BYLAWS
OF
THE
SANTA FE RAILWAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC.
a
California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation
(with
Amendments 1, 11, 111, IV, & V incorporated)
ARTICLE
1. OFFICES
SECTION
1. PRINCIPAL OFFICE
The
principal office of the corporation for the transaction of its business
is located in San Diego County, California.
SECTION
2. CHANGE OF ADDRESS
The
county of the corporation's principal office can be changed only
by amendment of these Bylaws and not otherwise. The Board of Directors
may, change the principal office from one location to another within
the named county by noting the changed address and effective date
below, and such changes of address shall not be deemed an amendment
of these Bylaws:
___________________________________________Dated:________________________ , 19
___________________________________________Dated:________________________ , 19
___________________________________________Dated:________________________ , 19
SECTION
3. OTHER OFFICES
The
corporation may also have offices at such other places, within or
without the State of California, where it is qualified to do business,
as its business may require and as the Board of Directors may, from
time to time, designate.
ARTICLE
2. PURPOSES
SECTION
1. OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES
The
primary objectives and purposes of this corporation shall be:
(a)
To promote, stimulate, foster and encourage by all legal manner
and means the gathering, cataloging, preserving and making available
to the general public for viewing, education and research, actual
documents, equipment, photographs of equipment or structures, and
any other data available concerning the history and heritage of
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company, Incorporated
and such predecessor, partnership, subsidiary, or successor organizations
of that
1
Company
as history may disclose.
(b)
To advance the hobby of railroad history in general, and of The
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company, Incorporated in particular,
wherever and whenever possible by publications, meetings and all
things necessary or incident to these purposes.
ARTICLE
3. MEMBERS
SECTION
1. DETERMINATION AND RIGHTS OF MEMBERS
The
corporation shall have three classes of members. No member shall
hold more than one membership in the corporation. Except as expressly
provided in or authorized by the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws
of this corporation, all members shall have the same rights, privileges,
restrictions and conditions.
SECTION
2. QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERS
Any
person is qualified to become a member of this corporation.
SECTION
3. ADMISSION OF MEMBERS
Applicants
shall be admitted to one of the classes of membership as follows:
(a)
Regular. Any natural person may become a Regular Member upon application
to the Secretary and payment of the Regular membership annual dues
defined in Section 4 of this Article.
(b)
Sustaining. Any person, corporation, or association may become a
Sustaining Member upon application to the Secretary and payment
of the Sustaining membership annual dues defined in Section 4 of
this Article.
(c)
Honorary Life. Application may not be made for Honorary Life Membership.
As recognition of meritorious service to the corporation, any person
may be elected to Honorary Life Membership only by a vote of a majority
of the Board of Directors.
SECTION
4. FEES, DUES AND ASSESSMENTS
(a)
No fee shall be charged for making application for membership in
the corporation.
(b)
The annual dues payable to the corporation by members shall be:
(1) In United States funds.
(2) Due on the first day of the first quarter following expiration of the current
membership year and shall be considered delinquent on the thirty-first day thereafter.
(3) In accordance with an annual dues schedule set by the Board of Directors.
(4) None, for Honorary Life Members.
(c) Memberships shall be nonassessable.
2
SECTION
5. NUMBER OF MEMBERS
There
is no limit on the number of members the corporation may admit.
(2)
The member being expelled shall be given an opportunity to be heard,
either orally or in writing, at a hearing to be held not less than
five (5) days before the effective date of the proposed expulsion.
The hearing will be held by the Board of Directors in accordance
with the quorum and voting rules set forth in these Bylaws applicable
to the meetings of the Board. The notice to the member of his or
her proposed expulsion shall state the date, time, and place of
the hearing on his or her proposed expulsion.
(3)
Following the hearing, the Board of Directors shall decide whether
or not the member should in fact be expelled, suspended, or sanctioned
in some other way. The decision of the Board shall be final.
(4)
Any person expelled from the corporation shall receive a refund
of dues already paid. The refund shall be prorated to return only
the unaccrued balance remaining for the period of the dues payment.
SECTION
10. RIGHTS ON TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
All
rights of a member in the corporation shall cease on termination
of membership as herein provided.
ARTICLE
4. MEETING OF MEMBERS
SECTION
1. PLACE OF MEETINGS
Meetings
of members shall be held at the principal office of the corporation
or at such other place or places within or without the State of
California as may be designated from time to time by resolution
of the Board of Directors.
SECTION
2. ANNUAL MEETINGS
The
membership shall meet annually at the business meeting conducted
as a part of the annual convention, or at such time designated by
the Board of Directors, for the purpose of electing Directors to
replace those whose terms are expiring and transacting other business
as may come before the meeting. Cumulative voting for the election
of Directors shall not be permitted. The candidates receiving the
highest number of votes up to the number of Directors to be elected
shall be elected. Each voting member shall cast one vote, with voting
being by ballot, voice vote, or show of hands. The annual meeting
of members for the purpose of electing Directors shall be deemed
a regular meeting and any reference in these Bylaws to regular meetings
of members refers to this annual meeting.
Should
an annual convention not be held, a date, time and place for the
annual
3
meeting
of the corporation will be designated by the Board of Directors.
SECTION
3. SPECIAL MEETINGS OF MEMBERS
(a)
Persons Who May Call Special Meetings of Members. Special meetings
of the members shall be called by the Board of Directors, the Chairman
of the Board, or the President of the corporation. In addition,
special meetings of the members for the purpose of the removal of
Directors and election of their replacements may be called by five
percent (5%) or more of the members.
