MPPC History

The name of the organization shall be the MAILER’S POSTMARK PERMIT CLUB and shall be referred to as “the Club” in this constitution and accompanying by-laws.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

The purpose of the Club shall be to promote interest in collecting mailer’s postmark permit cancels, to encourage the use of mailer’s postmark permits and to provide guidance to members in obtaining a mailer’s postmark thus providing a greater understanding and enjoyment of this aspect of philately by cultivating a feeling of fellowship among members.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the MPPC may be granted to any person interested in the collection or the use of a mailer’s postmark.

ARTICLE IV: CHARTER MEMBERS

All members who have joined the Club prior to December 31, 1979, and/or members whose membership number is less than 200 are considered Charter Members.

ARTICLE V: OFFICERS

The officers of the Club shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer.

ARTICLE VI: EXECUTIVE BOARD

The Executive Board shall be composed of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, two elected Directors, and the Club’s corporate registered agent for service of process, who shall serve as an ex officio member. Subject to the provisions of section 5 of Article V of the bylaws, the Immediate Past President shall be deemed to be an advisor to the Executive Board but shall not have a right to vote on matters before the Executive Board.

ARTICLE VII: AMENDMENT

This constitution may be amended at any time by the Executive Board, which shall by majority vote present any proposed amendment in writing to the Secretary, who shall then cause such proposed amendment to be published in the official organ, the Permit Patter. Such amendment shall be adopted thirty (30) days after publication by a two-thirds vote of those members voting.

BYLAWS

ARTICLE I: DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. The President shall direct the general affairs of the Club and provide direction for its growth and development; shall appoint such officers as may be deemed necessary for the performance of functions within the Club, such officers to be separately designated as “Appointed Officers” on the Club’s masthead appearing in the official organ, the Permit Patter; shall reaffirm appointed officers of the previous term; shall fill by appointment any vacancy in any office for the unexpired term; and shall perform all other duties pertaining to this office.

Section 2. The Vice President in the absence or disability of the President shall perform all duties generally associated with the office of the President and shall develop and/or supervise programs which may be assigned by the President. Upon any declaration by the Executive Board pursuant to this Article that a vacancy exists in the office of President, or upon the resignation of the President, the Vice-President shall become President and shall serve in such capacity for the unexpired term of that office.

Section 3. The Secretary shall keep accurate, complete and permanent records of the proceedings of the Executive Board; shall transmit to each member of the Executive Board a copy of said proceedings within fifteen (15) days of its occurrence; shall process all applications for membership and transmit a monthly report of applications to the Executive Board; shall provide the Editor with a monthly new-member report; shall collect membership dues; shall issue membership cards; and shall transmit all collected fees to the Treasurer.

Section 4. The Treasurer shall receive and keep the Club’s funds in a bank approved by the Executive Board, shall pay out any funds on order of the President, and shall compile an annual report of receipts and disbursements for publication in the March/April edition of the official organ, the Permit Patter.

Section 5. The Executive Board shall be the executive administrative body of the Club. The President shall act as Chairman. The Executive Board may by majority vote declare any office on the Executive Board including the office of President vacant due to absence, disability, or any other just cause.

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Any person interested in collecting and/or using a mailer’s postmark shall be eligible for membership.

Section 2. Any eligible person desiring membership must submit a written application to the Secretary which shall be in such a form as the Executive Board shall prescribe.

Section 3. No application for membership shall be processed unless accompanied by the proper payment of dues. Any application submitted which does not conform to the requirements of this Article shall be returned to the applicant.

Section 4. The Executive Board may by majority vote expel, suspend, or take any other appropriate action with respect to, a member for just cause. The Executive Board may in its discretion appoint a member or members to investigate and make a report and recommendations to the Executive Board with regard to any complaint made against, or any similar issue arising with respect to, any member. In taking action under this section, the Executive Board shall be guided by the code of ethics of relevant philatelic organizations including but not limited to the American Philatelic Society.

ARTICLE III: DUES

Section 1. All members shall pay dues in the amount prescribed by the dues schedule in effect at the time and must be received by the Secretary not later than January 31 of each year.

Section 2. Members who have not have paid their annual dues within 90 days from the due date shall be dropped from membership automatically.

