ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of the association shall be the Professional Marketing Association.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The purpose of the Professional Marketing Association is to offer an atmosphere for marketing professionals to meet on a regular basis for networking, professional development, peer recognition and community involvement.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

The membership shall be open to anyone actively involved in marketing management of a product or service (profit or non profit).

Individuals interested in membership will submit an application to the VP of Membership, which will be reviewed with respect to the purpose outline in Article II.

There shall be no set limits on the total number of members in the Association or on the number of members from any one entity.

Dues in the Association shall be $70 per member per year to be paid upon acceptance into the Association and every January thereafter. Non-payment of dues as specified will be grounds for immediate termination of membership.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The officers shall consist of President, Vice President of Sponsorship, Vice President of Programs, Vice President of Membership, Vice President of Communications, Vice President of Finance and Immediate Past President.

The President shall preside over all monthly membership meetings, as well as Executive Committee meetings. Duties shall include:

1. Oversee planning and direction of the organization.
2. Oversee all financial matters including co-signing checks.
3. Propose yearly budget with input from VP of Finance and Immediate Past President.
4. Appoint chairpersons for and preside over the Scholarship Committee and Bylaws Committee
5. Give monthly newsletter reports to VP of Communication.
6. Give general welcome/closing statements at monthly meetings.
7. Introduce guests at monthly meetings.

The Vice President of Sponsorship duties shall include:

1. Responsible for soliciting monthly $250 sponsorships for the monthly meetings and the annual Markie banquet.
2. Forward all necessary information to the VP of Finance for invoicing Sponsor(s).
3. Forward sponsor logo and information to VP of Communication for inclusion in monthly newsletter.
4. Work closely with VP of Programs to determine speaker for each month. Sponsors are given first opportunity to present or provide their own speaker/presentation.
5. Recognize and introduce Sponsor(s) at each monthly meeting with a small blurb of information about their business/company and announce to all in attendance future sponsorship opportunities.

The Vice President of Programs will oversee the monthly programming of the Association. Duties shall include:

1. Field suggestions for programs from the membership.
2. Arrange and coordinate speakers for each meeting, as well as lunch arrangements for the monthly meeting.
3. Submit program information to the VP of Communication for inclusion in monthly newsletter.
4. Appoint chairpersons for and preside over the Program Committee and Banquet Committee.
5. Provide evaluation forms/surveys for each monthly meeting.
6. Introduce program/presenter at each monthly meeting.

The Vice President for Communications shall be responsible for all external and internal communications of the Association. Duties shall include:

1. Function as the Association's webmaster who will maintain the Association website including monthly updates.
2. Design, edit and distribute Association's monthly newsletter to all members.
3. Perform any other necessary correspondence including annual press release on new officers, Markie Awards and Marketer of the Year.
4. Works with other officers to ensure proper communication concerning Association's activities to membership.
5. Works with other officers to ensure updated and proper communication concerning Association’s Facebook page.

The Vice President of Finance shall serve as the chief record keeper and financial officer of the Association. Duties shall include:

1. Custodian of all financial records of the Association.
2. Sign all checks with co-signature from the President, vouchers and/or requisitions.
3. Responsible for all fiscal duties and responsibilities of the Association including the receipt and disbursement of receipts of the Association.
4. Issue membership invoices.
5. Perform guest sign-in responsibilities at monthly meetings.

The Vice President of Membership shall be responsible for identifying and helping recruit new members for PMA. Duties shall include:

1. Work with VP Finance on maintaining membership list.
2. Create, develop and execute yearly membership drive to increase membership.
3. Maintain potential/prospect member list.
4. Update Constant Contact email directory and communicate with VP of Communication about member information on PMA website.
5. Works with other officers to encourage growth of the Association and also retention of current members.
6. Recognize birthdays at monthly meetings.
7. Organize Brag-for-a-Buck at monthly meetings.
8. Recognize new members at meetings and allow them to introduce themselves or their business.

The Immediate Past President shall act as an advisor to the current President and other officers. Duties shall include:

1. Facilitate transition between outgoing and incoming officers.
2. Work with VP of Finance to ensure a checks and balances system for incoming and outgoing funds.
3. Assist VP of Finance with member/guest sign-in and collection of money at monthly meetings.
4. Preside in the absence of the President.

