Articles of Incorporation

Midwest Association of Pre-Law Advisors (MAPLA)


Article I: Name
The name of the Corporation is “Midwest Association of Pre-Law Advisors (MAPLA)”.


Article II: Duration
The Corporation shall have perpetual duration.


Article III: Purposes
The general purpose for which the corporation is formed is to promote informed advising of students who are considering a legal career, by providing professional development, networking, and engagement opportunities for faculty and staff advisors. In particular, the Corporation is formed for the following specific purposes:

  1. To advocate, promote, and support the common interests of those persons in the Midwest region of the United States, who meet the requirements of membership as articulated through the Corporation’s Bylaws, involved in advising college or university students about entering law school or pursuing legal careers;
  2. To facilitate and provide opportunities for connections between and amongst Pre-Law Advisors and law school admissions professionals;
  3. To assist through appropriate means in the improvement of the skills and effectiveness of PreLaw Advisors; and
  4. To engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the Nonprofit Corporation Act of Iowa.

The Corporation is intended to be, and shall be operated at all times, as a business league within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1886, as amended, or corresponding provisions of any future federal tax laws, and the various Treasury Regulations pertaining thereto. The Corporation shall not have or exercise any powers in violation of this requirement.


Article IV: Private Inurement Prohibited
The Corporation is not organized and shall not be operated for pecuniary gain or profit. No part of the property or net earnings of the Corporation shall inure to the benefit of any individual or entity except as reasonable compensation for services actually rendered by such individual or entity, as payments or distributions in furtherance of the Corporation’s purposes as expressed in these Articles of Incorporation, or as payments or distributions permitted in accordance with the provisions of Iowa law.


Article V: Powers
Except as otherwise provided in these Articles of Incorporation or in the Bylaws of the Corporation, the Corporation shall have all the powers conferred upon nonprofit corporations under the laws of Iowa, including, but not limited to, the power and authority to accept gifts and contributions in any form of property. The Corporation shall have the power and authority to perform all acts which may be deemed proper for the successful prosecution of the objects and purposes for which the Corporation is formed; provided that the Corporation shall not be operated for the profit of its members or any other person, but solely for the purposes expressed by these Articles of Incorporation. Nothing herein, however, shall prevent the Corporation from making charges for its services, charging membership dues as determined by the directors, or making payments or distributions as permitted by these Articles of Incorporation.


Article VI: Distribution Upon Dissolution
In the event of the dissolution of the Corporation, the assets of the Corporation (after all its liabilities and obligations have been paid or adequate provisions have been made therefore) shall be distributed in accordance with a Plan of Dissolution adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation in compliance with laws of the State of Iowa and the requirements of Section 501 (c) (3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or corresponding provisions of any future federal tax laws) and the various Treasury Regulations pertaining thereto then in effect regarding distributions of assets of Section 501 (c) (3) organizations upon dissolution. In the event that for any reason upon the dissolution of the Corporation the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall fail to act in the manner herein provided within a reasonable time, the Iowa Judge with jurisdiction shall make such distributions as herein provided upon the application or one or more persons having an official position with the Corporation.


Article VII: Members
This Corporation shall have members. The classes and rights of membership shall be determined by the Board of Directors from time to time and be described in the Bylaws of the Corporation.


Article VIII: Capital Stock Prohibited
The Corporation shall have no capital stock and shall pay no dividends.


Article IX: Board of Directors
The affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by a Board of Directors. The exact number and the method of election or appointment of the members of the Board of Directors as well as any qualifications for being a member of the Board of Directors shall be provided from time to time by the Bylaws of the Corporation, except that the members and composition of the initial Board of Directors is fixed by Article X of the Articles of Incorporation.


Article X: Initial Directors
The initial Board of Directors, existing at the time of adoption of the original By-Laws, were President, Robert C. Fee; President-Elect, Louis C. Rice; Secretary, Doreen A. Herlihy; Treasurer, Grace D. Shaw; and Immediate Past President, Eugene Haugse. The Board of Directors upon re-incorporation in the state of Iowa in 2012 were President, RJ Holmes-Leopold; President-Elect, Jamie Thomas-Ward; Secretary, Stephen Shafer; Treasurer, Don Racheter; Director (Caravan) Mac Francis; Director (Website) Johnny Goldfinger; Director (Teleconferences), Suzanne Borland; Director (Membership), Steven E. Nelson; Director (BRIEFS), Laura Hume; and Immediate Past President, Gwyn Wallander. The names of the Directors and Officers of the Corporation at the time of its reincorporation in the State of Iowa are: Martha Kirby, President; Larry Hayman, President-elect; Gwyn Wallander, Secretary, Don Racheter, Treasurer; Kelly Anthony, Recruitment and Membership Director; Thomas Bell, Professional Development Director; Laura Hume, Caravan Director; Janet Mitchell, Technology and Website
Coordinator; Megan Pickens, DEI Director.


Article XI: Amendment of Articles of Incorporation
These Articles of Incorporation may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at any meeting of the members provided that notice of the subject matter of the proposed change is mailed or emailed to all of the members not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days before the meeting at which the proposed change is to be submitted for consideration.


Article XII: Registered Agent and Office
The street and mailing office of the initial registered office of the Corporation in the State of Iowa is 400 Foster Rd, Iowa City, IA 52245 and the initial Registered Agent of the Corporation at such address is Martha Kirby.


Article XIII: Principal Office
The street address and mailing address of the initial principal office of the Corporation, which may be changed by the Board of Directors of the Corporation from time to time, is 400 Foster Rd, Iowa City, IA 52245.


Amended September 2001
Amended September 2012
Amended October 2021
Amended September 2022