Revised March 11, 2023
ARTICLE I: Name
The name of this non-profit organization shall be Woman’s Press Club of Indiana, hereafter referred to as WPCI.
ARTICLE II: Objectives
The objective of WPCI shall be to advance the professional standards of persons in mass communications, to provide exchange of ideas concerning communications and related experiences, and to coordinate efforts of state and national interests to communicators.
ARTICLE III: Governing Body
Section 1. Executive Committee
The Executive Committee consists of the president, vice president, secretary, two past presidents and treasurer. The parliamentarian shall act as an advisor with no vote.
Section 2. Board of Directors
The Board of Directors consists of the Executive Committee, appointed chairs and co-chairs of standing committees, the two immediate past presidents and any members of WPCI who are officers of the national organization or members of national committees.
Section 3
Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be called by the president.
Section 4
A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum of the board.
ARTICLE IV: Executive Committee
Section 1
The Executive Committee shall act for the Board of Directors between meetings of the board in making decisions that will expedite matters of emergency.
Section 2.
All members of the Executive Committee must be polled and a 2/3 majority will be necessary for emergency decisions.
Section 3.
The Executive Committee may recommend additional policies for expediting business matters for the good of WPCI.
ARTICLE V: Membership
Section 1.
Members shall consist of professionals in communications whose interests and work are germane to the objectives of WPCI and its affiliate national organization, the National Federation of Press Women, Inc., hereafter referred to as NFPW.
Section 2.
A. Membership shall consist of active, student, retired and honorary.
B. Any member may attend meetings of the organization and may be extended the courtesy of the floor. Only active members may hold the office of WPCI President and VicePresident and represent WPCI as a delegate to NFPW conventions.
C. Qualified applicants must apply for dual membership in WPCI and NFPW.
D. Members may hold membership in another state affiliate but pay NFPW dues, hold office and enter communications contests in only one affiliate.
Section 3. Active Membership
Active members are those who are actively engaged in any aspect of communications.
Section 4. Student Members
A. Any student enrolled in a high school, community college, four-year college, or university will be eligible for student membership. Student members shall be accorded all rights and privileges of membership except that they may not propose, second, or vote on motions; vote in elections; or hold elected office. Students may maintain student status for 12 months following college graduation.
B. Student members shall be accorded all rights and privileges of WPCI membership and participate in the WPCI/NFPW Communications Contest, but shall not hold the offices of president or vice president, except at the discretion of the Board of Directors as defined by Article III, Section 2. They shall be allowed to vote.
Section 5. Retired Members
A. Any member in good standing at least five years who retires from full-time professional employment and does not receive substantial remuneration from media communications work may choose to become a retired member and elect to pay reduced NFPW membership dues.
B. Retired members shall be accorded all rights and privileges of WPCI membership, including propose, second or vote on motions, participate in thee WPCI/NFPW Commumications Contest, and be counted in membership totals for delegation allocations, and may hold WPCI elected or appointed office and shall be restricted to NFPW privileges only as outlined in NFPW Bylaws.
C. Active members who qualify for retired status may choose to retain active membership status at full NFPW and WPCI dues rate.
Section 6. Honorary Members
A. WPCI may confer honorary membership on individuals it desires to recognize for meritorious achievement. Nominations may be submitted by WPCI members and will be reviewed by and subject to the approval of the Executive Board as defined by Article III, Section 1.
B. Honorary members do not pay dues but may attend meetings, be extended the courtesy of thee floor and receive WPCI official communications as deemed appropriate and feasible of the Executive Board.
Section 7. Membership Application
Candidates for student and active membership shall join WPCI/NFPW by going to www.wpcindiana.org/join-wpci. Membership shall become effective upon payment of state and national dues.
ARTICLE VI: Officers
Section 1.
The following officers shall be elected to serve a two-year term: president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. They shall be eligible for immediate re-election to the same office for one consecutive term except the treasurer, who may be elected to subsequent two-year terms.
Section 2.
The president shall appoint a three-member nominating committee at a meeting preceding the annual March meeting. The nominating committee shall present a slate of officers with at least one name for each office.
Section 3.
The names of the candidates shall be circulated prior to the annual March meeting.
Section 4.
The election of officers shall take place at the annual meeting in March.
Section 5.
Nominations for officers may also be made from the floor at the annual business meeting, provided the nominee has given consent to be placed in nomination and is a member in good standing and meets all the qualifications for the office.
Section 6.
If there are two or more candidates for any office, the election shall be by secret ballot.
Section 7.
A majority vote of those present shall be required for election.
Section 8.
The newly elected officers shall take office at the close of the May meeting.
Section 9.
A vacancy in the office of the president shall be filled for the unexpired term by the vice president.
