Section 8. Conduct of Meetings. The Chairman, or in his absence the Vice Chairman, shall act as chairman of and preside over meetings of the Board of Directors. In the absence of the Chairman and the Vice Chairman, the Board of Directors shall elect a chairman. The Secretary, or in his absence the Assistant Secretary, shall act as secretary of such meetings. If no such officer is present, the chairman shall appoint a secretary of the meeting.
Section 9. Procedure at Meetings. The procedure at meetings of the Board of Directors shall be determined by the chairman, and the vote on all matters before any meeting shall be taken in such manner as the chairman may prescribe.
Section 10. Participation by Conference Telephone. The Board of Directors may permit any or all directors to participate in a meeting of the directors by, or conduct the meeting through the use of, conference telephone or any other means of communication by which all directors participating may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting. A director participating in a meeting by such means shall be deemed to be present in person at the meeting.
Section 11. Quorum. A quorum at any meeting of the Board of Directors shall be a majority of the number of directors fixed or prescribed by these bylaws or, if no number is prescribed, the number of directors in office immediately before the meeting begins. The affirmative vote of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
Section 12. Committees. The Board of Directors may create one or more committees and appoint two or more members of the board to serve on them at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. Any such committee, to the extent specified by the Board of Directors, may exercise the authority that may be exercised by the Board of Directors except to the extent prohibited or restricted by law, the articles of incorporation or these bylaws.
The provisions of Sections 3 through 11 of this Article, which provide for, among other things, meetings, action without meetings, notice and waiver of notice, quorum and voting requirements of the Board of Directors, shall apply to committees and their members as well.
Section 13. Audit Committee. The Audit Committee shall be a standing committee appointed annually by the Board of Directors. Each member of the committee shall serve until his successor is appointed, and the committee shall consist of two members of the Board of Directors, none of whom shall be employees of the Corporation or any subsidiary. The duties of this committee shall be to make or cause to be made suitable examination at least once during each calendar year of the affairs of the Corporation and its subsidiaries. The results of such examination shall be reported in writing, to the Board at the next regular meeting thereafter, stating whether the Corporation and its subsidiaries are in a sound and solvent condition, whether adequate internal audit controls and procedures are being maintained, and recommending to the Board such changes in the manner in doing business, etc., as shall be deemed advisable.
The Audit Committee, upon its own recommendation and with approval of the Board of Directors, may employ a qualified firm a certified public accountants to make an examination
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