Please see the proposed overall updates as well as edits to sections 4.1, 4.3, 4.4, and 5.2 of Jefferson Park Forward’s Bylaws. Membership will vote on these changes at the October 2024 JPF General Meeting. JPF’s complete Bylaws can be read here: Bylaws – the governing rules of Jefferson Park Forward.
Overall changes:
– Replacing “his or hers” “him or her” “he or she” with “their” or “theirs” or “them” throughout the entirety of the Bylaws.
Specific changes:
ARTICLE IV. Meetings
SECTION 4.1. ANNUAL MEETING
An annual meeting of the members shall be held in on the third Thursday of September of each year for the purpose of electing members of the Board of Directors and for the transaction of such other business (“Annual Meeting”).
SECTION 4.2. SPECIAL MEETING
Special meetings of the members may be called either by the President or a majority of the Board of Directors (“Special Meeting”).
SECTION 4.3. GENERAL MEETINGS
General meetings of the members shall be held quarterly in on the third Thursday of March, June, September, and December each month (“General Meeting”). The President or the consent of a majority of the Board of Directors may cancel a General Meeting of the members by providing public notice on the JPF website at least thirty (30) three days prior to the meeting; however, such notice shall not be required in cases of extreme weather or other extenuating circumstances.
SECTION 4.4. PLACE OF MEETING
The Board of Directors may designate any place within the JPF Boundaries, or virtually, as the place of meeting for any annual or general meeting.
SECTION 4.5. NOTICE OF MEETINGS
Notice stating the place, date, and hour of any meeting of members shall be announced on the JPF website at least five days prior to the meeting. In case of a Special Meeting or when required by statute or by these bylaws, the purpose for which the meeting is called shall be stated in the notice.
SECTION 4.6. QUORUM
A quorum for any Annual, General or Special Meeting of JPF is defined as twenty Regular Members with dues paid in full for at least sixty (60) calendar days present at any properly announced meeting (“Membership Quorum”). No vote of the Regular Members shall be taken at a meeting of the Regular Members unless a Membership Quorum exists.
SECTION 4.7. PROXIES
There shall be no voting by proxies at any meeting.
SECTION 4.8. VOTING BY BALLOT
Voting on any question or in any election may be by voice unless the chair of the meeting shall order otherwise or a majority of Regular Members present at the meeting shall demand that voting be by ballot for those in attendance.
SECTION 4.9. ORGANIZATION OF MEETINGS
At each meeting of members, the President, or any person designated by the President, shall act as the chairperson of the meeting. The Secretary, or in the Secretary’s absence, such person as the chairperson of the meeting may appoint, shall act as secretary of the meeting.
ARTICLE V. Board of Directors
SECTION 5.1. GENERAL POWERS
The affairs of JPF shall be managed by or under the direction of the board of directors (“Board of Directors” or “Board”).
SECTION 5.2. NUMBER, TENURE, AND QUALIFICATIONS
The Board shall be comprised of six (6) to ten (10) members: five (5) to nine (9) voting directors, including elected officers (each, a “Director”) and 1 (one) special category of non-elected, non-director officer known as President Emeritus. The overall Board shall be comprised of the President, President Emeritus, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and one (1) three (3) to five (5) Director positions. Each member of the Board of Directors, with the exception of the President Emeritus, shall hold office for a two-year term upon election. The past President of JPF shall assume the role of President Emeritus upon the determination of the winner of the election for new President. The President Emeritus shall hold office until the end of the elected term of the current President at which time they will assume the role. Only a Regular Member, having served on an active committee or led a JPF sponsored project or event shall be qualified to run for and hold a position on the Board of Directors. Only a past President of JPF may serve as President Emeritus.
SECTION 5.3. REGULAR MEETINGS
A regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held at least two weeks prior to any Annual Meeting or General Meeting.
SECTION 5.4. SPECIAL MEETINGS
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the President or any two Directors. The person or persons calling a special meeting of the Board may fix any place within the JPF Boundaries, or virtually, as the place for holding any special meeting of the Board.
SECTION 5.5. NOTICE
Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given at least two days prior by email or other written notice to each Director at their address as shown in the JPF records. No special meeting of Directors may remove a Director unless written notice of the proposed removal is delivered to all Directors at least ten days prior to such meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail with postage prepaid. Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors may be waived in writing signed by the person or persons entitled to the notice either before or after the time of the meeting. The attendance of a Director at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when a Director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. The purpose of any other regular or special meeting of the Board need not be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting unless specifically required by law or by these bylaws.
SECTION 5.6. QUORUM
A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors (“Director Quorum”), provided that if less than a majority of the Directors are present at said meeting, a majority of the Directors present may adjourn the meeting to another time without further notice. A President Emeritus shall not be subject to any attendance policy counted in determining if a quorum is present at a Board of Directors meeting.