Articles of Incorporation

Know all men by these presents:

That the undersigned, Nancy Flikkema, being of legal age, hereby acts as incorporator for a non-profit corporation under the statutes of the State of Montana.

I Name
The name of the corporation shall be Friends of MontanaPBS, Inc.

II Duration
The period of duration of this corporation shall be perpetual.

III Purpose
The purpose of this corporation shall be to raise and provide financial and other support for and to advise on non-commercial public interest broadcasting originating from MontanaPBS. The purpose shall also be to hold all powers conferred by applicable Montana laws which are consistent with exemption from federal income tax under Section 501 (c) (3), Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or the corresponding provisions of any future U.S. Internal Revenue Law. This corporation is organized exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

IV Non-Profit
The corporation shall be nonstock and no part of the income of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of any member, trustee, director, officer of the corporation or any private individual (except that reasonable compensation may be paid for services rendered to or for the corporation affecting one or more of its purposes).

V Dissolution
Upon the dissolution of the corporation, the executive board shall, after paying or making provision for payment of all the liabilities of the corporation, dispose of all the net revenue and assets of the corporation to KUSM TV-Montana State University and KUFM TV-The University of Montana. Distribution of net revenue and assets shall be by agreement of the respective stations-KUSM TV and KUFM TV-and based on the past years’ station budgets. If Montana PBS dissolves, then distribution of the net revenue and assets of the FRIENDS OF MONTANAPBS, INC. shall be to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable educational purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future U.S. Tax law), as the executive board shall determine. Any such assets or net revenues not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the State of Montana exclusively for such purposes as to such organization or organizations as said State shall determine which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

VI Corporate Powers
The corporate powers and management of the corporation shall be vested in and exercised by a Board of Directors of no fewer than fifteen (15) members, 1/3 of the public members who will be elected annually at a general meeting of the members during August in each year, beginning with the year 1985, to be held at such place within the State of Montana as selected by the Board of Directors.

VII Limitation of Power
Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the corporation shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on:

1. By a corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future U.S. Internal Revenue Law), or
2. By a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future U.S. Internal Revenue Law).

VIII Directors
The number of directors constituting the initial board of directors of the corporation is fourteen (14). The names and addresses of the persons who are to serve as initial directors are as follows:

Nancy A. Flikkema
8289 Huffine Lane
Bozeman, MT 59715

Emily Hooker
1102 S. 3rd
Bozeman, MT 59715

Jenny Younger
5555 Black Bear Road
Bozeman, MT 59715

Milt Vandeventer
1615 South Black
Bozeman, MT 59715

Jacqueline Altimus
1380 Amsterdam Road
Belgrade, MT 59714

Dianne Lorang
505 North 21st Street
Bozeman, MT 59715

Mary Jo Lusin
340 East Hollyhock
Belgrade, MT 59714

Tammy Hall
6734 Gooch Hill Road
Bozeman, MT 59715

Susan Ault
2520 East Baxter Lane
Bozeman MT 59715

William Tietz
2310 Springcreek Drive
Bozeman, MT 59715

Robert Cutietta
9710 Cougar Drive
Bozeman, MT 59715

Jeannie Heckman
1120 Bulltail Road
Bozeman, MT 59715

IX Incorporator
The name and address of the person forming this corporation is as follows:
Nancy A. Flikkema
8289 Huffine Lane
Bozeman, MT 59715

X Registered Office and Agent
The address of the registered office of the corporation shall be at 1123 Woodland Drive, PO Box 10715, Bozeman, Montana 59719, and the name of its registered agent at that address is Patricia A. Simmons.

XI Liability
No member of this corporation shall ever be held liable or responsible for contracts, debts or defaults of this corporation, nor shall any mere informality in organization have the effect or rendering these Articles of Incorporation null or of exposing the members to any liability.

XII Amendments
These articles may be amended in the manner provided by statute at the time of the amendment.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the person named herein as incorporator has hereunto set her hand this 12th day of October, 1984.
Nancy A. Flikkema

State of Montana
County of Gallatin
On this 12th day of October, 1984, before me, the undersigned officer, personally appeared Nancy A. Flikkema, known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that she executed the same for the purposes therein contained.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and official seal the day and year in this instrument first above written.

Claudine Eckes
Notary Public for State of Montana
Residing at: Bozeman, MT
My Commission Expires: 12/27/84

• Filed with Secretary of State, October 17, 1984, #294716
• Filed Amended Articles of Incorporation, December 14, 1989, #311144 (changed Paragraph V as shown above, adopted by 2/3 of the members of the corporation on June 6th, 1989)
• Filed Articles of Amendment, September 24, 1993, #324987 (changed name from Friends of KUSM, Inc., to Friends of Montana Public Television/KUSM, Inc., adopted by the board of directors May 19, 1993)
• Filed Articles of Amendment for Name Change for Nonprofit Corporation, January 17, 1997, #345170 (changed name from Friends of Montana Public Television/KUSM, Inc. to Friends of Montana Public Television, Inc., adopted 1/16/97)
• Filed Articles of Amendment for Name Change for Nonprofit Corporation, October 21, 1999, #364303 (changed name from Friends of Montana Public Television, Inc. to Friends of MontanaPBS, Inc., and adopted 5-20-99)
• Amended Articles of Incorporation adopted by the board of directors June 17, 2009
• No bylaws are filed with the Secretary of State’s office as of 2/11/08

Last Updated and approved by the Friends of MontanaPBS board on August 15th, 2014