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Association
By-Laws
ARTICLE
I - Name, Office and Government
1.
The name of this Corporation shall be "Gas Processors
Association."
2. The principal office of the Corporation shall be located
in the City of Tulsa, County of Tulsa, State of Oklahoma.
The Corporation may have such other offices, either within
or without the State of Oklahoma, as the Board of Directors
may from time to time determine or as the business of the
Corporation may from time to time require.
3. The registered office of this Corporation in the State
of Oklahoma shall be located in the City of Tulsa, County
of Tulsa, unless moved elsewhere by majority vote of the Board
of Directors. The address of the registered office may be,
but need not be, identical with that of the principal office
of the Corporation in the State of Oklahoma, and the address
of the registered office may be changed from time to time
by the Board of Directors.
4. This Corporation is a non-profit corporation organized
under the laws of the State of Oklahoma.
5. The Corporation shall be governed by its Articles of Incorporation
and it By-Laws.
6. Interpretation of any portion of these By-Laws shall rest
with the Board of Directors.
7. Except as otherwise expressly indicated herein, the term
"Association," wherever used in these By-Laws, shall
mean this Corporation. The use of that term in reference to
this Corporation or as a part of its name shall not alter
or be construed as changing or affecting the Corporation's
legal status as a duly incorporated non-profit corporation.
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ARTICLE
II - Officers
The
officers of this Association shall be a President, President-Elect,
three Vice Presidents, an Executive Director-Treasurer, a
Secretary and Board of Directors whose members shall consist
of the President, President-Elect, and three Vice Presidents
and those additional Directors selected under the provisions
of Article V hereof.
ARTICLE
III - Executive Committee
The
Executive Committee shall be composed of the President, President-Elect,
the three Vice Presidents and the immediate past President.
Its chairman shall be the President. The immediate past President
need not be a member of the Board of Directors. This committee
shall exercise all of the powers of the Board of Directors
at times when the Board is not in session as to routine affairs
of the Association. Its acts shall be subject to approval
of the Board of Directors. A meeting of the Executive Committee
shall be called by the Executive Director or the Secretary,
upon the request of the chairman or upon the written request
of two members of that committee.
ARTICLE
IV - Election of Officers - Vacancies
1.
The President, President-Elect and three Vice-Presidents of
this Association shall be elected at the annual meeting of
this Association at which this Article is adopted by mail
vote as provided in Article XXI hereof, then at the first
annual meeting thereafter. At each succeeding annual meeting
successors shall be elected for the President, President-Elect
and Vice Presidents. These officers shall enter upon the performance
of their duties at the conclusion of such annual meeting and
shall continue in that capacity through the next succeeding
annual meeting. At the discretion of the Nominating Committee,
the President and President-Elect shall be eligible for election
to a maximum of two one-year successive terms. Any Vice President
who has served two successive one-year terms shall not be
eligible for re-election as Vice President until at least
one year has elapsed. The President, President-Elect and three
Vice-Presidents shall each be the designated official representative
of an Active Member. A member shall have only one official
representative.
2. The members of the Board of Directors shall hold office
for the terms set forth in Article V.
3. The Executive Director-Treasurer and the Secretary shall
be elected by the Board of Directors at its first meeting
following each annual meeting of this Association.
4. In case of a vacancy of any elective office, a successor
to fill such vacancy for the unexpired term may be elected
by the Board of Directors at its next meeting.
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ARTICLE
V - Selection of Directors
Existing
directorships shall be declared vacated as of the annual meeting
at which this Article is adopted or, if this Article is adopted
by mail vote as provided in Article XX hereof, then at the
first annual meeting thereafter.
1. Directors shall be elected from the Active Membership as
follows:
a.
At said annual meeting, twenty-one (21) Directors shall
be elected, seven Directors for a one-year term, seven for
a two-year term and seven for a three-year term.
b. At the second annual meeting of this Association following
adoption of this Article, and at each succeeding annual
meeting, seven Directors shall be elected for a term of
three years, to replace those Directors whose terms are
expiring.
2.
