Bylaws of the ISC2 Chapter
Chicago
Amended and Restructured: July 2026
Article I. Name
The name of this non-profit organization shall be the ISC2 Chapter Chicago
(hereinafter referred to as the “Chapter”), a local chapter affiliated with the
International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium, Inc.
(hereinafter referred to as the “Association” or “(ISC)Ç”). The Chapter is an
independent entity apart from its affiliation with the Association.
Article II. Mission Statement
The mission of the Chapter is to advance the local information security community
by providing its members with opportunities to increase knowledge, grow
professional networks, share information, and advance the profession as a whole
by promoting certification, ethical behavior, and social responsibility.
Article III. Membership and Dues
Section 1. Classification and Qualification
1. Constituent Members: Individuals who hold an active (ISC)Ç certification in
good standing. Only Constituent Members are entitled to vote in chapter
elections, hold Board Officer positions, or chair committees.
2. Associate Members: Individuals interested in information security who do
not currently hold an active (ISC)Ç certification. Associate Members are
encouraged to attend meetings and participate in chapter events, but they
are not eligible to vote or hold office.
Section 2. Admission
To be admitted as a member of the Chapter, an individual must:
1. Meet the classification requirements outlined in Section 1.
2. Complete the Chapter membership application.
3. Pay the required annual Chapter dues.
4. Adhere to the Code of Professional Ethics of the Association.
Section 3. Dues and Standing
1. Annual Chapter dues shall be determined by the Chapter Board.
2. A member whose dues are in arrears for more than sixty (60) days shall
forfeit membership.
Article IV. Chapter Meetings and Voting
Section 1. Meetings
1. Regular Meetings: The Chapter shall hold at least three (3) general
membership meetings or activities per calendar year.
2. Annual Meeting: The Chapter shall hold an Annual Meeting of members,
which may count toward the minimum meeting requirement, for the
purpose of presenting the annual report, announcing election results, and
installing newly elected officers.
3. Special Meetings: Special Meetings of the membership may be called by
the President or by any two (2) Board Officers.
4. Notice: Members shall be notified of any meeting not less than fourteen
(14) days in advance.
Section 2. Voting and Turnout Requirements
1. Voting Method: Voting for elections, bylaws amendments, or other
member decisions may be conducted in-person, virtually, or via a secure
online voting platform (e.g., ElectionBuddy) as approved by the Board.
2. Meeting Quorum: No physical or virtual meeting attendance quorum is
required for general chapter meetings or votes.
3. Election Turnout Quorum: For any election of Board Officers or
amendment to these Bylaws to be valid, a minimum of five percent (5%) of
all active Constituent Members must return a ballot.
4. Decisions: Unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws, decisions shall be
determined by a simple majority of the votes cast.
Article V. Chapter Officers
Section 1. Constitutional Officers
The elected Board Officers of the Chapter shall be five (5) in number:
1. President
2. Vice President
3. Treasurer
4. Secretary
5. Membership Chair
Section 2. Qualifications
All Chapter Officers must meet the following criteria:
1. Be an active Constituent Member of the Chapter and the Association in
good standing.
2. Maintain an active (ISC)Ç credential.
3. Have no commercial conflicts of interest that compromise chapter
operations.
4. Have no prior convictions of criminal activity or misconduct involving
dishonesty.
5. Not concurrently serve as an officer of another chapter organization.
Section 3. Term of Office
1. Officers are elected for a term of two (2) years.
2. The standard term of office begins on January 1st following the election.
3. Exception for Vacant Positions: If a Board position is vacant at the time of
the election, the newly elected officer shall take office immediately upon
the certification of the election results.
4. No officer may serve more than one (1) consecutive full term in the same
position, unless no other qualified candidate stands for election, in which
case the Board may approve a waiver by a majority vote.
Section 4. Duties of Officers
1. President: Serves as the chief executive officer. Presides over Board and
member meetings, oversees chapter strategy, serves as primary liaison to
the Association, and signs contracts approved by the Board.
2. Vice President: Supports the President, performs presidential duties in the
President’s absence, and coordinates special chapter initiatives.
3. Treasurer: Financial steward of the Chapter. Manages bank accounts,
prepares the annual budget, handles tax and regulatory filings, and
provides financial reports to the Board.
