Adopted December 21, 2023

ARTICLE I
NAME, STATUS AND LOCATION

Section 1: Name

The name of the Association shall be the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association (referred to in these Bylaws as the “Association” or “ACPA”).  ACPA shall be a nonprofit, nonstock corporation and tax exempt under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code or the equivalent section of any future United States tax law.

Section 2: Offices

Offices of the Association shall be located in the State of North Carolina and/ or in such other localities as may be determined by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE II
PURPOSES AND POWERS

Section 1: Purposes

The purposes of ACPA shall be as set forth in the Articles of Incorporation and the Association’s Mission statement.

Section 2: Powers

The Association shall have the power and authority to pass Bylaws and policies for its conduct of affairs provided that these Bylaws and policies are not contrary to Federal and state law.

ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Members

ACPA membership shall consist of six categories of members: Professional Member, Affiliate Member, Early Career Member, Student Member, Retired Member and Life Member.

Professional Member – Professional Membership is available to healthcare professionals who have completed a formal professional training program and/or demonstrate a professional interest in the study or treatment of cleft lip/palate or other craniofacial conditions.

Affiliate Member – Affiliate Membership is available to individuals who do not work in the cleft/craniofacial field as a healthcare provider but have an interest in cleft/craniofacial care and the goals of the Association.

Early Career Member – Early Career Membership is available to current residents, fellows, or healthcare professionals within the first year of their career in the cleft/craniofacial field.

Student Member – Student Membership is available to individuals who are full time students in good standing in an undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate training program.

Retired Member – Retired Membership may be conferred, on request, to any Member of the Association who has retired from professional activities but does not qualify for Life Membership (is not at least 60 years of age and/or has not been a continuous member of ACPA for at least 20 years).

Life Member – Life Membership may be conferred, on request, to any Member of the Association who is ordinarily at least 60 years of age, has been a continuous member of the Association for at least 20 years, and is retired from professional activities. In cases where extreme circumstances apply, Life Membership may be conveyed at the discretion of the Board.

Section 2: Membership in the Association

Membership in the Association is a privilege and requires that the member support the purposes and goals of the Association. Every member of the Association is expected to behave in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the Association. Membership in the Association does not imply, directly or indirectly, any certification or endorsement by the Association in the treatment of patients with cleft lip/palate or other craniofacial conditions.

Professional Members are eligible to vote on any matters on which members are entitled to vote under these Bylaws or the Pennsylvania Nonprofit Corporation Law of 1988, as amended (the “Nonprofit Law “), hold office, or serve as chair of a committee or task force. Life Members are eligible to vote on any matters on which members are entitled to vote under these Bylaws or the Nonprofit Law.  It is the responsibility of each member to keep on file, with the ACPA Office, current contact information to which correspondence can be sent.

Section 3: Termination of Membership

The Board of Directors, for cause, shall have the right to censure, suspend, or expel any member by two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors present and voting, provided such member was given notice of the reasons for such censure, suspension or expulsion and an opportunity to state such member’s position in person or in writing to the Board of Directors prior to a vote. Any member suspended or expelled for reasons other than nonpayment of dues or assessments may be reinstated by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Board of Directors present and voting.

Section 4: Non Payment of Dues/Assessments

Any member of the Association who is delinquent in payment of dues or assessments may be dropped from the rolls and forfeit all rights and privileges of membership in the Association. Any member whose membership was terminated for nonpayment of dues and/or assessments may be reinstated with submission of current qualifications, payment of any accrued unpaid dues and assessments, and payment of current year’s dues.

Section 5: Membership Resignation

Any member may resign from the Association by filing a written resignation with the National Office of the Association. Any member who has resigned may be reinstated with submission of current qualifications, payment of the current year’s dues and any accrued unpaid dues, and assessments.

ARTICLE IV
DUES AND ASSESSMENTS

Section 1: Dues and Assessments

Dues and assessments for all categories of membership shall be established by the Board of Directors in accordance with the ACPA Policy Manual.

