History
of MNI
| Communicator
of Achievement
Past
Presidents
| By-Laws
By-Laws
| Article I | Name |
| Article II | Objectives |
| Article III | Membership |
| Article IV | Dues |
| Article V | Officers and Terms |
| Article VI | Nominations and Elections |
| Article VII | Duties of Officers |
| Article VIII | Board of Directors |
| Article IX | Executive Committee |
| Article X | Committees |
| Article XI | Official Publication |
| Article XII | Meetings |
| Article XIII | Amendments |
| Standing Rules of MNI | |
ARTICLE I -- NAME
Section
1.
The name of this organization shall be Media Network Idaho, hereinafter
referred to as MNI, an affiliate of the National Federation of
Press Women, hereinafter referred to as NFPW. Prior to April
2006, the organization was known as Idaho Press Women.
ARTICLE II -- OBJECTIVES
Section
1.
The MNI shall be a nonprofit organization of professionals in
communications. Its objectives shall be to advance standards
of the communications profession, to provide exchange of journalistic
ideas and experiences, to help and encourage members in their
chosen fields, and to coordinate editorial opinion on matters
of interest to professional communicators.
ARTICLE III -- MEMBERSHIP
Section
1.
Membership shall consist of persons whose interests and pursuits
are germane to the objectives of MNI and NFPW.
Section 2. Membership classifications shall be:
- a. Active
- b. Student
- c. High School student
- d. Emeritus
- e. Honorary
- f. Corporate
a.
ACTIVE
Anyone
who qualifies as a professional communicator actively engaged
in any aspect of communication for remuneration. Applicant may
be an owner or co-owner of a business (husband and/or wife or
other partnership composition). Qualified applicants for Active
Membership must apply for dual membership in MNI and NFPW.
b.
STUDENT
(1) Any student enrolled in a college or university communications
program, including but not limited to English, advertising, print/broadcast/telecast/technical
or other specialized communications, photojournalism or public
relations, and/or any students enrolled in a college or university
program in a different field than listed above, but who is working
either part- or full-time in one of the areas listed, may be
eligible for Student Membership, and pay Student Member dues.
(2) MNI/NFPW Student Members may attend meetings and speak to motions, but not propose, second or vote on motions, nor be counted for quorums, nor in membership totals for delegate allocation, nor hold office. They shall be eligible for the NFPW Communications Contest for Active Members, following all its regulations. They shall be listed in MNI and National directories and shall receive state and national publications.
(3) Student Members will be eligible for Active Membership for six months following college graduation. After that, they must qualify as professionals according to Section 2 of this Article. If Active Members return to college to further their communications expertise, they may qualify for Student Membership reduction in dues during the college status.
c.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT
High school students may qualify for High School Student membership.
High School Student Members may attend meetings and enter into
discussion but will have no vote, and will not be eligible for
the regular Communications Contest.
d.
EMERITUS
Any member in good standing for at least five years who retires
from full-time professional employment and does not receive substantial
remuneration from professional communications work may elect
to become a Member Emeritus. Emeritus Members may attend meetings
and enter into discussions, but may not vote on motions, nor
hold office, nor be counted for quorums, but shall be counted
in membership totals for delegate allocations. They may enter
the regular Communications Contest.
e.
HONORARY
Honorary membership may be conferred on persons MNI desires to
recognize for meritorious achievements and who do not qualify
for regular MNI membership. There shall be two classifications
of Honorary Membership:
(1) Working Honorary Membership shall be granted by MNI, with no MNI dues payment necessary, and dues to the NFPW will be paid by MNI. Working Honorary Membership persons will enjoy all the privileges of Active Membership.
(2) Courtesy Honorary Membership shall be granted for reasons of prestige that may accrue through their membership. No payment of state or national dues is required by MNI or NFPW, and no voting or other privileges or obligations of MNI membership are assigned.
(3) Honorary memberships may be granted at the annual meeting by a majority vote of members present.
f.
CORPORATE
Any corporation or association whose business purpose is to promote,
develop, market, or provide communications is eligible for a
Corporate Membership in MNI and NFPW. Corporate Members are permitted
up to three representatives to MNI and NFPW conference for the
registration fee available to Active Members, up to three subscriptions
to all MNI and NFPW publications and other such privileges as
the MNI Board may designate. Representatives of corporations
or associations may attend meetings and speak to motions, but
may not propose, second, or vote on motions nor be counted for
quorums not in membership totals for delegate allocation, nor
hold office. Delegates who are Active Members are not barred
from exercising full membership prerogatives by virtue of their
appointment as corporate representives.
