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WOMEN OF REFORM JUDAISM DISTRICT #1
NEW ENGLAND FEDERATION OF
TEMPLE SISTERHOODS
By-laws
These by-laws were adopted in 1988, amended in 1990 and in March 1999.
ARTICLE I. Name
The name of this organization shall be Women of Reform Judaism, District #1, New England Federation of Temple Sisterhoods. It shall include Women of Reform Judaism Sisterhoods in the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Hereinafter this federation will be referred to as Women of Reform Judaism, District #1.
ARTICLE II. Object
The object of this organization shall be
(a) to promote the aims of Women of Reform Judaism, The Federation of Temple Sisterhoods and cooperate in its projects;
(b) to bring the Sisterhoods of this District into closer cooperation and association with one another to further their respective activities;
(c) to help Sisterhoods participate most effectively in the activities of Women of Reform Judaism;
(d) to assist in the organization of new Sisterhoods in the District.
ARTICLE III. Membership
Any Sisterhood within the area of this District that is a member in good standing of Women of Reform Judaism, or any woman living in a community without a Sisterhood and who is a member-at-large in good standing with Women of Reform Judaism is eligible for membership.
ARTICLE IV. Financialial)
Section l. Every affiliated Sisterhood shall pay annual dues to the Treasury of this Federation for each of its members. The dues shall be established by the District Biennial Convention and shall not be more than the amount allowed by Women of Reform Judaism.
Section 2. The fiscal year of this District shall be the same as that of Women of Reform Judaism.
Section 3. Any Sisterhood which affiliates with Women of Reform Judaism, District #1 shall be given a 50% reduction in their dues obligation for their first year. Any Sisterhood, which rejoins and has been on our inactive list for ten years or more, shall be given a 50% reduction for their first year. A Sisterhood which has been inactive for less than ten years shall be obligated to pay the full dues.
Section 4. All moneys in the treasury shall be used for authorized budgeted expenses of Women of Reform Judaism, District #1 and/or additional expenditures by the Executive Committee according to Article VIII, Section 2.
ARTICLE V. Officers
Section 1. The officers of this District shall be a President, a First Vice President and three Vice Presidents without numbered designation, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary, a Membership Secretary, a Treasurer, and a minimum of six Directors.
Section 2. To be eligible to hold office the following qualifications are required: one must be Jewish, a member of a Women of Reform Judaism affiliated Sisterhood in good standing and a congregation affiliated with the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, and a member of the Board of Directors of Women of Reform Judaism, District #1 for at least two years.
Section 3. A vacancy in an elective office shall be filled by vote of the Executive Committee for the remainder of the unexpired term as provided below.
a) a vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by the First Vice President
b) A vacancy in the office of First Vice President shall be filled if possible by another Vice President.
c) A vacancy in any office other than that of First Vice President shall be filled by a current member of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VI. Duties of Officers
Section 1. The President shall preside at the District Convention and at all meetings of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee, appoint the various committees, cooperate with all committees in their work, have general supervision of the interests of the District and perform such other duties as are incident to her office. She shall approve all bills to be paid. She shall make an Annual Report to the District, a copy of which shall be sent to Women of Reform Judaism. The President shall be a member ex officio of all committees except the Nominating Committee.Each President of this District upon her retirement from office, shall become a permanent member of the Board of Directors with full privileges of the Board.
Section 2. Vice Presidents shall have specific responsibilities. The First Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in case of her absence or inability to act. If the First Vice President is unavailable, another Vice President as designated by the President or the Executive Committee shall assume said duties.
Section 3. The Recording Secretary shall keep an accurate record of all meetings of the District, the Board of Directors and Executive Committee, and shall retain a copy of the By-laws with the minutes.
Section 4. The Corresponding Secretary shall attend to the correspondence and mailings of the organization as requested by the President, the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee.
Section 5. The Membership Secretary shall send bills for dues to the affiliated Sisterhoods and receive payment for same. She shall keep correct accounts of moneys received and shall transmit all such moneys to the Treasurer for deposit. In the absence of the Treasurer or her inability to act, the Membership Secretary shall be authorized to sign checks.
Section 6. The Treasurer shall receive all moneys of the District and deposit same in the name of the District. She shall sign checks, and pay bills upon approval of the President (or a Vice President as provided in Section 2 of this Article). Within the allocation provided in the budget approved by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall reimburse the President for the duties of her office. The Treasurer shall present a statement at each meeting of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, and a complete report at the Biennial Convention of this District.
Section 7. The Area Directors shall function at the direction of the President.
ARTICLE VII. Board of Directors
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall consist of the Officers, Past Presidents of the District, members of the WRJ Board of Directors residing in the District, Chairwomen of Standing and Special Committees, and the President and two representatives from each affiliated Sisterhood. To be eligible to serve as a representative to the Board of Directors of this District, or as an appointed Chairwoman, one must be a member of a Woman of Reform Judaism affiliated Sisterhood in good standing and a Congregation affiliated with the UAHC.
Section 2. The Board of Directors shall have authority over the affairs of the District between Biennial Conventions. It shall be empowered to take any action except to amend these By-laws or to modify any action taken at the Convention.
