Unitarian
Universalist
Small Group Ministry Network
BYLAWS
Adopted
on September 13th, 2004, by the board of
the Unitarian Universalist Small Group Ministry Network
Article I. NAME
The
name of this society shall be the Unitarian Universalist Small
Group Ministry Network (UU SGM Network).
Article
II.
PURPOSE
1.
The purpose of the UU SGM Network is to support small group ministry
and related shared ministry models in Unitarian Universalist congregations
through the development of new resources, networking and training
opportunities.
2. The UU SGM Network shall maintain affiliation with the Unitarian
Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA).
Article
III. MEMBERS
1
Qualifications
(a) Membership in the UU SGM Network shall be open to Unitarian
Universalist individuals and congregations who support the mission
of the UU SGM Network
(b) An individual or congregation becomes a member of the UU SGM
Network after: 1) submitting an enrollment form; 2) paying the
appropriate membership fee as established by the UU SGM Network
board, and 3) receiving confirmation that the application was
accepted (generally by email).
(c) Membership in the UU SGM Network shall not be restricted in
any way on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation,
gender identity, religious preferences, nationality, political
affiliation, occupation, educational status, physical abilities
or any other attribute not related to a person's support of the
mission of the UU SGM Network.
2. Termination of Membership: A person shall cease to be a member:
(a) Upon resigning; or
(b) Upon failure to meet the qualifications of membership.
Article
IV. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
1.
The Board of Directors (hereinafter referred to as the Board)
shall be elected at the annual meeting for one-year terms and
are eligible for reelection. However, no officer or Board Member
shall serve more than three consecutive years in any one office.
2. The duties of the President shall be to preside at business
meetings, to represent the UU SGM Network at appropriate occasions,
and to appoint committees in consultation with the Board of Directors.
The President shall make a report at the annual meeting; this
report shall include any actions taken by the Board since the
last annual meeting.
3. The Vice President's primary responsibility shall be the coordination
of events at General Assembly.
4. The duties of the Secretary shall be to keep minutes of all
meetings and an up-to-date mailing list of all members. The Secretary
shall notify members of future plans and meeting dates.
5. The Executive Board of the UU SGM Network shall consist of
the President, Vice President and Secretary.
6. The duties of the Treasurer shall be to process membership
fees, to disburse funds for UU SGM Network expenditures and to
maintain the financial records of the Network. The Treasurer shall
present an annual report at the annual meeting; this report will
include a financial report since the last Annual Meeting.
7. Any mid-term vacancies on the Board shall be filled by a majority
vote of the Board with new officers serving through the next Annual
Meeting.
8. The Board, on behalf of the UU SGM Network may employ an administrator
and resource, training and publication coordinator(s), and may
delegate duties and responsibilities, notwithstanding that such
duties or responsibilities may under the Bylaws be assigned to
the delegating officer or committee member, as appropriate.
9. The Board will meet at least quarterly.
10. For the purposes of voting a quorum of the Board shall be
a simple majority of elected board members.
11. Fiscal Year: The fiscal year shall correspond with the fiscal
year of the UUA, July 1 to June 30.
Article
V. MEETINGS
1.
The annual meeting shall be held in conjunction with the General
Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association, at a time
and place determined by the Executive Board. Additional meetings
of the UU SGM Network shall be announced to the membership with
at least 14 days notice prior to the meeting date.
2. For the purpose of voting on UU SGM Network business each individual
member shall be entitled to one vote, and each member congregation
entitled to as three delegates with each delegate having a single
vote. There is no provision for absentee or proxy voting.
3. For the purpose of voting on UU SGM Network business at duly
called meetings, a quorum shall consist those members present.
Article
VI. COMMITTEES
1.
The Nominating Committee shall be elected yearly at the annual
meeting, will serve for one year, and will consist of no fewer
than three nor more than five active members. This committee shall
propose a slate for the Officers, the Audit Committee, and the
Nominating Committee.
2.
The Audit Committee, consisting of three people, shall be elected
at the annual meeting, and shall review the books of the current
fiscal year. The Audit Committee shall then submit a brief written
report to the Executive Board before the end of the current fiscal
year.
3.
Committees may be appointed by the President as needed to study
special topics or problems pertaining to the UU SGM Network. The
President shall be a member ex-officio of all committees.
Article
VII. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The
rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order
Newly Revised Edition shall govern the Network in all cases to
which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent
with these bylaws and any special rules of order the Association
may adopt.
Article
VIII. AMENDMENT
These
bylaws may be amended at the annual meeting by the affirmative
vote of at least two-thirds of the active members present and
voting at such meeting provided that advance written notice of
such amendments shall be given along with notice of the meeting
at which such action is to be considered. Notice shall be given
in the previous quarter's issue of the UU SGM Network publication,
the SGM Quarterly. Amendments shall become effective immediately
after adjournment of the meeting at which they are adopted.
Article
IX. DURATION AND DISSOLUTION
1.
The UU SGM Network shall continue until a proposal for dissolution
shall be passed by the Executive Board and the voting members
of the Association. For purposes of notice and voting requirements,
any such proposal shall be treated as an amendment to these Articles
and shall comply with the provisions of Article IX hereof.
2. Upon the dissolution of the Network, the Executive Board shall,
after paying or making provisions for the payment of all of the
liabilities of the Network, dispose of all of the assets of the
Network exclusively for the purposes of the organization in such
manner, or to such organization(s) operated exclusively for charitable,
educational, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the
time qualify as an exempt organization(s) under Section 501(c)3
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provisions
of any future United States Internal Revenue law) as the UU SGM
Network shall determine. Any such assets shall be disposed of
by the Court of Competent Jurisdiction of the county or district
in which the principal office of the Association is located, exclusively
for such purposes or to such organization(s), as said court shall
determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such
purposes.
3. The UU SGM Network will prefer to designate as the recipient
of such remaining assets the general fund of the Unitarian Universalist
Association, 25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108.
Adopted
on September 13th, 2004, by the board of
the Unitarian Universalist Small Group Ministry Network
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