ARTICLE V - MEETINGS

The membership shall meet at 11:30 a.m. every third Tuesday during the months of January through October, with the annual banquet being held the same time in November.

Meetings are conducted for networking and educational purposes. No selling or soliciting of the membership base by an active member or guest is allowed during any official Association function. Presentations are to be informational, not for the purpose of selling a product or service to the membership.

Members and/or guests planning to attend an upcoming meeting or function shall notify the VP of Finance of his/her intentions by the designated RSVP deadline for the function or meeting. Members who RSVP by the given deadline shall pay $10 at the door. Failure to do so will be cause for the member or guest to pay $15 at the door.

The Association will cover the meal cost of potential members at their first meeting. All other guests will be assessed $15 at the door. Multiple guests representing a single organization will be permitted two complimentary lunches.

The Executive Committee may meet on call by the President.

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ARTICLE VI - NOMINATION AND ELECTION

The Executive Committee and three individuals from the membership selected at-large by the Executive Committee shall serve as the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall present nominations from the active membership in good standing for election by the membership at the October meeting. The Nominating Committee shall not nominate any person without first obtaining the candidate's assent to election to the office. The nominations will be elected upon receiving the majority votes of the membership present. All officers shall all be elected for one year terms or until their successors are named.

President for the upcoming year must be a current PMA Executive Officer.

Any vacancy on the Executive Committee shall be filled by majority vote of the Executive Committee election for the unexpired term.

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ARTICLE VII – COMMITTEES

The duties of all officers and committees shall be to fulfill the purposes of the Association as found in Article II, and such other duties that shall be directed by the Executive Committee and the membership.

Standing committees shall be appointed by the respective officer presiding over that committee (See Article IV - Officers and Executive Committee). Standing committees shall be subject to the confirmation of the Executive Committee and listed in the bylaws. Standing Committee chairs shall report to their respective officers. Ad hoc committees may be appointed at the discretion of the President.

Standing committees include the Bylaw Committee, Banquet Committee, Scholarship Committee, Program Committee and Membership Committee.

A. The Bylaw Committee will periodically review the Bylaws and recommend any changes to the Association.

B. The banquet committee will plan and coordinate the details for the annual banquet, Markie awards, and Marketer of the Year award.

C. The Scholarship Committee will perform and/or oversee the responsibilities regarding the Professional Marketing Association Scholarship Fund. Guidelines for the Fund are as follows:

1. The Fund is to be administered by the College Heights Foundation.

2. The recipient of the PMA Scholarship must be a senior at Western Kentucky University with a major or minor in marketing. The recipient must have a minimum 2.8 cumulative grade point average and must show interest to pursue a career in the marketing field. The award will be in the amount of $500 and awarded yearly during the spring semester. The award is not renewable. If no applicant meets the requirement for any particular year, the earnings will remain in the fund.

3. A special committee of individuals appointed by the PMA Executive Committee which shall include Western Kentucky University marketing professors and PMA members will review the nominations. Awards will be made by the University Scholarship Committee upon approval of the PMA Scholarship Committee’s nomination.

4. To apply for the scholarship, applicants must complete the standard WKU scholarship application and submit to the PMA Scholarship Committee the completed application along with a two-page essay on a marketing topic to be determined by the PMA Scholarship Committee. Applicants are also asked to submit a letter declaring their intent to apply and a resume listing school activities, grade point average, and other relevant information.

5. Deadline for submitting applications is March 1 of each year. The PMA Scholarships Committee will narrow the pool of applicants to the top three. The PMA Executive Committee and Scholarship Committee will interview the top three applicants for selection. The recipient will present their essay topic at the April PMA regular membership meeting.

D.  The Program Committee shall provide suggestions for program speakers, content and format, as well as assist the Vice President with the monthly program arrangements.

The Membership Committee will perform and/or oversee the responsibilities regarding the association membership including but not limited to keeping the directory updated and distributed, assisting in attracting new members through materials and personal contact, retaining current members, and conducting an annual membership drive

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ARTICLE VIII – FINANCIAL AFFAIRS AND DUES

The fiscal year shall be from January 1 to December 31.

ARTICLE IX – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Roberts Rules of Order as last revised shall govern the proceeding of all meetings of the Association.

ARTICLE X – AMENDMENTS

The Bylaws of the Association may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the total membership present.

 

Last Revised: January 2011