Section 3. The Board of Directors shall meet at least once yearly. This meeting shall be at the District Biennial Convention and on alternate years at an Interim Board Meeting.
Section 4. Twelve (12) members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE VIII. Executive Committee
Section 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers, WRJ Board Members residing in the District, the immediate Past President of this District, and any women the President may invite from time to time.
Section 2. The Executive Committee shall manage the affairs of the District between meetings of the Board of Directors. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Committee is required to spend more than $100 for any item not provided for in the budget. The Executive Committee may not reverse or alter any decision of a Convention or the Board of Directors nor shall it have the power to amend these By-laws.
Section 3. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once a year at the call of the President or at the request of three (3) members of the Executive Committee.
Section 4. Fifty per cent (50%) of the membership of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE IX. Committees
Section 1. The President, in consultation with the Vice Presidents, shall appoint Committee Chairwomen.
Section 2. The President shall appoint such special committees as are suggested by the Biennial Convention, the Board of Directors, or the Executive Committee.
Section 3. Each chairwoman shall submit an annual written report to the President.
Section 4. There shall be a standing committee on the Budget, which shall be composed of the Chairwoman, the Treasurer, and the Vice Presidents. The biennial budget shall be voted on at the Board of Directors meeting held during the Biennial Convention.
Section 5. There shall be a standing committee on the District Biennial Convention.
ARTICLE X. Nominations and Elections
Section 1. There shall be a Nominating Committee consisting of a Chairwoman, six (6) members, and two (2) alternates. The chairwoman shall be the Immediate Past President. The previous Nominating Committee shall have designated three (3) members and one (1) alternate. Prior to the meeting of the Nominating Committee, the President, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall appoint three (3) additional members and one (1) alternate for the committee. In the event that the Immediate Past President is unable to serve, the President shall appoint another Past President as Chairwoman. The alternates shall participate in all meetings of the committee with voice, not vote, unless needed to vote in place of an absentee member. Five members and/or alternates of the Nominating Committee shall constitute a quorum eligible to nominate a slate of officers and members of the next Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee is advised to consider geographic distribution when preparing the slate of officers.
Section 2. The report of the Nominating Committee shall be included in the call for the Biennial Convention. Additional nominations may be made by petition. This petition must be sent to the Chairwoman of the Nominating Committee a minimum of two (2) weeks prior to the opening of the Biennial Convention and must be signed by at least twenty-five (25) members in good standing representing a minimum of five (5) Sisterhoods within District #1. Included with the petition must be a letter signed by the nominee indicating a willingness to serve. In the event of a contested election, voting shall be by closed ballot.
Section 3. The Officers of the District shall be elected at the Biennial Convention and shall serve until their successors are installed at the next Biennial Convention.
Section 4. An officer shall not be eligible for consecutive reelection to the same office if she has served in that office for a full biennial period with the following exceptions:
A Treasurer may be reelected for a second term.
Vice Presidents may serve three consecutive terms and one term as First Vice President.
No woman, with the exception of entering the Presidency or the First Vice Presidency, may serve as an District #1 officer more than a maximum of five consecutive terms, during one continuous period of service on the District #1 Board of Directors.
ARTICLE XI. Conventions
Section 1. A Convention of this District shall be held biennially at such time and place as shall be determined by the Board of Directors upon recommendation of the Executive Committee.
Section 2. The voting body of the Convention shall consist of the Board of Directors and additional delegates or alternates chosen by each affiliated Sisterhood. Each person may vote in only one capacity.
Section 3. In addition to those who serve on the Board of Directors each affiliated Sisterhood shall be entitled to voting delegates and alternates in the same numbers as allocated by Women of Reform Judaism for its Biennial Assembly.
Section 4. A quorum shall consist of eighteen (18) members representing at least nine (9) Sisterhoods within the District.
Section 5. The President of this District shall be the accredited delegate to the Biennial Assembly of Women of Reform Judaism. A District President, who attends the Women of Reform Judaism Biennial Assembly as an elected member of that Board of Directors must vote in that capacity. In this event, a member of the District Executive Committee who is present at that assembly shall be appointed by the President of the District to represent the District as an accredited voting delegate. The expenses of the President shall be paid by this District, as allocated in the budget approved by the Board of Directors. In the event of the President's inability to attend, an alternate, elected by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee, shall serve as the accredited voting delegate and shall have her expenses paid.
ARTICLE XII. Parliamentary Authority
The authority governing Women of Reform Judaism, District #1, shall be Robert's "Rules of Order, Revised."
ARTICLE XIII.Amendments
Amendments to these By-laws may be proposed by any local Sisterhood, the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, or a Committee on Revision of By-laws. Such amendments shall be acted upon at a Biennial Convention of the District provided they have been approved by the Executive Committee and have been sent to each affiliated Sisterhood at least thirty-five (35) days in advance of the Convention. No amendment shall conflict with the Constitution of Women of Reform Judaism, The Federation of Temple Sisterhoods. A two-thirds vote of those present and voting shall be required to adopt any amendment.
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