WAAO Bylaws
ARTICLE I ‑ NAME & OBJECT 

Sec 1  This organization shall be known as

             the WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF ASSESSING OFFICERS (WAAO). 

Sec 2  The objects of the Association shall be the furtherance of the objectives of the

            INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ASSESSING OFFICERS (IAAO), and the

            dedication to professionalism.

Sec 3  The jurisdictional area of WAAO shall be the State of Wisconsin. 

ARTICLE II ‑ MEMBERSHIP

Sec 1  Membership in WAAO is restricted as follows:

 A.      REGULAR MEMBERSHIP:  Open to officers, officials, or employees of governmental bodies, having duties directly related to property tax assessment and administration ‑ and also to persons engaged as individuals or employees of an organization that primarily provides professional services to governmental officers, officials, or offices of a governmental authority or jurisdiction in support of tax assessment and property tax administration.

 B.     ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP:  Open to officers, officials, and employees of governmental bodies not covered by regular membership  - and to officials, administrators, and employees of educational institutions.

 C.     SUBSCRIBING MEMBERSHIP:  Open to any individual not eligible for regular or associate membership, subscribing to the purpose of the Association, and interested in property assessment and taxation. 

D.     RETIRED REGULAR MEMBERSHIP: Open to any individual who has retired from, or otherwise terminated the position, under which they previously held a regular membership  - not employed in any manner which would qualify them as a subscribing member. 

E.     DISTINGUISHED LIFE MEMBERSHIP:  Open to any member with 10 or more years of service in this Association and/or Wisconsin Chapter, IAAO, and who, in the opinion of the Executive Board of Directors, on majority vote after nomination from the membership committee, has made such a distinguished and sustained contribution to this Association, and to the advancement of assessment administration, that the member merits election to the Distinguished Life member classification.   A majority vote of the Executive Board of Directors shall elect such member to the Distinguished Life classification.  Any such elected member, shall have conveyed therewith all the rights and privileges of regular membership for life without dues or fees. 

F.      HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP:  Shall be retained as a membership classification for all members previously so designated.  No additional memberships shall be awarded in this classification.

 G.     STUDENT MEMBERSHIP:  Available to those individuals enrolled on a full-time basis in qualifying educational institutions' programs of study on assessment administration, real estate, appraising, or related subjects ‑ for each individual a maximum of four years.

 Sec 2  In the event that a member terminated the employment which made that person eligible

            for membership, they may continue to hold any office in the Association to which they

            have been elected or appointed until the next annual meeting.

 Sec 3  Applications for membership shall be made on forms obtained from the

            Association Treasurer.

 ARTICLE III ‑ OFFICERS

 Sec 1  The officers of the Association shall be elected by a plurality vote of members, and

            shall be the following:  President, President Elect, Vice-President, Secretary and

            Treasurer.   The term of office shall be for one year.

 Sec 2   The President, President Elect and Vice President shall have Regular WAAO

            Membership and be in good standing. 

 Sec 3   The Secretary and Treasurer shall be WAAO members in good standing with voting

             rights. 

 ARTICLE IV ‑ EXECUTIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 Sec 1  There shall be an Executive Board of Directors including the President, President Elect,

            Vice-President,  Secretary, Treasurer, immediate past President, and nine Executive

            Board of Directors,  each Director elected for a term of three years;  three members to

            be elected each year at the annual meeting of the Association.  The President shall

            serve as Chairman of the Executive Board of Directors. 

Sec 2  The Executive Board of Directors shall be the governing body of this Association, and

            shall have the power to establish rules and regulations, not inconsistent with these

            bylaws and the objectives of the International Association of Assessing Officers,

            necessary to accomplish the purposes of the Association. 

Sec 3  A majority of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of

            transacting official business.   

Sec 4  At each meeting of the Executive Board of Directors, each member thereof shall

            exercise one vote.

 Sec 5  Regular meetings of the Executive Board of Directors shall be held quarterly, at such

            time and place as may be determined by the President.

Sec 6  Special meetings of the Executive Board of Directors shall be held at the call of the

            President, or upon request in writing made to the President by any five members of

the Executive Board. 

Sec 7  Vacancies occurring in any office shall be filled by the Executive Board of Directors for

            the balance of the unexpired term. 

ARTICLE V ‑ ELECTIONS

 Sec 1  The manner of voting, including the forms to be used, the counting of ballots, and the

            rules of procedure shall be prescribed by the Executive Board of Directors.  Voting on

            the removal of an officer or member shall be by secret ballot. 