SECTION
4. NOTICE OF MEETINGS
(a)
Time of Notice. Whenever members are required or permitted to take
action at a meeting, a written notice of the meeting shall be given
by the Secretary of the corporation not less than ten (10) nor more
than ninety (90) days before the date of the meeting to each member
who, on the record date for the notice of the meeting, is entitled
to vote thereat; provided, however, that if notice is given by mail,
and the notice is not mailed by first-class, registered, or certified
mail, that notice shall be given twenty (20) days before the meeting.
(b)
Manner of Giving Notice. Notice of a membership meeting or any report
shall be given either personally or by mail or other means of written
communication, addressed to each member at the address of such member
appearing on the books of the corporation or given by the member
to the corporation for the purpose of notice; or if no address appears
or is given, at the place where the principal office of the corporation
is located or by publication of notice of the meeting at least once
in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the
principal office is located. Notice shall be deemed to have been
given at the time when delivered personally or deposited in the
mail or sent by telegram or other means of written communication.
(c)
Contents of Notice. Notice of a membership meeting shall state the
place, date, and time of the meeting and (1) in the case of a special
meeting, the general nature of the business to be transacted, and
no other business may be transacted, or (2) in the case of a regular
meeting, those matters which the Board, at the time notice is given,
intends to present for action by the members. Subject to any provision
to the contrary contained in these Bylaws, however, any proper matter
may be presented at a regular meeting for such action. The notice
of any meeting of members at which Directors are to be elected shall
include the names of all those who are nominees at the time notice
is given to Members.
(d)
Notice of Meetings Called by Members. If a special meeting is called
by members as authorized by these Bylaws, the request for the meeting
shall be submitted in writing, specifying the general nature of
the business proposed to be transacted and shall be delivered personally
or sent by registered mail or by telegraph to the Chairman of the
Board, President, Vice- President or Secretary of the corporation.
The officer receiving the request shall promptly cause notice to
be given to the members entitled to vote that a meeting will be
held, stating the date
4
of
the meeting. The date for such meeting shall be fixed by the Board
and shall not be less than thirty-five (35) nor more than ninety
(90) days after the receipt of the request for the meeting by the
officer. If the notice is not given within twenty (20) days after
the receipt of the request, persons calling the meeting may give
the notice themselves.
(e) Waiver
of Notice of Meetings. The transactions of any meeting of members,
however called and noticed, and wherever held, shall be as valid as
though taken at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice,
if a quorum is present either in person or by proxy, and if, either
before or after the meeting, each of the persons entitled to vote,
not present in person or by proxy, signs a written waiver of notice
or a consent to the holding of the meeting or an approval of the minutes
thereof. All such waivers, consents and approvals shall be filed with
the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting.
Waiver of notices or consents need not specify either the business
to be transacted or the purpose of any regular or special meeting
of members, except that if action is taken or proposed to be taken
for approval of any of the matters specified in subparagraph (f) of
this section, the waiver of notice of consent shall state the general
nature of the proposal.
(f) Special
Notice Rules for Approving Certain Proposals. If action is proposed
to be taken or is taken with respect to the following proposals, such
action shall be invalid unless unanimously approved by those entitled
to vote or unless the general nature of the proposal is stated in
the notice of meeting or in any written waiver of notice:
(1) Removal
of Directors without cause;
(2) Filling
of vacancies on the Board by the members;
(3) Amending
the Articles of Incorporation; and
(4) An
election to voluntarily wind up and dissolve the corporation.
SECTION
5. QUORUM FOR MEETINGS
SECTION
6. MAJORITY ACTION AS MEMBERSHIP ACTION
Every
act or decision done or made by a majority of voting members present
in person or by proxy at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is
present is the act of the members, unless the law, the Articles of
Incorporation of this corporation, or these Bylaws require a greater
number.
SECTION
7. VOTING RIGHTS
5
Each
member is entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote
by the members. Voting at duly held meetings shall be by voice vote.
Election of Directors, however, shall be by ballot, voice vote,
or a show of hands.
SECTION
8. PROXY VOTING
Members
entitled to vote shall not be permitted to vote or act by proxy,
and no provision in the Bylaws referring to proxy voting shall be
construed to permit any member to vote or act by proxy.
SECTION
9. CONDUCT OF MEETINGS
Meetings
of members shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board,
or, if there is no Chairman, by the President of the corporation,
or, in his or her absence, by the Vice- President of the corporation
or, in the absence of all of these persons, by a Chairman chosen
by a majority of the voting members, present in person or by proxy.
The Secretary of the corporation hall act as Secretary of all meetings
of members, provided that in his or her absence, the presiding officer
shall appoint another person to act as Secretary of the meeting.
Meetings
shall be governed by Roberts' Rules of Order, as such rules may
be revised from time to time, insofar as such rules are not inconsistent
with or in conflict with these Bylaws, with the Articles of Incorporation
of this corporation, or with any provisions of law.
SECTION
10. ACTION BY WRITTEN BALLOT WITHOUT A MEETING
Any
action which may be taken at any regular or special meeting of members
may be taken without a meeting if the corporation distributes a
written ballot to every member entitled to vote on the matter. The
ballot shall set forth the proposed action, provide an opportunity
to specify approval or disapproval of each proposal, provide that
where the person solicited specifies a choice with respect to any
such proposal the vote shall be cast in accordance therewith, and
provide a reasonable time within which to return the ballot to the
corporation. Ballots shall be mailed or delivered in the manner
required for giving notice of meetings specified in Section 4(b)
of this Article.
All
written ballots shall also indicate the number of responses needed
to meet the quorum requirements and, except for ballots soliciting
votes for the election of Directors, shall state the percentage
of approvals necessary to pass the measure submitted. The ballots
must specify the time by which they must be received by the corporation
in order to be counted.