Section 10.
Vacancies in other elected offices shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by the president with the approval of the Executive Committee as defined in Article III, Section 1.
ARTICLE VII: Meetings
Section 1.
WPCI shall hold a minimum of four meetings a year in September, November, March and May. Members shall be notified prior to each meeting.
Section 2.
The Board of Directors as defined in Article III, section 2, will meet at the discretion of the president.
Section 3.
The annual business meeting will be held in March.
Section 4.
Additional meetings of the membership may be called at the discretion of the president with the concurrence of the Board of Directors as defined in Article III, section 2.
Section 5.
At least two meetings during the year shall be geographically held outside the Indianapolis area insofar as possible.
Section 6.
A quorum shall be defined as 10% of the membership.
ARTICLE VIII: Financial Matters
Section 1.
The organization fiscal year shall be July 1 through June 30 inclusive.
Section 2.
The organization budget shall be approved by the Board of Directors as defined in Article III, section 2, and may be amended by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Dues
The amount of dues for each membership category shall be determined by the WPCI governing body and approved by 2/3 vote of members at the annual meeting in March. Notice of any proposed change of dues is to be published to all members 30 days prior to the March meeting.
Section 4. Special funds
The organization shall support a separate Education Fund, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization under the FDIC Code, a corporation contribution which is deductible under Section 170 (c)(2) of the code, Woman’s Press Club of Indiana Education Fund Inc. directed by the WPCIEFI Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IX: Duties of the Officers
Section 1.
All officers shall perform the normal duties of office herein specified and shall perform these duties in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order (Revised). Details of each officer’s duties shall be provided at www.wpcindiana.org/join-wpci/members.
Section 2.
The president shall preside at all meetings and shall issue all official calls for such meetings. The president shall appoint the historian, parliamentarian and committee chairmen.
Section 3.
The president shall be an ex-officio member of all committees, except the Nominating Committee.
Section 4.
The president shall, if possible, be an official delegate to the national NFPW convention and shall attend, if possible, the national board meetings.
Section 5.
The vice president will assume a director/coordinator role for the Membership Committee and other committees as assigned by the president. The vice president should make use of the committee system approach, both for membership involvement and training of future members for leadership roles. The elected officers will name committee chairs who report to them to serve in this capacity.
Section 6.
The vice president shall perform the duties of the president in the president’s absence.
Section 7.
The secretary shall keep the minutes and attendance record of all meetings of WPCI, including executive and board meetings, and execute all correspondence as necessary.
Section 8.
The treasurer shall receive all monies belonging to WPCI; make a financial report at each regular meeting; keep an itemized record of all receipts and disbursements; and shall be responsible for state and federal government reports of both WPCI and its Education Fund.
a. The treasurer shall be bonded by WPCI’s as required by the Board of Directors.
b. The treasurer shall submit WPCI’s books for an audit at the close of the fiscal year.
c. All bills shall be given to the treasurer and approved by the president for payment.
ARTICLE X: Committees
Section 1.
The major committees shall be Membership, Program, Awards, Special Projects or Workshops, Professional Contest, High School Contest, Prison Writing Contest and Scholarships.
Article XI: Internal Awards
Section 1.
The Kate Milner Rabb Award will be presented at the discretion of the Executive Committee, and selection will be made by the Awards Committee. It is the highest award given by WPCI.
Section 2.
The WPCI member whose name is to be submitted as the Indiana nominee for the NFPW Communicator of Achievement (COA) will be announced and honored at the May meeting. In advance, the awards committee—or in the absence of an awards committee, a nominating committee appointed by the president—is to submit in writing its selection with a one-page letter highlighting credentials for approval of the Executive Board and/or president prior to the meeting. It is recommended that the WPCI nominee for the COA honor agree to attend the NFPW COA event. A nomination for COA need not be made each year.
Section 2.
Standing committees shall be determined by the Executive Committee as needed.
ARTICLE XII: Parliamentary Authority
Robert’s Rules of Order (Revised) shall govern WPCI.
ARTICLE XIII: Amendments
Section 1.
These bylaws may be amended at the annual meeting in March by a 2/3 majority vote of members present, providing a notice was given with the call for the meeting.
Section 2.
Proposed amendments to these bylaws must be submitted to the Executive Committee for review, then circulated to members at least 30 days prior to the annual business meeting.
ARTICLE XIV: Dissolution
Upon the dissolution of WPCI, the officers shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all liabilities of the corporation, dispose of the remaining assets of the corporation to such organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational or scientific purposes, which at the time qualify as tax exempt under IRS regulations. The executive board at the time of dissolution will determine where to donate WPCI funds.
Revised March 11, 2023