ALBEMARLE-CHARLOTTESVILLE NAACP – BYLAWS

Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP

Branch# 7057-B

The name of this organization shall be the Albemarle-Charlottesville Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Objectives of Branches. The purpose and aims of Branches of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People shall be to improve the political, educational, social, and economic status of African-Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities; to eliminate racial prejudice; to keep the public aware of the adverse effects of discrimination; and to take lawful action to secure the elimination of racial discrimination, to seek legislation and policies at the local level, or at other levels if requested by the State/State-Area Conference or National Office, which advance the programs and policies of the Association; and to oppose legislation and policies which are adverse to the programs and policies of the Association consistent with the efforts of the national organization and in conformity with the Articles of Incorporation  of the Association, its Constitution and Bylaws, and as directed by the Board of Directors.

Objectives of Authorized Committees. The purpose and aims of Authorized Committees of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People shall be to improve the political, educational, social, and economic status of African-Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities; to eliminate racial prejudice; to keep the public aware of the adverse effects of discrimination; and to take lawful action to secure the elimination of racial discrimination; to seek legislation and policies at the local level or at other levels if requested by the State/State-Area Conference or National Office which advance the programs and policies of the Association; and to oppose legislation and policies which are adverse to the programs and policies of the Association consistent with the efforts of the national organization and in conformity with the Articles of Incorporation of the Association, its Constitution and Bylaws, and as directed by the Board of Directors.

(2)

(Coalition/Affiliation with other Organizations)

Authority. Units of the NAACP may affiliate and cooperate with other groups, organizations or coalitions when there is an incentive and purpose of affiliation and/or cooperation on specific issues, which are in accord with the program and policies of the Association. Prior written permission for such affiliation and/or cooperation by the Units must be granted by the Virginia State Conference and the Executive Committee of Albemarle-Charlottesville Branch.

Approval Procedure for Joining Coalitions: Any Unit of the Association seeking to join a coalition shall seek prior, timely authorization in writing from the President and Executive Committee. Units must submit requests for approval within 15 business days before joining the proposed coalition. The President and Executive Committee shall respond within 10 business days after receipt of said request. The President and Executive Committee at their discretion and in accordance with the objectives of the Association, shall communicate approval or disapproval of said proposed coalition in writing to the Unit.

(Membership in the Branch)

Members of the Association in good standing where Branches are being formed, may affiliate with the local Branch and be entitled to vote upon presenting satisfactory evidence of their membership. They shall not be assessed annual membership fees by the Branch until the expiration of the annual membership for which they have paid.

Members may affiliate with more than one branch but may only vote with their home unit.

GOVERNANCE

(Meetings of Units)

Regular Meetings. Regular membership meetings of Branches and Youth Units shall be held at least once a month, and there may be such other public or special meetings as may be required. Regular meetings shall be held on a fixed day or date of each month.

(3)

(Meetings of the Executive Committee of Branches)

The Executive Committee shall meet at least once a month at such times and places as it may determine. Special Committee meetings may be called by the President, Secretary or by two members of the Committee on two days written notice. The notice must state the purpose for which the meeting is called.

All business to be discussed at the Executive Committee meeting must be presented in advance to the president or secretary.

(Meetings of Standing Committees)

The Standing Committees shall meet regularly once a month at places they may determine. They shall inform the President and Secretary of the time and place of each meeting. Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson or by two members on two days written notice. If the meeting is to be held via teleconference or electronic meeting, the conference call number or sign in code must be provided.

All meetings under the name of the Albemarle-Charlottesville Branch that are conducted electronically or via conference call must be originated under the Branch Account. Chairs/Members of any committee may not use their personal account/s to conduct a meeting.

Chairs/Members are asked not to share the conference call number or sign in code with non-branch members without expressed or prior approval from the President.

(Quorum)

The quorum of the Executive Committee and Standing Committees shall be 50% of their respective Committees total membership.

(4)

(Operating Procedures)

1)  All proposals must be in writing. The presiding officer may require any main motion, amendment, or instruction to a committee to be in writing.

2)  Business may be postponed, at the sole discretion of the presiding officer, to permit referral of the matter to the Executive Committee at its next scheduled meeting.  Any postponed business will be taken up at the following general meeting of the membership as an item of unfinished business.

3) The following is the regular order of business for general meetings of the membership.  Agendas shall be approved by a majority vote of the membership at the start of each general meeting of the membership.


  (1) Approval of the agenda
  (2) Reading the Minutes of the previous meeting (and their approval).
  (3) Reports of Boards and Standing Committees.
  (4) Reports of Special (Select) Committees.
  (5) Unfinished Business
  (6) New Business

(Qualifications to run for Office)

Any person standing for election to the office of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer must, by April 1 of the election year, have completed at least twelve months service in this Branch as a member of the Executive Committee or as a member of a standing committee of the Branch.  Branch officers are elected according to National and State guidelines (Note: I interchanged the wording State and National since National Bylaws/guidelines supersede State).  The term of service of twelve months can be divided among committees, so long as the aggregated total service is twelve months or more.  

(5)

A parliamentarian and vice parliamentarian shall be appointed by the Executive Committee.

The Parliamentarian shall:

  • Assist the presiding officer in managing meetings and advising on parliamentary procedure.

The Vice Parliamentarian shall:

  • The Vice Parliamentarian shall perform the duties of the Parliamentarian when the Parliamentarian is temporarily absent or is otherwise unable to serve.  He/she shall engage in such duties as required of him/her.

(Amendments to Bylaws)

The Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of any annual meeting provided the proposed amendment be submitted to the Bylaws Committee by the (note need to come up with a date that is consistent with an annual meeting date) deadline.  The President and the Executive Committee shall provide copies (Note can be electronic/mail – need not put in the document just a note that we could consider either method and or both or a combination of them since some may not have email) of the proposed amendment(s) to all members in good standing with the Branch at least 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting.

Ratification of the Bylaws becomes effective 60 days after approval at Noon, Eastern Standard Time (discussion here from the Ad Hoc Committee).

It supersedes any previous Bylaws, manuals and other documents duly adopted by the Executive Committee to these Bylaws