Amendments to Bylaws Article 3

Amendments to Plone Foundation Bylaws Article 3, Adopted at November 29, 2007 board meeting.

Summary of changes

The amendments are purely cosmetic to eliminate confusing inconsistencies due to apparently faulty editing in the original language of the Article. No new membership procedures or categories are being prescribed by these amendments. Section 3.10 had mentioned Emeritus members in a section concerning terminated memberships. Section 3.7 made redundant reference to written request for reinstatement in addition to written reapplication. Article 3 recognizes three categories of membership status: full members, Emeritus (suspended: voluntary, automatic, involuntary) members, and former (voluntarily withdrawn and involuntarily terminatied) members. Section 3.4 contained language which may have been read to confuse Emeritus and former members and contained an incomplete, ambiguous, and alternate method to Section 3.7 for Emeritus reinstatement "by members."

Deletions are indicated by

strike-through

.

Additions are indicated in red

.   Sections amended are 3.4, 3.7, and 3.10.

3.1 Admission of Members

To be eligible for membership, a person must have made a non-trivial contribution to any aspect of the Corporation's activities and must complete a written membership application in such form as shall be adopted by the Board of Directors from time to time. Membership is said to be based on merit, a term defined in detail by the Board of Directors, which definition is made available publicly on the Plone Foundation website. Membership carries no monetary cost. The initial members of the Corporation shall be admitted upon the affirmative vote of the Board of Directors of the Corporation at the initial meeting of the Board of Directors. Thereafter, members of the Corporation shall be admitted as members of the Corporation only by a majority vote of the Membership Committee, subject to approval by the Board of Directors, or shall be admitted as members of the Corporation by direct appointment by the Board of Directors.

3.2 Responsibilities of Members

Members agree to support the principles, goals and objectives of the Corporation, and not work against them. Members supervise the activities of the Corporation, its Board of Directors, officers and committees to ensure that their actions support the principles, goals and objectives of the Corporation.

3.3 Annual Renewal of Membership

Membership must be renewed annually by each member in a procedure designed, implemented and announced by the Membership Committee, and approved by the Board of Directors at least 30 days before any implementation. Memberships that are not renewed within 30 days of expiration are converted to Emeritus memberships.

3.4 Emeritus Members

An emeritus member is a

former

member whose membership has been suspended and converted to emeritus status, either voluntarily

in accordance with Section 3.5 of these Bylaws

, automatically due to failure to renew membership

in accordance with Section 3.3 of these Bylaws,

or

involuntarily

by action of the members

in accordance with Section 3.6 of these Bylaws

, such that all membership rights of the emeritus member, including the right to vote and be counted for purposes of quorum, are suspended

and terminated

until the emeritus member's membership is reinstated

by subsequent action of the members

in accordance with Section 3.7 of these Bylaws.

Upon the effective date of conversion of the membership of any member to emeritus status, the membership, including all related voting rights, of such member shall be suspended, except that such emeritus member shall be entitled to attend (but not vote) at meetings of the members, and the officers of the Corporation shall attempt, in good faith, to continue to deliver notices of meetings of the members of the Corporation to such emeritus member. References in these Bylaws to a "member" or to the "members" of the Corporation shall not include any emeritus member unless explicitly provided otherwise.

3.5 Voluntary Conversion of Membership to Emeritus Status

Members may convert their membership to emeritus status at any time upon ten (10) days' written, signed notice delivered to an officer of the Corporation.

3.6 Involuntary Conversion of Membership to Emeritus Status

Upon an affirmative vote of a two-thirds majority of the members of the Corporation or the Board of Directors, the membership of a member shall be converted into an emeritus membership.

3.7 Reinstatement of Membership of Emeritus Members

Upon receipt

by the Corporation's Secretary

of a written request

and a new membership application

from an emeritus member, such emeritus member

's

membership shall be reinstated as a full member of the Corporation, and shall be entitled to exercise all rights as a member of the Corporation, including all related voting rights.

3.8 Voluntary Withdrawal from Membership

Members (including emeritus members) may withdraw from membership in the Corporation at any time upon ten (10) days' written, signed notice delivered to an officer of the Corporation.

3.9 Termination from Membership

No member may have his or her membership terminated except by an affirmative vote of a two-thirds majority of the members of the Corporation or Board of Directors. Membership may only be terminated if the member has acted in ways that contradict the stated principles, goals and objectives of the Corporation.

3.10 Effect of Withdrawal or Termination of Membership

Upon any withdrawal or termination of the membership of any member

in accordance with either Section 3.8 or Section 3.9 of these Bylaws

, the membership, including all related voting rights, of such member shall be terminated. After a withdrawal or termination of the membership of any member,

or a conversion of the membership of any member to emeritus status,

such member may reapply for membership in accordance with Section 3.1 of these Bylaws.