Current By-Laws

By-Laws Officer: Pam Bardell

Bylaws of the Illinois Chapter of the United Postmasters & Managers of America (UPMA)

Adopted November 1^st, 2016

Amended May 17^th, 2017 in Peoria, Illinois (Articles IV, V, IX and XI)

Amended May 18^th, 2018 in Peoria, Illinois (Article XIII)

Amended July 11^th, 2020 in Peoria, Illinois (Article XIII)

Amended March 20, 2021 in Northbrook, Illinois

Preamble

The purposes for which this Chapter is organized, as a part of the national organization
United Postmasters and Managers of America (UPMA), shall be to provide a vehicle
through which members may assist one another in matters connected with their employment in the United States Postal Service; to foster a favorable image of public service; to assure the users of the mails the best service possible; improve the conditions under which individuals work, having concern for salaries, hours of employment, working environment, and related issues; to cooperate with other groups and levels of postal management in the achievement of common goals.

Article I Name

This organization shall be known as the Illinois Chapter of the United Postmasters and Managers of America (UPMA).

Article II Purpose

The purpose of this organization shall be to affiliate with and become a part of the
National UPMA organization.

Article III Membership

Any person, as designated by the UPMA Governing Documents, to be a member of the national organization shall be considered a member in this Chapter but no member in arrears for dues shall be recognized or permitted any of the privileges at its conventions.

Article IV Meetings

The annual convention of the organization shall be held at the time and city as set by the
annual convention one year or more prior to that convention, provided, however, that the
The President may, with the approval of the majority of the executive board, and for good and sufficient reason, change the time and/or place previously fixed. All chapter conventions
must be completed prior to the start of the National Convention.

Special meetings may be called by The President, or shall be called on the request in
writing by a majority of the executive committee or on demand in writing of ten (10)
percent of the paid-up membership of this chapter.

The chapter secretary shall convey notice of meetings to members of the executive committee at least ten (10) days prior to the date specified for such meetings.

At any convention of this chapter, all members who are present and registered for the
convention shall constitute a quorum.

“Robert’s Rules of Order” shall govern the deliberations of this chapter.

Article V Election of Officers

The officers of this chapter shall be a president, an executive vice president, three (3) at large vice-presidents, a secretary, a treasurer, an editor, the immediate past president, who shall serve for a term of one (1) year beginning on the date a newly elected president assumes office, and the president of UPMA Retired and shall constitute the executive committee; the governing body of the chapter.

The president, executive vice-president, the secretary, the treasurer, the editor and the three (3) vice-presidents shall be elected at the annual convention to serve a term of 3 years. These officers, except for the treasurer, shall be limited to 2 terms of office. The treasurer may be elected to serve unlimited terms of office. The terms of office shall commence on the first day of the first month following the close of the annual Illinois Chapter Convention and will end on the last day of the month of the next annual Illinois Chapter Convention. The new executive committee shall hold an organizational meeting within 60 days of assuming office each year.

Additional or other nominations may be made from the floor, if seconded and approved, and shall be included with the list of recommendations made by the nominating committee for determining by ballot of those present and qualified to vote in said election. If there shall be more than two nominations for any office, balloting shall continue until one candidate receives a majority of the votes cast.

With the exception of the positions of President and Executive Vice President, which shall be limited to active EAS members who are members in good standing of the organization, retired Postmasters, retired EAS employees and Postmaster Reliefs shall be permitted to hold office in this chapter provided they are present at the meeting where the vote will be taken and that no other active EAS member seeks the office. Any active member who is an officer of this chapter, who during their term shall resign or be removed for any cause whatsoever, from the position that qualified them for active membership, shall immediately become ineligible to hold office and their office shall be declared vacant.

Article VI President

The President shall preside at all meetings of the chapter, shall call special meetings when requested to do so as provided in Article IV. They shall also preside at the meetings of the executive committee and appoint all committees for the proper handling of the business of this chapter and in general perform such duties as may pertain to the office. The President shall receive such compensation for their services as the executive committee may provide.

Article VII Executive Vice President

The Executive Vice President shall serve in the absence or disability of the President and work with the president as needed. This position will be a separately elected position and must be an active member. Should the office of the President be vacated, the Executive Vice President will serve the remaining term. The remaining term of the vacant position of the Executive Vice President shall be filled by the executive committee.

In addition, the Executive Vice President shall serve as the Membership Chair for the chapter. It shall be their duty to promote membership for the organization and ensure that the chapter always has a strong membership. The Executive Vice President shall receive such compensation for their services as the executive committee may provide.

