Asfona
Hotels & Resorts
Association of Franchisees & Owners – North America
 

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Article IV — Directors

Section 1. Powers and Responsibilities. The property and affairs of ASFONA shall be managed and directed by the President & CEO together with the Board of Directors, who may exercise all reasonable powers and do all acts and things not prohibited by law, the Articles of Incorporation or these By-laws.

Section 2. Number and Term. The Board shall consist of not more than 20 voting directors (the “Directors”). Each Director shall serve a two year term which may be extended for a period determined at the recommendation of the President to the Board which may be without term limit unless otherwise directed by the majority of the Board. Those members of the Board elected as Executive Committee officers shall at the recommendation of the President and unless otherwise directed by the majority of the Board, automatically have their two year terms extended to accommodate the term of the office to which they have been elected.

Section 3. Eligibility of Directors. The following individuals associated with Starwood's Legacy branded (Legacy) hotels or any major International Hotel Company brands are eligible to serve as Directors: (i) an Owner or Franchisee (or, if they are entities, a partner or principal officer of an Owner or Franchisee) or (ii) a principal officer of a company that manages a Legacy Hotel or major International Hotel company branded hotels. However, Directors may not be directly or indirectly employed by or under the control of a major International Hotel Company, Franchisor or its affiliates. If a Director ceases to be affiliated with major International Hotel Company branded hotel (e.g., due to a job change or change of management company) the Director may remain on the Board with the consent of the ASFONA President and Board. Memberships on the Board shall be individual to the persons elected thereto and no Director shall have any power of substitution for himself/herself, or of delegation of his/her authority, with respect to membership on the Board. Directors shall serve until the expiration of term as directed by the President and the Board and the due election of their successors, unless they resign, die, become incapacitated, or are otherwise removed from office.

Section 4. Nominations and Elections.

(a) Nominations. The Executive Committee is responsible for submitting to the Board a list of nominees for vacant Board positions. The Executive Committee will investigate and seek out eligible candidates. Each Board member and each Regular Member may submit qualified candidates to the Executive Committee for consideration at any time during the fiscal year. The President and Executive Committee will determine who, in the Executive Committee’s best judgment, will best serve and will select a single nominee for each vacant position. Nominees may include current Board members seeking reelection. The President in conjunction with the Executive Committee may, in its sole discretion, reject any candidate that is not at that time in good standing with any of the major International Hotel companies for any reason whatsoever. The Executive Committee will secure each nominee’s consent to serve for the various offices if nominated. The Executive Committee will submit to the Board one qualified candidate for each vacant position with the recommendation that the candidates be elected to the Board in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in these By-laws.

(b) Elections. The Board shall conduct a separate vote for each candidate nominated by the Executive Committee. If a majority of the Board votes in favor of a candidate, the candidate shall become a Director. If a majority of the Board fails to elect a certain candidate, the Executive Committee shall solicit an alternative candidate. The Executive Committee will review the proposed nominees and present to the Board a single candidate for each vacant position. If the Board fails to elect the new candidate, the Executive Committee may present alternative nominees to the Board until the majority of the Board votes in favor of a particular candidate.

Section 5. Removal. Any Director may be removed for any reason, with or without cause by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of all the Directors present at any meeting of the Board.

Section 6. Attendance Requirement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Director is absent from either (i) two regular Board meetings (other than special meetings) during a single fiscal year or (ii) the majority of special Board meetings or conference calls during a single fiscal year, their office may thereupon be declared vacant subject to the recommendation of the President to the Board and then by a vote of a majority of the Board. Exception:- By advance notification to the President, a Director who is for reasons beyond his/her control unable to attend a meeting in person, may designate an alternative to act as his/her representative. The designated representative must be a senior management level executive from the Directors organization. The designated representative may provide input but is not eligible to vote on any matter discussed by the Board upon which agreement and a vote is required, nor does his/her presence meet the requirements of a quorum. Other than exceptional circumstances, as determined by the President, a designated representative may only represent a Director at two in four consecutive Board Meetings.

Section 7. Resignation of Director. Any Director may at any time resign as a Director by giving written notice of resignation to the ASFONA President. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if no time is specified, at the time of receipt thereof. No action by the Board shall be necessary to cause a resignation to be effective.

