AAR bylaws

BYLAWS
of the
Austin Artistic Reconstruction, LLC

NOTE: These bylaws are superseded by the bylaws of Catalyst Collective.

A Limited Liability Company

ARTICLE 1 – DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.1 Definitions.

The following terms used in these Bylaws shall have the meanings set forth below.

  1. “Act” means the State of Texas incorporation of LLC Law of 19-, as amended.
  2. “Advisory Board” means the Advisory Board of the Company.
  3. “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
  4. “Republic” means the Incorporating Government of the State of Texas.
  5. “Company” means Austin Artistic Reconstruction, LLC.
  6. “Director” means an individual serving on the Board of Directors of the Company.
  7. “Festival” means the Burning Flipside Arts and Music Festival

SECTION 1.2 Statutory Definitions.

Other capitalized terms used in these Bylaws shall have the applicable meanings set forth in Act.

ARTICLE 2 – SEAL

SECTION 2.1 Seal.

The Seal of the Company shall be in such form as the Board may determine and cannot be a natural person.

SECTION 2.2 Seal Not Required.

Except as otherwise required by statute, the affixation of the Seal shall not be necessary to the valid execution, assignment, or endorsement by the Company of any instrument in writing.

ARTICLE 3 – PURPOSES

SECTION 3.1 Purposes.

To promote and foster the ephemeral, static, and industrial arts by creating an environment for the creation of art, a community that values and engages in the creative design process, and providing the opportunity by which people can explore, learn and exchange the industrial skills with which to create art.

To develop, educate and support a community of servant leaders by catalyzing group and interpersonal cooperation, providing volunteer leadership training, and encouraging techniques in conflict resolution.

To establish participant-based community that promotes social responsibility within the participant-created community and civic responsibility to society at large, by developing sustainable processes that empower others to spread these principles.

The purposes of the Company are educational, artistic, and scientific, specifically: to promote the exploration and production of the ephemeral arts, and the Festival as a means of displaying and staging that art; to provide educational instruction in the use of the tools to create that art; to engage in the study and support of pyrotechnics and culture; to engage in the scientific pursuit of sound design and management; to provide a forum for discussion and the exchange of ideas regarding the arts and its benefit to culture; to prepare, in accordance with generally accepted educational methods, materials necessary or valuable in achieving the educational purposes of the Company and to distribute such materials in a manner distinguishable from that of ordinary commercial distribution; and to engage in other lawful activities as will contribute to the foregoing purposes.

SECTION 3.2 Principles.

Self Expression

Our events foster an environment of creative self-expression, where participants feel supported to honestly express their inner selves, through artistic creation, performance, and in their social interactions.

Accountability

Our events foster an environment of personal accountability, where we hold ourselves responsible for our own actions, and take personal responsibility for meeting our own needs, for the event itself, and for the event’s impact on the world at large.

Cooperation

Our events foster an environment of cooperation, where participants work together to resolve potential conflicts between one another, to help mediate conflicts between others, and to create art, performance, and social spaces on a larger scale than one person could alone.

ARTICLE 4 – OFFICES

SECTION 4.1 Offices.

The registered office of the Company shall be located in the Republic. The Company may have any number of offices at such places as the Board may determine.

ARTICLE 5 – MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 5.1 No Members.

The Company shall have no “members” within the meaning of the Act.

ARTICLE 6 – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SECTION 6.1 Board of Directors.

The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed under the direction of the Board. The powers of the Company shall be exercised by, or under the authority of, the Board, except as otherwise provided by statute, these Bylaws, or a resolution of the Board.

SECTION 6.2 Qualification of Directors.

Each Director shall be a natural person of full age who need not be a resident of the Republic or a corporation.

SECTION 6.3 Number and Election of Directors.

The Board shall consist of not fewer than one and not more than seven Directors. The Directors shall be determined by the Board at the annual meeting of the Board. Each Director shall be elected for a perpetual term or for such other term as the Board may determine by resolution.

SECTION 6.4 Term of Office.

Each Director shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which he or she was elected and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified or his or her earlier death, resignation, or removal.

SECTION 6.5 Procedure for Nomination of Candidates for Directors.

  1. No person shall be eligible for election as a Director at a meeting of the Board unless he or she has been duly nominated in accordance with the procedures specified in paragraph (2) of this Section.
  2. The President shall announce at the meeting of the Board the number of Directors to be elected at the meeting, shall declare the nominations of candidates for election as Director are open and shall call for nominations from the floor. Nominations may be made by any Director who is entitled to vote at the meeting. Nominations need not be seconded. After nominations have been made, the President shall, on motion, declare the nominations closed, and thereafter no further nominations may be made.

