AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

 

OF

 

HOUSTON INDEPENDENT AUTOMOBILE

 

DEALERS ASSOCIATION

 


AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS


OF


HOUSTON INDEPENDENT AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATION

 

 

 

                                                                        INDEX

 

 

ARTICLE I – Name, Offices and Purposes...................................................................................   1

Section 1:         Name...........................................................................................................   1

Section 2:         Offices ........................................................................................................   1

Section 3:         Purposes.......................................................................................................   1

 

ARTICLE II – Members................................................................................................................   2

Section 1:         Classes of Members.....................................................................................   2

                        A.  Full Voting Member...............................................................................   2

                        B.   Associate Non-Voting Member..............................................................   2

Section 2:         Application, Recommendation and Election of Members............................   3

Section 3:         Dues.............................................................................................................   3

Section 4:         Voting Rights...............................................................................................   3

Section 5:         Termination of Membership.........................................................................   3

Section 6:         Resignation..................................................................................................   4

Section 7:         Reinstatement...............................................................................................   4

Section 8:         Transfer of Membership..............................................................................   4

Section 9:         Monthly Meetings of Members....................................................................   4

Section 10:       Special Meetings of Members......................................................................   4

Section 11:       Place of Meeting of Members......................................................................   4

Section 12:       Notice of Meetings of Members...................................................................   4

Section 13:       Informal Action by Members.......................................................................   5

Section 14:       Mail Ballot...................................................................................................   5

 

ARTICLE III – Board of Directors...............................................................................................   5

Section 1:         General Powers............................................................................................   5

Section 2:         Number, Tenure and Qualifications.............................................................   5

Section 3:         Vacancies.....................................................................................................   6

Section 4:         Chairman of the Board.................................................................................   6

Section 5:         Past Presidents [Lifetime Members].............................................................   6

Section 6:         Compensation..............................................................................................   6

Section 7:         Informal Action by Directors.......................................................................   6

Section 8:         Meetings of Directors...................................................................................    7

Section 9:         Notice of Regular Meetings..........................................................................   7

Section 10:       Validation of Meeting Defectively Called or Noticed...................................    7

Section 11:       Special Meetings of Directors.......................................................................    7

Section 12:       Notice of Special Meeting............................................................................    7

Section 13:       Majority Action............................................................................................    8

Section 14:       Action of Directors by Written Consent, Telephone Conference or Other

                        Remote Communications Technology..........................................................    8

Section 15:       Adjournment and Notice of Adjourned Meeting..........................................    8

Section 16:       Conduct of Meetings....................................................................................    8

Section 17:       Telephone Meetings.....................................................................................    8

Section 18:       Members Via the Internet.............................................................................    9

Section 19:       Mail Ballot...................................................................................................    9

 

ARTICLE IV – Officers.................................................................................................................    9

Section 1:         Officers........................................................................................................    9

Section 2:         Election and Term of Office........................................................................    9

Section 3:         Removal....................................................................................................... 10

Section 4:         Vacancies..................................................................................................... 10

Section 5:         President...................................................................................................... 10

Section 6:         Vice President.............................................................................................. 10

Section 7:         Treasurer...................................................................................................... 10

Section 8:         Secretary...................................................................................................... 10

Section 9:         Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries.............................................. 11

 

ARTICLE V – Committees............................................................................................................ 11

Section 1:         Committees.................................................................................................. 11

                        A.   Executive Committee............................................................................ 11

                        B.   Standing Committees............................................................................. 11

                        C.   Special Committees............................................................................... 11

Section 2:         Other Committees........................................................................................ 11

Section 3:         Term of Office............................................................................................. 12

Section 4:         Chairman..................................................................................................... 12

Section 5:         Vacancies..................................................................................................... 12

Section 6:         Quorum........................................................................................................ 12

Section 7:         Rules............................................................................................................ 12

 

ARTICLE VI – Indemnification of Directors, Officers, Employees or Agents............................ 12

 

ARTICLE VII – Insurance or Other Arrangement on Directors, Officers, Employees or Agents            13

 

ARTICLE VIII – Contracts, Checks, Deposits, and Funds........................................................... 13

Section 1:         Contracts...................................................................................................... 13

Section 2:         Checks, Drafts, Etc...................................................................................... 13