Sec 2  Not later than 30 days prior to the annual meeting, the President of this Association,

            with the approval of the Executive Board of Directors, shall appoint a Nominating

            Committee consisting of not less than three members, one of whom shall be a past

            President of this Association. 

Sec 3  It shall be the duty of the Nominating Committee to propose names of members of this

            Association to serve as Officers and Executive Board of Director members for the

            ensuing year.  The names of those nominated shall be embodied in an appropriate

            report which shall be published, or made available to all members not later than ten

            days prior to the annual meeting.

 Sec 4  The Officers and Executive Board of Director members shall be elected by the

            membership of this Association at the annual meeting.  The voting order shall be the

            following:  

President Elect,

Vice‑President,

Secretary,

Treasurer,

Any 1-year term Executive Board of Director members,

Any 2-year term Executive Board of Director members,

Any 3-year term Executive Board of Director members.

                       The previous year's President Elect will automatically move on to the position

            of President without further election.      

 Sec 5  Voting rights are vested in REGULAR, RETIRED REGULAR, and DISTINGUISHED

            LIFE members only.

 Sec 6  Any Regular member may challenge the voting rights of another member. The

            Secretary, or Treasurer, upon disclosure of the membership roster shall determine the

            questioned voter's status. 

Sec 7  Officers and Executive Board of Director members shall assume office at the close of

            the annual meeting. 

ARTICLE VI ‑ DUTIES OF OFFICERS

 Sec 1  PRESIDENT

·       Shall preside at all meetings of the Association.

·       Shall cast the deciding vote in case of a tie.

·       Shall appoint all committees.                    

·       Shall issue a call for a special meeting whenever in his/her judgment, or in the judgment of

     the Executive Board of Directors, it may be deemed necessary.

·       In general shall perform all duties pertaining to the office, or that may be assigned to  the

     President by the Executive Board of Directors. 

Sec 2  PRESIDENT ELECT

·       Shall, in the absence of the President or at the President's request, assume all the powers

     and perform all the duties of the President.

·       Shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Executive Board.

·       Shall be responsible for various committees as assigned by the President. 

Sec 3  VICE‑PRESIDENT

·       Shall, in the absence of the President and President Elect, assume all the powers and

     perform all the duties of the President.

·       Shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Executive Board.

·       Shall be responsible for various committees as assigned by the President. 

Sec 4  SECRETARY

·       Shall keep minutes of all meetings of the members, and of the Executive Board.

·       Shall perform all duties which may be assigned by the President or Executive Board.

·       Shall provide advance notice of all meeting dates for members.

·       Shall in general perform all the duties pertaining to the office

·       Shall update and maintain the Executive Handbook. 

Sec 5   TREASURER

·       Shall keep a roll of the members of the Association.

·       Shall in general perform all the duties pertaining to the office.

·       Shall compile an annual report of all financial activities of the Association.

·       Shall collect all monies due to the Association, providing invoices and receipts. 

·       Shall deposit all monies of the Association in a financial institution approved by the

     Executive Board.

·       Shall record all disbursements. 

ARTICLE VII ‑ RULES 

Sec 1  Thirty‑one members shall constitute a quorum at a meeting.  In case a quorum shall not

            be present, the meeting may be adjourned by those present to a future date, of which

            notice will be given to all members by the Association Secretary. 

Sec 2  Unless otherwise provided for by these bylaws, Robert's Rules of Order shall govern

            all meetings of the Association. 

ARTICLE VIII ‑ COMMITTEES 

Sec 1  Standing committees of the Association shall be named as follows:  

A.      Real Estate Standards Committee

B.     Personal Property Standards Committee

C.     Education and Training Committee

D.     Legislative Committee

E.     Property Tax Exemptions Committee

F.      Auditing Committee

G.     Nominating Committee

H.     Awards Committee

I.         Public Relations Committee

J.       Planning and Management Committee

K.     Membership Services Committee

L.      Computer Assisted Assessment Committee

M.     Rural Concerns Committee

N.     Program Committee 

            Committees designated by the President shall consist of not less than three members

            appointed by the President for the term of one year. 

Sec 2  The President may appoint, from time to time, such other special committees as 

            deemed proper.                                    

Sec 3  The President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be ex officio members of all committees,

            and are entitled to participate in the proceedings thereof as members, but their

            attendance shall be optional and voluntary, and shall not be deemed as part of the

            regular officer duties. 

