PROTECTED: CHAPTER BYLAWS

Bylaws Of The Georgia-Alabama Chapter Of The American Immigration Lawyers Association

ARTICLE I. NAME AND OBJECTS

Section 1.1 -Name
The name of this organization shall be the GEORGIA-ALABAMA CHAPTER of the AMERICAN IMMIGRATION LAWYERS ASSOCIATION (hereinafter referred to as the “Chapter” and the “Association,” respectively).
Section 1.2 -Objects
The objects of this Chapter shall be the same as those set forth in the Bylaws of the Association, as amended from time to time (hereinafter referred to as the “Association’s Bylaws”).

ARTICLE II. JURISDICTION AND AUTHORITY

Section 2.1 -Jurisdiction
The geographic area of jurisdiction of this Chapter shall encompass that area covered by the States of Alabama and Georgia, or as determined by the Board of Governors of the Association (hereinafter referred to as the “Board of Governors”) from time to time.
Section 2.2 -Authority
The authority of this Chapter in the conduct of its affairs shall be as set forth in the Association’s Bylaws, which are incorporated herein by reference.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 3.1 -Eligibility
(a) Attorneys whose principal place of business, or if retired whose principal place ofresidence, is within the geographic jurisdiction of this Chapter and who possess the qualifications set forth in the Association’s Bylaws, shall be eligible to be a Member of this Chapter. All Chapter Members must be Members of the Association.
(b) In addition, the Chapter may have as a Member an attorney who neither has a principal place of business, nor principally resides as a retiree, in the geographic jurisdiction of this Chapter (hereinafter referred to as “out-of-jurisdiction” Member), provided such attorney is and remains in good standing as a Member of another Chapter or is and remains in good standing as a Member at large of the Association.
Section 3.2 -Special Members
The Chapter may also have Special Members as set forth in the Association’s Bylaws and pursuant to the rules and procedures established by the Board of Governors.
Section 3.3 –Waivers
Waivers of any requirements for election to Membership by the Chapter shall be available only as set forth in the Association’s Bylaws.
Section 3.4 -Applications and Election
(a) Application for National and Chapter Membership shall be submitted to the National Office of the Association. All applications shall be uniform and shall be on such forms as approved by the Board of Governors.
(b) Application for National and Chapter Membership shall be as set forth in the Bylaws of the Association and pursuant to the rules and procedures established by the Board of Governors. In accordance with the Association’s Bylaws, the National Office shall submit notification of all accepted applicants to the Chapter, a list of which shall be published in the next available Chapter mailing or shall be otherwise distributed the Chapter membership in a timely manner. The Chapter membership has the option to submit comments or objections, with relevant evidence, to the Chapter’s Executive Committee, which shall make a recommendation regarding any objections raised to an applicant.
(c) The Chapter shall have ninety days from the time it receives notification of accepted applicants from the National Office to submit to the National Office, in writing and by a Chapter officer, an objection to any applicant. Any objection by the Chapter shall be forwarded by the National Office to the National Membership Committee, which shall bear the burden of fact finding and decision-making with regard to the application.
(d) The Chapter shall generally extend comity to the consideration of applications for Chapter Membership by Association Members in good standing who are transferring their principal place of business or principal residence as a retiree to the geographic jurisdiction of the Chapter.
Section 3.5 -Chapter Dues
(a) Chapter dues shall be in an amount established from time to time by the Chapter by amajority of the Chapter members present and voting at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Chapter; provided that at least fifteen (15) days advance notice of such a vote shall be given to the Chapter.
(b) Proration of Chapter dues, and Chapter dues for Special Members and Members employed by non-profit organizations, shall be in accordance with the rules and procedures established by the Board of Governors.
(c) Chapter dues, together with Association dues, shall be billed and received on behalf of the Chapter by the National Office. The Treasurer of the Chapter shall communicate with the Treasurer of the Association and the National Office to provide information regarding Chapter dues and shall receive remittances of Chapter dues collected by the National Office.
Section 3.6 -Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Chapter shall be the same as the fiscal year of the Association, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Governors.
Section 3.7 -Governance of the Association’s Bylaws
The Association’s Bylaws, as they relate to payment of and default in dues, maintenance of Chapter and Association membership status, resignation, loss of membership, censure, suspension, expulsion, reinstatement property interest, good standing, and certificates of membership shall be applicable to and govern these Bylaws. No provision of these Bylaws shall be in conflict with the Association’s Bylaws, as construed from time to time by the Board of Governors; and in the event of any such conflict, the Association’s Bylaws shall govern.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS

Section 4.1 -Officers
The officers of this Chapter shall be:
(a) A Chair, who shall not be eligible to succeed to that office more than once without theapproval of the Board of Governors;
(b) A First Vice-Chair;
(c) A Second Vice Chair;
(d) A Treasurer; and,
(e) A Secretary.
Section 4.2 -Qualifications of Officers
Only Members of the Chapter in good standing immediately preceding an election shall be eligible to be officers of the Chapter.
Section 4.3 -Election of Officers
The officers of Chapter shall be elected at its Annual Meeting, as detailed in this Section. The Annual Meeting as defined in Article V of these Bylaws is a meeting of the Chapter which takes place in the month of May or in the month of June prior to the Annual Conference of the Association. The election process is as follows:
(a) There shall be a Nominating Committee consisting of the immediate Past Chair of the Chapter, who shall be the Chair of the Committee, and two other Members, who shall be elected by the Members of the Chapter not later than ninety (90) days prior to the Annual Meeting. The Chapter Chair shall solicit from the Members of the Chapter by writing or electronically the names of any members who wish to be considered for election to the nominating committee. Members of the Executive Board shall contact each member whose name is submitted to confirm their willingness to serve on the Nominating Committee. No person shall be eligible for election to the Nominating Committee who has served on the immediate past Nominating Committee; unless a waiver thereof is granted by an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Members of the Chapter present and voting at a meeting of the Chapter. Should the immediate Past Chapter Chair be unable or unwilling to serve, the Chapter Chair shall appoint a Chair of the Nominating Committee to act instead.
(b) Within ten (10) days of being elected, the Chair of the Nominating Committee shall send to all Members of the Chapter a notice in writing or electronically, soliciting suggested names for nomination to the offices to be filled at the Annual Meeting.
(c) Not later than sixty (60) days prior to the Annual Meeting, the Nominating Committee shall meet and consider nominations for the offices to be filled, and shall within ten (10) days make those nominations and deliver them to the Secretary of the Chapter. Not later than fifty (50) days prior to the Annual Meeting, the Secretary shall announce the committee’s nominations to the Members of the Chapter in writing or electronically, with the statement that the Members may make additional nominations for such offices in accordance with sub-section (d) hereof. No person shall be nominated unless the Nominating Committee shall first have obtained the person’s consent to run if nominated and to serve if elected.
(d) Additional nominations for any office may be made by Petition delivered to the Secretary of the Chapter not later than thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting and endorsed by five (5) Members of the Chapter whose dues for the current year shall have been paid and who are otherwise in good standing. Such a Petition shall bear the acceptance of the person so nominated.
(e) No person shall be a nominee for office unless that person’s Association and Chapter dues are current; provided that, in the event any nominee is challenged by notice to the Secretary on the grounds of delinquency in dues, that nominee shall be given five (5) days within which to correct such delinquency.
(f) No nominations shall be considered or voted upon unless made as herein provided.
(g) No later than twenty (20) days prior to the Annual Meeting, the Secretary of the Chapter shall notify all Members of the Chapter whose Association and Chapter dues are current via letter or email, a list of the offices to be filled at the election, with the names of all candidates for each office. The candidates nominated by the Nominating Committee shall be listed first with a statement to that effect, and any candidates nominated byPetition shall be listed thereafter in alphabetical order.
(h) Each Member of the Chapter whose Association and Chapter dues are current shall beentitled to personally cast one vote on or before the Annual Chapter Meeting for each office to be balloted on; which vote shall be by secret written ballot unless there is no opposition for that office. The Secretary shall bring to the Annual Chapter Meeting a list of Chapter Members whose dues are current and who are otherwise in good standing, and shall issue ballots only to such Members. After the close of nominations, where there is only one nominee for any office, the Chapter Chair or presiding officer at the Annual Chapter Meeting shall instruct the Chapter’s Secretary to cast a unanimous ballot instanter for that slate of candidates. There shall be no proxy voting.
Section 4.4 -Term of Office for Officers
The officers shall serve for one year beginning with the adjournment of the Annual Meeting at which they are elected and ending with the adjournment of the next Annual Meeting, or until their successors take office, whichever is later. If any office becomes vacant, it shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term at an election called for that purpose at a regular or special meeting of the Chapter. The Executive Committee of the Chapter may appoint an interim replacement until such election is held.
Section 4.5 -Duties of the Officers
(a) The Chair of the Chapter shall be the Chapter’s chief presiding officer; shall preside at any meetings of the Chapter and of the Executive Committee; shall be the representative and directive head in the general conduct of Chapter affairs; shall appoint the members and chairs of all committees; shall be ex officio member of all committees; and shall perform whatever other duties as may be necessary to fulfill the responsibilities prescribed by these Bylaws and the Association’s Bylaws.
(b) The Vice-Chairs of the Chapter shall, as called upon the Chair, assist and advise the Chair in the conduct of that office; and shall perform whatever other duties these Bylaws or the Association’s Bylaws may prescribe. The First Vice-Chair shall succeed to the duties of the Chair in the absence or incapacity of the Chair. The First Vice-Chair, along with the Chair shall be ex officio member of all committees.
(c) The Treasurer of the Chapter shall receive the dues and other monies payable to the Chapter; shall maintain all the financial records of the Chapter; shall promptly record all Chapter receipts and shall deposit same within seven (7) days of receipt in a banking or financial institution approved by the Chapter; shall endorse checks for deposit only in a bank or financial account of the Chapter; shall issue and sign checks for the withdrawal of said receipts in payment of Chapter obligations; shall in communication with the Treasurer of the Association and the National Office maintain a current record of the standing of all persons in respect to the payment of dues and shall report to the Chapter meetings the names of those who have been notified of their delinquency in the payment of dues; shall submit a report to the Chapter and the Treasurer of the Association on or before the date of the Annual Meeting of the Chapter covering all receipts and expenditures for the preceding year, together with a report of the Chapter’s Budget and Audit Committee; shall report to the Chapter meetings on the financial condition of the Chapter at least quarterly; and shall perform whatever other duties these Bylaws or the Association’s Bylaws, may prescribe.
(d) The Secretary of the Chapter shall record and permanently maintain the minutes of all Chapter meetings; shall maintain an inventory of Chapter property, including all papers, addresses, and reports, other than bank deposits and cash on hand; shall serve in the procedure governing elections and amendments of Bylaws; shall send all required notices to Members; shall conduct whatever other correspondence the Chapter Chair or the Chapter may require; shall manage and distribute the publications of the Chapter; shall maintain a current mailing list of Members and Candidates for Membership and others designated to receive Chapter publications; shall have general charge of files of Chapter correspondence; and shall perform whatever other duties these Bylaws or the Association’s Bylaws may prescribe.