Each Active Member whose dues base is such that it pays the
maximum dues shall be a member of the Board of Directors for
each year in which it so qualified.
3.
The President, President-Elect and three Vice Presidents shall
be ex-officio members of the Board.
In the event a Director elected under Section 1 subsequently
qualifies under Section 2 of this Article a successor shall
be elected by the Board at its next meeting to fill the unexpired
term. The term of any member of the Board under Sections 1
or 2 shall not terminate during such period as its official
representative is President, President-Elect or a Vice-President.
A member shall be entitled to only one official representative
and one vote on the Board.
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ARTICLE
VI - Nominating Committee
Not
less than thirty days prior to each annual meeting of this
Association, the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee
composed of the official representatives of five Active Members.
Said Nominating Committee shall:
1. At the first Nominating Committee meeting, prior to the
annual meeting at which Articles IV and V are adopted, or
prior to the first annual meeting following the adoption of
said Articles, the Committee shall:
a.
Select from the list of official representatives of Active
Members, one individual as the nominee for office of President,
one individual as nominee for office of President-Elect
and one individual as the nominee for each of the three
offices of Vice President. No more than one nominee may
represent the same member.
b. Select from the list of Active Members, who will not
be otherwise serving on the Board or a nominee for a position,
twenty-one (21) nominees for elective positions on the Board
of Directors, their terms of office to be set forth in paragraph
a., Section 1, of Article V and,
2.
At each subsequent annual committee meeting the then appointed
Nominating Committee shall:
a.
Select from the list of official representatives of Active
Members, one nominee each for the office of President and
President-Elect and one nominee for each of the three offices
of Vice President. A member may be represented by one officer
of the Association and if so represented, then that officer
must be its official representative.
b. Select from the list of Active Members, who will not
be otherwise serving on the Board or a nominee for a position,
seven nominees for elective positions on the Board of Directors
for three-year terms.
At
each annual meeting of this Corporation, next following the
meeting of the Nominating Committee, the Chairman of said
Committee, or his appointed representative, shall place in
nomination the selected nominees for the positions of President,
President-Elect and the three Vice-Presidents. Following the
conclusive vote by the membership for these positions, he
shall place in nomination the selected nominees for positions
on the Board of Directors.
Additional nominations for these positions, of qualified representatives
or members, may be made from the floor by the official representative
of any Active Member present at such annual meeting.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the official representatives
of Active Members present shall be necessary to elect any
President, President-Elect, Vice President or Director. Vote
may be made by ballot or acclamation.
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ARTICLE
VII - Duties of President
The
President shall preside at all meetings of this Association,
Board of Directors and Executive Committee, and shall call
special meetings on a written request of a majority of the
Board of Directors, or the official representatives of any
five Active Members of this Association, and perform such
other duties as are made usual and necessary in such position
by parliamentary usage.
ARTICLE
VIII - Duties of President-Elect and Vice Presidents
The
President-Elect shall preside and act for the President in
his absence. In the event the President-Elect is unable to
act, the President shall designate a Vice President to act
in his stead. In case the President is unable to designate,
the Board of Directors shall make the designation. The Vice
Presidents shall have such duties as may be assigned to them
by the President.
ARTICLE
IX - Duties of Executive Director-Treasurer and the Secretary
1.
Executive Director-Treasurer
As Treasurer he shall receive all funds paid into the Association
and shall deposit same in a banking institution designated
by the Board of Directors and located in the city in which
this Association has its headquarters. He shall disburse said
funds as and in the manner directed by the Board of Directors.
He shall give bond, if so required by the Board of Directors,
in such sum as the Board may fix, the premium for such bond
to be paid by this Association. His accounts shall be audited
annually or at such time and in such manner as the Board of
Directors shall order.
He shall file at the bank the signature of each member of
the Finance Committee and, in case of emergency through sickness
or absence from the city of the Treasurer, the Committee shall
have the power to issue drafts on this Association when signed
by any two members of this Committee.
He shall keep the members of the Finance Committee advised
from time to time of the financial condition of this Association.
