NNECA Bylaws

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="0a0785a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>l</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="l"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="l"><U>l</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Conference Schedule"><U>Conference Schedule</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id42.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mailin Registration"><U>Mail-in Registration</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Join NNECA"><U>Join NNECA</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="From the President"><U>From the President</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NNECA Board Members"><U>NNECA Board Members</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Hotel Registration 38"><U> Hotel Registration - 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<bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>NNECA Bylaws</I></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>By-laws of the National Network of Episcopal Clergy Associations</B></div> <div> (as amended June 25, 1999)</div> <div> <B><U>Preamble</U></B></div> <div> “NNECA is a federation of diocesan Episcopal associations whose specific and primary purposes are to:</div> <bR> <div> a)     affirm the importance of the ordained ministry,</div> <div> b)     provide the mutual support that brings strength and growth,</div> <div> c)     enable clergy to use creatively their own power to help themselves, and</div> <div> d)     promote increased professional excellence.”</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> (Quoted from the NNECA Charter of Incorporation)</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Article I:  Members</U></B></div> <div> 1.     Membership shall be open to diocesan or regional clergy associations composed of ordained clergy (bishops, priests, and/or deacons) of the Episcopal Church (and their spouses, where allowed by a local association's by-laws).</div> <bR> <div> 2.     Associate membership shall be open to all individual ordained clergy of the Episcopal church living in diocese or areas where no active member association exists.</div> <bR> <div> 3.     Admission of a member association or an associate member shall be by vote of either the Board or the Annual Conference, and shall be contingent upon the payment of annual dues.</div> <bR> <div> 4.     The annual dues shall be set from time to time by the Annual Conference and are due and are payable on or before March 1<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >st</FONT> of each year <U>or as arranged with the treasurer of NNECA</U>, and are to be accompanied by a list of names of all the ordained clergy for whom dues are paid.  Any member association or associate member whose dues are more than six months in arrears may be suspended, provided that they have been notified in writing at least thirty days in advance that such a suspension is pending.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U>ARTICLE II:  The Board and Officers</U></B></div> <bR> <div> 1.     The Board shall consist of the President, President-elect or Past-president, and <U>no more than seven (7)</U> Directors.</div> <bR> <div> 2.     The officers of the Network shall be the President, the President-elect or Past-president, the Secretary, and the Treasurer.</div> <bR> <div> 3.     The President-elect shall be elected bi-annually by the Annual Conference and shall serve one year as President-elect, two years as President, and one year as Past-president.</div> <bR> <div> 4.     The Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected annually by the Board.  <U>If the Secretary and/or Treasurer is elected from among the Directors</U>, no vacancy shall be considered to exist on the Board.  Directors thus elected to serve as Secretary or Treasurer will still be entitled to only one vote, and will continue to serve on the Board as long as the term of Director to which they were originally elected.  <U>The Secretary or Treasurer who is not a Director shall be entitled to voice but no vote at Board meetings or Annual Conferences</U>.  </div> <bR> <bR> <div> 5.     Each Annual Conference shall elect two (2) Directors to serve three (3) year terms.</div> <bR> <div> 6.     Annually, the Board <U>may</U> elect one additional Director for a one (1) year term.  <U>Annually the Board shall appoint the Editor of </U><I><U>Leaven</U></I><U>, who shall serve as a member with voice but-without-vote of the Board.</U></div> <bR> <div> 7.     In the case of a vacancy in the office of the President, the President-elect or the Past-president shall assume the office until the vacancy is filled for the rest of the unexpired term by the next Annual Conference.</div> <bR> <div> 8.     In the case of a vacancy on the Board of any Director or officer other than the President, the Board shall have the power to fill that vacancy with an appointee, who shall serve until the vacancy is filled for the rest of any unexpired term by the next Annual Conference of the Network.</div> <bR> <div> 9.     Any officer or Director may be removed for misconduct or neglect of duty by a majority vote of the Annual Conference, or a three-fourths vote of the remaining Board members.</div> <bR> <div> 10.     New officers and Directors begin their terms at the end of the Annual Conference at which they are elected and serve through the Annual Conference at which their successors are elected.</div> <bR> <div> 11.     No individual Board members shall hold more than one office at a time.  No Director completing a full three-year term shall be eligible for immediate re-election as a Director.  No President or Past-president of the Network shall be eligible for immediate re-election to the Board.