Approval
of action by written ballot shall be valid only when the number
of votes cast by ballot within the time period specified equals
or exceeds the quorum required to be present at a meeting authorizing
the action, and the number of approvals equals or exceeds the number
of votes that would be required to approve the action at a meeting
at which the total number of votes cast was the same of
6
votes
cast by ballot.
Directors
may be elected by written ballot. Such ballots for the election
of Directors shall list the persons nominated at the time the ballots
are mailed or delivered. If any such ballots are marked "withhold"
or otherwise marked in a manner indicating that the authority to
vote for the election of Directors is withheld, they shall not be
counted as votes either for or against the election of a Director.
A
written ballot may not be revoked after its receipt by the corporation
or its deposit in the mail, whichever occurs first.
SECTION
11. REASONABLE NOMINATION AND ELECTION PROCEDURES
This
corporation shall make available to members reasonable nomination
and election procedures with respect to the election of Directors
by members. Such procedures shall be reasonable given the nature,
size and operations of the corporation, and shall include:
(a)
A reasonable means of nominating persons for election as Directors.
(b)
A reasonable opportunity for a nominee to communicate to the members
the nominee's qualifications and the reasons for the nominee's candidacy.
(c)
A reasonable opportunity for all nominees to solicit votes.
(d)
A reasonable opportunity for all members to choose among the nominees.
Upon
the written request by any nominee for election to the Board and
the payment with such request of the reasonable costs of mailing
(including postage) the corporation shall, within ten (10) business
days after such request (provided payment has been made) mail to
all members or such portion of them that the nominee may reasonably
specify, any material which the nominee shall furnish and which
is reasonably related to the election, unless the corporation within
five (5) business days after the request allows the nominee, at
the corporation's option, the right to do either of the following:
(1) inspect and copy the record of all members' names, addresses
and voting rights, at reasonable times, upon five (5) business days'
prior written demand upon the corporation, which demand shall state
the purpose for which the inspection rights are requested; or (2)
obtain from the Secretary, upon written demand and payment of a
reasonable charge, a list of the names, addresses and voting rights
of those members entitled to vote for the election of Directors,
as of the most recent record date for which it has been compiled
or as of any date specified by the nominee subsequent to the date
of demand. The demand shall state the purpose for which it has been
compiled or as of any date specified by the nominee subsequent to
the date of demand. The demand shall state the purpose for which
the list is requested and the membership list shall be made available
on or before the later of ten (10) business days after the demand
is received or after the date specified therein as the date as of
which the
7
list
is to be compiled.
If
this corporation publishes any material soliciting votes for any
nominee for Director in any publication owned or controlled by the
corporation, it shall make available to all other nominees, in the
same issue of the publication, an equal amount of space, with equal
prominence, to be used by the other nominees for a purpose reasonably
related to the election.
Generally,
any person who is qualified to be elected to the Board of Directors
shall be nominated at the annual meeting of members held for the
purpose of electing Directors by any member present at the meeting
in person or by proxy. However, if the corporation has five hundred
(500) or more members, any of the additional nomination procedures
specified in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5521 of the California
Nonprofit Corporation Law may be used to nominate persons for election
to the Board of Directors.
If
this corporation has five thousand (5,000) or more members, then
the nomination and election procedures specified in Section 5522
of the California Nonprofit Corporation Law shall be followed by
this corporation in nominating and electing persons to the Board
of Directors.
SECTION
12. ACTION BY UNANIMOUS WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT MEETING
Except
as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, any action required or permitted
to be taken by the members may be taken without a meeting, if all
members shall individually or collectively consent in writing to
the action. The written consent or consents shall be filed with
the minutes of the proceedings of the members. The action by written
consent shall have the same force and effect as the unanimous vote
of the members.
ARTICLE
5. DIRECTORS
SECTION
1. NUMBER
The
corporation shall have five (5) Directors and collectively they
shall be known as the Board of Directors. The number may be changed
by amendment of this Bylaw, or by repeal of this Bylaw and adoptions
of a new Bylaw, as provided in these Bylaws.
SECTION
2. POWERS
Subject
to the provisions of the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation
Law and any limitations in the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
relating to action required or permitted to be taken or approved
by the members, if any, of this corporation, the activities and
affairs of this corporation shall be conducted and all corporate
powers shall be exercised by or under the direction of the Board
of Directors.
8
SECTION
3. DUTIES
It
shall be the duty of the Directors to:
(a)
Perform any and all duties imposed on them collectively or individually
by law, by the Articles of Incorporation of this corporation, or
by these Bylaws.
(b)
Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, appoint and remove,
employ and discharge, and prescribe the duties and fix the compensation,
if any, of all officers, agents and employees of the corporation.
(c)
Supervise all officers, agents and employees of the corporation
to assure that their duties are performed properly.
(d)
Meet at such times and places as required by these Bylaws.
(e)
Register their addresses with the Secretary of the corporation,
and notices of meetings mailed or telegraphed to them at such addresses
shall be valid notices thereof.
SECTION
4. TERMS OF OFFICE
Each
Director shall hold office for a period of two years staggered as
described below or until their successor is elected. At the annual
meeting the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes
in odd numbered years and the three candidates receiving the greatest
number of votes in even numbered years shall be elected to two year
terms.
SECTION
5. COMPENSATION
Directors
shall serve without compensation. They shall be allowed reasonable
advancement or reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance
of their regular duties as specified in Section 3 of this Article.
Directors may not be compensated for rendering services to the corporation
in any capacity other than Director unless such other compensation
is reasonable and is allowable under the provisions of Section 6
of this Article.
SECTION
6. RESTRICTION REGARDING INTERESTED DIRECTORS
Notwithstanding
any other provisions of these Bylaws, not more than forty-nine percent
(49%) of the persons serving on the Board may be interested persons.