Section 3:         Deposits....................................................................................................... 14

Section 4:         Gifts............................................................................................................. 14

 

ARTICLE IX – Books and Records, Audits and Fidelity Bonds .................................................. 14

Section 1:         Books and Records...................................................................................... 14

Section 2:         Audits.......................................................................................................... 14

Section 3:         Fidelity Bonds.............................................................................................. 14

 

ARTICLE X – Fiscal Year............................................................................................................. 14

 

ARTICLE XI – Waiver of Notice.................................................................................................. 14

 

ARTICLE XII – Parliamental Authority, Policies, Standing Rules.............................................. 15

 

ARTICLE XIII – Maintain Status................................................................................................. 15

 

ARTICLE XIV – Dissolution and Distribution.............................................................................. 15

 

ARTICLE XV – Miscellaneous...................................................................................................... 15

Section 1:         Severability.................................................................................................. 15

Section 2:         Counterparts and Facsimile Signatures......................................................... 15

Section 3:         Headings...................................................................................................... 16

Section 4:         Gender......................................................................................................... 16

 

ARTICLE XVI – Amendments to Bylaws..................................................................................... 16

 

ARTICLE XVII – Ratification....................................................................................................... 16

 

ARTICLE XVIII – Adoption of Bylaws........................................................................................ 16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF THE

      HOUSTON INDEPENDENT AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATION

 

ARTICLE I

Name, Offices and Purposes

 

Section 1:   Name

      The name of this non-profit corporation shall be the Houston Independent Automobile Dealers Association (the Association)

Section 2:   Offices

      The principal office of the Association in the State of Texas is currently located at 8245 North Freeway, Suite 205, Houston, Texas 77037.  The Association may have such other offices, either within or without the State of Texas, as the Board of Directors may determine or as the affairs of the Association may require from time to time.

      The Association shall have and continuously maintain in the State of Texas a registered office and a registered agent whose office is identical with such registered office as required by the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act (the “Act”). The registered office may be, but does not need to be, identical with the principal office in the State of Texas and the address of the principal office and the registered office may be changed ­–from time to time by the Board of Directors.

Section 3:  Purposes

      The purposes of the Association shall be:

1.      to foster, promote and encourage the highest ethical standards in the used car industry;

2.      to effectively create a well defined public relations program;

3.      to educate the Members through monthly meetings and publications regarding current laws and regulations common to the used car industry and to acquire, preserve and disseminate valuable business information through meetings and publications and to invite to such meetings those individuals who can advance the educational, social and/or political goals of the Association;

4.      to promote and encourage changes in or promotion of new laws that are in the best interest of the used car industry, including local laws and ordinances;

5.      to concert all efforts toward defeat of any legislation adverse to the best interest of the used car industry;

6.      to promote and encourage common interests and improve acquaintanceship among used car dealers through monthly meetings and by dissemination of information and techniques;

7.      to discuss current trends and applications in the used car industry for the benefit of all Members;

8.      to constructively correlate the activities of this Association with the Texas Independent Automobile Dealers Association, Inc. and the National Association in all it’s activities, projects and endeavors which relate to the used car industry and affect the Members of the Association;

9.      to contribute to organizations that support the used car industry whether for political and/or social reasons;

10.  to combine resources of the Members for the common good and

11.  any and all other matters that are legal and contribute to the well being of the used car industry.

 

ARTICLE 11

Members

 

Section 1:  Classes of Members

      The Association shall have two (2) classes of members.  The qualifications and rights of the Members of each class shall be as follows:

A.     Full Voting Member.  Full Voting Members shall be those Members who are persons, companies and/or corporations and their employees residing in Texas and engaged in the business of buying and/or selling any or all types of motor vehicles as an independent dealer at an established place of business.  Such independent dealers may include automobile wholesalers and automobile auctions.  As to those Members who are not wholesalers or auction houses, a dealer’s license duly issued and in good standing is a requirement for entry into the Association.  Additionally, a motor vehicle may be defined to include specially items such as motorcycles and mobile homes that are motorized and self-contained, including recreational vehicles.  An independent dealer may also be a franchise dealer of new vehicles with a used car operation or may be a franchise dealer of used motor vehicles.  Such Full Voting Member shall be entitled to vote and hold office of the Association.

