WILPF NY Metro Bylaws

By-Laws
of
The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom New York Metro
(WILPF NY METRO), A NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION
To be approved by Membership prior to 31MAY08

ARTICLE I ORGANIZATION
The name of this organization shall be the Women’s International League of Peace and Freedom, hereinafter referred to as WILPF.

ARTICLE II AIMS AND PRINCIPLES
The aims and principles of WILPF are:
To bring together women of different political beliefs and philosophies who are united in their determination to study, make known and help abolish the causes and legitimization of war.
• To work toward world peace
• Total and universal disarmament
• The abolition of violence and coercion in the settlement of conflict and their substitution in every case of negotiation and conciliation
• The strengthening of the United Nations system
• The continuous development and implementation of international law
• Women’s political, social and economic empowerment to achieve gender equality and justice for all.
• Cooperation among all people
• Environmentally sustainable development

Believing that under systems of exploitation, these aims cannot be attained and a real and lasting peace and true freedom cannot exist, WILPF makes it its duty to further by non-violent means the social transformation that enables the inauguration of systems under which social and political equality and economic justice for all can be attained, without discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, or any other grounds whatsoever.

WILPF sees as its ultimate goal the establishment of an international economic order founded on the principles of meeting the needs of all people and not those of profit and privilege.

ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP
Individuals who accept the aims and principles of WILPF may become members as set out in the By-Laws.
Associate membership is open to national organizations or groups that accept WILPF’s aims and principles and agree to comply with the conditions and criteria set out in Article II of the By-Laws.

ARTICLE IV MEETINGS
The annual membership meeting of this organization shall be held during September each and every year.
The Mailing Contact/Liaison shall mail to every member in good standing, at her address as it appears in the membership roll book in this organization, a notice telling the time and place of such annual meeting.
Regular membership meetings of this organization shall be held quarterly in New York City in December, February and October.
The presence of not less than Twenty (20%) percent of active* members shall constitute a quorum and shall be necessary to conduct the business of this organization; but, a lesser percentage may adjourn the meeting for a period of not more than two weeks from the date scheduled by these By-Laws and the Mailing Contact/Liaison shall mail a notice of this scheduled meeting to all those members who were not present at the meeting originally called. A quorum as herein before set forth shall be required at any reconvened meeting.
Special meetings of this organization may be called by the chair when she deems it in the best interest of the organization. Notices of such meeting shall be posted or emailed to all members at their addresses as they appear in the membership roll book at least seven (7) days before the scheduled date set for such special meeting. Such notice shall state the reasons that such meeting has been called, the business to be transacted at such meeting and who requested it. If Fifty-One (51%) percent of the members of the Board of Directors or Fifty-One (51%) percent of the members of the organization request it, the chair shall cause a special meeting to be called but said request must be made in writing at least ten (10) days before the requested scheduled date.
No other business but that specified in the notice may be transacted at such special meeting without the unanimous consent of all present at such meeting.
*An active member is defined as anyone who has attended at least two (2) meetings during the prior year.

ARTICLE V VOTING
At all meetings, except for the election of officers and directors, all votes shall be by consensus.
For election of officers, ballots shall be provided and there shall not appear any place on such ballot that might tend to indicate the person who cast such ballot.
At any regular or special meeting, if a majority so requires, any question may be voted upon in the manner and style provided for election of officers and directors.
At all votes by ballot the chair of such meeting shall, prior to the commencement of balloting, appoint a committee of three, who shall act as "Inspectors of Election" and who shall, at the conclusion of such balloting, certify in writing to the chair the results and the signed copy shall be physically affixed in the minute book to the minutes of that meeting. No inspector of election shall be a candidate for office or shall be personally interested in the question voted upon.

ARTICLE VI ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. Check In
2. Reports of Officers
3. Reports of Committees
4. Old and Unfinished Business
5. New Business
6. Check Out

NOTE: Minutes of the Meeting shall be published on the Website or distributed via e-mail; deletions, additions and changes can be made either on the Website or distributed via e-mail.

