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Bylaws of North Central Arkansas Regional Economic Development Corporation

Board of Directors

Article I - Offices

1.1

Registered Office. The registered office of the North Central Arkansas Regional Economic Development Corporation (hereinafter called the NCAREDC) in the State of Arkansas shall be office of the North Central Arkansas Regional Economic Development Corporation located at 213 East Sixth Street, Suite 115, in the City of Mountain Home, Arkansas, County of Baxter. The name of the Resident Agent in Charge thereof is Gil DeLorenzo.

 1.2 Other Offices. The Council may also have an office or offices at such other place or places, within or without the State of Arkansas, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. The Council may keep the books and records of the Council at such place or places within or without the State of Arkansas as designated by the Board of Directors.

Article II - Membership

2.1 Members. Members shall be corporations, associations, businesses or individuals who pay annual dues to the NCAREDC and which are located within the counties of Baxter, Fulton, Marion, Searcy, Stone and Izard. Such criteria may be changed as deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors. In addition, a member may not transfer his/her or its membership or any right arising therefrom, and any such attempt shall cause the membership to terminate automatically.
2.2 Voting Rights and Proxies. Each member shall be entitled to the number of votes as set forth in Article II 2.3, which may be cast in person or by proxy, with respect to each matter voted on by Members. Rights for a vote by proxy shall be executed in writing, with valid signature and date, in advance of the meeting for which the vote is intended to be taken. No proxy shall be valid more than six (6) months from the date of its execution.
2.3 Membership Dues and Special Assessments. The Board of Directors has established the following types of membership and annual dues schedule, with privileges attendant thereto, for membership in NCAREDC:

Member Category Amount   Entitlement
Corporate $ 500.00   Five Votes
  $ 100.00 for each additional county membership   One Vote
Business/Individual $ 150.00   One Vote
  $ 100.00 for each additional county membership or if member of any county’s chamber   One Vote
Associates
(Non-Voting)
$ 75.00   No Vote
In addition, each proposed activity of the Council which entails extraordinary costs not covered by annual dues shall be evaluated by the Board of Directors, who will develop a recommended assessment plan for collecting the costs from the membership. Each member shall be free to accept or to reject each special assessment.
2.4 Annual Meeting. An Annual Meeting of membership shall be held for the purpose of electing Officers and Directors, and for the transaction of other business of interest to the full proper notice, at an alternate hour or at an alternate place within or without Arkansas as designated by the Board of Directors.
2.5 Special Meetings. Special Meetings of the full membership or of the Board of Directors may be held, upon proper notice, at any time and at any designated place within or without Arkansas upon the call of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. Any action taken at a Special Meeting shall have the same force and effect as if taken at a Regular Meeting and all references elsewhere in these Bylaws to the Annual Meeting shall be deemed to refer as well to Special Meetings.
2.6 Notices. Notice of the Annual Meeting, any Special Meeting and all Regular Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given. Notices shall be sent by the Secretary to each member/director at least one week before the day on which the meeting is to be held, by mail, facsimile, e-mail or other form of recorded communication. In extreme cases, notice of special meetings may be delivered personally or by facsimile, e-mail and telephone not later than the day before the day on which such meeting is to be held. Such notice shall be addressed to each member at his residence or usual place of business and shall specify the time and place of such meeting. Notice of any such meeting need not be given to any member who shall be present at such meeting or who shall have waived in writing by mail, facsimile, e-mail or other form of recorded communication, whether before or after such meeting shall be held, his right to such notice.
2.7 Quorum and Actions by Vote. At any meeting, fifty (50) percent or more of the members present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If fewer than fifty (50) percent of the members are represented at a meeting, that meeting may be adjourned by a majority of the members present upon the vote on the question of whether or not a quorum is present. Whenever a quorum is present and business transacted, a majority of the votes cast shall decide any question, unless otherwise provided by law, the Articles of Incorporation, of these Bylaws.
2.8 Action by Written Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the members may be taken without a meeting if all the members consent to the action in writing and such consents are filed with the records of the meetings of members. Such consents shall be treated for all purposes as a vote at a meeting.
2.9 Resignation. A member may resign by delivering a written resignation to the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, or the Secretary, or NCAREDC at its established office. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt (unless specified to be effective at some other time), and acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless it is so stated. Upon resignation, such member shall not be entitled to any assets of, or a refund from, the Council.
2.10 Suspension or Expulsion. A member may be suspended or expelled: (a) for the non-payment of dues, or; (b) for conduct contrary to the best interests of the Council or of its members, upon a vote for two-thirds of the Directors then in office, after a hearing. A member suspended or expelled under this section shall have no right to the assets, or refund from, the Council.