ARTICLE V. MEETINGS

Section 5.1 -Annual Meeting
There shall be an Annual Meeting of the Chapter as designated by the Chapter Chair, which meeting shall take place in the month of May or June, but in either event prior to the Annual Conference of the Association. The business of the Annual Meeting shall include, along with other matters as deemed appropriate by the Chair, the following:
(a) election of officers;
(b) annual membership report;
(c) annual fiscal reports;
(d) annual reports of committees.
Section 5.2 -Regular Meetings
Regular meetings of the Chapter shall take place as designated by the Chapter Chair.
Section 5.3 -Special Meetings
Upon not less than three (3) days notice to the Chapter, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and Legal Holidays, the Chapter Chair may call special meetings of the Chapter; and, on similar notice, and upon written petition signed by not less than seven (7) Members of the Chapter in good standing, setting forth the need therefore and the special business to be transacted thereat, the Chapter Chair shall call a special meeting of the Chapter. All notices of all special meetings of the Chapter shall contain notice of the specific matters to be considered or acted upon at such special meetings.
Section 5.4 -Quorum at Meetings
Ten (10) Members of this Chapter in good standing shall be sufficient to constitute a quorum to transact business at any meetings of this Chapter. The presiding officer at any of the meetings of the Chapter may vote only to break a tie.
Section 5.5 -Resolutions. Motions and Other Action
Except as otherwise specifically prescribed by these Bylaws or the Association’s Bylaws, all resolutions, motions, and other action of this Chapter shall be deemed approved by the affirmative vote of the majority of valid votes cast in all instances.
Section 5.6 -Meeting Procedures
Except as otherwise provided by these Bylaws or the Association’s Bylaws, or by agreement of the Members present, all meetings of this Chapter and of its committees shall be conducted in accordance with Roberts’ Rules on Parliamentary Procedure.
Section 5.7 -Who May Attend Meetings
Only Members, Special Members of the Chapter, members of the Board of Governors and other persons designated by the Board of Governors, and guests invited by the Chapter Chair or a Member, who is also in attendance, may attend meetings of the Chapter; provided, however, that a majority of Chapter Members present at a meeting may vote to exclude such invited guests for good cause.