Section 3. An applicant for membership must present to the First Vice President a completed MNI Membership Application Form, signed by an MNI member as a sponsor. The application must be accompanied by three samples of journalistic endeavor dated within the two years prior to the date of the membership application. The payment of one year's dues must accompany the application. Applications shall be reviewed and upon approval the applicant shall be accepted in one of the membership classifications. (See Section 2.)
Section 4. The Board shall have the power to revoke membership if due cause is presented. Violations of the NFPW Code of Ethics shall be considered as one example of due cause. The decision of the Board shall be considered final.
Section 5. Any Active MNI Member with a non-employment period may remain active as long as current dues are paid.
Section 6. Any MNI member, to be eligible for 25-year honors, or other honors of longevity, shall have maintained continuous membership.
ARTICLE IV -- DUES
Section
1.
The annual dues for Active Memberships shall be $61.50 which
includes $10 MNI dues payable to the NFPW, which reimburses MNI
for the state's portion of the dues. Applications accepted after
October 15 shall be at the rate for the ensuing year and shall
be credited for that year and the remainder of the current year.
Section 2. The annual dues for Student Members shall be $25, which includes $5 MNI dues.
Section 3. The annual dues for High School Student Members shall be $5.
Section 4. The annual dues for Emeritus Members shall be $25, which includes $5 MNI dues.
Section 5. Honorary Members shall pay no dues.
Section 6. Annual dues for Corporations or Associations qualified for membership shall be $600.
Section 7. Dues are due and payable January 1 of each year and shall become delinquent February 1.
ARTICLE V -- OFFICERS AND TERMS
Section
1.
The officers of the MNI shall be President, Vice President, Secretary,
Treasurer, Immediate Past President and four Directors. The directors
will be at-large positions representing the various areas of
communication interests within the organization (such as magazine,
print journalism, freelance, public relations, etc.)
Section 2. At the annual meeting held in the spring of even-numbered years the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and four Directors shall be elected to serve for two years or until their successors are elected, and their term of office shall begin at the close of the annual meeting at which they are elected.
Section 3. In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice President shall become President. A vacancy in any of the other elective offices shall be filled by a vote of the Board of Officers and Directors.
ARTICLE VI -- NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section
1.
A Nominating Committee of three persons, including one Past President
of the organization, shall be elected at the fall semi-annual
meeting in odd-numbered years.
Section 2. The Vice President, if willing, is considered president-elect of the organization by the Nominating Committee. The outgoing president automatically becomes a board member as Past President, and can hold no other elective office at that time.
Section 3. The committee shall nominate at least one candidate for each office to be filled at the next election, provided consent of the nominees has been obtained. The nominating report shall be received by the President not later than February 1. The committee shall prepare a biographical-professional sketch of all nominees, to be included in the MNI Newsletter mailed to members at least 20 days prior to the annual meeting. Nominations may be made from the floor the day of the election, providing a nominee is in good standing and has consented to the nomination.
Section 4. Election shall be by ballot, except where there is but one candidate for each office, and then the election may be by voice vote and shall require a plurality vote of the members voting.
ARTICLE VII -- DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section
1.
The duties of the officers shall be:
a. The President shall preside at all meetings of the MNI, the Board of Directors, and the Executive Committee, and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee. The President shall appoint a Parliamentarian, a Historian, and all standing and special committees.
b. The Vice President shall serve as an aide to the President and shall serve as chair of the Membership Committee. The Vice President, if willing, is considered president-elect of the organization.
c. The Secretary shall keep an accurate record of all meetings of the MNI, the Board of Directors, and the Executive Committee; shall keep a roster of all members, complete with addresses, and furnish this list, or any part thereof, to such officers and committee chairs as requested for official use; and shall conduct such correspondence as the MNI, the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee shall direct. The Secretary shall be the custodian of all official correspondence, financial reports, and special lists such as the Communicator of Achievement Winners, Communications Contest Winners, and new member applications.
d. The Treasurer shall have charge of all funds of the MNI, subject to control of the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall keep an itemized account of all receipts and disbursements and shall present a written report at the annual meeting. The Treasurer shall file a list of all members in good standing with the Chair of the Nominating Committee prior to the annual meeting.
e. Each officer shall file a written report of the two-year term with the Secretary at the annual meeting.
f. Each officer, at the conclusion of the term, shall make a digest of the two-year term and present it along with any document necessary to the newly elected officer.
g. Any officer or member of the Board of Directors can be removed from office for failure to attend, in person or by proxy, a majority of regularly scheduled MNI meetings.
