Definition and Purpose
The Wisconsin chapter seeks to promote the purposes of the Society for Technical Communication, Inc. (STC), cooperatively. The chapter can engage only in activities that conform to STC’s purposes and must operate under rules and procedures that are consistent with the governing documents of the STC.
Operations
A. Name. The chapter name is Wisconsin, but may be changed by a two thirds vote at a business meeting of the chapter, a quorum being present. Written notification of the motion to change the name must be given to all chapter members at least two weeks before the vote. The STC must be advised when a chapter’s name has been changed.
B. Boundaries. The chapter boundaries are Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the surrounding areas. Any change to the boundaries must be submitted to the STC for approval. The STC may change a chapter’s boundaries if deemed in the best interest of the society.
C. Management. The chapter membership is represented by an elected Administrative Council with powers to take whatever legal and proper actions are necessary for the fulfillment of the STC’s purposes.
D. Administrative Council. The Administrative Council is composed of at least the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and the most recent past president. The Administrative Council meets at the request of the President or at the request of two of its members. A majority of the Administrative Council constitutes a quorum. If the Administrative Council decides by majority vote that more than five officers are required to operate efficiently, it may propose at a chapter membership meeting, or by any other means deemed appropriate, to increase the number of elected officers, specifying the titles and duties of such officers. If the proposal is accepted by a two thirds vote of those present (all members having been notified prior to the meeting), it becomes a rule of the chapter’s operation. Conversely, the membership of the chapter may agree, by a two thirds vote, to have the offices of Secretary and Treasurer filled by the same individual. Vacancies in the Administrative Council are filled by majority vote of the remaining Council members.
E. Responsibilities. The Wisconsin chapter President, as head of the Administrative Council, is responsible for all operations. The Wisconsin chapter President delegates duties to the other officers and appoints committee managers. The following responsibilities must be discharged:
- Regularly scheduled program meetings for the membership (at least five per year).
- Recruitment of new members and membership processing.
- Regular meetings of the Administrative Council to handle the chapter’s business.
- Fiscal controls by means of approved budgets and expenditures, and fiscal operations in accordance with Subsection H below.
- Quarterly activities reports to the director sponsor and annual fiscal reports to the STC Treasurer.
- Compliance with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requirements regarding annual information returns.
- Elections conducted by the chapter Nominating Committee in accordance with Subsection F below.
- The Wisconsin chapter President is also responsible for delegating duties for the following optional activities:
- Publication of the chapter newsletter to maintain communication with chapter members.
- Publicity on the chapter’s activities and on the STC.
- Educational programs for the members such as chapter sponsored seminars, workshops, and contests.
- Employment information services to establish contact between chapter members and local employers.
- Establishment of technical groups to pursue specific fields of interest in technical communication (annual contests, desktop publishing, etc.).
F. Chapter Elections. Wisconsin officers are elected annually in time for the new officers to attend the Annual Business Meeting of the STC as representatives of the chapter. A chapter Nominating Committee handles the elections. The Nominating Committee consists of three or five members at the discretion of the Nominating Committee Manager with approval by the chapter President. The Nominating Committee Manager is appointed by the chapter President, who also appoints one member to a five member committee. Nominations by petition must bear the signature of ten percent of the chapter membership. Chapter elections may be conducted at a regularly scheduled meeting of the membership or by mail provided that a preliminary slate of candidates has been announced to the membership at least four weeks prior to the date of the elections, and final slate of candidates, if different from the preliminary slate, has been announced at least ten days prior to the date of the election.
G. Chapter Business Meeting. An annual Wisconsin Chapter Business Meeting is to be held at which the Administrative Council and chapter committees report to the membership, and at which time the results of the annual election are announced. A quorum for transacting business is twenty five percent of the voting members or twenty voting members, whichever is fewer.
H. Finances. The Wisconsin chapter operating funds are primarily that received from an annual dues refund as determined by the STC. The Administrative Council can authorize fund raising activities to supplement the dues refund received from the STC. The Administrative Council also can authorize payment of chapter expenses; funds can be withdrawn only over the signature of the Treasurer or the President. Chapter funds are deposited in any banking institution that is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
I. Amendment to the Bylaws. Amendments to these bylaws may be originated in writing by any member of the Wisconsin chapter and approved by the Administrative Council. Before implementing an amendment, the Administrative Council (or Bylaws Committee, if active) will confirm any change is consistent with the STC bylaws. If the proposed change is compatible with STC bylaws, the amendment will be included in the agenda at the next annual Wisconsin Chapter Business Meeting (see Subsection G).