The name of this Association shall be the South Carolina Court Reporters Association.

The purposes of this Association shall be: 

1. To assume responsibility for leadership and enlightenment of the end users of verbatim reporting of proceedings and of the people in the state regarding the special competency, importance, and value of the court reporting system. 

2. To assume responsibility to protect the public and judicial process by advancement, promotion, and protection of the court reporting system in South Carolina.

3. To educate consumers of verbatim reporting regarding the special competency, importance and value of verbatim voice and steno writers over alternate reporting methods.

4. To promote a broader understanding and acceptance of the qualified court reporter as indispensable to the judicial system of South Carolina. 

5. To encourage, establish, and maintain high standards of professional education, competence, and performance. 

6. To promote and encourage the exchange of professional knowledge.

7. To stimulate and encourage the adoption of training and educational facilities and programs for personnel in the field of court reporting in South Carolina. 

8. To promote, develop and support training and educational opportunities in the field of court reporting in South Carolina. 

9. To cooperate with state and local governments, and their agencies and other organized groups for the benefit of the public and for the recognition of the court reporting profession. 

10. To conduct educational seminars and conferences. 

11. To disseminate, by all appropriate means, accurate knowledge and information with respect to the court reporting profession and system.

12. To advance the interests and general welfare of the court reporting profession. 

13. To foster professional and social contacts among its members. 

14.  To promote harmony and a spirit of mutual assistance between the profession of court reporting and end users of court reporting services.

15. To do any and all things that are lawful and appropriate in the furtherance of these purposes.

Membership in the Association shall be open to individuals who subscribe to and support the purposes of the Association. 

SECTION 1: Classes of Members 

The membership shall consist of the following classes: 

A. Professional Members

B. Associate Members 

C. Retired Members

D. Student Members

SECTION 2: Professional Members 

Any person who meets one or more of the following requirements shall be eligible to become a Professional Member: 

1. Any resident of South Carolina who is an official court or legislative court reporter in South Carolina.

2. Any resident of South Carolina who is employed as a court reporter in South Carolina.

C.   Any resident of South Carolina who is a participating or professional member of the National Court Reporters Association or the National Verbatim Reporters Association. 

D.   Any resident of South Carolina who is the holder of a certified court reporter certificate mandated by state or federal law.

E. Any resident of South Carolina who is employed as a CART provider or captioner.

SECTION 3: Associate Members

1. A teacher of court reporting methodology or anyone connected in an official capacity with a school or college conducting a court reporting course may become an Associate Member. 

2. Videographers, scopists, proofreaders, interpreters, and providers of support services to members of the court reporting profession may become Associate Members.

3. A court reporter residing outside of South Carolina may become an Associate Member.

SECTION 4:  Retired Members

1.  A retired court reporter, CART provider or captioner may become a Retired Member.

SECTION 5:  Student Members

1. A student currently enrolled in a recognized court reporting program or participating in a formal internship may become a Student Member.

SECTION 6: Privileges

A. All classes of members shall enjoy the privileges of the Association except where certain privileges are specifically restricted to a specific class of members in the Bylaws. 

B. Only Professional Members shall be eligible to vote. 

C. Only Professional Members shall be eligible to hold an elected office.

D. Any member may hold a committee position.

SECTION 1: Annual Dues

1. The annual dues shall not be more than seventy-five dollars ($75) for Professional Members. 

2. The annual dues shall not be more than fifty dollars ($50) for Associate and Retired Members.

3. The annual dues for Student Members are complimentary for the duration of their enrollment in a recognized court reporting program and/or formal internship program.

4. Annual dues amounts shall be fixed annually by the Executive Board.

5. The annual dues are due and payable on the 1st day of April of each year.

SECTION 2: Other Charges

Charges for meetings, activities, and materials shall be determined by the Executive Board.

SECTION 1: Governing Board

1. The Executive Board shall be the governing board of the Association and shall consist of both stenotype reporters and voice writers. 

2. The Executive Board shall establish policies and procedures and administer all affairs and activities of the Association. 

3.  The Executive Board shall consist of all the elected officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and immediate Past President, as elected.

SECTION 2: Executive Board Meetings

A. The Executive Board shall hold a minimum of two meetings annually at such time and place as the Executive Board may determine.  Meetings may be held remotely.  Additional meetings of the Executive Board may be called by any member of the Executive Board, provided that a written notice/electronic notice is sent to each member of the Executive Board at least ten days prior to the meeting. 

B. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the full voting membership of the Executive Board. 

C. The President shall serve as Chairperson of the Executive Board. In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall act as Chairperson.  If both are absent, the Treasurer shall preside.

SECTION 1: Titles

The elected officers of the Association shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and two Directors.

SECTION 2: Election and Term of Office

1. Selected officers of the Association, excluding the Treasurer, shall be elected each year by the membership at the annual meeting of the Association for a term of two years.  The term of each elected officer shall begin at the close of the annual meeting at which he/she was elected and sworn in.  

2. The Treasurer may serve at the discretion of the Board or until such time the Treasurer wishes to resign.

3. No elected officer shall serve for more than two consecutive full terms in the same office. 

4. If there is more than one nominee for an office, the nominee receiving the highest number of votes cast shall be elected.

5. The Executive Board may establish mail-in or electronic voting with notice of such voting to be sent to Professional Members no less than 30 days prior to such vote by First Class Mail and electronic mail.  