Section 8. Selection of Replacement Director. Any vacancy on the Board for an unexpired term shall be filled by an appointment selected by a majority vote of the Executive Committee that is subsequently approved by a majority of the Board.

Section 9. Board Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board shall be held in person at least two times each year at the time and place proposed by the President and guided by budget and time constraints. Regular meetings of the Board may not be held by web cast or teleconference. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President, either on his or her own request or upon petition or vote by a majority of the Executive Committee or a majority of the Directors then in office. Special meetings may be held via web cast, via dial-in teleconference, or in person at a time and place proposed by the President and agreed to by the majority of the Executive Committee. Only business related to the purposes set forth in the notice of the meeting may be transacted at a special meeting. The President or his/her designee must be present at all Board meetings.

Section 10. Notice of Board Meetings. Written notice of the time and place of both regular and special meetings shall be given to each Director either by personal delivery, by mail, by e-mail or by facsimile transmission at least three days before the meeting. Such notice shall be deemed to have been duly served or given three days after being deposited, first class postage prepaid, in the United States mail, or upon receipt if delivered personally or sent via facsimile transmission or by e-mail. Such notice shall state a reasonable time, date and place of meeting, but the purpose need not be stated therein unless the notice is for a special Board meeting. Notice need not be given to any Director who signs a waiver of notice either before or after the meeting. Attendance of a Director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting and waiver of all objections to the place and time of the meeting, or the manner in which it has been called or convened, except when the Director states, at the beginning of the meeting, any such objection or objections to the transaction of business. Notwithstanding the foregoing, notice shall be given to any Director from Canada solely by facsimile transmission or by e-mail, in either case if he/she so requests in writing.

Section 11. Quorum. At all meetings of the Board, a majority of the Directors in office at that time shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board. The vote of a majority of the Directors present and voting shall constitute the action of the Board if there is a quorum present. In the absence of a quorum, a majority of the Directors present may (i) adjourn any meeting from time to time until a quorum is present or (ii) accept a Director phoning in to the meeting to cast a vote, provided that the number of Directors phoning in to the meeting are sufficient to achieve a quorum.

Section 12. Attendance by Teleconference. Unless the Articles of Incorporation or these By-laws otherwise provide, individual Directors or any committee designated by the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board or committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment whereby all persons participating in the meeting can simultaneously hear each other. Participation in the meeting shall constitute presence in person.

Section 13. Consent of Directors. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or any committee, as the case may be, may be taken without a meeting if all members thereof consent to such action in writing, setting forth the action so taken, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board or the committee, as the case may be. Such consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the Board or of the committee, as the case may be.

Section 14. Compensation of Directors. Except as otherwise expressly authorized by the Board, all Directors (with the exception of the President) shall serve without compensation for their services as Directors, but may be reimbursed for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in carrying out the business of ASFONA, all such sums to be approved by the President. The Board is authorized to pay, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, a reasonable salary and other amounts to any person who serves as President and Chief Executive Officer or Executive Director or as an administrator for the Association, even if a Director, for services rendered to ASFONA.

Section 15. Honorary Directors. The Board may elect two former Board members to serve as “Honorary Directors.” Honorary Directors may attend and participate in all Board meetings. However, Honorary Directors shall not have the right to vote in any Board matter or be included in the determination of whether a quorum of the Board is present. Honorary Directors shall serve one-year terms, but may at the request of the President serve for an unlimited number of terms as considered appropriate by the President. The other rights and privileges of any Honorary Director shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion, and may be revoked or modified at any time by the Board.

Section 16. Honorary Directors. The Board may invite Honorary Directors to attend certain portions of the Board’s regular meetings held throughout the year. Honorary Directors will join the meetings at a time that the subject matter as determined by the Board and the meeting agenda relates to business matters associated with their membership or to which their expert contribution is considered pertinent to the Board. Honorary Directors shall not have the right to vote in any Board matter or be included in the determination of whether a quorum of the Board is present. The other rights and privileges of any Honorary Director shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion, and may be revoked or modified at any time by the Board.

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