AMENDED BYLAWS

(Amendments Adopted June 28, 2007)

ARTICLE ONE – NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Knox County Bar Association and shall be hereafter designated simply as “the Association”.

HISTORICAL NOTES: Article One as adopted on January 9, 1969, stated: “The name of this organization is the Knox-Bar-Library Association, as established by the Maine Legislature by Chapter 73 of the Private and Special Laws of 1923.”

ARTICLE TWO – PURPOSE

The purpose of this Association shall be to promote the administration of justice; to uphold the honor of the profession of law; to encourage the continuing professional education of lawyers; to apply the knowledge and experience of its members in the field of law to the promotion of the public good; to promote good will among the members of the bar and the judiciary and to carry on in connection therewith any other lawful activity which is calculated, directly or indirectly, to advance the purpose of this Association.

HISTORICAL NOTES: Article Two was formerly designated as Article Four, and, as adopted on January 9, 1969, stated: “This Association shall supervise the Knox County Law Library in accordance with the Maine Statutes, shall promote high ethical standards and continuing education in the legal profession and shall cooperate with the Maine State Bar Association in its programs.”

ARTICLE THREE – MEMBERSHIP

Membership shall include all lawyers admitted to the State of Maine Bar who either reside or practice law in Knox County and abide by these bylaws.

HISTORICAL NOTES: Article Three, formerly designated Article Two, was adopted on January 9, 1969.

ARTICLE FOUR – FISCAL YEAR AND DUES

4.1 FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Association shall be the calendar year.

4.2 DUES. Dues shall be payable on the first day of July each year. The amount of dues shall be determined from time to time upon recommendation by the Executive Committee and approval by a majority of those present at the Association’s next regular membership meeting.

4.3 COLLECTION. The Treasurer shall, after diligently seeking to collect, and after notice to members of this Bylaw, report to the Executive Committee the names of all members who are ninety days, or more, in arrears on their dues and the Executive Committee may thereupon declare such persons to no longer be members of this Association.

HISTORICAL NOTES: Article Four was formerly designated Article Three and, as adopted on January 9, 1969, stated: “Dues shall be five dollars per year plus such special assessments as may be voted by the membership” and as amended on January 19, 1977, “Dues shall be ten dollars per year plus such special assessments as may be voted by the membership.”

ARTICLE FIVE – OFFICERS

5.1 OFFICERS. The officers of the Association shall be: President, one or more Vice-Presidents, Secretary and Treasurer.

5.2 DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT. The President shall preside at all meetings, and shall supervise the regular business of the Association. The President shall initiate and recommend programs and activities to further the interests of the Association and its members, act as Chairman of the Executive Committee, appoint Chairman offices and members of the committees, and supervise the regular business and operation of the Association.

5.3 DUTIES OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT(S). The Vice-President(s), in order shall act in the absence of the President and shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the President.

5.4 DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY. The Secretary shall keep records of the proceedings of the Association and of such other matters as may be directed to be placed in the files of the Association, and shall issue notices of all meetings. The Secretary shall furnish the Treasurer with the names and addresses of persons elected members, and shall supervise the correspondence of the Association. The Secretary shall report the activities of the Association at the annual meeting of the Association and shall perform such other duties as may herein be vested in that office. The Association’s books, papers and records at all times shall be open to the inspection of the officers and members of the Association.

5.5 DUTIES OF THE TREASURER. The Treasurer shall keep an accurate roll of the members of the Association; shall notify members of their election to membership; shall collect, keep careful and regular book accounts of, and expend, under the direction of the Executive Committee, all monies of the Association. The Treasurer, when directed by the President or the Executive Committee, shall submit detailed statements of the monies received and expended and the amounts due to and by the Association. The Treasurer’s books and accounts shall at all times be subject to examination and audit by the officers, or by special committee appointed for that purpose.

5.6 ELIGIBILITY FOR OFFICE. Any member of the Association whose good standing can be certified by official Association records shall be eligible for office.

5.7 NOMINATIONS AND VOTING. At least sixty (60) days prior to the Annual meeting, the President of the Association shall notify the members that the Officers shall be elected at the Annual Meeting; the President shall solicit from the membership nominations for the Officers to be directed to the President and to be received thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting. The Nominating Committee, comprised of the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, along with such Past Presidents as the President may appoint, is authorized to prepare a slate of proposed officers for submission to the Annual Meeting. Voting on the nominations shall occur at the Annual Meeting.

