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CHARTER
COALITION OF OAK RIDGE RETIRED EMPLOYEES, INC.
The undersigned, being qualified to act as an incorporator, adopts the
following Charter for the purpose of organizing a not-for-profit corporation
under the Tennessee Nonprofit Corporation Act, Tennessee Code Annotated Section
48-51-101, et seq.:
1. Name. The name of the Corporation is COALITION OF OAK RIDGE
RETIRED EMPLOYEES, INC. (the "Corporation").
2. Public Benefit. The Corporation is a public benefit corporation.
3. Principal Office. The street address of the Corporation’s principal
office is
107 Antioch Drive, Oak Ridge, Anderson County, Tennessee 37830.
4. Registered Office and Registered Agent. The street address of the
Corporation’s registered office and its registered agent is 107 Antioch Drive,
Oak Ridge, Anderson County, Tennessee 37830; and the name of the Corporation’s
registered agent is W. CHARLES KUYKENDALL.
5. Incorporator. The name of the incorporator is Donald C. Wood, and his
address is 12019 Butternut Lane, Knoxville, Tennessee 37922.
6. Non-Profit. The Corporation is not-for-profit; and it shall at all
times comply with Tenn. Code Ann. Section 48-51-501, as it now exists, and may
hereafter be amended.
7. Members. The Corporation shall have two classes of Membership:
-
General Members – Retirees and others receiving pension benefits from
the pension fund of the U.S. Department of Energy contractor-managed
facilities at Oak Ridge, Tennessee: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL),
Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (K-25), Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant (Y-12) and
all retirees from local DOE
contractors (such as Wackenhut and Bechtel-Jacobs), who are under the same
pension plan.
-
Active Members shall be any general members, who have at some time
contributed twenty dollars ($20,00) to the support of its work.
8. Purpose. The Corporation is organized exclusively for charitable,
religious, educational and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes,
the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt
organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the
"Code") (or the corresponding provision of any future United States
Internal Revenue law).
9. No Private Inurement/Activities. No part of the net earnings of the
Corporation shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to any of its
members, directors, officers, or other private persons, except that the
Corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for
services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the
purposes set forth in Paragraph 8 hereof. No member, director, officer of
the Corporation or other private individual shall be entitled to share in the
distribution of any of the corporate assets on dissolution of the Corporation.
No substantial part of the activities of the Corporation shall involve the
promotion of propaganda, or otherwise involve activities that attempt to
influence legislation. Further, the Corporation shall not participate in, or
intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any
political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding
any other provisions of this Charter, the Corporation shall not carry on any
other activities not permitted to be carried on:
(a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under §
501(c)(3) of the Code;
(b) by a corporation, contributions of which are deductible under
§ 170(c)(2) of the
Code; or
(c) by any other applicable federal, state or local laws.
10. Dissolution. Upon the dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, the Board of Directors shall, after paying or making provision for
payment of all the liabilities of the Corporation, dispose of all of the assets
of the Corporation exclusively for one (1) or more of the purposes of the
Corporation in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized
and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific
purposes as shall, at the time, qualify as an exempt organization or
organizations under § 501(c)(3) of the Code as the Board of Directors shall
determine. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the
Chancery Court of the county in which the principal office of the Corporation is
then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or
organizations, as the court shall determine, which are organized and operated
exclusively for such purposes.
11. Immunity from Suit. No director of the Corporation shall incur
any personal liability to the Corporation for monetary damages for any breach of
his or her fiduciary duty as a director, provided, however, that this provision
shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director:
(a) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the
Corporation; and
(b) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional
misconduct or
a knowing violation of law; or
(c) for any unlawful distribution under Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-58-304.
12. Indemnification. Any director or officer shall be entitled to
indemnification or to advancement of expenses incurred by him or her in
connection with any proceeding to which he or she is a party because he or she
is or was a director or an officer of the Corporation arising out of his or her
status as a director or officer; provided, however, that no indemnification may
be made to or on behalf of any director or officer if a judgment or other final
adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes his or her
liability:
(a) for any breach of the duty of loyalty to the Corporation
(b) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional
misconduct
or a knowing violation of law: or
(c) for any unlawful distribution under Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-58-304.
It is intended that these provisions provide for indemnification and
advancement of expenses of the director and officers to the fullest extent
permitted by law.
