Purpose

Northwest Government Information Network will promote effective use of publications issued by all levels of government by:

1. Providing an organization for individuals and organizations having an interest in government information;
2. Providing a forum for the exchange of ideas, concerns and problems affecting access to government information;
3. Providing a force for initiating and supporting programs to increase availability, use and access to government information;
4. Contributing to the education and training in the use of government information;
5. Advocating and promoting availability and broad use of government information.

Membership

Anyone interested in government information is welcome to join, Federal or State Depository library status is not a requirement

Dues

There are no dues or fees for membership; contributions may be made to the chair, or their designee by meeting attendees. The chair or their designee will maintain a cash kitty to pay for meeting expenses approved by the Board.

Communication

The organization shall have a publicly accessible online presence that includes a shared repository and an email distribution list maintained by all the Elected Officers. The repository will contain the Bylaws and other official information of the organization; it will contain the news of the organization; the distribution list will be the official means of communication for the organization.

Officers

The officers shall be the Board of the Organization. The officers, and their terms, and duties, shall be:

• Chair, one year, shall be the chief administrative officer, and preside over meetings of the steering committee and membership;
• Chair-Elect, one year, shall serve as program coordinator, and perform duties as the Chair assigns;
• Past Chair, one year, shall act as advisor to the Steering committee, and perform duties as assigned by the Chair;
• Secretary, two years, shall be the recording and corresponding officer and record keeper of the organization;

Elections of officers will occur in the Spring; generally during the Spring meeting.

Steering Committee

The officers shall constitute the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee shall supervise the affairs of the organization between business meetings, establish the date and place of meetings, speak for the organization on relevant policy issues, and perform other duties as specified elsewhere in the Bylaws.

Meetings

There will be at least two meetings per year, in the Spring and in the Fall. The Spring meeting will alternate between the Eastside of the Cascades and the Westside of the Cascades. The Fall meeting will be a virtual meeting.

Amendment of Bylaws

These Bylaws can be amended at any business meeting of the organization by a two-thirds vote of those members present, provided that the amendment has been submitted to the membership at least four weeks prior to the meeting.

Amendments may be proposed by any member of the organization.

Approved 2019-05-06 at NGIN Spring 2019 meeting in Spokane