Bylaws of the Central Kentucky American Inn of
Court
Article I - General
Section 1. Purpose.
The purposes of The Central Kentucky American
Inn of Court are set forth in its Organizational Charter issued by
the American Inns of Court Foundation.
Section 2. Principal Location.
The Central Kentucky American Inn of Court
shall be located in the city of Lexington, County of Fayette,
Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Article II - Organization
Section 1. The Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is composed of the
officers and at-large members of the Inn, who each shall serve on
one of the standing committees formed by the Executive Committee
and such other members as are determined by the Masters. The
duties of the Executive Committee, and its members, are set forth
in the Organizational Charter, and as set forth herein.
Section 2. The Officers.
The officers of the Inn shall be a president,
past president (immediate), a counselor, a secretary and a
treasurer, and such other officers as the Masters deem
necessary. The officers serve a one year term, or as
otherwise directed by the Masters, and may succeed themselves only
once. The officers are selected by the Masters in accordance
with the Organizational Charter of the Inn.
Section 3. Committees.
The Executive Committee may establish
standing and ad hoc committees from time to time from among the
active members of the Inn, and from time to time may change or
discontinue committees.
Initially, the following standing committees
shall be established: Membership Committee, Program
Committee, Social Committee, Reporting Committee and Liaison
Committee.
Among such other duties as may be assigned by
the Masters and the Executive Committee, the duties of each
committee shall be as follows:
Membership Committee: The Membership
Committee shall solicit and review applications and make
recommendations to the Executive Committee, for membership in the
Inn, including the removal of members from the Inn due to behavior
contrary to the purposes of the Inn as set forth in its
Organizational Charter; shall maintain records of attendance and
oversee attendance in accordance with Article IV, Section 2 of
these Bylaws, and shall assign members to Pupilage Groups.
Program Committee. The Program
Committee shall oversee and approve program topics, and shall be
responsible for submitting programs for Continuing Legal Education
credit.
Social Committee. The Social Committee
shall be responsible for scheduling, arranging and collecting
monies for approved social functions of the Inn within the
parameters as set forth by the Executive Committee.
Reporting Committee. The Reporting
Committee shall be responsible for the distribution of news,
announcements, and other information among members of the Inn, and
to the American Inns of Court Foundation, shall be responsible for
submitting program reports to the American Inns of Court
Foundation; and, shall prepare articles for the Bencher.
Liaison Committee- The Liaison Committee
shall maintain communication with local law schools, other legal
organizations, and the local community in order to advise
interested persons of Inn activities.
The officers shall appoint committee members
and chairs of the committees. Chairs of Committees shall
serve one year terms, or as otherwise directed by the Executive
Committee, and may succeed themselves only once. A
consideration for committee member appointments is the inclusion of
members on committees who are Masters, Barristers and
Associates.
Committees may appoint deputy chairs and
create ad hoc sub-committees, as appropriate.
Section 4. Pupilage Groups.
All active members will be assigned to a
Pupilage Group by the Membership Committee and shall be approved by
the Executive Committee. Each Pupilage Group shall be chaired
by a Master appointed by the Executive Committee. The Masters
and Pupilage Groups shall be reassigned every two years.
Article III - Membership
Section 1. Active Members
There are four classifications of members in
an American Inn of Court, as defined in the bylaws of the American
Inns of Court Foundation, and as set forth below:
- Masters of the Bench - consisting of lawyers with at least a
full fifteen (15) years of experience, judges and law
professors;
- Barristers - consisting of lawyers with at least a full five
(5) years of experience;
- Associates - consisting of lawyers with zero (0) through five
(5) years of experience; and
- Pupils - consisting of law students.
Membership in this American Inn of Court
shall consist of Masters, Barristers and Associates. Pupils
may participate in all activities of the Inn, but will not be
voting members. Associates shall serve a term of two years,
running from July 1 through June 30, or as otherwise directed by
the Executive Committee and may apply to serve consecutive
terms.
Section 2. Inactive Members
The Executive Committee may confer Emeritus
and Honorary memberships as set forth in the Organizational
Charter.
Article IV - Meetings and Attendance
Section 1. Meetings.
Meetings shall be held at least six times per
year at such times as the Executive Committee may determine.
The Inn shall endeavor to have at least one social event per year
wherein members may invite guests.
Section 2. Attendance.
Each active member will be allowed two
unexcused absences from the monthly meetings in a year. The
Membership Committee shall monitor attendance at meetings and shall
submit the names of those who have three unexcused absences to the
Executive Committee. The non-participating member will be
contacted by the Membership Chair in order to determine if he/she
wishes to remain in this American Inn of Court, and in the event
another unexcused absence occurs, this member will be dropped from
the rolls and all dues will be forfeited.
Article V - Voting and Elections
Section 1. Masters.
With the exception of Emeritus and Honorary
Members, each Master shall be entitled to one vote on all matters
submitted to the Masters. A majority of Masters eligible to
vote shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business. Every act done or decision made by a majority of
the Masters in attendance at a meeting shall be regarded as the act
of all the Masters.
Section 2. Executive Committee.
Each member of the Executive Committee shall
be entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to the
Committee. The President shall only cast his or her vote in
the event of a tie. A majority of the members of the
Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business. Every act done or decision made by a majority of
the members in attendance at the meeting called for that purpose
shall be regarded as the act of the entire Committee.
Section 3. Elections.
The nomination and election of the officers
will occur every year during the months of May or June by the
Masters eligible to vote at any regularly or specially called
meeting or function. Selection of these and other officers
shall be in accordance with the Organizational Charter.
Section 4. Vacancies.
When a position as an officer, Committee Chair or Master Chair
of a Pupilage Team becomes vacant, the procedures for election and
selection of officers and chairs shall be followed when the vacancy
occurs, however, the duration of the vacant position shall not be
counted against the new officer or chair in regards to any maximum
term of service.
Article VI - Fiscal Matters
Section 1. Fiscal Year.
The fiscal year of the Central Kentucky
American Inn of Court shall be the same as the fiscal year of the
American Inns of Court Foundation, which is from July 1 to June 30
of each year.
Section 2. Dues.
Dues shall be in an amount consistent with
the Organizational Charter and shall be levied by the Treasurer
during the month of September of each year. Failure to pay
assessments and dues prior to the third meeting of the Inn year and
after reasonable notice may be considered by the Executive
committee as grounds to terminate membership of the person in
default.
Section 3. Expenses.
This American Inn of Court may pay all
reasonable expenses incurred by members of the Executive Committee
for such things as attendance at state, regional or national events
of the American Inns of Court Foundation, or for other members of
the Inn to attend such events, and payment to an administrator.
Article VII - Adoption and Amendments
Section 1. Adoption.
These Bylaws will be adopted by this American
Inn of Court upon approval by a majority of the Masters eligible to
vote of this American Inn of Court and after being submitted to and
approved, in writing, by the Board of Trustees of the American Inns
of Court Foundation. The Masters eligible to vote may make
valid decisions by voting by mail, facsimile, electronic mail, or
other means when deemed necessary by the Executive Committee or the
President.
Section 2. Amendments.
Amendments to these Bylaws may be made by a
majority of the Masters eligible to vote of this American Inn of
Court and must be submitted to and approved, in writing, by the
Board of Trustees of the American Inns of Court Foundation.
The Masters eligible to vote may make valid decisions by voting by
mail, facsimile, electronic mail, or other means when deemed
necessary by the Executive Committee or the President.