Adopted: July 19, 2013
1. Definitions
2. Offices
3. Non Profit Purposes
4. Directors
5. Officers
6. Committees
7. Execution Of Deposits and Funds
8. Corporate Records
9. Tax Exemption Provisions
10. Amendment Of By-Laws
11. Construction And Terms
12. Membership Provisions
13. Meetings Of Members
14. Conflict of Interest Policy
"Corporation" shall mean the CGM Open Foundation
"Member" shall mean any corporation, governmental organization, educational institution or other enterprise or individual which meets the qualifications for membership in the Corporation, and which has been admitted to membership in accordance with Section 12 of these By-laws.
"Voting Member" shall mean a Member of the Corporation which has been admitted to a membership class having voting rights, as specified in Section 12 of these By-laws.
The principal office of the Corporation shall be located at 800 Wilcrest, Suite 210, Houston, TX 77042, USA.
The designation of the Corporation's principal office may be changed by the Board of Directors.
The Corporation may have offices at such other places, within or without Texas, where it is qualified to do business, as its business and activities may require, and as the Board of Directors may, from time to time, designate.
The Corporation is organized and shall be operated exclusively for one or more of the purposes as specified in Section 501 (c) (6) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501 (c) (6) of the United States Internal Revenue Code.
The Corporation is a non-profit, international association of companies, organizations and individuals, dedicated to accelerating the further adoption, application, and implementation of the Computer Graphics Metafile (CGM), the international standard for open interchange of structured graphical objects and their associated attributes.
The Corporation shall provide its members with an open forum to discuss market needs and directions, and to develop and provide guidelines to enhance product interoperability. The Corporation shall receive, coordinate, and disseminate information describing CGM methodologies, technologies, and implementations.
The Corporation shall, as an ongoing activity, survey the CGM community at large for requirements for new CGM-related functionality, including but not limited to new profiles of CGM or new versions of existing profiles of CGM, and shall provide a venue for the processing and publication of such enhanced standardized functionality.
The work of the Corporation shall complement that of standards bodies, focusing on making CGM easy to adopt, and CGM based products practical to use, in real-world, open system applications.
The Corporation shall have a Board of Directors consisting of three (3) persons.
Subject to the provisions of the Texas Business Organizations Code and any limitations in the Certificate of Formation and these By-laws relating to action required or permitted to be taken or approved by the Members, if any, of this Corporation, the activities and affairs of this Corporation shall be conducted and all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.
It shall be the duty of the Directors to:
Directors shall serve without compensation.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any Director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity as an officer, agent, employee, or otherwise, and receiving compensation therefor so long as such compensation is approved by a majority of disinterested Directors.
Meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any location specified by the Directors, reflecting the global nature of the Corporation and to encourage maximum participation. Meetings may be held in person or by any combination of audio, document or video conferencing techniques.
The Board of Directors shall meet once every calendar quarter on a date and time specified by the Directors. An annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Members of the Corporation.
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by any two Directors, or, if different, by the persons specifically authorized under the laws of the state of Texas to call special meetings of the Board.
Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Formation, these By-laws, or provisions of law, the following provisions shall govern the giving of notice for meetings of the Board of Directors:
The notices required by this section may be oral or written, may be given personally, by mail, by telephone, by facsimile machine, or by electronic message, and shall state the place, date and time of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted upon at the meeting. In the case of facsimile notification or electronic message, the Director to be contacted shall acknowledge personal receipt of the facsimile notice or electronic message by a return facsimile, or electronic message or telephone call within three (3) working days of the first notification.
A quorum shall consist of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors.
In the absence of a quorum at any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the Directors present may adjourn the meeting. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Directors to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for such meeting.
Every act or decision done or made by a majority of the Directors present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present is the act of the Board of Directors, unless the Certificate of Formation, these By-laws, or provisions of law require a greater percentage or different voting rules for approval of a matter by the Board.
Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairman or, in his or her absence, by the Secretary. The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as secretary of all meetings of the Board, provided that, in his or her absence, the presiding officer shall appoint another person to act as Secretary of the Meeting.
A Director may designate an alternate representative from the same organization to attend a Board of Directors meeting as an observer when that Director is unable to attend a meeting. A Director's designee may not vote on matters coming before the Board of Directors; a Director must be present in person at any meeting to vote.