He shall be in charge of employing such personnel and/or employees
as may be required to properly conduct the affairs of this
Association and with the concurrence of the Board of Directors
exercise control and supervision over the business affairs
of this Association. In addition, he shall perform such other
duties as may be directed by the Executive Committee.
2.
Secretary
The Secretary shall record the proceedings of this Association
and Board of Directors at annual and called meetings and preserve
such records, together with all correspondence of this Association.
Unless
otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, he shall render
written and detailed reports of business transacted by the
Board of Directors at the annual and called meetings and at
such other times as called for by the Executive Committee.
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ARTICLE
X - Duties of Directors and Executive Committee
The
Board of Directors shall have control and supervision over
the affairs and policies of this Association and shall be
vested with title to all property of this Association and
shall have supervision and control over the collection and
disbursement of funds and property belonging to this Association
and shall be authorized to incur such additional expense as
may be necessary to properly conduct the affairs of this Association.
The Executive Committee shall fix the salary to be paid the
Executive-Director-Treasurer, Secretary, and such other employees
as may be required to properly conduct the affairs of this
Association.
ARTICLE
XI - Qualifications and Classes of Membership
Membership
in this Association shall consist of three classes, Active,
Associate and Honorary. Each member shall designate one individual
from its organization as its official representative in Association
affairs. Only Active Members shall be voting members. Any
individual partnership, association, firm or corporation who
qualifies and joins this Association shall be subject to the
Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of this Association.
1. Active Members
a.
Any individual, partnership, association, firm, or corporation
owning one or more gas processing plants wherein liquid
hydrocarbons are recovered or extracted from natural gas,
or owning a participating interest therein; or
b. Any individual, partnership, association, firm, or corporation
owning one or more processing plants wherein synthetic gases
are produced from liquid hydrocarbons, coal, and/or other
feedstocks, or owning a participating interest therein;
or
c.
Any individual, partnership, association, firm or corporation
owning one or more plants wherein natural or synthetic gases
are liquefied for transportation or storage, or are regasified,
or owning a participating interest therein; or
d. Such other individuals, partnerships, associations, firms,
or corporations not qualifying as Active Members under Section
1a, 1b or 1c of this Article XI, but who are engaged in
volume movement, in further processing, or in processing
for any purpose, of natural and synthetic gases or liquid
products therefrom.
2.
Associate Member:
Any individual, partnership, association, firm or corporation
interested in the technology or utilization of natural and
synthetic gases or liquid products therefrom, but not qualifying
for Active Membership under Section 1 of this Article XI and
who does not manufacture or sell equipment or materials for
the natural and synthetic gas processing industry and who
engages in no construction work for said industry.
3. Honorary Member:
Any individual may be designated an Honorary Member as provided
in Article XXII.
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ARTICLE
XII - Determination of Dues Base Units
1.
Each Active Member's average daily liquid hydrocarbon production,
synthetic gas production, liquefied gas production, and regasified
gas production shall be determined annually during the six
month period from January 1 to June 30 inclusive, and from
the total thereof each Active Member's dues base shall be
determined for the succeeding calendar year. Each Active Member
shall inform the Executive Director of his dues base not later
than September 1 of each year. Such dues base information
shall be available only to the Executive Director and Secretary
and shall be kept in strict confidence.
2. The dues for Active Members qualifying under paragraph
a., Section 1, Article XI shall be the Active Member's average
daily total gallons of liquid hydrocarbon product from natural
gas computed as follows:
Total liquid hydrocarbons shall include all liquid products
produced and saved from natural gas in cycling, natural gasoline
and other gas processing plant operations, excluding liquid
hydrocarbons recovered in inlet separators, within the United
States, having an ethane and/or heavier content of ninety
percent (90%) or more regardless of the utilization of such
product, i.e., whether disposed of in the mixed forms produced,
whether fractionated into separate hydrocarbons or whether
disposed of in fraction combinations for markets or reformation
stocks; provided that where such products are further processed
in gasoline plants the gallons included in the dues base shall
be the gallons after final processing.
