By-Laws of Asheville Homeless Network
A Not-For-Profit Corporation
- Article I - ORGANIZATION
- Article II - PURPOSES
- Article III - MEMBERSHIP
- Article IV - MEETINGS
- Article V - VOTING
- Article VI - ORDER OF BUSINESS
- Article VII - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- Article VIII - OFFICERS
- Article IX - SALARIES
- Article X - COMMITTEES
- Article XI - DUES
- Article XII - AMENDMENTS
- The name of the organization shall be ASHEVILLE HOMELESS NETWORK
- The Orgnization shall have a seal which shall be in the following form: TBD; OPTIONal.
- The organization may at its pleasure by a vote of the membership body change its name.
The Asheville Homeless Network is a coalition of homeless people, formerly homeless people, and their allies coming together for the purpose of identifying and providing services in the areas of housing, food, and medical care, and other needs as identified.
Membership in this organization shall be open to all who live in Buncombe County, North Carolina, and surrounding areas, and support the goals of the organization. All Membership shall be voting membership.
The annual membership meeting of this organization shall be held on the 8th day of June each and every year except if such day shall be a legal holiday, then and in that event, the Board of Directors shall fix the day but it shall not be more than two weeks from the date fixed by these By-Laws.
The Secretary shall cause to be notified every member in good standing in this organization a notice telling the time and place of such annual meeting, or shall post it in advanceon the organization's website. Regular meetings of this organization shall be held at a site determined by the Boad, within the confines of Asheville, North Carolina.
The presence of not fewer than five (5) members at the Annual Meeting shall constitute a quorum and shall be necessary to conduct the business of this organization; but a small number may adjourn the meeting for a period of not more than four (4) weeks from the date scheduled by these By-Laws and the Secretary shall cause all members to be notified of this new date. A quorum as herin before set forth shall be required at any adjourned meeting.
Special meetings of this organization may be called by the President when he deems it for the best interest of the organization. Notices of such meetings shall be mailed to all members and/or posted on the website at least ten (10) days before the scheduled date set for such special meetings. Such notice shall state the reasons that such meeting has been called, the business to be transacted at such meeting and by whom it was called.
At the request of at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the members of the Board of Directors or seventy-five percent (75%) of the members of the organization, the President shall cause a special meeting to be called, but such 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.
At all meetings, except for the elections of officers and directors, all votes shall be by voice. 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 requies, any question may be voted upon in the manner and style provided for election of officers and directors. All votes shall be cast by members in good standing.
At all votes by ballot the chairman of such meeting shall, prior to the commencement of balloting, appoint a committee of three (3) who shall act as "Inspectors of Election" and who shall, at the conclusion of such balloting, certify in writing to the Chairman the results and the certified 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
- Roll Call.
- Reading of the Minutes of the preceding meeting.
- Reports of Committees.
- Reports of Officers.
- Old and Unfinished Business.
- New Business.
- Adjournments.
Article VII - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The business of this organization shall be managed by a Board of Directors conssting of a maximum of nine (9) members, including officers of this organization. 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 one (1) 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 chairman after due notice to all the directors of such meeting. he BOard shall meet weekly or every other week, as determined by the Board. Attendance of at least two (2) officers and forty-percent (40%) of total Board membership or their proxies shall constitute a quorum. All meeting dates shall be postedo n the organization's website at least ten (10) days in advance of the meeting. Each director shall have one vote and such voting may be done by proxy.
The Board of Directors may make such rules and regulations covering its meetings as it may in the 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 President of the organization by virtue of his office shall be Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall select from one of their members a Secretary.
A Director may be removed when sufficient cause exists for such removal. The Board of Directors may entertain charges against any Director. The Board of Directors shall adopt such rules for this yearing as it may in its discretion consider necessary for the best interests of the organization.
The initial officers of the organization shall be as follows:
- President: Gwenivere McCoury
- Vice President: Jason Klein
- Secretary: Gerald L. "Moss" Bliss, D.D.
- Treasurer: Laurie Coxie
The President shall preside at all membership meetings. He shall by virtue of his office be Chairman of the Board of Directors. He shall present at each annual meeting of the organization an annual report of the work of the organization. He shall appoint all committees, temporary or permament. He shall see all books, reports and certificates required by law are properly kept or filed. He shall be one of the officers who may sign the checks or drafts of the organization. He shall have such powers as may be reasonably construed as belonging to the chief executive of any organization.
The Vice President shall in the event of the absence or inability of the President to exercise his office become acting President of the organization with all the rights, privileges, and powers as if he had been the duly elected President.
The Secretary shall keep the minutes and records of the organization in appropriate books. It shall be his duty to file any certificate required by any statute, federal or state. He shall give and serve all notices to members of this organization. He may be one of the officesr required to sign the checks and drafts of the organization. He shall present to the members ship at any meeting any communication addressed to him as Secretary of the organization. He shall submit to the Board of Directors any communications which shall be addressed to him as Secretary of the organization. He shall attend to all correspondence of the organization and shall exercise all duties incident to the office of Secretary.
The Treasurer shall have the care and custodie of all monies belonging to the organization and shall be solely responsible for such monies or securities of the organization. He shall cause to be deposited in a regular business bank or trust company a sum not exceeding two-thousand dollars ($2000) and the balance of of the funds of the organization shall be deposited in a savings bank except that the Board of Directors may cause such funds to be invested in such investments as shall be legal for a non-profit corporation in this state. He 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 fo rthe Treasurer to sign the checks issued upon it. He 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 physcally affixed to the minutes of the Board of Directors of such meeting. He shall exercise all duties incident to the office of Treasurer. This position may be combined with Secretary according to the needs of the organization.
Officers shall by virtue of their office be members of the Board of Directors. No officer shall for reason of his 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.
These duties may be further outlined by the Board and attached in a separate document.
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. No position on the Board itself will be remunerable.
All committees of this organization shall be appointed by the Board of Directors and their members shall serve so long as the Board determines them to be effective. The permament committees shall be Fundraising, Programs, Website.
There shall be no dues for membership in this organization. All funds shall be raised separately from within and outside the organization.
These By-Laws may be altered, amended, repealed or added to by an affirmative vote of not less than sixty-seven percent (67%) of the Board.
- This document was adopted at a meeting of the Asheville Homeless Network on April 24, 2004.
- Amended on June 28, 2004 to identify the organization as the National Homeless Netowrk, with an Asheville Chapter.
- Amended on August 6, 2004 to revert to the original name and purpose.
- Amended September 2004 to clarify changes in Membership roles and dues, and provide for a smaller percentage for a Quorum at the Annual Membership Meeting or other meetings as called per the requirements of these By-Laws.
- Amended November 17, 2005 to be more in compliance with actual activites of the organization and to comply with the filing of incorporation papers with the State of North Carolina.
Signatures: Jason Klein, Gerald L. Bliss, Laura Coxie
June 28, 2004 amendment signatures: Jason Klein, Gwenn McCourry, Gerald L. Bliss, and Jesse Stewart
August 6, 2004 amendment signatures: Jason Klein, Gwenn McCourry, Gerald L. Bliss, and Jesse Stewart
September 2004 amendment signatures: Jason Klein, Gwenn McCourry, Gerald L. Bliss, and Jesse Stewart
At the 2005 Annual Meeting the Board was reconstituted with Gerald L. "Moss" Bliss, D.D. as President, Other Board officers include Hilliard L. Carlisle, Gerald Hixson, and Emrenthia "Mary" Lucas.
November 17, 2005 amendments approved unanimously by all current Board Members.