships, joint ventures, and arrangements with management
organizations conform to the Organization’s written policies, are properly
recorded, reflect reasonable investment or payments for goods and services,
further charitable purposes and do not result in inurement, impermissible
private benefit or in an excess benefit transaction.
Use of Outside Experts
When conducting the periodic reviews as provided for in Article VII, the
Organization may, but need not, use outside advisors. If outside experts are
used, their use shall not relieve the Board of Directors of its responsibility
for ensuring periodic reviews are conducted.
ARTICLE VIII Miscellaneous
Section 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Organization will end
on the last day of December.
Section 2. Amendments. These Bylaws may be approved, amended or
repealed by the affirmative vote of the Directors (Article III, Section 2) of
the Organization then in office.
APPROVAL BY BOARD
Original Bylaws approved – 6-12-08 by vote of 6 yes, 0 no.
Revisions to Bylaws 12-08:
1. Add the Mission as Article I, and renumber other articles.
2. I, 2 – Added regular.
3. I,7 - Revised
4. I,8 – New
5. II, 2 - Reworded
Approved 12-10-08 by vote of 8 yes (Antilla, Austin, Dyrda, Golpe, Hummon,
McGown, Samples (seconded), Sjoberg), 0 no.
3-10-09 Revision by a vote of 9 YES, 0 NO. – Article II, Section 2 amended to
specify 15 as maximum Board size.
5-6-09 Revision by a vote of 9 YES and 0 NO. – Article III, Sections 7 & 8
clarified for spouses and surviving spouses.
11-18-09 Revision (Article II, Sections 4 and 5; Article V, Sections 1 and 2)
by a vote of 10 YES (Anttila, Austin, Dyrda, Golpe, Kane, McKown, Phillips,
Prout, Samples, Sjoberg), 0 NO. Amended to reflect that Board of Directors may
establish an Executive Committee consisting of five or more members of the
Board.
11-18-09 Revision re Board of Directors criteria (Article II, Section 2) by a
vote of 11 YES (Anttila, Austin, Dyrda, Geach, Golpe, Kane, Koenigbauer, McKown,
Prout, Samples, Sjoberg) and 1 NO (Phillips).
11-18-09:
(1) Revision to Article I, first sentence. Revision by Stan Hurst, legal
counsel.
(2) Revision to Article II Section 7. Revision by Stan Hurst, legal counsel.
(3) Revision to Article II, Sections 1 and 2. Revisions by Stan Hurst, legal
counsel.
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AMENDMENTS:
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