Table of Contents:

Article I. Name and Purpose
Article II. Membership
Article III. Officers and Duties
Local Secretary
Assistant Local Secretary
The Treasurer
The Editor
Past Local Secretary
Article IV. Meetings
Article V. Elections
Article VI. Amendments to the Bylaws
Article VII. Mensa Name and Logo

Article I. Name and Purpose

1. The name of this organization shall be Central Iowa Mensa.
2. Central Iowa Mensa is a local group of American Mensa, Ltd. (AML), and is subject to the Constitution of Mensa, the Bylaws of American Mensa, Ltd., and the resolutions adopted by the American Mensa Committee (AMC).

Article II. Membership

1. Membership of Central Iowa Mensa shall be open to all Mensa members in good standing in the geographic areas assigned to Central Iowa Mensa by the AMC, or as otherwise assigned by AML.
2. All Mensa members in good standing who are not also members of Central Iowa Mensa are welcome to participate in the social activities of Central Iowa Mensa on the same basis as members of Central Iowa Mensa, but may not vote or hold office in Central Iowa Mensa, nor may they participate in the business activities of Central Iowa Mensa unless they be a National Ombudsman or his or her representative, members of the AMC in the discharge of their responsibilities or at the invitation of the Executive Committee of Central Iowa Mensa.

Article III. Officers and Duties

1. The governing body of Central Iowa Mensa shall be an Executive Committee (Ex Com) consisting of five elected officers: Local Secretary (Loc Sec), Assistant Local Secretary (Asst. Loc Sec), Treasurer, Editor of the newsletter, and Past Local Secretary (Past Loc Sec).
   1. The Loc Sec shall be the chief executive officer of Central Iowa Mensa, and the liaison with other local groups, the AMC, and AML. The Loc Sec shall conduct the meetings of the Ex Com. When, in the judgment of the Loc Sec, the business of Central Iowa Mensa is such that deliberating with the Ex Com is impossible or impractical, the Loc Sec shall act on the Ex Com's behalf. The Loc Sec shall appoint coordinators of activities (e.g., the Talented and Gifted Coordinator), the Elections Committee, and ad hoc committees as deemed necessary. The Loc Sec shall appoint a Publisher's Representative of the newsletter in accordance with postal regulations. All appointments (other than associate editors, as provided for in III.1.D) shall be confirmed by the Ex Com. Appointed officers are non-voting members of the Ex Com.
   2. The Asst. Loc Sec shall preside over meetings in the absence of the Loc Sec, and succeed to the office of Loc Sec if that office becomes vacant. In addition, the Asst. Loc Sec shall do those tasks assigned from time to time by the Loc Sec.
   3. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the financial matters of Central Iowa Mensa, including the finances of the newsletter, and shall submit to the Ex Com a semi-annual financial report which shall also be published in the newsletter. The financial report shall contain schedules of income, expenses, and balances for all funds under the control of Central Iowa Mensa, including RG, scholarship, and other special funds. The Treasurer's report shall also include a listing of all equipment owned by the local group. The financial reports shall be submitted to the Editor in timely fashion for publication in the July and January issues of the newsletter. The Treasurer shall assist the Editor or Publisher in the preparation and submission of any postal forms that may be required.
   4. The Editor shall edit and publish the monthly newsletter of Central Iowa Mensa. The Editor shall publish:
      1. semi-annual financial reports as provided by the Treasurer as specified in III.1.C;
      2. actions and reports of the Ex Com (in the following newsletter);
      3. reports of the Elections Committees, campaign statements, required ballots, and election results as specified in V.2, V.3, and V.6;
      4. reports of the elected officers related to the conduct of their offices;
      5. Article V of these bylaws (in the November issue preceding the election);
      6. amendments to bylaws as specified in VI.2 and VI.3; and,
      7. announcements of Central Iowa Mensa meetings and events.
      
        In addition, the Editor may publish, as space permits, reports of appointed officers and committees other than the Elections Committee and items of interest to the membership of Central Iowa Mensa at his or her discretion. The Editor shall appoint associate editors as may become necessary, to serve under the sole direction and at the pleasure of the Editor. The Editor shall administer the editorial policies of the newsletter, and shall recommend changes, as needed, to the Ex Com. The Editor and Publisher's Representative shall be jointly responsible for compliance with postal regulations.
   5. The position of Past Loc Sec, considered to be an elected office, may only be filled by the immediate past Local Secretary. If the office is vacated, it cannot be filled by appointment.
   
