Article 2 — Membership

2.1 Regular Members.

(a) Any person in Good Standing as a member of the Association and bar of the State of Kansas is eligible to be a regular member (“Regular Member”) of the Association, under such conditions and with such rights, privileges, and limitations as the Board may provide.  Regular Members shall have full voting rights with respect to the Association.  

(b) “Good Standing” when used in these Bylaws regarding the Association shall mean that the member is current in payment of dues and assessments and complies with these Bylaws, policies, procedures, and rules. When used regarding membership in external organizations such as the state bar, law schools, or judicial membership, it shall mean alignment with said organizations' rules or bylaws.) 

(c)  The Board may establish certain other categories of Members from time to time.  The current sub-categories of Regular Members include:  

(i)  Judicial Members.  Any district court or appellate court judge geographically seated within the State of Kansas, inclusive of state courts and administrative courts, is eligible to become a judicial member (“Judicial Member”) of the Association under such conditions and with such rights, privileges, and limitations as the Board may provide.  

(ii)  Life Members.  Any person who has been a Regular Member of the Association for fifty (50) years or more is eligible to become a life member (“Life Member”) of the Association under such conditions and with such rights, privileges, and limitations as the Board may provide.  

(iii)  Inactive Members.  Any person who has registered as retired, inactive in Good Standing, or has registered as disabled due to mental or physical disabilities, or has been transferred to disability inactive status with or by the Kansas Supreme Court is eligible to become an inactive member (“Inactive Member”) of the Association under such conditions and with such rights, privileges, and limitations as the Board may provide.  

2.2 Associate Members.

(a) Any person of Good Standing is eligible to be an associate member (“Associate Member”) of the Association, under such conditions and with such rights, privileges, and limitations as the Board may provide.  Associate Members shall have no voting rights with respect to the Association.  

(b) The Board may establish certain categories of Associate Members from time to time.  The current categories of Associate Members include:  

(i) Non-Lawyer District Magistrate Judge Members.  Any non-lawyer district magistrate judge in Good Standing geographically seated within the State of Kansas is eligible to become a non-lawyer magistrate judge member (“Non-Lawyer Magistrate Judge Member) of the Association under such conditions and with such rights, privileges, and limitations as the Board may provide.  

(ii) Law Student Members.  Any currently enrolled law student in Good Standing is eligible to be a law student member (“Law Student Member”) of the Association under such conditions and with such rights, privileges, and limitations as the Board may provide.  

(iii) Paralegal Members.  Any paralegal in Good Standing practicing within the State of Kansas is eligible to become a paralegal member (“Paralegal Member”) of the Association under such conditions and with such rights, privileges, and limitations as the Board may provide.  

2.3 Termination of Membership.  Any member may resign their membership at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Association.  If a member is in default in payment of dues or any other monetary obligation to the Association, membership may be terminated by the Association upon a vote of the Board.  If a member is disbarred or suspended from the practice of law in any state, territory, or possession of the United States by a final order or judgment, or if a member ceases because of misconduct or otherwise to be a member of the state or federal bar of such a jurisdiction, their membership in the Association will automatically cease upon issuance of such final order or judgment or cessation of membership.  No dues shall be refunded to any member whose membership terminates or is terminated for any reason.  

2.4 Dues. Dues will be established based on membership classification (including all categories) and may be increased or decreased from time to time to reflect the needs of the Association as determined by the Board.  

2.5 Eligibility to Hold Office.  Any Regular Member in Good Standing shall be eligible for nomination and election to any elective office of the Association.  Associate Members shall be ineligible to hold any elective office of the Association.  

2.6 Member Classification Exclusive.  No person may concurrently hold more than one classification of member status with the Association.  

Article 3 — Meetings and Voting

3.1 Meetings of the Board.  The Board shall meet at least twice yearly, at such times and places as the Board shall determine.  The Board shall hold other meetings at such times and places as the Board President or the Executive Committee shall determine.  Any member of the Association shall be entitled to attend any meetings of the Board.  

