ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this Association shall be the South Carolina Court Reporters Association.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSES

The purposes of this Association shall be:

1) To assume responsibility for leadership and enlightenment of the users of verbatim reporting of proceedings and of the people in the state regarding the special competency, importance, and value of the court reporting system.

2) To promote a broader understanding and acceptance of the
qualified court reporter as indispensable to the judicial system of this state.

3) To encourage, establish, and maintain high standards of professional education, competence and performance.

4) To promote and encourage the exchange of professional knowledge.

5) To stimulate and encourage the adoption of adequate training and educational facilities and programs for personnel in the field of court reporting in this state.

6) To cooperate with state and local governments, their agencies and other organized groups for the benefit of the public and for the recognition of the court reporting profession.

7) To conduct educational seminars and conferences.

8) To disseminate, by all appropriate means, accurate knowledge and information with respect to the court reporting profession and system.

9) To advance the interests and general welfare of the court reporting profession.

10) To foster professional and social contacts among its members.

11) To promote harmony and a spirit of mutual assistance between the profession of court reporting and the courts and members of the bar of this state.

12) To do any and all things that are lawful and appropriate in the furtherance of these purposes.

ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIPS

Membership in the Association shall be open to individuals who subscribe to and support the purposes of the Association and who are skilled in the art of verbatim reporting of the proceedings by the use of shorthand symbols manually, by stenomask, or stenotype machine.

SECTION 1: Classes of Members

The membership shall consist of the following classes:

A. Regular Members

B. Associate Members

SECTION 2: Regular Members

Any person who meets one or more of the following requirements shall be eligible to become a Regular Member:

A. Any person who is an official court or legislative court reporter.

B. Any person who is associated with or employed by a member of this Association as a court reporter whose application is endorsed by the Association or employing reporter.

C. Any person who is a participating or professional member of the National Court Reporters Association or the National Stenomask Verbatim Reporters Association.

D. Any person who has attained the National Court Reporters Association Certificate of Registered Professional Reporter or Certificate of Merit or National Verbatim Reporters Association Certified Verbatim Reporter or Certificate of Merit.

E. Any person who is the holder of a certified court reporter
certificate mandated by state or federal law.

SECTION 3: Associate Members

A. Any Regular Member in good standing on retiring from the active practice of court reporting may become, upon application to the secretary, an Associate Member of this Association.

B. A student enrolled in a court reporting course may become an Associate Member.

C. A teacher of shorthand or shorthand reporting or anyone connected in an official capacity with a school or college conducting a court reporting course may become an Associate
Member. Such persons need not meet the requirements for skill in the art of verbatim report of proceedings.

SECTION 4: Privileges

A. All classes of members shall enjoy the privileges of the Association except where certain privileges are specifically restricted to a specific class of members in this Constitution and Bylaws.

B. Only Regular Members shall be eligible to vote.

C. Only Regular Members shall be eligible to hold an elective office.

ARTICLE IV: DUES AND CHARGES

SECTION 1: Annual Dues

A. The annual dues shall not be more than seventy-five dollars ($75) for Regular Members, and not more than fifty dollars ($50) for Associate Members. The actual annual dues amount shall be fixed annually by the Executive Board.  Student Membership is complimentary.

B. The annual dues are due and payable on the 1st day of April of each year.

SECTION 2: Other Charges

Charges for meetings, activities, and materials shall be determined by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE V: EXECUTIVE BOARD

SECTION 1: Governing Board

A. The Executive Board shall be the governing board of the Association and shall consist of both stenotype and stenomask reporters and establish policies and procedures and administer all affairs and activities of the Association.
B. The Executive Board shall consist of all the elected officers: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and immediate Past President, as elected.

SECTION 2: Executive Board Meetings

A. The Executive Board shall hold a minimum of two meetings annually at such time and place as the Executive Board may determine. Additional meetings of the Executive Board may be called by the President or at the written request of a majority of members of the Executive Board, provided that a written notice is sent to each member of the Executive Board ten days prior to the meeting.
B. A quorum shall consist of two-thirds of the full voting membership of the Executive Board.
C. The President shall serve as Chairman of the Executive Board. In his absence, the Vice-President shall act as Chairman. If both are absent, the Treasurer shall preside.

ARTICLE VI: OFFICERS

SECTION 1: Titles

The elected officers of the Association shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer.

SECTION 2: Election and Term of Office

A. Elected officers of the Association shall be elected each year by the membership at the annual meeting of the Association for a term of one year. The term of each elected officer shall begin at the close of the annual meeting at which he was elected. He shall serve until his successor is elected. No elected officer shall serve for more than two full terms in the same office.
B. If there is more than one nominee for an office, the nominee receiving the highest number of votes cast shall be elected.

SECTION 3: Nominations

A. Nominations for all officers shall be made at the annual meeting of the Association each year.
B. The report of the nominating committee shall be presented at the annual meeting. Nominations from the floor may be made at these meetings.
C. Nominations from the floor may be made by Regular Members.

SECTION 4: Vacancies

Vacancies occurring in any of the offices shall be filled by the Executive Board.

