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For those interested, the bylaws follow:
PEACE
NETWORK OF THE
OZARKS
By-Laws
I
NAME
The name of the organization shall
be
PEACE NETWORK OF THE OZARKS.
II
PURPOSE
The purpose of Peace Network of
the
Ozarks is to advance the cause of peace through civic, educational, and
social
activities.
III
PROCEDURE
The
Peace Network of the Ozarks is a representative
organization committed to an open and democratic process in decision
making.
IV
MEMBERSHIP
Membership in Peace Network of the
Ozarks shall be open to any person who supports the goals and purposes
of the organization
set forth in the mission statement and participatory guidelines.
A. Membership shall be obtained by
making a commitment to the organization.
1. A member shall sign a pledge of
support for the goals and purposes and shall agree to abide by the
participatory guidelines.
2. A member shall make a financial
donation of any amount.
B. Membership shall be renewed on
an
annual basis in January of each year. New
members joining the organization after November 1 of any
year shall
be members for the remainder of that year and the following year.
C. All members shall have voting
privileges.
D. Only members shall be eligible
to
serve on the Coordinating Committee.
V
MEETINGS
Meetings of the Peace Network of
the
Ozarks shall be set by the Coordinating Committee.
A. General Business meetings shall be held in
spring
and fall to elect Coordinating Committee positions and to conduct other
such
formal business as may come before the organization.
B. Planning meetings of Ad-Hoc Committees
shall be
called as needed to organize, schedule, and promote activities and
events,
public and private.
C. Public Event meetings shall be
scheduled as
needed to promote education, participation, and other activities.
VI
COORDINATING COMMITTEE
The Coordinating Committee shall
manage
the business and affairs of the Peace Network of the Ozarks and shall
implement
the policies and priorities as directed by the membership.
A. The Coordinating Committee
shall consist
of nine (9) members with Officers automatically filling four (4)
positions,
At-large members filling five (5) positions, and the Webmaster serving
as an
ex-officio member.
1. Officers shall be a Chair,
Vice-Chair,
Secretary, and Treasurer.
2. The Webmaster shall be
appointed by
the Coordinating Committee.
B. Coordinating Committee members
shall
be elected by the members of the organization.
1. Coordinating Committee members
shall
be nominated by the Nominating Committee.
2. Coordinating Committee members
shall
be elected at the fall General Business meeting and shall take office
in
January of the next year.
3. Coordinating Committee members
shall
serve a term of one (1) year.
a. Coordinating Committee members
shall
be limited to serving four (4) consecutive terms.
b. Coordinating Committee members
may
be re-elected after a one (1) year break.
C. Vacancies caused by resignation
or
removal occurring between regular elections shall be filled for the
remainder
of that term by vote of the Coordinating Committee.
1.
The
Chair or Vice-Chair shall meet with any member who has three (3)
consecutive
unexcused absences from scheduled Coordinating Committee meetings to
discuss
their ability to continue on the Coordinating Committee.
2.
Coordinating
Committee members who fail to uphold their commitment shall be removed
from the
Coordinating Committee by majority vote of the Coordinating Committee
members.
D. Coordinating Committee meetings
shall be called as needed to
conduct such business as may come before the Coordinating Committee.
VII
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
The Officers of Peace Network of
the
Ozarks shall exercise duties necessary to achieve the goals of the
organization.
A. The Chair
1. Shall preside at all meetings
of the
organization; have general and active responsibility for the business
of the
organization; and see that all requests and resolutions are carried
into
effect.
2. Shall execute contracts and
other
instruments of business authorized by the Coordinating Committee.
3. Shall co-sign checks for all
disbursements made by the Treasurer.
4. Shall designate spokespersons
for the
organization. No member shall serve as
an official spokesperson for the organization unless designated.
5. Shall approve all press
releases.
6. Shall read and respond to
website
communication.
B. The Vice-Chair
1. Shall assume the duties of the
Chair
in the absence of the Chair.
2. Shall co-sign checks for all
disbursements made by the Treasurer in the absence of the Chair.
3. Shall serve as liaison between
the
Coordinating Committee and Ad-hoc Committees.
4. Shall perform other duties as
assigned by the Chair.
C. The Secretary
1. Shall record the minutes of all
General
Business and Coordinating Committee meetings of the organization.
