NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE REMODELING INDUSTRY
GREATER PHOENIX NARI BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
Greater Phoenix NARI Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry
The name of this not-for-profit corporation shall be the
National Association of the Remodeling Industry
Greater Phoenix NARI Chapter
ARTICLE II
Purposes and Objectives
A. The purposes and objectives of this organization are as follows:
1. To encourage ethical conduct, good business practices and professionalism in the home improvement and remodeling industry.
2. To foster cooperative action in advancing by all lawful means the common purposes of its members.
3. To sponsor educational programs and activities for the benefit and enlightenment of its members.
4. To conduct programs to inform the public of the need for and advantages of maintaining homes in good condition and thereby help improve the nation’s housing inventory.
5. To recommend such legislation and regulations which can help stimulate home improvements and to recommend corrective action for those laws, rules or regulations which tend to discourage, stifle or impede home improvements.
6. To conduct or engage in all lawful activities in furtherance of the foregoing purposes, or incidental thereto.
7. To promote the common business interests of those engaged in the home improvement industry.
B. Members of Greater Phoenix NARI shall agree to comply with the Code of Ethics, the text of which shall be: “EACH MEMBER OF NARI IS PLEDGED TO OBSERVE HIGH STANDARDS OF HONESTY, INTEGRITY, AND RESPONSIBILITY IN THE CONDUCT OF BUSINESS.”
1. By promoting only those products and services which are functionally and economically sound and which are consistent with objective standards of health and safety;
2. By making all advertising and sales promotion factually accurate with respect to product description, performance specification, and cost/benefit analysis, and by avoiding those practices which tend to mislead or deceive the customer with respect to competitive pricing, savings claims, or the nature and significance of contracts, warranties, finance agreements, completion certificates, lien waivers, or liability and workers’ compensation insurance;
3. By writing all contracts and warranties such that they are fair and mutually beneficial to all parties concerned, such that they are free of ambiguities or omissions which tend to obscure contractual obligations, and such that warranty terms and provisions are free of the capacity to mislead or deceive the customer as to the quality or longevity of the product or service;
4. By honoring all contractual obligations until and unless they are altered or dissolved by the mutual consent of all contractual parties concerned, and fulfilling those obligations in a reasonably prompt manner that is fair to all parties involved;
5. By promptly acknowledging and acting on all customer complaints, and, in situations where complaints appear unreasonable and persistent, by encouraging the customer to initiate an approved third party dispute settlement mechanism; and
6. By refraining from any act intended to restrain trade or suppress competition, and to thereby promote the private enterprise system and its guaranty of equal rights for all.”
ARTICLE III
Membership
A. Membership shall be open to the following types of firms located in the territorial jurisdiction of the chapter:
1. Home Improvement Contractors and Remodelers
2. Manufacturers and Material suppliers
3. Lenders (financial institutions)
4. Publications (trade and consumer media)
5. Public Utilities
6. Wholesalers and Distributors
7. Better Business Bureaus, Chambers of Commerce and similar organizations.
B. To be eligible for membership in the Chapter an applicant must submit local consumer and bank references regarding work completion and contract performance. In addition, the applicant must:
a) have been in business for at least one year;
b) have established a reputation in the community as a reliable company with whom to do business;
c) submit, along with dues, a signed application form stating that the applicant agrees to support the Bylaws and the Code of Ethics of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.
C. All members of the Chapter are automatically members of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.
D. No federal, state, county, city, municipality, or other governmental agency may be considered for any other form of membership other than Honorary, and may not hold any elected position within the Local or National Association.
E. Any member firm that has been sold to another party, or has made any change in the corporate structure, partnership, operation or ownership through change in personnel, will be placed on a one-year probationary status subject to review of its continued membership. An application for membership must be resubmitted after the probationary period is completed. Members are obligated to notify the Greater Phoenix NARI Chapter of any changes in corporate structure, partnership or ownership.
ARTICLE IV
Dues
A. The amount of Chapter dues shall be fixed annually by the Chapter’s Board of Directors and shall be due upon receipt of Chapter billing as directed by National. The amount of National dues, as determined by the National Board of Directors, shall be payable at the same time as Chapter dues are paid and shall be forwarded to the National Headquarters within 30 days after payment of Chapter dues.