13. Distributions. The Corporation shall distribute its income for
each taxable year at such time and in such manner as not to become subject to
the tax on undistributed income imposed by § 4942 of the Code or corresponding
provisions of any subsequent federal tax laws.
14. Self-Dealing. The Corporation shall not engage in any act of
self-dealing as defined in § 4941(d) of the Code which would give rise to any
liability for, or corresponding provisions of, any subsequent federal tax laws.
15. Excess Business Holdings. The Corporation shall not retain any
excess business holdings as defined in § 4943 (c) of the Code or corresponding
provisions of any subsequent federal tax laws.
16. Taxable Expenditures. The Corporation shall not make any taxable
expenditures as defined in § 4945(d) of the Code or corresponding provisions of
any subsequent federal tax laws.
17. Investments. The Corporation shall not make any investments in
such manner as to subject it to tax under § 4944 of the Code or corresponding
provisions of any subsequent federal tax laws.
18. Amendments. The provisions of the Charter are subject to amendment as
provided under the laws of the State of Tennessee; provided that no provision
shall be changed, modified, or repealed in such manner as to be inconsistent
with the objects and purposes for which this Corporation is formed.
19. References to Internal Revenue Code. All general or specific
references herein made to the Internal Revenue Code shall be deemed to refer to
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as now in force or later amended, or the
corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue law.
Similarly, any general or specific references to the laws of the State of
Tennessee shall be deemed to refer to the laws of the State of Tennessee as now
in force or hereinafter amended.
DATED this 18th day of October, 2002.
_______________________________________
Donald C. Wood, Incorporator
BYLAWS
(Revised 12-15-04)
COALITION OF OAK RIDGE RETIRED EMPLOYEES, INC.
ARTICLE I — NAME, IDENTIFICATION, AND LOCATION
Name and Identification. The name of this organization shall be COALITION
OF OAK RIDGE RETIRED EMPLOYEES, INC. (the "Corporation").
Principal Office. The principal office of this
Corporation shall be located in the State of Tennessee at 107 Antioch Drive, Oak
Ridge, Tennessee, or such other localities as may be determined from time to
time by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE II — SEAL
The signature of the President of this Corporation, duly attested to by the
Secretary, shall be used in lieu of a seal.
ARTICLE III — PURPOSE
The purposes of this Corporation are as follows:
The Corporation, Coalition of Oak Ridge Retired Employees
(CORRE), is an organization of former employees, and is a labor association
within the meaning of Section 501(c)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (Code). The Corporation is formed to represent the interest of
retirees and others receiving pension benefits from the pension fund of the U.
S. Department of Energy (DOE) contractor-managed facilities at Oak Ridge,
Tennessee, which are Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge Gaseous
Diffusion Plant (K-25), the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant (Y-12), and derivative
organizations with employees covered under this same pension plan. The primary
objectives of CORRE are: (a) to obtain and maintain pension and other benefits
that are fair, equitable, and competitive with other employers in the Oak
Ridge region and with other major DOE federal and private contractors in the
technical field; and (b) to safeguard the Pension Fund from which these
benefits are principally derived. The Corporation may assist any other entity
associated with CORRE, which qualifies under Section 501(a) of the Code as an
authorized recipient of support from a supporting organization.
To carry out such acts, engage in any activities, and
exercise all the powers conferred upon not-for-profit corporations under the
Tennessee Non-Profit Corporation Act and for which specific authorization
under the laws of the State of Tennessee is not required to accomplish its
organizational purposes within the meaning of section 501(c) (5) of the Code.
The Corporation will not engage in any transaction or do or
permit any act or omit any act which will operate to deprive it of its
tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(5) of the Code.
ARTICLE IV — BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Authority. The business, property, and affairs of the
Corporation shall be managed and controlled by its Board of Directors, and such
Board may exercise all powers of the Corporation and do such lawful acts and
things as are permitted by statute, by the Charter or by these Bylaws. The Board
of Directors has the power to delegate any of the powers of the Board to any
committee, officer, or agent.
Number and Qualifications. The affairs and business of
the Corporation will be managed by its Board of Directors, not to exceed
twenty-two (22) in number, who shall be nominated and elected as follows:
Seven (7) Directors will consist of the following officers:
President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer,
Communications Director, and Immediate Past President. The same person may, if
willing and qualified, serve as Secretary and as Treasurer. These officers
shall also serve as the Executive Committee of the Board, and be responsible
for performing certain administrative duties for the Board.