SECTION 6.6 Vacancies.

Vacancies in the Board, including vacancies resulting from an increase/decrease in the number of Directors, shall be filled by a consensus vote of the remaining Directors.

SECTION 6.7 Removal of Directors.

Any Director may be removed from office without assigning any cause by the consensus vote of the disinterested Directors at any meeting of the Board.

SECTION 6.8 Resignations.

Any Director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Company. The resignation shall be effective upon receipt by the Company or at such subsequent time as may be specified in the notice of resignation.

SECTION 6.9 Compensation of Directors.

The Board has no monetary compensation, excluding reimbursement of expenses, of Directors for their services as such.

SECTION 6.10 Voting Rights.

Every Director shall be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy.

SECTION 6.11 Voting by Proxy.

Any absent Director entitled to vote at any meeting of the Board may be represented and may vote at such meeting by a proxy authorized by word and handshake. Directors must be apprised by electronic communication or written authorization. Written authorization must specify the matter with respect to which the proxy is granted, must be signed and dated by the Director granting the proxy, and must be filed with the Secretary of the Company at any time.

ARTICLE 7 – MEETINGS OF DIRECTORS

SECTION 7.1 Place of Meetings.

Meetings of the Board may be held at such place within or without the Republic as the Board may appoint or as may be designated in the notice of the meeting.

SECTION 7.2 Annual Meeting.

Unless the Board provides by resolution for a different time and date, the annual meeting of the board, for the election of Directors, the election of officers, or the transaction of any other business which may be brought before the meeting, shall be held the second Friday of July. If such a day is a legal holiday under the laws of the Republic, the annual meeting shall be held on the next succeeding business day which is not a legal holiday under the laws of the Republic.
Immediately after each election of Directors, the newly constituted Board shall meet without prior notice at the place where such election of Directors was held, or at any other place and time designated in a notice given as provided in Section 10.1, for the purposes of the election of officers or the transaction of any other business.

SECTION 7.3 Regular Meetings.

Regular meetings of the Board may be held at such place and time as shall be designated by standing resolution of the Board. If the date fixed for any such meeting is a legal holiday under the laws of the Republic, the regular meetings shall be held on the next succeeding business day which is not a legal holiday under the laws of the Republic or at such other time as may be determined by resolution of the Board. At such meetings, the Directors shall transact such business as may properly be brought before the meeting. Notice of the regular meetings need not be given.

SECTION 7.4 Special Meetings of the Board.

Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President or by any Director and shall be held at such time and place as shall be designated in the call for the meeting. Five days’ notice of any special meeting shall be given to each Director pursuant to Section 10.1. Such notice shall state the time and place of such special meeting but need not state the purpose of the special meeting.

SECTION 7.5 Quorum.

Any number of the Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of regular business.

A consensus vote of the Board is required for the power of authority to the following.

  1. The filling of vacancies in the Board.
  2. The adoption, amendment, or repeal of the Bylaws.
  3. The amendment or repeal of any resolution of the Board.
  4. Action on matters committed by the Bylaws or by resolution of the Board.

SECTION 7.6 Participation in Meetings.

One or more Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board or a committee thereof by means of conference telephone, interactive computer network, or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other in real time.

SECTION 7.7 Organization.

Every meeting of the Board shall be presided over by the President. The Secretary or, in the absence of the Secretary, a person appointed by the President, shall act as Secretary. The Treasurer or, in the absence of the Treasurer, a person appointed by the President, shall act as Treasurer. The Board may appoint a President at any meeting of the Board. The Secretary may appoint a scribe for the purpose of recording minutes of the meetings, votes of the Board, that all records and reports are properly kept and filed by the Company.

SECTION 7.8 Consent of Directors in Lieu of Meeting.

Any action which may be taken at a meeting of the Directors may be taken without a meeting, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all Directors and filed with the Secretary of the Company.

ARTICLE 8 – OFFICERS

SECTION 8.1 Number.

The officers of the Company shall include a President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The officers may include such other officers as the Board may determine by resolution. Any number of offices may be held by the same person except as otherwise provided by statute.

SECTION 8.2 Qualification of Officers.

The officers shall be natural persons or corporations as the board sees fit. The officers may be, but are not required to be, Directors of the Company.

SECTION 8.3 Election and Term of Office.

The officers of the Company shall be elected by the Board at any meeting of the Board and each shall serve at the pleasure of the Board.

