By-Laws
for
Congregation Adat Chaverim
-- Valley Congregation for Humanistic Judaism --
email: info@vchj.net
ARTICLE
I -- NAME
This organization shall be
know as Adat Chaverim, Valley Congregation for Humanistic Judaism (hereinafter,
"congregation"), an affiliate of the Society for Humanistic Judaism
(hereinafter, "society").
ARTICLE 2 -- PURPOSE
The purpose of the congregation
is to celebrate Jewish identity and culture and a humanistic
philosophy of life. The activities of the congregation shall be the exploration,
development, articulation, dissemination, and practice of the ideas and values
of Humanistic Judaism. These are to include:
a. celebrating and observing Jewish holidays and major life cycle events
b. educating the membership in Jewish history, culture, traditions and values
c. engaging in social action and community service
d. providing a link to national
and international Jewish humanistic
organizations
ARTICLE 3 -- MEMBERSHIP and DUES
A. ELIGIBILITY -
Any person is eligible for membership who subscribes to the purpose of this
congregation as stated above. Membership shall be either by individual (age
18 and older) or by family units. Family membership shall include parents/guardians
and children living at home or attending school.
B. RIGHTS OF MEMBERS -
Each member in good standing shall have equal rights and privileges within the
congregation to nominate candidates, to vote in elections, to attend membership
meetings and to participate in the business of the congregation. Membership
in the congregation shall include membership in the Society
for Humanistic Judaism.
C. RESIGNATION OF MEMBERSHIP -
A member desiring to resign from the congregation shall submit a written resignation
to the Secretary who shall present it to the Board. A member who resigns shall
not be entitled to any refund of dues already paid.
D. DUES -
1. Any person wishing to support and participate in congregational activities
is required to become a member after attending congregation events for three
months.
2. Membership is gained by payment of current dues in the amount as recommended
by the Board and approved by a majority of the members. The dues of each member
or family unit shall include membership in the Society. Membership may be suspended,
after due notice, if a member fails to make good on their current indebtedness.
3. Dues are payable annually on January 1st. Dues shall be prorated for the
first year based on the date of initial membership.
4. The dues of any member may be reduced, deferred, or a payment schedule established
upon approval of the Treasurer.
5. A member shall be in good standing if they have paid their dues no later
than 60 days after the obligation becomes due. Only members in good standing
may exercise the rights of membership. Those who have not paid their dues will
be removed from the membership list until such time as the dues are paid.
ARTICLE
4 -- ANNUAL MEETING
1 . The annual membership meetings of the congregation shall be held in March
at a time and place fixed by the Board. Written notice of this meeting shall
be sent to all members at least ten days prior to the meeting.
2. The agenda for the annual membership meeting shall include the election of
officers and any other business that requires a vote of the membership.
3. A quorum for all membership meetings, annual or special, shall consist of
at least tiventy-five (25) percent of the members in good standing. Voting shall
be in person or by proxy ballot.
4. Special meetings of the congregation may be called by the President or upon
petition of twenty-five (25) percent of the membership. The call for a special
meeting shall set forth the purpose of the meeting. Written notice of the meeting
shall be sent to each member at least ten days prior to the meeting. Only business
that is specified in the meeting notice shall be transacted at the special meeting.
5. Decisions at all membership meetings shall be by a simple majority vote.
ARTICLE 5 -- BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A. RESPONSIBILITIES AND MEMBERSHIP
The affairs of the Congregation shall managed by a Board of Directors, who shall
make spending decisions, set general policy, conduct administrative business
and appoint all committee chairs. The Board shall consist of the following individuals:
President, VicePresident, Secretary, Treasurer, Past President, and the Chairs
of Standing Committees.
B. TERM OF OFFICE
The regular term of office of a Board member shall be for one year commencing
one month following the annual meeting.
C. REQUIREMENTS
A Board member must be a member in good standing.
D. VACANCY
If a vacancy occurs on the Board of Directors, the Board shall select a member
of the Congregation to fill the vacancy. If the vacancy occurs in an elected
office, the selected member may fill the position until the next annual meeting
when he/she may run for election.
