Bylaws
of the
Humanist Fellowship of North Texas
2005-09-25
Article I: Name
The name of this organization shall be the "Humanist Fellowship of North
Texas", abbreviated as "HCNT" or the "Fellowship".
Article II: Object
Section 1
The Object of the Fellowship shall be Religious Humanism.
Section 2
The principles of Religious Humanism are described in a separate
document, "The Beliefs of the Humanist Fellowship of North Texas",
abbreviated as the "Beliefs".
The Beliefs may be amended annually by the Members of
the Fellowship by a two-thirds vote. Complete agreement with the Beliefs
is not required for Membership.
Section 3
The Fellowship declares and affirms its special responsibility to promote
the full participation of persons in all of its activities and in the
full range of human endeavor without regard to sex, gender, affectional
or sexual orientation, race, color, national origin, disability, or age.
Article III: Members
Section 1
Membership in the Fellowship shall be limited to persons with a
bona fide interest in promoting the Object of the Fellowship.
There shall be no fees required for Membership.
The names of Members of the Fellowship shall be public.
With the exception of voting and holding office,
Membership is not required for participation in Fellowship activities.
Section 2
A person may apply for Membership in the Fellowship by making a request
to the Secretary.
Approval by a two-thirds vote of the current Members is required
for an applicant to become a Member.
All prospective Members shall be bound by oath to support these Bylaws
before being granted Membership.
Section 3
Any Member desiring to resign from the Fellowship may do so at any time
for any reason.
A Member may resign from the Fellowship by notifying the Secretary.
No Member may be removed from the Fellowship except by voluntary
resignation.
Article IV: Officers
Section 1
Officers shall be Members of the Fellowship.
The Officers of the Fellowship shall be
President,
Vice President,
Secretary,
Treasurer,
Historian,
Librarian,
Parliamentarian,
Webmaster, and
Moderator.
These officers shall perform the duties as prescribed by
these bylaws,
the parliamentary authority adopted by the Fellowship,
the Board of Directors, and
the Members of the Fellowship.
Section 2
No Member shall hold more than one office at a time.
No Member shall serve consecutive full terms in the same office.
Section 3
Nominations for the regular elections will be accepted by the Secretary
in November.
Any Member may nominate candidates for office.
Regular elections will be held during December.
Special elections may be held at any time to fill office vacancies.
A regular term of office coincides with the calendar year.
Article V: Voting
Section 1
The Fellowship is organized as a direct democracy of its Members.
Section 2
Members must be present at the quarterly business meetings to vote.
Section 3
The approval voting method shall be used for all questions
with three or more choices including elections.
In all elections, "none of the above" shall
be listed as an alternative to the listed candidates.
Article VI: Board of Directors
Section 1
The Officers of the Fellowship shall constitute the Board of Directors.
Section 2
The Board of Directors shall have general supervision of the affairs
of the Fellowship, make recommendations to the Fellowship, and
shall perform such other duties as are specified in these bylaws.
The Board shall be subject to the orders of the Fellowship, and none
of its acts shall conflict with action taken by the Fellowship.
Section 3
The Board of Directors may meet at any time and may conduct business
by any mode of communication.
Article VII: Committees
Section 1
A Finance Committee composed of the Treasurer and four other members
shall be appointed by the President promptly after regular elections.
It shall be the duty of this committee to prepare a budget and to
submit it to the Fellowship.
The Finance Committee may from time to time submit amendments to the
budget, which may be adopted by a majority vote.
Section 2
A Program Committee of five members shall be appointed by the
President promptly after regular elections, whose duty it shall be
to plan the annual program of the Fellowship. This committee's report
shall be submitted to the Fellowship for its approval.
Section 3
An Auditing Committee of three members shall be appointed by the
President at the end of the fiscal year, whose duty it shall be to
audit the accounts of the Treasurer at the close of the fiscal year
and to report to the Fellowship.
Section 4
Such other committees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the
President as the Fellowship or the Board of Directors shall from time to
time deem necessary to carry on the work of the Fellowship. The
President shall be ex officio a member of all committees.
Article VIII: Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of
Order Newly Revised shall govern the Fellowship in all cases to
which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent
whith these bylaws and any special rules of order the Fellowship may
adopt.
Article IX: Amendment of Bylaws
These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote.
Article X: Assets
Section 1
The disbursement of Fellowship assests shall require a two-thirds vote.
Section 2
Members shall publicize related actual or potential conflicts of interest
prior to a vote on the disbursement of Fellowship assets.
Section 3
The Fellowship shall not compensate Members for their services to the
Fellowship.