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EXHIBIT 3(b)(1)
BYLAWS
OF
GENTEX CORPORATION
A MICHIGAN CORPORATION
AS AMENDED AND RESTATED AUGUST 18, 2000
ARTICLE I. OFFICES
SECTION 1. REGISTERED OFFICE. The registered office of the Corporation
shall be as specified in the Articles of Incorporation or such other place as
determined by the Board of Directors if notice thereof is filed with the state
of Michigan. The Corporation shall keep records containing the names and
addresses of all shareholders, the number, class and series of shares held by
each, and the dates when they respectively became holders of record thereof, at
its registered office or at the office of its transfer agent.
SECTION 2. OTHER OFFICES. The business of the Corporation may be
transacted in such locations other than the registered office, within or outside
the state of Michigan, as the Board of Directors may from time to time
determine.
ARTICLE II. CAPITAL STOCK
SECTION 1. STOCK CERTIFICATES. Certificates representing shares of the
capital stock of the Corporation shall be in such form as is approved by the
Board of Directors. Certificates shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board of
Directors, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, President or a Vice
President, and may also be signed by another officer designated by the Board of
Directors, and shall be sealed with the seal of the Corporation, or a facsimile
thereof, if one be adopted. The signatures of the officers may be facsimiles. In
the event an officer who has signed, or whose facsimile signature has been
placed upon, a certificate ceases to be such officer before the certificate is
issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he were
such officer at the date of issue.
SECTION 2. REPLACEMENT OF LOST OR DESTROYED CERTIFICATES. In the event
of the loss or destruction of a stock certificate, no new certificate shall be
issued in place thereof until the Corporation has received from the registered
holder such assurances, representations, warranties and/or guarantees as the
Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, shall deem advisable, and until the
Corporation receives such indemnification protecting it against any claim that
may be made on account of such lost or destroyed certificate, or the issuance of
any new certificate in place thereof, including an indemnity bond in such amount
and with sureties, if any, as the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion,
deems advisable.
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SECTION 3. TRANSFER OF SHARES. Shares of stock of the Corporation shall
be transferable only upon the books of the Corporation. The old certificates
shall be surrendered to the Corporation by delivery thereof to the person in
charge of the stock transfer books of the Corporation, or to such other person
as the Board of Directors may designate, properly endorsed for transfer, and
such certificates shall be canceled before a new certificate is issued. The
Corporation shall be entitled to treat the person in whose name any share, right
or option is registered as the owner thereof for all purposes, and shall not be
bound to recognize any equitable or other claim with respect thereto, regardless
of any notice thereof, except as may be specifically required by the laws of the
state of Michigan.
SECTION 4. RULES GOVERNING STOCK CERTIFICATES. The Board of Directors
shall have the power and authority to make all such rules and regulations as
they may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration of
certificates of stock, and may appoint a transfer agent and a registrar of
transfer, and may require all such certificates to bear the signature of such
transfer agent and of such registrar of transfers.
SECTION 5. RECORD DATE FOR STOCK RIGHTS. The Board of Directors may fix
a date not exceeding sixty (60) days preceding the date of payment of any
dividend, or the date for the allotment of rights, or the date when any change
or conversion or exchange of capital stock shall go into effect, as a record
date for the determination of the shareholders entitled to receive payment of
any such dividends, or any such allotment of rights, or to exercise the rights
with respect to any such change, conversion, or exchange of capital stock;
provided, however, that such date shall not precede the date on which the Board
takes action to establish the record date. Only shareholders of record on the
date so fixed shall be entitled to receive payment of such dividends, or
allotment of rights, or exercise such rights, as the case may be,
notwithstanding any transfer of any stock on the books of the Corporation after
any such record date is fixed.
In the event the Board of Directors shall fail to fix a record date as
provided in this section of these Bylaws, the record date for the purposes
specified herein shall be the close of business on the date on which the
resolution of the Board of Directors relating thereto is adopted.
SECTION 6. DIVIDENDS. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may
from time to time declare and make a distribution to shareholders in respect of
the Corporation's outstanding shares, payable in cash, the Corporation's
indebtedness (but not the Corporation's shares) or the Corporation's other
property, including the shares or indebtedness of other corporations; provided,
however, no such distribution shall be made if, after giving effect to the
distribution, the Corporation would not be able to pay its debts as they become
due in the usual course of business, or the Corporation's total assets would be
less than its total liabilities plus the amount that would be needed if the
Corporation were to be dissolved at the time of the distribution to satisfy the
preferential rights upon dissolution of shareholders whose preferential rights
are superior to those receiving the distribution.