4. Secretary: Official record keeper. Records and distributes Board minutes,
maintains state corporate filings, manages official correspondence, and
oversees chapter document archives.
5. Membership Chair: Manages member relations. Maintains active member
directories, processes new applications, verifies (ISC)Ç credentials, and
leads member onboarding/retention initiatives.
Section 5. Committee Chair Assignments
To ensure operational flexibility, the Board of Directors is authorized to assign and
reassign specific Committee Chair responsibilities (such as Events, Outreach,
Mentorship, or Social Media & Sponsorship) among the elected officers or
volunteer members at any time by a majority vote of the Board.
Section 6. Vacancies
In the event of an officer vacancy, the Board of Directors may appoint a qualified
Constituent Member to fill the position and complete the remaining term until the
next scheduled election cycle.
Section 7. Removal of Officers
An officer may be removed for cause (e.g., neglect of duty, ethical breach) by a
three-fourths (3/4) vote of the remaining Board members, or by a majority vote of
the membership.
Article VI. Chapter Board
Section 1. Composition
The Chapter Board (Board of Directors) shall consist of the five (5) elected Chapter
Officers.
Section 2. Authority and Meetings
1. The Board shall act as the governing body of the Chapter and supervise its
business affairs.
2. The Board shall meet at least four (4) times per calendar year.
3. Board meetings may be held in-person or electronically. A quorum for
Board meetings consists of a majority of the officers currently in office.
Section 3. Financial Controls
1. The Board must approve the annual budget before the start of the fiscal
year.
2. The President or Treasurer may individually authorize expenditures up to
two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) for budgeted operations.
3. Expenditures exceeding three hundred dollars ($300) require
majority Board approval.
4. All contracts and non-budgeted expenditures exceeding one thousand
dollars ($1,000) must be approved by the Board and signed by the
President.
Article VII. Nominations and Elections
Section 1. Nominating Committee
The Board shall appoint a Nominating Committee of at least two (2) chapter
members in June prior to the election. Nominating Committee members must not
be standing for office in the upcoming election.
Section 2. Timeline and Submissions
1. Call for Nominations: Issued in July. All nominations must be submitted by
August 31st.
2. Application Requirements: Candidates must submit their name, target
position, resume, a brief bio, and consent to serve.
3. Campaign Material: Candidates are encouraged to submit up to three (3)
slides or a brief (under 2 minutes) video presentation outlining their
platform.
4. Elections: Held in September. Candidates are given up to three (3) minutes
to present their platform at the September meeting. Secure voting opens
immediately following the meeting.
Article VIII. Committees
1. The Board may establish Standing Committees (such as Events, Outreach,
Mentorship, and Social Media & Sponsorship) and Special Committees to
assist in operations.
2. Committees shall consist of chapter volunteers.
3. Committee Chairs shall coordinate the work of their respective committees
and report regularly to the Board.
Article IX. Indemnification
The Chapter shall indemnify its officers, directors, and volunteers against expenses
and liabilities reasonably incurred in connection with the defense of any legal
action brought against them by reason of their service, except in cases of willful
misconduct or gross negligence.
Article X. Conflict of Interest
Any Board member or committee chair who has a personal or commercial conflict
of interest regarding an issue or transaction before the Board must disclose the
conflict in writing and recuse themselves from discussing and voting on the matter.
Article XI. Dissolution
The Chapter may be dissolved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership. Upon
dissolution, all remaining assets, after paying outstanding debts, shall be
distributed to a designated non-profit project, educational institution, or charity
supporting cybersecurity, subject to approval by the Association.
Article XII. Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the current edition of *Robert’s Rules of Order Newly
Revised* shall govern the Chapter in all cases to which they are applicable and in
which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws or special rules of order.
Article XIII. Amendments to Bylaws
These Bylaws may be amended by the following process:
1. Approval of the proposed amendment by a majority of the Chapter Board.
2. Submission of the amendment to the Association for compliance review.
3. Distribution of the approved amendment text to the membership at least
ten (10) days prior to voting.
4. Approval by a majority of the member votes cast, provided the 5% turnout
threshold is met.