For purposes of this Section, "interested persons" means either:
(a)
any person currently being compensated by the corporation for services
rendered it within the previous twelve (12.) months, whether as
a full- or part- time officer or other employee, independent contractor,
or otherwise, excluding any reasonable compensation paid to a Director
as Director; or
9
(b)
any brother, sister, ancestor, descendant, spouse, brother-in-law,
sister-in-law, son- in-law, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, or father-in-law
of any such person.
SECTION
7. PLACE OF MEETINGS
Meetings
shall be held at the principal office of the corporation unless
otherwise provided by the Board or at such place within or without
the State of California which has been designated from time to time
by resolution of the Board of Directors. In the absence of such
designation, any meeting not held at the principal office of the
corporation shall be valid only if held on the written consent of
all Directors given either before or after the meeting and filed
with the Secretary of the corporation or after all Board members
have been given written notice of the meeting as hereinafter provided
for special meetings of the Board. Any meeting, regular or special,
may be held by conference telephone or similar communications equipment,
so long as all Directors participating in such meeting can hear
one another.
SECTION
8. REGULAR AND ANNUAL MEETINGS
A
Regular meeting of the Directors shall be held without other notice
than this Bylaw immediately before and (or) after the annual meeting
of members. Additional Regular meetings may be scheduled as called
for by the President/Chairman of the Board.
SECTION
9. SPECIAL MEETINGS
Special
meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman
of the Board, the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary,
or by any two Directors, and such meeting shall be held at the place,
within or without the State of California, designated by the person
or persons calling the meeting, and in the absence of such designation,
at the principal office of the corporation.
SECTION
10. NOTICE OF MEETINGS
Regular
meetings of the Board may be held without notice. Special meetings
of the Board shall be held upon four (4) days' notice by first-class
mail or forty-eight (48) hours' notice delivered personally or by
telephone or telegraph. If sent by mail or telegram, the notice
shall be deemed to be delivered on its deposit in the mails or on
its delivery to the telegraph company. Such notices shall be addressed
to each Director at his or her address as shown on the books of
the corporation. Notice of the time and place of holding an adjourned
meeting need not be given to absent Directors if the time and place
of the adjourned meeting are fixed at the meeting adjourned and
if such adjourned meeting is held not more than twenty-four (24)
hours from the time of the original meeting. Notice shall be given
of any adjourned regular or special meeting to Directors absent
from the original meeting if the adjourned meeting is held more
than twenty- four (24) hours from the time of the original meeting.
10
SECTION
11. CONTENTS OF NOTICE
Notice
of meetings not herein dispensed with shall specify the place, day
and hour of the meeting. The purpose of any Board meeting need not
be specified in the notice.
SECTION
12. WAIVER OF NOTICE AND CONSENT TO HOLDING MEETINGS
The
transactions of any meeting of the Board, however called and noticed
or wherever held, are as valid as though the meeting had been duly
held after proper call and notice, provided a quorum, as hereinafter
defined, is present and provided that either before or after the
meeting each Director not present signs a waiver of notice, a consent
to holding the meeting, or an approval of the minutes thereof. All
such waivers, consents, or approvals, shall be filed with the corporate
records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting.
SECTION
13. QUORUM FOR MEETINGS
A
quorum shall consist of a majority of the Board of Directors.
Except
as otherwise provided in these Bylaws or in the Articles of Incorporation
of this corporation, or by law, no business shall be considered
by the Board at any meeting at which a quorum, as hereinafter defined,
is not present, and the only motion which the Chair shall entertain
at such meeting is a motion to adjourn. However, a majority of the
Directors present at such meeting may adjourn from time to time
until the time fixed for the next regular meeting of the Board.
When
a meeting is adjourned for lack of a quorum, it shall not be necessary
to give any notice of the time and place of the adjourned meeting
or of the business to be transacted at such meeting, other than
by announcement at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken,
except as provided in Section 10 of this Article.
The
Directors present at a duly called and held meeting at which a quorum
is initially present may continue to do business notwithstanding
the loss of a quorum at the meeting due to a withdrawal of Directors
from the meeting, provided that any action thereafter taken must
be approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for such
meeting or such greater percentage as may be required by law, or
the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of this corporation.
SECTION
14. MAJORITY ACTION AS BOARD ACTION
Every
act or decision done or made by a majority of the Directors present
at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present is the act of
the Board of Directors, unless the Articles of Incorporation or
Bylaws of this corporation, or provisions of the California Nonprofit
Public Benefit Corporation Law, particularly those provisions relating
to appointment of committees (Section 5212), approval of contracts
or transactions in which a Director has a material financial interest
(Section 5233) and indemnification of the Directors (Section 5238e),
require a
11
greater
percentage or different voting rules for approval of a matter by
the Board.
SECTION
15. CONDUCT OF MEETINGS
Meetings
of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairman
of the Board, or, if no such person has been so designated or, in
his or her absence, the President of the corporation or, in his
or her absence, by the Vice-President of the corporation or, in
the absence of each of these persons, by a Chairman chosen by a
majority of the Directors present at the meeting. The Secretary
of the corporation shall act as Secretary of all meetings of the
Board, provided that in his or her absence, the presiding officer
shall appoint another person to act as Secretary of the meeting.
Meetings
shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order, as such rules may
be revised from time to time, insofar as such rules are not inconsistent
with or in conflict with these Bylaws, with the Articles of Incorporation
of this corporation, or with provisions of law.