3.2 Special Meetings of the Board.  Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President, the Executive Committee, or by any three (3) Governors.  The person or persons calling a special meeting of the Board may fix any place in the State of Kansas or a virtual meeting accessible to all members of the Board, as the place for holding the special meeting of the Board called by them.  Only those matters that are within the purpose or purposes described in the meeting notice required by these Bylaws may be conducted at a special meeting of the Board.  

3.3 Board of Governors Meeting Notice; Waiver of Notice.  Notice of any Board of Governor meeting, stating the place, day, and time of the meeting, the means of remote communication, if any, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose(s) for which the meeting is called, will be delivered or given to each Governor entitled to vote at such meeting in writing or by electronic transmission not less than three (3) business days before the date of the meeting.  Notice of a meeting may be delivered personally or mailed, sent by facsimile transmission or e-mail, to the address, facsimile number, or e-mail address for the Governor as it appears on the records of the Association.

A Governor may waive any notice required by these Bylaws before, at, or after the date and time stated in the notice.  The waiver must be in writing or by electronic transmission, signed by the Governor entitled to the notice, and delivered to the Association for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the Association’s records.  A Governor’s attendance at a meeting waives objection to lack of notice or defective notice of the meeting unless such member at the beginning of the meeting objects to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting.  A Governor waives objection to considering a particular matter at a meeting that is not within the purpose or purposes described in the meeting notice unless such Governor objects to considering the matter when presented at such meeting.  

3.4 Consent to Board of Governors Action Without Meeting.  Any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Board may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice, and without a vote, if consent or consents in writing or by electronic transmission, setting forth the action so taken, are signed by Governors having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all Governors having a right to vote were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Association by delivery to its registered office in this state, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Association having custody of the books in which proceedings of meetings of the Board are recorded.  Prompt notice of the taking of any action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those Governors who have not consented in writing or by electronic transmission and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for notice of such meeting had been the date that a written consent or consents signed by a sufficient number of Governors to take the action were delivered to the Board as provided above.  

3.5 Board Quorum, Voting.  A quorum at any meeting of the Board shall consist of one-third (1/3) of the Governors.  Each Governor shall be entitled to one (1) vote on all questions before a meeting.  Unless otherwise specifically provided by these Bylaws, the vote of a majority of the Governors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall constitute the act of the Board.  Voting rights of a Governor may not be delegated to another individual nor exercised by proxy.  

3.6 Board of Governors Meetings by Conference Telephone or Similar Communications Equipment.  A Governor entitled to vote at a meeting may participate in any meeting of the Board by telephone or virtually by means by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting in this manner will constitute presence in person at such meeting  

3.7 Removal; Vacancies.  A vacancy on the Board occasioned by the District Representative who no longer resides in or has an office in the represented District, death, incapacity, or removal of a Governor may be filled at any meeting of the Board.  Any Governor elected to fill a vacancy on the Board will serve a term expiring as of the scheduled expiration date of the term of their predecessor.  A vacancy on the Board occasioned by a resolution of the Board or an amendment to these Bylaws, the effect of which is to increase the number of Governors, may be filled at a regular board meeting or a special board meeting called for such purpose.  Any Governor elected to fill a vacancy created by an increase in Governors shall serve until the next annual election of Governors or until their successor is elected and qualified.  Any occurrence that results in a reduction of Board seats will not affect the remaining, unexpired term of any then-seated Governor.

3.8 Resignation.  Any Governor may resign immediately upon written notice or by electronic transmission to the Association.  Such resignation will be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some other time or upon the happening of some other event.  

3.9 Rules of Order.  The current edition of ‘Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised’ for parliamentary procedure shall be instructive in conducting meetings and proceedings of this Association, and the same may be invoked by the chair of any such meeting or proceeding in such chair’s discretion.  

Article 4— Board

4.1 Powers.  The governing body of the Association is the Board of Governors (the “Board”).  The Board shall manage the business and affairs of the Association.  The Board shall have and is vested with the power and authority to supervise, control, direct, and manage the assets, business, and affairs of the Association.  