5.8 TERM OF OFFICE. The officers shall be elected for terms of two years at the annual meetings in the years of the election of the President of the United States and of the election of the Governor of the State of Maine. The President shall not be eligible to serve a third term until another person has served as President following the expiration of a full term.

5.9 RESIGNATION; VACANCIES. Notwithstanding Section 5.8 above, any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to at least one of the Executive Committee and may be removed from office by vote of the membership at any time. In case any office becomes vacant by death, resignation, disqualification, or any cause other than removal, the remaining officers, by majority action, may select an officer to fill such vacancy until the next annual meeting. In the event any officer is removed by the members of the Association, a successor shall be elected by the members at the time of such removal to serve until the next annual meeting of the membership.

HISTORICAL NOTES: Article Five as adopted on January 9, 1969, stated:

“Officers shall be a president, one or more vice presidents, a secretary-treasurer, and a librarian, each performing the duties customary to the office. The officers shall be elected for terms of two years at the annual meetings in the years of the election of the President of the United States and of the election of the Governor of the State of Maine. The president shall not be eligible to serve a third term until another person has served as president following the expiration of a full term. Vacancies shall be filled by electing a member to complete the unexpired term.”

Article Five as amended on September 28, 1972 stated:

“Officers shall be a president, one or more vice-presidents, a secretary-treasurer, and a librarian, each performing the duties customary to the office. The officers shall be elected for terms of two years at the annual meetings in the years of the election of the President of the United States and of the election of the Governor of the State of Maine. The president shall not be eligible to serve a fourth term until another person has served as president following the expiration of a full term. Vacancies shall be filled by electing a member to complete the unexpired term.”

ARTICLE SIX – MEETINGS

6.1 ANNUAL MEETING. The Annual Meeting of this Association shall be held on the first Wednesday of the month of October. The date of this meeting may be changed to any other time during the month of October, subject to the discretion of the President. Notice of the Annual Meeting shall be provided by regular mail, email or fax to the membership at least thirty (30) days before the date so fixed.

6.2 REGULAR MEETINGS. A minimum of one additional meeting per year is to be called by the President for the first Wednesday of April. The dates of this meeting may be changed to any other time during the month of April, subject to the discretion of the President. Notice of the April Meeting shall be provided by regular mail, email or fax to the membership at least fourteen (14) days before the date so fixed.

6.3 SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special Meetings of this Association may be called by the President or a majority of the Executive Committee at any time, provided that written notice of such special meeting shall be provided by regular mail, email or fax at least fourteen (14) days in advance thereof to each member at the address, email address or fax number which the member has most recently supplied to the Treasurer. Special meetings of the Association may be held by tele-conference as long as proper notice of the time and method of meeting has been provided.

HISTORICAL NOTES: Article Six as adopted on January 9, 1969 stated:

“The annual meeting shall be held during the October term of Superior Court and a meeting shall be held during each term of Court.”

Article Six as amended on January 19, 1977 stated:

“The annual meeting shall be held during the month of October. A minimum of four meetings per year are to be called by the President for the first Wednesday of January, April, July and October. The dates of these four meetings may be changed for any other time during the months of January, April, July and October, subject to the discretion of the President.”

ARTICLE SEVEN – VOTING

Only members in good standing and present in person shall be eligible to vote at any Annual Meeting. Eight (8) members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting or any other regular meeting.

HISTORICAL NOTES: Article Seven as adopted on January 9, 1969, stated: “Written or verbal notice of each meeting shall be given at least seventy-two hours in advance thereof. Eight (8) members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.”

ARTICLE EIGHT – AMENDING BYLAWS

These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any duly noticed meeting provided that notice of the proposed amendments has been given by regular mail, email or fax in the call of the meeting.

HISTORICAL NOTES: Article Eight as adopted on January 9, 1969, stated: “These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any meeting provided that written notice of the proposed amendment has been given in the call of the meeting.”

ARTICLE NINE – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

There shall be an Executive Committee of the Association consisting of President, Vice-President(s), Secretary and Treasurer. The Executive Committee is empowered to act on behalf of this Association between regular meetings of the Association.

HISTORICAL NOTES: This is a new provision.