A nonprofit volunteer corporation serving Giles County

 

The United Fund of Giles County, Inc.

 

 

BYLAWS

 

 

Mission Statement

 

The mission of the United Fund of Giles County, Inc., is to:

 

·         Support United Fund partner agencies

·         Foster community awareness in local health and human services

·         Raise funds through community and volunteer involvement

 

 

ARTICLE I

 

PURPOSES

 

1.    The purposes for which the United Fund of Giles County, Inc. (UFGC) was formed are:

 

A.   To assess, on a continuing basis, the need for human service programs; to seek solutions to human problems; to assist in the development of new or the expansion or modification of existing human service programs; to promote preventive activities; and foster cooperation among local agencies serving the community.

 

B.   To develop as fully as possible the financial resources needed to meet the human service needs of the community.

 

C.   To allocate UFGC funds to fully maximize the resources available to agencies for services aimed at the most urgent current needs of the community, including those supplied by organizations not currently receiving UFGC financing.

 

D.   To create community support and commitment for UFGC through an effective communications program, which both speaks and listens to the community.

 

E.   To work in cooperation with other organizations or institutions that assist with any or all of the foregoing purposes.

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

CORPORATE ORGANIZATION

 

1.    The United Fund of Giles County, Inc. is a non-profit corporation which shall be operated by two separate bodies; a Board of Directors (see Art. III) and an Executive Board (see Art. IV.)

2.    Members of the Board of Directors, the Executive Board, the Executive Director and standing committee chairpersons shall constitute the membership of the corporation.

 

A.   Every reasonable effort shall be made to ensure that the membership of the

      corporation represents all regions of Giles County.

 

3.    UFGC shall not undertake any activities, which are forbidden by a corporation exempt from federal income taxation under Internal Revenue Service Code Section 501 (c) (3), or by a corporation to which deductible contributions may be made under Section 170 (c) (2).

 

4.    No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be dissemination of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, except that which aides the foregoing purposes of UFGC; and UFGC shall not participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

 

5.    No part of the income of the corporation shall insure to the benefit of, or be distributed to, any member, director, officer of the corporation, or any other private person except that UFGC shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth herein.  No member, director, officer of the corporation, or any other private person shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any of the corporate assets upon dissolution of UFGC.  In the event of dissolution of the corporation, the BOD shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all liabilities of the corporation and in their sole discretion, dispose of all of the assets to one or more partner agencies.   Any of the assets not disposed of by the BOD shall be disposed of as provided by law.

 

6.    Roberts Rules of Order shall determine the parliamentary procedure to be followed by this corporation.

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

1.    The UFGC Board of Directors (BOD) shall be the governing body and the affairs of the corporation shall be under the control of the BOD. The BOD may adopt such policies and procedures as are consistent with the mission of UFGC, its purposes stated herein and the bylaws.  All members of the BOD shall be volunteers and shall not receive any compensation for service as a director.

 

2.    The BOD shall have at least nine (9) but no more than fifteen (15) members, one third of who shall be elected by the BOD each year for a three (3) year term.

 

                  A.  No director may serve more than two (2) consecutive three (3) year terms

                             except after an absence from the BOD for one (1) year.

 

B.   Election of directors will occur each year at the first quarter meeting of the

      BOD.

 

 

C.   All retiring Presidents shall serve as an additional member of the BOD for one (1)

      year following his/her term as President and shall have the same vested powers as

      all BOD members.

 

3.   All BOD members shall assist in furthering the purposes of UFGC and actively participate in the affairs of the corporation.

 

                        A.   Any member of the BOD absent without reasonable cause for three (3)

                        consecutive quarterly meetings of the BOD shall be reviewed by the

                        Executive Board for appropriate action, which may include removal from the

                        BOD.

 

4.   Any vacancy on the BOD, whether caused by failure to elect, resignation, death or otherwise, may be filled by vote of the remaining directors at any regular meeting or special meeting.  Any director so elected to fill any vacancy shall serve until the next first quarter meeting of the BOD, or until his/her successor is elected and qualified.

 

5.    Meetings of the BOD of the corporation should be held at least quarterly.  Special meetings of the BOD may be called by the Executive Board or, if he/she is absent or unable or refuses to act, by the presiding chair of the Executive Board, or by a simple majority of the directors.

 

            A.  Notice of any meeting of the BOD, regular or special, stating the date, time, and

location shall be served personally, by mail, or electronic message (e-mail), upon          each director not less than seven days prior to the meeting.  The notice of any special meeting shall state the purpose of the meeting.  Business transacted at all special meetings shall be confined to the subjects stated in the notice and matters germane thereto.

