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BY-LAWS OF THE CONSERVATIVE FORUM FOR UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS

Section 1. Identity

1.1 Name: The name of this organization is "The Conservative Forum for Unitarian Universalists", hereafter referred to as the CFUU.

1.2 Mission: The mission of the CFUU is to ensure that all Unitarian Universalists are free to pursue a responsible search for religious truth and meaning in our societies and throughout the association regardless of their views on politics, economics or social issues.

1.3 Objectives of the CFUU include:

(a) Creating forums for Unitarian Universalists that actively encourage the expression of a wide range of political, economic, and social views consistent with our Association’s Purposes and Principles,

(b) Supporting the right of each Unitarian Universalist to be free to express such views and still be accepted and respected within our movement,

(c) Promoting vigorous dialogue and debate between Unitarian Universalists of all political, social and economic persuasions on issues of importance to Unitarian Universalists, and

(d) Increasing the awareness of the rich diversity of economic, social and political viewpoints that exist within the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).

1.3 Polity: The final authority for all decisions is vested in the legal membership of the CFUU in accordance to the process outlined in these by-laws.

Section 2 Membership

2.1 Qualifications

(a) Membership in the CFUU shall be open to Unitarian Universalist individuals and organizations who support the mission of the CFUU.

(b) An individual or organization becomes a member of the CFUU after: 1) submitting an enrollment form to the Board of the CFUU; 2) making a donation to the CFUU, and 3) receiving recognition that the applications was accepted (generally by receiving a copy of the CFUU journal SIGMA).

(c) Membership in the CFUU shall not be restricted in any way on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, religious preferences, nationality, political affiliation, occupation, educational status, physical abilities or any other attribute not related to a person’s support of the mission of the CFUU.

2.2 Termination of Membership: A person shall cease to be a member:

(a) Upon resigning; or

(b) Upon being notified by the Board of Directors that membership is being terminated due to a prolonged period of inactivity in CFUU functions, or that the member no longer meets the qualifications of membership.

 

3.0 Board of Directors

3.1 Powers and Responsibilities

(a) The Board of Directors shall be responsible for managing the affairs of the CFUU, including matters of personnel, business and property.

(b) Except as restricted by law, the Articles of Incorporation and the by-laws, the Board of Directors shall have the power to conduct all business on behalf of the CFUU. These powers include, but are not limited to:

1) Raising funds.

    1. Maintaining communication instruments, such as a periodic journal and electronic forums.
    2. Planning and executing CFUU events at General Assembly and elsewhere.
    3. Encouraging members to become active in Unitarian Universalist debates and dialogues.

5) Appointing agents and hiring employees required for the conduct of the business of the CFUU, and compensating them fairly.

6) Terminating the employment of persons hired by the CFUU if necessary.

7) Delegating the authority to conduct the business of the CFUU to appropriate officers, agents and employees.

8) Determining where funds of the CFUU shall be deposited.

9) Delegating authority to manage the deposit and disbursement of such funds to appropriate officers and employees;

10) Borrowing money and issuing notes on behalf of the CFUU. ; and

11) Approving applications of membership and terminating membership when appropriate.

(c) In the conduct of the business of the CFUU, the Board of Directors must:

1) Develop and adopt a budget for the activities of the CFUU on a biennial basis. Members of the CFUU shall be provided a copy of that budget prior to its effective date.

2) Adhere to the budget as is reasonably practical, taking into account variations in receipts and changing circumstances that may occur during the fiscal year.

3) Periodically review the by-laws and recommend changes as deemed desirable.

4) Select a member of the CFUU’s Board of Directors prior to the Biennial business meeting to conduct a review of the CFUU’s financial records. The results of this review are to be communicated to all CFUU members.

3.2 Fiscal Year: The fiscal year shall correspond with the fiscal year of the UUA, i.e.,

July 1 to June 30.

3.3 Composition

(a) The Board of Directors shall consist of five (5) to seven (7) members of the CFUU elected by the CFUU at its Biennial business meeting.

(b) The term of a member of the Board of Directors shall be two (2) years.

(c) A Director may resign as a Director of the Board for any reason by submitting a letter of resignation to the President or Vice-President.