Article III - Board of Directors

3.1 Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall be elected from the membership of NCAREDC. Total membership on this Board shall be no fewer than nine (9) and no more than fifteen (15). Initially, four (4) directors shall be elected from the membership in Baxter County, and each participating member county of the five (5) eligible under these Bylaws shall elect one (1) member for a total of up to nine (9). While the Board may be comprised of up to fifteen (15) directors as membership grows, there shall never be less than four (4) from Baxter County and one (1) from each additional member county. As directors are added, the number of members in each county shall be a strong factor in the county from which the additional directors shall be added.
3.2

General Powers. The business and affairs of NCAREDC shall be managed by the Board of Directors, and the disbursement of its funds and the disposition of its property in fulfillment of its corporate purposes shall be vested in and controlled by the Board. In carrying out its purposes set forth in the Second Article of the Articles of Incorporation, the Council, by its Board of Directors, shall have all the powers granted to corporations under the laws of the State of Arkansas, including (without limitation) the following powers:

To acquire, receive and accept, by way of gift, grant, endowment, bequest, devise, purchase, solicitation, lease or funding from Federal, State, or local authorities or otherwise, money and property of every kind, nature and description, without limitation as to amount or value, including securities (which term for the purposes hereof, includes, without limitation of the generality thereof, shares of stock, bonds, debentures, notes, mortgages or other obligations, and any certificates, receipts or other instruments representing any rights or interests therein or with respect thereto) created or issued by any persons, firms, associations, corporations, or governments or subdivisions thereof; to exercise, as owner or holder of any such property, including securities, any and all rights, powers, and privileges with respect thereof, including the right to deposit such securities under a voting trust or other agreement; to hold, administer, sell, convey, dispose of, invest and reinvest such property, including securities, and the income and proceeds thereof; to deposit any such property, including securities, with any depository, agent or custodian, and to pay fees and expenses relative thereto; to employ legal council, accountants, investment advisers, brokers and other agents or employees, and to pay to them reasonable compensation; to delegate to any investment adviser full or partial discretionary power with respect to the purchase, retention and sale of securities under investment managers; to use, apply, disburse, grant or donate any of its property and/or the income or the proceeds thereof exclusively for the purposes set forth in the Third Article of the Articles of Incorporation; to borrow money; to make, enter into, perform or carry out contracts of every kind and description with any person, firm, association, or corporation; to employ experts and to establish and maintain bureaus, committees, offices and agencies; and to do any and all other things necessary or proper in connection with or incidental to the objects or purposes of the Council as set forth in the Third Article of the Articles of Incorporation, within such limitation as are prescribed by law. The activities of the Council may be conducted by the Board of Directors both within and without the State of Arkansas.

3.3 Number and Term of Office. The Board shall initially consist of nine (9) members. The number of members constituting the Board may be increased or decreased from time to time by resolution adopted by a majority of the members of the Board, provided, however, there shall at all times be at least nine (9) and no more than fifteen (15) members of the Board. Directors shall be elected at the Annual Meeting of the membership by a majority of the members present in person or by proxy, provided a quorum is present at such meeting.

Upon formal adoption of the Bylaws, exiting members of the Board shall draw for established terms of one, two or three years. This will provide for the potential rotation/replacement of approximately one-third of the membership each year. Directors elected at Annual Meetings will serve for terms of three (3) years, or until a successor is elected and shall have qualified, or until the earlier of death, resignation or removal from office in the manner hereinafter provided. A director may be elected to succeed himself or herself upon the expiration of his or her terms. Initially, the Board members from the designated counties participating in NCAREDC other than Baxter shall be appointed.
3.4 Resignation, Removal and Vacancies.
(a) Any Director may resign at any time by giving written notice of his resignation to the Board or to the Chairman and the Secretary of the Council. Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, if the time at which it shall become effective shall not be specified therein, then it shall take effect immediately.
(b) A Director may be removed, either with or without cause, at any time by a vote of a majority of the Directors.
(c) Any vacancy occurring on the Board may be filled by a vote of the majority of the Directors present in person or by proxy at a meeting of the Board called for this purpose, provided a quorum is present at the meeting.
3.5

Meetings.
(a) Annual Meetings. The Annual Meeting of the NCAREDC for the transaction of such business as may properly come before the membership shall be held in accordance with the schedule established by the Board of Directors.
(b) Board Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board shall be held at such times and places as determined by the Board.
(c) Special Meetings. Special meetings of the NCAREDC or of the Board of Directors shall be held whenever called by the Executive Committee. Any business which may be transacted at a Regular Meeting of the Board may be transacted at a Special Meeting.
(d) Place of Meeting. The Board may hold its meetings at location within or without the State of Arkansas, as designated in the respective notices or waivers of notice thereof, or as otherwise deemed appropriate by the Board.
(e) Notice of Meetings. Notice of regular meetings of the Board shall be given in accordance with Article II, Section 2.6. Notices of Special Meetings of the Board shall be sent by the Secretary to each Director at least one week before the day on which such meetings are to be held, by mail, FAX, e-mail or other form of recorded communication. IN extreme cases, notice may be delivered personally or by telephone not later than the day before the day on which such meetings are to be held. Such notice shall be addressed to the Director at his residence or usual place of business and shall specify the time and place of such meeting. Notice of any such meeting need not be given to any Director who shall be present at such meeting or who has waived in writing, whether before or after such meeting shall be held, his right to such notice.
(f) Quorum and Manner of Acting. One-half of the Directors in office shall be present in person at any meeting of the Board in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, and the vote of a majority of those Directors present at any such meeting at which a quorum is present shall be necessary for the passage of any resolution or act of the Board, except as otherwise expressly required by law or these Bylaws. A majority of the Directors present at a meeting of the Board may, despite the absence of a quorum, adjourn the meeting until such time as a quorum shall be present.
(g) Action by Communications Equipment. The Directors of the Executive Committee may participate in a meeting by means of a telephone conference or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
(h) Action by Written Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or Executive Committee may be taken without notice and without a meeting if all members of the Board consent thereto in writing, and such writing is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board.

