ALLIANCE BY-LAWS

FIRST PARISH UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
ARLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS

ARTICLE I. NAME

This organization shall be known as the Alliance of the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, Massachusetts.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

The purposes of this organization shall be to:

(a) provide occasions for the women of this church to meet for fellowship and to deepen the spiritual lives of its members;

(b) unite the women of this church in a common service to our church and community;

(c) support and cooperate in the program of the Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation and the Unitarian Universalist Association.

ARTICLE III. AFFILIATION

The Alliance shall be a member unit of the Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation and shall pay dues to the Federation in accordance with the requirements.

ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP

Section l. Any woman who accepts the purpose of the Alliance and indicates a willingness to participate may become a member.

Section 2. Dues of the Alliance shall be determined by the membership.

ARTICLE V. OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1. The officers of this organization shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary, a Treasurer and an Assistant Treasurer.

Section 2. The officers together with the committee chairors shall constitute the Executive Board.

Section 3. Term of office shall be one year. No officer, with the exceptions of the Treasurer, and Assistant Treasurer shall serve more than three consecutive terms in the same office.

ARTICLE VI. DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1. The officers shall perform all the duties pertaining to their specific offices.

Section 2. The Executive Board shall administer the affairs and funds of the organization as directed by the membership. It shall accept resignations and fill vacancies in office occurring between elections.

Section 3. The Executive Board shall hold monthly meetings October through April.

ARTICLE VII. COMMITTEES

Section 1. There shall be a Nominating Committee composed of three members, one of whom shall be a member of the executive Board. This committee shall be appointed by the Executive Board two months before the Annual Meeting.

Section 2. There shall be such standing committees as the membership shall determine from time to time. Chairors of standing committees shall be appointed by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE VIII. FINANCES

Section 1. The Treasurer of the Alliance shall send, on or before, April 1 of each year to the Treasurer of the Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation, dues out of membership fees. The remainder of these fees and any other money received undesignated may be disbursed by the Alliance at a regular of special meeting, provided that all proposed disbursements shall have first come before the Executive Board for consideration.

Section 2. All Alliance monies and securities received by legacy, unless otherwise specified, will be maintained as permanent funds and held in trust by a Board of three trustees. The trustees may invest or reinvest said funds and make recommendations to the membership on how paid income shall be distributed.

Section 3. The Board of Trustees shall be empowered to withdraw any part of the principal of the Trust Funds only by a two-thirds vote of Alliance members present at a meeting called at a time convenient to the entire membership. A previous notification of such a meeting shall have been sent to all members at least a week in advance.

Section 4. The Trustees shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee and elected at the first annual meeting after this adoption of this By-law, one for three years, one for two years, and one for one year, and thereafter, at each annual meeting one for three years.

Section 5. The Treasurer and the Chairor of the Board of Trustees shall have joint access to the safe deposit box maintained by the Alliance the two Alliance members should be present when the box is opened. If either the Treasurer or the Chairor of the Board is absent or unable to go to the box, an alternate may be designated in writing by the President.

Section 6. The Chairor of the Board of Trustees shall have authority to buy and sell and transfer securities, provided that each such transaction is countersigned by the Treasurer and one other member of the Board of Trustees. If the Treasurer is absent or unable to act, an alternate may be designated in writing by the President.

Section 7. The Alliance shall maintain a separate account for the use of the Board of Trustees. Income from securities and other deposits relating to the permanent funds shall be endorsed by a member of the Board of Trustees and deposited in said account. Withdrawal of funds from said account shall require the signature of two members of the Board of Trustees and the Treasurer or the Assistant Treasurer.

ARTICLE IX: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1. The Nominating Committee shall present at each Annual Meeting a slate of officers, an Auditor and one Trustee of Trust Funds. This slate shall be read at the meeting preceding the Annual Meeting.

Section 2. Additional nominations may be made from the floor at the Annual Meeting.

Section 3. If there is more than one candidate for any office, election shall be by ballot; otherwise election shall be by voice vote.

ARTICLE X: MEETINGS

Section 1. Meetings shall be held monthly beginning in October through May.

Section 2. The last meeting of the fiscal year shall be the Annual Meeting. Annual reports of officers and committees shall be received and elections held.

Section 3. Twelve members shall constitute a quorum.

Section 4. Special meetings may be called by the President or three members of the Board or at the request of fifteen members.

ARTICLE XI: BUSINESS PROCEDURES

Section 1. The fiscal year of the Alliance shall be from April 1 through March 31.

Section 2. This organization shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, unless otherwise determined by the membership.

ARTICLE XII: AMENDMENTS

Section 1. These By-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of members present and voting at a meeting called at a time convenient to the entire membership. Notice of the proposed change shall have been given in the call for the meeting, at least a week in advance, and shall have first come before the Executive Board.

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Adopted May 9, 1965

Amended April 24, 1967

Amended November 2, 1987

Amended May 10, 1999

Amended October 21, 2002

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