Bylaws of the Humanist Community of Central Ohio, Inc. (HCCO)
Article One: Purpose
The purposes for which the Community is established shall be as detailed in its Articles of Incorporation.
Article Two: Membership
Membership is open to anyone who agrees with the purpose set forth in Article One of these Bylaws and has paid their membership dues in full to date.
“Good Standing” for purposes of these Bylaws means the member dues are paid in full to date. Only the Treasurer and Secretary of HCCO can verify if members are in good standing.
Members may be removed from the group by a 2/3 vote of the Board of Trustees at an executive session called for that purpose, with notice given to the member in question as provided for in Article 5. The member in question need not be required to attend the meeting.
Article Three: Officers/Board of Trustees
Section 1 - Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees (Board) shall conduct the business of the Community between the Annual Meetings or other business meetings. The Board of Trustees shall consist of up to ten members who must be HCCO members in good standing. The Board of Trustees shall elect the officers of HCCO from among the Board.
Board of Trustees term of office shall be two (2) years and served in staggered terms where half of the available seats are up for election each year except for the term after adoption of these Bylaws where five (5) seats will be a one (1) year term and five (5) seats will be the regular two (2) year term.
Section 2 - Officers
HCCO shall have the following officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
All officers serve at the pleasure of the Board and may be removed by a 2/3 vote of the full Board or by majority vote of the membership present at a special meeting called for that purpose. If an officer is removed under this section they may not be appointed or be eligible for an office or Board of Trustees seat for a period of not less than three (3) years after removal.
An officer may hold more than one but not more than two additional offices at the same time.
Section 3 - Officer Duties
The following are the basic duties of the officers of HCCO:
PRESIDENT:
Chairs all business and general meetings of the Humanist Community unless they delegate the chair with no objections. Coordinates the work of other officers and committees. Appoints all committee chairs with approval of the Board of Trustees and is Exofficio member of all committees. Prepares or consults on the preparation of the agenda for all business meetings of the Humanist Community. Liaison with other Humanist and likeminded organizations. Exercises executive authority of the Humanist Community, which can be subject to ratification by the Board or by the membership. Official chapter delegate to the American Humanist Association (may also appoint alternate or acting delegates). Official spokesperson for the HCCO Board and HCCO. Receives official notices (such as resignations, etc.) from other officers. Makes regular reports to the Board about HCCO operations, other officers’ work, and the work of the committees. Is the official contact person for any social media related service such as website domain registration or email list ownership as needed.
Performs other duties as required under custom or law, or as detailed in the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws or resolutions of the Humanist Community Board of Trustees.
VICE PRESIDENT:
Assumes President’s duties as requested by the President or during the disability of the President. The Vice President shall assist the President as requested.
Performs other duties as required under custom or law, or as detailed in the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws or resolutions of the Humanist Community Board of Trustees.
SECRETARY:
Produces written minutes of all business meetings, providing same to the President and Board members prior to the next business meeting. Maintains official records of all business matters (other than those maintained by the Treasurer). Makes electronic copies of the minutes available for posting on the HCCO website. Along with the Treasurer, verifies the status of members for voting purposes at the Annual Meeting. The Secretary shall assist the President as requested.
Performs other duties as required under custom or law, or as detailed in the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws or resolutions of the Humanist Community Board of Trustees.
TREASURER:
Maintains records of all financial transactions. Produces written reports, providing same to the President and Board members prior to the next business meeting. Produces a monthly financial summary, in electronic format, that can be posted to the HCCO website. Writes checks as directed, obtains authorized signatures and distributes checks to the payee. Cannot be an authorized signer for checks. Makes all deposits in a timely manner. Along with the Secretary, verifies the status of members for voting purposes at the Annual Meeting. The Treasurer shall assist the President as requested.
Performs other duties as required under custom or law, or as detailed in the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws or resolutions of the Humanist Community Board of Trustees.
Section 4 – Committees
HCCO shall have committees as deemed necessary by the Board of Trustees or the membership. These shall be established by resolution of the Board of Trustees or by vote of the membership at the Annual Meeting or other special business meeting called for that purpose.
Committee chairs shall be appointed by the President with confirmation of the Board. Chairs and members of committees shall at least be members in good standing of HCCO but not necessarily be members of the Board. The number of members on a committee shall be determined by the Board.
Committee chairs shall consult the President about their activities, and shall give the President regular written reports on their activities which shall be presented to the Board during Board meetings by the Committee chairs or by the President.
Section 5 - Continuation
Policies and/or resolutions adopted during a Board of Trustees term remains in force unless and until those policies and/or resolutions are changed or repealed by vote of a future Board of Trustees.
Section 6 - End of Terms
Upon relinquishing a leadership position, the outgoing office holder shall turn over all records to the Board which will then turn them over to his or her successor. Additionally, the outgoing office holder shall provide the incoming officeholder or Board with any and all information necessary to enable the newly elected officer to carry out the functions of that position.