B. National Members of NARI located within the Chapter area shall be eligible to become members of the Chapter without payment of the National portion of Chapter dues. The Chapter may, at the discretion of the Chapter Board of Directors, assess a reduced dues rate for National Members in the Chapter area.
C. Any member whose Chapter dues are unpaid for two months shall be considered not in good standing and shall not be entitled to vote, hold office, nor enjoy privileges of Chapter membership, provided such member shall have been duly notified. Members will be notified by the Chapter Treasurer via their membership renewal invoices.
ARTICLE V
Nominations and elections
A. There shall be a nominating committee of no less than two active members appointed in September of each year, by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors.
B. The nominating committee shall name a qualified nominee for each Officer and for each Director whose term is expiring. It shall ensure that each nominee has been contacted and agree to serve if elected. The nominees’ names shall be given to the Executive Committee in October of each year. Additional nominations, if any, shall be accepted from Chapter members provided the nominees have been contacted and agree to serve if elected.
C. At least thirty (30) days before the November Meeting of the Chapter, the Chapter Director shall distribute, in either hard copy or electronically mail to all Chapter members the list of nominees prepared by the Nominating Committee.
D. Officers and Directors shall be elected annually at the November Chapter meeting. Election shall be by majority vote of the members present in good standing. Balloting in contested elections shall be by secret ballot.
E. The installation of Officers and the Board of Directors shall take place at the December meeting each year with elected individuals assuming in January of the immediately following year.
ARTICLE VI
Board of Directors
A. The governing body of the Chapter shall be the Board of Directors including six Officers: the President, 1st Vice-President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Chairman of the Board, and six Directors with one Board alternate. One to five Chapter Representatives may serve on the NARI National Board of Directors, as determined by the Chapter’s Board of Directors.
B. In the event of death, resignation, removal or expulsion of any Officer or Director, the Board of Directors shall elect a successor who shall take office immediately and serve for the balance of the unexpired term or until the next annual election.
C. There shall be monthly meetings of the Board of Directors at such times and places as it may determine. It shall meet at the call of the President or upon call of any three members of the Board of Directors. Notice of each meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given to each Director personally or by electronic mail at least five business days in advance.
D. Any Director who misses more than three consecutive Board Meetings without an excuse acceptable to the Board may be given written notice of dismissal by the Chapter President and replaced in accordance with Section C above.
E. A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for all meetings of the Board.
ARTICLE VII
Officers
A. The Officers of the Chapter shall be a President, first Vice-President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Chairman of the Board. There shall also be elected one to five Representatives to the National Board of Directors in accordance with Article VI, Paragraph A above, who may or may not be any of the elected Officers of the Chapter. No officer having held an office for two successive terms shall be eligible to succeed him/her self in that same office, except for the Board of Director representatives, and the 2-year Board members.
B. The Succession Plan for the Chapter’s Officers is as follows:
· Chairman of the Board: 1 year term filled by the previous year’s President.
· President: 1 year term filled by the previous year’s 1st Vice President.
· 1st Vice President: 1 year term filled by the previous year’s Vice President.
· Vice President: 1 year term filled by the previous year’s Secretary.
· Secretary: 1 year term elected by the general membership
· Treasurer: 1 year term elected by the general membership.
C. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Chapter, and of
the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. He/she shall appoint all
committees with the approval of the Board of Directors and shall be ex-officio
member of all committees except the nominating committee. He/she shall perform
such other duties as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors. The
Executive Committee includes all Officers and all past presidents. The past
Presidents serve in an advisory capacity and do not vote.
D. The first Vice-President shall attend at all meetings of the board of Directors. He/she will be in charge of all committees as assigned by the President and approved by the Board of Directors. His/her position is to insure that all committees are performing there designated tasks. He/she shall automatically assume the position of National Board Representative for a term of one year.
E. The Vice-President will exercise the powers and perform the duties of the President or first Vice-President in the absence or disability of either until the next election is held. He/she shall also generally assist the President and perform such other duties as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
F. The Treasurer shall receive and deposit all Chapter funds in the name of the Chapter, in a bank or trust company selected and approved by the Board of Directors. He/she shall issue receipts and make authorized disbursements by check after approval by the President or the Board of Directors. As an Officer, he/she shall assist in the preparation of the Chapter’s annual budget, subject to approval by the Board of Directors; make regular financial reports to the Board; and render an annual financial statement to the Chapter membership. He/she shall perform all other duties incident to the office.