Meetings shall be governed by such procedures as may be approved from time to time by the Board, insofar as such rules are not inconsistent with or in conflict with the Certificate of Formation, these By-laws, or with provisions of law.
Directors may participate in a regular or special meeting through use of conference telephone or similar communications, so long as all people participating in such meeting can hear one another. Participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section constitutes presence in person at such meeting.
When a vacancy on the Board is filled by approval of a majority of the Directors then in office or by a sole remaining Director, the person approved or elected to fill the vacancy shall hold office until the next Annual Meeting of the Members of the Corporation, at which time an election shall be held to fill the vacancy, in accordance with the procedures specified in Section 4.4.
The Directors shall not be personally liable for the debts, liabilities, or other obligations of the Corporation.
The Directors and officers of the Corporation shall be indemnified by the Corporation to the fullest extent permissible under the laws of the state of Texas, including (without limitation) to the extent authorized by Chapter 8 of the Texas Business Organizations Code.
Except as may be otherwise provided under provisions of law, the Board of Directors may adopt a resolution authorizing the purchase and maintenance of insurance on behalf of any agent of the Corporation (including a Director, officer, employee or other agent of the Corporation) against liabilities asserted against or incurred by the agent in such capacity or arising out of the agent's status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify the agent against such liability under the Certificate of Formation, these By-laws or provisions of law.
Any action that the Board of Directors is required or permitted to take may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board consent in writing to that action. Such action by written consent shall have the same force and effect as any other validly approved action of the Board. All consents shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board.
The officers of the Corporation shall be a Chairman, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Corporation may also have other officers with such titles and responsibilities as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors at each annual meeting of the Board of Directors. The Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer of the Corporation shall be elected from the members of the Board of Directors. Other officers, if any, may be elected from employees or representatives of Members of the Corporation. Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified.
Any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Board of Directors, at any time. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors or to the Chairman or Secretary of the Corporation. Any such resignation shall take effect at the date of receipt of such notice or at any later date specified therein, and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. The above provisions of this Section shall be superseded by any conflicting terms of a contract which has been approved or ratified by the Board of Directors relating to the employment of any officer of the Corporation.
Any vacancy caused by the death, resignation, removal, disqualification, or otherwise, of any officer shall be filled by the Board of Directors. In the event of a vacancy in any office other than that of Chairman, such vacancy may be filled temporarily by appointment by the Chairman until such time as the Board shall fill the vacancy. Vacancies occurring in offices of officers appointed at the discretion of the Board may or may not be filled as the Board shall determine.
The Chairman shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation and shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, supervise and control the affairs of the Corporation and the activities of the officers. He or she shall perform all duties incident to his or her office and such other duties as may be required by law, by the Certificate of Formation, or by these By-laws, or which may be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors, including presiding as chairperson at all meetings of the Board of Directors and at all meetings of the Members.
Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, by the Certificate of Formation, or by these By-laws, the Chairman shall, in the name of the Corporation, execute such deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, checks, or other instruments which may from time to time be authorized by the Board of Directors.
The Secretary shall:
In general, perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as may be required by law, by the Certificate of Formation of the Corporation, or by these By-laws, or which may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Board of Directors.
The Treasurer shall
In general, perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as may be required by law, by the Certificate of Formation of the Corporation, or by these By-laws, or which may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Board of Directors.
The officers shall serve without compensation.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any officer from serving the Corporation in any other capacity as an agent, employee, or otherwise, and receiving compensation therefore as long as such compensation is approved by a majority of disinterested Directors.
The Corporation shall have such committees as may from time to time be designated by resolution of the Board of Directors or upon majority vote of the Voting Members. These committees shall be composed of persons who are not also Members of the Board of Directors and shall act in an advisory capacity to the Board. The resolution establishing the committee shall specify the number and qualification of its members, its responsibilities, and the period for which it is established.
Meetings and action of the committees shall be governed by, noticed, held and taken in accordance with the provisions of these By-laws concerning meetings of the Board of Directors, with such changes in the context of such Bylaw provisions as are necessary to substitute the committee and its Members for the Board of Directors, except that the time for regular and special meetings of committees may be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors or by the committee. The Board of Directors may also adopt rules and regulations pertaining to the conduct of meetings of committees to the extent that such rules and regulations are not inconsistent with the provisions of these By-laws.