Section 2: Non Refund of Dues

Upon the resignation, suspension or expulsion of a member, or termination for any reason, any dues paid shall not be refunded and such member shall not be relieved from liability for accrued and unpaid dues or assessments.

Section 3: Payment of Dues

All dues are payable upon proper notification by the Association.

Section 4: Financial Assessments

Any special financial assessment in the interests of the Association shall be determined as delineated in the ACPA Policy Manual and approved by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE V
MEETINGS OF MEMBERS AND VOTING

Section 1: Meetings of the Association

The Association shall hold as many special meetings as may be determined by the Board of Directors to be in the best interests of the Association.

In extraordinary circumstances, a business meeting of the membership may be called when requested, in writing, by 10% of the voting members (Professional and Life) of the Association.

Section 2: Annual Meeting

An Annual Meeting of the Association shall be held each year at a time and in a place determined by the Board of Directors.  In periods of emergency, the Board of Directors may, by two-thirds vote, cancel the Annual Meeting. In this case, the Board of Directors shall be empowered to transact all business that would ordinarily be brought before the annual membership meeting in accordance with the ACPA Policy Manual.

There shall be at least one business meeting of the members of the Association at each Annual Meeting at which members entitled to vote shall vote on matters properly before the meeting. The President shall chair the meeting and adjudicate any procedural disputes. If necessary, disputes may be handled as outlined in the ACPA Policy Manual.

Section 3: Notice of Meetings

Notice of the day, hour, location and purposes of any meeting of the members of the Association shall be given as provided in Section 3 no fewer than ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting.  Notice may be given by electronic communication directed to the individual member using the contact information provided by the member to ACPA.

Section 4: Quorum

At any meeting of the members, the presence, in person or by proxy, of fifty members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for all purposes, and the act of a majority of the members present and voting at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the members except as may otherwise be specifically provided in these Bylaws.

Section 5: Voting

A vote by eligible voting members may occur during any duly constituted business meeting or through mail or electronic ballot as determined by the Board of Directors.  In the case of mail or electronic voting, two-thirds of all votes cast is required to authorize any action with the exception of Board member and Officer elections which shall be determined by a plurality of votes cast by members who vote by mail or electronic ballot.

ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS

The Officers of the Association shall consist of a President, a President-Elect, an Immediate Past President, a Vice President, a Vice President-Elect, a Treasurer, and a Communications Officer.

Section 1: President

The President shall be the principal volunteer officer of the Association and serve as Chair of the Board of Directors. The President shall not vote except when necessary to resolve a tie. The President, with authority of the Board of Directors, formally represents the Association in all official relationships with other professional or scientific agencies and bodies. The President shall serve as ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee. The President shall perform such other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.

Section 2: President-Elect

The President-Elect shall serve as President in the event of incapacity of the President. The President-Elect shall assume office immediately upon the close of the tenure of the President. The President-Elect shall appoint such committees and task forces as may be defined in the Bylaws or determined by the Board of Directors. The President-Elect shall perform such other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.

Section 3: Immediate Past President

The Immediate Past President serves on the Board of Directors and is an ex-officio member of the Nominating Committee. The Immediate Past President shall perform such other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.

Section 4: Vice President

The Vice President shall be responsible for duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.

Section 5: Vice President-Elect

The Vice President-Elect shall serve as Vice President in the event of the incapacity of the Vice President. The Vice President-Elect shall assume office immediately upon the close of the tenure of the Vice President of the Association.  The Vice President-Elect proposes the Chair and members of the Program Task Force.  The Vice President-Elect shall perform such other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.

Section 6: Treasurer

The Treasurer shall chair the Management and Finance Committee and perform such other duties as are generally assumed to be characteristic of that office. This individual shall assume responsibility for oversight of the financial affairs of the Association with periodic review of financial statements with the National Office Staff and independent accountants and/or auditors. The Treasurer will report on the financial status of the Association to the Board of Directors at least twice a year and to the membership at the annual business meeting.