ARTICLE VI. COMMITTEES

Section 6.1 -Appointment of Committees
The Chapter Chair shall appoint such committees as are necessary for the purpose of realizing the objectives and transacting the business of the Chapter, including but not limited to the following standing committees:
(a) Governmental Agency Liaison Committees (such as U.S. CIS Field Office Liaison Committee, EOIR/Immigration Judge Liaison Committee, ICE Liaison Committee, U.S. CBP Liaison Committee, Ancillary Governmental Agency (SSA/DMVS) Liaison Committee, and Asylum Liaison Committee)
(b) Unauthorized Practice of Law
(c) Nominating Committee
(d) Advocacy/Legislation and Regulations Committee
(e) Executive Committee
(f) Pro Bono Liaison Committee
Section 6.2 -Appointment and Tenure of Committees
The members of the committees shall be appointed by the Chapter Chair to serve for the ensuing year and until their respective successors are appointed by the succeeding Chapter Chair. The Chapter Chair shall designate the Chair of the committees and notify the other members of such committees of their appointment. The Chapter Chair and First Vice-Chair shall be ex officio members of all committees.
Section 6.3 -Committee vacancies
The Chapter Chair shall have the power to fill vacancies in any committee.
Section 6.4 -Quorum in Committees
A majority of the members of any committee shall constitute a quorum thereof at any of its meetings.
Section 6.5 -Functions of Committees
General Functions. All committees shall report on their activities to the Chapter from time to time, and they shall make a final summary report at the Annual Meeting of the Chapter on their progress and accomplishments for the preceding year as requested by the Chapter Chair.
(a) Governmental Agency Liaison Committees. The various Governmental Agency Liaison Committees shall plan and arrange meetings and conferences with the governmental agencies located within the jurisdiction of this Chapter to mutually improve their relationship with the Chapter and to obtain information helpful to the Chapter Members in their practice of immigration and nationality law.
(b) Committee on Professional Ethics and Unauthorized Practice of Law. The Committee on Unauthorized Practice of Law shall endeavor to secure the enactment of laws to prevent unlawful practice and cooperate with governmental agencies and bar associations and make appropriate recommendations. This Committee shall, to the extent permissible by the Association’s Bylaws, perform functions similar to those assigned by those Bylaws to the Association’s Committee on Professional Ethics and Grievances.
(c) Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall perform the duties prescribed for it by these Bylaws as may be prescribed by the Association’s Bylaws.
(d) Advocacy/Legislation and Regulations Committee. The Legislation and Regulations Committee shall recommend to the Association and cooperate with it regarding immigration and nationality legislation and regulations and report to the Chapter on changes and proposed changes in such legislation and regulations and shall advocate for the objectives of the Chapter set forth in Section 1.2 of these Bylaws.
(e) Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the officers of the Chapter and shall advise and assist the Chapter Chair in the general conduct of the Chapter’s affairs.
(f) Pro Bono Liaison Committee. The Pro Bono Committee shall assess the needs in the geographic area of the Chapter for pro bono immigration legal service, establish goals for the Chapter’s pro bono immigration legal service, and promote pro bono immigration legal service.ARTICLE VII.
ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
Section 7.1 -Methods
Subject to the approval of the Board of Governors, these Bylaws may be adopted, amended or rescinded at any meeting of the Chapter upon the affirmative vote of two thirds (2/3) of the members of the Chapter in good standing present and voting. Proposals to amend the Bylaws shall be presented to the members for a vote upon either (1) a recommendation by a majority vote of the Executive Committee, or (2) a petition signed by a minimum of five percent (5%) of the Chapter members in good standing. The Chapter Secretary shall notify the members in writing at least fifteen days before the meeting at which said proposed amendments will be voted upon.
Section 7.2 -Effective Date
These Bylaws shall take effect immediately upon adoption by the Chapter membership and approval by the Board of Governors.
Section 7.3 -savings provision
All of the officers and committee persons of the Chapter holding office at the time these Bylaws take effect shall continue to hold office there under and in accordance therewith.


AILA Doc. No. 07010352. (Posted 08/18/15