Constitution and Bylaws
Article I
Name
This organization shall be known as Wellfleet Community Forum, Inc. hereinafter referred to as the Forum.
Article II
Object
The purpose of the Forum is to provide Wellfleet with a civic organization to render the following services:
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To provide an agency for the free expression of the concerns and needs of the people of the community as a whole.
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To provide an opportunity to formulate, encourage, and execute plans to improve the quality of living within the total community.
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To act in continuous cooperation with town agencies and town government in matters for the good of the town.
Article III
Officers
The Officers of the Forum shall be a President, Vice President, (or alternately, two co-Presidents), Treasurer, Secretary, and Membership Director. All Officers shall be elected for a term of one year.
Article IV
Duties of Officers
Section 1–President or co-Presidents
The President (or co-Presidents) and in his/her absence the Vice President, shall preside at all meetings of the Forum and of the Board of Directors.
The President shall appoint all chairpersons of standing committees. The President may, from time to time, appoint such committees as in his/her discretion s/he may think proper.
The President shall submit an annual report on the activities and accomplishments of the Forum.
Section 2–Vice President
If there are not two co-Presidents, a Vice President may be selected who shall serve in. the absence of the President.
Section 3–Treasurer
The Treasurer shall collect all dues and donations and shall keep the account of the Forum, and report thereon at each Annual Meeting of the Forum and at all Board meetings. S/he shall make deposits in the name of the Forum with such bank or trust company as may be approved by the Board.
The Treasurer shall receive, and have charge of, all funds of the Forum and shall disburse same by checks signed by the Treasurer and; or the President, in accordance with board policy.
Section 4–Secretary
The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all the meetings of the Forum and the Board of Directors, keep and file all records of the Forum, conduct the general correspondence.
Section 5–Membership Director
The Membership Director shall be responsible for mailings to members, keep a current file of the members and their mailing addresses, promote the enrollment of new members, serve as Chair of the Membership Committee.
Article V
The Board of Directors
There shall be a Board of Directors to consist of no fewer than nine (9) members, including the Officers of the Forum.
The term of office for a Board Member shall be three (3) years. Directors, other than the Officers, shall be elected at each annual meeting. At any election of Directors a majority of votes cast shall be necessary to elect.
Vacancies which shall occur between elections shall be filled by appointment by the President, with ratification by the Board, for the unexpired part of the term and allowed to continue until the next annual meeting, when such vacancy will be filled by election for the unexpired term.
The Board of Directors shall have general charge of the management and control of the affairs, funds, and properties of the Forum, and shall authorize and control all expenditures.
The Board shall hold regular meetings at least every two months. Five (5) members shall constitute a quorum at a Board meeting. Special Board meetings may be called by the President at the request of three (3) members of the Board.
Immediate past Presidents shall serve as ex-officio members for two (2) years. They are entitled to attend and speak, but not vote, at all Board meetings.
Article VI
Elections
A Nominating Committee of five members of the Forum shall be appointed by the Board at a Board meeting, two (2) meetings before the Annual Meeting, to determine the names of candidates for election to the Offices of the Forum as well as candidates for the Board of Directors when members thereto are to be elected.
The names of persons so nominated shall be published in local newspapers at least one week in advance of the meeting at which their election is proposed; but failure to give such publicity shall not invalidate an election. Nominations by the Committee shall not preclude the nomination or election of any person or persons at the Annual Meeting.
Article VII
General Meetings
Subsequent to the founding meetings of the Forum, The Annual Meeting of the Forum shall be held in August to conduct Forum business and elections.
A general informational meeting for the town shall be held in July. The Board shall fix the day of the monthly meetings.
Other general meetings may be held when called by the Board or shall be called by the President at the written requests of at least ten (10) members. Notice of such meeting must state the objects for which it is called and must be mailed to all members at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting.
Twenty-five (25) members or 25% of the full membership, whichever is smaller, shall constitute a quorum at a general meeting.
In all matters other than the election of officers, two-thirds of those present and voting shall be considered as acting for the corporation.
Article VIII
Amendments
Bylaws may be made, changed, or repealed at any meeting called for that purpose, by an affirmative two-thirds vote of the members voting. Notice of the proposed amendment must be sent to all members at least fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting.
Article IX
Membership
Anyone is eligible for full membership in the Forum.
Payment of dues shall satisfy requirements of membership. The Board may, at its discretion, waive membership dues and/or confer honorary full membership status to particular persons.
Article X
Dues
Any changes in dues shall be determined by the Board of Directors. The first year’s dues are to be paid on enrollment and thereafter yearly before the Annual Meeting.
Article XI
Attendance
The Board of Directors is empowered, at its discretion, to remove from the Board any’ Officer or Director who misses four consecutive meetings of the Board.
Article XII
Standing Committees
There shall be the following standing Committees: Membership, Program, Publicity, Nominating.
Article XIII
Fiscal Policies
The fiscal year shall be from January 1 to December 3]. In the event of the dissolution of the Wellfleet Community Forum, Inc., its assets will be distributed, as the Board of Directors shall determine, to organizations which are tax exempt for Federal Income Tax Purposes.