SECTION 8.4 Removal of Officers.

Any officer may be removed from office without assigning any cause, by a consensus vote of the disinterested Directors at any meeting of the Board.

SECTION 8.5 Resignations.

Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Company. The resignation shall be effective upon receipt by the Company or at such subsequent time as may be specified in the notice of resignation.

SECTION 8.6 The President.

The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Company and shall have general supervision over the business and operations of the Company, subject to the control of the Board. The President shall execute, in the name of the Company, deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, and other instruments authorized by the Board, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board to some other officer or agent of the Company. In general, the President shall perform all duties incident to the office of President and such other duties as may be assigned by the Board.

SECTION 8.7 The Secretary.

The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board. The Secretary shall record all votes of the Board and the minutes of the meetings of the Board in a book or books to be kept for that purpose. The Secretary shall see that the required notices of meetings of the Board are given and that all records and reports are properly kept and filed by the Company. The Secretary shall be the custodian of the Seal of the Company and shall see that it is affixed to all documents to be executed on behalf of the Company under its Seal. In general, the Secretary shall perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as may be assigned by the Board or the President.

SECTION 8.8 The Treasurer.

The Treasurer shall have custody of corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company. The Treasurer shall have full authority to receive and give receipts for all money due and payable to the Company, and to endorse checks, drafts, and warrants in its name and on its behalf and to give full discharge for the same. The Treasurer shall deposit all funds of the Company, except such as may be required for the current use, in such banks or other places of deposit as the Board may designate. In general, the Treasurer shall perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as may be assigned by the Board or the President.

ARTICLE 9 – ADVISORY BOARD

SECTION 9.1 Advisory Board.

The Board may appoint an Advisory Board to counsel the Board with respect to matters relating to the details of the Festival, development of instructional materials, policies of the Company, publication of ancillary materials, and any other matters as may be determined by the Board.

SECTION 9.2 Election and Term of Office.

The members of the Advisory Board shall be elected by the Board at any meeting of the Board and each shall serve at the pleasure of the Board.

The members of the Advisory Board, once so recognized, may vote to add and remove Advisory Board members by consensus vote.

SECTION 9.3 Removal of Members of the Advisory Board.

Any member of the Advisory Board may be removed from office without assigning any cause, by a consensus vote of the Board at any meeting of the Board.

SECTION 9.4 Resignations.

Any member of the Advisory Board may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Company. The resignation shall be effective upon receipt by the Company or at such subsequent time as may be specified in the notice of resignation.

ARTICLE 10 – NOTICE

SECTION 10.1 Written Notice.

Whenever written notice is required to be given to any person, it may be given to such person, either personally or by sending a copy thereof by first class or express mail, postage prepaid, or by telegram (with messenger service specified), Telex, or TWX (with answer back received), or courier service, charges prepaid, or by facsimile transmission, to his or her address (or to his or her Telex, TWX, or facsimile number) appearing on the book of the Company or, in the case of Directors, supplied to him or the Company for the purpose of notice. If the notice sent by mail, telegraph, or courier service, it shall be deemed to have been given to the person entitled thereto when deposited in the United States mail, or with a telegraph office or courier service for delivery to that person or, in the case of Telex or TWX, when dispatched. A notice of meeting shall specify the place, day, and hour of meeting and any other information required by the Act. Except as otherwise provided by the Act or these Bylaws, when a meeting is adjourned, it shall not be necessary to give any notice of the adjourned meeting, or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting, other than by announcement at the meeting at which such adjournment is taken.

SECTION 10.2 Waiver by Writing.

Whenever any written notice is required to be given, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to the notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of notice. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, a meeting need be specified in the waiver of notice of the meeting.

SECTION 10.3 Waiver by Attendance.

Attendance of a Director at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except where a Director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting was not lawfully called or convened.

ARTICLE 11 – CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

SECTION 11.1 Interested Directors and Officers.

A contract or transaction between the Company and one or more of its Directors or officers or between the Company and any other Company, partnership, association, or other organization in which one or more of its Directors or officers are directors or officers, or have a financial interest, shall not be void or voidable solely for such reason, or solely because the Director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because his, her, or their votes are counted for that purpose, if:

  1. the material facts as to the relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board and the Board in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested Directors; or
  2. the contract or transaction is fair as to the Company as of the time that it is authorized, approved, or ratified by the Board.

Common or interested Directors may be counted in determining the presence of a majority at a meeting of the Board which authorizes the contract or transaction.