Other Directors will consist of at least eight (8) but no
more than fifteen (15) Active Members who have the expertise, contacts, and
skills necessary to help achieve the goals of CORRE. These Directors shall be
nominated by the nominating committee and elected at the Annual Membership
Meeting of CORRE, as set forth in Article V.B hereof.
Terms of Office. Beginning January 1, 2002, each Director
(except the Immediate Past President) shall be elected for a term of two (2)
years. No Board Member shall serve more than three (3) consecutive terms.
Advisory Committee. There may be an advisory committee
(consultants), which shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. The President,
with the concurrence of the Board, shall make appointments to this committee.
Persons with special expertise, skills, and/or contacts may consult with the
Board, advise and make recommendations, but shall not be required to regularly
attend meetings of the Board and shall not be voting members of the Board. The
Board of Directors may at any time remove any advisory or other committee member
as it shall deem necessary.
Quorum. A majority of the Board of Directors shall
constitute a quorum, and may conduct all of the business which the Board is
empowered to conduct, subject to a minimum quorum at all times of fifty-one
percent (51%) of the Board of Directors.
Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be
held at a date, place, and time to be determined by the Executive Committee of
the Board of Directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called
by the President or by a majority of the Executive Committee. The Secretary, or
his/her designee, shall be responsible for notifying the Board Members of all
regular meetings at least seven (7) calendar days in advance of such meetings.
Written or printed notice shall be delivered by electronic mail or first class
mall to each Director.
Minutes. The board of Directors shall keep a record of each proceeding,
which shall be verified by the signature of the Secretary of the meeting. The
Board of Directors will also cause regular and correct books of accounts to be
kept for the Corporation.
Voting.
Each Director shall have one (1) vote at meetings of the Board of
Directors.
A Director who is present at a meeting of the Board of
Directors when corporate action is taken shall be deemed to have assented to
the action taken unless:
The Director objects at the beginning of the meeting (or
promptly upon the Director’s arrival) to holding it or transacting business
at the meeting;
The Director’s dissent or abstention from the action
taken is entered in the minutes of the meeting; or
The Director delivers written notice of the Director’s
dissent or abstention to the presiding officer of the meeting before its
adjournment or to the Corporation immediately after adjournment of the
meeting. The right of dissent or abstention shall not be available to a
Director who votes in favor of the action taken.
Vacancies. Whenever any Director vacancy shall occur,
whether by reason of death, resignation, removal or otherwise, the same may be
filled by the Board of Directors of CORRE. The person so chosen shall be an
Active Member and succeed to the vacated Board position, and shall serve the
balance of the unexpired term. Service of the unexpired term shall not be
considered when applying the limitation set forth for Directors under Article
IV.C.
Compensation. Directors will not receive any compensation
for their services rendered to or on behalf of the Corporation as Directors, but
by resolution of the Board of Directors, may be reimbursed reasonable expenses
incurred in furtherance of the business of the Corporation.
Action by Written Consent. Any action required or
permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or any Committee
designated by the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if a
consent in writing setting forth the action to be taken will be signed (or
original or facsimile signature) by all members of the Board of Directors or of
the Committee, and the consent will have the same force and effect as the
unanimous vote at a meeting of the Board of Directors.
Duties of Directors. The Board of Directors will have the
control and general management of the affairs and business of the Corporation.
Such Directors will in all cases act as a Board, regularly convened, by a
majority (unless otherwise specified), and they may adopt such rules and
regulations for the conduct of their meetings and the management of the
Corporation, as they may deem proper, not inconsistent with these Bylaws, the
laws of the State of Tennessee, and the stated purpose of this Corporation to
qualify under Code Section 501(c)(5). The general duties and responsibilities of
the Board of Directors will be:
To coordinate, manage, and control the financial and administrative affairs
of the Corporation;
To provide control of expenditures;
To regularly review the corporation’s Bylaws and advise the
Board of Directors of CORRE regarding suggestions for revisions, if any; and
To avoid conflict of interest.
Other Committees. Other committees not having and
exercising the authority of the Board of Directors may be designated by a
resolution adopted by a majority of the Directors present at a meeting at which
a quorum is present. Except as may be otherwise provided in such resolution, the
President of the Corporation will appoint the members thereof, and each such
committee will have at least one (1) member who is either a Director or officer
of the Corporation. Any member thereof may be removed by the person or persons
authorized to appoint such member whenever in their judgment the best interest
of the Corporation will be served by such removal.
