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Bylaws of the USGO

UTILITIES STATE GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION

ARTICLE I: NAME & HEADQUARTERS
This shall be a non-profit organization known as the Utilities State Government Organization, hereinafter referred to as the “USGO”. The principal place of business shall be the location of the incumbent President of USGO.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE
The USGO shall provide a forum for presentation, exchange, and dissemination of information of specific interest to utility employees involved in public affairs at the state level.

ARTICLE III: PURPOSE
Any employee or designated representative of an electric or gas company, affiliate company, or association, thereof, whose service area lies within the United States, shall be eligible for membership in USGO.

ARTICLE IV: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section A: The Executive Committee shall be composed of four officers: President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.

1.      The President shall:

a. Call and preside over the meetings of the membership, the Executive Committee, and the Board.
b. Appoint and counsel with committees as needed.
c. Designate one director from each district as Chairman of the district.
d. Discharge such other duties as may be required by these Bylaws or as may be delegated by the membership.
e. Host the annual meeting.

2.       The Vice-President shall serve as President, in the event of the President’s absence and as President-Elect for the subsequent calendar year.

3.       The Treasurer shall:

a. Account for all receipts and disbursements of USGO and file all applicable forms with state and federal agencies.
b. Maintain prior records to include; previous IRS filings, determination letter, treasurer’s reports, annual letters to the IRS informing of change of Treasurer and new address.

4.       The Secretary shall:

a. Provide minutes of Executive Board and Annual Meetings to the members.
b. Handle correspondence as directed by the President.
c. Maintain a current mailing list of the members.

Section B:

1. Officers shall be elected to one-year terms by a majority of members present and voting at the annual meeting of USGO.
2. Officer terms are for one year and begin the first day of the calendar quarter following the annual meeting.
3. The President and Vice-President may not serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office.
4. A candidate for officer must have served at least one term as a regional director.

ARTICLE V: BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section A: The Board of Directors, hereinafter referred to as the Board, shall be composed of the Executive Committee and two members elected from each of the following regions:

1. Southern District: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
2. Midwest District: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
3. Northeast District: Rhode Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, The District of Columbia, Vermont, and West Virginia.
4. Western District: Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming.
5. Additional regions may be added following a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

Section B: Board members shall:

1. Be elected to one-year terms by a majority of members present and voting at the annual meeting of USGO.
2. Serve same terms as officers.
3. Regional board members serve no more than three consecutive terms in the same office.
4. Be eligible for election after two years of active membership in USGO.
5. Not succeed an immediately preceding regional board director from the same state.

Section C: Past Presidents of USGO shall be non-voting members of the Board.

ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS
Meetings of the membership, the Executive Committee, and the Board shall be held at the call of the President. A quorum at any meeting shall consist of the members present.

Section A: In the event of a vacancy on the Board, the Board shall, by majority vote, name a successor to serve the remainder of the term. Provided further that notwithstanding the provisions of Article IV, section B. (4), the Board may, by majority vote, name a successor to serve the remainder of an officer’s term.

Section B: Any member may be dismissed from USGO by majority vote of the Board at its discretion.

ARTICLE VII: VACANCIES; REMOVALS
Section A: In the event of a vacancy on the Board, the Board shall, by majority vote, name a successor to serve the remainder of the term.

Section B: Any member may be dismissed from USGO by majority vote of the Board at its discretion.

ARTICLE VIII: ELECTIONS
Section A: The President shall appoint a nominating committee of three to seven current members, including a past President of USGO who will serve as Committee Chair.

Section B: The Nominating Committee will provide to the president at least thirty (30) days to prior to the annual meeting as slate of candidates for the nine Board positions.

Section C: The membership will be informed of the Nominating Committee’s report by the President at the annual meeting. Nominations will be accepted from the floor. Election(s) will be determined by voice vote or show of hands of a majority of members present and voting.

ARTICLE IX: DUES
Annual dues will be set by the Board.

ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS
Section A: The Board shall have the authority to adopt and amend these Bylaws at a meeting called by the President by a two-thirds majority vote of members present and voting.

Section B: These Bylaws may be amended at the annual meeting of USGO by a majority of members present and voting. Notice of proposed amendments must be provided to the Secretary-Treasurer no less than thirty (30) days prior to the meeting.

Section C: I hereby certify that these Bylaws were duly adopted at a meeting of the Board of Directors held in New Orleans, Louisiana July 18, 2023.



The USGO Mission Statement

“The USGO shall provide a forum for presentation, exchange, and dissemination of information of specific interest to utility employees involved in public affairs at the state level.”