The Board of Directors, except as otherwise provided in these By-laws, may by resolution authorize any officer or agent of the Corporation to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Unless so authorized, no officer, agent, or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the Corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable monetarily for any purpose or in any amount.
Except as otherwise specifically determined by resolution of the Board of Directors, or as otherwise required by law, checks, drafts, promissory notes, orders for the payment of money, and other evidence of indebtedness of the Corporation shall be manually signed by the Treasurer and approved by the Chairman of the Corporation, except in cases where the amount exceeds a pre-determined threshold set by the Board; in such cases a check shall require a second signature by an officer of the Corporation.
All funds of the Corporation shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as the Board of Directors may select.
The Board of Directors may accept on behalf, and for the benefit, of the Corporation any contribution, gift, bequest, or device for the nonprofit purposes of this Corporation.
The Corporation shall keep at its principal office:
The Board of Directors may adopt, use, and at will alter, a corporate seal. Such seal shall be kept at the principal office of the Corporation. Failure to affix the seal to corporate instruments, however, shall not affect the validity of any such instrument.
Every Director shall have the absolute right at any reasonable time to inspect and copy all books, records and documents of every kind and to inspect the physical properties of the Corporation and shall have such other rights to inspect the books, records and properties of this Corporation as may be required under the Certificate of Formation, other provisions of these By-laws, and provisions of law.
Any inspection under the provisions of this Article may be made in person or by agent or attorney and the right to inspection shall include the right to copy and make extracts.
The Board shall cause any annual or periodic report required under law to be prepared and delivered to an office in Texas or to the Members, if any, of this Corporation, to be so prepared and delivered within the time limits set by law.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of these By-laws, the Corporation shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on by a Corporation exempt from United States federal income tax under Section 501 (c) (6) of the United States Internal Revenue Code.
No part of the net earnings of the Corporation shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its Members, Directors or trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the Corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes of the Corporation.
Upon the dissolution of the Corporation, its assets remaining after payment, or provision for payment of all debts and liabilities of the Corporation shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (3) or Section 501 (c) (6) of the United States Internal Revenue Code or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Such distribution shall be made in accordance with all applicable provisions of the laws of the State of Texas.
These By-laws, or any of them, may be altered, amended, or repealed and new By-laws adopted by approval of two-thirds (2/3) of the Voting Members of the Corporation.
If there is any conflict between the provisions of these By-laws and the Certificate of Formation of the Corporation, the provisions of the Certificate of Formation shall govern.
Should any of the provisions or portions of these By-laws be held unenforceable or invalid for any reason, the remaining provisions and portions of these By-laws shall be unaffected by such holdings.
All references in these By-laws to the Certificate of Formation shall be to the Certificate of Formation or other founding document of the Corporation filed with an office of the State of Texas and used to establish the legal existence of the Corporation.
All references in these By-laws to a section or sections of the United States Internal Revenue Code shall be to such sections of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended from time to time, or to corresponding provisions of any future federal tax code.
The qualifications for membership in this Corporation are as follows:
Any Profit Corporation, Nonprofit Corporation, Government Organization, Educational Institution or other enterprise or individual supportive of this Corporation's goals, policies and procedures is qualified to become a Member of the Corporation.
Applicants which satisfy the qualifications for membership in the Corporation shall be admitted to membership upon completion of a Registration Form and payment of the first annual dues as specified in these By-laws.
The annual dues payable to the Corporation by each class of Members shall be established and may be changed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. Dues shall be due and payable upon written commitment to join the Corporation. Dues shall be for the twelve months from the date of the applicant's written commitment to join and shall be due and payable each successive year on that same date provided membership is retained by the Member. If any Member is delinquent in the payment of dues, such Member's rights, including all voting rights, shall be deemed revoked upon written notice from the Corporation until all delinquent dues are paid.
Members who qualify shall be designated as Legacy Members. To qualify as a Legacy Member, the Member must be a member in good standing of the OASIS CGM Open Member Section (CGMO MS) at the time of joining the Corporation. Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, dues for a Legacy Member shall be waived until the anniversary of the Legacy Member's membership renewal in the CGMO MS. Thereafter, normal annual Corporation dues shall apply.
