CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I

NAME:
The name of the Association shall be “YONKERS LAWYERS ASSOCIATION”

ARTICLE II

OBJECTS:
The association is formed to cultivate the science of jurisprudence, to promote return in the law to facilitate the administration of justice, to elevate the standard of integrity, honor and courtesy in the legal profession and to cherish and promote a spirit of brotherhood among the members thereof.

ARTICLE III

MEMBERS:
Section 1. MEMBERSHIP. There shall be two classes of membership in the Association, Active and Honorary.
Section 2. ACTIVE MEMBERS. Any members of the legal profession in good standing, admitted to the practice in the State of New York, who either resides in the City of Yonkers, New York, or has an office therein for the practice of his profession, and accepted for membership by a vote of the Association upon recommendation of the Committee on Membership, may become and Active Member.
Section 3. HONORARY MEMBERS. The Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York in and for the Ninth Judicial District, the Westchester County Judges, the Surrogate and Family Court Judges and the Judges of the City Court of Yonkers, shall, during their respective terms of office, be honorary Members of this Association.
Honorary Membership may also be conferred upon any lawyer of Judge, by a two thirds vote of the members present at the meeting of the Association after due notice that such action will be taken. Honorary members shall be exempt from paying dues and shall enjoy all privileges of active membership except those of voting and holding office.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS:
The officers of the Association shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, Financial Secretary and a Treasurer, each of whom shall be elected at the annual meeting of the association, for a term of one year and no elected officer may succeed himself in the same office.

ARTICLE V

DUTIES OF OFFICERS:
Section 1. The President shall be the Chief executive officer and preside at all meeting of the Association. He shall conduct the proceedings in accordance with Parliamentary Rules and shall have such powers and discharge such duties as usually appertain to that office. He shall be ex-officio member of all committees.
Section 2. The Vice President shall discharge the duties of the President in case of his absence, disability or refusal to act and shall be a delegate to the Westchester County Bar Association.
Section 3. The Secretary shall record and preserve the minutes of the Association, notify members of all meetings and discharge such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the President.
Section 4. The Financial Secretary shall keep roll of the members of the Association and collect all dues, assessments, subscription and fines. He shall pay to the Treasurer all money received by him, taking his receipt thereof. He shall present to the Association at the November meeting a list of members whose dues are in arrears in excess of one fiscal year.
Section 5. The Treasurer shall give receipts to the Financial Secretary for every payment of money made to him, keep a record in detail of his receipts and payments, deposit in the name of the Association the money received by him in such banks as the Executive Committee shall direct and pay therefrom by check the necessary disbursement of the Association. No part of such money shall be drawn out for other than current, necessary expenses except upon approval by the Association of the Executive Committee thereof. The Treasurer shall present a statement of the financial condition of the Association at the annual meeting and whenever required.
Section 6. The delegate to the Westchester County Bar Association shall be the liaison between this Association and the Westchester County Bar Association and shall keep this Association completely apprised of what transpires at the Westchester County Bar Association that may in any way be an interest to this Association. It shall also be his function to represent the Yonkers Lawyers Association before the Westchester County Bar Association in all matters in which the Yonkers Lawyers Association may have an interest.

ARTICLE VI

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice President, the last retiring President together with six (6) other members elected by the Association at its annual meeting. Any vacancy in the Executive Committee shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment of the President of the Association. The President of the Association shall be chairman of the Executive Committee.
Two-thirds of the whole committee shall constitute a quorum.
The Executive Committee shall be an advisory committee to the Officers and the Association. It shall have full power and authority in an emergency in the interval between the meetings of the Association to do all acts and perform all function which the Association might do or perform except that it shall have no power to amend the Constitution or By-laws. It shall make reports of its proceedings at the Associations’ next meeting. It shall have all powers and privileges, express or implied, given to it by this constitution, any subsequent amendments thereto, or any by-laws of the Association which may be enacted. The Executive Committee shall meet at such times and places as the President shall designate and any expenses in connection with its meetings shall be paid by the Association.

