KEWEENAW UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP
BYLAWS
(as
amended,
The name of this religious organization shall be the Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, herein referred to as the Fellowship.
The purpose of this Fellowship is to serve the religious needs of its members and friends, to stimulate individual development of a positive and ethical philosophy of life, to provide mutual support, and to provide a liberal religious presence in the community. As a Welcoming Congregation, we promote the full participation of persons in all our activities without regard to race, color, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, age or national origin, and without requiring adherence to any particular interpretation of religion or to any particular religious belief or creed.
Any person who is in sympathy with its purpose and program and has signed the Membership Book with an officer or trustee as witness may become a general member of this Fellowship. A general member becomes a voting member, and a fair share member, upon making some regular, identifiable contribution of record.
All members should have an understanding of the history and the current status of the Unitarian Universalist movement. This Fellowship shall be a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association and of the Central Midwest District. It is the intention of the Fellowship to make annual financial contributions equal to its full fair share as determined by the Association and the District.
The dates of regular non-business meeting of the Fellowship shall be determined by the Fellowship itself, or by any person or persons designated by it. The Annual Business Meeting shall be held each year in late spring, at such time and place as shall be fixed by the Board of Trustees, with new officers and board members assuming office on July 1. Special business meetings may be called at the written request of any five voting members or scheduled by the board.
The business to be transacted at all meetings shall be set forth in the notice of the meeting, which shall be communicated to all members fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting. Twenty (20) percent of the voting membership shall constitute a quorum. In the event a quorum is not present at the Annual Business Meeting, a mailed ballot can be conducted. All votes will be decided by simple majority unless otherwise stated in the bylaws.
The Fellowship shall have the following four officers: President, Vice-president, Secretary and Treasurer. The terms of office shall be two years, the President and Vice-president to be elected in odd years, the Secretary and Treasurer in even years. The President shall preside at all board and membership meetings, appoint committees and represent the Fellowship to the public. The Vice-president shall be President-elect, with a new Vice-president chosen when the former Vice-president assumes office as President. The Vice-president will preside at board meetings in the absence of the President, and shall perform other duties as directed by the President. The Secretary shall take, distribute and maintain minutes of all board and general membership meetings, manage written ballots, as needed, and perform other duties as directed by the President. The Treasurer shall be a member of the finance committee and with its assistance, manage the finances of the Fellowship, including collecting the offerings, paying bills and preparing the annual budgets for adoption at the annual meeting.
The Board of Trustees shall consist of the four officers plus at least four and no more than eight voting members of the Fellowship. These at large trustees shall serve two year staggered terms, elected each year at the annual meeting.
The Board of Trustees shall have general charge of the property of the Fellowship, the conduct of all of its business affairs and the control of its administration, including approval of the President's appointment of such committees, as it may deem necessary. It may fill vacancies on the board with individuals who shall serve until the next annual meeting.
There shall be established a Ministerial Committee of three persons who shall meet monthly with the Minister for the purposes of support and communication. The members of the committee shall be selected by the Fellowship president from a list of six voting members of the Fellowship submitted by the Minister, and approved by the board of trustees. The term of office of members shall be three years, with the exception of the first year, when one member will be chosen for a term of one year and a second for a term of two years, to establish staggered terms of membership.
The Nominating Committee shall consist of three voting members, elected at the annual meeting, and serving for one year. The Nominating Committee will prepare a slate of officers and trustees to fill such positions as are open and three nominating committee members for presentation to the membership at the annual meeting.
The Finance Committee shall consist of the treasurer and at least three voting members, appointed by the president and approved by the Board of Trustees. The terms of office are open to the discretion of the president and board. The finance committee will oversee the financial records, advise the treasurer, prepare the annual budget and carry out other assignments approved by the board.
The Minister shall be responsible for the conduct of worship within the congregation and the congregation's spiritual interests and affairs. The Minister shall have freedom of the pulpit as well as freedom to express his/her opinion outside the pulpit.
The Minister shall be an ex officio member of the board of trustees and of such committees as the board shall designate.
The Minister shall be called upon recommendation of the Ministerial Search Committee by a four-fifths affirmative vote of qualified members of the congregation present at any meeting legally called for the purpose, quorum for such a meeting to be constituted by forty percent of the voting members rather than twenty percent, as called for in Article V.
The Minister may be dismissed by a majority vote of the voting members of the congregation present at any meeting legally called for the purpose, the quorum for such a meeting to be constituted by forty percent of the voting members rather than twenty percent of the voting members as called for in Article V.
In the event of a Minister's dismissal, his/her salary and allowance shall be continued for three months after the date of dismissal. Should a Minister offer his/her resignation, three month’s notice must be given at the time the resignation is made, except as the governing board may allow an interval of less time.
The fiscal year shall run from June 1 to May 31.
The officers of the Fellowship, the student extension minister, any visiting UU minister, the Fellowship minister or any member of the Fellowship designated by the board of trustees is authorized to officiate at a marriage ceremony pursuant to the laws of Michigan. The Fellowship shall offer congregational and ministerial support for union ceremonies and memorial services for all evolving definitions of family.
These bylaws so far as allowed by law, may be amended or replaced at any legally called meeting of the Fellowship by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those voting members present and voting. Notice of any proposed change shall be contained in the notice of the meeting.
Should this Fellowship cease to function and the membership vote to disband, any assets of the Fellowship will be transferred to the Unitarian Universalist Association for its general purposes this transfer to be made in full compliance with whatever laws are applicable.