SECTION
16. ACTION BY UNANIMOUS WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT MEETING
Any
action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors
under any provision of law may be taken without a meeting, if all
members of the Board shall individually or collectively consent
in writing to such action. For the purposes of this section only,
"all members of the Board" shall not include any "interested Director"
as defined in Section 5233 of the California Nonprofit Public Benefit
Corporation Law. Such written consent or consents shall be filed
with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board. Such action by
written consent shall have the same force and effect as the unanimous
vote of the Directors. Any certificate or other document filed under
any provision of law which relates to action so taken shall state
that the action was taken by unanimous written consent of the Board
of Directors without a meeting and that the Bylaws of this corporation
authorize the Directors to so act, and such statement shall be prima
facie evidence of such authority.
SECTION
17. VACANCIES
Vacancies
on the Board of Directors shall exist (1) on the death, resignation
or removal of any Director, and (2) whenever the number of authorized
Directors is increased.
The
Board of Directors may declare vacant the office of a Director who
has been declared of unsound mind by a final order of court, or
convicted of a felony, or been found by a final order or judgment
of any court to have breached any duty under Section 5230 and following
of the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law.
If
this corporation has any members, then, if the corporation has less
than fifty (50) members, Directors may be removed without cause
by a majority of all
12
members,
or, if the corporation has fifty (50) or more members, by vote of
a majority of the votes represented at a membership meeting at which
a quorum is present.
Any
Director may resign effective upon giving written notice to the
Chairman of the Board, the President, the Secretary or the Board
of Directors, unless the notice specifies a later time for the effectiveness
of such resignation. No Director may resign if the corporation would
then be left without a duly elected Director or Directors in charge
of its affairs, except upon notice to the Attorney General.
Vacancies
on the Board may be filled by a majority of Directors then in office,
whether or not less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining Director.
If this corporation has members, however, vacancies created by the
removal of a Director may be filled only by the approval of the
members. The members, if any, of this corporation may elect a Director
at any time to fill any vacancy not filled by the Directors.
A
person elected to fill a vacancy as provided in this Section shall
hold office until the next annual election of the Board of Directors
or until his or her death, resignation or removal from office.
SECTION
18. NON-LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS
The
Directors shall not be personally liable for the debts, liabilities,
or other obligations of the corporation.
SECTION
19. INDEMNIFICATION BY CORPORATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES
AND OTHER AGENTS
To
the extent that a person, who is, or was, a Director, officer, employee
or other agent of this corporation has been successful on the merits
in defense of any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
proceeding brought to procure a judgment against such person by
reason of the fact that he or she is, or was, an agent of the corporation,
or has been successful in defense of any claim, issue or matter,
therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses actually
and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such proceeding.
If
such person either settles any such claim or sustains a judgment
against him or her, then indemnification against expenses, judgments,
fines, settlements and other amounts reasonably incurred in connection
with such proceedings shall be provided by this corporation but
only to the extent allowed by, and in accordance with the requirements
of, Section 5238 of the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation
Law.
SECTION
20. INSURANCE FOR CORPORATE AGENTS
The
Board of Directors may adopt a resolution authorizing the purchase
and maintenance of insurance on behalf of any agent of the corporation
(including a
13
Director,
officer, employee or other agent of the corporation) against any
liability other than for violating provisions of law relating to
self-dealing (Section 5233 of the California Nonprofit Public Benefit
Corporation Law) asserted against or incurred by the agent in such
capacity or arising out of the agent's status as such, whether or
not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the agent
against such liability under the provisions of Section 5238 of the
California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law.
ARTICLE
6. OFFICERS
SECTION
1. NUMBER OF OFFICERS
The
officers of this corporation shall be a President, Vice-President,
a Secretary and a chief financial officer who shall be designated
the Treasurer. The corporation may also have, as determined by the
Board of Directors, a Chairman of the Board, Assistant Secretaries,
Assistant Treasurers, or other officers. No two offices may be held
by the same person. The President, Vice-President, Secretary, and
Treasurer shall be members of the Board of Directors. The remaining
member of the Board of Directors who is not one of the above officers
will be designated as Director-at-Large.
SECTION
2. QUALIFICATION, ELECTION, AND TERM OF OFFICE
Any
Director may serve as an officer of this corporation. Officers shall
be elected by the Board of Directors, at any time, and each officer
shall hold office until he or she resigns or is removed or is otherwise
disqualified to serve, or until his or her successor shall be elected
and qualified, whichever occurs first.
SECTION
3. SUBORDINATE OFFICERS
The
Board of Directors may appoint such other officers or agents as
it may deem desirable, and such officers shall serve such terms,
have such authority, and perform such duties as may be prescribed
from time to time by the Board of Directors.
SECTION
4. REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION
Any
officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Board
of Directors, at any time. Any officer may resign at any time by
giving written notice to the Board of Directors or to the President
or Secretary of the corporation. Any such resignation shall take
effect at the date of the receipt of such notice or at any later
date specified therein, and, unless otherwise specified therein,
the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make
it effective. The above provisions of this Section shall be superseded
by any conflicting terms of a contract which has been approved or
ratified by the Board of Directors relating to the employment of
any officer of the corporation.
14
SECTION
5. VACANCIES
Any
vacancy caused by death, resignation, removal, disqualification,
or otherwise, of any officer shall be filled by the Board of Directors.
In the event of a vacancy in any office other than that of President,
such vacancy may be filled temporarily by appointment by the President
until such time as the Board shall fill the vacancy. Vacancies occurring
in offices of officers appointed at the discretion of the Board
may or may not be filled as the Board shall determine.
SECTION
6. DUTIES OF PRESIDENT
The
President shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation
and shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, supervise
and control the affairs of the corporation and the activities of
the officers. He or she shall perform all duties incident to his
or her office and such other duties as may be required by law, by
the Articles of Incorporation of this corporation, or by these Bylaws,
or which may be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Unless another person is specifically appointed as Chairman of the
Board of Directors, he or she shall preside at all meetings of the
Board of Directors. If applicable, the President shall preside at
all meetings of the members. Except as otherwise expressly provided
by law, by the Articles of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws, he
or she shall, in the name of the corporation, execute such deeds,
mortgages, bonds, contracts, checks, or other instruments which
may from time to time be authorized by the Board of Directors.