ARTICLE V — MEMBERSHIP
Classes. There shall be two classes of Membership.
General Members shall be retirees and others receiving
pension benefits from the pension fund of the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE)
contractor-managed facilities — Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak
Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (K-25), Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant (Y-12) — at Oak
Ridge, Tennessee.
Active Members shall be any general members who support the
purpose of CORRE, and who have at some time contributed twenty dollars
($20.00) to the support of its work.
Annual Membership Meeting. There shall be at least one
meeting of the Members each calendar year for the purpose of electing officers
of CORRE and Directors to the Board of the Corporation. The Annual Membership
Meeting shall be held at such time and place as specified in a notice published
no less than one week prior to the meeting. Notice to Members of CORRE’s Annual
Membership Meeting shall be given via the CORRE Website, the ORNL and Y-12
Retiree Newsletters, Minutes of CORRE Board Meetings, and newspapers.
Special Membership Meetings. Special meetings of the
Active Members may be called by a simple majority of the Executive Committee,
and shall be held at such time and place as specified in a notice, as set forth
in Article V.B hereof, published no less than one week prior to the
meetings. Each Active Member present at a meeting shall have one (1) vote. There
shall be no proxy votes. Issues shall be decided by simple majority vote of the
Active Members present.
Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall
consist of not more than seven Active Members. The Nominating Committee and its
chair shall be proposed by the President and approved by the Board at the July
meeting of the Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee shall propose the
slate of Officers and other Board members to be voted on at the annual meeting
of Members. In proposing a slate, the Nominating Committee will endeavor to
enlist persons who have the expertise, contacts, and skills needed to achieve
the CORRE purpose stated herein.
The report of the Nominating Committee shall be communicated
to the Members at least two weeks prior to the Annual Meeting of Members.
Additional nominations may be made from the floor at the annual meeting with the
consent of the nominee.
ARTICLE VI — POWER AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Officers of CORRE. The officers of the Corporation shall
be a President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary,
Treasurer, Communications Director, and Immediate Past President. All officers
(except the Immediate Past President) shall be elected at the Annual Membership
Meeting.
Responsibilities
President. The President shall preside at all meetings
of the Active Membership, the Board of Directors, and the Executive Committee;
and shall perform all duties incident to the office of President, including:
call all meetings as provided by these Bylaws, act as ex-officio member of all
committees; and serve as CORRE’s official representative in discussions with
the pension fund corporate management, with the Department of Energy, and with
all other interested parties.
Vice Presidents. The Vice Presidents shall assist the
President with administrative matters. The First Vice President shall assume
the duties and powers of the President in his/her absence or disability, with
the Second Vice President assuming that role if the First is not available.
Secretary. The Secretary shall keep an accurate record
of all meetings of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, and the
membership, including attendance at those meetings. The Secretary shall carry
out the normal duties of the office, including sending or publishing notices
of all meetings of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, and the
CORRE active membership; send correspondence as directed by the President; and
perform all other duties incident to the office.
Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the
receipt and disbursement of all funds, and shall establish and maintain
CORRE’s books of account and also the official list of Active Members in good
standing. Reports of the accounts shall be presented at all regular meetings
of the Board of Directors and at the CORRE Annual Meeting. The Treasurer’s
accounts shall be audited, pursuant to Tennessee statutory requirements, at
the end of each calendar year by an auditor appointed by the President, and a
report filed with the Board of Directors.
Communications Director. The Communications Director
shall be responsible for preparing press releases, for contacts with the
media, and for the CORRE Web site.
Removal of Directors. Any Director may be removed from
office, whenever, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, the best interest
of the Corporation will be served thereby. Failure of a Director to attend at
least a majority of Board meetings shall be a cause for removal. Election or
appointment of a Director shall not of itself create any contract rights. Any
vacancy which may occur in any office shall be filled by the Board of
Directors. Any Director, officer, or agent, elected or appointed by the Board
of Directors, may resign by filing with the President or with the Chairperson
of the Board of Directors a written resignation, which shall take effect on
being so filed or at the time specified therein.