3. The dues base for Active Members qualifying under paragraph
b., Section 1, Article XI shall be the Active Member's average
daily production within the United States of synthetic gases
in thousands of cubic feet. That portion of the dues base
that contain less than 1,000 Btu gross heating value per standard
cubic foot (at 14.73 psia and 60 degrees F) shall be adjusted
by multiplying such volumes fraction, the numerator of which
shall be the actual average heating value of the gas and the
denominator of which shall be 1,000.
4. The dues base for Active Members qualifying under paragraph
c., Section 1, Article XI shall be the Active Member's average
daily total production within the United States of liquefied
natural or synthetic gases or regasified natural or synthetic
gases. In the event an Active Member is engaged in the liquefaction
of gases and the subsequent regasification of such liquefied
gases, the dues base shall be the larger of the volumes liquefied
or regasified, but not both. That portion of the dues base
that contains less than 1,000 Btu gross heating value per
standard cubic foot (at 14.73 psia and 60 degrees F) shall
be adjusted by multiplying such volumes by a fraction, the
numerator of which shall be the actual average heating value
of the gas and the denominator of which shall be 1,000.
5. The dues base for each Active Member qualifying under paragraph
d., Section 1, Article XI for purposes of dues determination
and research and development assessments, shall be deemed
to be 125,000 dues base units.
6. The dues base for each Active Member whose total production
of liquid hydrocarbons, synthetic gases, liquefied gases,
and regasified gases from natural gas is exclusively outside
the United States, shall be deemed to be 84,000 average daily
dues base units.
7. The dues base for each Associate Member shall be deemed
to be 42,000 average dues base units.
8. The total dues base for all Active Members calculated under
Sections 2,3, and 4, of this Article XII shall be the sum
of the dues base units calculated under each Section; provided,
however, that for purposes of calculating annual dues, the
minimum average daily dues base units for any Active Member
shall be 42,000 and the maximum average daily dues base units
for any Active Member shall be 585,000.
9. Each Active Member who owns or has a participating interest
in one or more plants shall compute his production for determining
his dues base units on the basis of his fractional interest
in the total liquid hydrocarbons, liquefied natural gas, and
synthetic gas, produced in each plant. This production shall
be added to the Active Member's sole interest production,
if any, to obtain figures for the Active Member's dues base.
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ARTICLE
XIII - Annual Dues of Members
1.
Effective January 1, 2008, annual dues for Active and Associate
Members shall be 3.38 cents per dues base unit provided, however,
Active Members whose total production of liquid hydrocarbons,
synthetic gases, liquefied gases and regasified gases from
natural gas is exclusively outside the United States shall
have annual dues of 1.72 cents per dues base unit.
2. The Board of Directors shall have the power to adjust the
dues specified in Section 1 of this Article XIII, provided
that such an adjustment does not exceed in any year the most
recent "Wage Index" as determined by the Council
of Petroleum Accounting Societies (COPAS) in accordance with
Section III, Paragraph 1A (3) of the COPAS? 1974 Accounting
Procedure.
3.
The Board of Directors shall also have the power to set a
minimum cash reserve for the Association. This reserve specifies
the level that the Association's operating account should
never get below. Once the reserve is set, each October at
the fall Board of Directors meeting the dues will be reviewed.
If the cash reserve is projected to be above the cash reserve
level then no dues action is necessary, although the Board
of Directors, at its discretion, can elect to increase dues
up to the COPAS Index increase in accordance with Section
2.
If the reserve level is projected to be below the targeted
reserve level then a dues increase to all members is required.
This dues increase can be all or part of the COPAS Wage Index
increase, but cannot be greater than the COPAS percentage
increase for the previous year. If after the fiscal year closes
and the operating account's cash reserve does indeed fall
below the targeted cash reserve, then a one-time subsidy for
the difference to bring the reserve level up to the targeted
level will be divided equally between all maximum production
members. (A maximum production member is a company that produces
in excess of 585,000 gallons per day of natural gas liquids).
This subsidy in no way affects the dues rate and this extra
payment is a one-time payment and does not alter the maximum
dues level for the following year. In addition, if a reserve
surplus exists beyond the level set as adequate, the Board
of Directors may return extra funds to the member companies
in the form of a pro-rata dues reduction for that year only.