    
2. Formal action of the Ex Com shall require a simple majority vote of the entire Committee, except as noted in III.6.
3. It shall be the duty of each elected or appointed officer to turn over all records and materials pertaining to the office, in good order, to his or her successor or to the Loc Sec no later than fifteen days after leaving office.
4. Each elected officer, appointed coordinator, and committee shall report at least quarterly in person or in writing to the Ex Com.
5. The term of office for all elected officers shall be two years, beginning February 1st of even years, or until death, resignation, or removal from office as provided for in III.6. The terms of the appointed coordinators and all committees are coterminous with that of the Loc Sec.
6. Elected or appointed officers may be removed from office by unanimous vote of the other members of the Ex Com or by a recall election. A recall election may be called by a petition citing the reason for such action, signed by twenty percent of the members of Central Iowa Mensa, as determined from the most recent membership roster from AML. The balloting provisions of a regular election shall apply except that a recall election must be held within 60 days of presentation of a properly qualified petition at either a regular or a special meeting of the local group, and the dates set forth in V.2 shall be adjusted accordingly by the Elections Committee.
7. All elected officers and appointees shall be current members in good standing of AML and Central Iowa Mensa.
8. The Loc Sec shall appoint a replacement for any elected officer, other than Past Loc Sec, or any appointee who dies, who resigns his or her office, who is removed or recalled, or who is no longer a current member in good standing of AML and of Central Iowa Mensa. The appointee shall be confirmed by a simple majority of the Ex Com.
9. Duties, other than those specified by these bylaws, of committees and of appointed coordinators shall be established by the Ex Com.
10. A members may not hold two or more elective offices concurrently.
11. The Ex Com shall be the Publisher of the newsletter.

Article IV. Meetings

1. Central Iowa Mensa shall hold regular monthly meetings at a time and location established by the Ex Com; the Ex Com shall, from time to time, review its policies for the regular monthly meetings, and other meetings and activities as necessary. Notice of all meetings and activities shall be submitted to the Editor, who shall publish all timely announcements in the next newsletter.
2. The Ex Com shall convene at least quarterly, at a regular monthly meeting, to review the affairs of Central Iowa Mensa.
3. Special business meetings may be called at any time by the Loc Sec, or by a majority of the Ex Com, and shall be called upon receipt of a petition signed by twenty percent of the members of Central Iowa Mensa, as determined from the most recent membership roster received from AML. The purpose of the special meeting shall be announced in advance, and the agenda shall include only business for which the meeting is called.
4. The Ex Com may adopt rules of order for the conduct of its affairs.

Article V. Elections

1. No later that October 15, the Loc Sec shall appoint an Elections Committee of three members. No member of the Elections Committee shall be an elected officer or a candidate in the upcoming election. The Elections Committee shall seek members who are interested in running for office and solicit nominations from the membership.
2. By November 15, the Elections Committee shall provide the list of all nominations for the office of Loc Sec, Asst. Loc Sec, Treasurer, and Editor to the Editor for publication in the December issue. In that issue, the Editor shall print a campaign statement of up to 300 words, from each candidate for local office that is delivered to the Editor on or before November 15. The Elections Committee shall promulgate rules for conducting the election that do not conflict with these bylaws, including when and where the ballots shall be counted, and the Editor shall publish these rules in the December newsletter.
3. Ballots shall be printed in the December issue of the newsletter or mailed to all members of Central Iowa Mensa, but in either case must be posted no later than November 30. The ballots must be returned to the Chair of the Elections Committee and must be received no later than December 15.
4. A plurality of valid votes cast for each office shall constitute election. Votes that are tied shall be determined by the Chair of the Elections Committee by the flip of a coin.
5. The ballots shall be opened and counted at the time and place previously announced by the Elections Committee, by the Chair of the Elections Committee or his or his designate, in the presence of all interested parties in attendance.
6. The Chair of the Elections Committee will certify the results of the election to the Local Secretary, and shall provide the results in timely fashion to the Editor for publication in the January newsletter.
7. Challenges to the election must be received by the Loc Sec in writing by January 15. A committee chaired by the Past Loc Sec, and comprising the Loc Sec and Chair of the Elections Committee shall review the evidence presented, in consultation with the Elections Committee, the Ex Com, and other interested parties, and render a judgment by February 1. Actions taken by the Ex Com shall not be affected by the outcome of an election challenge.

Article VI. Amendments to the Bylaws

1. Amendments to these bylaws may be proposed by a petition signed by twenty percent of the members of Central Iowa Mensa, as determined by the most recent membership roster received by AML, or by action of the Ex Com. Within fifteen days of receiving a valid proposal, the Loc Sec shall submit it to the AMC for approval.
2. Upon approval by the AMC, the Loc Sec shall direct the Editor to publish the proposed amendments in the next issue of the newsletter, for consideration by the membership.
3. The Elections Committee shall conduct a referendum on the proposed changes, and shall direct the Editor to publish such ballot in the next issue of the newsletter that follows publication of the proposed changes.
4. The balloting deadline shall be no less than 90 days following the first publication of the proposed amendment in the Central Iowa Mensa newsletter.
5. Amendments become effective upon the approval of AMC and ratification by the membership. An affirmative vote by a two-thirds majority of the valid ballots cast shall constitute ratification by the membership.

Article VII. Mensa Name and Logo

1. AML has granted a royalty-free, non-exclusive license to Central Iowa Mensa for the use of the mark "Mensa" and a logo, consisting of a globe over a stylized "M" within a border, in connection with the services and purposes of Central Iowa Mensa. AML retains full ownership of the mark and logo and all statutory and common law rights in the mark and logo.