Existing Bylaws Adopted, February 2005

 

 

ARTICLE 4 - STANDING COMMITTEES

 

Section 1 - The EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE shall be comprised of the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and a Member-at-Large approved by the Executive Board.  The Executive Committee shall have the responsibility and authority to:

1.  Monitor and coordinate the various areas of Citizen Advocacy

            --  Prepare, discuss issues for Board approval

            --  Strategic planning and budget proposal meeting with Executive Director in November.

            --  Program meeting with Executive Director and Program Coordinator in January each year.

            --  Govern and supervised board development

2. Personnel

            -- Review policies, job descriptions, handle grievance issues

            -- Hire and evaluate Executive Director

            -- Set salary levels

3. With Executive Director Coordinate Board and committee activities

            -- Obtain minutes of committees

TIME COMMITMENTS:

-- Meetings of approximately (2) hours in November and January and as deemed necessary by the President.

COMPOSITION:

-- President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and one Member-at-Large approved by the Board and Executive Director ex-officio.

 

Section 2 – The ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE shall have the responsibility and authority to:

1.   Develop the plans necessary to raise funds to support the budget.

2.   Develop short range and long range funding sources.

3.   Determine and prescribe the responsibility for each fundraising activity.

4.   By October, develop an annual fund raising plan for the upcoming year that will generate funds needed to  meet   

      budget requirements to be approved by the Executive Committee at the November meeting.

5.   Investigate new fund raising projects, activities and ideas for possible future use.

6.   Develop a file on fund raising procedures for use by future committees.

7.   Annually evaluate it work and report on this evaluation to the Board at its January meeting.

8.   Report to the President of the Board quarterly.

 

TIME COMMITMENTS:

-- Quarterly and as necessary.

COMPOSITION:

-- Shall consist of a minimum of three with (1) member from the Board of Directors, plus Executive Director, ex-officio and members of Citizen Advocacy and/or community volunteers. The chairman in consultation with the Executive Director can nominate the committee members.

 

 

Section 3 - The NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE shall consist of at least three (3) members, appointed by the President, and shall include the Past President, if available, who will act as chair.  The NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE shall have the authority to:

1.  Search for and to nominate members of the Board of Directors.

2.  Nominate officer candidates for election by the Board of Directors.

3.  Provide orientation for new members of the Board of Directors

4.  Coordinate periodic seminars, activities and/or material for board development

5.  Brainstorm about new people needed on the board and contact them about their interest in serving. Prepare slate    

     with information on board nominees in time for mailing done for annual dinner. (By late August)

6.  Brainstorm and make contacts throughout the year for current or future vacancies on the board.

7.  Contact board members whose terms will be expiring to find out their interest in running for another two-year term. 8.  Talk to present or potential officers (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer) about serving one-term. Have

     slate ready for election at board meeting following annual meeting. (October)

 

Qualifications:

- Familiar with people in the community

- Comfortable talking with people about Citizen Advocacy and asking about their possible involvement.

 

Time Commitment:

- Meetings and phone calls as needed to prepare slate for October Annual meeting and officer slate for November board   

   meeting.

- On-going effort for vacancies and year round recruitment

 

Guidelines about composition of the board:

- Executive Director ex-officio plus minimum of 3 people Committee shall consist of at least 1 members, appointed by

  the President, and shall include the Past President, if available.

 

 

Section 4 – The POLICY COMMITTEE

 

Responsibilities:

1. Review on an annual basis the Articles of Incorporation, By-laws, Personnel Policies and Committee Job   

   Descriptions.

2. Develop and propose revisions to the Articles of Incorporation, By-laws Personnel Policies and Committee Job

    Descriptions for Board of Director approval.

 

Policy Committee shall consist of one (1) member of the Board of Directors, members of Citizen Advocacy and/or community volunteers. The member of the Board of Directors will chair the committee. The Executive Director will be a member exofficio.

 

 

PROPOSE that Article 4 of the Bylaws be deleted and the following language by added as new Article 4:

 

ARTICLE 4 – STANDING COMMITTEES

Section 1 The Strategic Planning Committee shall be comprised of not less than three (3) directors, not less than one (1) community member and the executive director. All members of the strategic planning committee shall serve terms of up to three (3) years.  Members of the strategic planning committee shall be by appointment of the executive director.

            Duties of the strategic planning committee include creating a strategic plan for the organization, which shall be done not less than once every five (5) years, but not more than once every two (2) years and shall contain the following information:

1.     Identify the core competencies of the agency (What is our mission- and how do we achieve that mission?)

2.    Identify the ways in which the mission can best be accomplished through planning , and report that information to the board

3.    Manage the process by which the board reviews the strategic plan and recommends action steps (annually)

4.    Review policies and job descriptions

5.    Focus on educational issues

6.    Monitor progress of the strategic plan during throughout the year

7.    Design and implement a board retreat

 

Section 2 the Board Management Committee shall be comprised of the executive director and not less than three (3) directors. This committee will replace the former nominating committee. Responsibilities for the Board Management Committee include:

1.    Board staffing and planning

a.     Moving committee members on and off

b.    Making a list of potential board members

c.     Determining the areas of expertise needed from future board members

d.    Determining community connections needed by the board

e.     Decide on the geographic mix of the board

2.    Determine the size of the board needed

a.     Bylaws should be changed to reflect the size of the board (can be a range)

b.    Determine the criteria for future board members

3.    Manage Board Meeting Agenda

a.     What educational program will occur at board meetings

b.    Is the agenda well-prepared and appropriate

c.     Is the agenda manageable

d.    What issues can be addressed via consent agenda

4.    Develop a schedule for future board meetings

5.    Determine whether ad hoc or advisory committees are necessary

6.    Evaluate the efficacy of the meetings

a.     After each meeting

b.    Annually

7.    Make arrangements for a formal annual meeting

8.    Write and distribute an annual board survey

9.    Evaluate the board including a self-evaluation annually

Section 3the Executive Director Management Committee shall consist of not less than three (3) directors including the president of the board and the board treasurer. The executive director shall be ex-officio. The responsibilities of this committee shall include:

1.    Creating a job description for the executive director

2.    Managing and evaluating the executive director (including providing feedback to the executive director)

3.    Making recommendations with respect to compensation for the executive director

4.    Managing finances on a regular basis through the executive director

5.    Managing the budget process

6.    Hiring auditors and meeting with auditors annually

7.    Managing executive sessions at board meetings