 

B.   Any meeting of the BOD, regular or special, shall be recorded by the Secretary (or Secretary/Executive Director as the case may be) in his/her absence the Executive Director, or a designate of the BOD.  Minutes shall be read into the record at the subsequent meeting and maintained thereafter as part of the corporate record.

 

C.   The President shall preside at all meetings of the BOD, or in his/her absence the Vice President, Campaign Chair, or, a designate of the BOD.

 

D.   The presence of a simple majority (not less than fifty percent (50%) plus one (1) of directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the BOD.  At any meeting of the BOD where a quorum is present, any action taken by the vote of a majority of those present shall constitute the action of the BOD.

 

6.    In addition to the powers expressly conferred upon them by these bylaws, the BOD of the corporation may exercise such powers and do such lawful acts as are not by statute or by these bylaws required to be exercised by other corporation members.

 

7.    In instances when the BOD is unable to meet due to circumstances beyond its control, an electronic message (e-mail) or written correspondence may be extended to convey the question of concern with the BOD voting by majority e-mail or verbal.

 

 

ARTICLE IV

 

EXECUTIVE BOARD

 

1.    The UFGC Executive Board shall provide leadership, function as an advisory council to the BOD and manage the corporation as to ensure adherence to the purposes stated herein.  The Executive Board shall have and exercise those powers granted to it by the BOD and exercise between meetings of the BOD all the powers of the BOD, except fill vacancies, amend bylaws, and such other powers as are prohibited by the bylaws.

 

2.    Members of the Executive Board shall be the officers of the corporation and two (2) members from the BOD.  The President shall serve as chairman of the Executive Board.

 

3.    The Executive Board shall meet at least quarterly and shall have power to make rules and regulations for the conduct of its business.  A simple majority thereof shall constitute a quorum.  The Executive Board shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the BOD.

 

4.    In instances when the Executive Board is unable to meet due to circumstances beyond its control, an electronic message (e-mail) or written correspondence may be extended to convey the question of concern with the Executive Board voting by majority e-mail or verbal.

 

5.    Any vacancy on the Executive Board, whether caused by failure to elect, resignation, death, or otherwise, may be filled by vote of the BOD at any regular or special meeting.  Any person so elected shall serve until the next first quarter meeting of the BOD.

 

 

ARTICLE V

 

OFFICERS

 

1.    The officers of the corporation shall consist of a President, Vice President, Campaign Chair, Vice President, Finances and Secretary.   The office of Secretary may be merged with the Executive Director, at the discretion of the BOD.  The combined Secretary/Executive Director will not exercise a vote.

 

2.    All officers of the corporation shall be bonded while holding office.

 

3.    Officers shall be elected by the BOD at the first quarter meeting of the BOD and will assume office upon election.

 

      A.  All officers shall be elected from the membership of the BOD.

     

B.   Each elected officer shall serve for a term of one year or until a successor is

      in place.

 

C.   No officer shall serve more than two (2) consecutive one (1) year terms in the

      same office.

 

4.    The President shall preside at all BOD and Executive Board meetings and shall perform all other duties usual to a presiding officer and those duties set forth in the bylaws.

 

            A.  The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.

 

B.   The President shall submit an annual report of the activities of the corporation at the first quarter meeting of the BOD.

 

C.   The President shall call special meetings of the BOD when he/she deems necessary, or upon request by the Executive Board or the BOD.

 

D.   The President shall serve as a member of the BOD for at least one (1) year after leaving office.

 

5.    The Vice President, Campaign Chair shall assume the duties of the President in his/her absence.

 

            A.  The Vice President, Campaign Chair shall be responsible for the annual fund-

                       raising campaign and recommend to the BOD such committees as he/she deems

                       necessary to a successful campaign.

             

B.   The Vice President, Campaign Chair shall communicate campaign committees’ activities to the Executive Board.

 

C.   The Vice President, Campaign Chair shall be an ex-officio member of the Budget     and Allocations Committee.

 

6.    The Vice President, Finances shall have custody of all funds and securities of the corporation, and shall be responsible for: full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements of the corporation; the deposit of all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the BOD.

 

A.   The Vice President, Finances shall coordinate with the Executive Director the disbursement of funds of the corporation as may be ordered by the BOD.

 

B.   The Vice President, Finances shall assist, as necessary the Executive Director to render to the BOD at quarterly BOD meetings, or whenever so required, an account of all transactions and of the financial condition of the corporation.

 

C.   Disbursements shall be made by check and signed by the Vice President, Finances and others as set forth in the bylaws.

 

7.    The Secretary shall record the minutes at all BOD and/or Executive Board meetings,

     especially all motions and pertinent votes of the BOD.  The office of Secretary may be

     merged with the Executive Director, at the discretion of the BOD.  The aforesaid will have

     no vote.