4.2 Composition and Qualifications.  The membership of the Board shall be comprised of “Governors.” Only Regular Members of the Association in Good Standing may serve as a Governor.  The Governors shall be comprised of the following persons:  

(a) District Governors.  Governors (as provided below) shall be elected from among the Regular Members of the Association who reside or have their primary office in each geographic district (“District”), as established below, by the Regular Members residing or having their primary office in such District by vote of a plurality of such Regular Members casting votes in such election.  

District No. 1: The county of Johnson.

District No. 2: The counties of Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Douglas, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Leavenworth, Miami, Nemaha, Osage, Pottawatomie, and Wabaunsee.

District No. 3: The counties of Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Cherokee, Crawford, Labette, Linn, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson.

District No. 4: The counties of Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Coffey, Cowley, Elk, Greenwood, Lyon, and Sumner.

District No. 5: The county of Shawnee.

District No. 6: The counties of Clay, Cloud, Dickinson, Ellsworth, Geary, Lincoln, Marion, Marshall, McPherson, Morris, Ottawa, Republic, Riley, Saline, and Washington.

District No. 7: The county of Sedgwick.

District No. 8: The counties of Barber, Barton, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Pratt, Reno, Rice, and Stafford.

District No. 9: The counties of Clark, Comanche, Edwards, Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Kearny, Kiowa, Lane, Meade, Morton, Ness, Pawnee, Rush, Scott, Seward, Stanton, Stevens, and Wichita.

District No. 10: The counties of Cheyenne, Decatur, Ellis, Gove, Graham, Jewell, Logan, Mitchell, Norton, Osborne, Phillips, Rawlins, Rooks, Russell, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Thomas, Trego, and Wallace.

District No. 11: The county of Wyandotte.

District No. 12: All geographic areas outside of the State of Kansas.

Each District shall have at least one (1) Governor.  Any District with more than six percent (6%) of the total Regular Members who reside or have their primary office in such District shall have one (1) additional Governor, for a total of two (2) Governors.  Any District with more than twelve percent (12%) of the total Regular Members who reside or have their primary office in such District shall have one (1) additional Governor, for a total of three (3) Governors.  A count of the number of Regular Members from each District will take place in June annually, with the results provided to the Board within five (5) business days after completion of the count.  If a District’s Regular Member membership decreases to the point where an additional position on the Board is no longer numerically supported under such formula, such reduction in the number of Governor positions eligible for election from such District shall take effect at the expiration of the then-empaneled Governor’s current term. In no event will any District have more than three Governors. 

(b) Officers.  The following elected officers of the Association shall each serve as a Governor concurrent with the term of their office: President, President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.  The Immediate Past President and the President and Past President of the Young Lawyers Section shall each serve as a Governor concurrent with the term of their office. 

(c) American Bar Association Delegates.  Those American Bar Association (“ABA”) Delegates who are Regular Members of the Association, including the ABA State Delegate, State Bar Delegates, the Young Lawyer Delegate, or any Delegate at Large to the ABA House of Delegates, and any Regular Member who is a member of the ABA Board of Governors, shall each serve as a Governor concurrent with the term of their office. 

(d) Diversity Seat.  Every three years, or in the event of a vacancy, the President, subject to the approval of the Board, may appoint one (1) person who is a Regular Member to a three-year term as a Governor.  In the event of a vacancy, the then-current President may appoint one (1) person who is a Regular Member to complete the vacated term.  The purpose of this appointment is to promote diversity on the Board so that it better represents the membership and to encourage diverse viewpoints that may not otherwise be represented on the Board.  The Executive Committee should encourage such an appointed Governor to seek an elected position on the Board following the conclusion of their appointed term.  An appointed Governor may not be re-appointed for a subsequent term, but may seek election to the Board at any time.  Only one person may serve as a Governor pursuant to this paragraph at any time.   

