The Oregon Territory SPJ chapter approved new bylaws at it meeting Aug. 13 in Portland. The bylaws outline the mission and operations of the Oregon and Southwest Washington chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
BYLAWS
MISSION
STATEMENT
Members
of the Oregon Territory Professional Chapter of the Society
of Professional Journalists believe an informed public is the basis of justice
and democracy. Oregon SPJ members champion freedom of the press; train
journalists; encourage students; recognize excellence; and promote the highest
ideals of their profession.
ARTICLE
I. Definitions
Section 1.
The name of the chapter is
the Oregon Territory Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional
Journalists (referred to hereafter as "Oregon SPJ" or "the
chapter").
Section 2.
Oregon SPJ encompasses all
of Oregon and Southwest Washington as a state chapter of the National Society
of Professional Journalists.
The chapter is a member of
the national organization's Region 10 – including Oregon, Alaska, Washington,
Idaho and Montana.
Section 3.
Oregon SPJ was founded June
22, 1966, as the Willamette Valley Professional Chapter of Sigma Delta Chi (the
organization that later became the National Society of Professional
Journalists).
Section 4.
"Meetings" refers
to regularly scheduled meetings of Oregon SPJ's board of directors.
ARTICLE II. Membership
Section 1.
Membership in Oregon SPJ is
open to all individuals engaged in journalism (or the teaching of journalism)
as their primary occupation.
Section 2.
Individuals engaged in
public relations, advertising and other professions related to journalism but
not directly involved in the independent gathering and dissemination of news
are not eligible for membership.
However, they may support
the efforts of Oregon SPJ by becoming associate members of the organization.
ARTICLE III. Organization
Section 1.
Oregon SPJ is governed by an
eight-member board of directors. Board members may be SPJ members or associate
members.
Section 2.
Vacancies of the board of
directors are filled by a majority vote of the existing board members attending
an official meeting of the chapter.
Section 3.
The board is governed by
four officers – the president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer.
Section 4.
Board officers are elected
to one-year terms via a ballot disseminated to the entire membership of the
chapter to close Sept. 1.
Section 5.
Board members and officers
may be voted out of office by a majority vote of the entire board of directors.
Section 6.
There are no limitations on
the number of terms a board officer may serve.
Section 7.
Chapter bylaws may only be
amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the entire board of directors.
ARTICLE IV. Meetings
Section 1.
The board of directors of
Oregon SPJ meets monthly. The exact time and meeting place is determined by a
vote of the board.
Section 2.
Other issues concerning the
board, as they arise, are addressed with teleconferences, emails and other forms of long-distance
communication.
Section 3.
The president may call
special board meetings, if warranted, by providing board members at least 72
hours notice of the meeting.
The exact time, date and
location of the meeting will be decided by a consensus of board members.
Section 4.
A board meeting requires a
quorum of the board. A quorum is majority of the occupied seats of the board.
All actions taken by the chapter will be decided by a majority vote of the
board members present.
Decisions made outside board meetings must be
approved by a majority of the entire board.
Section 5.
The board of directors will
hold an annual membership meeting, open to all chapter members. This meeting may
coincide with the chapter's annual Excellence in Journalism awards ceremony.
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To get involved in the chapter and its activities, contact Samantha Swindler at sswindler@oregonian.com or Rob Priewe at rob.priewe@linnbenton.edu.