        Each company or corporation member may, if it chooses, designate in writing some other          individual to represent it and exercise it’s voting rights in the Association provided such individual is an employee, partner or officer of the company or corporation.  Each company or corporation member shall be limited to one representative and one vote, although the representative may change from time to time.

B.     Associate Non-Voting Member.  Associate Non-Voting Members shall be those Members who are persons, companies and/or corporations and their employees residing in Texas and not engaged in the direct buying and/or selling of motor vehicles, either at wholesale or retail.  Such Associate Non-Voting Members by way of example may include software vendors, detail manufacturers and supplies, body shops, transmission shops, lenders and any other business not directly involved in the buying and selling of motor vehicles.  The Associate Non-Voting Member shall have all the rights and privileges of a Full Voting Member except for the right to vote on matters that come before the Members at regular or special meetings and may pay different annual dues than Full Voting Members.  Associate Non-Voting Members shall be entitled to become Directors of the Association, but shall not be qualified to hold office. 

              For purposes of these Bylaws, Full Voting Members and Associate Non-voting Members may be         referred to herein as “Members”.

Section 3:  Dues

      The annual dues for Membership shall be decide by the Board of Directors due and payable one year in advance.  The dues for Full Voting Members and Associate Non-Voting Members may be different at the will of the Board of Directors.  Any Member whose dues are sixty (60) days or more in arrears, after due notice of such arrears by the Office Manager or the President of the Association, may be dropped from the Membership roll by a vote of the Directors.

Section 4:  Voting Rights

      Each Full Voting Member shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the Members.  An Associate Non-Voting Member shall not be entitled to vote on matters submitted to a vote of the Members, but may be entitled to vote as a Director if so elected or appointed.

Section 5:  Termination of Membership

      Members of the Association shall adhere to the Association’s approved then current Code of Ethics and, in solicitation of new members, applicants for Membership shall be made familiar with these Bylaws and Code of Ethics and given a copy of both.  Any person or corporation who accepts Membership into the Association agrees to be bound by these Bylaws and by the then current Code of Ethics of the Association.  Any Member who shall disregard or violate these Bylaws or the Code of Ethics of the Association and by whose  actions the reputation of the Association may be prejudiced or diminished, shall be subject to removal and expulsion by authorized action of the Board of Directors.  Any charges or complaint against any Member must be made in writing signed by the charging or complaining party and sent to the Secretary or President of the Association.  No hearing on such charges or complaint against a Member or other due process is required for the removal or expulsion of a Member, but the accused member upon notification by certified mail, return receipt requested and regular ail of a formal complaint by the Association may timely request a hearing of the board of Directors in which event a hearing will be required.  No formal rules or procedures will be required at such hearing and the decision of the Board of Directors shall be final and not appealable.  The Board of Directors, by affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of all of the members of the Board of Directors,  may remove or expel a Member.  Such vote to remove a Member need not occur at the time of the hearing but should occur within a reasonable time thereafter.

Section 6:  Resignation

      Any Member may resign by filing a written resignation with the Secretary.

Section 7:  Reinstatement

      Upon written request signed by a former Member and filed with the Secretary of the Association, the Board of Directors may, by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Board of Directors of the Association, reinstate such former Member to full Membership upon such terms as the Board of Directors may deem appropriate in its sole discretion.

Section 8:  Transfer of Membership

      Membership in the Association is not transferable or assignable.

Section 9:  Monthly Meeting of Members

      Monthly meetings of the Members of the Association shall be held at such time of the month as the Board of Directors shall determine.  No monthly meeting of the Members shall be scheduled for December of each year and for such other months as the Directors may determine.  A quorum at any meeting shall consist of ten percent (10%) of the Full Voting Members.

Section 10:  Special Meetings of Members

      Special meetings of the Membership may be called at any time by the President, by the Board of Directors or at the written request of twenty percent (20%) of the Full Voting Members of the Association.  If called by the Members, request for such meeting, stating the object for which it is called, must be sent to the Secretary-Treasurer, who shall notify the Members in writing of the time, place and purpose of the meeting.  Only such business as is authorized in the call issued for the meeting may be transacted at a special meeting.  A quorum at any special meeting shall consist of ten percent (10%) of the Full Voting Members.

Section 11:  Place of Meeting of Members

      The Board of Directors