EBANI Operating Rules

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This organization shall be known as the Employee Benefits Association of Northern Illinois (Conference).

The purpose of this Conference is the interchange of information concerning the development, financing, funding or administration of pension, profit sharing and other employee benefit plans, and either acting alone or with others, to bring to the public and to appropriate governmental agencies the viewpoint of the membership as to matters relating to such plans. Such viewpoints are to be determined by all members of the Executive Committee. No member shall express an opinion representing it to be the viewpoint of the Conference without the prior approval of the Executive Committee.

The initial membership shall consist of those persons who constituted the organizational group. Any other person who requests membership in writing and is recorded by the Executive Committee shall become a member. Such person should have on-going and continuing experience and responsibility for and in the development, financing, funding or administration of pension, profit sharing or other employee benefit plans.

Each member shall pay annual dues of $25.00 for each fiscal year of membership beginning July 1, 1990. Dues shall first be payable when a person’s application for membership is approved by the Executive Committee and as of each July 1 thereafter; provided, however, no dues shall be required for the year in which she/he becomes a member in the case of a person whose application for membership is made and recorded after February 28 of any year. Failure to pay dues within three (3) months of the date payable shall be considered as resignation of membership in the Conference. Notwithstanding the foregoing, dues for representatives of charitable organizations will be waived in their entirety if it is determined by the Executive Commit- tee that representation of that organization will be beneficial to, and further the stated purpose of, the Conference.

The Executive Committee shall consist of eight (8) members, one of whom shall be the immediate past President of the Conference or a special Member at Large, The President, A Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Marketing Chairperson, a Membership Chairperson and Administrative Chairperson. A majority of the voting members of the Executive Commit- tee shall constitute a quorum. Members may be elected to succeed themselves, but no member shall be elected President for consecutive terms unless approved by the Executive Committee. Any vacancy in the office occurring between the annual election shall be filled for the remainder of the term of such office by a member appointed by the Executive Committee. The President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer shall have the respective powers and duties normally associated with their respective titles. Not more than two (2) members whose principal means of livelihood consists of employment by or association with any business or entity representing a particular area of interest in the employee benefit field, such as law, actuarial or other employee benefit consultants, public accounting, banking, insurance, organized labor, investment advisors, etc., shall serve on the Executive Committee at the same time. The Executive Committee shall have responsibility for general management of the affairs of the Conference, including, but not limited to: Interpretation of the Operating Rules; appointment of committees; election and termination of candidates to membership; call of meetings; arrangements for the management of, and authorization of persons to deal with, banking, accounts and other assets of the Conference; and employment of agents to perform any ministerial functions in carrying on the activities of the Conference.

On or before March 1, of each year the President of the Executive Committee shall encourage the identification of potential members to be elected to the Executive Committee for any vacation positions for the upcoming year. This identification process will be through current Board Members and through announcements at monthly meetings. Election of the members of the Executive Committee shall be held at the first regularly scheduled meeting on or after April 1 of each year, or at such other meetings as shall be approved by a majority of the members of the Conference, with terms to run July 1 through June 30. Notice of the slate of nominees of the Nominating Committee shall be included in the announcement of the election meeting. The President of the Executive Committee, or in his/her absence, the Vice-President, shall conduct the election, calling for additional nominations from the floor. Elections shall be decided by a majority vote of the members present.

Regular meetings of the membership shall be scheduled upon the written notice of the Executive Commit- tee to the membership and it is intended that they will generally be held at Rockford, Illinois five (5) times each year. Special meetings of the membership may be called by the Executive Committee upon the giving of two (2) weeks prior notice to the membership. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be scheduled by the President or Vice-President. Except as otherwise expressly provided to the contrary in these Rules, Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the con- duct of meetings of the Conference.

These Operating Rules may be amended by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3rds) of the members of the Conference present and voting at a duly scheduled meeting, provided two (2) weeks’ notice of any amendment has been sent to each member. Effective 1978, Amended October 18, 1979, October 22, 1980, September 26, 1984, October 22, 1986, September 27, 1989, September 14, 1996, April 14, 1998, April 13, 1999 and April 23, 2003.