ARTICLE VII — CONTRACTS, GIFTS, BOOKS, AND RECORDS
Contracts, Checks, and Other Instruments. The Board of Directors may
authorize any officer or officers or such other persons as shall be designated
by the Board, in the name of, or on behalf of the Corporation, to enter into
any contract or to execute and deliver any instrument, or to sign checks,
drafts, endorsements, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the
Corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific
instances; and unless so authorized by the Board or these Bylaws, no officer
or other person shall have power or authority to bind the Corporation by any
contract or engagements or to render it pecuniarily libel for any purpose or
for any amount. The Board of Directors shall have discretion to reject any
grant, gift or bequest, the conditions of which might conflict with or
jeopardize the Corporation’s non-profit status. The Board shall have final
authority over the making of all grants and all other charitable expenditures,
and nothing in this Article VII shall constitute any restriction or
limitation of any powers of the Board conferred by applicable law or by these
Bylaws.
Gifts. The Board of Directors of the corporation may accept on behalf
of the Corporation any contribution, gift, bequest or devise for the general
purposes or for any special purpose of the Corporation.
Books and Records. The Corporation will keep correct and complete books
and records of account, and will also keep minutes of proceedings of the Board
of Directors and will keep at the registered or principal office of record of
the Corporation the names and addresses of the directors entitled to vote.
ARTICLE VIII — ASSETS OF THE CORPORATION
Non-Profit Assets. The Corporation is and will be a non-profit
corporation. It is not organized for profit, but solely and exclusively for
the purposes set forth in the Charter; and all assets which it may at any time
acquire, together with any increase in value or profit therefrom, will be
dedicated completely and irrevocably to such purposes. No officer of, Director
of, or donor to the Corporation will ever obtain any profit from its assets.
ARTICLE IX — CALENDAR YEAR
This Corporation’s initial year shall begin on the date of its incorporation
and end on December 31 of the year of its incorporation. Thereafter, said
calendar year for the Corporation shall begin on January 1 and end on December
31 of each successive year.
ARTICLE X — AFFILIATION WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
The Corporation may affiliate with other organizations so long as the purpose
of such affiliation is approved by the Board of Directors of CORRE, and is
consistent with the objectives of the Corporation as a supporting organization
of CORRE.
ARTICLE XI — NON-PROFIT, TAX-EXEMPT STATUS
Compliance. The Corporation shall not possess or exercise any power or
authority, either expressly, by interpretation, or by operation of law, that
will or might prevent it at any time from qualifying, and continuing to
qualify, as a corporation described in section 501(a) of the Code,
contributions to which are deductible for federal income tax purposes; nor
shall it engage directly or indirectly in any activity which might cause the
loss of such qualification.
Asset Restriction. No part of the assets or net earnings of the
Corporation shall ever be used, nor shall the Corporation ever be organized or
operated, for purposes that are not exclusively compatible within the meaning
of section 501(c)(5) of the Code.
Operational Limits. The Corporation shall never be operated for the
primary purpose of carrying on a trade or business for profit.
Political Limitation. No substantial part of the activities of the
corporation shall consist of carrying on propaganda or otherwise attempting to
influence legislation; nor shall it participate or intervene in any manner, or
to any extent, in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public
office, whether by publishing or distributing statements, or otherwise.
Distribution Limitation. No compensation, loan, or other payment shall
be paid or made to any officer, board member, creator, or organizer of this
Corporation, or substantial contributor to it, except as reasonable
compensation for services rendered and/or as a reasonable allowance for
authorized expenditures incurred on behalf of the Corporation; and no part of
the assets or net earnings, current or accumulated, of the Corporation shall
ever be distributed to or divided among such persons, or inure, be used for,
accrue to or benefit any such person or private individual (pursuant to the
prohibition contained in section 501(c)(5) of the Code).
Solicitation Limitation. No solicitation of contributions to the
Corporation shall be made, and no gift, bequest, or devise to the Corporation
shall be accepted, upon any condition or limitation which, in the opinion of
the corporation, may cause the corporation to lose its federal income tax Law
exemption.
Liquidating Distribution. Upon the dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, the Board of Directors shall, after paying or making provision
for payment of all the liabilities of the Corporation, dispose of all of the
assets of the Corporation exclusively for one (1) or more of the purposes of
the Corporation in such manner, or to such organization or organizations
organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or
scientific purposes as shall, at the time, qualify as an exempt organization
or organizations under the Internal Revenue Code as the Board of Directors
shall determine. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by
the Chancery Court of the county in which the principal office of the
Corporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such
organization or organizations, as the court shall determine, which are
organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.
