By-laws of the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation
adopted January, 2001

Article I
Name

This organization shall be known as the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center Foundation.

Article II
Purpose

This corporation is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, including for such purposes the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future tax code.

The purpose(s) of this organization shall be:

Section 1. Media Production: to foster the creation of news, programs, art and narratives by community members whose perspectives are not represented by the dominant media.

Section 2. Media Distribution: to publish grassroots media products through existing media outlets and by developing new, not-for-profit avenues for distribution.

Section 3. Education: to promote individual and community empowerment through technical training in media production and general public affairs educational programs.

Article III
Membership

Membership shall be open to all individuals and organizations interested in creating independent media and pursuing social justice goals in keeping with the mission of the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center Foundation.

Section 1. Regular Membership
Membership is open to all individuals who agree to uphold the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center mission and who pay yearly dues as determined by the Board of Directors and membership.

Section 2. Alternate (Limited Income) Membership
Alternate Membership is open to all individuals who agree to uphold the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center mission and who receive a reduction in yearly dues as determined by the Board of Directors and membership.

Individuals with Limited Income Memberships are entitled the same benefits as Regular Members.

Section 3. Organizational Membership
Organizational memberships are available to all community groups whose mission is in keeping with the mission and activities of the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center and which pay dues as determined by the Board of Directors and membership.

Article IV
Governing Body

Section 1. Officers
The officers of the organization shall consist of: President, Secretary, Treasurer. The term of office for each officer shall be one (1) year. Officers may not be re-elected more than three (3) consecutive times to any one office.

Section 2. Board of Directors
The Board of Directors shall be composed of the elected officers and two (2) additional board members, elected for two (2) year terms.

Section 3. Nominations and Elections
Members self-nominate to be considered for Officer or Board of Directors positions. Candidates must announce their candidacy at least one week prior to the election. Elections will take place during the membership meeting held in the month of December.

Section 4. Eligibility for Office in the Organizations Officers and Directors must be current members of the organization and must
sit on at least one standing committee at the time of their election.

Section 5. Elections and Term of Service
Officers and Board members shall be elected, based on a majority of votes cast at the membership meeting held in the month of December.

Officers and board members' term of service shall commence on January 1.

Section 6. Vacancy
In the event that the President leaves office prior to completing the term of office, the President Elect shall immediately assume the Presidency. When a vacancy occurs in any office, other than the President, other than expiration of the term, the vacancy shall be filled by special election.

Article V
Dues

Dues for each year and membership criteria and benefits shall be established by the Board of Directors and approved by the membership at the annual meeting. The fiscal year shall be January 1-December 31. Dues paid after December 1 shall be applied to membership for the following year.

Article VI
Meetings

Section 1. Annual Meetings
Annual meetings shall be held on the Sunday before December 15 at the location of the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center Foundation. Members shall be informed by November 15 by email and through postings at the Foundation's location.

Those members present shall constitute a quorum.

Section 2. Additional Meetings
Other meetings may be scheduled, as determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Board of Directors
The Board of Directors shall meet at least four (4) of times each year to conduct the business of the organization. Three (3) Board members shall constitute a quorum.

Article VII
Committees

All standing committees shall be composed primarily of members. Members may join committees at any time.

Section 1. Steering Committee
The Steering Committee shall consist of the President and interested members, Officers, and/or Directors. The primary responsibilities of this committee are: ensuring that the activities of the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center Foundation are in keeping with its mission; coordinating and facilitating activities of the various committee; recommendation on personnel to the Board; long-range planning.

Section 2. News Collective Committee
The news collective committee shall consist of interested members, Officers, and/or Directors. The primary responsibilities of this committee are: news gathering; media production; media distribution; internal organization and governance; administration of media production budget.

Section 3. Space Committee
The Space Committee shall consist of interested members, Officers, and/or Directors. The primary responsibilities of this committee are: maintaining and furnishing the facility; staffing the facility; scheduling events in the facility; undertaking renovations of the facility; administration of facilities budget.

Section 4. Technical Committee
The technical committee shall consist of interested members, Officers, and/or Directors. The primary responsibilities of this committee are: coordination of technical equipment; developing policies governing the use of technical equipment; providing training on the use of technical equipment; acquiring and maintaining technical equipment; administration of equipment budget.

Section 5. Finance Committee
The finance committee shall consist of the Treasurer and interested members, Officers and/or Directors. The primary responsibilities of this committee are: nominations of budgets to the Board; maintenance of accurate financial records; securing funds and resources for the organization; oversight of fundraising activities; maintenance of accurate membership lists.

Section 6. Librarians Committee
The librarians committee shall consist of interested members, Officers, and/or Directors. The primary responsibilities of this committee are: administration of library budget; organization and acquisition of library and archive materials; recruiting and training volunteer library staff.

Section 7. Special Committee
Special and ad-hoc committees may be appointed by the President or the Board as the need arises.

Article VIII
Amendments

All proposed changes in the bylaws, including an explanation of such changes, must be presented to the members at least fourteen (14) days prior to the annual meeting.

The bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership present at the annual meeting.

Article IX
Dissolution of the Corporation

A special general membership meeting must be called to dissolve the corporation. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership present at the special meeting is required to dissolve the corporation. The membership shall select by majority vote another not-for-profit organization to receive the assets of the corporation.