Norman Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Norman Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Bylaws
As of 8 June, 2003

ARTICLE I. NAME

1. The name of this religious society shall be “Norman Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.”

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE AND MISSION

1. The purpose of the Fellowship is to bring religious liberals, bound by no dogma and restricted by no creed, into closer acquaintance and cooperation for the study and practice of religion and/or spiritual disciplines; for the diffusion of knowledge of Unitarian Universalism; and for the furthering of the seven principles of Unitarian Universalism as defined by the Unitarian Universalist Association.

2. The mission of the Fellowship is to provide an open, welcoming spiritual environment where people of any or no religious tradition(s) may experience social, cultural, and intellectual interaction and growth, with a focus on living, to the best of our ability, the seven principles of Unitarian Universalism.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

1. Any person who is in sympathy with the purpose and mission (see Article II) of the Fellowship and with the seven principles of Unitarian Universalism may become an active member by signing the membership book, affirming the Fellowship's covenant of good relations, and making an annual pledge or contribution of record of any kind, in support of the Fellowship. Active members are expected to participate in the life and activities of the Fellowship as able to do so.

2. One month after joining the Fellowship, active members shall have the right to vote on business at meetings of the Fellowship. Active members who do not yet have voting rights may not be counted in a quorum.

3. Persons who have neither participated, pledged, nor contributed for one year shall be considered inactive and non-voting members. Inactive members may resume active status one month after resuming participation. Inactive members may be removed from the membership rolls if, after six months of inactive status, they do not respond within one month to a written request for contact from the Fellowship (see Article VIII Paragraph 1.b).

ARTICLE IV. DENOMINATIONAL AFFILIATION

1. This Fellowship shall be a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association and of the Southwest Unitarian Universalist Conference.

ARTICLE V. ACTIVITIES

1. The regular activities of the Fellowship shall include weekly programs for the nurture of the spiritual, intellectual, and individual development of people who attend such programs. Content of the programs is organized by the Program committee (see Article VIII).

2. Other activities shall be scheduled as determined by any of the standing committees (see Article VIII) or by the Board (see Article IX).

ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS

1. The Annual Meeting shall be held each year near the end of the fiscal year, at such time and place as shall be fixed by the Board (see Article IX). Business conducted at the Annual Meeting shall include election of Officers (see Articles VII and XI) and Committee Coordinators (see Articles VIII and XI) and approval of the proposed budget for the next fiscal year. Fifty-one percent (51%) of the active membership, as determined by the Board per Article III, shall constitute a quorum. Notice of the annual meeting will be published in the newsletter and announced electronically during the month preceding the date of the meeting.

2. Other meetings shall be called at the written request, directed to the President, of any five members; the business to be transacted shall be mentioned in the call of the meeting, which shall be published in the newsletter and announced electronically during the month preceding the date of the meeting. Fifty-one percent (51%) of the active membership, as determined by the Board per Article III, shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VII. OFFICERS

1. The officers of the Fellowship shall be a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary.

a) The President shall preside at meetings (see Article VI), at Board meetings (see Article IX), and may open and close regular programs (see Article V, Para. 1). The President shall also oversee scheduling the use of the building and facilities, and shall be responsible for renting the building and facilities, and for making any contracts which are necessary for the business of the Fellowship.

b) The Vice-President shall deputize for the President when necessary and shall serve as Co-Coordinator of the Finance Committee (see Article VIII) along with the Treasurer. In the event that the President cannot finish her/his term, the Vice-President shall become Acting President until the next annual meeting, at which time the office shall be considered open.

c) The Treasurer shall oversee and organize the financial records of the Fellowship, shall oversee the annual budget, and shall serve as Co-Coordinator of the Finance Committee (see Article VIII) along with the Vice-President. In addition, the Treasurer shall keep the officers of the Fellowship informed on the pledging status of the members of the fellowship.

d) The Secretary shall be responsible for recording and reporting on all meetings of the Board (see Article IX) and the Fellowship (see Article VI), and shall be responsible for maintaining archives of these records in good order. The Secretary shall delegate as necessary to meet these responsibilities.

2. The officers of the Fellowship shall constitute the Executive Committee of the Fellowship and shall have access to all Fellowship business records. Members of the Executive Committee shall maintain financial information about individuals in confidence, so far as is allowed by law.