4.3 No Compensation.  Governors and officers shall not receive any compensation for their services.  

4.4 Vacancies.  The Board shall fill all vacancies on the Board, except those of an Organizational Representative, occurring by death, removal, or resignation, and such appointee shall serve until the completion of the unexpired term of their predecessor.  

4.5 Organizational Representatives.  The following persons, or their respective designee, shall serve as ex-officio, non-voting Board participants concurrent with the term of their office: (1) President or Vice President of the Kansas District Judges Association; (2) President of the Kansas Bar Foundation or their designee, (3) Dean of the University of Kansas School of Law, (4) Dean of Washburn University School of Law, (5) Kansas Supreme Court – a member of the Supreme Court of Kansas to be selected by the Court, and (6) Kansas Court of Appeals – a member of the Kansas Court of Appeals to be selected by the Court.  

Article 5 — Elections and Terms of Office

5.1 District Governors. Each District shall elect representatives to the Board (Governors) as follows:

(a) Governor candidates from a District shall be nominated by a petition signed by at least ten (10) Regular Members of the Association who reside or have their primary office in the District.  The nominating petition shall be filed with the Executive Director on or before February 1 in the year the election is to occur.  All applicants must be members of the Association and in Good Standing. 

(b) Election of Governors shall be by confidential electronic or mail ballots cast by Regular Members of the Association who reside or have their primary office within the District in which the open Governor seat to be elected is held. 

The Executive Director shall cause an independent third-party provider to disseminate ballots to each member eligible to vote on or before March 15 in the year the election is to occur.  The ballot shall contain instructions that it must be returned to the Association by a day certain, which date shall not be less than 15 days from the date of notice.  The candidate(s) receiving a plurality of the votes cast in the election for Governor seats for a particular District shall be elected.  The election results shall be submitted to the Executive Committee following the election for their review and certification of the results.  If there is an uncontested Governor position, the sole nominated candidate shall be deemed elected.  The term of office for each Governor shall commence on July 1 of the year of their election. 

(c) In the event any District fails to nominate a Governor, then a candidate for such Governor.

(d) Position shall be submitted by the Nominating Committee, as provided in Section 7.2(g) of these Bylaws. 

(e) Each Governor elected to represent a District shall serve a three (3) year term.  No Governor elected to represent a District may serve more than two (2) complete consecutive terms in succession. 

5.2 Officers and Board Positions Representing the Association at the ABA.  The Nominating Committee shall make one or more nominations each year for the offices of Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer (Officers for purposes of this subsection) and for the positions of KBA Delegate to the ABA House and the ABA Young Lawyer Delegate as provided in Section 7.2(g) of these Bylaws.  Nominations may also be made for such offices and positions by a written nominating petition bearing twenty (20) signatures of Regular Members, with at least one signature from each Governor District.  All nominations by petition shall be filed with the Executive Director of the Association on or before February 1 in the year the election is to occur. All Officers and ABA Representatives must be members of the Association and in Good Standing. 

After the close of nominations and in the event of a contested election, the Executive Director shall conduct an election for such contested Officer position(s) by ballot in conjunction with and in the manner provided for the election of District Governors.  If there is an uncontested officer position, the sole nominated candidate shall be deemed elected.  The election results shall be submitted to the Executive Committee following the election for their review and certification of the results.  The term of office of all Officers shall be for one (1) year beginning July 1 and ending June 30 of the following year, while the Officer remains in Good Standing.  The term of office for all ABA Representatives shall be for two years, beginning September 1 and ending August 31 two years later, provided the ABA Representative remains in Good Standing.  No person may hold more than one Office, ABA Representative or Board position simultaneously. 

5.3 KBA Delegate to the ABA House.  There shall be elected delegates from the Association to the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association (ABA) who meet the qualifications established by the ABA.  Each Delegate shall serve for a two-year term.  If there is more than one delegate, the expiration of the terms shall be alternated so that the terms are staggered.  Delegates may serve for no more than three complete consecutive terms.  Candidates for Delegate shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee and/or by application as the terms expire.  KBA Delegates to the ABA House shall be elected in the same manner as Association officers.  s.

