St. Charles County Chapter of Missouri Foster Care and Adoption Association

SCCMFCAA By-laws

St. Charles County Chapter Missouri Foster Care and Adoption Association

By-laws

 

Article 1 – Name

 

The name of this organization shall be the St. Charles County Chapter of the Missouri Foster Care and Adoption Association, hereafter referred to as the chapter.

 

Article 2- Purpose

The purpose is

1)     To unite the efforts of various organizations in St. Charles County addressing the needs of adoptive and foster children in a cooperative way.

2)     To educate the public and elicit support.

3)     To effect legislative changes benefiting foster and adoptive children.

4)     To develop a plan to have more open, honest two-way communication between foster/adoptive parents and other support persons and agencies.

 

Article 3- Policy

 

The Chapter shall be self-governing, non-profit, non-partisan, and non-sectarian.

 

Article 4- Membership

 

  1. The membership shall consist of individuals and organizations interested in the purpose of the Chapter.  For the purpose of dues, members shall be classified as individual, family or organizational members.
  2. All individual members whose dues are paid are entitled to vote.
  3. All individual members, except for those who are employed by the state in the delivery of services to foster and adoptive children and by juvenile courts, shall be eligible to hold office.
  4. Each organization becoming a member shall be entitled to designate one of its members to vote as a representative who shall have the same rights and privileges as an individual member until written notice is given to the Secretary.  Each member organization shall furnish the Secretary with the name and address if it’s voting representative and with the names and addresses of its members.
  5. Each member shall be entitled to one vote.  There is no limit to the number of adult (18 and over) members who may join as individuals.

 

Article 5- Annual Meeting of the Members

 

  1. The annual meeting of the members shall be held in October.  At the annual meeting reports of the officers shall be given covering the preceding year; including activities and finances.  Also the goals for the next year will be presented.
  2. Special meetings of the members shall be called by the President upon written request of 15% of the members as of the date of the last annual meeting.  The request shall set forth the purpose of the meeting and no business shall be transacted except that for which the call is issued.
  3. Written notice of all scheduled meetings of the members for the upcoming year shall be mailed to the members, addressed to their last know address, no less than 14 days prior to the meeting date.
  4. The action of the majority of the members present and voting shall be the action of the Chapter.
  5. Officers shall be elected at the annual meeting.

 

Article 6- Dues

 

  1. The amount of annual dues shall be set at the annual meeting for individual, family and organization membership.
  2. Annual dues shall be payable on or before the annual meeting and shall be good for one year from the date of the annual meeting.

 

Article 7- Officers

 

The officers of the chapter shall be as detailed on the attached sheet.   Officers shall serve for a period of 1 year and may be elected for another 1 year term.  Officers may not serve in the same office for more than two consecutive terms.  Members of the same family cannot serve as officers concurrently.

 

Article 8- Duties of the Officers

See attached sheet with position descriptions.  (You can see this information under the officers tab on our website).

 

Article 9- Nomination Committee

 

  1. At the annual meeting the President shall appoint a nominating committee consisting of a chairman and two members.  The committee shall nominate officers for each of the positions on the attached job description page.
  2. The nominating committee shall secure the consent of the person nominated, and mail the slate along with a brief description of the nominee to the entire membership no less than 14 days prior to the date of the election.
  3. The description shall include the nominee’s experience as a foster or adoptive parent, membership or participation in other organizations pertinent to foster/adoptive issues, if any.  Prior participation is not required.
  4. The election shall be in May and they will assume office at the October annual meeting.

 

 

 

Article 10 – Ballots and Elections

 

  1. Additional nominees for any or all offices may be added at the time of the election, the consent of the nominee having been first obtained.
  2. If no candidates are nominated, a show of hands will be permissible to accept the slate of nominees.
  3. In the case of nominations from the floor, written ballots will be used for the specific position.
  4. Absentee ballots must be requested 7 days prior to the election and returned to the chairman of the nominating committee 24 hours prior to the election.
  5. Each member is allowed one (1) vote in an election, family membership two (2) votes, and member organizations (1) vote.
  6. All ballots will be opened and counted before the end of the meeting.  The highest number of votes shall be declared elected.

 

Article 11- Standing and Special Committees

 

The President shall appoint the chairman for the standing and special committees that it deems necessary.  The chairman of all committees (or their designated representative) shall report to the membership at monthly meetings.

 

Article 12- Management of Funds

 

  1. The funds shall be deposited in a bank insured by the federal government.
  2. Disbursements shall be by check and should be signed by the Treasurer as approved by the President.
  3. A signature card at the bank shall contain signatures of the Treasurer and the President.
  4. The books of the chapter shall be reviewed by the financial committee at least once a year and audited prior to the annual meeting if requested by a simple majority of the membership.  The Treasurer shall report to the membership at each meeting.

 

Article 13- Amendments

Theses by-laws may be amended

1)     By a majority vote of members present at any annual meeting, provided that notice of the amendments has been mailed to the members by the secretary no less than 14 days prior to the date of the annual meeting.

 

Article 14- Robert’s Rules of Order

Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern this chapter except where inconsistent with these bylaws.

 

Article 15- Meeting

Meetings will be held at 7PM on the second Tuesday of the month.

 

Approved by Acclamation 11/8/94.  Put into word document format 1/1/2009/cc.