This approach may be startling at first glance because it makes all the members of
the local station boards Directors of the Foundation. However, this approach
accomplishes the desired goal of the KPFA subcommittee and LAB, among others,
of bringing governance closer to the stations to provide better oversight, while
solving the legal problems that could be associated with the board of directors
delegating governing powers to non-directors.
The approach is not impractical because most of the work of the board of directors
is done by committees, and the national board meets only twice a year in this
model, and meeting by video conference is permitted. (Video conferencing has
now become quite practical and cheap through local colleges.)
This approach puts into the governing structure a collaborative approach that
insures that decisions are made close to those most affected by them, and that
dialogue concerning policy, programming and budgetary issues takes place
throughout the foundation through overlapping local and national committees.
Salient points:
The directors are directly elected by the "members" of each radio station area - 12
by the "listener-sponsor members" & 6 by the "staff members" for each station
area, for a total of 90 directors.
The local station boards sit as "committees" of the board of directors for each
station area, with all powers of the board of directors concerning the oversight and
management of each station.
The local station board directors elect from among their members the members of
three national committees of the board: (1) a "national committee" which oversees
and coordinates national programs, the archives, affiliate relations, and other
national initiatives, (2) the "national program committee" which reviews the
overall programming of each station to insure fulfillment of Pacifica's mission, and
(3) the "national budget committee" which coordinates the budgeting process
among the 5 stations, the archives, national programming, and national
administration.
The "listener-sponsor members" are defined as those who donate $25/yr or
volunteer hours/year, and return a membership registration card stating their
support for the purposes of Pacifica as stated in the Articles of Incorporation.
There is a hardship waiver of fees for disabled or incarcerated persons who cannot
volunteer time.
The "staff members" are defined as non-management paid and unpaid station staff
who have worked at least 9 hours over the previous 3 months.
---------------
PACIFICA FOUNDATION
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE ONE
IDENTITY AND PURPOSE
SECTION 1 "NAME": The name of this corporation is PACIFICA
FOUNDATION, and it shall be referred to in these By-Laws as "The Foundation".
SECTION 2 "PURPOSE": The purpose of The Foundation is as stated in Article II
of the Articles of Incorporation.
SECTION 3 "COLLABORATIVE RELATIONS": The activities of the
Foundation are supported by communities of listeners, volunteers, employees and
contributors. Because the basis of the Foundation's governance is democratic, and
because of the primacy of the tradition of volunteerism in the Foundation, all of the
roles and relationships within the Pacifica communities should promote
collaborative processes, where to the greatest extent practicable, all affected
persons are consulted and given an opportunity to be heard, both within the
structure of governance, and in the management of the Foundation. These By-
Laws shall be augmented wherever possible, by resolutions of the Board
establishing Foundation policies, and implemented through detailed written
Operating Guidelines and Procedures stipulating practices by which the Board of
Directors exercises its fiduciary responsibilities and holds management
accountable to the communities it serves.
ARTICLE TWO
OFFICES OF THE FOUNDATION
SECTION 1 "PRINCIPAL OFFICE": The principal office and place of business of
The Foundation shall be located in the County of Alameda, State of California.
SECTION 2 "OTHER OFFICES": The Foundation shall also have offices at such
other places within or without the State of California as the Board of Directors may
from time to time designate.
ARTICLE THREE
MEMBERS OF THE FOUNDATION
SECTION 1 "DEFINED": There shall be two classes of members: (A) "Listener-
Sponsor Members", and (B) "Staff Members".
(A) "Listener-Sponsor Members" shall be any natural person who within
the preceding 12 months: (1) has contributed a minimum $25 donation to any
Pacifica radio station, or such minimum amount as the Board of Directors may
from time to time decide, or has volunteered a minimum of 3 hours' work to any
Pacifica radio station, and (2) has returned a signed membership registration card
stating that he or she has read and supports the purposes of the Pacifica
Foundation. The registration card shall have printed on it the purposes of the
Pacifica Foundation and shall be mailed to persons eligible for listener-sponsor
membership upon receipt of the minimum donation or volunteer hours worked.
