National Catholic Forester

Summer 2017 — www.ncsf.com 31 NEW NCSF BYLAWS has expired. This Article does not apply to action brought by the Society, including, but not limited to, actions for declaratory judgment, determining proper payees, recovering amounts due, and contesting insurance coverage or membership eligibility. Sec. 8.03 PROCEDURES No lawsuit or any other actions may be brought for any claims or disputes covered by this Article. The following are the steps and procedures for presenting and resolving disputes: A. APPEAL. Appeal of a dispute to a designated reviewer within the Society appropriate to the dispute. B. MEDIATION. If an appeal does not result in a mutually satisfactory resolution, either party has the right to have the matter mediated in accordance with the mediation rules of a neutral dispute resolution organization to which the parties agree, or, in the absence of an agreement, the American Arbitration Association. C. ARBITRATION. If there is still no mutually satisfactory resolution, the matter will be resolved by binding arbitration in accordance with the arbitration rules of a neutral dispute resolution organization to which the parties agree, or, in the absence of an agreement, the American Arbitration Association. The arbitrator(s) may award any actual damages incurred for which there is liability, but may not award attorneys' fees, exemplary, extra-contractual or punitive damages. The decision of the arbitrator(s) is binding and final. Additional procedural rules may be defined in policies established by the Society and made available upon request. If a claim or dispute is subject to law that prohibits parties from agreeing to submit future disputes to binding arbitration, arbitration results shall be non- binding unless both the individual and Society voluntarily agree to binding arbitration after the claim or dispute has arisen. Sec. 8.04 COSTS Fees and expenses of the mediator and/or arbitrator(s) shall be paid out of a dispute resolution fund established by the Society. This does not include attorneys' fees, experts' fees, or discovery costs, which each party shall bear as its own responsibility. Sec. 8.05 JOINDER No claim or dispute may be brought against the Society or its directors, officers, agents, or employees, in a representative capacity, or on behalf of any class of persons or members. Claims of multiple persons may be joined and presented under this Article provided all affected members, certificate owners, and beneficiaries consent in writing, or if the Society determines joinder is appropriate. ARTICLE IX OFFICIAL PUBLICATION Sec. 9.01 The name of the official publication of the Society shall be National Catholic Forester or such other name as the Board of Directors shall determine. It shall be published at regular periodic intervals under the direction and approval of the Board of Directors. The official publication shall be provided to each member in good standing according to the records of the Society. If the records of the Society show that two (2) or more members have the same mailing address, an official publication mailed to one member is deemed to be mailed to all members at the same address unless a member requests a separate copy. Any general notice printed in the publication shall constitute sufficient notice to the membership. ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS Sec. 10.01 RULES OF ORDER The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall guide the Society in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with this Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws or any special rules of order as have been or may be adopted. Sec. 10.02 NOTICE Written notice shall be considered given when deposited in the mail addressed to an officer of a court or a member at the last known address according to the records of the Home Office. Sec 10.03 WAIVER No subordinate body, nor any officer, agent, employee or member shall have the power or authority to waive any of the provisions of the laws of the Society. Such provisions shall be binding on the Society and every member and beneficiary of a member. Sec. 10.04 INTERPRETATION OF BYLAWS If any section of these Bylaws should not be explicit, or in case of uncertainty or dispute as to its intent or meaning, the Board of Directors shall have the power to decide upon such situation; and its decision shall remain in force until such decision or section is duly amended. ARTICLE XI AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS Sec. 11.01 AMENDMENT PROCEDURES The Articles of Incorporation and these Bylaws may be repealed or amended in whole or in part by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of all of the members of the Board of Directors. Sec. 11.02 EFFECTIVE DATE All amendments to the Articles of Incorporation and to the Bylaws shall take effect thirty (30) days after approval by the Illinois Department of Insurance, unless otherwise provided.

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