SECTION
7. DUTIES OF VICE-PRESIDENT
In
the absence of the President, or in the event of his or her inability
or refusal to act, the Vice-President shall perform all the duties
of the President, and when so acting shall have all the powers of,
and be subject to all the restrictions on, the President. The Vice-President
shall have other powers and perform such other duties as may be
prescribed by law, by the Articles of Incorporation, or by these
Bylaws, or as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
SECTION
8. DUTIES OF SECRETARY
The
Secretary shall:
Certify
and keep at the principal office of the corporation the original,
or a copy, of these Bylaws as amended or otherwise altered to date.
Keep
at the principal office of the corporation or at such other place
as the Board may determine, a book of minutes of all meetings of
the Directors, and, if applicable, meetings of committees of Directors
and of members, recording therein the time and place of holding,
whether regular or special, how called, how notice thereof was given,
the names of those present or represented at the meeting, and the
proceedings thereof.
15
See
that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions
of these Bylaws or as required by law.
Be
custodian of the records and of the seal of the corporation and
see that the seal is affixed to all duly executed documents, the
execution of which on behalf of the corporation under its seal is
authorized by law or by these Bylaws.
Keep
at the principal office of the corporation a membership book containing
the name and address of each and any members, and, in the case where
any membership has been terminated, he or she shall record such
fact in the membership book together with the date on which such
membership ceased.
Exhibit
at all reasonable times to any Director of the corporation, or to
his or her agent or attorney, on request therefor, the Bylaws, the
membership book, and the minutes of the proceedings of the Directors
of the corporation.
In
general, perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary
and such other duties as may be required by law, by the Articles
of Incorporation of this corporation, or by these Bylaws, or which
may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Board of
Directors.
SECTION
9. DUTIES OF TREASURER
Subject
to the provisions of these Bylaws relating to the "Execution of
Instruments, Deposits and Funds," the Treasurer shall:
Have
charge and custody of, and be responsible for, all funds and securities
of the corporation, and deposit all such funds in the name of the
corporation in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories
as shall be selected by the Board of Directors.
Receive,
and give receipt for, monies due and payable to the corporation
from any source whatsoever.
Disburse
or cause to be disbursed the funds of the corporation as may be
directed by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such
disbursements.
Keep
and maintain adequate and correct accounts of the corporation's
properties and business transactions, including accounts of its
assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains and losses.
Exhibit
at all reasonable times the books of account and financial records
to any Director of the corporation, or to his or her agent or attorney,
on request therefor.
Render
to the President and Directors, whenever requested, an account of
any or all of his or her transactions as Treasurer and of the financial
condition of the corporation.
16
Prepare,
or cause to be prepared, and certify, or cause to be certified,
the financial statements to be included in any required reports.
In
general, perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer
and such other duties as may be required by law, by the Articles
of Incorporation of the corporation, or by these Bylaws, or which
may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Board of
Directors.
SECTION
10. DUTIES OF THE DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE
The
Director-at-Large shall perform such duties as from time to time
may be assigned to him by the President or the Board of Directors.
SECTION
11. COMPENSATION
The
officers shall serve without compensation. They shall be allowed
reasonable advancement or reimbursement for expenses incurred in
the performance of their regular duties as specified in Sections
6, 7, 8 and 9 of this Article.
ARTICLE
7. COMMITTEES
SECTION
1. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The
Board of Directors may, by a majority vote of Directors then in
office, designate two (2) or more of its members (who may also be
serving as officers of this corporation) to constitute an Executive
Committee and delegate to such Committee any of the powers and authority
of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the
corporation, except with respect to:
(a)
The approval of any action which, under law or the provisions of
these Bylaws, requires the approval of the members or of a majority
of all of the members.
(b)
The filling of vacancies on the Board or on any committee which
has the authority of the Board.
(c)
The fixing of compensation of the Directors for serving on the Board
or on any committee.
(d)
The amendment or repeal of Bylaws or the adoption of new Bylaws.
(e)
The amendment or repeal of any resolution of the Board which by
its express terms is not so amendable or repealable.
(f)
The appointment of committees of the Board or the members, thereof.
17
(g)
The expenditure of corporate funds to support a nominee for Director
after there are more people nominated for Director than can be elected.
(h)
The approval of any transaction to which this corporation is a party
and in which one or more of the Directors has a material financial
interest, except as expressly provided in Section 5233(d)(3) of
the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law.
By
a majority vote of its members then in office, the Board may at
any time revoke or modify any or all of the authority so delegated,
increase or decrease but not below two (2) the number of its members,
and fill vacancies therein from the members of the Board. The Committee
shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings, cause them to be
filed with the corporate records, and report the same to the Board
from time to time as the Board may require.
SECTION
2. OTHER COMMITTEES
The
corporation shall have such other committees as may from time to
time be designated by resolution of the Board of Directors. Such
other committees may consist of persons who are not also members
of the Board. These additional committees shall act in an advisory
capacity only to the Board and shall be clearly titled as "advisory"
committees.
SECTION
3. MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES
Meetings
and action of committees shall be governed by, noticed, held and
taken in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws concerning
meetings of the Board of Directors, with such changes in the context
of such Bylaw provisions as are necessary to substitute the committee
and its members for the Board of Directors and its members, except
that the time of regular meetings of committees may be fixed by
resolution of the Board of Directors or by the committee. The time
for special meetings of committees may also be fixed by the Board
of Directors. The Board of Directors may also adopt rules and regulations
pertaining to the conduct of meetings of committees to the extent
that such rules and regulations are not inconsistent with the provisions
of these Bylaws.