3. The President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected by vote of the majority of the active members present at the annual meeting in an odd numbered year and shall serve for a term of two years beginning the first day of the next fiscal year. In the event that the President, Secretary, or Treasurer must be replaced during the first year of the term, by the Vice-President in the case of President or by a Board appointment (see Article IX, Para. 2) in the case of Secretary or Treasurer, the officeholder must be confirmed at the next Annual Meeting, and the position is considered open to nominations.

4. The Vice-President shall serve a term of one year beginning the first day of the next fiscal year. The Vice-President elected in an even numbered year shall also be designated President-elect pro-tem.

ARTICLE IX. BOARD

1. The Board of the Fellowship shall consist of the officers of the Fellowship (see Article VII) and the coordinators of the standing committees (see Article VIII). The Board shall meet no less than quarterly.

2. The Board shall generally charge and conduct all of its business affairs and the control of its administration, including the appointment of such committees, as it may deem necessary for the benefit and well-being of the Fellowship. It may fill vacancies, and persons so appointed shall serve until the next Annual Meeting. A Vice-President so appointed may not be considered President-elect pro-tem.

3. All officers shall be voting members of the Fellowship. No person may serve more than five years continuously on the Board, and shall be absent from the Board at least one full year before being elected or appointed to a Board position.

ARTICLE X. REMOVAL OF BOARD MEMBERS

1. Upon written request of any three Board members or any five active members of the Fellowship (see Articles IX and III) a vote of no confidence may be scheduled against any Board member within thirty days of the request reaching the Board. The vote must be taken at a meeting of the Fellowship (see Article VI) at which a quorum of fifty-one percent of the active members, as determined by the Board per Article III, must be present for the meeting to begin. Reasons for no confidence may be presented, and the Board member addressed may respond. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the active members present must vote “no confidence” for a Board member to be removed. No other business may be conducted or introduced at a “no confidence” meeting.

2. In the event that a quorum cannot be achieved for a “no confidence” meeting, it may be rescheduled within thirty days. Failure to achieve a quorum a second time dismisses the matter, which cannot be re-addressed for sixty days.

ARTICLE XI. NOMINATING COMMITTEE

1. A Nominating Committee of five members shall be chosen by the Board each year at least two months prior to the Annual Meeting. The Nominating Committee will include two members of the Board and three members of the Fellowship who are not on the Board. The Coordinator of the Nominating Committee shall be the President then in office or the President-elect pro tem, who may be a member of the committee, or may serve ex-officio. The Nominating Committee shall present a proposed slate of officers and Committee Coordinators at the Annual Meeting.

2. Nominations from the floor at the Annual Meeting shall be accepted for any open position.

ARTICLE XII. AMENDMENTS OR REPEALS

1. Amendments or repeals of these bylaws may be proposed by the Board or by petition to the Board of five active members. Notice of any proposed change or repeal shall be contained in full in the notice of the meeting, which shall be published electronically and in the newsletter published in the month preceding the meeting. A quorum, which has been defined as fifty-one percent (51%) of the active membership, shall be present before the bylaws can be changed or repealed. These bylaws, so far as allowed by law, may be amended or repealed by a two-thirds vote of those active members present and voting as a meeting of the Fellowship.

ARTICLE XIII. FISCAL YEAR

1. The fiscal year shall run from July 1 to June 30 of the following calendar year.

2. In the event of a change in the fiscal year, the current fiscal period will complete before the change may go into effect. The Finance Committee, with the approval of the Board, shall coordinate the scheduling needed to adjust to the new fiscal year calendar.

ARTICLE XIV. DISSOLUTION OF THE FELLOWSHIP

1. In the event of the dissolution of the Fellowship, all outstanding debts shall be paid and the remaining assets, both real and personal, and including all property heretofore and hereinafter donated to said Fellowship, shall become the property of the Unitarian Universalist Association, 25 Beacon Street, Boston, Massachusetts, or its successor, subject to all applicable laws.

ARTICLE XV. CONGREGATIONAL POLITY

1. All powers not granted under the bylaws to the Board for conducting the regular business of the Fellowship shall be reserved for the congregation as a whole.