SPED bylaws

Current Bylaws - Adopted on Feb 6, 2006 See Message (See also Constitution) This page cannot be edited.

Article I: Selection of Officers

• Section 1: Officers. The officers of the organization consist of Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.

• • Section 1a: Chair. The Chair presides over the Executive Committee. Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following duties:
    • With the Executive Committee and any staff, propose projects and associated budgets for the upcoming year;
    • Promote the organization, its goals, and its projects to the greater St. Paul community;
    • Serve as liaison to E-Democracy.org, in cooperation with the Executive Committee;
    • Fulfill committee responsibilities as designated elsewhere in these By-Laws or the Constitution.

• • Section 1b: Vice-Chair. The Vice-Chair presides of the Executive Committee in the absense of the Chair. Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following duties:
    • Serve as liaison to all standing committees (except Finance) and all ad hoc committees or task forces; and
    • Coordinate membership and volunteer recruitment.

• • Section 1c. Secretary. The Secretary serves as the primary organizer of information and communications to the membership of St. Paul E-Democracy and the community at-large. Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following duties:
    • Coordinate content and updates to the St. Paul E-Democracy website;
    • Communicate goals and projects for the coming year to the membership of the organization;
    • Coordinate public relations efforts including press releases and other communications;
    • Ensure that notes are taken at Executive Committee meetings and disseminate them to the membership via the website or other means; and
    • Fulfill committee responsibilities as designated elsewhere in these By-Laws or the Constitution.

• • Section 1d: Treasurer. The Treasurer serves as primary fiscal officer for St. Paul E-Democracy. Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following duties:
    • Maintain proper financial procedures in conjunction with E-Democracy.org and conforming practices to all the legal requirements of a 501(c)(3) (nonprofit) affiliate organization;
    • Maintain St. Paul E-Democracy bank accounts;
    • Report bank statements and transactions to the Executive Committee at each regular meeting;
    • Make routine payments and transactions, including payroll and accounts payable;
    • Collect annual membership dues;
    • Maintain list of voting members for the purpose of establishing good standing; and
    • Fulfill subcommittee responsibilities as designated elsewhere in these By-Laws or the Constitution.

• Section 2: Eligibility. Any member of the Executive Committee is eligible to serve as an officer.

• Section 3: Vacancies. Should an officer's position become vacant during the term of office, members of the Executive Committee will nominate candidates and vote at the next meeting. That subsequent appointment shall be valid for the remainder of the vacated term.

Article II: Committees

• Section 1: Standing Committees. The following committees are established by St. Paul E-Democracy, and the substantial purpose of each committee shall continue until such time as the by-laws are amended to change the substance of the committees.
  • Section 1a: Finance Committee. This committee is responsible for fundraising and fiscal policies. Members are appointed annually by the Executive Committee and the Treasurer serves as chair.
  • Section 1b: St. Paul Issues Forum Advisory Committee. This committee serves as the advisory group for the St. Paul Issues Forum and the Forum Manager, and rules on appeals to disciplinary actions taken by the Forum Manager. Members are appointed annually by the Executive Committee and the committee reports to the Executive Committee as required.
  • Section 1c: Strategic Planning Committee. This committee proposes short- and long-term goals for the organization. They report to the Executive Committee and prepare monitoring reports for Executive Committee review several times a year. Members are appointed annually by the Executive Committee.

• Section 2: Ad Hoc Committees and Task Forces. Ad Hoc Committees or Task Forces may be appointed as needed by the Executive Committee.

Article III: Paid and Unpaid Staff

• Section 1: Forum Manager. The Forum Manager of the St. Paul Issues Forum is a volunteer position appointed by the Executive Committee. The Forum Manager serves at the discretion of the Executive Committee. The Forum Manager enforces the rules of the St. Paul Issues Forum, encourages participation, and stimulates discussion. The Forum Manager works closely with the SPIF Advisory Committee and seeks their advice and support as necessary.

• Section 2: Staff. The Executive Committee may hire an Executive Director or other staff as necessary.

Article IV: Conflicts of Interest

• Section 1: Conflict of Interest. A conflict of interest on the part of a Director, Officer, or member of an ad hoc or standing committee (henceforth called "committee member") with respect to an issue means the Director, Officer, or committee member has a material and direct personal or financial interest on the issue that is not common to Members generally, and includes, but is not limited to, a personal relationship with a person involved in the issue (e.g., relative, personal friend); a material business relationship (contractual or professional) with a person involved in the issue; current employment by the organization, association, or other such entity or person involved in the issue; or a financial interest in the issue.

• Section 2: Announcement. A Director, Officer, or committee member shall announce the existence of a Conflict of Interest or possible Conflict of Interest on his or her part with respect to an issue before the Executive Committee or any of its committees prior to the beginning of discussion of such issue or as soon thereafter as the Director, Officer, or committee member determines that there may be a Conflict of Interest.

• Section 3: Determination. If a Director, Officer, or committee member is uncertain whether a Conflict of Interest exists, he or she shall bring the matter to the attention of the Executive Committee, who shall determine if a Conflict of Interest exists.

• Section 4: Recusal. A Director, Officer, or committee member with a Conflict of Interest may not vote on the issue, and the minutes of the meeting shall reflect the existence of a Conflict of Interest and any vote of such Director, Officer, or committee member shall be recorded as an abstention.

• Section 5: Violation. Violation of these provisions shall be grounds for immediate expulsion from the organization, pending review by the Executive Committee.

• Section 6: Political Activities. St. Paul E-Democracy shall not participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office without offering an equal opportunity to other candidates. Any member of St. Paul E-Democracy who engages in the above activities as a representative of or in the name of St. Paul E-Democracy shall be subject to immediate expulsion from the organization by the Executive Committee.

Article V: Amendments

• Section 1: Procedure. These by-laws may be amended by a simple majority of a voting members present at any regular or special meeting following proper notice of the meeting and proposed amendments.

• Section 2: Notice. Notice of proposed amendments to the By-Laws must be e-mailed to all voting members at least 14 days prior to any regular or special meeting. Proposed changes to the By-Laws must be posted on the St. Paul E-Democracy website no later than the date voting members are e-mailed their notice.