SECTION 3: Nominations

A.   Nominations for all officers shall be made at the annual meeting of the Association each year. 

B.   Nominees shall be presented to the membership via electronic notification no less than 14 days prior to the annual meeting. 

C.   Nominations from the floor may be made by Professional Members at the annual meeting. 

SECTION 4: Vacancies

Vacancies occurring in any of the offices shall be filled by the Executive Board.

SECTION 5: Duties of Officers

A. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Association and to perform all duties incident to the office of the President and such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Executive Board. 

B. It shall be the duty of the Vice President to perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President or in the event of their inability or refusal to act. The Vice President, when thus acting, shall have the powers of and be subject to all restrictions placed upon the President. The Vice President shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the President or the Executive Board. 

C. The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities and financial records of the Association and, in general, shall perform all duties incident to the office of the Treasurer and other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the President or Executive Board. 

D. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the Association and of the Executive Board; shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of the Bylaws, or as required by the law; shall be custodian of the records of the Association; shall maintain a member directory; and in general, shall perform all duties of the office of Secretary and other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the President or the Executive Board.

SECTION 1: Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of the Association shall be held at such time and place as the Executive Board    

shall determine. Notice of said meeting shall be given to all members not less than 30 days prior to the date thereof.   

SECTION 2: Special Meetings

Special meetings of the Association may be called by the Executive Board at any time or upon receipt of written request by one-third of the voting members of the Association, giving the reasons for the special meeting. At such special meeting no business shall be transacted except as specified in a notice to members. Written notice via First Class Mail and electronic mail of such meeting shall be given to all members not less than 30 days prior to the date thereof.

SECTION 1:   In-Person Voting.

At any meeting of the Association, Professional members shall have the right to vote, which vote shall be cast in person only. Voting by proxy shall not be permitted.

SECTION 2:  Mail-In or Electronic Voting.

In the event the Executive Board determines a mail-in vote shall be undertaken, such ballot shall be mailed by First Class Mail and emailed to each current Professional Member.  The period of voting shall be limited to no less than 30 days.  A simple majority of all votes received shall constitute a valid vote.  

SECTION 3: Quorum of Members

1. Upon the convening of any annual meeting or special meeting of members, a quorum shall consist of ten percent of the voting members present in person. 

2. In the event the Executive Board determines a mail-in vote shall be undertaken, such ballot shall be mailed by First Class Mail and emailed to each current Professional Member.  The period of voting shall be limited to no less than 30 days.  A simple majority of all votes received shall constitute a valid vote.

Committees shall be appointed annually by the President with the approval of the Executive Board.

SECTION 1: Fiscal and Membership Year

The fiscal and membership year shall be fixed by the Executive Board.

SECTION 2: Funds and Securities

The Treasurer shall invest and manage the funds and securities of the Association within policies established by the Executive Board.

SECTION 3: Bonding

The President, Treasurer, and any other person entrusted with the handling of funds and property of the Association shall furnish, at the expense of the Association, a fidelity bond approved by the Executive Board in such sum as the Executive Board shall prescribe.

SECTION 4: Contract, Letters of Intent

1. All contracts, releases, agreements, letters of intent or commitment made in the name of or on behalf of the Association shall be submitted to the Executive Board for appropriate review and signature by duly authorized person or persons. 

2. No contract shall be made which will bind the Association for amounts in excess of those provided in the current budget for that purpose, unless approved by the Executive Board.

SECTION 5: Non-Compensation

No voting member of the Executive Board shall receive compensation for services rendered to or on behalf of the Association.

1. Nothing herein shall constitute members of this Association as partners for any purpose. No member, officer, director, agent, or employee of the Association shall be liable for the acts or failures to act on the part of any other member, officer, director, agent, or employee of the Association, nor shall any member, officer director, agent, or employee be liable for their act or failure to act under the Constitution and Bylaws, except for acts of omissions arising from his willful misfeasance. 

2. If authorized by the Executive Board, the Association may purchase and maintain insurance against liability on behalf of each person who at any time is, or shall have been an officer, employee, or agent of the Association, to the full extent permitted by law, in effect at the time of the adoption of this Constitution and Bylaws, or as changed from time to time.

The Association shall use its funds only to accomplish the purposes specified in the Constitution and Bylaws, and no part of such funds shall inure or be distributed to the members of the Association. On dissolution of the Association the funds remaining shall be distributed to one or more regularly organized or qualified charitable, educational, scientific, or philanthropic organizations to be selected by the Executive Board.

SECTION 1: 

1. Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws shall be proposed in writing to the Executive Board by three or more members of the Executive Board or by a request signed by five or more voting members in good standing. 

2. The Executive Board shall authorize the Secretary to submit proposed amendments in writing to the entire membership at least two weeks prior to a meeting at which the amendments are to be voted upon. If a mail vote is to be solicited, it shall be mailed at least 30 days prior to the date on which the votes are to be counted. A mail ballot shall be mailed first class and not less than 20 percent of all members shall cast a ballot to constitute a valid vote.

SECTION 2: Voting

A simple majority of the members voting shall be required for the adoption of an amendment to the Constitution and Bylaws.

SECTION 1: Interpretation of the Constitution and Bylaws.  The Executive Board shall be the final authority on the interpretation of the Constitution and Bylaws. 

SECTION 2: Rates and Charges

Nothing in any article in the Constitution and Bylaws or any other provision in the Association's procedures or practices shall be construed to require or permit the Association or any of its boards and committees to participate or advice, in any way, formal or informal, in the setting of rates or charges except for rates established by statute or by rules or by order of court.