G. The Chairman of the Board shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors. He/she shall assist the Board of Directors with past information as needed and oversee the policies of the Board to insure professionalism within.
H. The Chapter Director shall keep records of all meetings of the Chapter and of the Board of Directors, issue notices of all such meetings, maintain or cause to be maintained the membership roll, and perform all other duties customarily pertaining to the office.
I. The Secretary shall keep records of all meetings of the Chapter and the Board of Directors and issue notices of all such meetings in the absence of the Chapter Director.
J. No elected officer of the Chapter shall be entitled to any salary or other compensation, however, the Board of Directors may reimburse elected officers or their alternates for expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties.
ARTICLE VIII
Directors
A. Six (6) Directors are elected by the Association’s membership. A Board alternate may be elected or appointed. A Board alternate is not a voting member of the Board of Directors.
B.
Directors can
serve up to three (3) consecutive terms, than then they must take at
least one (1) year off before running for either a Director or Officer position
again.
C. Every year, three (2) year Directors will be elected by the general membership. Each ensuing year three (2)‑year Directors will be elected by the general membership. Each Board member serves a two year term. The Chapter succession plan in place is in concurrence with the bylaws and available to the general membership upon written or electronic request.
D. Yearly elections of Directors depend on whose (2) year terms expire.
Current Directors and their terms of service:
i. Position #7: Term expires on odd ending years
ii. Position #8: Term expires on odd ending years
iii. Position #9: Term expires on odd ending years
iv. Position #10: Term expires on even ending years
v. Position #11: Term expires on even ending years
vi. Position #12: Term expires on even ending years
vii. Alternate: Open
ARTICLE IX
Committees
A. In addition to the Nominating Committee, there shall be standing committees on Education, Ethics, Membership, Strategic Planning, and Special Events.
B. Special or other committees may be established and appointed by the President, with the approval of the Board of Directors, as deemed necessary and may include but are not limited to: Awards, Community Relations/Outreach, Website, Directory, Public Relations, Communications, Home Show, Government Affairs, Calling Committee & Greeting.
C. The chairman of each committee shall report its activities regularly to the Board of Directors. All committee activities shall be subject to approval by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE X
Membership Meetings
A. There shall be an Annual Meeting of the Chapter in November of each year at such time and place as the Board of Directors designates.
B. There shall be regular monthly membership meetings at least eight times each year at such times and places as designated by the Board of Directors.
C. Special meetings of the Chapter may be called by the President, the Board of Directors, or on written request by twenty-five percent (25%) of the Chapter members in good standing.
D. Notice of the Annual Meeting shall be distributed, either in hard copy or electronically mailed to each member at least thirty (30) days in advance. Notice of a regular or special meeting shall be electronically mailed to each member at least ten (10) days in advance.
E. A majority of the members of the Chapter shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Chapter.
ARTICLE XI
Amendments
A. These By-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the membership present at any meeting, or by the Board of Directors, provided a quorum is present, and provided at least thirty (30) days notice of any proposed amendment(s) has/have been given to all members.
ADDENDUM I
Types of membership
(Excerpted from National Bylaws)
A. NATIONAL MEMBERS
Firms, corporations, associations, and individuals other than contractors, whose business or interest in the industry are national in scope.
B. LOCAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERS
Firms, corporations, associations, and individuals whose business or interest in the industry is local or regional in scope and who are members of duly chartered local associations of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.
C. LOCAL MEMBERS-AT-LARGE
Firms, corporations, associations, and individuals whose business or interest in the industry is local or regional in scope but are located in areas not assigned to any local association by National.
D. LOCAL HONORARY MEMBERS
Honorary membership may be extended to any such firm, corporation, association, or individual whose business or interest is industry related and/or as the Board of Directors sees fit. Honorary members shall have no vote, and shall not be held responsible to pay local or National dues.
E. ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
Firms, corporations, associations and/or individuals who have more than one business location within the local jurisdiction -- one business location will be deemed the 'Local Association Member.' Associate members shall be entitled to all the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as local association members.
F. PROBATIONARY MEMBERSHP
Probationary membership will include all benefits of full membership, but may be terminated at any time for cause without a hearing and without refunding dues, at the discretion of the Board of Directors. A probationary period will terminate twelve (12) months after acceptance of such membership unless otherwise set by the Board. However, the probationary period may be extended or reinstated for cause.