Article 6 — Sections

6.1 Purpose of a Section.   

(a) Develop and facilitate education and training on topics within the Section's jurisdiction as a means of protecting the public by promoting subject matter expertise and the highest standards of professional competence, ethics, and civility. 

(b) Provide opportunities for skills-building, professional development, and leadership.  

(c) Communicate and collaborate with other State Bar Sections and Committees, and with affinity bar associations, law schools, and other related entities, where appropriate, to advance the objectives of the Association and the Section. 

(d)  Welcome active participation among a diverse array of members and foster an inclusive atmosphere that encourages the expression of a wide range of points of view. Unless the Board expressly restricts membership in a particular Section, membership in all Sections must be open to all active members in Good Standing. 

(e) To the extent that doing so advances the goals of the Section, consistent with the purposes of the Association, review and take positions concerning proposed legislation, regulations, court rules, and other matters of public policy within the Section's jurisdiction. Section activities in public policy advocacy should be thoughtful, deliberate, and restrained, and comply with Association policies and procedures. 

6.2 Establishing or Combining Sections.  The Board shall consider the establishment of new Sections and the combination, discontinuance, or change of names of existing Sections on its own motion or on a petition and report subscribed and endorsed by at least twenty-five (25) members of the Association.  The report shall show substantial compliance with the following requirements: 

(a)  At least six (6) weeks before the meeting at which action upon the proposal is contemplated, the proponents thereof shall have filed with the Executive Director a statement setting forth  

(i) The contemplated jurisdiction of the Section, which shall be within the legal objectives of the Association and not in substantial conflict with the jurisdiction of any existing Section, standing committee, or special committee, the continuance of which is contemplated after the Section is established. 

(ii) The proposed charter of the Section, which shall contain a definition of its jurisdiction. 

(iii) The proposed activities of the Section for the first two (2) years of its operation. 

(iv) A petition signed by no less than twenty-five (25) members of the Association who assert their intention to apply for membership in the Section. 

(v) A statement of the need for the proposed Section.  

(b) In the case of a combination of Sections, a statement of any jurisdiction that will not be carried into the combination shall also be filed. 

6.3 Bylaws.  Each Section shall have a charter not inconsistent with the Articles and Bylaws of the Association.  Section charters or amendments thereto shall become effective when approved by the Board.  

6.4 Discontinuance and Change of Name of Sections.  The Board, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members in attendance at a meeting where a quorum is present, may discontinue or change the name of any Section.  No Section may be discontinued or its name changed until the officers of the Section have received at least 30 days' prior written notice.  Such officers shall be allowed to present whatever oral or written comments they wish the Board to consider before voting upon such discontinuance or change of name.  

6.5 General Membership.  Section members must be members of the Association and must meet the charter requirements of the respective Section.  

6.6 Officers.  A Section shall have a President and other officers as its charter provides.  The officers shall be the governing body of the Section unless the Section’s charter otherwise provides.  

6.7 Dues.  Dues shall be collected and disbursed by the Association to a Section in accordance with the duly approved annual budget of the Section, which shall be a component of the Association’s budget, and whatever policies and procedures the Board may establish in this regard.  The Board maintains the authority to establish a minimum dues amount to cover the costs of Section administration.   

6.8 Meetings.  A Section shall hold at least one annual meeting of its membership.  Failure to so meet may, in the discretion of the Board, result in eliminating such a Section. 

6.9 Existing Sections.  All existing Sections shall remain unless discontinued pursuant to Section 6.3 of these Bylaws.  

6.10 Annual Reports. Every Section shall annually prepare a written report summarizing its activities during the fiscal year, which shall be submitted to the Executive Director on or before November 1 of the next fiscal year.  

Article 7 — Committees

7.1 Executive Committee.  The Executive Committee of the Board shall be comprised of the President, President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, President of the Young Lawyers Section, Past President of the Young Lawyers Section, and two (2) At-Large members elected annually by the Board from the membership of the Board. The President-Elect shall present the names of two or more candidates for the At-Large positions to the Board for approval before the April Board meeting. 