ARTICLE XII — INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS,
OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
Immunity from Suit.
No Director of the Corporation (and their heirs and
legal representatives) shall incur any personal liability to the Corporation
for monetary damages for any breach of his or her fiduciary duty as Director,
and may, in accordance with Article XII.B, be indemnified by the
Corporation against any and all liability and reasonable expenses that may be
incurred by him in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit,
or other proceeding (whether brought by or in the right of the Corporation or
such other corporation or otherwise), civil, criminal, administrative, or
investigative, including any appeal relating thereto, in which he may become
involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of his being or having been a
Director, officer, or employee of the Corporation or such other corporation or
by reason of any action taken or not taken in his capacity as such Director,
officer, or employee, whether or not he continues to be such at the time such
liability or expense is incurred; provided, however, that this provision shall
not eliminate or limit the liability of a Director:
(a) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation;
and
(b) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional
misconduct or a knowing violation of law; or
(c) for any unlawful distribution under Tenn. Code Ann. Section
48-58-304.
Indemnification pursuant to this Article XII, however, shall:
not include any amounts payable by such person to the Corporation in
satisfaction of any judgment or settlement, and
be reduced by the amount of any other indemnification or reimbursement
of such person in respect of the liability and expense with respect to
which indemnification is claimed.
As used in this Article XII, the terms "liability" and "expense"
shall include, but shall not be limited to, counsel fees and disbursements and
amounts of judgments, fines, or penalties against, and amounts paid in
settlement by, such person. The termination of any claim, action, suit or
other proceeding by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court
approval), or conviction or upon a plea of guilty or of nolo contendere,
or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption that such person did not
meet the standards of conduct set forth in this paragraph.
Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification. Every person (and the
heirs and legal representatives of such person) referred to in Article
XII.A, who has been wholly successful, on the merits, with respect to any
claim, action, suit, or other proceeding of the character described in
Article XII.A shall be entitled to indemnification as provided in
Article XII.A as of right. Except as provided in the preceding sentence,
any indemnification under Article XII.A shall be made at the discretion
of the Corporation, but only if either:
the Board of Directors, acting by a quorum consisting of Directors who
are not parties to such claim, action, suit, or other proceeding, shall find
that such person has met the standards of conduct set forth in Article
XII.A, or
independent legal counsel (who may be regular counsel of the Corporation)
shall deliver to the corporation their written advice that, in their
opinion, such person has met such standards.
Advancement of Expenses. Expenses incurred with respect to any claim,
suit, or other proceeding of the character described in Article XII.A
may be advanced by the Corporation prior to the final disposition thereof upon
receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the recipient to repay such
amount unless ultimately be determined that he is entitled to indemnification
under this Article XII.
Rights Not Exclusive. The rights of indemnification provided in this
Article XII shall be in addition to any rights to which any person (or the
heirs or legal representatives of such person) referred to in Article XII.A
may otherwise be entitled by a contract or as a matter of law and shall be
available whether or not the claim asserted against such person is based on
matters which antedate the adoption of this Article XII.
ARTICLE XIII — WAIVER OF NOTICE
Unless otherwise provided by law, whenever any notice is required to be given
to any Director under the provisions of these Bylaws or under the provisions of
the Charter of Incorporation, the waiver thereof in writing, signed by the
person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time
stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.
ARTICLE XIV — AMENDMENTS
Review of Bylaws. These Bylaws will be reviewed at least annually by
the President of the Corporation or any other Director approved by the Board
of Directors for any needed revisions, and such Director and the President
will inform the Board in writing of any changes that are recommended.
Revisions of Bylaws. Amendments or additions to these Bylaws must be
approved by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors present and voting,
provided previous written notice of the amendment has been submitted to all
Board Members at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the meeting and a
quorum is present consistent with Tenn. Code Ann. Section 48-60-301.
ARTICLE XV — ENACTMENT
Adopted by the Incorporator and Statutory Director on the 21st day of August,
2002.
CERTIFICATION
I certify that these Bylaws were duly adopted at the organizational meeting
of the Incorporator of the Corporation on the date indicated.
_________________________________________
Donald C. Wood, Incorporator
Date Adopted: As of August 21, 2002
Revised: As of December 15, 2004
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