 

A.   The Secretary shall give notice of all meetings of the BOD and/or executive committee as required by the bylaws.

 

B.   The Secretary will read the minutes of each preceding BOD or Executive Board meeting into the record and ensure that copies of all minutes are maintained with the corporate records.

 

C.   In the absence of a Secretary, the BOD or Executive Board will designate a substitute.

 

 

ARTICLE VI

 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

 

1.   The BOD may appoint a salaried Executive Director whose salary and duties, other than those set forth in the bylaws, will be recommended by the Executive Board and approved by the BOD.

 

2.  The office of Secretary may be merged with the Executive Director, at the discretion of the

     BOD.  The aforesaid will have no vote.

 

3.  The Executive Director shall sign corporation checks and therefore must be bonded.

 

4.   The duties of the Executive Director shall include:

 

·         Coordinate activities of and perform pertinent duties as prescribed by the UFGC Board of Directors and Executive Board.

·         Provide quarterly financial reports to the Vice President, Finances, BOD and Executive Board.

·         Ensure timely communications of correspondence, reports, and information to the BOD and Executive Board.

·         Responsible for distribution of funds to partner agencies.

·         Maintain UFGC files and records.

·         Ensure UFGC is in compliance with all state and federal regulatory requirements.

·         Act as a clearinghouse for UFGC information and organizational activities.

·         Maintain a database of all UFGC members and partner agencies’ information.

 

 

ARTICLE VII

 

COMMITTEES

 

1.   The UFGC shall have two (2) standing committees and shall from time to time appoint such committees as are authorized by the BOD.

 

2.    Not later than December, the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee of not less than three (3) members of the corporation to make nominations for the election of directors at the first quarter meeting of the BOD.  The Nominating Committee shall also nominate persons to serve as officers of the corporation.

 

A.   The nominating committee shall also nominate person(s) to fill vacancies in the corporation which may arise due to resignation, death or otherwise, after securing permission of those persons.

 

B.   The Nominating Committee shall make every reasonable effort to ensure that corporate membership represents all regions of Giles County.

 

C.   The Nominating Committee shall be a standing committee with members serving a term of one (1) year and who may not serve three (3) consecutive terms.

 

3.   The Budget and Admissions Committee shall evaluate all first time agency requests and, if appropriate, recommend to the BOD for admission as a new partner agency.

 

A.   The Budget and Admissions Committee shall recommend all grant amounts to partner agencies.

 

B.   In the first quarter of each year the President in consultation with the corporation shall appoint no less than five (5) and no more than nine (9) members to serve on the Budget and Admissions Committee.

 

C.   Committee members may or may not be UFGC members and should, if possible, represent different regions of Giles County.

 

D.   The Vice President, Campaign Chair shall be an ex-officio member of the Budget and Admissions Committee.

 

4.   All acts of any UFGC committee shall be subject to approval of the BOD. The chairpersons of standing committees who are not already members of the BOD shall be eligible to attend and speak at all meetings of the BOD.

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

FISCAL MANAGEMENT

 

1.    Fiscal management of the corporation shall be the responsibility of the Vice President, Finances and, if one is employed, the Executive Director.

 

2.    All checks or demands for money and notes of the corporation shall be signed by two (2) persons, the Executive Director and the Vice President, Finances, except for small cash items valued at less than $100.

 

A.   If the Vice President, Finances and/or the Executive Director are not able to sign on behalf of the corporation, the President and/or other executive committee member who is bonded may sign.

 

B.   All persons who have authority to sign checks, demands or notes of the corporation shall be bonded and the expense of such bond shall be borne by the corporation.

 

3.  The BOD shall cause the financial records of the corporation to be audited annually by a certified public accounting firm.

 

4.  Internal and external financial reporting shall be the responsibility of the Executive Director

     and/or the Vice President, Finances.

 

5.  Surplus funds, (funds available after full allotment to all partner agencies has been satisfied), shall be subject to control and distribution at the discretion of the BOD.

 

6.   Emergency requests for funds shall be subject to the control of the BOD.

 

7.   The corporate fiscal year shall end December 31st.

 

 

ARTICLE IX

 

EMPLOYEES

 

The corporation may have such agents and employees as determined from time to time by the BOD, which shall supply each with an appropriate job description.

 

 

ARTICLE X

 

NONDISCRIMINATION

 

The officers, directors, committee members and employees of the corporation, and those persons served by the corporation shall be selected entirely on a nondiscriminatory basis with respect to age, sex, race, religion and national origin.

 

 

ARTICLE XI

 

AMENDMENTS

 

These bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, in whole or in part, by vote of a majority of the BOD, provided that each director shall be notified of the proposed alteration, amendment or repeal by mail, not less than seven days nor more than fifty days before the date of the meeting.

 

 

The bylaws of the United Fund of Giles County, Inc. as amended by the Board of Directors on this date:  July 7, 2005