(a) Subject to such prohibitions, limitations and conditions as the Board may prescribe from time to time, the Executive Committee will possess and may exercise any and all of the powers and duties of the Board in the interim between meetings of the Board as may be permitted by law, provided that all actions of the Executive Committee will be subject to the paramount power of the Board and will not conflict with any expressed policies of the Board.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive Committee will not have the power or authority of the Board to engage in the following acts: 

(i) Authorize distributions to members, Governors, officers, agents, or employees except in exchange for value received. 

(ii) Approve or recommend to members the dissolution or merger of the Association, or the sale, pledge, or transfer of all or substantially all of the Association’s assets; or

(iii) Adopt, amend, or repeal the Articles or these Bylaws.  

(b) The Executive Committee will keep a complete record of its activities and regularly report them to the Board at every meeting.  All action taken by the Executive Committee will be subject to revision, alteration, or change by the Board, provided that rights of third persons will not be affected thereby. 

(c) Specific responsibilities of the Executive Committee shall include, without limitation:  

(i) Propose an annual budget for adoption by the Board once submitted by the Finance Committee. 

(ii) Review and make recommendations regarding Association income and expenditures, investments, and other asset management. 

(iii) Review the Employee Retirement Plan and its administration.  

(iv) Conduct an annual performance evaluation of the Executive Director and make recommendations to the Board regarding the Executive Director’s performance, compensation, and benefits as part of the budgeting process. 

(v) Periodically review and make recommendations regarding the Association's personnel policies and internal operations. 

(vi) Perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board. 

7.2 Nominating Committee.  The Nominating Committee of the Board shall be comprised of members appointed by the President with the consent of the Board, subject to the following requirements:  

(a)Existing or past officers of the Association shall be a minority of the Nominating Committee. 

(b) The immediate past President (or a past President if the immediate Past President is not available) shall be a member of the Nominating Committee and shall serve as its Chair. 

(c) There shall be at least one (1) member of the Nominating Committee from (i) each District, (ii) the Diversity Committee, and (iii) the Young Lawyers Section. 

(d) The Nominating Committee shall give published notice of the date or dates of its meetings and shall solicit nominations from members of the Association at large and local bar associations. 

(e) Without establishing quotas, an effort shall be made to make the Nominating Committee reflective of the general composition of the Association as to age, gender, race, and area of legal practice. 

(f) The Nominating Committee Chair from the immediately preceding year shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Committee. 

(g) In addition, any applicant for an Officer or ABA Representative position nominated by application with twenty (20) letters of support, Section 5.2 of these Bylaws, who is a member of the Association and in Good Standing, shall be automatically nominated. The Nominating Committee shall have the authority to designate one or more candidates for the statewide election of Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President, KBA Delegate to the ABA House, and the ABA Young Lawyer Delegate.    The Nominating Committee shall also have the authority to nominate one or more candidates for any District Governor position if no valid nominating application is filed for the corresponding District Governor vacancy by the February 1 deadline pursuant to Section 5.1(a) of these Bylaws.  The Nominating Committee’s District Governor nominations must be filed with the Executive Director on or before February 15 of each year. 

7.3 Finance Committee. The Treasurer shall chair the Finance Committee and consist of the immediate past Treasurer and up to five (5) members of the Association, and the Executive Director shall serve as an ex-officio/non-voting member.  The members shall serve on an annual basis with eligibility for reappointment.  The Committee shall meet at least quarterly, review all the financial documentation of the Association, and make recommendations directly to the Board of Governors.  It is also the function of the Committee to: 

(a) Develop and monitor the annual budget prepared and proposed by the Executive.  

(b) Director fitting to the needs and resources of the Association. 

(c) Advise the Board on financial policies and procedures as they relate to proposed projects and activities. 

(d) Assure that the Association’s financial needs are forecast to a reasonable degree. 