The Corporation shall have the two classes of membership, with the qualifications, rights and privileges set forth herein.
Sponsor Membership is the Corporation's most comprehensive category, providing the complete range of business and marketing benefits, as well as technical benefits and participation rights. Organizations eligible for membership as a Sponsor are financially committed to CGM and expect to continue to invest based upon Corporation work, such as software vendors that offer CGM-compliant products and large user organizations.
Sponsor Members shall be eligible to receive all of the rights and privileges of Membership in the Corporation, including without limitation:
Participant Members are those organizations that have invested in CGM, but have no need to obtain higher visibility within the industry. Participant Members are primarily interested in the technical work that is done by the Corporation, either to help drive interoperability or to understand the directions taken by other members, especially organizations which do not actively sell a product or service to the CGM market. Participant Members have full rights to participate in the technical work and governance of the Corporation, but have less access to commercial, promotional, and marketing benefits of the Corporation.
Participant Members shall be eligible to receive the following rights and privileges of Membership in the Corporation:
There is no limit on the number of Members the Corporation may admit.
The Corporation shall keep a membership book containing the name and address of each Member, the date upon which the applicant became a Member, and the name of one individual from each Member organization who shall serve as a primary contact for the Corporation and vote on all issues submitted to a vote on behalf of the voting member, receive all correspondence and information, and distribute this information within his/her organization. Termination of the membership of any Member shall be recorded in the book, together with the date of termination of such membership. Such book shall be kept at the Corporation's principal office.
No Member of this Corporation is, as such, individually liable for the debts, liabilities, or obligations of the Corporation.
No Member may transfer a membership or any right arising therefrom. All rights of membership cease upon the Member's dissolution.
The membership of a Member shall terminate upon the occurrence of any of the following events:
All rights of a Member in the Corporation shall cease on termination of membership as herein provided.
Meetings of Members shall be designated from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors and be held at places and times reflecting the global nature of the Corporation and to encourage maximum participation. Meetings may be held in person or by any combination of audio, document or video teleconferencing techniques.
The Corporation shall hold an Annual Meeting of Members
in May of each year for the purpose of conducting the
elections of Directors and transacting such other
business as may come before the meeting. The Annual Meeting of Members shall
be deemed a regular meeting.
Other regular meetings of the Members shall be held on dates and at times to be determined by the Board of Directors. The Corporation shall endeavor, but shall not be required, to hold at least one additional meeting of Members each year.
Special meetings of the Members for any purpose shall be called by the Board of Directors, or by written request of two-thirds (2/3) of the Members.
Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Formation, these By-laws, or provisions of law, notice stating the place, day and hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not less than thirty (30) nor more than forty-five (45) days before the date of the meeting, at the direction of the Chairman, or the Secretary, or the persons calling the meeting, personally by mail, or by facsimile transmission or other electronic means to each Member. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the mail addressed to the Member's prime contact at his or her address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage prepaid. Personal notification includes notification by telephone, facsimile machine, or other electronic means provided however, in the case of facsimile notification or electronic message, the Member to be contacted shall acknowledge personal receipt of the facsimile notice or electronic message by a return facsimile or electronic message or telephone call within three (3) working days of the first notification.
The notice of any meeting of Members at which Directors are to be elected shall also state the names of all those who are nominees or candidates for election to the Board at the time notice is given or as soon thereafter as such information is known.
Whenever any notice of a meeting is required to be given to any Member of this Corporation under provisions of the Certificate of Formation, these By-laws, or the law of Texas, a waiver of notice in writing signed by the Member, whether before or after the time of the meeting, shall be equivalent to the giving of such notice.
A quorum shall consist of a majority of the Members of the Corporation.
Except as otherwise provided under the Certificate of Formation, these By-laws, or provisions of law, no business shall be considered by the Members at any meeting at which the required quorum is not present, and the only motion which the chair shall entertain at such meeting is a motion to adjourn.
Every act or decision done or made by a majority of Members present in person or by proxy at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present is the act of the Members, unless the Certificate of Formation, these By-laws, or provisions of law require a greater number.
Each Member is entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the Members. Voting at duly held meetings shall be by a show of hands if held in person, or by voice ballot if held by audio, video or document teleconferencing, unless otherwise required. Results of all ballots shall duly be distributed to all Members within 30 days of each ballot.