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U>ARTICLE III:  Duties of Officers and Directors</U></B></div> <div> 1.     The President shall convene and preside at all meetings of the Board and the Annual Conference, implement and administer the goals set forth by the Network, and act as chief spokesperson of the Network.</div> <bR> <div> 2.     The President-elect or Past-president shall assist the President in the performance of his/her duties and shall preside in the absence of the President.</div> <bR> <div> 3.     The secretary shall keep and distribute minutes of all meetings of the Board and the Annual Conference, receive and issue correspondence, and sign legal documents when required.</div> <bR> <div> 4.     The Treasurer shall maintain an up-to-date list of all ordained clergy for whom dues have been received, keep an account for all funds of the Network, including those related to the newsletter, and at every regular meeting of the Board and the Annual Conference, shall make a report of the receipts and distribution of all funds.  The Treasurer shall be bonded.</div> <bR> <div> 5.     The Editor of <I>Leaven</I> shall be responsible for keeping the membership informed of the activities of the Network, and of issues of importance to the Church in general and the ordained clergy in particular.</div> <bR> <div> 6.     The other Directors will, from time to time, be assigned responsibilities by the President.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U>ARTICLE IV:  The Annual Conference</U></B></div> <div> 1.     In each calendar year, there shall be an Annual Conference to be held in a city and on dates chosen at the previous Annual Conference.  For extenuating reasons, the Board may modify this choice, but in any event a minimum of ninety (90) days' written notice is to be given to all members stating the dates, time, place and any registration fee.</div> <bR> <div> 2.     Special Conferences may be called by the Board or by a written request of ten member associations.  The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call.  At least forty-five (45) days written notice shall be given to the membership of such a Special Conference.</div> <bR> <div> 3.     Each member association is entitled to two delegates with voice and vote at any Annual or Special Conference.</div> <bR> <div> 4.     Associate members present at an Annual Conference or Special Conference will caucus together and choose up to two of their number to serve as their delegates with voice and vote at that Conference.</div> <bR> <div> 5.     Members of the Board are each entitled to vote at the Annual or Special Conference.</div> <bR> <div> 6.     Representation from 50% of the member associations shall constitute a quorum for an Annual or Special Conference.  However, any member association or associate member for whom dues have not been paid by the opening day of the Conference shall not be allowed to participate or vote in the Conference except by an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the representatives at the Conference.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U>ARTICLE V:       The Board</U></B></div> <div> 1.     The Board shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Network between its Conferences, fix the time and place of its own meetings, make recommendations to the Network, employ or discharge any authorized staff, and shall perform such other duties as are specified in these by-laws.</div> <bR> <div> 2.     Unless otherwise ordered by the Board, its regular meetings shall be held at least semi-annually.  Special Board meetings can be called by the President and shall be called upon the written request of four members of the Board.</div> <bR> <div> 3.     At least once each calendar year, the Board shall meet for purposes of review of Network goals, meetings with the Episcopal Church Center and Church Pension Fund staffs, and planning for the Annual Conference, and such other business as the Board deems necessary.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U>ARTICLE VI:       COMMITTEES</U></B></div> <div> 1.     Such committees shall be appointed by the President as the President and the Board shall from time to time deem necessary to carry on the work of the Network.  The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except at Nominating Committee, but may also appoint one or more Board members to the committee to serve as liaison with the Board.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> 2.     Prior to the Annual Conference the President shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the Board, the following committees who shall serve until the appointment of their successors.</div> <bR> <div> a.)     <U>The Credentials Committee:</U>  This committee, comprised of one Board member plus tow others designated by the President, shall be responsible for checking the credentials of all the delegates to the Annual or Special Conferences; they will ensure that all delegates are qualified to represent their local associations and to vote on their behalf.  This committee will certify that a quorum is present to transact any business of the Conference.</div> <bR> <div> b)     <U>The Host Committee</U>:  This committee, comprised of local association members hosting an Annual Conference <U>for the next year</U>, in consultation with the Board, will provide the resources and services required to facilitate the program of the Conference.</div> <bR> <div> c)     <U>The Resolutions Committee</U>:  This committee, comprised of one Board member plus <U>two</U> others, shall be responsible for setting formats and procedures for the submission of resolutions, for screening resolutions' contents, and for making recommendations a to their legality and conformity with the Network Charter as by-laws.