[ Approved by vote on April 27, 2008 ]
BYLAWS OF
MEMPHIS FREETHOUGHT ALLIANCE
ARTICLE I
Name
The name of this organization is Memphis Freethought Alliance, abbreviated MFA.
ARTICLE II
Purpose
MFA is a cultural organization whose purpose is to provide support and fellowship to local freethinkers; promote free speech and the exchange of ideas; provide a forum for educational films and lectures; defend the constitutional separation of church and state; oppose government sponsored religion; defend the teaching of scientific theories over non-scientific theories in public school science class; oppose pseudoscience, flim-flam, fraud, myths, misleading information and hoaxes in the media; recognize the civil rights of atheists, agnostics, secular humanists, and others who do not believe in god(s) or any other supernatural forces; and seek improvement of society through secular humanism, science, critical thinking and rational philosophical discourse.
ARTICLE III
Members
Section 1. Membership Eligibility and Admission Procedure. Any person expressing solidarity with the purpose of MFA is eligible for membership. A person seeking membership in MFA must submit a request in writing to the Secretary or another officer, who will present it to the Executive Board (see Article IV: Officers; Article VI: Executive Board). If the request is approved, that person will become a member of MFA upon payment of the annual dues for the first year.
Section 2. Dues. The annual dues will be $25.00, payable in advance on or before the last day of May. The Treasurer will notify members three months in arrears, and those whose dues are not paid within three months thereafter will be automatically dropped from membership in MFA.
Section 3. Resignation from Membership. Any member desiring to resign from MFA must submit his or her resignation in writing to the Secretary or another officer, who will present it to the Executive Board for action.
Section 4. Non-Discrimination Policy. MFA does not discriminate on the basis of sex, age, race, color, sexual orientation or creed.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 1. Officers and Duties. The officers of MFA will be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and three Directors. These officers will perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws and by the parliamentary authority adopted by MFA.
Section 2. Nominating Procedure. The Executive Board will appoint a Nominating Committee prior to the Annual Business Meeting. It will be the duty of this committee to nominate candidates for the offices to be filled at the Annual Business Meeting. The Nominating Committee will report at the Annual Business Meeting, where additional nominations from the floor will be permitted.
Section 3. Terms of Office. The President and Secretary will be elected in even-numbered years to serve for two years. The Vice-President and Treasurer will be elected in odd-numbered years to serve for two years. The Directors will be elected to serve for one year. All terms of office will begin immediately upon adjournment of the Annual Business Meeting in the relevant years.
Section 4. Office Holding Limitations. An officer must be a member of MFA. No member may hold more than one office at a time. There is no limit to the number of times a member may hold an office.
Section 5. Filling Vacancies. The Executive Board will appoint a member of MFA to serve the remainder of the term of any office that may be or become vacant after the Annual Business Meeting, except that the President must not be so appointed unless the Vice-President declines to become President. An acting Director should be appointed to fill a vacancy whenever possible.
ARTICLE V
Meetings
Section 1. Annual Business Meeting. MFA will meet annually on the last Sunday in April, or on another day in April or May that the Executive Board may designate, for the purpose of electing officers, receiving reports of officers and committees, approving a budget, providing guidance and instruction to the Executive Board, and for any other business that may arise.
Section 2. Special Meetings. Special Meetings may be called by the President or by the Executive Board and will be called upon the written request of seven members of MFA. The purpose of the meeting must be stated in the call. At least 72 hours notice will be given, except in cases of emergency.
Section 3. Quorum. Those members present at an Annual Business Meeting will constitute a quorum for that meeting. Seven members will constitute a quorum for a Special Meeting.
Section 4. Other Events. In keeping with the purpose of MFA, the Executive Board should schedule at least one event every month that is educational, entertaining, free of charge and open to the public, such as a lecture, panel discussion, debate, film, or social gathering. From time to time, informal meetings may be held at which members may offer feedback and suggestions. However, no business is official unless it is conducted at an Annual Business Meeting or Special Meeting as described above.
ARTICLE VI
Executive Board
Section 1. Board Composition. The officers of MFA (which include the Directors) will constitute the Executive Board.
Section 2. Board痴 Duties and Powers. The Executive Board will have full power and authority over the affairs of MFA between Annual Business Meeting, unless expressly prohibited by these bylaws or by any standing rules that MFA may adopt. The Executive Board will correct and approve the minutes of Annual Business Meetings and Special Meetings.
Section 3. Budget. The Executive Board will submit a budget for approval at the Annual Business Meeting. Unless otherwise ordered, the Executive Board is authorized to make such adjustments to the budget as it deems necessary for the proper functioning of the organization. Large or significant changes should be approved at a Special Meeting.
Section 4. Maintenance of the Listserv. The Executive Board will maintain an official e-mail distribution list. This list may contain e-mail addresses of persons who are not members of MFA. A posting to this list will satisfy the requirement of previous notice for all purposes not expressly prohibited by these bylaws or any special rules that MFA may adopt.
Section 5. Board Meetings. Unless otherwise ordered by the Executive Board, regular meetings of the Executive Board will be held on the second Sunday of each month. Special Meetings of the Executive Board may be called by the President and will be called upon the written request of three members of the Executive Board with a 72 hour prior notification except in an emergency.
ARTICLE VII
Committees
The President will appoint such committees, standing or special, as the organization or the Executive Board may from time to time deem necessary. The President will be ex officio a member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.
ARTICLE VIII
Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert痴 rules of Order Newly Revised will govern MFA in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order that MFA may adopt.
ARTICLE IX
Amendment of Bylaws
These bylaws may be amended at any Annual Business Meeting or Special Meeting by a two-thirds vote, provided that previous notice is given.
Vice President: Steve Aldred
Treasurer: Michael Rohr
Secretary: Preston Rogers
Director: Bill Runyan
Director: Liz Purkrabek