The Treasurer shall perform such other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.

Section 7: Communications Officer

The Communications Officer of the Association shall provide oversight for the preparation and submission of all minutes. The Communications Officer shall have oversight responsibility for the historical archives of the Association. The Communications Officer shall provide strategic oversight for communications and oversee the review of the Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal Editor and Associate Editor in the year prior to a consideration of the renewal of each three-year appointment. For purposes of the Nonprofit Law, the Communications Officer shall be deemed the Secretary of ACPA. The Communications Officer shall perform such other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.

Section 8: Terms of Office

The President, President-Elect, Immediate Past President, Vice President and Vice President-Elect shall serve a single, one-year term. The Treasurer and Communications Officer shall serve a three-year term.  In case of an unanticipated vacancy on the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors shall review candidates nominated for Board positions in the last two years and recommend individuals to be appointed by the President to fill the vacated position(s) until the next annual election.

ARTICLE VII
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1: General Powers; Board Composition

All corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business and affairs of the corporation managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall be constituted as follows: the President; the President-Elect; the Immediate Past President; the Vice President; the Vice President-Elect; the Treasurer; the Communications Officer; and six members at-large. The Board of Directors must contain at least one individual from each of the five disciplines who have the most ACPA members.

The following individuals are not eligible for ACPA Board Service: Past Presidents, current members of the Nominating Committee, and current members of the Commission on Approval of Teams.

If qualified candidates are available and willing to serve, the Board of Directors shall appoint up to two additional members of the Board based on committee membership structure, no more than one per committee to represent the interests of patients and families. These representatives shall be included as voting members of the Board. Committee appointees to the Board shall serve a one-year term renewable at the pleasure of the Board.

The Editor of the Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal and the Executive Director shall be ex-officio members of the Board of Directors without vote.

Section 2: Board Member Terms of Service

Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, Board members are elected for a term of three years. Board members may be nominated by the membership to be placed on the ballot to serve a second three-year term. At the conclusion of a second three-year term, a Board member must leave the Board for a year before being eligible to be nominated to be placed on the election ballot for another term on the Board.

Section 3: Board Responsibilities

The Board of Directors is empowered to develop, implement, and reevaluate the strategic plan of the Association; formulate organizational policy to foster growth and development of the Association; approve the annual budget and hire, compensate and terminate the Executive Director. The Board of Directors also oversees the operational function of the Association, establishes principles of conduct for teams and members, and interfaces with other organizations and the general public regarding issues central to the mission of the Association.

ARTICLE VIII
SELECTION OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1: Nominating Committee Role

The Nominating Committee shall be responsible for collecting nominations from the voting members, proposing a slate of nominees to the Board of Directors for approval, and for overseeing the membership election process for service on the Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee shall be composed as specified in Article X, Section 3. The Nominating Committee processes for collection of nominations, development of a slate of nominees, and the election process shall adhere to the requirements of the Bylaws and in accordance with the ACPA Policy Manual.

Section 2: Election Slate for Candidates to Serve on the Board of Directors

The slate of nominees for election to the Board of Directors and as Officers shall be prepared by the Nominating Committee, in accordance with the Bylaws and as detailed in the ACPA Policy Manual.  Only Professional Members in good standing for a period of five years shall be eligible to hold office.  The Nominating Committee shall recommend at least one candidate for each open position. Consent of the nominees must have been obtained by the Nominating Committee prior to the Nominating Committee submitting the proposed slate of candidates to the Board of Directors for approval. If approved, the Board of Directors shall send the final slate of candidates to the Members for a vote. Provisions for write-in candidates will be provided.  No nominee’s name shall be included on the election ballot unless the nominee has consented to serve if elected.

