Our Bylaws at Buffalo Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

The legal name of this fellowship shall be: Buffalo Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

The purpose of this Fellowship is to provide opportunities for persons to come together for the study and exploration of religions, philosophies, ethics and the inspirational and provide an atmosphere where one can develop and revise one’s own philosophy
and beliefs.

The Fellowship also provides aid and support to organizations and efforts, which improve the quality of life. This Fellowship will provide the opportunity to gather with others for fellowship and support, and provide a meeting place where freedom of belief is allowed and the belief of each individual is respected.

This Fellowship supports the statement of principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association and the principle of separation of church and state.

Any person who has reached the age of majority (18) and is in sympathy with the Fellowship’s purposes may become a member by signing the Membership Book and making a minimal contribution as established by the Board of Directors. Members making the minimum contribution will be eligible to vote at regular meetings. Voting eligibility for special or annual meetings requires membership for at least 28 days prior to the meeting.

There shall be no creedal test, expressed or implied, required for membership. Withdrawal of membership may be made by written request to the secretary of the Fellowship. The request will be transmitted to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall remove from membership a member who has died or a member who cannot be located.

The regular meetings of the Fellowship shall be determined by the Fellowship itself or by any person or persons designated by it. The Annual Meeting shall be held in the last half of May at such a time and place as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors. Special meetings may be called at the written request of any five (5) members. The business to be transacted shall be stated in the calls to all meetings. Notice of the annual and any special meetings shall be written and given or sent to each member not less than fifteen (15) days before the meeting. Twentyfive (25) per cent of the members shall constitute a quorum.

The Fellowship will work toward affiliation with the Prairie Star District and the Unitarian Universalist Association.

The Board of Directors shall consist of the elected officers and the appointed chairs of the permanent committees, and it shall consist of not less than four (4) persons and not more than sixteen (16) persons. Board of Directors members may hold multiple positions.

The officers will be chosen by ballot of the membership for the following positions: president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. The chairs of permanent committees are appointed by the president and are voting members of the Board of Directors. All Board of Directors members shall serve for one year or until the next Annual Meeting or until their successors have been chosen. Committee chairs on the Board of Directors are eligible for reappointment.

The immediate past president shall also serve on this committee for a two-year period following his or her last term. The founding president shall remain on the committee as an ex-officio member without vote unless elected to a position or appointed as a committee chair.

The Board of Directors may call an Executive Session at its discretion; only members of the Board of Directors may attend these meetings. All other meetings are open to the members of the Fellowship. The Board of Directors may take no final or formal action when it meets in Executive Session.

The Board of Directors shall be in charge of the property of the Fellowship and the conduct of all of its business affairs and the control of its administration, including the appointment of such committees, as it may deem necessary. It may fill any vacancies, and persons so selected shall serve until the next Annual Meeting. All members of the Board of Directors shall be members of the Fellowship.

The Executive Committee shall consist of the four (4) elected officers of the Fellowship. Two (2) members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum. Minutes of the meetings shall be kept, and actions taken shall stand unless disavowed by the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the conduct of the affairs of the Fellowship between meetings of the Board of Directors, and it shall have such other duties and perform such functions as are designated by the Board of Directors. Any action taken by the Executive Committee must be ratified by the full Board of Directors at its next meeting.

The Nominating Committee shall consist of three (3) members, at least two of whom are not members of the Board of Directors. They shall be chosen at the Annual Meeting or a special meeting by nomination from the floor. The nominees need not be present if prior approval has been obtained. The Nominating Committee will interview officer candidates and make nominations at the next
Annual Meeting.

A. FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year shall begin on July 1 of each year.

B. NONPROFIT STATUS
The Fellowship is constituted as a nonprofit corporation. As such, no part of the Fellowship’s net earnings shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to, its members, trustees, officers or other private persons, except that the Fellowship shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered.

These Bylaws may be amended or replaced, subject to the requirements of Article 4, at any annual or special meeting of the membership by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present and voting. Notice of any proposed change shall be contained in the notice of the meeting.

In the event of the dissolution of this Fellowship, all of its net assets shall be distributed to the Unitarian Universalist Association.

Robert’s Rules of Order Revised shall govern the proceedings of all meetings of the members and the Board of Directors.