(B) "Staff Members" shall be any non-management permanent paid
employee of a Pacifica radio station or any unpaid staff member or volunteer who:
(1) has worked for any Pacifica radio station at least 9 hours in the preceding 3
months, and (2) has returned a signed membership registration card stating that he
or she has read and supports the purposes of the Pacifica Foundation. The
registration card shall have printed on it the purposes of the Pacifica Foundation
and shall be delivered by hand or mailed to persons eligible for staff membership
upon completion of the required number of hours' work.
(C) Membership shall be determined by radio station area, and each
Pacifica Foundation radio station shall maintain a register of its Listener-Sponsor
Members and Staff Members. In the event that a person qualifies for membership
in more than one radio station area, he or she shall be entitled to only one
membership and shall notify the Foundation of which radio station area s/he
wishes to be a member. In the event that a person qualifies both as a Listener-
Sponsor Member and as a Staff Member, such person shall be deemed to be a Staff
Member.
(D) Waiver of Requirements. A Local Station Board may choose to waive
the gift requirement for Listener-Sponsor Membership for reasons of financial
hardship for anyone who, due to incarceration or disability, cannot volunteer their
time.
SECTION 2 "RIGHTS":
(A) Election of Directors.
(1) The Listener-Sponsor Members for each station area shall have
the right to elect twelve Directors who shall sit on the Local Station Board
committee of the Board of Directors for their station area.
(2) The Staff Members for each station area shall have the right to
elect six Directors to sit on the Local Station Board committee of the Board of
Directors for their station area.
(B) Amendment of Bylaws. Any amendment of the Foundation bylaws
that materially adversely affects the rights of the members, or any class of
members, shall require the vote of approval of the members, or class of members,
as applicable, in order to be effective.
(C) Amendment of Articles of Incorporation. Any amendment to the
Foundation Articles of Incorporation shall require the vote of approval of the
Members. (D) The Members of a radio station area shall have the right to
recall any Director elected by them.
SECTION 3 "QUORUM": A quorum of the Listener-Sponsor Members shall be
10% of those entitled to vote as of the applicable date of record. A quorum of the
Staff members shall be one-third (1/3) of those entitled to vote as of the applicable
date of record.
SECTION 4 "RECORD DATE": The record date for purposes of determining the
members entitled to notice, voting rights, written ballot rights, or any other right
with respect to any other lawful membership action, shall be 45 days before the
first written ballot or notice is mailed.
SECTION 5 "PROXIES": All action taken by Members shall be taken by the
Members personally. The powers of Members may not be exercised by alternates,
by proxy or the like.
ARTICLE FOUR
DIRECTORS OF THE FOUNDATION
SECTION 1 "FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS - MEMBERSHIP
ELIGIBILITY, NUMBER, POWERS AND DUTIES":
A. Defined: The Directors of the Foundation shall be Members of the
Foundation who have been elected to the office of Director by the Members of the
local station areas.
B. Eligibility: Any Member of the Pacifica Foundation is eligible to be
elected a Director except that no person who holds any political or governmental
elective or appointive office at any level of government - federal, state or local -
or is a candidate for such office, or who has held such office within 3 years, shall
be eligible for election to the office of Director of the Pacifica Foundation. A
Director must immediately resign the office of Director if s/he becomes a political
candidate or receives a political appointment during his or her term as a Director.
This restriction shall not apply to civil service employment by governmental
agencies.
C. Number: The Pacifica Foundation shall have ninety (90) Directors.
D. Ex Officio Directors: The Foundation Executive Director, the Director
of the Pacifica Foundation Archives, the Pacifica Ombudsman, and a Recording
Secretary or Chief Financial Officer (if either or both are appointed) shall be ex
officio non-voting members of the Board of Directors.