In addition, the Board of Directors, in its discretion, from time to
time may declare and direct the payment of a share dividend of the Corporation's
shares, issued pro rata and without consideration, to the Corporation's
shareholders or to the shareholders of one or more classes or series; provided,
however, shares of one class or series may not be issued as a share dividend in
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respect of shares of another class or series unless the Articles of
Incorporation so authorize, a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the
class or series to be issued approve the issue, or there are no outstanding
shares of the class or series to be issued.
SECTION 7. TREASURY SHARES. Shares that have been issued and reacquired
by the Corporation shall constitute authorized but unissued shares.
SECTION 8. REDEMPTION OF CONTROL SHARES. Control shares acquired in a
control share acquisition, with respect to which no acquiring person statement
has been filed with the Corporation, shall, at any time during the period ending
sixty (60) days after the last acquisition of control shares or the power to
direct the exercise of voting power of control shares by the acquiring person,
be subject to redemption by the Corporation. After an acquiring person statement
has been filed with the Corporation and after the meeting at which the voting
rights of the control shares acquired in a control share acquisition are
submitted to the shareholders, the shares shall be subject to redemption by the
Corporation unless the shares are accorded full voting rights by the
shareholders as provided in Section 798 of the Michigan Business Corporation
Act. Redemptions of shares pursuant to this bylaw shall be at the fair value of
the shares pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board of Directors of the
Corporation.
The terms "control shares," "control share acquisition," "acquiring
person statement," "acquiring person," and "fair value" as used in this bylaw,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in Chapter 7B of the Michigan Business
Corporation Act.
ARTICLE III. SHAREHOLDERS
SECTION 1. PLACE OF MEETINGS. Meetings of shareholders shall be held at
such place, within or outside the state of Michigan, as may be determined from
time to time by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 2. ANNUAL MEETING. Annual meetings of shareholders for election
of directors and for such other business as may come before the meeting shall be
held on such date prior to the first day of June of each year as the Board of
Directors may determine from time to time.
SECTION 3. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of shareholders shall be
called at the direction of the Board of Directors by the Chairman or the
Secretary, or upon receipt by either of them of a request in writing, stating
the purpose or purposes thereof, and signed by shareholders of record owning
more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting shares of the Corporation issued and
outstanding, or by a majority of the directors then in office.
SECTION 4. RECORD DATE FOR NOTICE AND VOTE. The Board of Directors may
fix a date not more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date
of a shareholders' meeting as the record date for the purpose of determining
shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting or adjournments
thereof; provided, however, that such date shall not precede the date on which
the Board takes action to establish the record date. In the event the Board of
Directors fails to fix such a record date, the record date for determination of
shareholders shall be the close of business on the day next preceding the day on
which notice is given.
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SECTION 5. NOTICE OF SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS. Written notice of the time,
place, and purposes of any meeting of shareholders shall be given to
shareholders entitled to vote thereat, not less than ten (10) nor more than
sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting, which notice may be given either
by delivery in person to such shareholders or by mailing such notice to
shareholders at their addresses as the same appear on the stock books of the
Corporation. A shareholder's attendance at a meeting will result in a waiver of
objection to lack of notice or defective notice unless the shareholder, at the
beginning of the meeting, objects to the holding of the meeting or the
transaction of business at the meeting, and a waiver of objection to
consideration of a particular matter at the meeting as not being within the
purpose or purposes described in the meeting notice unless the shareholder
objects to considering the matter when it is presented.
SECTION 6. VOTING LISTS. The Corporation's officer or agent having
charge of its stock transfer books shall prepare and certify a complete list of
the shareholders entitled to vote at a shareholders' meeting or any adjournment
thereof, which list shall be arranged alphabetically within each class and
series, and shall show the address of and number of shares held by each
shareholder. The list shall be produced at the time and place of the meeting of
shareholders and be subject to inspection by any shareholder at any time during
the meeting. If for any reason these requirements with respect to this
shareholder list have not been complied with, any shareholder, either in person
or by proxy, who in good faith challenges the existence of sufficient votes to
carry any action at the meeting, may demand that the meeting be adjourned and
the same shall be adjourned until the requirements are complied with; provided,
however, that failure to comply with such requirements does not affect the
validity of any action taken at the meeting before such demand is made.
