Article 1 - Name

1.1-The name of this group shall be "Down East Mac OS Users Group" and shall be referred to herein as "DEMUG" or "Membership".

Article 2 - Membership

2.1- Membership in DEMUG is open to any interested individual who fills out the membership form either in person or electronically.

2.2- Membership entitles the member to vote on resolutions and in annual elections, and to participate in monthly meetings special interest groups where authorized by the Executive Board.

2.3- The Executive Board may limit access to some or all DEMUG activities to members of DEMUG, with the exception of the monthly meetings.

2.4- A member may only be expelled from the group if she/he causes continual disruption at meetings or otherwise infringes on the rights of other members or endangers their safety, or if he/she uses group resources in an inappropriate manner. The terms "disruption"; and "inappropriate" may be defined by a vote of the Executive Board with reference to a particular case.

Article 3 - Executive Board

3.1- The Executive Board shall consist of a minimum of 5 members elected to the positions of President, Vice President, Secretary, Information Officer, and Member-at-Large. At the Executive Board's discretion, election may be held for an additional one position on the Executive Board also known as Member-at-Large.

3.2- The Executive Board shall hold office for a term of one year, commencing with an annual general meeting and ending with the election of a new Executive Board at the following annual general meeting.

3.3- In the event of a vacancy among the Executive Board, the Executive Board shall appoint a replacement, or call for an election to that position if deemed appropriate.

Article 4 - General Membership Meetings

4.1- Meetings shall be held once per month, on the third Tuesday of the month. One of these meetings per year will be designated the annual general meeting by the Executive Board, generally the December Holiday Meeting. The Executive Board shall be elected each year at this meeting.

4.2- For purposes of election or resolutions, a quorum shall consist of 25 percent of the members.

4.3- Only members may vote at a meeting.

Article 5 - Elections

5.1- Nominations for the Executive Board will be accepted from any member at any time prior to the vote, but not less than one (1) week prior to the vote. Any member may nominate themselves or any other member by informing a member of the Executive Board of the nomination in writing or by e-mail. All nominations will be forwarded to the Secretary not less than 72 hours prior to the elections so that ballots may be drafted.

5.2- Elections will be held by paper ballot. Each member attending the annual meeting may vote once; ballots will be tallied by the Secretary and the Information Officer and recorded by the Secretary. Results will be announced by the sitting (incumbent) President.

5.3- Electioneering is prohibited at the annual meeting.

5.4- Any attempt to garner favor for election by the use of group funds or material, including the gift of freeware or shareware, shall constitute grounds for disqualification from elections.

Article 6 - Amendment of the Constitution and Bylaws

6.1- Amendments to the Constitution must be proposed by a member to the Executive Board in writing or electronically not less than 72 hours prior to a scheduled Executive Board meeting. The Executive Board will then vote on the merits of the amendment and recommend putting it to a vote at the annual meeting, or tabling the amendment. If voted, the amendment will be printed on the ballot for the annual meeting and voted upon by the members.

6.2- Bylaws may be amended if a majority of Executive Board members present at an Executive Board meeting vote to amend. A quorum must be present. Bylaws may be added or deleted through the same procedure.

Article 7 - Duties of the Executive Board

7.1- The President shall preside at DEMUG general meetings and chair Executive Board meetings at which he or she is present. The President shall also call monthly Executive Board meetings within 21 days after a general meeting and inform the Executive Board members at a minimum of one week in advance. The President is also responsible for supervision of the affairs and activities of DEMUG and serve as a signing officer for disbursement of funds and User Group Points.

7.2- The Vice President will fill the role of the President when the President is not available.

7.3- The Secretary shall record the minutes of all business transacted by DEMUG Executive Board and read the minutes at the following Executive Board meeting.

7.4- The Secretary shall also read and respond to all DEMUG correspondence or delegate the duty of responding to another Member at her/his discretion.

7.5- The President shall receive all DEMUG funds, keep them in a bank, trust company or credit union and pay out funds over $50 only on an order signed by any two of the Executive Board members (including himself or herself). The President will prepare an income and expense report for discussion at each Executive Board meeting and prepare an annual statement for publication. The President shall also serve as the group1s liaison with other groups and vendors.

7.6- The Information Officer shall be responsible for obtaining and accepting applications for membership, keeping up-to-date membership records and giving membership numbers at Executive Board meetings. The Information Officer shall operate and maintain the group1s mailing list and serve as the arbiter of group communications.

7.7- The Secretary shall be responsible for organizing hall use/rentals and soliciting vendors to demonstrate or speak at monthly general meetings and reporting to the Executive Board on upcoming presentations at Executive Board meetings.

7.8- The Secretary shall edit and produce the monthly newsletter of the group in a form accessible to the greatest number of the group. The Secretary may enlist the assistance of other members in this task.

7.9- The Member(s)-at-Large will be responsible for assisting the Executive Board in committee meetings and other affairs of the group.

Article 8 - Group Property

8.1- All free software obtained by the group or any member of the group for evaluation shall be reviewed in the official newsletter of the group, and a copy of said review shall be transmitted to the vendor from whom the software was obtained. The reviewer has the option to keep the reviewed software for personal use unless otherwise specified by the vendor; otherwise the software reverts to DEMUG for disposition to the group library or for giveaway.

8.2- Free goods obtained in the name of DEMUG shall be considered for group use in the library or for promotional purposes or for giveaway.

8.3- Free goods obtained by the group shall be accounted for by the Secretary. The receipt of any and all free goods intended for the group shall be reported to the Secretary.

Article 9. Executive Board Meetings

9.1- Executive Board meetings will be held monthly at a time and place left at the discretion of the President in consultation with the Executive Board.

9.2- Executive Board meetings may only be held if a quorum is present. A quorum shall consist of the chair (President, if present; Vice-President if not), the Secretary or any Executive Board memberacting in that capacity, and one other Executive Board member.

Down East Mac OS Users Group Constitution

1. Name:

The name of the society is 'Down East Mac OS Users Group' herein referred to as the 'group.'

1) To increase the knowledge of its members on subjects related to computers, with emphasis on the Macintosh Operating System and its derivatives.

2) To act as a distribution center for shareware and freeware.

3) To promote the development of communities, both locally and globally, through the use of computer-based communications technologies.

4) To facilitate the open exchange of ideas through use of electronic media.

3. Wind-up clause:

On the winding up or dissolution of this user group, funds or assets remaining after add debts have been paid shall be transferred to a charitable institution with purposes similar to those of this group, or, if this cannot be done, to another charitable institution recognized by the US government as qualified under the provisions of the US income tax laws.

4. Non-profit clause:

The purpose of the group shall be carried out without purpose of gain for its members, and any profits or other accretions to the group shall be used for promoting its purpose.