E. Power and Authority: 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.
F. Duties: The ongoing duties of the Board are to:
(1) ensure compliance with the purposes of the Foundation as set forth
in the Articles of Incorporation;
(2) ensure compliance with corporate responsibilities and state and
federal law;
(3) ensure regular communication with the Members at all levels of
governance;
(4) appoint, supervise and remove, employ and discharge, the
Executive Director of the Foundation;
(5) meet at such regular times and places as required by these Bylaws
and to meet at such other times as may be necessary in order to carry out the duties
of Directors;
(6) register their addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses
with the Secretary of the Foundation. Notices of meetings mailed, transmitted by
telecopier facsimile, or emailed to them at such addresses shall be valid notices
thereof; and
(7) ensure the execution of Foundation business decisions as required
by the exercise of Board powers and authority, as above.
SECTION 2 "TERMS":
(A) The term of a Director shall be three (3) years. A director may serve
two (2) consecutive three-year terms. One third of the directors shall be elected
each year.1
(B) A Director shall not be eligible for further service as a Director until one year has elapsed after the
termination of a Director's second consecutive three-year term.
SECTION 3 "NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS": Nominations for the office of Director shall open on September 1st of
each year and close on November 1st.2 Nomination papers shall be delivered to an independent elections
coordinator, who shall not hold any elective Foundation office and who shall be chosen by each Local Station Board, by majority
vote, to oversee and certify the fairness of the elections and conformity with these bylaws. Nomination papers shall consist of the
required number of signatures on a form to be provided by the election coordinator, a statement of whether the candidate is
running for election as a Listener-Sponsor Member or a Staff Member, and a statement up to 500 words in length by the
candidate which shall be mailed to the voting members. The candidate shall also indicate his/her gender, and racial or ethnic
heritage, i.e., European, African, Latin American, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, Arab, or declines to state.
(A) Any eligible Listener-Sponsor Member may be nominated for the office of Director by the signatures of twenty
(20) Listener-Sponsor Members in good standing.
(B) Any eligible Staff Member may be nominated for the office of Director by the signatures of two (2) Staff Members
in good standing..
SECTION 4 "ELECTION OF DIRECTORS":
(A) Listener-Sponsor Directors shall be elected by the Listener-Sponsor Members of each radio station area by
mail ballot. Each member shall have one vote, and the top vote four (4) vote-getters shall be elected each year3 , subject to the
diversity criteria specified below. The Proportional Representation "Single Transferrable Voting Method" is authorized and may
be utilized, if approved by majority vote of the Local Station Board. There shall be a 30-day period for return of ballots after
mailing, and the ballots shall be counted and the election results certified by the Elections Coordinator not later than December
29th of each year.
(B) Staff Directors shall be elected by the Staff Members of each radio
station area by mail ballot, and the top two (2) vote-getters shall be elected each
year4 , subject to the diversity criteria specified below. The Proportional Representation "Single Transferrable Voting Method"
is authorized and may be utilized, if approved by majority vote of the Local Station Board. There shall be a 30-day period for
return of ballots after mailing, and the ballots shall be counted and the election results certified by the Elections Coordinator not
later than December 29th of each year.
1 For the first implementation, the top 1/3rd vote-getters shall be elected for 3-
year terms, the next 1/3rd shall be elected for 2-year terms, and the next 1/3rd shall
be elected for 1-year terms.
2 For the first implementation of these bylaws, nominations shall open
immediately upon ratification of the bylaws and shall be open for 45 days
thereafter.
3 For the first implementation of these bylaws, the top twelve vote-getters
shall be elected, subject to the diversity criteria.
4 For the first implementation of these bylaws, the top six vote-getters shall be
elected, subject to the diversity criteria.
