1. To act and operate as an information gathering, information dissemination and user group facilitator related to the use of ESRI, Inc based software and pertaining to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and related topics.

2. To promote effective development, access, application, and cooperative use of GIS throughout Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming .

3. To promote cooperation among all levels of government and the private sector in addressing spatial data and information needs and to promote coordination of programs, policies, technologies, and resources to optimize opportunities and minimize duplication of effort.

4. To identify and provide recommendations to federal, state, local government agencies, and the private sector on issues related to the facilitation, use, priorities, standards and development of GIS related implementations.

5. To engage in any and all activities and pursuits, and to support or assist such other organizations as may reasonably be related to the foregoing and following purposes.

6. To solicit and receive contributions, purchase, own, and sell real and personal property, to make contracts, and to engage in any activity to further the goals of the organization. This may include such activities as publication of directories of geographic information groups and products, and the organization and sponsorship of an annual conference.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors shall govern and manage the affairs, funds, and property of the corporation. It shall make rules and regulations for its management, create additional offices or committees or remove such agents as it shall deem best. The board shall have the power to fill vacancies in, and increase or decrease membership of such committees as are constituted by it. The Board of Directors shall be selected by volunteer at the annual meeting and if more than one nominee/volunteer is present – selected by vote (nominations for the Board of Directors shall be solicited and accepted). It shall consist of a president, a vice-president, a treasurer and at least five (5) board members. The must have representation from each of the five states, and representative must be from the representative state. Directors shall serve on the Board for a period of five (5) years and may be re-appointed. The yearly solicitation of nominees for and the subsequent election to fill vacant positions on the Board of Directors shall commence and be completed at the end the annual SWUG conference. If more than one conference is sponsored by SWUG in a year, the Board must designate one conference as the annual SWUG conference. All Board of Director positions shall be governed by the SWUG bylaws. The Board of Directors will meet as often as the Board determines is necessary, but at least annually. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President. The Board shall not commit or obligate the corporation financially beyond the budget. The corporation will not assume any liability that is not guaranteed by an outside source. Any outside source of funds, whether or not a member of or affiliated with the corporation, may be a guarantor of funds. These Bylaws can be amended as deemed necessary by the Board.

Officers

The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a President, Vice-President, and Treasurer. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall execute all agreements and contracts on behalf of the Corporation. The Vice-President shall preside at meetings of the Board of Directors in the absence of the President and shall perform other such duties as assigned by the President or Board. The Treasurer shall give notice of the meeting, record all actions taken at the meeting, and shall perform other such duties as assigned by the President and Board. The Treasurer shall collect and receive, and shall have charge of the funds of the Corporation. The President and Vice-President shall be elected for a term of five (5) years or until their terms as Directors expire. Each is eligible for re-election. The other officers shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.

Indemnification

The Board may, by resolution of the Board of Directors, provide indemnification by the Corporation of any and all of its directors or officers or former directors or officers against expenses actually and necessarily incurred by them in connection with the defense of any action, suit, or proceeding, in which they or any of them are made parties, or a party, by reason of having been a director or officer of the Corporation, except in relation to matters as to which such director or officer or former director or officer shall be adjudged in such action, suit, or proceeding to be liable for gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of duty and to such matters as shall be settled by agreement predicated on the existence of such liability for gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Other Committees

The Board of Directors may designate committees as it determines necessary.