</div> <bR> <div> d)     <U>The Rules Committee</U>:  This committee, comprised of one Board member, plus <U>two</U> others, shall be responsible for reviewing the standing rules for the Conference and making recommendations for any amendments.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U>ARTICLE VII:  Parliamentary Authority</U></B></div> <div> 1.     The rules contained in the current edition of <I>Robert's rules of Order: Newly Revised</I> shall govern the Network in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these by-laws and any special rules of order the Network may adopt.</div> <bR> <div> 2.     At the beginning of every Conference, the President shall appoint a parliamentarian who will advise the President on the rules of procedure.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U>ARTICLE VIII:  Amendment of By-laws</U></B></div> <div> 1.     These by-laws, or any standing rules of order adopted by the Conference, can be amended at any Annual or Special Conference of the Network by a two-thirds vote, provided that the proposed amendment is submitted to that Conference in writing.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>THE STANDING RULES OF</B></div> <div> <B>THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE</B></div> <bR> <div>      The Rules of the Conference shall follow those found in the most recent edition of <I>Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised</I> except where other procedure are provided by the NNECA Charter or By-laws or by the following rules or upon the ruling of the Chair or with the two-thirds majority vote in the affirmative for suspension of the Rules.</div> <bR> <div> <B>     </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Rule 1:  Credentials Committee Report</B></FONT></div> <div> a)  Directly after the opening ceremonies of the first business meeting, the Credentials Committee shall report the number of delegates and alternates registered as present with proper credentials and <U>certify that</U> a quorum exists.  It shall make a supplementary report after the opening exercises at the beginning of each day that business continues.</div> <bR> <div> b)  An individual registered as an alternate can, with the approval of the Credentials Committee, be transferred from alternate to delegate at any time during the continuance of business meetings.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Rule 2:  Order of Business</B></div> <div> The first order of business after the establishment of a quorum will be to approve the agenda or schedule for the business of the Conference, and to grant seat and voice to those in attendance not certified as delegates by the Credentials Committee.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Rule 3:  Submission of Resolutions</B></div> <div> All resolutions offered by an individual or local association shall be in writing, signed by the maker and a seconder from another association, each of whom shall be a delegate of the Conference, and shall be sent directly to the desk of the Secretary.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Rule 4:  Resolutions & Committee Recommendations</B></div> <div> a)  All resolutions, except recommendations made in reports by the Board of other committees of the Conference that are not in the form of resolutions, shall be referred without debate to the Resolutions Committee; resolutions proposed by the Board or other committees shall be presented to the Conference.</div> <bR> <div> b)  Each delegate who offers a resolution shall be given an opportunity to explain it to the Resolutions Committee if he or she requests.</div> <bR> <div> c)  The Resolutions Committee shall prepare suitable resolutions to carry into effect recommendations referred to it, and shall submit to the Conference, with the Committee's own recommendation as to appropriate action, these and all other resolutions referred to the Committee, except questions which the Committee by a voice of two-thirds of its members may decide not to report.</div> <bR> <div> d)  The Conference by a majority vote can suspend this Rule 4 and can immediately consider a resolution; or can order the Resolutions Committee to report on a resolution at a certain time, even if the Committee has voted not to report it.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Rule 5:  Debate</B></div> <div> Only the officers, Directors, committee chairs, and delegates to the Conference shall have the privilege of addressing the Conference, unless specifically authorized by a two-thirds vote of the delegates.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Rule 6:  Material for the Record</B></div> <div> All reports and other material for the permanent record or printed proceedings shall be in writing and, immediately on presentation, shall be sent to the Secretary.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Rule 7:  Nominations</B></div> <div> a)  Nominations for each office to be filled by the Conference shall be written upon a paper provided for that purpose and posted in a conspicuous place so that the delegates may have free access to it.</div> <bR> <div> b)  Each person so nominated shall provide evidence that he or she is eligible to run for the office and is willing to serve if elected.</div> <bR> <div> c)  Before the vote is taken, those nominated may be identified or introduced to the Conference to be sure the delegates know for whom they are voting, but no nominating speeches area to be made.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Membership"><U>Membership</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sample Diocesan Association Bylaws"><U>Sample Diocesan Association Bylaws</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="l"><U>l</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>