1.1    This Section shall be known as the Guardianship & Elder Law Section of the King County Bar Association.

1.2    The objectives of this Section shall include but not be limited to:

(a)    To study and make recommendations for the improvement of legal practice relating to guardianships and the needs of older and disabled individuals; to promote the administration of justice, and to improve procedures and laws concerning elder law matters and guardianship administration;

(b)    To increase the knowledge and expertise of all persons involved in the handling of elder law matters.

(c)    To improve the welfare and quality of life for the elderly, incapacitated individuals, and their families, and to improve the quality and professionalism of guardianship practice.

(d)    To encourage the sharing of knowledge among attorneys, social workers, professional guardians, guardians ad litem, and other professionals who have expertise and experience in the various aspects of elder law and the guardianship process.

(e)    To facilitate the provision of pro bono and low cost legal services to or for the benefit of older and disabled individuals.

(f)    To educate and serve as a resource for the King County Bar, the Washington State Legislature, and the general public in affairs and problems unique to elder, disability, and guardianship law.

1.3    In carrying out the foregoing objectives, this Section may engage in research, surveys and studies with a view to making recommendations concerning: (a) the Courts functioning within or having an impact upon citizens residing in King County, Washington (b) Court rules and procedures in general and (c) Legislative proposals and changes affecting guardianship and elder law issues. When appropriate, this section may also participate in: (a) the presentation of seminars and training programs about guardianships and elder law and (b) the preparation and distribution of educational materials about guardianships and elder law.

2.1    Any person who is a member is good standing in any category of membership of the King County Bar Association (the "Association") shall be eligible for Section membership.

2.2    Persons who are not members of the King County Bar Association, including persons who are not lawyers, may attend Section meetings and participate in Section activities. However, non-members shall not have any right to vote on issues brought before the membership or any right to vote in elections for officers.

2.3    Payment of dues shall be a prerequisite to membership. The Section’s dues level shall be set by a vote of the Section at the annual meeting or at any meeting called for that purpose.

2.4    A member shall relinquish membership in this section upon failure to pay membership dues.

3.1    Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the Section shall be held in May of each year on a date to be determined by the Executive Committee.

3.2    Regular Meetings. The meetings of the Section shall be held the second Tuesday of each month during the year or as otherwise called by the Chair.

3.3    Notice. Reasonable notice of the time and place and agenda of all meetings shall be given to.

3.4    Quorum. A minimum of six members of the Section present at any meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

3.5    Controlling Vote. All binding action of the Section shall be by the majority of the members present.

3.6    Approval of Association. The Section shall not publish material or purport to speak publicly on behalf of the Association without first reporting to and obtaining the approval of the Board of Trustees.

4.1    Officers. The officers of this Section shall be members of this section and shall consist of a Chair, Co-Vice Chairs, Secretary, and Treasurer, each of whom shall serve a one-year term. There shall be a Co-Vice Chair Officer to represent each of the respective geographic regions, consistent with the King County Superior Court’s designation of the Regional Justice Center (RJC) or satellite courts and the Seattle Court.

4.2    Election of Officers. The officers shall be nominated and elected at each annual meeting of this Section, to hold office for the term beginning at the close of the annual meeting at which they have been elected and ending at the close of the next succeeding annual meeting of the Section and when their successors shall have been elected. If the office of the Chair shall become vacant, then a Vice Chair shall succeed to the office of the Chair as determined by the Executive Committee. Should any office other than Chair become vacant, an election to fill that vacancy shall be held as soon as practicable after the creation of the vacancy.

5.1    Powers Duties. The Executive Committee, under the leadership of the Chair, shall have general supervision and control of the affairs of the Section, subject to the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Association and the Bylaws of this Section.

5.2    Composition. The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the following persons: (a) the Chair; (b) Co-Vice Chairs as set forth on Section 4.1; (c) the Secretary; (d) the Treasurer; and (e) the immediate past Chair.

5.3    Appointments. The Executive Committee may authorize the Chair to appoint various committees to perform such duties and exercise such powers as the Executive Committee may direct. The chairpersons of such committees are encouraged to attend meetings of the Executive Committee. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be open to all Section members.

5.4    Quorum. The majority of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

6.1    This Section is not organized for profit and no part of its net earnings shall inure to the benefit of any member of the Section or any member of the Association.

7.1    The Fiscal Year of this Section shall coincide with the fiscal year of the Association.

8.1    The Treasurer shall render to the Board and to the Association, within four weeks from the close of the fiscal year of the Section, a statement of assets and liabilities of the Section as of the end of the fiscal year and of the receipts and disbursements made during that fiscal year.

8.2    All bills incurred by this Section, before being forwarded to the Treasurer of the King County Bar Association for payment, shall be approved by the Section Chair or the Treasurer.

9.1    These Bylaws shall become effective upon the approval thereof by the Trustees of the King County Bar Association and by this Section.

9.2    These Bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the Section by a majority vote of the members present, provided that: (a) the amendments are subject to and contingent upon further approval by the Board of Trustees of the Association; and (b) that a 10-day notice of the proposed amendment has been given in writing to the members of the Section.