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CONSTITUTION of the BELLEVUE OFFUTT HOMESCHOOL GROUP MISSION STATEMENT Bellevue Offutt Homeschool Group is open to all homeschooling families who live in Bellevue and the surrounding Nebraska/Iowa area. Through this group, you can find out what's going on around the Omaha Metro, as well as learn information about field trips, Co-Ops (as created), Mom's Night Out and our monthly meeting. This is a hands-on support group where members are highly encouraged to plan events for the group, share information, and use their gifts and talents for the benefit of the group. PURPOSE - To encourage all home school families in Bellevue and the surrounding Nebraska/Iowa areas.
- To provide a group that takes no position on religion, partisan politics or non-home schooling issues.
- To provide opportunities designed to bring families together for sharing mutual home schooling interests.
- To provide a forum where members can plan events for the group, exchange information, and use their gifts and talents for the benefit of the group.
AMENDMENTS This constitution may be amended, altered, or repealed and a new mission statement and purposes may be adopted by a vote of eighty percent (80%) of the members. SIGNATURES Dated Feb 3, 2009 BYLAWS of the BELLEVUE OFFUTT HOMESCHOOL GROUP ARTICLE I NAME - The name of this organization will be the “Bellevue Offutt Homeschool Group” or BOHG.
ARTICLE II MEMBERS - Membership. Membership is open to area home schooling families. Families not living in the area may become members upon the approval of the Leadership Council.
- Statement of Faith. Since BOHG has no statement of faith, no recognition of such is necessary.
- Requirements. Members are required to be actively homeschooling.
- Confidentiality. All membership information will be treated with confidentiality.
- Application for Membership. Membership may be secured any time of year by presenting a completed application form to the BOHG leadership.
- Information Updates. On a yearly basis, members’ personal information will be updated. Members not responding to such requests will be considered inactive and removed from the group membership roster.
- Dues. There are no dues at the inception of this document. Any financial considerations will be brought before the group for discussion and action will then be determined by the Council.
- Eligible Voters. Each member family will receive one vote. The eligible voting membership will be defined as having been a member on the last day of the previous month prior to notice being given of a meeting of the Membership. Only members local to the Nebraska/Iowa area will be considered voting members.
- Annual Meeting. The Group will hold an annual meeting of its members for the purpose of electing Officers and Members at Large.
- Monthly Meetings. The Group will hold open monthly meetings on a schedule as decided upon by the Leadership Council.
- Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called at any time by the Leadership Council, the co-leaders or by emailed demand of five percent (5%) of members stating the purpose for calling the meeting.
- Notice of Special Meetings. Notice will be given via email for a date no less than ten (10) days from the date of transmission. Notice of a special meeting will include the reason for the meeting. The annual meeting does not need a special purpose unless there is to be an amendment to the Articles or removal of a Council Member by the group members.
- Quorum. A simple majority of the Leadership Council Members will constitute a quorum. All actions must be passed by a majority of the quorum.
ARTICLE III LEADERSHIP COUNCIL - Composition. This group will be governed by a council of not less than five nor more than nine member parents. The council must always maintain an odd member number.
- Responsibility. Council members will be supportive of the BOHG constitution’s purposes and the inclusive nature of the group.
- Accountability. Council members are accountable to the members of BOHG and shall live in Bellevue, Nebraska or the surrounding area.
- Terms. The initial Leadership Council will be elected as follows: three Council Members will serve two-year terms and four Council Members will serve one-year terms. All future terms will be two years for all new Council Members. Terms will run June 1 to May 31.
- Nominations. A Nominating Committee of not less than three members will be appointed by the Leader at the January Regular Member Meeting. Names for nomination will be forwarded to the Nominating committee, and after verification of the nominee’s interest, announced to the Membership at the March Regular Member Meeting.
- Election. Elections to fill positions on the Leadership Council will be held in April. The Membership will vote via confidential poll over a two week period.
- Resignation. A Council Member may resign at any time by giving written notice of resignation to the Group. Replacement name(s) will be put into nomination at that time. Whenever possible, the resignation will be considered effective when a replacement Council Member has been put into place. Replacement Council Members will be appointed by the Council for the remainder of the resigning Council Member’s term.
- Removal by Council. Any Officer may be removed to a Member-At-Large position by a ¾ majority by the Leadership Council whenever, in its judgment, the best interests of the Group will be served.
- Removal by Members. Any Council Member elected by the BOHG Members may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the members with an affirmative vote as required under Article III, Number 13 (quorum) at a meeting called for such a purpose.
- Authority and Duty of Officers. The Officers of the Group will have the authority and will exercise the powers to perform the duties specified below.
- Leadership Council Positions.|
Officers:
(a) Leader a. The Leader will be the Chairperson of the Council and will preside at all meetings of the Leadership Council, and will perform all other duties incident to the office of the Leader and Chairperson. The Leader will be an ex oficio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.
(b) Co-Leader. a. The Co-Leader will have equal standing to the Leader.
(c) Secretary/Treasurer. a. The secretary will keep and report council meeting minutes in writing. b. The secretary will notify Members of up coming meetings. c. The secretary will keep permanent record of the council actions and committee reports. d. The secretary will conduct such communications and correspondence as determined by the Council. e. The treasurer will receive all dues, contributions and other income and shall pay bills of the Group. f. The treasurer will make financial reports at meetings. g. The treasurer will submit fiscal year financial statements at the annual meeting. h. The treasurer will work with the council to propose operating budgets. i. The treasurer will maintain accurate financial records.
Other Leadership Council Positions.
(a) Member(s)-at-Large. a. Member-at-Large (MAL) represents the interests of the general membership and conducts projects and accepts duties as requested by the Co-Leaders. (Multiple MAL positions selected on alternate years.)
ARTICLE IV STANDARD OF CONDUCT FOR LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEMBERS - Standard of Conduct. Each Officer and Council Member will perform
his/her duties, including without limitation the duties as a member of any committee of the Leadership Council: (i) in good faith and (ii) in a manner the Council Member reasonably believes to be in the best interest of the Group.
ARTICLE V COMMITTEES - Appointments. The appointments of all committees and their committee leaders will be made by the co-leaders with majority consent of the Council, which may re-define committee leaders’ duties from time to time.
- Committee Leaders. Committee leaders will be members of BOHG, will be supportive of BOHG’s inclusive stance and will support BOHG’s purposes.
- Accountability. Committees are accountable to the Leadership Council.
- Approval. Members wishing to start a club must have approval of the Leadership Council before using the Bellevue Offutt Homeschool Group name.
ARTICLE VI MISCELLANEOUS - Dissolution. Upon dissolution of Bellevue Offutt Homeschool Group, the Leadership Council will, after making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the Group, dispose of all the assets in such a manner as to benefit one or more local homeschool organizations. The choice of the organization(s) will be left to the discretion of the Leadership Council at the time of dissolution.
- Amendments. These Articles may be amended, altered, or repealed and new Articles may be adopted by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the eligible voting members.
- Limitations on Use of Membership List. Unless the Leadership Council gives its written consent, the Group’s membership list or any part thereof may not be: (i) obtained or used by any person for any purpose unrelated to a member’s interest as a member; (ii) used to solicit money or property unless such money or property will be used solely to solicit the votes of the members in an election; (iii) used for any commercial purpose; or (iv) sold to or purchased by any person.
- Limitation on Use of BOHG Logo. The logo may not be used without express written consent of the BOHG Leadership Council.
- Policy and Mission Changes. All changes to the overall policy and mission must be approved by the membership as noted in Article II, Number 13.
SIGNATURES Dated Feb 3, 2009
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