The Communications Officer and Treasurer are to be elected every third year with neither Officer ending their term in the same year, and all other vacant Officer positions to be elected annually by ballot by voting members of the Association. Two At-Large Board Members shall be elected each year.

Section 3: Member Voting

A ballot for elections will be distributed by mail or electronically to the membership.  Election shall be by plurality of votes of the voting members of the Association returning ballots in such election.  The Communications Officer and at least one other member of the Board of Directors will oversee the counting of election ballots.  The results of the election will be announced to the membership.  New Officers and Board of Director members will assume office January 1st of the year after which they are elected.

Only Professional and Life Members who are in good standing, shall be eligible to vote in an election of the Board of Directors or Officers.

ARTICLE IX
MEETINGS AND ACTION OF THE BOARD

Section 1: Regular Meetings

Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such time and place as the Board of Directors may provide by resolution.

Section 2: Special Meetings

Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President or shall be called by the President upon the written request of the majority of the Board members.

Section 3: Presence at Meetings

The Board of Directors may permit any or all Board members to participate in a regular or special meeting by, or conduct the meeting through the use of, any means of communication by which all Board members participating may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting.  A Board member participating in a meeting by this means is deemed to be present in person at the meeting.

Section 4: Notice of Meetings

Notice of regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall not be required.  Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held upon such notice sent by any usual means of communication not less than five (5) calendar days before the meeting. Notices of special meetings of the Board of Directors need not describe the purpose of said meetings.

Section 5: Waiver of Notice

A Board member may waive any notice required by law or these Bylaws before or after the date and time stated in the notice.  The waiver shall be in writing, signed by the Board member entitled to the notice, and filed with the minutes or corporate records.

A Board member’s attendance at or participation in a meeting waives any required notice to him or her of the meeting unless the Board member, at the beginning of the meeting, objects to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting because the meeting was not lawfully called or convened.

Section 6: Quorum

A majority of the Board members then serving shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors.

Section 7: Voting

All matters considered at a meeting of the Board of Directors shall be decided by a majority vote of a quorum present and voting, and all votes shall be by voice, except that upon request of any Board member present a roll call vote shall be taken.

Section 8: Action Without Meeting

Action required or permitted to be taken at a Board of Directors’ meeting may be taken without a meeting if the action is taken by all members of the Board.  The action must be evidenced by one or more written consents signed (including electronic signature) by each Board member before, on or after the effective date of such action, describing the action taken, and included in the minutes or filed with the corporate records reflecting the action taken.

Action taken under this section is effective when the last Board member signs the consent, unless the consent specifies a different effective date.

A consent signed under this section has the effect of a meeting vote and may be described as such in any document.

ARTICLE X
COMMITTEES

Section 1: Executive Committee

The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers of the Board of Directors of the Association and shall have the authority to carry out the business of the Association between meetings of the Board of Directors. Officers of the Association are responsible for conducting an annual performance evaluation of the Executive Director of the Association.

Section 2: Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee shall have nine members consisting of seven voting members composed of Professional Members who have been ACPA Members for at least five years or Life Members and two ex-officio non-voting members. The two ex-officio non-voting members will be the Immediate Past President and an ex-officio member of the Board. Voting Nominating Committee members will serve a term of two years. Due to staggered terms, either a slate of three or four voting members of the Nominating Committee members will be elected each year. If the terms of four voting members of the Nominating Committee are expiring in a given year, the membership-at-large will elect two members of the Nominating Committee, and if there are three members of the Nominating Committee whose terms are expiring the membership-at-large will elect one member of the Nominating Committee. Regardless of the number of voting members of the Nominating Committee whose terms are expiring in a given year, the Board of Directors shall appoint one member of the Nominating Committee; and the President shall appoint one member of the Nominating Committee. The President-Elect shall appoint the Chair of the Nominating Committee from among the committee members, ideally someone completing the second year of a term. The Immediate Past President and one Ex-Officio Board Member appointed by the President shall serve as ex-officio members of the committee without a vote. Current ACPA Board members and members of the Commission on Approval of Teams may not serve as voting members of the Nominating Committee. All members of the Committee are ineligible to be nominated for a Board position and may not withdraw from the Committee to become eligible. In the event of an unanticipated vacancy on the Nominating Committee, the President will appoint a replacement from the same discipline with approval of the Board.

