IWA Bylaws and Governance Framework

Article I: Name and Purpose

The name of this organization shall be the International Webcasting Association (IWA). The purpose of the association is to advance professional webcasting through the development of industry standards, comprehensive education programs, globally recognized certifications, and collaboration among webcasting professionals worldwide.

IWA operates as a nonprofit professional association organized for educational and charitable purposes. The association serves the global community of webcasting professionals including producers, engineers, technology vendors, and organizations that deploy streaming solutions for communication with audiences worldwide.

Article II: Membership

Section 1: Categories

Membership in IWA is available in multiple categories designed to serve the diverse needs of webcasting professionals and organizations. Individual membership is available to persons engaged in or interested in professional webcasting. Corporate membership provides benefits for organizations deploying webcasting solutions. Educational institution membership serves academic programs in media and communications. Media partner membership is available to content producers and distributors.

Section 2: Rights and Privileges

All members in good standing shall be entitled to receive member benefits including access to the standards library, educational resources, member directory listing, and discounted event registration. Individual members are entitled to vote in board elections and on matters submitted to the membership.

Section 3: Dues and Renewal

Membership dues shall be established by the Board of Directors and published on the association website. Members may renew membership annually. Members whose dues become more than sixty days past due shall be considered not in good standing and may have benefits suspended until dues are current.

Article III: Board of Directors

Section 1: Composition

The Board of Directors shall consist of not fewer than seven and not more than fifteen directors elected by the membership. Directors serve three-year terms and may be re-elected for up to two consecutive terms. The board is led by officers including Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer as described in the leadership board structure.

Section 2: Responsibilities

The Board of Directors provides strategic oversight for the association, approves annual budgets, establishes policies, and ensures alignment with the organizational mission. The board appoints the Executive Director and oversees executive performance. Directors must act in the best interests of the association and comply with the code of ethics.

Section 3: Meetings

The Board of Directors shall meet at least quarterly. Special meetings may be called by the Chair or by petition of a majority of directors. A majority of directors constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. Directors may participate in meetings via electronic means that allow all participants to communicate simultaneously.

Article IV: Officers

The officers of the association shall be the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. Officers are elected by the Board of Directors from among its members and serve one-year terms. Officers may be re-elected without term limits. The duties of officers include those traditionally associated with such offices and as further specified in the association's policies and procedures.

Article V: Committees

The Board of Directors may establish standing and special committees to advance the work of the association. Standing committees include the Standards Committee, Education Committee, Nominations Committee, and Ethics Committee. Committee chairs are appointed by the Board Chair with board approval. Committee membership is open to association members based on qualifications and interest.

Article VI: Elections

Elections for the Board of Directors shall be held annually. The Nominations Committee presents a slate of candidates at least sixty days before the election. Additional candidates may be nominated by petition signed by at least fifty members in good standing. Elections are conducted electronically with one vote per individual member. Directors are elected by plurality vote.

Article VII: Standards Development

The development and maintenance of webcasting standards is a core function of the association. Standards development follows an open, consensus-based process managed by the Standards Committee and working groups. All members may participate in standards development. Published standards represent the collective expertise of the webcasting community and are updated regularly to reflect evolving technology and practices.

Article VIII: Amendments

These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors, provided that proposed amendments have been distributed to all directors at least thirty days before the vote. Amendments that substantially affect member rights must also be approved by a majority vote of the membership before taking effect.

Article IX: Dissolution

In the event of dissolution, the assets of the association shall be distributed to one or more nonprofit organizations with purposes consistent with the advancement of professional communications technology, as determined by the Board of Directors consistent with applicable law.