VFP109 By-Laws

VETERANS FOR PEACE CHAPTER BY-LAWS

Rachel Corrie Chapter 109

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of Chapter 109 shall be Rachel Corrie Chapter (RCCVFP) as per charter granted by the national Veterans For Peace, Inc., (VFP) St. Louis MO on April 4, 2004.

ARTICLE II. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

We, having dutifully served our nation, do hereby affirm our greater responsibility to serve the cause of world peace. To this end we will work, with others:

Toward increasing public awareness of the costs of war,
To restrain our government from intervening, overtly and covertly, in the internal affairs of other nations,
To end the arms race and to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons,
To abolish war and violence as instruments of national policy, internationally and domestically, and
To seek justice for veterans and victims of war.

To achieve these goals, members of Rachel Corrie Chapter Veterans For Peace are dedicated to the use of non-violent means and to maintain an organization that is both democratic and open with the understanding that all members are trusted to act in the best interest of the group for the larger purpose of world peace.

We urge all people who share this vision to join us.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

All members of Chapter 109 work for peace and anyone supporting this goal is welcome as a member. Membership may not be denied because of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or national origin. Members shall be classified as Full, Associate or Honorary, in accordance with national VFP criteria.

ARTICLE IV. DUES

Chapter 109 requires no dues for membership.

ARTICLE V. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. Directors

The Board of Directors shall consist of four positions: the President, the Vice President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer.

Section 2. Selection; Terms of Office:

Board members will be selected by the general membership at the November meetings. Any member meeting the requirements for a position may volunteer or be nominated for that position. Selection will be made based on consensus of the members present.

The term of office for the Directors shall be one year, beginning January 1 and ending December 31.

Section 3. General Responsibilities

The primary responsibility of the Board of Directors is to serve the needs of the RCCVFP membership and help achieve the goals of the organization.

Board approval is required for public displays of RCCVFP opinion and public written and oral statements representing the RCCVFP.

Section 4. Vacancies

The general membership shall fill any vacancies that may occur on the Board of Directors.

Section 5. Quorum

A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.

Section 6. Meetings

The Board of Directors may call a special meeting in conjunction with a regularly scheduled chapter meeting. Special meetings may be called by any of the Directors. The Secretary shall notify chapter members at least 48 hours in advance of any meeting of the Board.

All meetings are open to the membership.

ARTICLE VI. OFFICERS

Section 1. Offices and Terms

The officers of the RCCVFP shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Their terms of office shall be January 1 through December 31 of the year following their election.

Section 2. President

The President shall serve as one of the spokespersons for the RCCVFP, representing the positions and opinions of the RCCVFP before the media and other outside interests. The President must be a full member of the VFP.

Section 3. Vice President

The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President in his/her absence and other duties as assigned by the President. The Vice President must be a full member of the VFP.

Section 4. Secretary

The Secretary shall serve as one of the spokespersons for the RCCVFP, representing the positions and opinions of the RCCVFP before the media and other outside interests. The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping a record of all non-financial chapter correspondence. The Secretary may be a full or associate member of VFP.

The Secretary shall record and maintain the minutes for all meetings. The secretary shall be responsible to maintain a record of all chapter members, including their names, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses. Unless individual chapter members request their personal information be kept private, these record shall be available to chapter members on request.

Section 5. Treasurer

The Treasurer shall serve as one of the spokespersons for RCCVFP, representing the positions and opinions of the RCCVFP before media and other outside interests. The Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping a record of all chapter financial correspondence. The Treasurer may be a full or associate member of VFP.

The Treasurer is responsible for any funds the RCCVFP may accrue or disperse. The Treasurer will maintain necessary financial records and will submit a financial a report to the membership at each regular meeting. The financial report will include beginning balance, receipts, individual disbursements, and ending balance.

ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS

Section 1. Meeting Schedule

Meetings shall take place monthly on the third Sunday of the month, unless otherwise determined by the members. The location of the meeting shall rotate throughout the South Puget Sound area at a location as agreed upon by the membership in attempt to equitably distribute membership-driving burden.

Section 2. Agenda

The President, in consultation with the membership shall draft the agenda for each meeting and decide the order in which the items shall be discussed. The President shall post the meeting agenda on the RCCVFP business listserv. five (5) days prior to each monthly meeting. Members without email addresses may call the President to obtain the agenda within the same five (5) day period.

Section 3. Minutes

The Secretary shall post meeting minutes of all meetings on the RCCVFP business listserv within ten (10) days following each meeting.

Section 4. Quorum

A quorum consists of those members attending any scheduled meeting.

Section 5. Transaction of Business Between Meetings

Decisions that require prompt action between meetings shall be presented to the membership by the Secretary via the RCCVFP Listserv. Decisions shall take place by consensus of those members who respond.

Section 6. Open Meetings

All meetings are open and public. There will be no secret or closed meetings.

Section 7. Motions, Proposals or Calls for Decision

Any member may present a topic for discussion at any time.

ARTICLE VIII. SALARIES

No salaries or other compensation is available.

ARTICLE IX. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules in Robert’s Rules of Order will not be used.

ARTICLE X. ACTION TEAMS (Adopted December 19, 2004)

Rather than utilize Standing Committees, RCCVFP will function principally through Action Teams. Each team will then organize, coordinate and direct specific functions and/or specific types of tasks upon approval of the general membership.

Chapter members will determine what Action Teams are to be created and also can dissolve an Action Team at any time.

The Action Team will be comprised of those who have an interest in a specific event or function or those who have a special talent/skill/connection to make an event or function successful. Each team will consist of three or more members. Action teams will report to the membership as necessary.

ARTICLE XI. AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS

The by-laws may be amended, changed or deleted at any time given proper notification and opportunity for participation as per Article VII.

[Revised and Amended 04.19.09 at the April 2009 Monthly Chapter Meeting]