Sec 4  A majority of each committee shall constitute a quorum thereof.  Each committee shall

            report to the President the proceedings of the committee, and any recommendations

            which they make. 

Sec 5  No communication in the name of, or on behalf of this Association generally relating to

            this Association or it's activities, shall be sent by any committee, officer, or member to

            any other association, public official, body, newspaper, or to the public, unless such

            communication is first submitted to, and approved by, the Executive Board of Directors

            or the President. 

Sec 6  No published material shall be prepared or issued by this Association unless:

1)      It clearly shows on it's face that it was prepared by the Association.

2)      The name of the editor or author is stated thereon.

3)      It contains no libelous matter. 

ARTICLE IX ‑ MEETINGS/DUES

 MEETINGS  

 Sec 1  The annual meeting of the Association shall be the last membership meeting of the

            fiscal year.  At this meeting, the election of officers for the year shall be held. 

Sec 2  Regular meetings of the Association shall be held quarterly, at such time and place as

            may be determined by the Executive Board of Directors.  Meetings of the Executive

            Board of Directors shall be held as prescribed in Article IV. 

Sec 3  Special meetings of the Association may be held at the call of the President, or at the

            request of the Executive Board of Directors, and shall be called by the President upon

            the written request (stating the purpose of such meeting) of ten or more of the

            the members on the WAAO roster. 

DUES  

Sec 4  The annual Association dues are payable by JULY 31st for the full year (August 1st

            thru July 31st).  Members who fail to meet their annual dues obligation by the said July

            31st shall be considered delinquent, with loss of all rights and privileges.  Dues for new

            memberships received after May 1st shall be applied to the following year.       

Sec 5  Payment of one full years dues after delinquency shall restore the members full rights

            and privileges. 

Sec 6  Any revised dues schedule shall be presented by the Executive Board of Directors to

            the general membership for approval at a quarterly meeting.  

                                                                   

Membership Dues         (Approved 3‑5‑01)

Regular Membership                              $25.00

Associate Membership                           $20.00

Student Membership                                          $20.00

Subscribing Membership                        $50.00

Retired Regular Membership                   $15.00
  ARTICLE X ‑ AMENDMENTS 

These BYLAWS shall not be amended, altered, or repealed except in the following manner:

Ten members of the Association may submit in writing to the President proposed amendments with the reasons for same.  The Executive Board of Directors shall then act and report upon such proposal.  The President shall then submit the proposed amendment at the next general meeting for the members consideration and vote.     All members shall receive a minimum five day notice that such proposed amendments will be voted on at the next meeting of members. 

Amendments for action by members may also be proposed by resolution of the Executive Board of Directors, or by a special committee appointed by the President for that purpose.

ARTICLE XI ‑ REMOVAL OF OFFICERS OR MEMBERS 

Sec 1  Complaints of misconduct against officers or members of the Association shall be

            considered by the Executive Board of Directors;  and if after investigation, it is of the

            opinion that sufficient grounds exist, the Executive Board of Directors may by two‑thirds

            vote, recommend to the members that such officer or member, be censured,

            suspended, removed from office, or expelled from membership in the Association. The

            membership may by three‑fourths vote by secret ballot, take such action thereon as it

            deems proper. 

Sec 2  Any member against whom a complaint is made before the Executive Board of

            Directors shall be notified thereof, and shall be afforded an opportunity to make answer

            thereto to the Executive Board of Directors. 

Sec 3  Any elected officer or member of the Executive Board of Directors who shall be absent

            from four consecutive meetings, including regular and Executive Board, may be

            suspended from such office and the vacancy filled for the unexpired term as herein

            provided.  This action requires a two‑thirds majority vote of the Executive Board. 

ARTICLE XII ‑ ORDER OF BUSINESS

 Sec 1  The order of business shall include: 

·    Adoption of minutes as distributed, or published

·    Report of the Secretary

·    Report of the Treasurer         

·    Report of the Executive Board of Directors

·    Reports of Committees

·    Old (or unfinished) business    

·    New business

·    Adjournment 

ARTICLE XIII ‑ ORDER OF BUSINESS 

Any rule of parliamentary procedure may be suspended at any meeting by a three-fourths vote of the members present. 

REVISIONS

09/11/91

06/01/92

03/07/94

06/05/95

06/14/96

09/11/96

12/04/00

3/5/01

9/25/02