Bylaws

ARTICLE I
NAME

The name of the Association shall be Community Action Association of Region VI.

ARTICLE II
PURPOSE

The purpose of the Association shall be as follows:

  1. To become the Nation’s leader in helping people to reach their highest potential through participation in the economic and social mainstream of society.
  2. To promote coordination and cooperation among the individual Community Action Agencies within Region VI.
  3. To support and coordinate activities between Region VI and national organizations, and to present a unified voice for Region VI at the national level.
  4. To provide training and technical assistance to the Community Action Agencies within Region VI.
  5. To sponsor and administer region-wide programs to serve the clients of the Community Action Agencies within Region VI.

ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP

  1. Membership shall be open to all Community Action Agencies and State Associations located in the five states within Region VI which are Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
  2. Membership shall require a payment of current annual dues and submission of the membership application indicating the name of the Executive Director and his/her designated alternate.
  3. Membership dues for the Association will be established by the Board of Directors and approved by the membership.
  4. Each member agency shall have one (1) vote, which shall be cast in person by the agency’s Executive Director or by the alternate designated in writing by said Executive Director.
  5. A current paid membership in the Association is required before a representative from an agency is elected or appointed to a position or committee.
  6. The Fiscal Year and Membership Year of this Association shall be January 1 through December 31.

ARTICLE IV
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors of the Association shall be composed of the following:

  1. The officers of the Association.
  2. One (1) Association representative to the Community Action Partnership and one (1) Association representative to the National Community Action Foundation. The Association representatives shall be elected by simple majority of the members present at an annual membership meeting of the Association. Each representative shall be elected for a term of two (2) years but shall hold office until his/her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. Vacancies, which occur between elections, shall be filled by vote of the Board of Directors.
  3. Officer(s) serving on the Board of the Community Action Partnership or National Community Action Foundation.
  4. Two (2) representatives from each of the five (5) States in region VI who shall be elected by each State. Each representative shall be elected for a term of (2) years but shall hold office until his/her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. Vacancies, which occur between elections, shall be filled by the State as soon as possible.
  5. The Immediate Past President of the Association.
  6. One (1) State Association Executive Director on a rotating basis annually.

The duties of the Board of Directors shall be as follows:

  1. Except as provided by resolution of the membership, have and exercise the authority of managing the Association including the power to authorize the execution of legal instruments.
  2. Support the Association’s members through advocacy, training, information sharing, research and coordination of activities.
  3. Plan the agenda for membership conferences, set dates and the place for the conferences to be held.

Five members of the Board of Directors present at any regularly scheduled Board meeting shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE V
OFFICERS

The officers of the Association shall be as follows:

  1. President
  2. Vice-President
  3. Secretary
  4. Treasurer

The officers shall be elected by a simple majority of the members present at the annual membership meeting of the Association, and will take office at the conclusion of the annual conference. Each officer shall be elected for a term of two (2) years but shall hold office until his/her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

Vacancies, which occur between elections, shall be filled by vote of the Board of Directors.

The duties of the officers shall be as follows:

  1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and Association membership meetings and shall have authority to conduct the affairs of the Association as directed by its membership. The President shall appoint committees as needed.
  2. The Vice-President shall exercise the function of the President in the absence of the President and shall perform other duties as directed by the Board.
  3. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings and maintain a current list of the names of the member agencies and the persons eligible to vote on behalf of each and shall perform other duties as directed by the Board.
  4. The Treasurer shall receive, deposit and disburse all funds of the Association as directed by the President and shall retain supportive fiscal documents. The Treasurer shall make a financial report at each Board meeting and at the annual membership meetings and shall perform other duties as directed by the Board.

ARTICLE VI
COMMITTEES

  1. The President may appoint standing and Ad Hoc committees as deemed necessary to achieve the goals and purpose of the Association. Each member of the Board shall serve on at least one committee. The purpose of these committees will be to review information and present recommendations to the Board for approval.
  2. The Executive Committee shall be a standing committee and shall be comprised of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Immediate Past President, and the National Association Representatives. The Chair of the Executive Committee shall be the President of the Board. This committee shall meet at any time deemed necessary and shall act on behalf of the Board for the transaction of any routine and ordinary business which may occur between Board meetings. Action taken by the Executive Committee shall have the same force and effect as if taken by a quorum of the Board and shall be ratified by the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting following the action.
  3. The President shall appoint members to other standing committees which may include Planning, Membership and By-Laws committees. The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee during election years which shall have representation from each State in Region VI. It shall be the duty of this Committee to make recommendations of candidates for the offices to be filled.
  4. The president may establish Ad Hoc committees as needed.

ARTICLE VII
MEETINGS

  1. General membership meetings shall be held annually. Other meetings shall be called as deemed necessary by the President.
  2. An annual planning meeting will be held by the Board, prior to the general membership meeting.
  3. A quorum shall be constituted by the membership present.

ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS

These By-Laws may be amended or repealed by a majority vote of the Association’s membership present at the annual membership meeting. The proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing to the membership at least ten (10) calendar days prior to the annual membership meeting. This rule may be suspended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership present.

ARTICLE IX
RULES OF ORDER

The Association shall be governed by Roberts Rules of Order, newly revised, except where such rules may be in conflict with these By-Laws.

ARTICLE X
DATE IN EFFECT

The foregoing by-laws were adopted by a majority vote of the Association’s membership on July 21, 2004.