SECTION 5 "DIVERSITY GOALS": It is the goal of the Foundation that a
minimum of 50% of the Directors shall be racial/ethnic minorities and a minimum
of 50% of the Directors shall be women. To that end, in any election of directors,
half the number of seats to be filled shall be filled by the top vote-getters who are
racial/ethnic minorities and half the number of seats to be filled shall be filled by
the top vote-getters who are women, regardless of whether or not they are among
the top vote-getters overall. However, for purposes of applying this rule, no person
shall be elected a Director who does not receive at least one-half (½) the number of
votes as the last person who would have been elected were it not for the diversity
goals. After all the ballots are counted, the election coordinator shall examine the
results to determine whether the diversity goals have been met, and if they have not
been met, then s/he shall look to see if there are candidates who are minorities
and/or women who received at least half the number of votes of the lowest vote-
getter who would have been elected, and s/he shall declare them elected in order of
highest number of votes received, replacing the candidates who would have been
elected in order of lowest number of votes received. For example: if there are 4
seats to be filled and the top 4 vote-getters are 3 non-minority men and one
minority woman, the non-minority man with the least votes who would have been
elected will be replaced with the next highest vote-getter who is either a minority
or a woman. The elections coordinator will then examine the results again to see if
the diversity goals for both minorities and women has been met, and if not, s/he
will replace the next lowest non-minority man who would have been elected with
the next highest minority or woman with the minimum required number of votes
who will fulfill the diversity goals.
SECTION 6 "SEATING OF DIRECTORS": The Directors shall be seated at the
first meeting of their respective Local Station Boards to be held in January each
year.
SECTION 7 "REMOVAL OF A DIRECTOR":
(A) Any Director may be removed by the Board of Directors at a regular
or special meeting by a three-fifths (3/5) vote of all of the members of the Board of
Directors, provided that the grounds for such removal are submitted with the notice
of said meeting and, provided further, that the said Director shall have a reasonable
opportunity at said meeting to protest his/her removal.
(C) Upon the petition of fifty (50) of the Members of the Radio Station
area that elected a Director, the Director may be removed by a majority vote of the
Members voting in a recall election. If recall procedures have not been established
by the Board of Directors, then the Local Station Board Committee for that station
area shall determine the recall procedures within thirty(30) days of the submission
of a recall petition.
(D) Any Director may be removed automatically for unexcused absences
as set forth in Article Five.
SECTION 8 "VACANCY": If a Directors' seat becomes vacant by reason of
death, resignation, or removal, the seat shall be filled for the remainder of the term
by appointment of the Local Station Board Committee for that station area of the
next person in order from the last previous election of Directors for that area who
is willing to serve and who meets the diversity goals. If no such person exists, then
the Local Station Board may fill the vacancy with any eligible Member, by
majority vote.
SECTION 9 "COMPENSATION": Directors shall serve without compensation
except that they shall be allowed reasonable advancement or reimbursement of
expenses incurred in the performance of their regular duties.
SECTION 10 "RESTRICTION REGARDING INTERESTED DIRECTORS":
(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws, not more than
forty-nine percent (49%) of the persons serving on the board may be interested
persons.
(B) For purposes of this Section, "interested persons" means either:
(1) Any person currently being compensated by the Foundation 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; or
(2) 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.
ARTICLE FIVE
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 1 "TIME AND PLACE OF MEETINGS": The Annual Meeting of the
Board of Directors shall take place in March, at such times, and places as
designated by a majority vote of the Board of Directors at the previous meeting.
The Board shall also regularly meet in September of each year. All meetings shall
occur at a location not farther than 25 miles from the offices of a Foundation radio
station, and the Board meetings shall rotate through the five radio station areas.
Directors may attend in person, or by telephone or video conference, or other
electronic means, provided that all Directors may hear one another, at all times.
SECTION 2 "SPECIAL MEETINGS": Special meetings of the Board of Directors
may be called by the Board Chair, any two Vice Chairs, or by any three members
of the National Committee of the Board.
SECTION 3 "NOTICE": Written notice of every regular and special meeting of
the Board of Directors, stating the time and place of said meeting, and the purposes
thereof, shall be mailed, or sent to each member of the Board of Directors by
telecopier or email at least ten (10) days before any such meeting.
