Chican@s Unidos (CU) Bylaws

Rev. 2/4/2012; 2/23/12; 3/6/12

ARTICLE I.               NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION

The name of this organization is Chican@s Unidos of Orange County.

ARTICLE II.              PURPOSE

To achieve community self-determinism in Orange County, by promoting Chican@ Mexican@ Indigenous pride while maintaining a gender-balanced and working-people perspective in interpreting and documenting our history while developing proactive solutions.

ARTICLE III.            FORM OF ORGANIZATION

Chican@s Unidos is a grassroots multi-issue Chican@ rights organization.

ARTICLE IV.            MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.                    Core Member

A.    A person who agrees with the CU vision and mission statement.

B.     A person who is committed in creating and maintaining leadership roles for Raza.

C.     A person who has attended two consecutive general meeting, or

D.    A person who has attended one (1) general meeting and one sub-committee within the last six (6) months.

Section 2.                    Solidarity Member

Philosophical advocate who supports the CU vision and mission.

Section 3.                    Solidarity Advocate

A.    Philosophical advocate who supports the CU vision and mission.

B.     Financial contributor.

Section 4.                    Leave of Absence for Core Members

A.    A core member who is not able to attend more than three (3) consecutive general meetings has a duty to inform an Officer that said member elects a leave of absence status until further notice.

B.     Reactivation of membership, see Article IV. Section 1.

Section 6.                    Termination of Membership

 Any member may freely decide to terminate his or her membership.

ARTICLE V.              VOTING

Section 1.                    Voting Rights

Only core members are eligible to vote at a general meeting.

Section 2.                    Quorum

A.    General Meetings requires 1/3 presence of core membership.

B.     Sub-committees including work groups require 1/3 presence of sub-committee members.

Section 3.                    Voting Process

A.     Simply majority

B.      E-Mail Voting process (Non-meeting urgent resolution voting process)

1. Only an officer can post an e-mail motion to the core members.

2. Action on the motion will follow simple parliamentary procedures.

3. Discussion will be held within a clearly stated and reasonable amount of time.

4.  If a core member does not respond by the deadline this will be interpreted as an abstention.

ARTICLE VI.                        OFFICERS

Section 1.                    Chair

A. Shall convene regular and special meetings.

B. Shall represent CU at official functions.

C. Shall oversee CU projects and sub-committees.

Section 2.                    Vice-Chair

            A. Shall assist the Chair in all duties.

B. Shall act as the Chair in their absence.

Section 3.                    Treasurer

A.    Shall disburse funds.

1. Checks require the Treasurer’s signature and either the Chair’s or Vice-Chair’s signature.

B.     Shall regulate property,inventory,and funds.

C.     Prepare and present a report at each general meeting.

Section 4.                    Secretary

A.    Shall take the minutes at general meetings.

B.     Shall maintain membership rosters.

C.     Shall provide the Chair will all viable documents.

Section 5.                    Historian/Archivist

A.    Shall collect, preserve, and maintain documents chronicling CU activities, and research events that the organization has or will participate in.

B.     Shall orient new members.

Section 6.                    Nomination and Election of Officers

A.       Nomination for officers shall be made at the general meeting.

B.       The election of an officer will be by simply majority.

C.      See ARTICLE V for voting procedures.

Section 7. Term of Office

a.       Term of office shall be the calendar year.

b.      The annual elections will be held in January.

c.       There will be no term limits but officers have to run each election cycle.

ARTICLE VII.           MEETINGS

Section 1.  General Meeting

A.      Core members shall decide the date of a general meeting by simple majority vote.

B.      Officers may change the date of a general meeting by a unanimous vote.

C.      If two officers, despite making a reasonable attempt to contact an officer by phone, or e-mail, are unable to contact said officer, the missing officer’s vote shall be rendered as an abstention.

Section 2.  Special Meetings

Officers may call a special meeting.

Section 3. Speaker Phone

Members may participate in a meeting by speaker phone provided everyone can hear the member calling in.

Section 4.  Simple Parliamentary Procedures

Simple parliamentary procedures will be observed at all meetings.

ARTICLE VIII.         AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATION

Section 1.                    Member Representante

A. Core members must approve a member representante by a majority vote to represent CU on a coalition or other decision making group.

B. The Chair or Vice-Chair may delegate speaking obligations to any core member.

C. The representante cannot commit CU to any position or allocate resources without previous organizational endorsement.

Section 2.                    Organizational Endorsement

Core members must approve by a simple majority the use of CU’s, name, logo, signature, or endorsement mark as a sponsor or supporter of any organization, group, individual, or cause.

ARTICLE IX.                        AMENDMENTS TO THE BY LAWS

An amendment to the By Laws requires a ¾ vote of the core members present.

ARTICLE X.              SUB-COMMITTEES

Section 1.  Role of Chicano@ Unidos Sub-Committees

Sub-Committees are supporting and interdependent committees of Chican@s Unidos.  The sub-committees assist in the promotion of organizational philosophy and goals.  The sub-committees investigate general and specific tasks and issues and render suggestions and resolutions for the core members to discuss and consider.

Section 2.  Sub-Committees

            A. Fundraising – The primary function is to raise funds.

            B. Security – The primary function is the maintain harmony at demonstrations and events.

            C. Education – The primary function is to provide scholarships, educational policyanalysis            and guidance, and mentoring.

            D. Migration – The primary function is to support the human rights of migrant and            indigenous communities.

            E. Political – The primary function is to participate in progressive Orange County electoral            politics.

            F. Outreach – The primary function is to publicize and promote participation in CU.

            G. Neighborhood Preservation and Community Empowerment (NPCE) – The primary      function is neighborhood preservation and community empowerment.

            H. Cultural – The primary function is to promote Chican@ Mexican@ Indigenous pride    and heritage.

            I.  Youth –(To be discussed by the Education sub-committee.)

Section 3.                    Sub-Committee Structure

            A. Each sub-committee shall have a committee chair and shall observe the same simple      parliamentary procedures as practiced at the general meetings.

            B.  The responsibility of the Committee Chair will include but is not limited to:

                        1. Calling regular meetings

                        2. Making reports at general meetings

                        3. Providing leadership and encouragement to sub-committee members.

            C. Section 7. Term of Office

1. Term of office shall be the calendar year.

2. The annual elections will be held in January.

3. There will be no term limits but current Chairs will have to run each election cycle.

            D. Sub-Committee Elections

                        1. When a sub-committee is activated a new chair will be selected at the first                                  organizational meeting.

                        2. See ARTICLE 5 for voting procedures.

           

ARTICLE XI.            AD HOC COMMITTEES

Ad hoc committees are temporary work groups that address an issue presented and approved to the general body.  An ad hoc committee work group shall observe the same simple parliamentary procedures referenced herein.