ARTICLE I – MEETINGS
Sec. 1 Annual and Special meetings of the Council:
(a) The Annual Meeting shall be held each year at a time and place fixed by the Board of
Directors and at least thirty (30) days notice shall be given to the membership.
(b) Special meetings may be called by the Board of Directors provided notification and agenda of
such meeting is made at least thirty (30) days prior to such meeting.
(c) The Board of Directors upon receipt of a petition signed by twenty (20) percent of the general
membership shall call a special meeting within thirty (30) days. Such petition shall contain
the reasons for requesting the special meeting.
(d) A quorum for any meeting of the general membership shall be the members present at that
meeting.
(e) The Order of Business shall be decided by the Board of Directors and included in the notice
given to the general membership prior to or at that meeting. All meetings shall be conducted
by Robert’s Rules of Order.
Sec. 2 Meetings of the Board of Directors:
(a) The Board of Directors shall meet at the call of the President and shall meet at least once,
forty-five (45) days or more prior to the Annual Meeting. Notice of the Board of Directors
meetings shall be made at least fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting.
(b) The members of the Board of Directors present shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business. All meetings shall be conducted by Robert’s Rules of Order.
(c) Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be open to the general membership.
Sec. 3 Meetings of Committees:
(a) Committee members and chairpersons shall be appointed by the President and/or Board of
Directors.
(b) Meetings shall be held at the call of the Chairperson of each committee. No meeting shall be
held without at least fourteen (14) days notice being given to members.
(c) A quorum for any meeting of each committee shall be the members present at the meeting.
Sec. 4 Resolutions:
(a) Resolutions for the consideration of the general membership may be submitted by the Board
of Directors, Committees of the Council and/or any member of the Council.
(b) A resolution intended for consideration at the business meeting of the general membership
shall be submitted in writing to the Board of Directors at least forty-five (45) days prior to the
meeting.
(c) The Council shall provide a copy of each resolution meeting the requirements of (b) above to
each Regional President at least thirty (30) days prior to the next business meeting of the general membership and a copy shall be provided each registrant attending the general membership meeting.
(d) Any resolution submitted after the forty-five (45) day deadline (Sec. 4 (b)) shall be referred to
the Board of Directors for appropriate action.
ARTICLE II – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sec. 1 The Board of Directors shall consist of the members as elected by each Region, the Presidents of
the Regional Support Councils, and the Past President’s who remain actively employed in child support who annually write their letter of declaration as outlined in section 7 number 1 and number 2.
Sec. 2 The Board of Directors shall during or at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting to elect from
within the incoming Board a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary and a Treasurer to serve a term
through the next Annual Meeting.
Sec. 3 All Board of Directors each have one vote and Roberts Rules of Order will control
Sec. 4 Duties:
(a) The Board of Directors shall direct and conduct the affairs of the Council consistent with the
authority and powers conferred by the Constitution and By-Laws.
(b) The Board of Directors shall approve all expenditures of Council funds.
(c) The Board of Directors may vote on motions between regular meetings by voting by electronic e-mail to the president as the need arises.
Sec. 5 Each member of the Board of Directors may be reimbursed by the Council for necessary expenses
approved by the Board and incurred in the performance of their duties.
Sec. 6 Board members may be removed from office by a 2/3 vote of the total membership of the Board.
Written notice must be given to the member, with reasons for removal listed, at least fourteen (14) days
prior to the meeting at which removal is to be voted upon. Notice of such removal shall be made to the
Region which said Director was representing and a replacement to fill the unexpired term shall be made by
the Region within thirty (30) days.
Sec. 7 Past Presidents:
(a) That notwithstanding the makeup of the Board of Directors as outlined under Article II
Section 1, a Past President of the Council may automatically become a member of the Board
of Directors if he or she:
1. annually files with the current President a written declaration of intent to serve as a
member of the Board, no later than two (2) years from the date his or her term expired,
and
2. continues to meet the criteria for membership in the Council in the capacity of an
employee of the Department of Human Services, Office of the Friend of the Court or the
Prosecuting Attorney.
(b) A Past President’s Board membership will be terminated upon motion of the Board, if either
the Past President no longer wishes to be considered a member or if he or she goes three (3)
years without attending a regular Board meeting.
ARTICLE III – OFFICERS
Sec. 1 The President:
(a) Shall call and preside at all general membership meetings.
(b) Shall call and preside at all Board of the Directors meetings.
(c) Shall vote only in the case of a tie.
(d) May appoint all committee members.
(e) Shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.
(f) Shall order that an audit of the financial records and accounts of the Council be performed
within thirty (30) days from the close of the fiscal year.
(g) The President may not serve more than two (2) consecutive one year terms in that Office.
Sec. 2 The Vice-President:
(a) Shall assume the duties of the President if the President is absent from any meeting and shall
become the President for the remainder of the term if the office of President becomes vacant
for any reason.
(b) Shall assist the President in the duties as instructed.
Sec. 3 The Secretary:
(a) Shall record the minutes of all general membership and Board meetings.
(b) Shall handle all correspondence of the Council.
(c) Shall maintain a membership roster.
(d) Shall perform other duties as may be assigned by the President and/or the Board of Directors.
Sec. 4 The Treasurer:
(a) Shall receive, deposit and distribute Council funds as directed by the Board of Directors.
(b) Shall present a financial statement at all meetings.
(c) Shall submit the financial records of the Council for an audit as directed by the President or
the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IV – DUES AND FEES
Sec. 1 The fiscal year of the Council shall be the calendar year.
Sec. 2 The annual dues of the Council, if any, shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
Sec. 3 The Board of Directors shall determine the due date and period of coverage for annual dues.
Sec. 4 The Board of Directors may assess registration fees for any meeting.
ARTICLE V – ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
Associate membership is open to anyone actively or previously employed in child support, upon approval of the Board of Directors. The individual may apply for and be approved as an associate member of the Michigan Family Support Council by a majority vote of the Board of Directors present at any regular scheduled meeting.
An associate member may serve on committees as appointed by the president, but that committee appointment does not give that associate member a board vote. Associate members shall enjoy every privilege of this Council except the right to vote and hold office.
ARTICLE VI – AMENDMENT TO THE BY-LAWS
The power to amend, repeal or adopt new By-Laws shall be exercised by either the general membership or The Board of Directors as prescribed in the following:
(a) By a majority vote of the general membership present and voting at an Annual Meeting, notice of the proposed amendment(s) to the By-Laws shall be made at least thirty (30) days prior to the Annual meeting; or
(b) By a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors.
Revised: 10/07/2013