ARTICLE VII

Section 1. At the monthly meeting in April the President shall appoint a nominating committee of five (5) to report a slate of candidates to the various offices to be filled in the ensuing year. The report of the Committee shall be filed with the President no later than May 15th and the slate of officers reported shall be sent by mail to all members in good standing at least five (5) days prior to the May meeting of the Association. Additional nominations may be made from the floor of this meeting by presenting written petitions signed by five (5) members in good standing, requesting such nominations.
The names of all nominees shall be printed in the notice for the ANNUAL meeting in June at which offices shall be by secret ballot and all officers, members of the Executive Committee and the delegate to the Westchester County Bar Association shall take office after the close of business before the June meeting adjourns.
Section 2. No member shall be eligible for nomination to office whose dues are in arrears.
Section 3. In case of a tie vote among the candidates for an office, the balloting shall continue until the office contested is filled.
Section 4. When vacancy or vacancies in any office occur either by death, resignation or other cause, such vacancy shall be filled by the President by appointment for the unexpired term, subject to confirmation by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VIII

Section 1. The Constitution may be amended by a 3-4ths vote of the members present at any meeting provided the proposed amendment shall have been submitted in writing signed by at least five (5) members in good standing at the meeting preceding that on which action is to be taken and provided also that notice of the latter meeting shall have been given by the secretary, with a copy of the proposed amendment, by mail to each member at least TEN (10) days before such meeting.
Section 2. BY-LAWS By-laws may be adopted at any annual meeting of the Association by a three-fourths vote of the members present and by a like vote, at any meeting called for that purpose, provided at least ten days’ notice of meeting, with a copy of the proposed by-laws shall have been.

ARTICLE IX

STANDING COMMITTEE:
There shall be the following standing committees: Committee of Membership and Admissions; Committee on Grievance; Committee on Illegal Practices; Committee on Law Reform; Committee on Welfare of Members; Finance Committee; Lawyers Referral Committee and other standing committees as may be provided for by the by-laws or designated at any annual meeting of the Association. All such committee shall be appointed by the President at or before the first regular meeting in September and the chairman of each such committee shall be provided with an abstract from these by-laws pertaining to duties of his committee.
No matter shall be referred to a special committee which is relevant to the function of any standing committee.

ARTICLE X

COMMITTEE ON MEMBERSHIP AND ADMISSIONS:
The Committee on membership and Admissions shall consist of (5) members who shall investigate and pass in the first instance on applications for membership.
The proceeding of this committee shall be deemed confidential except insofar as reports of the same shall be necessarily and officially made to the Executive Committee of the Association. Application for membership must be in writing, duly subscribed by the applicant and sponsored by a member in good standing and must contain the name and address of the applicant, his office and post office address, and the date and place of his admission to practice in the State of New York. Dues for the current year shall accompany the application, except in case of the applicant admitted to the bar less than one year or if the applicant is in the military service of the United States, in which cases current dues are waived.
The committee shall report favorable consideration for acceptance to the Executive Committee, which shall like such action thereon as it deems advisable except that acceptance shall be by vote of the Association only.

ARTICLE XI

COMMITTEE ON GRIEVANCE:
The Committee on Grievance shall consist of five (5) members. It shall be the duty of the Committee to receive and investigate complaints of unprofessional conduct against any member of the Association and to recommend action thereon to the Executive Committee. No complaint shall be entertained, except on the committee’s own initiative, unless the complaint be in writing and subscribe by the complainant and state specifically the conduct complained of. Any member
complained of shall be furnished a true copy of the complaint and be afforded reasonable opportunity to be heard thereon.
On vouchers of the Chairman of the Committee on Grievance approved by the Chairman of the Executive Committee. The Treasurer is authorized to pay the expenses incident to any investigation by this Committee, but no expense in excess of $50.00 shall be incurred without the approval of the Association.

ARTICLE XII

COMMITTEE ON LAW REFORM:
The Committee on Law Reform shall consist of five (5) members. It shall be the duty of this committee to consider proposed legislation and to recommend to the Association desirable amendments to the law, to foster and advance the legislative objectives of the Association; and to study the functioning of the judicial system and make recommendations with respect thereto. It shall also periodically report to the Association on legislation and case law of particular interest to the members.

ARTICLE XIII

COMMITTEE ON ILLEGAL PRACTICES:
The Committee on Illegal Practices shall consist of five (5) members. It shall be the duty of this Committee to seek out, investigate and prevent the unlawful practice of law of any individual, firm, corporation, bank or trust company; and to keep the members fully apprised of actual or threatened unlawful practice of law.
On vouchers of the Chairman of the Committee on Illegal Practices approved by the Executive Committee, the Treasurer is authorized to pay the expenses in excess of $25.00 shall be incurred without the approval of the Association.

ARTICLE XIV

COMMITTEE ON WELFARE OF MEMBERS:
The Committee on Welfare of member shall consist of five (5) members, who shall have the custodian of the Welfare Funds of the Association.
It shall be their duty to investigate and consider the personal welfare of the members and to any sick and distressed members to extend such pecuniary aid and assistance from the Welfare Fund of the Association in their discretion seems proper. It shall not be necessary in any report of its proceedings for this committee to refer by name any such member so aided. The Welfare Committee shall make detailed and complete reports to the President semi-annually.

