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Board and Officers

Per New York Consolidated Laws, Not-For-Profit Corporation Law:

NPC § 702. Number of Directors

(a) The number of directors constituting the entire board shall be not less than three.  Subject to such limitation, such number may be fixed by the by-laws or by action of the members or of the board under the specific provisions of a by-law allowing such action, or by any number within a range set forth in the by-laws.  If not otherwise fixed under this paragraph, the number shall be three.  

(b) The number of directors may be increased or decreased by amendment of the by-laws or by action of the members, or of the board under the specific provisions of a by-law, subject to the following limitations:

(1) If the board is authorized by the by-laws to change the number of directors, whether by amending the by-laws or by taking action under the specific provisions of a by-law, such amendment or action shall require the vote of a majority of the entire board.

(2) No decrease shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

NPC § 713. Officers

(a) The board may elect or appoint a chair or president, or both, one or more vice-presidents, a secretary and a treasurer, and such other officers as it may determine, or as may be provided in the by-laws.  These officers may be designated by such alternate titles as may be provided in the certificate of incorporation or the by-laws.  Any two or more offices may be held by the same person, except the offices of president and secretary, or the offices corresponding thereto.

(b) The certificate of incorporation or a by-law adopted by the members may provide that all officers or that specified officers shall be elected by the members instead of by the board, or it may authorize the president to appoint the other officers, or some of them, subject to approval by the board.

(c) Each officer shall hold office for the term for which he is elected or appointed, and until his successor has been elected or appointed and qualified.  Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or the by-laws, all officers shall be elected or appointed annually.

(d) The certificate of incorporation or the by-laws may provide that any one or more officers shall be ex-officio members of the board, with voting rights unless specified otherwise.

(e) All officers as between themselves and the corporation shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the corporation as may be provided in the by-laws or, to the extent not so provided, by the board.  The board may require any officer to give security for the faithful performance of his duties.

(f) No employee of the corporation shall serve as chair of the board or hold any other title with similar responsibilities, unless the board approves such employee serving as chair of the board by a two-thirds vote of the entire board and contemporaneously documents in writing the basis for the board approval;  provided, however, that no such employee shall be considered an independent director for the purposes of this chapter.