(d) Any vacancy in a Board of Directors position shall be filled for the balance of that position’s term by a member of the CFUU appointed by a vote of the majority of remaining board members.

(e) A member of the Board may be removed from the Board of Directors by either:

    1. a 2/3 vote of the Board of Directors, or
    2. a 2/3 vote of the membership, within two (2) months following the receipt by the Board of Directors of a petition calling for the recall vote of a Director or Directors. The petition must contain the valid signatures of at least 25% of the membership of the CFUU before a recall vote will be required.

3.4 Election

(a) Three (3) Directors of the Board shall be appointed by the Board to form the nominating committee. No person shall be eligible for election to the Board of Directors unless nominated by the nominating committee or by written petition signed by at least 10% of the membership and presented to the nominating committee at least sixty (60) days prior to the Biennial business meeting.

(b) At least three (3) weeks before the Biennial business meeting, the CFUU membership will be notified of the slate selected by the nominating committee, plus any additional candidates nominated by petition. Voting will take place at the Biennial business meeting, and the votes cast at the meeting plus absentee ballots received at least one (1) week prior to the Biennial business meeting will be counted. Organizational members shall have one (1) vote each. Individual members (including individuals who belong to member organizations) shall have one (1) vote each. In the event there are more candidates for Director positions than there are open positions, the candidates receiving the most votes when the votes are counted shall be elected.

3.5 Officers

(a) Designation: The officers of the CFUU are the president, vice-president, and treasurer.

(b) Election: The first item of business at the first Board of Director’s meeting following the election of directors shall be the election of Directors to fill the position of president, vice-president, and treasurer for the duration of their two-year term.

(c) Responsibilities: In addition to the responsibilities of being a Board of Directors member, the responsibilities of the individual officers are:

1) President: To be chief executive officer of the CFUU, and preside over meetings of the Board of Directors and the CFUU.

2) Vice-President: To act in the absence of the president, and be responsible for the conduct of all regular CFUU communications.

3) Treasurer: To maintain custody of CFUU’s funds and securities and keep books of account with respect to the properties, receipts and disbursements of the CFUU in accordance with accepted accounting practices.

4) An Officer may resign their position and still continue as Director for the remainder of their term by submitting their resignation as officer at a duly constituted meeting of the Board, and having that resignation accepted by a majority vote of the Board.

    1. The Officers shall constitute the Executive Committee, which can act on behalf of the Board between Board meetings. Actions taken by the Executive Committee must be ratified by the Board at the Board meeting most closely following the Executive Committee action.

3.6 Board Meetings

(a) Regular meetings of the board shall occur at a time and place agreed upon by the majority of the board. Board meetings may also be conducted electronically or over the telephone.

(b) The board shall meet at least two (2) times between Biennial business meetings.

(c) All meetings of the Board of Directors are to conducted in accordance with the most recent version of Roberts Rules of Order.

(d) Three (3) members of the board constitute a quorum.

4.0 Roles and Responsibilities of the CFUU

4.1 Allocation of Funds:

(a) Funds received by The CFUU shall be deposited by the Treasurer into appropriate accounts.

    1. (b) The Treasurer shall prepare a budget of estimated income and expenditures for the next two fiscal years following a Biennial business meeting, and present the budget for adoption by the Board of Directors and presentation to the membership.

4.2 Goals and Assessments: The CFUU shall adopt, at regular intervals no greater than five (5) years, quantitative and qualitative goals to guide its future activities and priorities. These goals, at a minimum, should use the census results as a metric of progress.

4.3 Biennial Business Meeting: Every other year, the Board shall schedule and conduct a meeting of the membership of the CFUU at General Assembly.

5.0 Amendments

5.1 Amendments to these by-laws may be proposed by the Board of Directors or by petition of the CFUU containing the signatures of at least thirty-five percent (35%) of the membership at the time of the petition.

5.2 Ballots containing the proposed by-law revision(s) shall be sent to the members of the CFUU at least three (3) weeks prior to the date the votes are to be counted.

5.3 Proposed amendments to these by-laws become effective immediately following an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the ballots received.

6.0 Dissolution

6.1 Dissolution: In the event that the CFUU is no longer viable, all assets of the CFUU shall, upon dissolution, revert to the UUA or its successor.

 

Adopted on:_________ by action of the Board of Directors

(date)