(e) Monitor the Association’s system of accounts and ensure the funds are properly maintained and periodically monitor any and all expenditures by the Executive Director and the Association submitted for reimbursement. 

(f)  Establish spending policy and application process for the Association. 

(g) Provide influence to help the strengthening and growth of the Association’s financial status, and 

(h) Monitor the performance of the organization’s investment portfolio and select fund managers to assist in the investment of the Association’s portfolio. 

(i) Review all Association expenditures over $2,500.00. 

7.4 Past Presidents Committee.  The Past Presidents Committee shall be comprised of all Association Past Presidents.  

(a) The immediate past President (or, if the immediate past President is not available, a past President selected by the Board President) shall be the chair of the Past Presidents Committee. The chair shall serve a one-year term and serve as the liaison between the Committee and the Board to facilitate communication and coordination. 

(b) The Past Presidents Committee shall:  

(i) Identify and complete special projects as the Committee, Board, or Executive Committee deems advantageous. 

(ii) Meet quarterly to fulfil its mission in support of the Association. 

(iii) Serve as ambassadors for the Association to further its mission and purposes as defined in Article 1.3. 

(iv) Provide historical knowledge for the Association, including in its strategic planning. 

(v)  Recommend actions or initiatives to the Board or the Executive Committee that further the Association’s mission and purposes as defined in Article 1.3. 

7.5 Other Committees.  In addition to the Executive Committee and the Nominating Committee, there shall be such other standing, special, and ad hoc committees as the Board may create and designate.  The Board shall designate annually at the June meeting, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board, one or more committees, each to consist of one or more of the Governors of the Association.  Each such committee: 

(a) Shall have such purpose as may be determined from time to time by resolution approved by the Board; 

(b) Shall have and exercise such powers and authority as the Board may from time to time designate and confer. 

The delegation of authority to any committee will not operate to relieve the Board or any Governor from any responsibility imposed by law.  

7.6 Recordkeeping.  Unless otherwise directed by the Board, all committees will keep regular minutes of the transactions at their meetings and will cause them to be recorded in books kept for that purpose in the office of the Association and will report the same to the Board. 

7.7 Quorum.  Unless otherwise provided in the resolution of the Board designating a committee, one-third of the whole committee will constitute a quorum, and the act of a majority of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum is present will be the act of the committee.  

Article 8 — Officers

8.1 Officers.  The Association shall have a President, a President-Elect, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.  

8.2 Resignation and Vacancies.  Any officer may resign at any time upon written notice or by electronic transmission to the Board of Governors.  Acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.  Election or appointment of an officer does not in itself create contract rights.  Vacancies occurring in any of the offices of the Association shall be filled for their unexpired term by the Board.  

8.3 President.  The President shall serve as Chair of the Board and the Executive Committee.  The President shall make all required appointments of standing and special committees with the approval of the Board.  The President may execute all contracts and other instruments for and on behalf of the Association and will do and perform all other things for and on behalf of the Association as the Board may authorize and direct.  

8.4 President-Elect.  The President-Elect shall automatically succeed to the office of President on 1 July of the year following ascension to office.  Duties of the President-Elect shall be delegated by the Board.  The President-Elect shall perform the duties of the President in the event of the President’s unavailability or inability to serve.  

8.5 Vice President.  The Vice President shall automatically succeed to the office of President-Elect on 1 July of the year following ascension to office.  Duties of the Vice President shall be delegated by the President or the Board.  The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President-Elect in the event of the President-Elect’s unavailability or inability to serve.  

8.6 Secretary.  The Secretary shall be in charge of the Association’s records.    They will cause to be issued notices of all meetings in accordance with these Bylaws or as required by law; the proper recording of proceedings of meetings of the Association, the Board and all committees (including, without limitation, the Executive Committee); carry into effect all orders, votes and resolutions of the Association, the Board and all committees, not otherwise committed; and the maintenance of membership records.  Such duties of the Secretary may be delegated to the Executive Director.  