2. Shall maintain custody of the
records.
3. Shall maintain a list of all
members
and other persons who support the organization.
4. Shall
perform other duties as assigned by the Chair.
D. The Treasurer
1. Shall maintain custody of the
funds
of the organization
2. Shall keep full and accurate
accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the
organization.
3. Shall disburse by check the
funds of
the organization as directed by the Coordinating Committee and Chair,
and
co-sign checks along with the Chair, or in the absence of the Chair,
the
Vice-chair.
4. Shall render a written account
of
all transactions of the Treasurer and of the financial condition of the
organization at each spring and fall General Business meetings.
5. Shall apprise the Secretary of
all
paid members.
6. Shall
perform other duties as assigned by the Chair.
E. The Webmaster
1.
Shall maintain the website of the organization.
2.
Shall give notification of meetings by email and/or by web posting to
all
members and supporters.
3.
Shall email and post information on the website as directed by the
Chair or other
members of the Coordinating Committee.
4. Shall
work with the
Nominating Committee in facilitating elections.
VIII
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The Nominating Committee of Peace
Network of the Ozarks shall preside over the nomination and election of
candidates for Officers and At-large members of the Coordinating
Committee.
A. The Nominating Committee shall
consist of five (5) members with two
(2) positions appointed by the Coordinating Committee and three (3)
positions elected
by the membership at the fall meeting.
B.
A Nominating Committee member designated by the Chair of the
organization shall call the first meeting of the Nominating Committee.
1.
At the first meeting, the Nominating Committee shall elect a chair.
2.
If the chair should become vacant or inactive, any two members shall
call a meeting and the chair replaced by another member of the
Nominating Committee.
3.
Vacancies on the Nominating Committee caused by resignation shall be
filled by
the Coordinating Committee.
C.
The Nominating Committee shall submit a preliminary report listing
nominations
for officers and members of the Coordinating Committee and indicating
vacancies
that need to be filled.
1.
This listing shall be published not less than 30 days before the fall
meeting and election ballots shall be released not less than 15 days
prior to
the General Business Meeting.
a.
The Nominating Committee shall
actively solicit nominations from the membership, both on-line and at
meetings.
b.
Any person wishing to serve shall have their name placed on the ballot
by
submitting a petition signed by five members indicating their support
of the
nominee.
c.
All persons placed on the ballot must give their written consent to
serve.
2.
Voters will then choose among all the listed nominees at the fall
meeting and
by absentee ballot.
a.
Voting on the ballot presented by the Nominating Committee shall be
done by the
members present.
b.
Absentee ballots must be received no later than the opening of
elections.
D.
The Nominating Committee shall make recommendations to fill At-large
positions
on the Coordinating Committee vacated during the year.
Officers will be replaced by a vote of the
Coordinating Committee
IX
AD-HOC COMMITTEES
Ad-Hoc Committees
of Peace Network of the Ozarks shall be formed to implement civil,
educational,
and social activities.
A. The Chair shall appoint Ad-hoc
Committees
as necessary.
B. Any Committees so created shall
work
with the Vice-chair in order that the Coordinating Committee is kept
aware of
their progress.
1. Any member of the organization
suggesting a specific action, program, or event shall present their
idea to the
Coordinating Committee.
a. An
Ad-Hoc Committee shall be formed if such action, program, or event
furthers the
purpose and adheres to guidelines of the organization as determined by
the
Coordinating Committee.
b. The
member presenting the idea may be appointed Chair of that Ad-hoc
Committee to
develop and to implement that action, program, or event.
2. Members shall be notified of
and invited
to participate on Ad-hoc Committees.
C. Ad-hoc Committees shall expire
on
completion of the action, program, or event.
X
AMENDMENTS
The By-laws of Peace Network of
the
Ozarks may be amended at any General Business meeting by vote of the
members.
A. Any member of the organization
may
propose amending the By-laws.
1. Amendments to the By-laws shall
be
presented to the Coordinating Committee.
2. Proposed amendments to the
By-laws shall
be presented no less than 30 days prior to the General Business meeting
and absentee
ballots shall be available 15 days prior to the meeting.
B. Amendments may
be voted on at the spring or fall meeting.
C. Amendments to the By-laws shall
require
a two-thirds (2/3) majority of votes cast.
Adopted March 14, 2006