SECTION 4 "QUORUM": A quorum at any meeting of the Board of Directors
shall consist of one-third (1/3) of the duly elected Directors.
SECTION 5 "ATTENDANCE": Any Director who is absent for three (3)
consecutive meetings of the Board of Directors shall be deemed to have resigned
and shall be automatically removed from the Board whether or not the absences
have been excused.
SECTION 6 "ACTION BY UNANIMOUS WRITTEN CONSENT": Any action
required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors may be taken without a
meeting, if all members of the Board shall individually or collectively consent in
writing to such action. Such written consent shall have the same force and effect
as a unanimous vote of such Directors.
SECTION 7 "PROXIES": All action taken by Directors shall be taken by the
elected Director personally. The powers of members of the Board may not be
exercised by alternates, by proxy or the like.
ARTICLE SIX
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
SECTION 1 "LOCAL STATION BOARDS": The Directors elected by the
members of the five station areas shall serve as a standing committee of the Board
of Directors for that radio station, which shall be known as the Local Station Board
for that radio station.
(A) Power and Authority: The Local Station Boards are authorized to
exercise any and all corporate powers of the Pacifica Foundation, with regard to
that radio station, particularly those regarding personnel management, allocation of
resources, budgeting and financial management, contracting, management of
Foundation assets, planning, and fundraising and development, programming,
technical and technological development and compliance with federal and other
broadcast rules and regulations, including the establishment of separate
Community Advisory Boards (CABS) to the extent that the radio station seeks
funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and such CABS are required
as a condition of such grants.
(B) Duties: The ongoing duties of the Local Station Boards Board with
regard to their radio stations are to:
(1) ensure compliance with the purposes of the Foundation as set forth
in the Articles of Incorporation;
(2) ensure compliance with corporate responsibilities and state and
federal law;
(3) ensure regular communication with the Members;
(4) appoint, supervise and remove, employ and discharge, the station
General Manager, and to approve the hiring of all other station management
personnel.
(5) generally supervise the operations and management of the radio
station;
(6) meet at least every other month at such regular times and places as
they shall determine and to meet at such other times as is necessary in order to
carry out the duties of the Local Station Board; and
(8) ensure the execution of Foundation business decisions concerning
that radio station, as required by the exercise of Board powers and authority, as
above.
(C) Each Local Station Board shall elect a Chair, a Vice-Chair, a
Recording Secretary, and a Treasurer, who shall be elected in January each year for
a term of one year. Each Local Station Board shall also elect their representatives
to the National Committee, the National Finance Committee, and the National
Program Committee at a Local Station Board meeting in January or February. The
Chairs of each Local Station Board shall serve on the National Committee of the
Board of Directors, and shall hold the office of Vice-Chairs of the Foundation.
SECTION 2 "NATIONAL COMMITTEE": The National Committee of the
Board of Directors shall consist of the Chairs of the five Local Station Boards, and
two additional Local Station Board members from each Local Station Board who
shall be elected by majority vote by their respective Local Station Boards. Of the
three Local Station Board members from each Local Station Board who serve on
the National Committee, one shall be a Staff Member and two shall be Listener-
Sponsor Members. The National Committee members shall be elected for one
year terms commencing in January of each year. Each Local Station Board may
recall from the National Committee and replace any National Committee member
elected by them, by majority vote of the Local Station Board members present and
voting, provided that notice of the proposed removal is sent to all members of the
Local Station Board at least 10 days prior to the meeting where such action may be
taken. A Local Station Board member who has been removed from the National
Committee by his/her Local Station Board, shall continue to serve his/her term as a
Director, unless s/he resigns or is removed as a Director pursuant to the provisions
of these Bylaws.
(A) Power and Authority: The National Committee is authorized to
exercise any and all corporate powers of the Pacifica Foundation, with regard to
the Pacifica Archives, National Programming, the Pacifica Affiliate system, and
other national initiatives of the Foundation, particularly those regarding personnel
management, allocation of resources, budgeting and financial management,
contracting, management of Foundation assets, planning, fundraising and
development, programming, technical and technological development and
compliance with federal and other broadcast rules and regulations.