Article Four: Elections
Section 1:
The Board of Trustees shall be elected at the Annual Meeting by secret ballot. At least 2 members who are not under consideration for election shall count the ballots and announce the results.
Nominations are open from the time the Annual Meeting is announced until the ballots are handed out. Interested persons can nominate themselves.
Candidates must be elected by a 2/3 votes of the members present even if the number of open seats exceed the number of nominated candidates.
Section 2:
If fewer than 2 persons are elected according to Section 1, then the nominations will be reopened and another vote held until at least 2 persons are elected.
Section 3:
Vacancies on the Board of Trustees can occur through resignation or can be declared if a Board member fails to attend three (3) consecutive regularly scheduled Board meetings.
Vacancies shall be filled by the Board of Trustees, subject to ratification by the membership at a meeting announced for that purpose. The vote may take place during a regularly scheduled meeting as long as the membership is notified a vote will take place. Ratification shall be by 2/ 3 votes of the members present. Appointed Board members may serve between the time of appointment and time of ratification.
The appointed board member will serve the remainder of the term of the person being replaced.
If there is a vacancy within 60 days before the Annual Meeting, the appointment ratification vote may take place at the Annual Meeting as a separate vote apart from the regular Board of Trustees election. This ratification vote also requires a 2/3 vote of the members present. The term of this particular appointment will still be the remainder of the term of the person being replaced.
Section 4:
The term of office for the Board of Trustees shall begin on the following January 1. Newly elected members are encouraged to begin attending Board of Trustees meetings immediately upon election as nonvoting observers.
Article Five: Meetings
The Annual Meeting for the election of the Board of Trustees shall be held as determined by the Board of Trustees. Other meetings shall be held at the call of the Board of Trustees, the President, or upon petition of at least onefourth of the total voting membership.
The Board of Trustees shall meet at the call of the President, a majority of members of the Board of Trustees, or upon petition of at least onefourth of the total voting membership.
All voting members shall be given notice of any business meeting. This notice shall include the date, time, location, and general agenda. The notice can be given through the official website, social media channels, email, telephone, or through the US Mail.
Providing that notice of at least two (2) weeks has been given for any meeting, a quorum will consist of those voting members in attendance.
This shall not apply to meetings of the Board of Trustees, which shall be empowered to adopt its own rules of procedure covering issues of notice, quorum, etc.
Article Six: Amendments
Proposed amendments to these bylaws may be presented by any member in good standing. The proposed amendment shall be presented in writing to the HCCO board not less than 60 days before the monthly meeting at which it is to be considered. A reading of all proposed amendments shall be submitted to the membership not less than 30 days prior to the meeting. Publication in the official newsletter of HCCO, posting on the HCCO website, on official social media channels, email, telephone, or through the US Mail will constitute notice to the membership.
A twothirds vote of the eligible voting membership present at the meeting shall be required for adoption of an amendment.
All amendments made under this article shall take effect immediately unless said amendment affects the make up or terms of the Board of Trustees, then the amendment shall take effect on the start of the next Board of Trustee term.
Article Seven: Procedures
All questions of procedure not covered in these bylaws shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order (current edition). The Board of Trustees shall be empowered to adopt its own rules of procedure for its meetings.
The membership may elect to waive rules of procedure or adopt special rules by a vote of at least threefourths of those in attendance.
Article Eight: Statement of Principles
The Community shall enact a Statement of Principles which shall be incorporated herein by reference as if written out in full.
Article Nine: Limitations
This set of bylaws shall give way in the event that it is in conflict with the Articles of Incorporation of the Community or the nonprofit laws of the United States or the State of Ohio, including, but not limited to, the Internal Revenue Code (1954) or succeeding documents. The voiding of any section of these bylaws due to such a conflict shall not affect the enforceability of the remaining sections of the bylaws.
Article Ten: Protection of Property
Section 1:
All property, physical or intellectual, purchased or created in an official capacity, for use by HCCO, its officers, and the Board is the exclusive property of HCCO and such property must be returned on demand or at the end of an officer’s term.
Property included in this policy includes all equipment, printed material, any donated items, computer files including all databases or other information or document archives in any format, software purchased by or for HCCO, video or audio tapes, master copies used for printing, membership materials, lists (computer or written), advertising materials, or any work product created in the carrying out of official HCCO business.
Section 2:
Items not included in this policy is any property listed above that is specifically loaned for use by HCCO and such property was created or purchased without HCCO funds or equipment.
Section 3:
Destruction or disposal of property noted in Section 1 of this amendment can only be done with the expressed approval of the Board of Trustees of HCCO.
Adopted by a vote of the membership of HCCO on 11/10/2012 Amended on May 10th 2014 by vote of the membership.