3.6 Compensation. Unless specifically agreed by the membership, Directors shall not be entitled to receive from the Council any compensation for their services as Directors.

Article IV - Committees

4.1

Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the four (4) elected officers as provided for in these Bylaws. Additional members may be assigned to the Executive Committee as deemed necessary by the Board of Directors.

4.2 Ad-Hoc Committees. The Board may take action to designate one or more committees to lead specific actions or projects of the council. Membership on such a committee will consist of members of the Council and one or more members of the Board of Directors. Specific duties and responsibilities will be determined by the action of the Board. The Board shall have the power to change the members of any such committee at any time, to fill vacancies, and to discharge any such committee, either with or without cause, at any time.

Article V - Officers

5.1

Election, Appointment and Term of Office.
(a) The officers of the Council shall be a Chairman, one or more Vice Chairmen, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. In addition, there may be other officers or assistants elected or appointed in the manner hereinafter provided. Any number of offices, other than the offices of Chairman and Secretary, may be held by the same person.
(b) The Officers of the Council shall be elected by the membership at the Annual Meeting. Each officer shall hold office until his/her successor is elected or appointed and shall have been qualified or until the earlier of death, resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided.
(c) The Board may elect or appoint other officers as it deems necessary, and such other officers shall have such authority and shall perform such duties as prescribed by the Board. The Board may elect or appoint other assistants as the board deems necessary.

5.2 Nomination of Officers. Prior to the Annual Meeting, the Chair will appoint a Nominating Committee which will identify a proposed slate of officers. The Nominating Committee will present the slate to the membership for election.
5.3 Resignation, Removal and Vacancies.
(a) Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board or to the Chairman and the Secretary of the Council, and such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time when it shall become effective is not specified there, then it shall take effect immediately.
(b) All officers elected or appointed by the Board shall be subject to removal at any time by the Board, with or without cause.
5.4 Powers and Duties of Officers. All officers of the Council have the authority to perform such duties in the management of the Council as may be provided by the Board and, to the extent not so provided, as customarily pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board. Specifically:
(a) The Chairman shall be the chief executive officer of NCAREDC, and is hereby specifically authorized to execute all contracts on behalf of the Council.
(b) The Vice Chair shall assist the Chair in leading the actions and projects of NCAREDC, and shall act on behalf of the Chair in his/her absence.
(c) The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping all records and minutes of NCAREDC business, handling public information, and sending meeting notices and general correspondence.
(d) The Treasurer shall be responsible for safeguarding all NCAREDC funds, submitting accurate and timely reports to the Board and to the full membership, and for receiving and disbursing funds as directed by the Board.
5.5 Compensation and Expenses. The compensation, if any, to be paid by NCAREDC to its officers shall be fixed from time to time by the Board. No officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by reason of his also being a Director of the Council. Reimbursement of expenses incurred on behalf of the NCAREDC are authorized, pending Board approval.

Article VI - Seal

6.1

The Board shall provide a corporate seal, which shall be in the form of a circle and shall bear the name of the Council and words and figures showing that it was incorporated in the State of Arkansas.

Article VII - Indemnification and Insurance

7.1

Indemnification. NCAREDC shall indemnify any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the NCAREDC to the full extent authorized by the laws of the State of Arkansas. The indemnification provided by this Article shall not be deemed exclusive of any rights to which a person seeking indemnification may be entitled under any law, agreement, vote of disinterested Directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person.

7.2 Insurance. NCAREDC may, to the extent authorized by the Board, purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Council, or is or was serving at the request of NCAREDC as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not NCAREDC would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of law.

Article VIII - Waiver of Notice

8.1

Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the laws of the State of Arkansas or of the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the directors, or members of a committee need be specified in any written waiver of notice unless so required by the Articles of Incorporation or by the Bylaws to be included in such notice.

Article IX - Amendments

9.1

These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, and new Bylaws, consistent with any provision of the Articles of Incorporation or of any statute, may be adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board at any regular or special meeting of the Board. Notice of the proposal to amend, repeal or adopt bylaws shall be included in the notice of any meeting of the Board at which such action shall be taken.