Section 3. Any member against whom action has been taken under section 4 of Article II shall not be entitled to any refund of dues paid.

ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP YEAR

Section 1. The membership year shall extend from January 1 to December 31 of the same year.

ARTICLE V: ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Section 1. All elective officers and directors shall be elected by ballot on even-numbered years for a term of four years, provided that no person may be elected to any officer or director position unless that person has been a member of the Club for at least one year prior to the date of the election.

Section 2. The candidate for any elective office receiving a simple majority of votes cast for that particular office by those members voting shall be declared elected. In the event of a tie, the Executive Board shall choose the winner.

Section 3. Newly elected officers shall assume the duties of their respective offices effective January 1st of the coming year.

Section 4. Should an elected officer resign before new elections are held, the President shall appoint a member in good standing to assume the unexpired term of that office.

Section 5. No person may serve on the Executive Board in more than one capacity, nor shall any provision of these bylaws or the constitution be construed to allocate more than one vote to any member of the Executive Board. In the event the Immediate Past President and an elected officer or director should be the same individual, the President shall appoint as the advisor to the Executive Board the member whom the Immediate Past President replaced as President, such appointment to be designated as “Acting Immediate Past President,” except that in the event such member declines such appointment or in the judgment of the President is otherwise unable or unwilling to serve as an advisor to the Executive Board, the President may appoint any other member of the Club in good standing as the advisor to the Executive Board. In appointing any such other member of the Club, the President shall take into consideration the provision of (a) institutional memory for the Club and (b) continuity in Club policies and operations, and such an appointment shall be designated as “advisor to the Executive Board.” Any person appointed under this section shall be entitled to participate fully in the functions of the Executive Board with the exception of the right to vote on matters before it. An appointment made under this section shall be considered an appointed position under section 1 of Article I and shall expire at such time as the Immediate Past President and any elected officer or director cease to be the same person.

ARTICLE VI: NOMINATIONS AND VOTING

Section 1. Nomination and voting shall be conducted in even-numbered years through the mail by such forms as approved by the Executive Board, subject to the requirements of this Article.

Section 2. The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee in July of the year of election.

Section 3. Nomination shall be conducted by notification in writing and submitted to the Nominating Committee not later than September 15 of the year of election.

Section 4. Such notification shall contain the written request of the candidate to be nominated to serve as an officer or director, provided that no appointed officer may serve on the Executive Board with the exception of a person appointed under section 5 of Article V.

Section 5. An incumbent officer or director seeking re-election to the same office shall likewise make such written notification to the Nominating Committee.

Section 6. Voting shall be by secret ballot only. The official ballot shall be distributed to all members in good standing in a separate mailing not later than October 1 of the year of election, and it shall contain the names of the nominees and proper instructions for voting and mailing of said ballot. The ballot shall not be contained in nor distributed together with the official organ, the Permit Patter, but the voting results shall be announced in the November/December edition of the official organ, the Permit Patter.

Section 7. Write-in votes shall be permitted, and the ballot shall contain a space specifically designated and so labeled within which a write-in vote may be cast for each officer and director position, provided that no write-in vote may be cast for any person who is a nominated candidate for any office.

Section 8. Ballots received after October 31 shall be declared invalid and votes that do not comply with the requirements of this Article shall not be counted.

ARTICLE VII: OFFICIAL LOGO & MOTTO

Section 1. The official logo or emblem of the Club shall consist of a double circle containing the inscription “MAILER’S POSTMARK PERMIT CLUB” and “ORG. 1979” between two stars within the lower section of the two circles. The inner circle shall contain the letters “MPPC” in the upper section of a stylized mailer’s postmark located directly below the letter.

Section 2. The official slogan of the Club shall be: “Join in the fun ... cancel your own!”

ARTICLE VIII: OFFICIAL ORGAN

Section 1. The official organ of the Club shall be the “Permit Patter.”

Section 2. The official organ shall be published six times per year (January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October and November/December) and mailed to all members in good standing without charge.

ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENT

These bylaws may be amended at any time by the Executive Board, which shall present any proposed amendment in writing to the Secretary, who shall then cause such proposed amendment to be published in the official organ, the Permit Patter. Such amendment shall be adopted thirty (30) days after publication by a two-thirds vote of those members voting.