SECTION 7. VOTING. Each shareholder entitled to vote at a meeting of
shareholders or to express consent or dissent without a meeting, shall be
entitled to one (1) vote, in person or by proxy, for each share entitled to vote
that is held by such shareholder; provided, however, no proxy shall be voted
after three years from its date unless such proxy expressly provides for a
longer period. A vote may be cast either orally or in writing as announced or
directed by the person presiding at the meeting prior to the taking of the vote.
When an action other than the election of directors is to be taken by vote of
the shareholders, it shall be authorized by a majority of the votes cast by the
holders of shares entitled to vote on the action, unless a greater vote is
required by the Michigan Business Corporation Act. Directors shall be elected by
a plurality of the votes cast in an election.
SECTION 8. QUORUM. Shares equaling a majority of all of the voting
shares of the capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding,
represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at meetings of
shareholders. Meetings at which less than a quorum is represented may be
adjourned by a vote of a majority of the shares present to a further date
without further notice other than the announcement at such meeting, and when the
quorum shall be present upon such adjourned date, any business may be transacted
which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.
Shareholders present in person or by proxy at any meeting of shareholders may
continue to do business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of
shareholders to leave less than a quorum.
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SECTION 9. CONDUCT OF MEETINGS. The officer who is to preside at
meetings of shareholders pursuant to Article V of these Bylaws, or his or her
designee, shall determine the agenda, the order in which business shall be
conducted and rules for the conduct of the meeting (which shall be fair to
shareholders), unless the agenda, the order of business and/or such rules have
been fixed by the Board of Directors. Such officer or designee shall call
meetings of shareholders to order and shall preside, shall appoint a person to
act as secretary of the meeting, and may appoint a parliamentarian, who may be
the same person as the secretary.
SECTION 10. INSPECTORS OF ELECTIONS. The Board of Directors may, in
advance of a meeting of shareholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at
the meeting or any adjournment thereof. In the event inspectors are not so
appointed, or an appointed inspector fails to appear or act, the person
presiding at the meeting of shareholders may appoint one or more persons to fill
such vacancy or vacancies, or to act as inspector. The inspector(s) shall
determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the
shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, the validity and
effect of proxies, and shall receive votes, ballots, or consents, hear and
determine challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote,
count and tabulate votes, ballots or consents, determine the results, and do
such acts as are proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all
shareholders.
SECTION 11. NOTICE OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS.
(a) Except for the election of directors, which is governed by
Article VI of the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation, only such
business shall be conducted at any meeting of shareholders, and only
such proposals shall be acted upon at such meetings, as shall have been
brought before the meeting: (i) by, or at the direction of the Board of
Directors; or (ii) by any shareholder of the Corporation who complies
with the notice procedures set forth in this Section of these Bylaws.
For a proposal to be properly brought before the meeting by a
shareholder, the shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in
writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a
shareholder's notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at,
the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than sixty
(60) days nor more than ninety (90) days prior to the scheduled meeting
date, regardless of any postponements, deferrals, or adjournments of
that meeting to any later date; provided, however, that if less than
seventy (70) days' notice, or prior public disclosure of the date of a
scheduled meeting is given or made, notice by the shareholder to be
timely must be delivered or received not later than the close of
business on the tenth (10th) day following the earlier of the day on
which such notice of the date of the scheduled meeting was mailed or
the day on which such public disclosure was made. A shareholder's
notice to the Secretary shall set forth, as to each matter the
shareholder proposes to bring before the meeting: (i) a brief
description of a proposal desired to be brought before the meeting and
the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting; (ii) the name
and address, as they appear on the Corporation's stock record, of the
shareholder proposing such business and any other shareholders known by
such shareholder to be supporting such proposal; (iii) the class and
number of shares of the Corporation's stock which are beneficially
owned by the shareholder on the date of such shareholder notice and by
any other shareholders known
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by such shareholder to be supporting such proposal on the date of such
shareholder notice; and (iv) any financial interest of the shareholder
in such proposal.
(b) If the presiding officer at the meeting of shareholders
determines that a shareholder proposal was not made in accordance with
the terms of this Section, the presiding officer shall declare the
matter to be out of order and the matter shall not be acted upon at the
meeting.
(c) Nothing contained in this Section shall prevent the
consideration and approval or disapproval at any meeting of
shareholders of reports of officers, directors, and committees of the
Board of Directors, but, in connection with such reports, no business
shall be acted upon at such meeting unless stated, filed, and received
as provided herein.
ARTICLE IV. DIRECTORS
SECTION 1. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The authority and size of the Board of
Directors, and the procedures for nominating, electing and removing directors
shall be as specified in the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation.