Article VIII At-Large Vice Presidents

The At-Large Vice Presidents will be responsible for the following duties:
One Vice President will serve as Education Chair.
It will be their duty to work with the President in aligning training that is deemed necessary and appropriate for the membership.
One Vice President will serve as the Legislative Chair. It will be their duty to handle legislative activity within the chapter.
One Vice President will serve as the Political Action Committee (PAC) Chair. It will be their duty to handle any PAC activities within the chapter.

The above three Vice Presidents will have their duties assigned by the executive
committee at the Executive Board organizational meeting.

In the event of a vacancy in the three (3) At-Large Vice-Presidential positions, the vacancy shall be filled by the executive committee.

Article IX Secretary

The Secretary shall keep all records, record the proceedings of all conventions and
meetings of the executive committee and shall receive such compensation for their services as the executive committee may provide. In the event of a vacancy in the position of Secretary, the vacancy shall be filled by the executive committee.

Treasurer

The Treasurer shall be bonded as provided in Article XV hereof and shall receive such compensation for their services as the executive committee may provide. The Treasurer shall deposit, withdraw and have custody of the funds of the chapter and shall be responsible to keep an accurate and complete account of the receipts, vouchers and membership. In the event of a vacancy in the position of Treasurer, the vacancy shall be filled by the executive committee.

Article X Editor

It shall be the Editor’s duty to publish the official newspaper of the Illinois Chapter of UPMA. The editor shall receive such compensation for their services as the executive committee may provide.

Article XI Executive Committee

It shall be the duty of the executive committee to carry out the orders of the chapter as expressed in the convention, it shall have direct control of all business of the chapter and its affairs, it shall be the power of the executive committee to authorize necessary expenditures; to audit all accounts; approve the expenses of the executive officers and in general perform all the functions ordinarily attached to such committee.

The executive committee shall have the power to remove any of its members for good and sufficient reason by two-thirds vote of the committee when in session.

Article XII Sergeant-At-Arms

Prior to the opening of each convention the President shall appoint a master Sergeant-at-Arms and the necessary assistant Sergeants-at-Arms, and it shall be their duty to maintain order and perform such other duties as designated by the president.

Article XIII National Convention Roll Call Voting Procedure

When preparing for roll call votes to be cast on elections, amendments, etc., at the National Convention, the vote shall be taken by paper ballot at the annual Chapter Convention. The results of that paper ballot shall govern how the Chapter’s votes will be cast at the National Convention by the Chapter President. The results of the votes shall be recorded by the National Officer present at the convention, as well as in the official minutes of the Chapter convention. The National Officer and the Chapter President must send the results to the National Office within ten (10) days of the conclusion of the Chapter convention. On the issue of elections, the Chapter’s official vote must be taken at the Chapter convention in the year that the election will take place at the National convention. In the event that there are issues that are presented at the National Convention that were not considered at the chapter convention that require a roll call vote. A vote shall be taken by paper ballot of active members present at the National Convention. The results of that paper ballot shall govern how the Chapter’s votes will be cast at that National Convention by the Chapter President.

Article XIV Bonds

The Treasurer shall be required to be bonded in the amount deemed sufficient by the executive committee; said bond to be executed by a surety company approved by the executive committee and the premium on such bond shall be paid by the chapter.

Article XV Dues

The annual dues of the members of this Chapter shall be the same as provided in the governing documents of the national organization.

Article XVI Official Publication

There may be established an official publication of this Chapter, to be published 6 times per year. The publication will be distributed to the membership and others. The official publication will be named – ILLINOIS POSTAL NEWS LEADER. In addition, the Chapter may maintain a website for the dissemination of information. The executive committee, as the governing body of the Chapter, shall have editorial control over the official publication(s).

Article XVII Amendments

All proposed amendment(s) must be submitted in writing to the Chapter President at least thirty (30) days prior to the opening of the annual Chapter convention. The proposed amendment(s) shall be published prior to the convention. These bylaws may be amended at any convention of the chapter by a two-thirds vote of the delegates present and voting. Any proposed amendment(s) shall be read at one session of the convention and voted on at a subsequent session. These amendment(s) shall become effective immediately upon the adjournment of the convention unless otherwise specified in the amendment.

Adopted November 1st, 2016
Amended May 17th, 2017 in Peoria Illinois (Articles IV, V, IX and XI)
Amended May 18th, 2018 in Peoria Illinois (Article XIII)
Amended July 11th, 2020 in Peoria Illinois (Article XIII)

Illinois UPMA Retiree Bylaws
(Printable Version)