ARTICLE
8. EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS, DEPOSITS AND FUNDS
SECTION
1. EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS
The
Board of Directors, except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws,
may by resolution authorize any officer or agent of the corporation
to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument
in the name of and on behalf of the corporation, and such authority
may be general or confined to specific instances. Unless so authorized,
no officer, agent, or employee shall have any power or authority
to bind the corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge
its credit or to render it liable monetarily for any purpose or
in any amount.
18
SECTION
2. CHECKS AND NOTES
Except
as otherwise specifically determined by resolution of the Board
of Directors, or as otherwise required by law, checks, drafts, promissory
notes, orders for the payment of money, and other evidence of indebtedness
of the corporation shall be signed by any two of the Treasurer,
the President, or the Vice-President of the corporation. The Treasurer
may be the sole signature on checks and notes issued for the purpose
of discharging obligations of the corporation.
SECTION
3. DEPOSITS
All
funds of the corporation shall be deposited from time to time to
the credit of the corporation in such banks, trust companies, or
other depositories as the Board of Directors may select.
SECTION
4. GIFTS
The
Board of Directors may accept on behalf of the corporation any contribution,
gift, bequest, or device for the charitable or public purposes of
this corporation.
ARTICLE
9. CORPORATE RECORDS, REPORTS AND SEAL
SECTION
1. MAINTENANCE OF CORPORATE RECORDS
The
corporation shall keep at its principal office in the State of California:
(a)
Minutes of all meetings of Directors, committees of the Board and,
if this corporation has members, of all meetings of members, indicating
the time and place of holding such meetings, whether regular or
special, how called, the notice given, and the names of those present
and the proceedings thereof.
(b)
Adequate and correct books and records of account, including accounts
of its properties and business transactions and accounts of its
assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains and losses.
(c)
A record of its members, if any, indicating their names and addresses
and, if applicable, the class of membership held by each member
and the termination date of any membership.
(d)
A copy of the corporation's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
as amended to date, which shall be open to inspection by the members,
if any, of the corporation at all reasonable times during office
hours.
SECTION
2. CORPORATE SEALS
The
Board of Directors may adopt, use, and at will alter, a corporate
19
seal.
Such seal shall be kept at the principal office of the corporation.
Failure to affix the seal to corporate instruments, however, shall
not affect the validity of any such instrument.
SECTION
3. DIRECTORS' INSPECTION RIGHTS
Every
Director shall have the absolute right at any reasonable time to
inspect and copy all books, records and documents of every kind
and to inspect the physical properties of the corporation.
SECTION
4. MEMBERS' INSPECTION RIGHTS
If
this corporation has any members, then each and every member shall
have the following inspection rights, for a purpose reasonably related
to such person's interest as a member:
(a)
To inspect and copy the record of all members' names, addresses
and voting rights, at reasonable times, upon five (5) business days'
prior written demand on the corporation, which demand shall state
the purpose for which the inspection rights are requested.
(b)
To obtain from the Secretary of the corporation, upon written demand
and payment of a reasonable charge, a list of the names, addresses
and voting rights of those members entitled to vote for the election
of Directors as of the most recent record date for which the list
has been compiled or as of the date specified by the member subsequent
to the date of demand. The demand shall state the purpose for which
the list is requested. The membership list shall be made available
on or before the later of ten (10) business days after the demand
is received or after the date specified therein as of which the
list is to be compiled.
(c)
To inspect at any reasonable time the books, records, or minutes
of proceedings of the members or of the Board or committees of the
Board, upon written demand on the corporation by the member, for
a purpose reasonably related to such person's interests as a member.
SECTION
5. RIGHT TO COPY AND MAKE EXTRACTS
Any
inspection under the provisions of this Article may be made in person
or by agent or attorney and the right to inspection includes the
right to copy and make extracts.
SECTION
6. ANNUAL REPORT
The
Board shall cause an annual report to be furnished not later than
one hundred and twenty (120) days after the close of the corporation's
fiscal year to all Directors of the corporation and, if this corporation
has members, to any member who requests it in writing, which report
shall contain the following information in appropriate detail:
20
(a)
The assets and liabilities, including the trust funds, of the corporation
as of the end of the fiscal year.
(b)
The principal changes in assets and liabilities, including trust
funds, during the fiscal year.
(c)
The revenue or receipts of the corporation, both unrestricted and
restricted to particular purposes, for the fiscal year.
(d)
The expenses or disbursements of the corporation, for both general
and restricted purposes, during the fiscal year.
(e)
Any information required by Section 7 of this Article.
The
annual report shall be accompanied by any report thereon of independent
accountants, or, if there is no such report, the certificate of
an authorized officer of the corporation that such statements were
prepared without audit from the books and records of the corporation.
If
this corporation has members, then, if this corporation has more
than one hundred (100) members or more than TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS
($10,000) in assets at any time during the fiscal year, this corporation
shall automatically send the above annual report to all members,
in such manner, at such time, and with such contents, including
an accompanying report from independent accountants or certification
of a corporate officer, as specified by the above provisions of
this Section relating to the annual report.
SECTION
7. ANNUAL STATEMENT OF SPECIFIC TRANSACTIONS TO MEMBERS
This
corporation shall mail or deliver to all Directors and any and all
members a statement within one hundred and twenty (120) days after
the close of its fiscal year which briefly describes the amount
and circumstances of any indemnification or transaction of the following
kind:
(a)
Any transaction in which the corporation, or its parent or its subsidiary
was a party, and in which either of the following had a direct or
indirect material financial interest:
(1)
any director or officer of the corporation, or its parent or subsidiary
(a mere common directorship shall not be considered a material financial
interest); or
(2)
any holder of more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of
the corporation, its parent or its subsidiary.
