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Intent to Amend the Chamber Bylaws

The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce hereby notifies the members of the Chamber of proposed changes to the Corporation's by-laws, to be approved at the Annual Meeting & Awards Ceremony on February 25, 2026, at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg.

In accordance with Article XI, Section 1, titled "Amendments", the procedure for such changes is as follows:

PROCEDURE: These By-Laws may be amended at any meeting of the Corporation, annual, regular, or special, by a vote of two-thirds of the members present, provided that at least two (2) weeks' notice of such proposed amendment shall be sent to each member of the Corporation.  Such notice shall contain the Section or Sections of the By-Laws proposed to be amended and the amendment proposed to be offered.

To read the current Chamber by-laws (last amended 2/10/21), please follow this link.

The proposed changes come following a complete and thorough review by the Chamber's Executive Committee.

The proposed changes are as follows:

  1. WHEREAS the by-laws use gender-specific language such as "Chairman", "Vice Chairman", and "Vice Chairmen", the Executive Committee recommends that these words be replaced with the gender-neutral words "Chair", "Vice Chair", and "Vice Chairs" throughout the document. Specifically, these updates are to be made to Article IV Section 1; Article V Section 1, Section 2, and Section 3; Article VI Section 1, Section 2, and Section 4; Article VII, Section 3; Article VIII Section 7, Section 8, Section 9, and Section 13.
  2. WHEREAS the Columbia Alliance for Economic Growth, a former subsidiary of the Chamber, dissolved in 2015, the Executive Committee recommends amending Article IV Section 1 to remove the line "The Chairman of the Columbia Alliance for Economic Growth, Inc. may also serve on the Board of Directors."

    Current: "Article IV, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Section 1, Paragraph 2: In addition to those Board members specified above, each subsidiary organization duly constituted under the terms set forth in Article VII of these By-Laws, may appoint their Chairman or President to the Board of Directors for such period of time as he or she continues to serve as Chairman or President of said subsidiary organization. The Chairman of the Columbia Alliance for Economic Growth, Inc., may also serve on the Board of Directors. The President and Treasurer of the Corporation will also be considered members of the Board of Directors."

    Proposed: "Article IV, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Section 1, Paragraph 2: In addition to those Board members specified above, each subsidiary organization duly constituted under the terms set forth in Article VII of these By-Laws, may appoint their Chair or President to the Board of Directors for such period of time as he or she continues to serve as Chair or President of said subsidiary organization. The President and Treasurer of the Corporation will also be considered members of the Board of Directors."

  3. WHEREAS the Annual Meeting of the members of the corporation always occurs before the end of the fiscal year (March), but may be contingent upon availability of venues and weather alerts, the Executive Committee recommends that Article VIII, Section 1 be amended as follows:

    Current: ANNUAL MEETING: The Annual Meeting of the members of the Corporation for the election of Directors and for the transaction of such other business as may be necessary and proper, shall be held on January 15, or within thirty days of that date, as determined by the Board of Directors.

    Proposed: "ANNUAL MEETING: The Annual Meeting of the members of the Corporation for the election of Directors and for the transaction of such other business as may be necessary and proper, shall be held on January 15, or within 60 days of that date, as determined by the Board of Directors."

  4. WHEREAS Article VIII Section 7 mistakenly calls the President an elected position, the Executive Committee recommends that the bylaws be amended to read as follows:

    Current: "Section 7, ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: The Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors for the Election of officers and for the transaction of such business as may be necessary, shall be held immediately following the Annual Meeting of the Corporation, or within two weeks thereafter. At the meeting, the Board shall elect a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, President, and Treasurer. All officers are elected to a one-year term, with the exception of Chairman, who shall be elected for a term of two (2) years. The Chairman may not succeed himself/herself. All officers shall serve their respective terms or until their successors are duly elected and qualified."

    Proposed: "Section 7 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: The Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors for the Election of officers and for the transaction of such business as may be necessary, shall be held immediately following the Annual Meeting of the Corporation, or within two weeks thereafter. At the meeting, the Board shall elect a Chair, Vice-Chairs, and Treasurer. All officers are elected to a one-year term, with the exception of Chair, who shall be elected for a term of two (2) years. The Chair may not succeed himself/herself. All officers shall serve their respective terms or until their successors are duly elected and qualified."

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