ARTICLE XV

FINANCE COMMITTEE:
The Finance Committee shall consist of three (3) members. It shall be the duty of the Finance Committee to at least twice a year, to audit the books and records of the Financial Secretary and Treasurer, and of all committees charged with the receipt or expenditure of monies from the Association. Including any Entertainment and Outing Committee.

ARTICLE XVI

LAWYERS REFERRAL SERVICE COMMITTEE:
The Lawyers Referral Service Committee shall consist of nine (9) members of the Yonkers Lawyer’s Association. The President shall designate three (3) members to serve for three (3) years, three (3) of the members to serve for two (2) years, and three (3) members to serve for one (1) year.
Each succeeding President shall choose three (3) members to serve for a period of three (3) years in place of the members who terms expire.
Should a vacancy occur before the expiration of the term, the President may fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.
The Chairman of the Committee shall be selected by President.
The Committee shall have general supervision of the administration of the Service and direct any program to promote, publicize and further the interest of the service. It shall meet at the call of the Chairman to consider such matters as may be brought before it. Three (3) members of the Committee shall be a quorum for the transaction of any business.
In addition to general supervision of the administration of the Service, the Committee shall have the duty to investigate and decide by hearing and arbitration if necessary, any dispute relative to the fees between panel members and a client referred to him by the Service. The Committee shall, however, have no jurisdiction to entertain complaint against attorneys having dispute over matters other than a dispute over fees, but may refer such disputes to other and proper channels.
The Committee shall be governed by such rules and regulations as promulgated by the Association.

ARTICLE XVII

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES:
The Executive Committee and each standing committee shall at each annual meeting report in writing a summary of its proceedings since its last annual report, together with any recommendation pertaining to its power, duties or business deemed likely to improve operations thereof.

ARTICLE XVIII

MEETINGS:
Section 1: The annual meeting of the Association shall be held on the second Thursday of June each year and at such place in the City of Yonkers as the President may designate.
Section 2: A special meeting may be called at any time by the President or a majority of the Executive Committee. A special meeting must also be called when a written petition therefor, signed by TEN (10) members is presented to the President, or in his absence, to the Secretary, and in such case, the meeting must be called for a date within SEVEN (7) days after the petition is presented.
Section 3: Regular meetings of the Association shall be held on the last Thursday of each month excepting during July and August.
Section 4: FIVE (5) days notice of a regular meeting and TWO (2) days notice of a Special Meeting shall be given to members.

ARTICLE XIX

COOPERATION WITH OTHER BAR ASSOCIATIONS:
In order to more readily attain the objects of its organization, this Association shall cooperate with other Bar Associations in such a manner as is consistent with its own autonomy, and shall endeavor to maintain constant interchange of opinion and unity of effort between this Association and other local Associations, a reciprocal relation and duty to the New York State Bar Association and the Westchester County Bar Association is recognized.

ARTICLE XX

TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP:
Membership in the Association shall cease forthwith and without notice upon disbarment or suspension of a member.
A member may be suspended or expelled for:
1. Non-payment of annual dues
2. Misconduct in his relations to the Association after hearing by the Executive Committee upon ten (10) days written notice of the charges;
3. Unprofessional conduct found as provided in Article XI hereof; and
4. Willful violation of the Schedule of Minimum Fees, found as provided in Article XIV hereof.

ARTICLE XXI

ORDER OF BUSINESS:
Unless otherwise ordered, the order of business at all regular meetings shall be as follows:
1. Roll call of officers
2. Reading of minutes of previous meeting
3. Reading of committee reports
4. Reading of communications
5. Unfinished business
6. New business
7. Good and welfare
8. Adjournment

ARTICLE XXII

QUORUM:
TEN (10) members shall constitute a quorum to transact business at all meetings.

ARTICLE XXIII

FEES AND DUES:
There shall be no initiation fees. Dues shall be $25.00 per year of which $2.50 shall be regularly set aside and paid into the welfare fund of the Association. The fiscal year shall begin July 1st and end June 30th of the following year. Dues of members in active military service are waived. Any member, whose dues have not been paid by June 30th of each year, shall be deemed delinquent in dues and subject to provisions of Article XX.

ARTICLE XXIV

DEBATE:
Section 11. No member shall speak longer than five (5) minutes on any matter before the Association, nor a second time on the same question except by unanimous consent or until every member present wishing to be heard shall have had an opportunity to be heard.

ARTICLE XV

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE:
All questions of Parliamentary Procedure shall be governed by “Robert Rules of Order” unless otherwise specifically provided for herein.