SECTION 2. RESIGNATION. A director may resign by written notice to the
Corporation, which resignation is effective upon its receipt by the Corporation
or at a subsequent time as set forth in the written notice of resignation.
SECTION 3. PLACE OF MEETINGS AND RECORDS. The directors shall hold
their meetings, and maintain the minutes of the proceedings of meetings of
shareholders, Board of Directors, and executive and other committees, if any,
and keep the books and records of account for the Corporation, in such place or
places, within or outside the state of Michigan, as the Board may from time to
time determine.
SECTION 4. REGULAR MEETINGS OF THE BOARD. Regular meetings of the Board
of Directors may be held at such times and places and pursuant to such notice,
if any, as may be established from time to time by action of the Board of
Directors.
SECTION 5. SPECIAL MEETINGS OF THE BOARD. Special meetings of the Board
of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, or the Secretary, and
shall be called by one of them upon the written request of a majority of the
directors. Notice of the time and place of special meetings of the Board shall
be given to each director at least twenty-four (24) hours prior thereto. Notices
of special meetings may state a purpose or purposes for the meeting, but such
notices shall not be required to state any purpose and shall not be deemed
deficient if the statement or purpose is incomplete or inaccurate. Notice of any
meeting may be made by hand delivery, telephone, facsimile or e-mail with
confirmation, nationally recognized overnight mail service, or first class mail,
to each director at such location as he or she may have furnished to the
Corporation. The notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time of
personal delivery, or telephone contact, or the time of confirmation for
facsimile or e-mail, and as of the close of
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business on the first business day following the date delivered to the overnight
or government mail carrier.
SECTION 6. QUORUM AND VOTE. A majority of the members of the Board then
in office constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business, and the vote of
a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present
constitutes the action of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 7. MEETING PARTICIPATION. A director may participate in a
meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee by means of conference
telephone or similar communications equipment through which all persons
participating in the meeting can communicate with all other participants.
Participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section shall constitute presence in
person at the meeting.
SECTION 8. ACTION OF THE BOARD WITHOUT A MEETING. Any action required
or permitted to be taken pursuant to authorization voted at a meeting of the
Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if, before or after the
action, all members of the Board of Directors consent thereto in writing. Such
written consent shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board
of Directors and the consent shall have the same effect as a vote of the Board
of Directors for all purposes.
SECTION 9. REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS. At least once in each year the Board
of Directors shall cause a financial report of the Corporation for the preceding
fiscal year to be made and distributed to each shareholder within four (4)
months after the end of each fiscal year. The report shall include the
Corporation's statement of income, its year-end balance sheet and, if prepared
by the Corporation, its statement of source and application of funds.
SECTION 10. CORPORATE SEAL. The Board of Directors may provide a
suitable corporate seal, which seal shall be kept in the custody of the
Secretary and used by him or her.
SECTION 11. COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS. By resolution of the Board of
Directors, the directors may be paid their expenses, if any, and/or reasonable
compensation for service on the Board and any committee of which they are a
member, and the Board of Directors may distinguish between directors on the
basis of time devoted to the Company's affairs, including travel time, and/or
between directors who are employees of the Corporation and other directors in
establishing such compensation.
SECTION 12. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The Board of Directors may by
resolution establish an executive committee composed of two (2) or more of the
directors to exercise such powers and authority of the Board of Directors to the
extent provided in such resolution and not prohibited by the Michigan Business
Corporation Act for the management of the business and affairs of the
Corporation. Such committee shall exist, and each member thereof shall serve, at
the pleasure of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 13. OTHER COMMITTEES. The Board of Directors shall establish a
compensation committee and an audit committee, each composed of two (2) or more
directors with such
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authority and responsibilities as are specified in the charters for those
committees that are approved by the Board of Directors. In addition, the Board
of Directors may, by resolution, establish such other committees from time to
time as the directors think advisable with such purposes, authority and
membership as may be set forth in the resolution establishing any such
committee.
ARTICLE V. OFFICERS
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF OFFICERS. The officers of the Corporation
shall consist of a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other offices as
may be established by the Board of Directors, including a Chairman of the Board,
one or more Vice Presidents and such Assistant Secretaries and Assistant
Treasurers as the Board may deem proper. The officers of the Corporation need
not be directors or shareholders. Any two or more offices may be held by the
same person, but an officer shall not execute, acknowledge, or verify any
instrument in more than one capacity if the instrument is required by law to be
executed, acknowledged, or verified by two or more officers. In addition, the
Board of Directors, by specific resolution, may authorize the Chief Executive
Officer to appoint Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers, which
subordinate, assistant officers may be removed at any time, with or without
cause, by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.