(B) Duties: The ongoing duties of the National Committee with regard to
national initiatives are to:
(1) ensure compliance with the purposes of the Foundation as set forth
in the Articles of Incorporation;
(2) ensure compliance with corporate responsibilities and state and
federal law;
(3) ensure regular communication with the Members;
(4) appoint. supervise and remove, employ and discharge, and except
as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, prescribe the duties and fix the
compensation of the Executive Director of the Foundation;
(5) generally supervise the management and operations of Foundation
personnel to assure that their duties are performed properly;
(6) meet at least quarterly at such regular times and places as they
shall determine and to meet at such other times as is necessary in order to carry out
the duties of the National Committee; and
(8) ensure the execution of Foundation business decisions concerning
national initiatives, as required by the exercise of Board powers and authority, as
above.
(C) The National Committee may adopt resolutions requiring
implementation by the local radio stations or affecting the programming of the
local radio stations, and those resolutions shall be effective as to all Pacifica radio
stations, unless overridden by majority vote of three of the five Local Station
Boards.
SECTION 3 "NATIONAL PROGRAM COMMITTEE": There shall be a
National Program Committee which shall review and evaluate the programming of
all Pacifica radio stations to insure that each station is fulfilling the purposes of the
Foundation. The Program Committee members shall consist of two Local Station
Board members from each station area who shall be elected by their respective
Local Station Boards, one of whom shall be a member of the National Committee
of the Board. In the event that the Program Committee determines that a local
station is not adequately fulfilling Pacifica's purposes, the committee shall meet
and confer with the Local Station Board for that station to develop corrective
measures and policies.
SECTION 4 "NATIONAL BUDGET COMMITTEE": The Foundation Treasurer
and the Treasurers of the five Local Station Boards shall constitute the National
Budget Committee, which shall have the duty to prepare an annual budget for the
Foundation, including all five radio stations, the Pacifica Archives, the national
administrative office, national programming, and all other Foundation operations.
Proposed budgets for the five radio stations shall be submitted to the National
Budget Committee by the Local Station Boards, as well as budgets for all national
programs and departments, in June of each year. The National Budget Committee,
then, in consultation with appropriate accounting and management staff and the
Local Station Boards, shall make such adjustments as they deem appropriate and
shall prepare a final proposed budget for adoption by the Board of Directors, by
majority vote of the Directors present and voting in a quorum at the September
meeting of the Board of Directors. The annual Foundation budget is to be
approved no later than September 30th each year, prior to commencement of the
fiscal year on October 1st. It shall also be the duty of the Budget Committee to
submit at least quarterly to the full Board of Directors a report of actual income
and expenses versus budgeted income and expenses, with an explanation of any
major discrepancies. The budget shall also specify a maximum expenditure that
may be made without specific approval of the National Budget Committee or the
Board of Directors.
SECTION 5 "OTHER ADVISORY COMMITTEES": The Board may establish
advisory committees as authorized by the nonprofit corporate law of the State of
California to assist the Board in developing plans and initiatives to further
Pacifica's mission and purposes, as found in the Articles of Incorporation. These
committees may include Foundation members and others. The purpose of advisory
committees would be to help the Board in areas such as: membership and
organizational development; affiliate relations; programming for community
development, peace and social justice; financial planning; fundraising and
development; technological and infrastructure development; new station planning.
ARTICLE SIX
OFFICERS OF THE FOUNDATION
SECTION 1 "DESIGNATION OF OFFICERS":
(A) The Officers of Pacifica Foundation shall be a Chairperson of the
Board of Directors, five Vice-Chairs who shall be the Chairs of the five Local
Station Boards, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and such Assistant Secretaries and
Assistant Treasurers as may be authorized from time to time by the Board of
Directors. The Chairperson of the Board shall not concurrently hold any other
Foundation office.