Section 3: Management and Finance Committee

The Management and Finance Committee is responsible for advising the Board of Directors regarding fiscal operations of the Association. The Management and Finance Committee also directs the annual financial audit of the Association performed by an independent firm of certified public accountants selected by the Board.

Section 4: Other Committees

Other committees and task forces may be established with charges developed by the Board of Directors in accordance with the ACPA Policy Manual.

Section 5: Meetings and Authority of Committees

The procedures set forth in Article IX above which govern meetings, action without meetings, notice and waiver of notice, and quorum and voting requirements of the Board of Directors, apply to all other committees and their members as well.

Section 6: Restriction on Authority of Committees

A committee may not recommend to members or approve dissolution, merger or the sale, pledge, or transfer of all or substantially all of the Association’s assets; elect, appoint or remove or fill vacancies in the Board of Directors or on any of its committees; or adopt, amend, or repeal the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws.

ARTICLE XI
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Executive Director is a full-time employee and the chief executive officer of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association.  The Executive Director is appointed by the Board of Directors and is responsible for the operation of the National Office.  The Executive Director is guided and assisted by the Board of Directors.

The Executive Director is generally responsible for scheduling and carrying out yearly business activities, evaluating programs and activities for maximum effectiveness, facilitating communication between committees and members of the Board of Directors, and providing administrative support for special projects.  The Executive Director supervises all National Office employees and is responsible for all hiring, evaluating, compensating and terminating of all employees, vendors, consultants, and contractors.

The Executive Director will attend all Executive Committee and Board of Directors meetings but will not have the right to vote.   The Executive Director will serve as an ex-officio member without vote of all committees and will attend committee meetings as appropriate.

Personal expenses incurred in the performance of official duties for ACPA will be reimbursed.  The salary of the Executive Director will be reviewed annually by the Management and Finance Committee and recommendations for changes to salary, benefits, or other compensation made at least annually to the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE XII
FISCAL YEAR

The membership year shall be in effect from January 1 through December 31. Duration of membership, collection of dues, and issuance of publications shall be determined on the basis of the membership year. Appointed and elected Officers of the Association begin their tenure on January 1st after the annual election and remain in office until December 31st of the final year of their term, as specified by the office. The fiscal year of the Association shall be in effect from January 1 through December 31.

ARTICLE XIII
INDEMNIFICATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTOR

Section 1: Judgments, Fines, Settlements and Expenses

The Association shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether by or in the right of the Association to procure a judgment in its favor, by reason of the fact that such person is or was an Officer, Board member or employee of the Association or is or was serving at the request of the Association as an Officer, Board member or employee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorney’s fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Association and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her action was unlawful. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Association shall indemnify any person seeking indemnification under these Bylaws in connection with an action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by that person only if that action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors or the Association is ordered to indemnify that person by a court of law. Furthermore, no indemnification shall be made under this Article in respect of any claim, issue, or matter as to which the person has been adjudged to be liable to the Association unless and only to the extent that the court of common pleas of the judicial district embracing the county in which the registered office of the Association is located or the court in which the action was brought determines upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses that the court of common pleas or other court shall deem proper.

Section 2: Advancement of Expenses

If authorized by the Board of Directors, expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Association in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking, satisfactory in form and substance to the Board of Directors, by or on behalf of the Officer, Board member or employee to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Association pursuant to this Article.

Section 3: Non-Exclusivity

The indemnification provided by this Article shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled and shall continue on to any person who has ceased to be an Officer, Board member or employee of the Association and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. However, no indemnification may be made by the Association under this Article or otherwise to or on behalf of any person to the extent that the act or failure to act giving rise to the claim for indemnification is determined by a court to have constituted self-dealing, willful misconduct, or recklessness.

