The Laredo Licensed U.S. Customs Brokers Association, Inc.



Revised March 14, 2014

LAREDO LICENSED U.S. CUSTOMS BROKERS ASSOCIATION

BYLAWS

ARTICLE I - NAME OF THE ASSOCIATION

This organization shall be known as the LAREDO LICENSED U.S. CUSTOMS BROKERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

ARTICLE II – OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this not-for-profit association are to protect and further the business and interests of Licensed U.S. Customs Brokers: to encourage the maintenance of professionalism within our industry: to maintain a standard of integrity and efficiency that will protect clients and the Government in the fair, reasonable and equitable administration of import and export laws and regulations; and to develop acquaintance and good fellowship among members.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. There shall be four classes of Membership: Regular, RLF Filers, Associate and Honorary.

Section 2. REGULAR (a) Regular Membership shall be restricted to persons, firms or corporations regularly engaged in business as Licensed U.S. Customs Brokers located in Laredo, Texas. Such persons, firm or corporations shall be admitted for membership as a business organization only, and in all matters coming before the Association but one vote will be permitted to each Regular Member, including all of its branches, affiliates, subsidiaries or other related companies. No person, firm or corporation, however, may vote at any meeting except by a duly authorized representative of the Member he represents and the President or person acting as such at any meeting may call upon such representative to produce evidence as to the authorization of the representative by the member.

Remote Location Filers (RLF) are eligible for membership as a separate classification. They shall not be counted when determining quorum and cannot vote.

(b)There shall be no restriction as to the number of representatives of any Regular Member firm who may attend meetings, but only one vote shall be permitted each Regular Member, as provided in Section 2(a) above.

(c) Applications for membership will be reviewed by the Membership Committee and forwarded with applicable comments to the Board. The Board may accept or reject such applicant by majority vote of those present and the applicant shall be advised of such acceptance or rejection.

(d) Any dispute concerning Regular membership shall be decided by the Board.

Section 3. ASSOCIATE

(a) Associate Membership shall be restricted to persons, firms or corporations not licensed as Customs Brokers but engaged in a business related to transportation or international trade.

(b)Associate Members may attend general membership meeting at the discretion of the President or the Board, but may not vote.

(c)No Associate Member may utilize the membership in a manner contrary to the policy of the Association. Associate Members must use the word “Associate” to describe the membership in all printed material, advertisements and/or publications.

Section 4. HONORARY

Honorary Membership may be conferred upon any person who in the opinion of the Board has rendered an outstanding contribution to the Customs Brokerage and/or International Freight forwarding industry. Honorary members shall be exempt from any dues or assessments levied

ARTICLE IV – CENSURE, SUSPENSION & EXPULSION

Section 1. If the conduct of any member shall appear to the Board to be improper or prejudicial to the character and welfare of the Association, or contrary to or in violation of its By-Laws and rules, the Board shall inform such Member thereof in writing, which notice shall be delivered or sent by mail to the Member informing him of the time when he may be heard in his defense before the Board. At such meeting he may be censured, suspended or expelled by a 2/3 vote of the Board members present. At least ten days shall elapse between the service of such notice and said meeting of the Board.

Section 2. Such hearing may be adjourned from time to time by the Board, but any Board member who shall not have been present at any meeting of the Board at which evidence is taken, or at which the Member whose conduct is involved in a hearing is heard, shall not participate in the final decision.

Section 3. A Member may be censured, suspended or expelled when (1) it has been determined by an appropriate governmental agency that the Member has violated a federal law or regulation relative to Customs Brokers and/or International Freight Forwarders, such violation being sufficient for the denial, suspension or revocation of a license, or (2) the Member bas been found guilty of a violation of a federal or state law involving moral turpitude, or (3) the Member engaged in activities or changes its status in such a manner which would cause it to become ineligible or unacceptable if it were then applying for membership or (4) a Member knowingly falsifies information to the Association.

ARTICLE V - MEMBERSHIP DUES

Section 1.The initiation fee and annual dues fo4r all classes of membership shall be established from time to time by the board

Section 2. Any extraordinary expenses shall be provided for by a special assessment at a meeting of the Board, provided that the Board member have been advised of such proposal 10 days prior to said meeting. 