The
above statement need only be provided with respect to a transaction
during the previous fiscal year involving more than FIFTY THOUSAND
DOLLARS ($50,000) or which was one of a number of transactions with
the same person involving, in the aggregate, more than FIFTY THOUSAND
DOLLARS ($50,000).
21
Similarly,
the statement need only be provided with respect to indemnifications
or advances aggregating more than TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($10,000)
paid during the previous fiscal year to any Director or officer,
except that no such statement need be made if such indemnification
was approved by the members pursuant to Section 5238(e)(2) of the
California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law.
Any
statement required by this Section shall briefly describe the names
of the interested persons involved in such transactions, stating
each person's relationship to the corporation, the nature of such
person's interest in the transaction and, where practical, the amount
of such interest; provided, that in the case of a transaction with
a partnership of which such person is a partner, only the interest
of the partnership need be stated.
If
this corporation has any members and provides all members with an
annual report according to the provisions of Section 6 of this Article,
then such annual report shall include the information required by
this Section.
ARTICLE
10. FISCAL YEAR
SECTION
1. FISCAL YEAR OF THE CORPORATION
The
fiscal year of the corporation shall begin on the first day of January
and end on the last day of December in each year.
ARTICLE
11. BYLAWS
SECTION
1. AMENDMENT
Subject
to any provisions of law applicable to the amendment of Bylaws of
public benefit nonprofit corporations, these Bylaws, or any of them,
may be altered, amended, or repealed and new Bylaws adopted as follows:
(a)
Subject to the power of the members, if any, to change or repeal
them, by approval of the Board of Directors unless the Bylaw amendment
would materially and adversely affect the rights of members, if
any, as to voting or transfer, provided, however, if this corporation
has admitted any members, then a Bylaw specifying or changing the
fixed number of Directors of the corporation, the maximum or minimum
number of Directors, or changing from a fixed to variable Board
or vice versa, may not be adopted, amended, or repealed except as
provided in subparagraph (b) of this section; or
(b)
by approval of the members, if any, of this corporation.
(c)
With the exception noted above concerning any changes to the make
up of the Board of Directors requiring the approval of the members,
these Bylaws may be
22
amended
by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors present at
a regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors at which
a quorum (as defined in Article 5, Section 13) is present. Any amendments
of changes are subject to ratification by the membership at the
next annual meeting of membership in which a quorum (as defined
in Article 4, Section 5) is present.
ARTICLE
12. AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES
SECTION
1. AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES BEFORE ADMISSION OF MEMBERS
Before
any members have been admitted to the corporation, any amendment
of the Articles of Incorporation may be adopted by approval of the
Board of Directors.
SECTION
2. AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES AFTER ADMISSION OF MEMBERS
After
members, if any, have been admitted to the corporation, amendment
of the Articles of Incorporation may be adopted by the approval
of the Board of Directors and by the approval of the members of
this corporation.
SECTION
3. CERTAIN AMENDMENTS
Notwithstanding
the above Sections of this Article, this corporation shall not amend
its Articles of Incorporation to alter any statement which appears
in the original Articles of Incorporation and of the names and addresses
of the first Directors of this corporation nor the name and address
of its initial agent, except to correct an error in such statement
or to delete either statement after the corporation has filed a
"Statement by a Domestic Non-Profit Corporation" pursuant to Section
6210 of the California Nonprofit Corporation Law.
ARTICLE
13. PROHIBITION AGAINST SHARING CORPORATE PROFITS AND ASSETS
SECTION
1. PROHIBITION AGAINST SHARING CORPORATE PROFITS AND ASSETS
No
member, Director, officer, employee, or other person connected with
this corporation, or any private individual, shall receive at any
time any of the net earnings or pecuniary profit from the operations
of the corporation, provided, however, that this provision shall
not prevent payment to any such person or reasonable compensation
for services performed for the corporation in effecting any of its
public or charitable purposes, provided that such compensation is
otherwise permitted by these Bylaws and is fixed by resolution of
the Board of Directors; and no such person or persons shall be entitled
to share in the distribution of, and shall not receive, any of the
corporate assets on dissolution of the corporation. All members,
if any, of the corporation shall be deemed to have expressly consented
and agreed that on such dissolution or winding up of the
23
affairs
of the corporation, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, the assets
of the corporation, after all debts have been satisfied, then remaining
in the hands of the Board of Directors, shall be distributed as
required by the Articles of Incorporation of this corporation and
not otherwise.
WRITTEN
CONSENT OF DIRECTORS ADOPTING BYLAWS
We,
the undersigned, are all of the persons named as the initial Directors
in the Articles of Incorporation of The Santa Fe Railway Historical
Society, Inc., a California nonprofit corporation, and, pursuant
to the authority granted to the Directors by these Bylaws to take
action by unanimous written consent without a meeting, consent to,
and hereby do, adopt the foregoing Bylaws, consisting of 24 pages,
as the Bylaws of this corporation.
Dated: April 9, 1983 /s/ John C. Berry Jr.
John C. Berry, Jr., Director
/s/ Steven K. Dunham
Steven K. Dunham, Director
/s/ Loren R. Martens
Loren R. Martens, Director
/s/ Peter W. Meyn
Peter W. Meyn, Director
/s/ Larrv M. Occhiello
Larry M. Occhiello, Director
/s/ Charles A. Slater, Jr.
Charles A. Slater, Jr., Director
/s/ Donald H. Steen
Donald H. Steen, Director
24
|