8.7 Treasurer.  The Treasurer shall be responsible for overseeing the Association’s financial administration.  They shall collect all member dues and/or assessments; shall have established proper accounting procedures for the handling of the Association’s funds, and shall be responsible for the keeping of the funds in such banks, trust companies, and/or investments as are approved by the Finance Committee.  They shall report on the Association's financial condition to the Board and at other times when called upon by the President and serve as Chair of the Finance Committee.  At the end of each fiscal year, they shall prepare an annual report including an audit or review (as applicable) by a certified public accountant.  At the expiration of their term of office, they shall deliver over to their successor all books, accounts, and other property in their charge, or in the absence of a successor, shall deliver such property to the President.  During the year following their term of office, they shall serve as a member of the Finance Committee.  Duties dealing with the day-to-day financial management of the Association may be delegated to the Executive Director. 

8.8 Executive Director.  The Board shall employ a salaried Executive Director.  The Board shall specify the terms and conditions of employment of the Executive Director.  The Executive Director shall be responsible for the oversight and direction of all management functions of the Association.  The Executive Director shall manage and direct all activities of the Association as prescribed by the Board and shall be responsible to the Board.  The Executive Director shall employ, fix the compensation of, and may terminate the employment of such staff of the Association as is necessary to carry on the work of the Association, within the economic parameters of the Association budget approved for each fiscal period.  The Executive Director shall define the duties of the staff, supervise their performance, establish their titles, and delegate their responsibilities as shall, in their judgment, be in the best interest of the Association.  

Article 9— Finance

9.1 Fiscal Period. The fiscal period of the Association shall be as prescribed by the Board.

9.2 Budget.  With the recommendation of the Finance Committee and Executive Committee, the Board shall adopt in advance of each fiscal period an annual operating budget covering all activities of the Association for such prospective period.  

9.3 Audit.  The accounts of the Association shall be audited not less frequently than every three fiscal periods, and shall be reviewed in each intervening fiscal period, by a Certified Public Accountant retained for such purpose by the Finance Committee on behalf of the Association.  Such a Certified Public Accountant shall report to the Board.  

Article 10— Seal

The Association shall have no seal.  The Association may utilize its historic seal for decorative purposes. 

Article 11— Electronic Communications and Signatures

Electronic communications, records, and signatures may be used in connection with all matters contemplated by these Bylaws, except to the extent prohibited by applicable law.  Except as may be specifically set forth herein, the parties may use and rely upon electronic communications, records, and signatures for all notices, waivers, consents, undertakings, and other documents, communications, or information of any type sent or received in connection with the matters contemplated by these Bylaws.  An electronically transmitted (but not oral) document will be deemed to satisfy any requirement under these Bylaws or applicable law that such document be “written,” “in writing,” or the like.  An electronic signature or electronically transmitted signature by any person on any document (properly authenticated) will be deemed to satisfy any requirement under these Bylaws or applicable law that such document be “signed” or “executed” by such person or circumstances.  An electronic transmittal or communication (but not oral) of a document will constitute delivery of such document.  None of the Association, any member or any Governor may contest the authorization for, or validity or enforceability of, electronic records and electronic signatures, or the admissibility of copies thereof, under any applicable law relating to whether certain agreements, transmissions, signatures, files or electronic records are to be in writing or signed by the party to be bound thereby.  

Article 12— Amendment of Bylaws

These Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the entire Board, provided that a copy of the proposed amendments is provided to each officer and Governor not less than thirty (30) days before the meeting at which they are to be considered.  All amendments to the Bylaws shall be published in The Journal of the Kansas Bar Association promptly following adoption.  

Article 13— Date Effective

All provisions of the Bylaws of the Association heretofore existing are hereby repealed and replaced in their entirety by these Bylaws, and the provisions hereof shall be in full force and effect from and after the date of their adoption by the Board.  

AS AMENDED: June 1987; June 1993; May 1995; June 2002; September 2003; September 2005, February 2009, February 2010, April 2011, June 2014, June 2015, September 2016, January 2021, August 2021, and April 2025.