Section 3. Annual dues shall be established by the Board and published 30 days prior to the end of the calendar year.

Section 4. In the event any Member shall fail to pay within one month, any sums due the Association his name may be posted as delinquent A list of delinquents may be read at any general or special meeting. Any member may be expelled for delinquency upon a majority vote of the Board. A Member thus expelled may be reinstated by a majority vote of the Board upon said Member making payment of the unpaid amount plus a penalty

Section 5. The resignation of a Member shall not relieve him from payment of accrued dues or assessments.

ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS

Section 1. There shall be a Annual Meeting at such time and place as the President shall designate.

Section 2.The membership meeting shall be held periodically at such time and place as the President shall designate.

Section 3. Meetings of the Board shall be held every month at such time and place as the President shall designate.

Section 4. The President may invite to meetings persons whose presence may be interesting or beneficial to the membership.

Section 5.Special meetings of the Association shall be held upon the call of the President, or any three members of the board, setting forth the purpose for which such special meeting is called. Special meetings shall also be called by the President within ten days after the receipt of a written request for such special meeting, signed by ten Members and stating the purpose thereof. All notices of special meetings shall state the purpose for which such meetings are called and no business shall be transacted as such meetings except that specified in that call

ARTICLE VII- OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. The Officers of the Association shall consist of a Chairperson, President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary and shall hold Office for two years or until their respective successors are elected and qualify to take office. The President upon retiring shall become the Chairperson until replaced.

Section 2. The Board of Directors shall consist of the Officers named in Section 1 above, three members at large and any member when serving as an Area Director for the National Association. A Board Member missing three consecutive Board meetings or missing four meetings in a calendar year will result in the immediate removal from the Board unless extraordinary circumstances have caused the absences.

Section 3. A retired Chairperson of the Board, when not serving in any other Office, shall automatically become a Senior Counselor and a member of the Board, without vote. Those individuals who have previously served as Presidents shall also become Senior Counselors.

ARTICLE VIII -ELECTIONS

Section 1. The Officers and Directors referred to above in Article VII shall be elected prior to the annual meeting or any adjournment thereof.

Section 2. Elections shall be by majority vote; eligible Members may vote by written proxy.

Section 3. A vacancy in any office or on the board may be filled for the unexpired time by majority vote of the members the Board.

ARTICLE IX- DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. (a) The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and Board and shall perform the duties and exercise the authority usually pertaining to this office, including the appointment of all committees, and shall cast the deciding vote in case of a tie.

(b) During the Presidents absence such duties shall fall upon the Vice President.

Section 2. The Treasurer shall keep an account of all dues and assessments or other monies received and the payment of bills. The Treasurer shall make a financial report at the annual meeting, at such other meetings as the President shall request, and shall perform all other duties usually pertaining to this office.

Section 3. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings and shall perform all other duties usually pertaining to this office.

ARTICLE X- ASSOCIATION BUSINESS

Section 1. The presence of 20% or more of Regular Members in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at any regular meeting of the Association.

ARTICLE Xl - COMMITTEES

Section 1. The Regular Standing Committees shall be appointed by the President to act on all matters pertaining to their special functions as indicated by name and shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

By-Laws/Nominating

Customs Education

FDA

Legal

Liaison - Blue Ribbon Committee

Liaison - Mexico

Membership/Festivities

Public Relations

Systems

Transportation

ARTICLE Xll - AMENDMENTS

Section 1. When not inconsistent with these By-Laws Roberts Rules of Order shall govern all meetings of the Association.

Section 2. These By-Laws may be amended or revised at any regular of special meeting of the Association, upon a majority vote of the members present or represented by written proxy, but such amendment shall not be considered unless written notice of the same shall have been submitted to all members at least seven days prior to the vote.

ARTICLE XVI - APPLICATION OF FUNDS

Section 1. The Association shall use its funds only to accomplish its objectives and purposes and no part of said funds shall inure or be distributed to the Members. On dissolution of the Association, any funds remaining shall be distributed to one or more regularly organized and qualified charitable, educational scientific or philanthropic organizations to be selected by the Board.

Revised March 14, 2014


The Laredo Licensed U.S. Customs Brokers Association, Inc. Laredo, TX 78040--Copyright © 2019 All Rights Reserved

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