By-Laws
Article I: Mission
Section 1: The Southern Economic Development Council shall be a non-partisan, non-sectarian regional economic development association whose mission includes:
Pursuing the highest levels of personal and professional standards of its members to continually enhance the image of the economic development profession.
Providing professional services and educational opportunities to develop and improve the skills and capabilities of its members.
Improving the quality of life of the citizens of our region through the implementation of economic development practices focusing on the creation and retention of quality employment opportunities.
Article II: Membership
Section 1: Membership resides in the individual, not the organization. A membership year is twelve months. An individual’s membership year expires twelve months (Annual Anniversary) after the date on which the member becomes eligible to vote on SEDC matters.
Section 2: All applications for membership shall be endorsed by a current member in good standing.
Section 3: To qualify for Honorary Life Membership, the candidate must have:
1. Been an active member of SEDC for 10 years, and served as an officer or a director.
2. Made significant contributions to the economic development profession in one or more of the SEDC member states.
3. Reached the age of 50.
If the person is not retired, annual dues shall be paid. If the nominee has retired from economic development work, dues are no longer collectible.Honorary Life Members are eligible to hold office in SEDC, and to vote.
The Selection Committee, which will recommend Honorary Life Membership nominees to the Board of Directors, will consist of the five immediate past Chairmans. The Selection Committee shall be chaired by the Immediate Past Chairman.
Article III: Dues
Section 1: The amount of annual dues will be established by the Board of Directors and be payable in advance. Members shall be designated inactive from the organization roster for non-payment of dues, 45 days after their anniversary date. Members not renewing their membership within 90 days after their anniversary date will be required to join at the current new member rate.
Section 2: New members shall pay a one-time processing fee established by the Board of Directors, in addition to the regular membership dues.
Article IV: Directors
Section 1: Directors from the respective states shall serve for two years, but may not succeed themselves. Directors from the following states will be elected in even years:
Alabama Mississippi
Florida South Carolina
Kansas Texas
Kentucky Virginia
Maryland/District of Columbia
Directors from the following states will be elected in odd years:
Arkansas North Carolina
Georgia Oklahoma
Louisiana Tennessee
Missouri West Virginia
Section 2: SEDC members from the District of Columbia shall vote with members from Maryland for the Director from that state.
Section 3: One Alternate Director shall be selected by each state caucus from the respective state for a one-year term effective at the close of the annual conference. The Alternate Director may serve two consecutive one-year terms and will be responsible for assuming the duties of the State Director at meetings and other functions in his/her absence as designated by the respective State Director. Additionally, the Alternate Director shall be responsible for duties as designated by the State Director, providing assistance in reporting required information to the SEDC office, membership retention and recruitment activities, and other activities on behalf of SEDC.
Section 4: A Director and/or Alternate Director may be removed from office as a result of nonfeasance, malfeasance, dereliction, and/or failure to perform duties. Removal from office may be accomplished when at least 25 percent of the state's SEDC membership petitions the Executive Committee who shall be responsible for adjudicating on this petition.
Section 5: When the Director moves from the state or tenders a resignation, the remainder of the term shall be served by the Alternate Director. The Alternate Director may be eligible for election to a full two year term upon completion of the unexpired term served for the resigned Director.
Section 6: Should a state not have an Alternate Director to fill the vacancy as described in Section 5, the Executive Committee may elect from the state membership an Alternate Director to serve until the next annual conference. The Executive Committee will seek nominations from the State Associations for consideration.
Section 7: Should a state, simultaneously, not have a Director and Alternate Director, the Executive Committee may elect from the state membership a Director and Alternate Director to serve until the next Annual Conference. The Executive Committee will seek nominations from the state association for consideration.
Section 8: At any time should a vacancy occur in the position of Regional Director, the State Directors within that region will elect by majority vote a person to fill that vacancy. This can be done by polling the State Directors in order to be timely.
Section 9: In addition to its annual meeting, the Board shall hold a mid-year meeting at a location determined by the Executive Committee.
Section 10: Should a state's membership at any time fall below 20 paid members, the State Director's position will become ex-officio (without a vote) until that state's membership reaches 20 or more.
Article V: Officers
Section 1: Candidates for the office of Secretary-Treasurer shall declare their candidacy for such office at least 30 days prior to the Annual Conference. This shall be done in writing to the President and Chairman. The Executive Committee shall act as the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee must accept all declarations for the office of Secretary-Treasurer and all nominations as provided for in Article V, Section 4 below, provided the individuals meet the qualifications listed in Article V, Section 2 below.
Section 2: In order to qualify as a candidate for Secretary-Treasurer, the following criteria must be met:
1. At least five years as an active member of SEDC.
2. At least two years' service on the Board of Directors prior to election of Secretary-Treasurer.
3. Attendance at three of the last five SEDC Annual Conferences, including the meeting at which the election is held.
4. A written commitment from the candidate's employer stating that the candidate will be provided the time and funds to carry out the duties of Secretary-Treasurer and subsequent offices that may be forthcoming.
Section 3: Candidates for the offices of Chairman, First Vice-Chairman and Second Vice-Chairman shall also be nominated by the Nominating Committee. Officers shall meet the criteria outlined in Article V -- Officers, Section 2 above. It is the intent of the nominating process, once elected to Secretary-Treasurer position, to move through the offices of Secretary-Treasurer, Second Vice-Chairman, First Vice Chairman to Chairman provided the individual is deemed to have successfully completed the responsibilities of each office.
Section 4: Four or more State Directors may nominate in writing to the Nominating Committee, at least 20 days prior to the Annual Conference, individuals for any of the offices of Chairman, First Vice-Chairman, Second Vice-Chairman and Secretary-Treasurer. Those candidates being nominated for officer positions must meet the criteria outlined in Article V, Section 2 above.
Section 5: Vacancies occurring for any reason for the positions of Chairman, First and Second Vice-Chairman and Secretary-Treasurer shall be filed by accelerating the rotation of officers through elective positions. The vacancy thereby created for the position of Secretary-Treasurer shall be filled from the Board of Directors by majority vote of the Executive Committee taken at a regular, or special meeting or by poll as directed by the Chairman. The term of office for the position of Secretary-Treasurer created by a vacancy shall be for the unexpired portion of the term of the office. The Board member elected Secretary-Treasurer shall also continue in the present duties as Board member and shall retain the entitled voting rights at the Board meetings prior to filling the Secretary-Treasurer's position and shall be entitled to one vote at the Executive Committee meetings.
Article VI: Conference Site
Section 1: Selection of the Annual Conference site is restricted to locations within the territory represented by the seventeen member states. The Annual Conference location will rotate among the sectors of the territory in the following manner: Western, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic. Every effort should be makde to continue this pattern. Selection of the conference location, three years prior to the meeting scheduled, shall be made at the Board meeting held during the Annual Conference for the purpose of electing officers. Each state director shall have one vote to be cast by the State Director (or the Alternate Director in the absence of the State Director). The one vote shall be cast as the respective State Caucus so directs.
Article VII: Amendments
Section 1: These By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote of the Officers and Board of Directors, as described in Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution, at any duly authorized meeting of the Board. Each State Director shall have two votes and all other Board members shall have one vote each.
Revised: October 17, 1998, Williamsburg, Virginia
Revised: April 14, 2000, Atlanta, Georgia
Last Amended: July 9, 2008, Orlando, Florida
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