IX. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
.01 Indemnification.
The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a Director, Trustee, Officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a Director, Trustee, Officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgment, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person's conduct was unlawf ul. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and with respect to any criminal action proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such person's conduct was unlawful.
.02 Derivative Action
The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in the Corporation's favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a Director, Trustee, Officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a Director, Trustee, Officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorney's fees) and amount paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to amounts paid in settlement, the settlement of the suit or action was in the best interests of the Corporation; provided, however, that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of such person's duty to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that, the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as such court shall deem proper. The termination of any action or suit by judgment or settlement shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation.
.03 Successful Defense.
To the extent that a Director, Trustee, Officer, employee or Agent of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise, in whole or in part in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Paragraphs .01 and .02 above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
.04 Authorization.
Any indemnification under Paragraphs .01 and .02 above (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the Director, Trustee, Officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Paragraphs .01 and .02 above. Such determination shall be made (a) by the Board of Directors of the Corporation by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (b) is such a quorum is not obtainable, by a majority vote of the Directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (c) by independent legal counsel (selected by one or more of the Directors, whether or not a quorum and whether or not disinterested) in a written opinion, or (d) by the Shareholders. Anyone making such a determination under this Paragraph .04 may determine that a person has met the standards therein set forth as to some claims, issues or matters but not as to others, and may reasonably prorate amounts to be paid as indemnification.
.05 Advances.
Expenses incurred in defending civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Corporation, at any time or from time to time in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding as authorized in the manner provided in Paragraph .04 above upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Director, Trustee, Officer, employee or agent to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be by the Corporation is authorized in this Section.
.06 Nonexclusivity.
The indemnification provided in this Section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any law, bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested Directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person's official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Director, Trustee, Officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of such a person.
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.07 Insurance.
The Corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a Director, Trustee, Officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a Director, Trustee, Officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability assessed against such person in any such capacity or arising out of such person's status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability.
.08 "Corporation" Defined.
For purposes of this Section, references to the "Corporation" shall include, in addition to the Corporation, an constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had the power and authority to indemnify its Directors, Trustees, Officers, employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a Director, Trustee, Officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation or of any entity a majority of the voting stock of which is owned by such constituent corporation or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a Director, Trustee, Officer, employee or agent of the corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Section with respect to the resulting or surviving Corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence ha d continued.
X. AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS.
.01 By the Shareholders.
These Bylaws may be amended, altered, or repealed at any regular or special meeting of the shareholders if notice of the proposed alteration or amendment is contained in the notice of the meeting.
.02 By the Board of Directors.
These Bylaws may be amended, altered, or repealed by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board.
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XI. FISCAL YEAR.
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be set by resolution of the Board of Directors.
XII. RULES OF ORDER.
The rules contained in the most recent edition of Robert's Rules or Order, Newly Revised, shall govern all meetings of shareholders and Directors where those rules are not inconsistent with the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, or special rules or order of the Corporation.
XIII. REIMBURSEMENT OF DISALLOWED EXPENSES.
If any salary, payment, reimbursement, employee fringe benefit, expense allowance payment, or other expense incurred by the Corporation for the benefit of an employee is disallowed in whole or in part as a deductible expense of the Corporation for Federal Income Tax purposes, the employee shall reimburse the Corporation, upon notice and demand, to the full extent of the disallowance. This legally enforceable obligation is in accordance with the provisions of Revenue Ruling 69-115, 1969-1 C.B. 50, and is for the purpose of entitling such employee to a business expense deduction for the taxable year in which the repayment is made to the Corporation. In this manner, the Corporation shall be protected from having to bear the entire burden of disallowed expense items.
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