Constitution of Montana Professional Photographers Association
 

Revised & Amended 2018

As passed April 29, 2018

Article 1

Name

The name of this organization shall be Montana Professional Photographers Association.

Article 2

Objective

To encourage and foster:

(a) Higher ideals of professional photography

(b) High ethical standards in business and our profession

(c) The advancement of understanding, goodwill and peace through

a state fellowship of business men and women united in professional photography

(d) This organization shall be a nonprofit organization, and no benefits shall inure to the benefit of any

individual member, and in the event of dissolution, any assets remaining shall be delivered to an

organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a nonprofit charitable tax-exempt organization.

Article 3

Membership

Section 1. Kinds: There may be four kinds of membership: Active, Associate, Aspiring and Student

Section 2. Qualifications:

Active membership: Men and women of good character and good business reputation; engaged as proprietor,

partner, corporate officer or manager of any worthy state professional photographic business are entitled to vote and hold office.

Associate Membership: Associate members include spouses, employees, and manufacturer representatives.

Aspiring Membership: For an individual just entering the profession as a photographer; for first time members only.

Aspiring membership will automatically up-graded to Active Member in two years or if requested, after one year.

Student Membership: Students of approved schools in the photography field. The board of directors will be the

deciding factor as to which schools will be approved. This membership will automatically up-graded to Active

Member one year after the individual leaves school or at any time if requested.

Section 3. Qualifications:

Associate membership: Members shall have no vote nor be eligible to hold any office in the association. Shall have

no interest in any property of the association, but shall be entitled to attend all meetings and enjoy all other

privileges of the association.

Article 4

Duration of membership

Section 1. Period: Active or associate membership shall endure for life, unless terminated as hereinafter provided.

(a) Nonpayment of dues shall result in automatic suspension of membership. Membership shall be suspended

for nonpayment of dues but can be reinstated by payment of current year's dues plus an additional fee as

determined by the board.

(b) All members shall subscribe to and be governed by the Code of Ethics adopted by the Association. The

Code of Ethics shall be a part of the application for membership to this organization.

(c) Code of Ethics

I will:

(1) Endeavor to maintain dignity of manner in my behavior, in the presentation of my photography and

photographic services, in my appearance and that of my studio or place of business, and in all other forms

of public contact.

(2) Observe the highest standard of honesty in all my transactions, avoiding the use of false, confusing,

inaccurate and misleading terms, descriptions and claims.

(3) At all times endeavor to produce photographs of quality equal or superior to the samples I display, to

apply my best efforts towards providing the best photographic services and to play my part in raising the

general standard of photographic craftsmanship.

(4) Show a friendly spirit of cooperation to my fellow professional photographers and assist them whenever

possible should they be in trouble or difficulty.

(5) At all times avoid the use of unfair competitive practices and hereby subscribe to the Federal Trade

Commission Rules of Fair Competitive Practices for the professional photographic industry.

(6) Assist my fellow photographers and share my knowledge with them and encourage them individually

and collectively to achieve and maintain the highest standards of quality.

(7) Recognize the authority of this Association in all matters relating to the interpretation of this Code.

(d) Violation of Code of Ethics

In the event of an alleged violation of this section (b), by a member or non-member complainant, the accused

member shall be given written notice of the alleged charges or violations, and a hearing before the Board of

Directors shall be scheduled at which time the complaining and accused member(s) shall be present in person.

At that time said complaining and accused member(s) shall be given the opportunity to present their evidence

relevant to the allegation(s). The Board of Directors shall then determine from the facts presented whether or

not a violation occurred and if suspension or revocation of membership is warranted, and shall notify the

complaining and accused member(s) of their decision in writing. In the event the decision of the Board is to

suspend or revoke the membership, the accused member(s) shall have the right of appeal to the full

membership. This appeal must be made in writing and filed with the Business Manager of MPPA within

twenty days from the date of notification of Board action suspending or revoking the individual's membership.

Failure to file written notice of appeal with the Business Manager of the MPPA within the time prescribed shall

render final the previous action of the Board of Directors.

