Operating Rules

RULE 1. NAME
This organization shall be known as the Employee Benefits Association of Northern Illinois (Conference).

RULE 2. PURPOSE
The purpose of this Conference is the interchange of information concerning the development, financing, funding or administration of pension, profit sharing and other employee benefit plans, and either acting alone or with others, to bring to the public and to ap- propriate governmental agencies the viewpoint of the membership as to matters relating to such plans. Such viewpoint is to be determined by all members of the Executive Committee. No member shall express an opinion representing it to be the viewpoint of the Conference without the prior approval of the Execu- tive Committee.

RULE 3. MEMBERSHIP
The initial membership shall consist of those persons who constituted the organizational group. Any other person who requests membership in writing and is recorded by the Executive Committee shall become a member. Such person should have on-going and continuing experience and responsibility for and in the development, financing, funding or administration of pension, profit sharing or other employee benefit plans.

RULE 4. DUES
Each member shall pay annual dues of $25.00 for each fiscal year of membership beginning July 1, 1990. Dues shall first be payable when a person’s application for membership is approved by the Ex- ecutive Committee and as of each July 1 thereafter; provided, however, no dues shall be required for the year in which she/he becomes a member in the case of a person whose application for membership is made and recorded after February 28 of any year. Failure to pay dues within three (3) months of the date payable shall be considered as resignation of membership in the Conference.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, dues for representa- tives of charitable organizations will be waived in their entirety if it is determined by the Executive Commit- tee that representation of that organization will be beneficial to, and further the stated purpose of, the Conference.

RULE 5. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee shall consist of eight (8) members, one of whom shall be the immediate past President of the Conference or a special Member at Large, The President, A Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Marketing Chairperson, a Membership Chairperson and Administrative Chairperson. A ma- jority of the voting members of the Executive Commit- tee shall constitute a quorum. Members may be elected to succeed themselves, but no member shall be elected President for consecutive terms unless approved by the Executive Committee. Any vacancy in the office occurring between the annual election shall be filled for the remainder of the term of such office by a member appointed by the Executive Com- mittee. The President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer shall have the respective powers and du- ties normally associated with their respective titles. Not more than two (2) members whose principal means of livelihood consists of employment by or association with any business or entity representing a particular area of interest in the employee benefit field, such as law, actuarial or other employee benefit consultants, public accounting, banking, insurance, organized labor, investment advisors, etc., shall serve on the Executive Committee at the same time. The Executive Committee shall have responsibility for general management of the affairs of the Conference, including, but not limited to: Interpretation of the Op- erating Rules; appointment of committees; election and termination of candidates to membership; call of meetings; arrangements for the management of, and authorization of persons to deal with, banking, ac- counts and other assets of the Conference; and em- ployment of agents to perform any ministerial func- tions in carrying on the activities of the Conference.

RULE 6. ELECTIONS
On or before March 1, of each year the President of the Executive Committee shall encourage the identifi- cation of potential members to be elected to the Ex- ecutive Committee for any vacation positions for the upcoming year. This identification process will be through current Board Members and through an- nouncements at monthly meetings. Election of the members of the Executive Committee shall be held at the first regularly scheduled meeting on or after April 1 of each year, or at such other meetings as shall be approved by a majority of the members of the Confer- ence, with terms to run July 1 through June 30. No- tice of the slate of nominees of the Nominating Com- mittee shall be included in the announcement of the election meeting. The President of the Executive
Committee, or in his/her absence, the Vice-President, shall conduct the election, calling for additional nomi- nations from the floor. Elections shall be decided by a majority vote of the members present.

RULE 7. MEETINGS
Regular meetings of the membership shall be sched- uled upon the written notice of the Executive Commit- tee to the membership and it is intended that they will generally be held at Rockford, Illinois five (5) times each year. Special meetings of the membership may be called by the Executive Committee upon the giving of two (2) weeks prior notice to the membership. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be sched- uled by the President or Vice-President. Except as otherwise expressly provided to the contrary in these Rules, Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the con- duct of meetings of the Conference.

RULE 8. AMENDMENT OF RULES
These Operating Rules may be amended by an af- firmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3rds) of the members of the Conference present and voting at a duly scheduled meeting, provided two (2) weeks’ no- tice of any amendment has been sent to each mem- ber.
Effective 1978, Amended October 18, 1979, October 22, 1980, September 26, 1984, October 22, 1986, September 27, 1989, September 14, 1996, April 14, 1998, April 13, 1999 and April 23, 2003.