ARTICLE 12 – INDEMNIFICATION

SECTION 12.1 Indemnification.

The Company shall indemnify any Director or officer of the Company and who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any proceeding (which shall include for the purposes of this Article any threatened, pending, or completed action, or other proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Company) by reason of the fact that such person was or is an authorized representative of the Company against expenses (which shall include for purposes of this Article attorney’s fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful.

SECTION 12.2 Advancement of Expenses.

The Company shall pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) actually and reasonably incurred in defending a proceeding on behalf of any person entitled to indemnification under Section 12.1 in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized in this Article. The financial ability to make such repayment shall not be prerequisite to the making of an advance.

SECTION 12.3 Security for Indemnification Obligations.

To further effect, satisfy, or secure the indemnification obligations provided herein or otherwise, the Company may maintain insurance, obtain a letter of credit, act as self-insurer, create a reserve, trust, escrow, cash collateral, or other fund or account, enter into indemnification agreements, pledge or grant a security interest in any assets or properties of the Company, or use any other mechanism or arrangement whatsoever in such amounts, at such costs, and upon other terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate.

SECTION 12.4 Reliance Upon Provisions.

Each person who shall act as a Director or officer of the Company shall be deemed to be doing so in reliance upon the rights of indemnification provided by this Article.

SECTION 12.5 Amendment or Repeal.

All rights of indemnification under this Article shall be deemed a contract between the Company and the person entitled to indemnification under this Article pursuant to which the Company and each such person intend to be legally bound. Any repeal, amendment, or modification hereof shall be prospective only and shall not limit, but may expand, any rights or obligations in respect of any proceeding whether commenced prior to or after such change to the extent such proceeding pertains to actions or failures to act occurring prior to such change.

SECTION 12.6 Scope of Article.

The indemnification, as authorized by this Article, shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any statue, agreement, consensus vote of disinterested Directors or otherwise, both as to action in an official capacity and as to action in any other capacity while holding such office. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Director or an officer of the Company in respect of the proceedings pertaining to actions or failures to act occurring prior to such time, and shall inure to the benefits of the heirs, executors, and administrators of such person.

ARTICLE 13 – ANNUAL REPORT

SECTION 13.1 Annual Report.

The President and Treasurer shall present the Board at its annual meeting a report, verified by the President and Treasurer and by the consensus of the Board, showing in appropriate detail the following:

  1. The assets and liabilities, including trust funds, of the Company as of the end of the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of the report.
  2. The principal changes in assets and liabilities, including trust funds, during the year immediately preceding the date of the report.
  3. The revenue or receipts of the Company, both unrestricted and restricted to particular purposes, for the year immediately preceding the date of the report, including separate data with respect to each trust fund held by or for the Company.
  4. The expenses or disbursements of the Company, for both general and restricted purposes, during the year immediately preceding the date of the report, including separate data with respect to each trust fund held by or for the Company.

The annual report of the Board shall be filed with the minutes of the annual meetings of the Board.

ARTICLE 14 – TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS

SECTION 14.1 Real Property.

The Company shall make no purchase of real property nor sell, mortgage, lease away, or otherwise dispose of its real property, unless authorized by the consensus vote of the Board. If the real property is subject to a trust, the conveyance away shall be free of trust and the trust shall be impinged upon the proceeds of such conveyance.

SECTION 14.2 Negotiable Instruments.

All checks or demands for money and notes of the Company shall be signed by such officer or officers as the Board may designate.

ARTICLE 15 – CORPORATE RECORDS

SECTION 15.1 Corporate Records.

The Company shall keep at its registered office or at its principal place of business (a) an original or duplicate record of the proceedings of the Board, (b) the original or a copy of its Bylaws, including all amendments thereto to date, and (c) appropriate, complete, and accurate books or records of account.

ARTICLE 16 – AMENDMENTS

SECTION 16.1 Amendments.

The Bylaws of the Company may be amended by a consensus vote of the Board at any meeting after notice pursuant to Section 10.1 of such purpose has been given.

ARTICLE 17 – MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 17.1 Fiscal Year.

The fiscal year of the Company shall begin on the first day of January and end on the last day of December.

SECTION 17.2 Number.

The singular when used in these Bylaws shall also refer to the plural, and vice versa, as appropriate.

SECTION 17.3 Sex.

Gender designation, when used in these Bylaws, shall refer to all sexes as appropriate.

SECTION 17.4 Headings.

In interpreting these Bylaws, the headings of articles shall not be controlling.