In the event an appeal is timely made, a full hearing shall be convened before the membership of the

Association at which time the evidence for and against the individual shall be presented in person by the

complainant and/or accused. Failure to personally appear by the complainant and/or accused shall negate the

appeal. Upon completion of all evidence in the matter, the membership, by written ballot, shall vote to suspend

or revoke or reinstate the individual. Such vote, by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present, shall be

final and conclusive in the matter.

(1) All charges against members violating the Code of Ethics shall be in writing and a copy shall be

furnished the member accused.

(2) Failure to appear personally to answer alleged accusation(s) shall be sufficient grounds to suspend or

revoke membership. Failure to be personally present by the complainant shall be sufficient grounds

for the Board to dismiss the allegation(s) and the matter will be considered closed.

(3) All decisions of the Board and membership appeal shall be in writing.

(4) Notice of hearings shall be in writing and may be given in person or by registered mail at least ten (10)

days prior to the hearing. The signed delivery receipt from the Post Office shall be sufficient proof of

notice having been given. Persons delivering notice by personal delivery shall provide written receipt of

delivery bearing signature of the recipient to the Board of Directors. Copy of said receipt shall be provided

to recipient.

Article 5

Territorial Boundaries

The territorial boundaries of this organization shall be the State of Montana. Failed approval by majority vote at

the annual membership meeting held April 29, 2018 in Helena, MT.

Article 6

Meetings

This association shall meet regularly once each year as provided in the By-Laws. This meeting shall hereinafter be

referred to as the annual membership meeting.

Article 7

Dues

Each active and associate member of this organization shall pay annually such sums as may be set forth by the

association.

Article 8

Officers and Directors

Section 1. The governing body of this association shall be a Board of Directors to be constituted as the By-Laws of

the association provide.

Section 2. The Board shall have general control over all officers and committees and may, for good cause, declare

any office vacant. It shall be the Judicial body to decide action on misconduct of a member. The decision of the

Board in all matters shall be final, subject only to an appeal to the association by a member or members in good

standing. Appeal may be taken from any decision of the Board of Directors to the association. On such appeal, the

decision appealed from shall be reversed only by a two-thirds vote of the members present at a regular meeting to be specified by the Board of Directors, a quorum (51%) being present. Notice of such appeal shall be given by the

Business Manager to all members of the association at least five days in advance of such meeting.

Section 3. The officers of this association shall be a President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President,

Immediate Past-President and five (5) duly elected directors.

Section 4. The directors shall be elected annually in the manner prescribed in the By-Laws of this association and

shall hold office for terms as set forth in the By-Laws.

Section 5. All bills approved by the Board of Directors shall be paid only by checks or debit card signed by the

Business Manager or Treasurer of MPPA or a designated officer of MPPA.

Article 9

Order of business

The annual membership meeting shall be presided over by the President unless he/she cannot attend in which case

the First Vice-President will preside. Proper Roberts Rules of Order will be followed at annual membership

meetings with a parliamentarian present, who is a member of the MPPA, designated by the Board of Directors.

Open—Roll Call

Reading of Minutes

Treasurer's Report

Report of Committees

Unfinished Business

New Business

Adjournment

Article 10

By-Laws Amendments

By-Laws may be amended at any regular meeting or special meeting called for that purpose, a quorum (51%) being

present, by a two-thirds vote of all active members present, provided that notice of such proposed amendment shall have been delivered to the Business Manager at least thirty (30) days before the date of the opening of the meeting and mailed and/or emailed to each member at least ten days before such meeting. No amendment or addition to the By-Laws can be made which is not in harmony with the Constitution of the Association.

Article 11

Constitution Amendments

Amendments to the Constitution shall be made only at an annual membership meeting of this association, a seated

quorum (51%) being present, by a two thirds vote of the membership present at such annual memberhsip meeting.

No proposed amendment shall be acted upon unless a copy of such proposed amendment shall have been delivered

to the Business Manager at least thirty (30) days before the date of the opening of the meeting and said proposed

amendment shall have been mailed and/or emailed to each member at least ten days before such meeting. Any

amendment coming up for consideration at Convention and under an emergency case shall be read by the Business

Manager before the members in attendance not later than the day before the time of voting on such amendment and may, if the directors determine it to be an emergency, be adopted at the annual membership meeting.