BYLAWS
of the
West Triangle Chapter of
United Nations Association of the
The name of this organization shall be the West Triangle Chapter of North Carolina of the
United
Nations Association of the
The purpose of the United Nations Association is to promote constructive US
leadership in a strengthened United Nations System.
The purpose of the West Triangle Chapter is to (a) heighten public awareness and
increase public knowledge in the West Triangle area about international issues and US
government policies as they relate to the United Nations system; (b) educate the public
about the United Nations system; (c) build public support for constructive US leadership
in the United Nations system; and (d) advocate with governmental officials responsible for
US
participation in the United Nations system.
Members are individuals and/or families who are members of the United Nations
Association of the USA.
Meetings: There will be one annual meeting prior to the end of the fiscal year at which
officers and other members of the Board of Directors are elected and at which
other chapter business may be conducted.
Notice and purpose of all business meetings shall be circulated to each member
at least seven days in advance of the meeting.
Quorum: Twenty percent of chapter members.
President Elect
Immediate Past President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Duties: President:
shall preside at all meetings of the Chapter, the Board of Directors,
and the Executive Committee; appoint Committee Chairs with the approval
of the
Board; serve as ex-officio member of all Committees except the Nominating Committee.
President Elect: shall serve as President of the Chapter following the vacation of office by the President at the next election, subject to the Terms of Office provision. Shall be a member of the Executive Committee.
Immediate Past President: shall be a member of the Executive Committee. Is not subject to the election process.
Vice President: shall act in the event of the absence or inability of the
President to act, or in the event of a vacancy in that office. Shall perform
other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors or the President. Shall
be a member of the Executive Committee.
Secretary: shall record and keep the minutes of Annual meetings of the Chapter, Board of Directors, and Executive Committee, and perform other duties as requested by the President or Board of Directors. Shall be a member of the Executive Committee.
Treasurer: shall receive all monies due to the Chapter; pay all bills provided for in the budget; or verified by the President; keep a proper set of books; give a report of accounts at each regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors and at the Annual Meeting of the Chapter; prepare the annual financial report required by UNA, and perform other duties as requested by the President or Board of Directors. Shall be a member of the Executive Committee.
Qualification: Any person who is a member of the chapter
Term of office: Two years, with the unlimited possibility of re-election. Officers shall take
office at the beginning of the fiscal year (January).
Nomination/Election: See Article VI.
Qualification: Any member of the Chapter.
Function: To conduct the business of the Chapter.
Number: The Board of Directors shall have not less than ten nor more than twenty members, including officers and one voting representative of UNO at UNC.
Term: The Directors shall be elected for two-year terms with the unlimited
possibility of reelection for an additional term. Shall take office at the
beginning of the fiscal year (January). The term of office for
Directors appointed on an interim basis shall last until the next general
election.
Nomination/Election: See Article VI.
Meetings: shall be held monthly, except for June, July
and August.
Attendance: Any member of the Board of Directors who is absent from three consecutive meetings without giving prior notice to the President or Secretary may be regarded as having resigned from the Board, and shall be so notified by the President.
Quorum: A
quorum shall consist of twenty-five percent of the Board members.
ARTICLE VI – NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Nominating Committee: The Nominating Committee shall be composed of five members:
- two members of the Board of Directors appointed by the President with the
agreement of the Board.
- three others appointed by the President with the agreement of the Board,
from the general membership, at least one of whom should have been on the
nominating committee in at least one of the past two years.
Nominations: A slate of Officers and Directors shall be published in the Newsletter prior to the Annual meeting and presented to the membership for election at the Annual Meeting.
Elections: By a majority of the membership present at the Annual Meeting.
Interim Vacancies: In case of a vacancy in the position of President, the Vice President
shall assume duties as Acting President until the Board of Directors has the
opportunity to appoint a new President to fill the remaining period of the
office. Vacancies in other offices will be filled by the Board of Directors for the remaining period of the office.
Certificates of Achievement: The Nominating Committee shall propose annually to the
Board of Directors one or more candidates for the Chapter's annual
Certificate of Achievement award.
Honorary Board members shall be named by the Board of Directors and the list shall be
reviewed annually.
ARTICLE VIII - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Function: To conduct the business of the Chapter between meetings of the Board of Directors as called by the President.
Membership The Executive Committee will consist of the officers of the Chapter.
Quorum: A majority of the members of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE IX - COMMITTEES
Activities: To organize and carry out activities in specific areas of the Chapter's programs
and functions.
Designation: To carry out these activities, the following committees shall be designated (other than the nominating committee, which is defined in Articles IV and V).
Membership - Recruits new members, administers existing members and keeps membership records.
Fundraising - Leads the Chapter's fundraising activities for projects such as Adopt-A-Minefield, Model UN, and others as sanctioned by the Board of Directors.
Advocacy - Works with other organizations, the news media, etc. in order to gain their support for and/or publicize UN-related activities promoted by the Chapter. Organizes campaigns among the Chapter's membership aimed at advocating for the UN with Congress, the Administration, etc.
Education - (a) Works with the school systems and colleges and universities in Chatham, Durham and Orange Counties with the objective of including materials about the United Nations in their curriculum and organizing Model UN and other UN-oriented activities.
(b) Works with and provides support to UNO@UNC and other campus
supporters of the United Nations.
Program -
Organizes and manages arrangements, including finding speakers,
publicity, etc., for Lunch-and-Learn meetings, UN Day and other events designed
to bring the United Nations to the attention of the public.
Newsletter -
Produces and distributes the West Triangle World.
Speakers Bureau - Seeks out and provides lists of speakers on UN-related and international subjects to educational institutions and community organizations.
By-Laws - Reviews the Chapter's By-Laws and recommends changes designed to ensure the efficient and effective operation of the Chapter.
Such other committees as the Board may, from time to time, establish.
Committee Chairs: The President shall appoint committee chairs with the approval of the Board of Directors.
Each
committee shall have a Board member liaison.
ARTICLE X - FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION
Fiscal Year: The fiscal year shall be January 1 to December 31.
Budget: A proposed budget shall be published in the Newsletter prior to the Annual
meeting and
shall be submitted by the Board for adoption at the annual meeting. A copy of
the adopted budget, the financial report for the closing year, and the annual
report shall be filed with the National office of the Association. A financial
or audit report shall be submitted to the National Office annually in
accordance with procedures established by that office.
ARTICLE XI - RATIFICATION AND AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS
By-laws shall be adopted or amended by a two-thirds vote of those present at any membership meeting of the Chapter, provided that they shall have been approved by the National Office of the UNA-USA and that all members shall have been notified seven days in advance of the meeting.
ARTICLE XII - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised shall
govern this Chapter wherever it is applicable and is not inconsistent with the
By-Laws.