Dues will be reset to the previous level for the next year.
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4.
Subject to the limitations of Section 1, 2, and 3 of this
Article XIII, the Board of Directors shall determine the annual
dues rate of Active and Associate Members and shall give notice
thereof to all Active and Associate Members no later than
December 1 of the year immediately preceding the year in which
the annual dues rate is to be effective.
5. Any Active or Associate Member failing to pay his dues
within 6 months after the same are due and owing may, by action
of the Board of Directors, be stricken from the role of membership
of this Association.
ARTICLE
XIV - Research and Development Assessments
For
purposes of Research and Development Assessments, Active Members
are defined as those whose dues base units are calculated
under provisions of Article XII, paragraphs 2, 3, 4 and 5.
The
following steps shall be taken in the order set out below
for the determination of project support:
1. Each Research and Development project undertaken by this
Association, that has not been approved prior to adoption
of this Article, shall be separately approved by first a vote
of 75% of the Board members present and then by an approving
vote of those Active Members of this Association who collectively
account for 75% of production comprising the total dues base
units of the Association. The vote of each active Member shall
be weighted in the proportion that its dues base units bear
to the total dues base units of the Association. The vote
of the membership may be taken at any annual or called meeting
of the membership or by mail ballot. If the vote is by mail
ballot, the results shall be computed from those ballots received
within sixty days after the date of mailing.
Those
Active Members approving Research and Development projects
shall be annually assessed in advance for their pro rata share
of projects approved by them. Each member approving a project
shall be assessed for that proportion of the cost of that
project, less any contributions by other than Active Members,
that his dues base units bear to the total dues base units
of all approving members.
2. In the event that a Research and Development project receives
at least 75% approval of the Board of Directors, but fails
to receive approval of member companies who collectively account
for 75% of the Association's total dues base units, the staff
may seek voluntary support of the project. Each member who
agrees to contribute such voluntary support shall be assessed
for that proportion of the cost of that project that his dues
base units bear to the total dues base units of all supporting
members.
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ARTICLE
XV - Annual and Special Meetings of the Association
1.
The annual meeting of this Association shall be held on the
10th day of March, in each year, beginning in the calendar
year 1987, at the hour of 10:00 a.m., for the purpose of electing
Directors of the Association and for the transaction of such
other business as may come before the meeting. If the day
fixed for the Annual Meeting shall be a legal holiday such
meeting shall be held on the next succeeding day.
2. Special meetings of the Members of the Association may
be called at any time by a majority of the whole Board of
Directors. At any special meeting of Members, no business
shall be transacted and no action shall be taken other than
as stated in the notice of the meeting.
3. Unless and until otherwise provided by the Board of Directors,
every annual meeting of the Members and every other meeting
of the Members shall be held at the principal office of the
Association in the State of Oklahoma; provided, however, that
any meeting of the Members may be held at such place as may
be fixed by the Board of Directors.
4.
The Board of Directors may from time to time change the time
(which term includes hour, day, or month) and/or place names
in these By-Laws for the holding of the annual meeting of
the Members of the Association, to such other time and/or
place as said Board shall by resolution from time to time
determine; provided, however, that the time and/or place of
holding the annual meeting of the Members shall not be changed
within ten days next before the day on which such annual meeting
is to be held, and provided further, that notice of any such
change shall be given to each Member ten days before the annual
meeting is held, in person or by letter mailed to the Member's
last known post office address.
5. It shall be the duty of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
to cause notice of every meeting of the members whether regular
or special, to be mailed at least ten (10) and not more than
fifty (50) days before the meeting to each Member of the Association
of record.
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ARTICLE
XVI - Fiscal Year
The
fiscal year of this Association, for accounting purposes,
shall end October 31.