All classes of Members as defined in 12.4 are entitled to vote on any matter submitted to a vote of the Members.
Except as otherwise provided under the Certificate of Formation, these By-laws, or provisions of law, any action which may be taken at any regular or special meeting of Members may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice, and without a vote if consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by Members 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 of the Members of the Corporation having a right to vote thereon were present and voted.
The consents shall:
No written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within 60 days of the earliest dated consent delivered in the manner required herein, written consents signed by a sufficient number of Members to take action are delivered to the Corporation at its principal place of business.
Prompt notice of the taking of corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those Members who have not consented in writing.
Meetings of Members shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Corporation or, in his or her absence, by the Chairman of the Corporation or, in the absence of all of these persons, by a Chairperson chosen by a majority of the voting Members, present at the meeting. The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as Secretary of all meetings of Members, provided that, in his or her absence, the presiding officer shall appoint another person to act as Secretary of the Meeting.
Meetings shall be conducted so as to allow for active, fair and open participation by all Members attending the meeting. All participants shall have the right to express opinions on the subject matter, whether or not these opinions dissent with that of the majority. Where a decision is called for it shall be effected by consensus or the matter shall be put to voice vote and each Member shall have the opportunity to vote on the outcome. Meetings may not be adjourned until questions, opinions and comments from all participating Members are voiced and duly recorded by the presiding person.
Every Member shall have the right to vote either in person or by one or more agents authorized by a proxy validly executed by the Member. A proxy may be executed by written authorization signed, or by electronic transmission authorized, by the Member, giving the proxy holder(s) the power, to vote the vote. A proxy shall be deemed signed if the Member's name or other authorization is placed on the proxy (whether by manual signature, typewriting, telegraphic or electronic transmission or otherwise) by the Member. A proxy may only be held by a Member of the Corporation.
A validly executed proxy which does not state that it is irrevocable shall continue in full force and effect unless revoked by the person executing it, prior to the vote pursuant thereto, by a writing delivered to the Corporation stating that the proxy is revoked or by a subsequent proxy executed by, or attendance at the meeting and voting in person by the person executing the proxy; provided, however, that no such proxy shall be valid after the expiration, of eleven, (11) months from the date of such a proxy, unless otherwise provided in the proxy. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of the Texas Business Organizations Code.
The purpose of the conflict of interest policy is to protect this tax-exempt organization’s (Corporation) interest when it is contemplating entering into a transaction or arrangement that might benefit the private interest of an officer or director of the Corporation or might result in a possible excess benefit transaction. This policy is intended to supplement but not replace any applicable state and federal laws governing conflict of interest applicable to nonprofit and charitable organizations.
Any director, principal officer, or member of a committee with governing board delegated powers, who has a direct or indirect financial interest, as defined below, is an interested person.
A person has a financial interest if the person has, directly or indirectly, through business, investment, or family:
Compensation includes direct and indirect remuneration as well as gifts or favors that are not insubstantial. A financial interest is not necessarily a conflict of interest. Under Article III, Section 2, a person who has a financial interest may have a conflict of interest only if the appropriate governing board or committee decides that a conflict of interest exists.
In connection with any actual or possible conflict of interest, an interested person must disclose the existence of the financial interest and be given the opportunity to disclose all material facts to the directors and members of committees with governing board delegated powers considering the proposed transaction or arrangement.
After disclosure of the financial interest and all material facts, and after any discussion with the interested person, he/she shall leave the governing board or committee meeting while the determination of a conflict of interest is discussed and voted upon. The remaining board or committee members shall decide if a conflict of interest exists.
The minutes of the governing board and all committees with board delegated powers shall contain:
Each director, principal officer and member of a committee with governing board delegated powers shall annually sign a statement which affirms such person:
To ensure the Corporation operates in a manner consistent with charitable purposes and does not engage in activities that could jeopardize its tax-exempt status, periodic reviews shall be conducted. The periodic reviews shall, at a minimum, include the following subjects:
When conducting the periodic reviews as provided for in Section 14.7, the Corporation may, but need not, use outside advisors. If outside experts are used, their use shall not relieve the governing board of its responsibility for ensuring periodic reviews are conducted.