 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Notes and cases for:
local area political directory
|
printer-friendly Bylaws of the Green House Outreach Local Approved as amended on March 30, 2006 1. The name of this local shall be The Green House Outreach Local. The name describes the purpose of the local which is to work to increase the membership rolls of the Green Party of Michigan, concentrating in S E Michigan and in cooperation with similar efforts in other parts of Michigan. 2. We believe in and fully subscribe to the ten key values of the Green Party, as expressed by the Green Party of Michigan on the Party's web site and in its printed literature: ecological wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy, nonviolence, decentralization, community-based economics, feminism, respect for diversity, personal and global responsibility, and future focus/sustainability.. 3. Membership: Membership is open to persons living in the tri-county Metro Detroit area and shall not be restricted by race, gender, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, appearance, or any class-based criteria. Our criteria are whether the individual subscribes to our values, is willing to work with us, and is able to carry on the responsibilities of membership. 3.1 Members of the local will be required to become members of the Green Party of Michigan within one year of joining our ranks and will be strongly encouraged to do so at an earlier date. 3.2 Members will be required to pay annual dues to the local of $10, except in hardship cases, in which agreed upon in kind contributions will be taken in lieu. 3.3 Membership can be revoked if the member no longer subscribes to the ten key values, disrupts the work of the local or of a committee thereof or if in attendance at the proceedings of another organization of Greens disrupts their work. Grounds may also be based on willful damage to the premises of the Green House or any equipment contained therein. In any move to revoke membership due process will be followed, consisting in at least two weeks notice that the matter is to be considered and an opportunity to present a defense. Revocation requires a vote of at least two thirds of a normal quorum of one third of the membership or half, in the event that the membership is 10 or less, at a regular or special meeting. (See section 5 meetings.) 3.4 Frequent absence will call into question whether a membership can be considered active. Frequent absence will mean that a member has missed at least three consecutive meetings, unless he or she has been in attendance at a state meeting in that period, which shall substitute for two regular meetings of the local, or unless the member is substantively involved with progressing local chapter business. The membership secretary will make the determination, but extenuating circumstances, e.g. serious illness or other substantive problems shall be considered. Voting rights are limited to active members in good standing. 4. Election of Officers: Officers serve, rather than govern. All the members are encouraged to take an active part in the running of the local, which means that they are encouraged to act as rotating chairpersons, even while elected chairpersons are present, form committees, and otherwise participate in governance. 4.1 Officers shall be as follows: a chairperson, a co-chairperson, a membership and record-keeping secretary, & a treasurer. There shall be two representatives to the State Central Committee, also elected positions. All shall be active members in good standing of the local and members of the GPMI. Elections shall occur in Sept. of each year. 4.2 Diversity with regard to gender and race shall be actively sought. 4.3 Recall procedure: Two members in good standing may initiate a recall, but the grounds are strictly limited to proof of contempt of the goals of the local or of the Green Party of Michigan or contempt of the ten key values or substantive neglect of duty. Notice that this is on the agenda for the regular meeting must be given to all of the membership at least one week prior to the meeting. Evidence will be presented, the officer will be encouraged to offer a defense and the requirement will be two thirds of quorum to take effect. In the event such a recall is successful, the office will be filled by special election taking place at the next regular meeting. 4.4 If an officer resigns from his or her office, a special election to fill the office will take place at the next regular meeting. 4.5 Local funds shall be kept in a bank account and the balance of this account along with a description of all transactions shall be reported to the membership at each meeting by the treasurer. Signatories to the account shall be the treasurer and the chairperson. The co-chair shall act as alternate in case of emergency and the absence of the signatories. 5. Meetings and mode of decision making. 5.1 Regular meetings are monthly, although they can be temporarily suspended during the Summer months (down to 10 annually). 5.2 Membership lists will be available to the members in the event that two or more members wish to call a special meeting, requiring advance notice to the whole membership of no less than 72 hours, but preferably a week. Special meetings pertaining to possible revocation of a membership or recall of an officer require notice of one week. 5.3 A quorum is defined as one third of the membership or if the membership be 10 or less, half of the membership. No official action can be taken without a quorum. Meetings in which no quorum is present can pass advisory resolutions only and they can do that only after reconvening as a committee of the whole, named by the date it occurred. 5.4 The preferred method of decision making is by consensus. A vote can be taken only if no consensus can be achieved, after substantial effort. A vote should also be taken only after diligent effort to inform the membership that the issue has come up. Except in emergency situations, votes should be taken at the next regular or at a special meeting to allow the members as a whole to be informed that the issue is up for vote. (As well as to consider the issue.) 5.5 Members can vote if they are in good standing and were a member of the local at the start of the meeting. There is no provision for a member to join and vote at the same meeting, and they must have attended at least once before voting. 6. Amendment of by-laws 6.1 Amendment of these by-laws shall not be done lightly. It requires a two thirds vote of two thirds of the membership, either by polling the members or by a special meeting of which special care has been taken to notify the members. Special care shall mean by phone, by mail and by email to members having Internet access 7. Dissolution of the local 7.1 If it becomes evident that there is not enough interest in this local to maintain it, it may be dissolved. In the event that the issue does come up, the membership as a whole or whatever members can be contacted must be polled. It requires a two thirds vote of the members that can be reached. 7.2 The Green Party of Michigan must be informed as soon as it is known that the local has been dissolved, as must all media in which it is listed. 7.3 In the event of the dissolution of the local, all funds held in the treasury of the local shall be dispersed to the Green Party of Michigan and the bank account of said local chapter treasury shall be closed. |