(B) A Recording Secretary or Chief Financial Officer, who are not
Directors, may be employed by the Board in addition to the Foundation Secretary
or Treasurer. Any such non-Director officers shall serve at the pleasure of the
Board.
SECTION 2: "DUTIES OF OFFICERS": The duties of Board officers shall be
outlined in the Guidelines and Operating Procedures of the Board.
SECTION 3 "ELECTION, TERMS, AND REMOVAL OF OFFICERS":
(A) Election of Officers: The Officers of The Foundation, except the Vice
Chairs (who shall be elected by their respective Local Station Boards, as provided
elsewhere in these Bylaws), shall be elected bi-annually in even numbered years by
the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting in March. Only Directors who have
been elected to the National Committee by their respective Local Station Boards
shall be eligible for election as the Chairperson of the Board, Secretary or
Treasurer of the Foundation.
(B) Terms of Officers: Officers shall serve for a term of two years or until
the election of their successors which ever is later, unless he or she resigns or is
removed or is otherwise disqualified to serve before such time. No Officer may
continue to serve as an officer past the expiration of his/her term as Director.
(B) Removal of Officers: Any officer may be removed by the Board of
Directors at any regular or special meeting by a majority vote of all of the members
of the Board of Directors, provided that the grounds for such removal are
submitted with notice of said meeting, and provided further that said officer shall
have a reasonable opportunity at said meeting to protest his or her removal.
ARTICLE SEVEN
OTHER CORPORATE OFFICERS
SECTION 1 "EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR":
(A) The Board shall employ a person designated as the Executive
Director, whose duties shall be as outlined in the Guidelines and Operating
Procedures of the Board. Generally, the Executive Director shall serve as the chief
executive officer of The Foundation. The Executive Director shall be hired and
fired by the National Committee.
(B) Oversight and supervision of the Executive Director shall be the duty
of the National Committee according to the structure provided in the Guidelines
and Operating Procedures of the Board.
SECTION 2 "PACIFICA OMSBUDSPERSON":
(A) The Board shall employ a person designated as the Pacifica
Omsbudsperson whose duties shall be as outlined in the Guidelines and Operating
Procedures of the Board. Generally, the Pacifica Ombudsperson shall be the
public's representative to the Foundation and empowered to respond to significant
queries, comments and criticisms regarding the Foundation's policies or radio
programming standards and practices.
(B) The Office of the Pacifica Ombudsperson shall be completely
independent of the Foundation staff and management and shall report directly to
the Board of Directors. The Ombudsperson shall prepare and present an annual
report to the Board which shall also be made public.
ARTICLE NINE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 1 "RESIGNATION": Any Director or Officer may resign his or her
position by written resignation filed with the Secretary of the Foundation.
SECTION 2 "MEMBERSHIP NOT TRANSFERABLE": Foundation
Membership, or membership on the Board of Directors, or any position as an
Officer of the Foundation, is not transferable by assignment, inheritance, or by
execution, bankruptcy, or other process of law.
SECTION 3 "EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP ON BOARD OF
DIRECTORS, OR POSITION AS OFFICER OF THE FOUNDATION":
Membership on the Board of Directors, or the holding of any office in the
Foundation, shall cease and terminate upon the death of the member, upon his/her
withdrawal or removal as provided in these Bylaws, upon the termination of
his/her Foundation Membership, or office-holding position, and, thereafter, neither
the heirs not personal representative of the deceased members, withdrawing or
terminated members, or office-holders, shall have any claim whatsoever upon the
assets of the Foundation, or any claim whatsoever arising out of said membership
or the holding of said membership or the holding of any office in the Foundation.
No member of the Board of Directors, or officer of the Foundation, either while
such a member or officer, or upon termination of membership or office, for any
reason whatsoever, shall be entitled to the return of any monies theretofore paid by
her/him or advanced to the Foundation as a contribution to the Foundation, or any
station owned and operated by the Foundation.
SECTION 4 "NON-LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS": Directors shall not be
personally liable for the debts, liabilities, or other obligations of the corporation,
subject to the provisions of the California Corporations Code.