E. REMOVAL FOR CAUSE
Any Board member can be removed for cause in a secret ballot by a three-fourths
vote of the remaining members of the Board. Such Board member must be notified
at least two weeks in advance of the meeting at which such vote is to be taken
and shall be afforded the opportunity to appear and be heard.
F. ELECTED OFFICERS
The elected officers of the Congregation shall consist of a President, Vice-President,
Secretary, and Treasurer.
G. DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS
1 . President -- the duties of the President shall be to act as chairperson
at all general meetings and board meetings, to call special meetings, to sign
all legal documents and to perform such other duties as may be incident to the
office.
2. Vice-President -- the Vice-President shall automatically succeed to the office of President in case of vacancy and shall act for the President in case of his/her absence or disability. He/she shall perform such duties as may be assigned to them by the President.
3. Treasurer -- the Treasurer shall be the custodian of all funds of the Congregation and shall be the disbursing agent of the Congregation. He/she shall report monthly to the Board and shall present a financial report to the Congregation at the annual meeting. The treasurer shall be the chairperson of the Budget Committee.
4. Secretary -- the Secretary shall serve as secretary of the Congregation and of the Board. He/she shall keep the minutes and perform such other duties as are incident to the office.
H. STANDING COMMITTEES
1 . Congregational activities shall be planned and implemented by committees,
coordinating closely with the Board of Directors. The following will be considered
Standing Committees of the Congregation:
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-a.
-Adult
Education
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-b.
-Youth
Education
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-c.
-Celebrations/Ceremonies
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-d.
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Publicity/Communications
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-e.
-Membership
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f.
-Programming
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-g.
-Social
Action
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-h.
-Hospitality/Tributes
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-i.
-Budget/Fund
Raising
2. The Board shall establish any other special committees that may be deemed necessary. The Board shall determine the duties and responsibilities of all standing and special committees.
ARTICLE 6 -- NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
A. NOMINATION PROCESS
In January of each year, the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee
consisting of the Past President (who will service as chair), the Membership
chair and a member of the Congregation not on the Board.
The Nominating Committee shall openly solicit Congregation members for the-elected office positions. The Committee shall recommend a slate of officers to the Congregation at least two weeks in advance of the Annual Meeting. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor at the Annual Meeting.
B. ELECTIONS
Elections shall be held at the Annual Meeting to be held in March. Elections
shall be by secret written ballot. The Board shall make provisions for members
to vote by proxy. Only members in good standing will be eligible to vote.
ARTICLE 7 -- ADVISORS
If the Congregation has a Rabbi, Madrikh or Madrikha, they shall be an ex-officio member of the Board and act as advisor to the Board in addition to performing all duties relevant to their position.
ARTICLE 8 -- NON-LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS
The directors, including officers, committee chairs and advisors, shall not be personally liable for any debt, liability or other obligation of the Congregation.
ARTICLE 9 -- PROHIBITION AGAINST SPECIFIED ACTIVITIES
No member, officer, director, employee, or other person connected with this Congregation or any private individual shall receive at any time any of the net earnings or pecuniary profit from the operations of the Congregation. However, this provision shall not prevent payment to any such person of reasonable compensation for services performed for the Congregation in effecting any of its purposes, provided that such compensation is otherwise permitted by these by-laws and is fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors. No such person or persons shall be entitled to share in the distribution of, and shall not receive any of the Congregation's assets on dissolution of the Congregation. All members of the Congregation shall be deemed to have expressly consented and agreed that on such dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Congregation, the assets of the Congregation, after all debts have be satisfied, shall be distributed to non-profit organizations to be determined by the Board.
ARTICLE 10 -- AMENDMENTS
Amendments to these by-laws may be proposed by the Board of Directors to the general membership whenever they feel the need to do so. Such proposed amendments shall be presented at the annual meeting or a special meeting may be called. A copy of the proposed amendment shall be included in the notice to the Congregation. Members may also petition the Board to make any amendments.