BYLAWS OF WHITE OAK GROVE CHAPTER, COVENANT OF UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST PAGANS, INC. (“CUUPS”)
Offices of Organization:
WHITE OAK GROVE CHAPTER OFFICE: The Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL, 4848 Turner St., Rockford, IL 61107 White Oak Grove CUUPS was first chartered in June 2015. Bylaws Adopted in January 2016.
NATIONAL CUUPS OFFICE: Miami Valley UU Fellowship, 8690 Yankee St., Dayton, OH 45458. The Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans was incorporated in the State of Ohio in 1997. Regulations/Bylaws adopted June 1998. Amended 2001, 2009. Restated 2014.
Preamble:
In accordance with the principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association (“UUA”), as expressed in Article II of the Bylaws of the UUA, we, as interested and concerned members and friends of UUA societies, join together in association to advance a free and responsible exploration of our religious and spiritual values and to promote the understanding of those values within the UUA and among the broader religious community.
Article I NAME
The full name of this organization chapter is the White Oak Grove Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans, Inc. (“CUUPS”)
Article II AFFILIATION AND INCORPORATION
(1) White Oak Grove CUUPS is intended to be an organization in relationship with the Unitarian Universalist Association.
(2) White Oak Grove CUUPS is organized incorporated exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes as defined by Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
Article III PURPOSE
As stated in the National Articles of Incorporation, “The Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans, Inc. exists for the purposes of promoting the practice and understanding of Pagan and Earth centered spirituality within the Unitarian Universalist Association, enabling networking among Pagan-identified Unitarian Universalists, providing for the outreach of Unitarian Universalism to the broader Pagan community, providing educational materials on Paganism and Earth centered spirituality for Unitarian Universalist congregations and for the general public, promoting interfaith dialogue, encouraging the development of theological and liturgical materials based on Pagan and Earth-centered religious and spiritual perspectives, encouraging greater use of music, dance, visual arts, poetry, story and creative ritual in Unitarian Universalist worship and celebration, providing a place or places for gathering and for worship, and fostering healing relationships with the Earth and all of the Earth’s children.”
The purposes of White Oak Grove CUUPS is to facilitate and support the work of Unitarian Universalists by affirming and promoting the seven principles and six sources of the UUA, in particular the sixth, “Spiritual teachings of earth centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.”
The purposes of White Oak Grove CUUPS include providing support for Pagan and Earth-centered UU religious professionals and ministerial students and maintaining relationships with movements and leaders outside of the UUA.
Article IV MEMBERSHIP
(1) Any person subscribing to the purposes and by-laws shall be eligible for membership. Membership is activated by indicating intent in writing and paying the required annual dues. Membership in the White Oak Grove Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans shall be open, without regard to race, color, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, gender expression, physical disability, national origin, or social condition.
- GENERAL MEMBER / Youth Under Age 16 – anyone who expresses an interest in gathering with and or communicating with the members of the White Oak Grove CUUPS chapter. (Proposed dues are $0 per year)
- VOTING MEMBER – pays the chapter dues for White Oak Grove CUUPS (proposed dues are $15 per year) and is a member of CUUPS National and/or a member of a UU congregation.
- VOTING YOUTH MEMBER – Youth ages of 16-18, if they should wish to have a vote, must maintain membership in White Oak Grove at a $5 membership rate, and have a parent/ guardian who is also a voting member. If there is not a parent member, they must maintain a $15 voting membership as stated in Article IV (1)(b).
(2) Each individual person holding a voting membership has one vote. Members must be present at meetings to vote.
(3) Only Voting members with current dues may hold a seat on the Board of Directors.
(4) Membership forms will be submitted to the Board Membership Liaison, submitted in writing to be held on file. Members may indicate that their data is confidential and will not be shared outside of the board, staff or bonded volunteers.
Article V BOARD OF DIRECTORS
(1) The Board of Directors (Board) shall consist of at least three, but no more than nine active members of CUUPS who will select from among themselves individuals to carry out required formal roles, including, but not limited to the Executive Board roles of Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Board may appoint acting Directors to fill unexpired terms.
(2) Directors shall serve one-year terms, and continue their roles upon an annual vote of confidence from the voting membership. Directors shall receive no salary. The Board may approve compensation for reasonable expenses.
(3) The Board shall meet at least quarterly, with the Annual Business Meeting taking place each April. Meetings may be conducted in person, electronically or by conference call. A quorum of the Board is necessary to conduct business and consists of the majority of its members.
(4) The responsibilities of the Board shall be to manage the affairs of the organization, including but not limited to the following:
- Plan all meetings of the membership, including the Annual Meeting
- Assist in developing General Assembly resolutions
- Establish dues and manage the financial resources of the organization
- Establish policies and procedures necessary to conduct the business and programs of the organization
- Prepare an Annual Report of the organization
- Enter into contracts for administrative and program services
(5) Regular attendance at board meetings is expected of the board of directors. The case of any member who does not attend on a regular basis will be reviewed by the Executive Officers who will make a recommendation to the board regarding retention on the board. Any trustee who fails to attend more than two consecutive board meetings without notice to the chairman shall automatically be retired and the Chairman shall declare the position vacant.
Article VI FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION
(1) The fiscal year of the organization shall commence on the first day of January each year.
(2) The programs of the organization shall be financed by membership dues, sponsorships, investment income, legacies or gifts, sales of educational materials, grants and contracts, or other means as determined by the Board.
(3) In the case of dissolution of the organization, all its property, both real and personal shall be conveyed to the UUA or its successors.
(4) Voluntary dissolution of this corporation shall be proposed by the board as a resolution to the members. Such a resolution shall be put to the members, and approved by them, by a total two-thirds vote of the members who vote in person.
Article VII AMENDMENT OF THE BY-LAWS
(1) Amendment to these bylaws may be proposed by the members at the Annual Business Meeting, or by the board at any board meeting or at the Annual Business Meeting. Before amendments are voted on. The vote will take place in person if a quorum is present, at the Annual Business Meeting. Approval of new bylaw amendments require a two-thirds affirmative vote of the members.
Article VIII RULES
The Rules of White Oak Grove CUUPS shall contain such provisions as these Bylaws, or the Standard Operating Procedure Book and may require any other provisions which the Board or the members may deem necessary for the proper conduct of the affairs of White Oak Grove CUUPS.
No Rule of White Oak Grove CUUPS shall be valid which is inconsistent with law, the National CUUPS Articles of Incorporation, the White Oak Grove CUUPS Bylaws, or the Bylaws and Policies of the Board of Directors of the Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL. All White Oak Grove CUUPS policies on youth participation, registered sex offenders, disruptive behavior, and conflict resolution can be found in, and default to those found in, the document “Policies of the Board of Directors of the Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL.”
The Rules of White Oak Grove CUUPS shall be adopted upon approval by consensus of the White Oak Grove Directors then in office, or by an ordinary act of the members. The Rules of White Oak Grove CUUPS shall become effective upon publication via email to all the voting members, or posted on the White Oak Grove CUUPS website as a whole in writing, or upon such a date subsequent to publication as may be therein specified.
Addendum
END OF BYLAWS
Last Edited March 26, 2019
White Oak Grove CUUPS 