ARTICLE
XVII - Removal of Officers
Any
Officer or member of the Board of Directors may be removed
for due cause by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE
XVIII - Directors' Meetings-Quorum
The
President of the Association may, at his discretion, call
a meeting of the Board of Directors at any time on five days'
written notice, or on shorter written notice, upon consent
of a majority of the Board of Directors to waive such five
days' notice. Such notice shall be delivered personally or
mailed to each Director at his business address or by telegram.
If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when
deposited in the United States mail so addressed, with postage
prepaid thereon. If notice be given by telegram, such notice
shall be deemed to be delivered when the telegram is delivered
to the telegraph company. Any director may, in writing, waive
notice of any meeting, either before or after such meeting.
The attendance of a director at a meeting shall constitute
a waiver of notice of such meeting. Such meetings may also
be called by a majority of the Board of Directors upon the
same condition as last mentioned, in case of failure or refusal
of the President to act. A majority of the members of the
Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business.
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ARTICLE
XIX - Finance Committee
Promptly
following each annual meeting, the President of the Association
shall appoint a Finance Committee of seven members. The President,
President-Elect and Executive Director of the Association
shall be ex-officio members of the Committee and the other
four members thereof shall be chosen from the Active Membership.
The
Committee shall hold such meetings during the year as may
be called at request of the President, Executive Director
or any other member of said Committee, or by action of the
Board of Directors.
It shall be the duty of this Committee:
1. To determine sources and allotment of income and to prepare
the operating budget for the ensuing year.
2. To secure bond for Treasurer (if deemed necessary).
3. To arrange for, examine and approve an annual audit of
the books of this Association.
4. To approve expenditures of monies not provided for in the
operating budget, such approval to be in advance of expenditure.
The action of this Committee shall at all times be subject
to the approval of the Board of Directors.
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ARTICLE
XX - Association Meeting Notices
Each
member of this Association shall be given ten days' notice
of each annual and special meeting, such notice to be issued
by the Executive Director or in his absence, the Secretary,
upon the order of the President.
ARTICLE XXI - Amendments
Any
proposed amendments of these By-Laws shall be submitted to
the Executive Director in writing. Said proposed amendments
must be signed by not less than four (4) officers, or ten
(10) members in good standing. The Board of Directors, or
other officer, at the President's direction shall prepare
copies of the proposed amendment and furnish one copy of the
same to each member of this Association and a final vote on
such amendment may be taken not less than thirty (30) days
after such copies have been furnished to the membership. Such
final vote may be taken in any annual or called meeting of
the membership and may be adopted only by a two-thirds affirmative
vote of the membership present and voting. Final vote on any
proposed amendments may be taken by mail ballot and a two-thirds
affirmative vote of mail ballots received within thirty (30)
days after mailing same to the membership shall be necessary
for adoption.
The
By-Laws as so amended shall become and be effective, until
further amended from the date of notification to the membership
that any such amendment has been adopted.
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ARTICLE
XXII - Honorary Lifetime Membership
Any
individual who has received the Annual Award for this Association
known as the Hanlon Award, or has served as President of this
Association, shall become an Honorary Lifetime Member of this
Association. The Board of Directors also may bestow Honorary
Lifetime Membership upon an individual, whether or not a member
of this Association, if in the judgement of the Board, such
individual has rendered meritorious service to the gas producing
and processing industry.
Honorary
Lifetime Members of this Association shall be relieved of
paying dues and may be accorded other privileges or amenities
judged by the Board of Directors to be appropriate.
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ARTICLE
XXIII - Procedures
The
proceedings of this Association shall be conducted in accordance
with Roberts' Rules of Order, the parliamentary usage and
customs.
It
shall be the duty of all members of this Association to present
to the Board of Directors any information coming to their
notice concerning any matter which is of interest to any and
all members of this Association. The Board shall investigate
and take such action as is deemed necessary, making full report
to the Association of their proceedings in the case.
One-fourth
or more of all Active Members of this Association shall constitute
a quorum for the transaction of business at any general membership
meeting.
When
any Active Member of this Association shall be elected a member
of the Board of Directors, the Secretary shall write the company
concerned requesting that it designate its representative
to serve on the Board of Directors. The person so designated
shall be the voting member for that company on all questions
arising within the Association.
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