SECTION 5 "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 to the extent allowed by, and in accordance with the
requirements of, Section 5238 of the California Non-Profit Public Benefit
Corporation Law.
ARTICLE ELEVEN
CORPORATE RECORDS, REPORTS AND SEAL
SECTION 1 "MAINTENANCE OF CORPORATE RECORDS": The Foundation
shall keep at its principal office in the State of California:
(A) Minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors, of committees of
the Board having any authority of the Board, and, if held, 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 indicating their names and addresses and 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 of the
corporation at all reasonable times during office hours.
SECTION 2 "CORPORATE SEAL": The Board of Directors may adopt, use, and
at will alter, a corporate 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": Members of the Foundation
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 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":
(A) The board shall cause an annual report to be furnished not later than
one hundred and twenty (120) days after the close of the Foundation's fiscal year
to all directors of the corporation and, upon payment of reasonable copying costs,
to any Member who requests it in writing, which report shall contain the following
information in appropriate detail:
(1) The assets and liabilities, including the trust funds, of the
corporation as of the end of the fiscal year;
(2) The principal changes in assets and liabilities, including trust
funds, during the fiscal year;
(3) The revenue or receipts of the corporation, both unrestricted
and restricted to particular purposes, for the fiscal year;
(4) The expenses or disbursements of the corporation, for both
general and restricted purposes, during the fiscal year;
(5) Any information required by Section 7 of this Article.
(B) 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.
SECTION 7 "ANNUAL STATEMENT OF SPECIFIC TRANSACTIONS":
(A) The Foundation shall attach as an addendum to the Annual report 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 in which the Foundation or one of its Radio Stations was a party, and
in which any Director or officer of the Foundation had a direct or indirect material
financial interest.
(B) The above statement need only be provided with respect to a
transaction during the previous fiscal year involving more than ONE THOUSAND
DOLLARS ($1,000) or which was one of a number of transactions with the same
persons involving, in the aggregate, more than ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS
($1,000).
(C) Similarly, the statement need only be provided with respect to
indemnifications or advances aggregating more than ONE THOUSAND
DOLLARS ($1,000) 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.
(D) 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.
ARTICLE TWELVE
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
As to any matter not herein specified, Robert's Rules of Order (revised
edition) shall apply.
ARTICLE THIRTEEN
AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS
SECTION 1 "PROPOSED AMENDMENTS": These By-Laws may be amended,
altered or repealed in whole or in part at any meeting of the Board of Directors,
provided that the proposed changes have been submitted to each member of the
Board of Directors at least 30 days in advance with notice of the meeting and
provided further that the right of waiver of notice of meeting shall not apply.
SECTION 2 "VOTING AND RATIFICATION": In order to be adopted, any
proposed bylaws amendment must receive the vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the
Directors present and voting or voting by signed ballot received before the meeting
at which the proposal is voted upon convenes, the Directors voting by mail ballot
must attach an exact copy of the proposal being voted upon to their ballots. In
addition, any proposed bylaws amendment that materially adversely affects the
rights of the members, or any class of members, must be approved by majority
vote of a quorum of the members, or class of members, as applicable, voting by
mail ballot.
ARTICLE FOURTEEN
AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES
SECTION 1 "PROPOSING AMENDMENTS": Amendments to the Articles of
Incorporation may be proposed by two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Board of
Directors.
SECTION 2 "APPROVING AMENDMENTS": Any amendment(s) to the
Articles of Incorporation proposed by the Board of Directors shall be presented to
the Members of the Foundation by mail ballot and shall require approval by three-
fifths (3/5) majority of a quorum of the members.
ARTICLE FIFTEEN
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 of
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 of the corporation shall be deemed to have expressly
consented and agreed that on such dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the
corporation, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, the assets of the corporation,
after all debts have been satisfied, shall be distributed as required by the Articles of
Incorporation of this corporation and not otherwise.
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