Northern Virginia Legislative Unitarian
Universalist Priorities Network
Adding a UU Voice of Love & Justice in the Virginia Legislature
2009 BYLAWS

Bylaws of the Northern Virginia
Legislative Unitarian Universalist Priorities Network (NoVA LUUP)

I. Name
1.  The name of the organization shall be the Northern Virginia Legislative
Unitarian Universalist Priorities Network, or NoVA LUUP.

II. Membership
There are three categories of membership: Individual, Associate, and
Congregational Membership.
1. Membership shall include the right to attend Board Meetings, with advance
notice to the Chair or other Board Member, and to be heard on issues before the
Board.
    a. Individual Members are Northern Virginia Unitarian Universalists who pay  
    annual NoVA LUUP dues as established by the Board of Directors.
    b. Associate Members are other interested persons who pay annual NoVA
    LUUP dues as established by the Board of Directors.  
    c. Congregational Members are those Northern Virginia Unitarian Universalist
    congregations that elect to be such and meet such other criteria as the
    Board of Directors shall set.

III. Board of Directors
    1. The Board of Directors shall serve without pay and consist of a minimum
    number of seven members.
    2. The NoVA LUUP Board member criteria shall be that each is a member in
    good standing of a Northern Virginia Unitarian Universalist congregation
    with a strong interest in social justice issues, and an understanding of our
    5th UU Principle, which is “The right of conscience and the use of the
    democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.”
    3. The NoVA LUUP Advisory Board members shall comprise the first NoVA
    LUUP Board.
    4. Board members shall serve two-year terms, renewable.
    5. Board vacancies shall be filled by the Board, with the recommendation of
    the Chair and the member who has stepped down.
    6. Board members with two consecutive unexcused absences shall be
    dismissed from the Board.


IV. Officers
    1)  The officers of the Board shall consist of a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary,
    and Treasurer elected by the Board.
    a) The Chair shall preside at all Board Meetings and perform other duties as
    associated with the office.
    b) The Vice-Chair shall assume the duties of the Chair in case of the Chair’s
    absence.
    c)  The Secretary shall be responsible for the minutes of all Board Meetings,
    keep a record of all approved minutes, and send copies of minutes to all
    Board Members.
    d)  The Treasurer shall keep a record of the organization’s budget, prepare
    financial reports as needed, and oversee the organization’s financial
    accounts.
    2)  Elected officers shall serve a term of one year.

V. Committees
    1. The Board may appoint standing and ad hoc committees as needed.  
    Board Members shall recommend committees and committee members to
    the Board.
VI. Meetings
A. Board Meetings
    1.  Regular Board Meetings shall be held three times each year: in the early
    winter, (before the beginning of the Virginia legislative session); in early
    spring, (after the end of the Virginia legislature); and once before the end of
    May.
    2.  Special Board Meetings may be held at any time when called for by the
    Chair or a majority of Board Members.
    3.  Agendas shall be provided at least four days in advance of meetings.

B.  Membership Meetings
    1.   Member meetings shall be held annually, in the early winter, before the
    Virginia Legislative Session begins.
    2.   The purpose of the Annual Membership Meeting will be to provide
    reports of the Board, including the results of the previous year’s legislative
    advocacy efforts, and of NoVA LUUP Committees, and to announce the
    group’s legislative agenda for the coming session, as well as to hear from
    elected officials and partner organizations, or other organizations focused
    on our issues.

VII. Voting
    1)  (a) A majority of Board Members constitutes a quorum.
         (b) In the absence of a quorum, no formal action shall be taken except
    to adjourn the meeting to a subsequent date.

    2)   Board Meetings shall observe the most current version of Robert’s
    Rules of Order.

    3)   Passage of a motion requires a simple majority. That is, one more than
    half the Board Members present and voting.

VIII. Legislative Priorities

    1.  The NoVA LUUP Board shall determine the organization’s annual
    Legislative Agenda, using the results of an annual Issues Survey, to be
    available on the NoVA LUUP Web site, distributed to and widely publicized in
    each Northern Virginia UU congregation, and in consultation with its partner
    organizations.

IX. Conflict of Interest
    1.  Any member of the Board who has a financial, personal, or official
    interest in, or conflict (or appearance of a conflict) with any matter pending
    before the Board, of such nature that it prevents or may prevent that
    member from acting on the matter in an impartial manner, will offer to the
    Board to voluntarily excuse him/herself and refrain from discussion and
    voting on said item.

X. Fiscal Policies
    1.  The fiscal year of the Board shall be July 1 to June 30.

XI. Amendments
    1.  These by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of Board Members
    present at any meeting, provided that a quorum is present and a copy of
    the proposed amendment is provided to each Board Member at least one
    week prior to that meeting.