SECTION 2. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The officers of the Corporation shall
be elected at the first meeting of the Board of Directors, or by action taken
pursuant to written consent, after the annual meeting of shareholders. Officers
shall hold office for terms of one (1) year and until their respective
successors are elected and qualified, or until resignation or removal.
SECTION 3. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL. An officer may resign by written
notice to the Corporation, which resignation is effective upon its receipt by
the Corporation or at a subsequent time specified in the notice of resignation.
Officers of the Corporation serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and
may be removed by the Board at any time, with or without cause.
SECTION 4. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. The Chairman of the Board of
Directors, if one be elected, shall be elected by the directors from among the
directors then serving. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors,
the Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and
at all meetings of the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board shall
perform such other duties as may be determined by resolution of the Board of
Directors including, if the Board so determines, acting as the Chief Executive
Officer of the Corporation, in which case the Chairman shall have general
supervision, direction, and control of the business of the Corporation and shall
have the general powers and duties of management usually vested in or incident
to the office of the chief executive officer of a corporation.
SECTION 5. PRESIDENT. The President, if one be elected, shall have such
authority and responsibilities as may be determined by the Board of Directors
from time to time. In the absence or nonelection of a Chairman, unless otherwise
determined by the Board of Directors, the President shall preside at all
meetings of shareholders and at all meetings of the Board of Directors.
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SECTION 6. VICE PRESIDENTS. In the absence of the President and the
Chairman of the Board, or in the event of their death, inability or refusal to
act, the Executive Vice President, if one has been elected, or other Vice
Presidents in the order designated at the time of their election, shall perform
the duties of the Chief Executive Officer. The Executive Vice President and the
other Vice Presidents shall have such authority and shall perform such duties as
shall be assigned to them by the Board of Directors and may be designated by
such special titles as the Board of Directors shall approve.
SECTION 7. TREASURER. The Treasurer, if one be elected, shall have such
authority and responsibilities as may be determined by the Board of Directors
from time to time.
SECTION 8. SECRETARY. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given,
notice of all meetings of shareholders and directors and all other notices
required by law or by these Bylaws, and in the case of his or her absence or
refusal or neglect to do so, any such notice may be given by any person so
directed by the Chief Executive Officer or by the directors. The Secretary shall
maintain a record of all of the proceedings of minutes of shareholders, the
Board of Directors and committees of the Board in one or more books provided for
that purpose, and shall perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary,
and such other duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 9. OTHER OFFICES. Other officers elected by the Board of
Directors shall have such authority and shall perform such duties in the
management of the Corporation as may be determined by resolution of the Board of
Directors not inconsistent with these Bylaws.
ARTICLE VI. MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 1. CONTRACTS. The Board of Directors may authorize any officer
or officers, agent or agents to enter into any contract or execute and deliver
any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, and such
authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
SECTION 2. LOANS. No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the
Corporation, and no evidences of indebtedness shall be issued in its name,
unless authorized by a resolution of the Board of Directors. Such authorization
may be general or confined to specific instances.
SECTION 3. CHECKS. All checks, drafts, or other orders for the payment
of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the
Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents of the
Corporation and in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by
resolution of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 4. DEPOSITS. All funds of the Corporation, not otherwise
employed, shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Corporation
in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as the Board of Directors
may determine.
SECTION 5. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of this Corporation shall be as
determined by the Board of Directors.
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SECTION 6. WAIVER OF NOTICE. Whenever any notice is required to be
given under the provisions of any law, or the Articles of Incorporation for this
Corporation, or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person
or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated
therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto.
SECTION 7. VOTING OF SECURITIES. Securities of another corporation or
other equity interests standing in the name of this Corporation which are
entitled to vote may be voted in person or by proxy by any executive officer of
this Corporation or such other persons as may be designated by the Board of
Directors.
SECTION 8. INTERPRETATION. Unless the context of these Bylaws otherwise
requires, the terms used in these Bylaws shall have the meanings specified in,
and these Bylaws shall be interpreted and construed in accordance with, the
Michigan Business Corporation Act.
ARTICLE VII. AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be amended, repealed or new Bylaws adopted either by a
majority vote of the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the
Board, and without prior notice of intent to do so, or by majority vote of
shareholders at any annual or special meeting, if notice of the proposed
amendment, repeal, or adoption be contained in the notice of such meeting.
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