Do bylaws need to be signed? No, but you'll want to make sure your bylaws are signed, even though New York statutes don't explicitly require bylaws to be signed. Having bylaws signed by your officers and directors shows that everyone in your corporation is on the same page.
There's plenty of work that goes into writing bylaws, so let's break down what you need to get writing! Research. Form a committee. Create the structure. Outline your organization's key roles and responsibilities. Establish your meeting rules. Define your membership. Address finances. Outline the amendment process.