SECTION 5: Duties of Officers

A. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Association and to perform all duties incident to the office of the President and such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Executive Board.
B. It shall be the duty of the Vice-President to perform the duties of the President in his absence or in the event of his inability or refusal to act. The Vice-President, when thus acting, shall have the powers of and be subject to all restrictions placed upon the President. The Vice-President shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the President or the Executive Board.
C. The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities and financial records of the Association and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of the Treasurer and other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the President or Executive Board.
D. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the Association and of the Executive Board; shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of the Bylaws, or as required by the law; shall be custodian of the records of the Association; and in general, shall perform all duties of the office of Secretary and other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the President or the Executive Board.

ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS

SECTION 1: Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of the Association shall be held at such time and place as the Executive Board shall determine. Notice of said meeting shall be given to all members not less than 30 days prior to the date thereof.

SECTION 2: Special Meetings

Special meetings of the Association may be called by the Executive Board at any time or shall be called by the President on receipt of written request by one-third of the voting members of the Association, giving the reasons at the special meeting.  At such special meeting no business shall be transacted except as specified in a notice to members. Written notice of such meeting shall be given to all members not less than 30 days prior to the date thereof.

ARTICLE VIII: VOTING

At any meeting of the Association, only voting members shall have the right to vote, which vote shall be cast in person only. Voting by proxy shall not be permitted.

SECTION 1: Quorum of Members

Upon the convening of any annual meeting or special meeting of members, a quorum shall consist of ten percent of the voting members present in person. In the event that a quorum is not present for the election of officers, a mail vote shall be undertaken. Such ballet shall be mailed by first class mail and the period of voting shall be limited to no less than 30 days, and not less than twenty percent of all voting members shall cast a ballot to constitute a valid vote. In addition to the nominees proposed by the Nominating Committee, the members in a mail ballot may write in the name of a candidate for office. Such write-in should indicate the name of the candidate and the name and address of the employer.

ARTICLE IX: COMMITTEES AND BOARDS

A. Committees shall be appointed annually by the President with the approval of the Executive Board.
B. The nominating committee shall consist of five members, three non-board members and two board members. This committee shall be responsible for nominating candidates for office. The nominations shall be submitted to the membership at the annual meeting, or in the event of a mail ballot, in writing.

ARTICLE X: FISCAL PROCEDURES

SECTION 1: Fiscal and Membership Year

The fiscal and membership year shall be fixed by the Executive Board.

SECTION 2: Funds and Securities

The Treasurer shall invest and manage the funds and securities of the Association within policies established by the Executive Board.

SECTION 3: Bonding

The President, Treasurer, and any other person entrusted with the handling of funds and property of the Association shall furnish, at the expense of the Association, a fidelity bond approved by the Executive Board in such sum as the Executive Board shall
prescribe.

SECTION 4: Contract, Letters of Intent

A. All contracts, releases, agreements, letters of intent or commitment made in the name of or on behalf of the Association shall be submitted to the Executive Board for appropriate review and signature by duly authorized person or persons.

B. No contract shall be made which will bind the Association for amounts in excess of those provided in the current budget for that purpose, unless approved by the Executive Board.

SECTION 5: Non-Compensation

No voting member of the Executive Board shall receive compensation for services rendered.

ARTICLE XI: LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY

A. Nothing herein shall constitute members of this Association as partners for any purpose. No member, officer, director, agent, or employee of the Association shall be liable for the acts or failures to act on the part of any other member, officer, director, agent, or employee of the Association, nor shall any member, officer director, agent, or employee be liable for his act or failure to act under the Constitution and Bylaws, except for acts of omissions arising from his willful misfeasance.

B. If authorized by the Executive Board, the Association may purchase and maintain insurance against liability on behalf of each person who at any time is, or shall have been an officer, employee, or agent of the Association, to the full extent permitted by law, in effect at the time of the adoption of this Constitution and Bylaws, or as changed from time to time.

ARTICLE XII: DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS

The Association shall use its funds only to accomplish the purposes specified in the Constitution and Bylaws, and no part of such funds shall inure or be distributed to the members of the Association. On dissolution of the Association the funds remaining shall be distributed to one or more regularly organized or qualified charitable, educational, scientific or philanthropic organizations to be selected by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE XIII: AMENDMENTS

A. Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws shall be proposed in writing to the Executive Board by three or more members of the Executive Board or by a request signed by five or
more voting members in good standing.
B. The Executive Board shall authorize the Secretary to submit proposed amendments in writing to the entire membership at least two weeks prior to a meeting at which the amendments are to be voted upon. If a mail vote is to be solicited, it shall be mailed at least 30 days prior to the date on which the votes are to be counted. A mail ballot shall be mailed first class and not less than 20 percent of all members shall cast a ballot to constitute a valid vote.

SECTION 2: Voting

An affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members voting shall be required for the adoption of an amendment to the Constitution and Bylaws.

ARTICLE XIV: MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 1: Interpretation of the Constitution and Bylaws The Executive Board shall be the final authority on the interpretation of the Constitution and Bylaws.

SECTION 2: Rates and Charges

Nothing in any article in the Constitution and Bylaws or any other provision in the Association's procedures or practices shall be construed to require or permit the Association or any of its boards and committees to participate or advice, in any way, formal or informal, in the setting of rates or charges except for rates established by statute or by rules or by order of court.