ARTICLE VII BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The business of this organization shall be managed by a Board of Directors consisting of at least three members, together with the officers of this organization. At least one of the directors elected shall be a resident of the City of New York.
The directors to be chosen for the ensuing year shall be chosen at the annual meeting of this organization in the same manner and style as the officers of this organization and they shall serve for a term of 1 one year.
The Board of Directors shall have the control and management of the affairs and business of this organization. Such Board of Directors shall only act in the name of the organization when it shall be regularly convened by its chair after due notice to all the directors of such meeting.
Fifty-One (51%) percent of the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum and the meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held annually in the month of September.
Each director shall have one vote and such voting can be done remotely.
The Board of Directors may make such rules and regulations covering its meetings as it may in its discretion determine necessary.
Vacancies in the Board of Directors shall be filled by a vote of the majority of the remaining members of the Board of Directors for the balance of the year.
The chair of the organization by virtue of her office shall be chair of the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors shall select from one of their members a Mailing Contact/Liaison.
A director may be removed when sufficient cause exists for such removal. The Board of Directors may entertain charges against any director. A director may be represented by counsel at any removal hearing. The Board of Directors shall adopt such rules for this hearing as it may in its discretion consider necessary for the best interests of the organization.
ARTICLE VIII OFFICERS
The initial officers of the organization shall be as follows:
Chair
Mailing Contact/Liaison
Treasurer

The Chair shall by virtue of her office be chair of the Board of Directors.
She shall:
• present at each annual meeting of the organization an annual report of the work of the organization.
• appoint all committees, temporary or permanent.
• see all books, reports and certificates required by law are properly kept or filed.
• be one of the officers who may sign the checks or drafts of the organization.
• have such powers as may be reasonably construed as belonging to the chief executive of any organization.
The will be no vice chair. In the event of the absence or inability of the chair to exercise her office, the Treasurer will become acting president of the organization with all the rights, privileges and powers as if she had been the duly elected president. She shall continue as such until the chair is able to resume duties or an election can be held to replace the chair.
The Mailing Contact/Liaison shall keep the minutes and records of the organization in appropriate books.
It shall be her duty to file any certificate required by any statute, federal or state.
She shall:
• give and serve all notices to members of this organization.
• be the official custodian of the records of this organization.
• be one of the officers required to sign the checks and drafts of the organization.
• attend to all correspondence of the organization and shall exercise all duties incident to the office of Mailing Contact/Liaison.
The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of all monies belonging to the organization and shall be solely responsible for such monies or securities organization. She shall cause to be deposited in a regular business bank or trust company a sum not exceeding $ 100,000.00 and the balance of the funds of the organization shall be deposited in a another bank except that the Board of Directors may cause such funds to be invested in such investments be legal for a non-profit corporation in this state. She must be one of the officers, who shall sign checks or drafts of the organization. No special fund may be set aside that shall make it unnecessary for the Treasurer to sign the checks issued upon it.
She shall render at stated periods as the Board of Directors shall determine a written account of the finances of the organization and such report shall be physically affixed to the minutes of the Board of Directors of such meeting.
She shall exercise all duties incident to the office of Treasurer.
Officers shall by virtue of their office be members of the Board of Directors.
No officer shall for reason of her office be entitled to receive any salary or compensation, but nothing herein shall be construed to prevent an officer or director for receiving any compensation from the organization for duties other than as a director or officer.

ARTICLE IX SALARIES
The Board of Directors shall hire and fix the compensation of any and all employees which they in their discretion may determine to be necessary for the conduct of the business of the organization.

ARTICLE X COMMITTEES
All committees of this organization shall be appointed by the Board of Directors and their term of office shall be for a period of three years or less if sooner terminated by the action of the Board of Directors.
The permanent three standing committees shall be: Building the Beloved Community, Challenging Corporate Power, and DISARM! Dismantle the War Economy.

ARTICLE XI FEES
A fee of Fifteen Dollars shall be payable on or before September 15th by any member who wants to receive the newsletter by U.S. Mail.

ARTICLE XII AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be altered, amended, repealed or added to by an affirmative vote of not less than Fifty-One percent (51%) percent of the members.

WILPF is Building the Beloved Community by seeking to understand and address racism and discrimination in our society. Discussion about these issues is crucial to finding a viable solution. Add your voice and reason to the conversation.

WILPF is Challenging Corporate Power through education beginning with a six-week course developed by WILPF, which is being held across the world. A course will be held this summer. Call the WILPF New York Metro office to enroll.

WILPF is Disarming The War Economy by linking the effect of the for-profit war machine on our day-to-day lives. With the Raging Grannies and through song, art and satire we work to bring the immoral cost of the Iraq occupation home.