Section 4: Reliance and Modification

Each person to whom this Article applies shall be deemed to be doing so in reliance upon the rights provided by this Article. The duties of the Association to indemnify and to advance expenses to a person provided in this Article shall be in the nature of a contract between the Association and the person.  No amendment or repeal of any provision of this Article shall alter, to the detriment of the person, his or her right to the advance of expenses or indemnification related to a claim based on an act or failure to act which took place prior to such amendment or repeal.

Section 5: Limitation of Liability of Directors

A member of the Board of Directors shall not be personally liable, as such, for monetary damages for any action taken or any failure to take any action as a Director unless:

  • The Director has breached or failed to perform the duties of his or her office under Subchapter B of Chapter 57 of the Nonprofit Law; and
  • The breach or failure to perform constitutes self-dealing, willful misconduct, or recklessness.

This Section shall not apply to (1) the responsibility or liability of a Director pursuant to any criminal statute, or (2) the liability of a Director for the payment of taxes pursuant to federal, state, or local law.  Any repeal or amendment of this Section shall be prospective only and shall not increase, but may decrease, a Director’s liability with respect to actions or failures to act occurring prior to such change.

ARTICLE XIV
AMENDMENTS

Any proposed amendment to these Bylaws must be submitted to the Board of Directors in writing by a member in good standing. The Board of Directors shall convene a Bylaws Review Task Force to evaluate the proposed amendment and, if approved, the amendment will then be submitted to the Board of Directors for review. If approved by the Board of Directors, the amendment will be proposed to the membership. To be adopted, an amendment must be approved by consent of two-thirds of the eligible voting members of the Association who cast a vote, including by electronic ballot.

ARTICLE XV
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 1: Activities of the Association

No substantial part of the activities of the Association shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation. The Association shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office. The Association shall not conduct any other activities not permitted by a corporation exempt from income taxes under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Section 2: Conflict of Interest

The Association shall maintain a policy on Conflict of Interest Policy that protects the Association’s 501 (c)(3) status. The policy is intended to supplement but not replace any applicable state and federal laws governing conflict of interests applicable to nonprofit and charitable organizations. The policy applies to all ACPA members serving in a governance role for ACPA and all staff of the Association. The policy and processes for implementation shall be maintained in the ACPA Policy Manual.

Section 3: Prohibition Against Sharing In Association Earnings

No part of the net earnings of the Association shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, Board members, Officers or other private persons, except the Association shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the Association’s exempt purposes.

Section 4: Record Form

Any communication, consent, notice, disclosure, or signature required or permitted by these Bylaws or the Nonprofit Law, including a unanimous consent, shall be valid if provided in record form including, without limitation, via facsimile, electronic mail transmission, or other means permitted by applicable law. “Record form” means inscribed on a tangible medium or stored in an electronic or other medium and retrievable in perceivable form.

ARTICLE XVI
DISSOLUTION

The President, with the approval of the Board of Directors, shall notify the membership of a proposal and rationale for dissolution of the Association. Within thirty days after notification, the Communications Officer shall mail a ballot with rationale for dissolution to all voting members. The Association may be dissolved by consent of two-thirds of the eligible voting members of the Association who cast a vote, including by electronic ballot.

Upon the dissolution of the corporation, the Board of Directors shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all of the liabilities of the corporation, dispose of all the assets of the corporation exclusively for the exempt purposes of the corporation in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, scientific, or educational purposes which at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as the Board of Directors shall determine.  Any assets not so distributed by the Board of Directors shall be distributed by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the corporation’s principal office is then located exclusively for the corporation’s exempt purposes.  The use of any surplus funds for private inurement to any person in the event of a sale of the assets or dissolution of the corporation is expressly prohibited.