Atheist Internet Outreach Organizational Bylaws
as of May 27, 1997
ARTICLE 1
1.1 Name. The name of this organization is Atheist Outreach.
1.2 Purpose. The Atheist Outreach is organized:
1.2.1 Inform isolated and disaffected atheists of church-state separation and other national and international political, social, and cultural issues affecting atheists and other freethinkers;
1.2.2 To democratically find and recruit individual isolated or disaffected atheists an enlist their support for the goals, policies, and programs of the Atheist Alliance and its member organizations;
1.2.3 Educate the general public on the fallacies and superstitions of religion and their detrimental effects of the culture, politics, and the general society in which atheists must live.
1.2.4 Encourage isolated atheists to join established Atheist Alliance member organizations and/or to educate and encourage isolated atheists to organize and establish atheist organizations themselves.
1.2.5 Foster friendly relations with atheist groups around the country and around the world, in order to broaden the scope, meaning, understanding, and influence of individual and non-aligned atheists.
1.2.6 To provide a sense of fellowship and community for isolated and disaffected atheists with no ready or convenient access to organized atheism.
1.3. Business Office. The initial business office of Atheist Alliance is at 278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI 53575. The Board of Directors (hereafter called "Board" -- see Article 3) is hereby authorized to change the location of the Alliance's business office. Any such change and its date shall be recorded by the Secretary, but shall not be considered an amendment to these Bylaws.
1.4 Annual accounting period. The annual account period begins on January 1 and ends on December 31.
ARTICLE 2: MEMBERS
2.1 Member in Atheist Outreach is open to anyone who supports the principles of Church-State Separation, a freethought perspective on the issues of the day, and desires to support the need to educate the general public on the meaning and validity of atheism.
2.2 Application for Membership. Anyone seeking membership in the Atheist Outreach shall provide their name, address, and pay their annual dues. The membership role of Atheist Outreach is confidential. No member's name or address is to be made public without the express permission of that member.
2.3 Termination of Membership. Anyone can resign their membership at any time for any reason. The Atheist Outreach may terminate an individual's membership by letter giving the reasons and at least 30 days advance notice of the effective date of the termination. Such termination can be appealed against by the member affected to the Atheist Outreach board of directors.
ARTICLE 3: BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
3.1 Composition of the Board. The Atheist Outreach board of directors shall number five members nominated from, and elected by, the Atheist Outreach membership.
3.2 Board Elections. Board elections will be held at the annual meeting of the Atheist Outreach. Nominations are open to any Atheist Outreach member. The balloting will be by ballot at the annual meeting, with provision made for absentee ballots for any Atheist Outreach member who cannot attend the annual meeting in person.
3.3 Board Term of Office. The term of directorship shall be 1 year. In the event of a resignation, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment of the remaining board until the next annual meeting..
3.4 Meetings. The Board shall hold an annual meeting at the time and place of the Atheist Alliance Annual Convention. Additional meetings may be held, as scheduled by the President, or at the request of any two Directors. Such meetings may be held "in person", or by mail, or by telephone conference call, or by E-mail. A majority of the total number of Directors constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.
3.5 Election of Officers. At its annual meeting, the Board shall elect from the Atheist Outreach membership its President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The normal term of office shall extend from the end of the annual meeting at which the election is held until the end of the next annual meeting. If an officer is unable to complete his or her term, the vacancy shall be filled by a new officer elected by the Board for the remainder of the original term.
3.6 President. The responsibilities of the President shall be to serve as the chief executive officer of the Atheist Outreach; to preside over each meeting of the Board or to designate another Board member to preside; to make appointments to Board committees after consultation with the Board.
3.7 Vice-President. The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President whenever the President cannot perform his or her duties by reason of physical absence at scheduled meetings, incapacity, resignation, or death. In addition, the Vice-President shall perform such continuing duties as may be mutually agreed with the other officers.
3.8 Secretary-Treasurer. The Secretary-Treasurer shall maintain Minutes of Board meetings, the membership roster, and other records as instructed by the President. The Secretary-Treasurer shall receive, disburse, and account for all funds of the Alliance, as required by law and by orders of the Board. The Secretary-Treasurer shall deposit Atheist Outreach funds in a safe depository approved by the Board. The Secretary-Treasurer shall have custody of and maintain the Articles of Incorporations, the Bylaws, and other basic records relating thereto, and prepare financial and other reports required by governmental agencies.
3.9 Powers and Responsibilities of the Board.
3.9.1 The Board shall determine what program of activities will be undertaking by the Atheist Outreach.
3.9.2 The Board shall adopt a budget for each fiscal year. The budget shall describe the activity program planned for the year and estimate the required expenses to implement the program. The budget shall prescribe the membership dues required to finance the expenditure program and the schedule for required payments.
3.9.3 The Board shall review and may approve applications for membership and may terminate membership for cause.
3.9.4 The Board shall appoint individuals who will serve as official spokespersons for the Atheist Outreach. No person shall communicate with the media, public, or officials on behalf of Atheist Outreach who has not been authorized to do so by a majority of the Board. No person may act as a spokesperson of the Atheist Outreach while using an alias.
ARTICLE 4: AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
4.1 Substantive Amendments. A "substantive amendment" is a change to the Bylaws which affects structure, powers, duties, requirements or methods.
4.1.1 Proposing substantive amendments. Any Director may propose to the Board a substantive amendment of the Bylaws. Such proposal must sate the specific new language proposed, indicate the old language to be modified or replaced, and provide a full explanation of the reasons for the proposed change(s). Such proposal shall be submitted to the President.
4.1.2. Publicizing proposed substantive amendments. The President shall distribute to all Directors the full text of a proposal he has received, and later the analysis and comments he and other Directors wish to make.
4.1.3 Voting on proposed substantive amendments. Voting by the Board on proposed substantive amendments shall take place not later than 60 days following their initial distribution either at an in-person Board meeting or by mail or by E-mail or by a combination in order to assure participation in the vote by each Director. A favorable vote by not less than two-thirds of all Directors is required to approve proposed amendments.
4.2 Technical Amendments. A "technical amendment" is a change in the Bylaws which affects only spelling, grammar, punctuation, parallel structure, consistent usage, or the numbering or titling of the various parts of the Bylaws or cross-references thereto.
4.2.1 Titles. The numbers and titles of the various parts of the Bylaws are for ease of reference only and have no substance or effect.
4.2.2 Secretary's power. The Secretary may initiate any technical amendment by presenting it in writing to any Board meeting.
4.2.3 Board veto. The Board may, by majority vote, reject any technical amendment proposed by the Secretary. Any such proposal not rejected by the Board shall take effect at the end of the meeting at which it was presented.
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Article 1