DUXBURY INTERFAITH COUNCIL
Bylaws
As Amended January 8, 2011
This organization shall be known as “The Duxbury
Interfaith Council,” hereinafter called “The Council”.
ARTICLE II - MISSION
The Mission of the Council is:
1.
To nourish the spirit of understanding and cooperation
among the diverse religious institutions and people of faith in the
Duxbury community and to be a visible example of tolerance and respect
between faiths.
2.
To provide opportunities for all people of Duxbury to
join in interfaith programs:
worship, charity and education.
3.
To lift up by word and Deed the values of kindness,
compassion, and respect for the common humanity of all.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
Membership in The Council is limited to Duxbury
congregations and conference centers representing the diverse religious
institutions and Duxbury No Place for Hate.
Admission to membership is by two-thirds vote of Members
represented at a board meeting. Each
Member shall be assessed yearly dues and shall have one vote on any
issues that come before the Council. Other Duxbury religious or
spiritual organizations that support the mission of the Council are
eligible for non-voting Associate Membership.
An associate Member may be appointed, upon its request, by
two-thirds vote of Members represented at a meeting of the Board after
notification with the call to the meeting.
The appointment shall be until the end of the calendar year.
An Associate Member may be re-appointed for an unlimited number
of one year terms or may be voted into full Membership.
ARTICLE IV - THE GOVERNING BOARD
1.
The Governing Board, hereinafter called “The Board”
shall determine the policies and direct the affairs of the Council.
a.
The active
clergy of each Member, conference center, and Duxbury
No Place for Hate.
b.
Up to three duly designated lay representatives of each
Member.
c.
The Outreach Coordinator and Outreach Secretary.
2.
Each Member shall notify the secretary in writing of
the lay representatives and of the clergy that will be its
representative board designees.
3.
Any unbudgeted appropriations or expenditures over the
sum of $500 must be approved by the Board after notice of the proposed
expenditure has been given in the call to the meeting.
ARTICLE V - OFFICERS
1.
The officers shall be President, Vice President,
Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer.
The offices of the
President and Vice President at any given time shall be occupied by one
layperson and one member of the clergy.
2.
The officers shall be elected by the Board from its own
membership at the Annual Meeting in January and take office immediately.
The President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Assistant Treasurer
shall be eligible to serve a maximum of two consecutive one year terms
and at the end of a second term may not be
elected or appointed to the same office until after an interval
of one year. The secretary
shall be eligible for an unlimited number of consecutive one-year terms.
A vacancy occurring in any office shall be filled by the Board.
3.
The Board may choose to reimburse any board member for
his/her out of pocket expenses.
Officers shall not receive compensation for services from the
Council.
4.
The Treasurer shall be responsible for all disbursement
of Council funds, and shall report on receipts and disbursements to each
regular meeting of the Board.
The Treasurer shall annually secure from a qualified independent
individual a financial statement which shall be included in the reports
presented in the February meeting.
5.
The Assistant Treasurer shall be responsible for all
receipts and deposit of Council funds, and shall report receipts and
deposits to the Treasurer in a timely manner.
ARTICLE VI - EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
The President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer,
Assistant Treasurer, The Chair of the Duxbury Place for Hate and the
Outreach Coordinator shall constitute the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee shall carry out such duties as shall be
designated to it by the Board.
The Executive Committee may act on behalf of the Board between
Board meetings on matters of urgency, and shall report any such action
to the Board at its next meeting.
The Executive Committee shall prepare and send out to the Board
no later than December 15, a budget for the next calendar year.
The Executive Committee shall appoint a three
person nominating committee to nominate officers for election at the
Annual Meeting.
ARTICLE VII - MEETINGS
1.
The Board shall meet at least quarterly.
Special meetings may be called by the President, and shall be
called on request of three Members of the Council.
2.
The annual meeting shall be held in January.
The agenda shall include the election of officers, consideration
of reappointment of Associate Members, consideration for Associate
Members to become full Members and adoption of the budget.
3. Written notices of meetings of the Board shall be given at least one week in advance. The minutes of the last meeting shall be included with the notice.
4.
Board Members representing one-half of the Members of
the Council shall constitute a quorum of the Board.
5.
Meetings of the Board shall be conducted in accordance
with Robert’s Rule of Order.
6.
All meetings of the Board shall be open to the public.
ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS
These by-laws may be amended by two-thirds vote of Members represented
at a Board meeting at which two-thirds of the Members of the Council are
represented, when notice of the proposed amendment has been given with
the call to the meeting.
These by-laws shall be completely reviewed every five years.
ARTICLE IX - DISSOLUTION
Upon the dissolution of the Duxbury Interfaith Council, assets shall be
distributed for one or more exempt purposes with the meaning of section
501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any
future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal
government or to a state or local government for a public purposes.