Second Approved Version, Adopted 10/10/06
Article I: Name
The name of this corporation shall be Pro-Gun New Hampshire, Inc., hereinafter "Pro-Gun New Hampshire" or "the organization."
Article II: Purpose
The purpose of Pro-Gun New Hampshire shall be to preserve, protect, defend, and promote the Right to Keep and Bear Arms as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States and by the Constitution of the State of New Hampshire, and to preserve, protect, defend, and promote hunting, fishing, trapping, target shooting, gun collecting, historical reenactment, and the freedom to enjoy the outdoors.
Article III: Statement of Principles
Within Pro-Gun New Hampshire, all levels of the organization shall operate on the basis of honorable conduct, mutual trust, integrity, and fraternity.
Both the organization as a whole and its individual members shall further
endeavor to maintain the highest standards of mature and honorable conduct in
all dealings with those outside the organization, including public officials,
other organizations, and the general public.
Article IV: Statutory and Regulatory Compliance
Pro-Gun New Hampshire shall do everything necessary to establish and maintain its legal status as a voluntary not-for-profit corporation under the applicable laws of the State of New Hampshire and Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States.
Article V: Organization
Article V, Section 1: General
Pro-Gun New Hampshire shall consist of a Board of Directors, a Council of Advisors, corporate staff, and the general membership. All members of the Board of Directors and the Council of Advisors, as well as the general membership, shall be members of Pro-Gun New Hampshire.
Article V, Section 2: Board of Directors
The Board of Directors shall have full and exclusive authority to manage the affairs of Pro-Gun New Hampshire, but may delegate specified limited authority to others. The Board of Directors shall consist of five corporate Directors, of whom one shall also be the President of Pro-Gun New Hampshire, and one other the Executive Vice President of Pro-Gun New Hampshire. A majority vote of the Board of Directors, namely three of the five Directors, shall determine the decisions of the Board of Directors in the exercise of its authority. Votes within the Board of Directors may be made by telephone or email.
Any Director, but no other person except as may be appointed by the Board of Directors, may represent Pro-Gun New Hampshire, speak on behalf of Pro-Gun New Hampshire, or approve official written communications of Pro-Gun New Hampshire.
The initial membership of the Board of Directors, including the appointment of the President and the Executive Vice President, shall be decided by a vote of any three of the five founders of Pro-Gun New Hampshire. The appointment of the initial President shall be for a term of two years; the appointment of all other directors shall be permanent, except that a vote of any three of the five Directors may remove another Director, including the President or the Executive Vice President, for any reason. Upon the death, resignation, or removal of any Director, including the Executive Vice President but not the President, the remaining Directors shall appoint a replacement. Upon the death, resignation, or removal of the President, or the expiration of his term of office, the Council of Advisors shall elect a President as described later in these Bylaws.
For statutory and regulatory purposes, the President and the Executive Vice President shall be the only two officers of the corporation, unless further officers are required by law, in which case the Board of Directors may appoint such further officers as necessary, with the terms of such appointed officers to be at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
The Executive Vice President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the corporation.
Meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by any of the five Directors, and such meetings shall be chaired by the Executive Vice President. The Board of Directors may appoint a clerk, who need not be a Director, to record and prepare official minutes of the meetings. The Board of Directors shall decide what other persons, if any, may be present at each of its meetings.
Article V, Section 3: Council of Advisors
The Council of Advisors shall consist of as many Advisors as shall be appointed by the Board of Directors, and shall include all five Directors. Advisors shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. Meetings of the Council of Advisors shall be chaired by the President, or in his absence, by his designee. Absent his or her death, resignation, or removal, the President shall serve a term of two years, at the end of which the Council shall meet to elect a new President or re-elect the sitting President. Either the Board of Directors or any five Advisors may call meetings of the Council of Advisors at other times as desired. Upon the death, resignation, or removal of the President, the Council of Advisors shall meet within one month to elect a new President for a term of two years; such meeting shall be chaired by the Executive Vice President until the new President is elected. The chair of each meeting of the Council of Advisors shall decide what other persons, if any, may be present. Votes within the Council of Advisors may be made by telephone or email.
The functions of the Council of Advisors are, consistent with the purposes of the organization, to:
-
Elect the President of the organization
-
Distribute news and information within the Council
-
Advise on legislative/regulatory positions of Pro-Gun New Hampshire
-
Communicate with lawmakers and other public officials
-
Promote pro-gun principles to others
-
Promote membership in Pro-Gun New Hampshire
Article V, Section 4: Corporate Staff
The Board of Directors may appoint, hire, or contract with such personnel as necessary to help conduct the affairs of Pro-Gun New Hampshire. The titles of such personnel may not include the words "officer" or "director" except as may be required by law as provided for in Section 2 of this Article V.
Article V, Section 5: General Membership
Anyone who is not prohibited by law from possessing a firearm, and who agrees to support the purposes of Pro-Gun New Hampshire and abide by its principles, may submit an application to become a member of the organization. Such application shall include the applicant's name, mailing address, telephone number, and, if available, his or her email address. Acceptance of applications for membership shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may establish classes of membership and set the amount of membership dues and duration of membership for each such class. Dues-paying members are entitled to receive official publications of the organization by mail and/or email as decided by the Board of Directors.
Membership information, including members' names, shall not be disclosed without permission to anyone outside Pro-Gun New Hampshire except to a bonded contract mailing house for the sole purpose of mailing publications to members, nor to anyone within the organization not authorized by the Board of Directors. This restriction shall not apply, however, to the identities of Directors, Advisors, or corporate staff, nor to disclosure of the number of members in the organization.
Article VI: Removal from Position
Acts or omissions on the part of any officer, Director, Advisor, staff member, or general member of the organization that violate the principles stated in Article III of these Bylaws shall be grounds for removal from his or her position and/or membership by the Board of Directors, either by a request for resignation or by expulsion. Before a member is expelled, he or she shall be given reasonable notice and the opportunity to present a defense before the Board of Directors.
Article VII: Record-keeping
The Board of Directors shall arrange for the safe archiving of legal records, financial records, and all other documents and records that may be necessary to maintain the continuity of operations of the organization.
Article VIII: Amendment of the Bylaws
These Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
Article IX: Dissolution of the Corporation
The corporation may be dissolved as provided by law. In case of dissolution, any remaining assets of the corporation shall be given to a like organization as determined by the Board of Directors.