ARTICLE VIII -- BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section
1.
The elected officers, the Immediate Past President and the four
elected Directors constitute the Board of Directors.
Section 2. The Board shall have the power to transact the general business of the organization between meetings.
Section 3. The Board shall function in an advisory capacity in the supervision of officers and committees; shall have the power to assign special duties to any officer or committee chair; and shall fill all vacancies in office except that of President, herein provided.
Section 4. The Board shall meet prior to and following state conferences, and at such other times as deemed necessary by the President.
Section 5. A quorum shall be one-half of the members of the Board.
ARTICLE IX -- EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section
1.
The President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Immediate
Past President shall constitute the Executive Committee.
Section 2. The Executive Committee shall have general supervision of the affairs of this organization between Board meetings, and shall fix the hour and place of Board Meetings and annual meetings. This committee is subject to the orders of the organization and none of its acts shall conflict with action taken by the Board or general membership.
Section 3. Meetings shall be on call by the President or by two members of the Executive Committee other than the President.
Section 4. A quorum shall be one-half of the members of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE X -- COMMITTEES
Section
1.
The standing committees of this organization shall be: Membership;
Publicity; Newsletter; Conference Chair; Communications Contest;
Communicator of Achievement; High School Contest; and College
Scholarship.
Section 2. The Communications Contest Committee may be appointed to serve for one or two years. All other committees shall be appointed to serve for two years.
Section 3. All committee chairs shall be appointed by the President as provided in Article VII, Section 1a. Each committee chair shall preserve and turn over to the successor such material and information as may be helpful in carrying on the work.
ARTICLE XI -- OFFICIAL PUBLICATION
Section
1.
The MNI Newsletter shall be the connecting link of all members.
It shall:
a. Contain information pertinent to the organization and needed by the members.
b. Be published regularly, with special editions as necessary.
c. Be financed by MNI from member dues.
ARTICLE XII -- MEETINGS
Section
1.
The annual meeting of the membership shall be held in the spring
on a Friday and Saturday unless otherwise ordered by the organization
or the Board. A semi-annual meeting of the membership may be
held in the fall. Time and place will be determined by the President.
Section 2. A quorum shall be one-fourth of the active category of MNI members.
ARTICLE XIII -- AMENDMENTS
These bylaws may be amended at any annual meeting by two-thirds
vote of the active category of members present, provided the
amendments are recommended by a majority vote of the Board of
Directors and presented to the members with the convention call.
STANDING RULES: Media Network Idaho
1 All bylaws and standing rules of the Media Network Idaho must coincide with the bylaws and standing rules of the NFPW.
a. The fiscal year is the calendar year.
2. The contest year for materials being submitted is January 1 through December 31. Deadline for submitting all entries is to be determined by the contest chair.
a. Each entry must be accompanied by an entry fee of $10.00 to cover cost of processing.
b. Dues must be paid for the coming year before an entry is eligible for judging.
3. The Communicator of Achievement is to be named every year or every other year at the annual meeting and entered in the NFPW's Communicator of Achievement contest the following year.
4. The Ann Adams Scholarship is to be given from accrued interest on savings accounts and as available.
a. The scholarship will be offered to junior and senior students majoring in a communications-related field at Idaho public four-year colleges.
b. The amount of the scholarship will be $500.00 to be awarded in the spring semester.
5. The Gladys Rae Swank Youth High School awards will be presented to Idaho high school students. Guidelines will follow the National High School Communications Competition Rules.
a. Awards will be made for the categories as determined by the NFPW student contest. Recipients will be determined through the High School Communications Competition with first place award entries forwarded to the NFPW High School Communications Competition.
b. A fee of $5 per entry is required. Cash awards will be given.