By-laws of una-usa, Milwaukee Chapter

                                  

                                                     Article I – Name

The name of this organization shall be the “United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee (UNA-GM).”  UNA-GM is a chapter of the United Nations Association of the United States (UNA-USA), which since 2011 has been a component part of the UN Foundation. 

                                        Article II – Purpose and Function

The Greater Milwaukee Chapter is dedicated to educating, inspiring and mobilizing the citizens of Southeastern Wisconsin to support the vital work of the United Nations.  The Chapter supports the achievement of the goals of the United Nations Charter, and encourages policies that reinforce and renew United States engagement in the United Nations.

The Greater Milwaukee Chapter works to accomplish this purpose through its collaboration with the national UNA-USA, advocacy efforts, education, programs and public events, membership development, and fund-raising activities.

                                              Article III – Membership

Membership in the Greater Milwaukee Chapter is available to individuals and/or families.  Chapter membership carries with it membership in the UNA-USA.  Organizational memberships are available to local groups.  Voting rights for organizations shall be determined by the Chapter Board of Directors.

Article IV - Annual meeting

The January meeting of the membership shall serve as the official annual meeting of the Chapter for the purpose of election of its officers, review of Chapter activities and approving the budget for the following calendar year.

Only members of the Greater Milwaukee Chapter, USA-USA are qualified to vote.  A quorum at any meeting of the membership shall be ten percent (10%) of members entitled to vote.  There shall be no proxy voting.

                                                   Article V – Officers

Any person who is a member of the Greater Milwaukee Chapter is qualified to be an officer of this Chapter.  Chapter officers shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Chapter will vote to elect their officers at the January annual meeting.  The two year term of officers shall begin as of February 1st following their election/re-election. Officers shall not serve more than 2 consecutive terms in their office.

Election of each officer shall be by a majority vote of members present at the annual meeting.  In the event a vacancy occurs in the presidency, the Vice-President shall assume the duties as Acting-President.  A vacancy in any other office shall be filled by the Board of Directors.

The duties of the officers are as follows:

President:

a)      in collaboration with Board leadership, convenes and sets agenda for Chapter and Board meetings;

b)      chairs all Board and Chapter meetings;

c)      serves as the primary contact person for the Chapter;

d)      serves as the primary representative and spokesperson for the Chapter in the community at large;

e)      works with the treasurer in preparing the annual budget;

f)       prepares, with the Treasurer, annual report to UNA-USA;

g)      delegates the above activities as appropriate.

 

 

 

Vice-President:

a)      assumes initiatives requested by the President;

b)      substitutes for the President in emergency situations;

c)      maintains and keeps current roster of membership to be used for communication and voting purposes.

Secretary:

a)    records minutes of business meetings of the Chapter and Board, and insures minutes and other Chapter records are maintained in a permanent file;

b)    makes available copies of agendas and minutes for members at the Chapter meetings;

c)    insures Board members receive copies of agendas, minutes, and other appropriate materials before scheduled meetings;

d)    maintains and keeps current the official roster of the Board which will be used for voting purposes.

Treasurer:

a)    works with President in preparing annual program budget for review and adoption at Annual membership meeting;

b)    assists the Board in fund-raising and development activities;

c)    oversees payment of bills incurred by the Chapter as budgeted by the Board, and submits non-budgeted items for approval by the Board;

d)    prepares financial reports for Board meetings and annual membership meeting.

e)    The records of the Treasurer shall be audited annually.

 

                                      Article VI – Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of the Chapter shall consist of its officers, the committee chairs, and three at-large Chapter members.  The immediate Past-President shall serve ex-officio. 

Chapter officers shall be the officers of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall have general direction over the affairs of the Chapter.  The Board shall prepare the annual budget for review and approval by the Chapter membership.  The Board shall recommend the Chapter’s expenditures, endorsements and public policy positions to the membership.   Any Chapter member is qualified to be a director.

The Board of Directors shall meet at least quarterly.   A quorum of the Board for voting purposes shall consist of at least 5 members. The Board President shall call a special meeting of the Board at the request of 5 board members or the membership. In emergency situations, the Board President may use e-mail to poll Board members for concerns needing an immediate vote, decision or response. Such polling would require a quorum of at least 5 Board members responding to the e-mail to pass a resolution or action.  When requested a Board member may participate in meetings telephonically.

At-large Board Members will be elected at the annual meeting to serve a two year term beginning as of February 1st following their election/re-election.  An at-large Board Member may serve any number of two year terms.

 

   Article VII – Standing Committees

Standing committees will focus on the conduct of Chapter affairs.  Such committees will include: Membership/Partnership, Education/Public Events, Sustainable Development Goals, Peace/Conflict, and Communications/Social Media. In addition, ad hoc committees may be formed to assist in meeting the objectives of the Chapter.

The Executive Committee will consist of elected officers and will be responsible for conducting the affairs of the Chapter between meetings

A Nominating Committee shall be composed of the three Board Member volunteers, and will propose a slate of nominees for the Chapter offices and the three at-large Board Members.

Any Chapter member may volunteer for membership in a Standing Committee, and committee members shall choose their own chair.

 

 

                                        Article VIII – Financial Administration.

The budget or fiscal year shall coincide with the calendar year.  In addition to preparing the annual budget, the Executive Committee will conduct the annual audit and prepare and file the required documents with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

 

                                Article IX – Ratification and Amendment of By-laws

These By-Laws shall be adopted and may be amended by a majority vote of members present at any membership meeting of the Chapter provided a quorum consisting of at least ten percent (10%) of the members entitled to vote are present, and provided that any such amendment is distributed to the membership ten days in advance of the meeting.  Copies of By-Laws and Amendments which are ratified are to be sent by the Secretary to the UNA-USA national office. By-laws are to be reviewed at least every 4 years.

 

                                               Article X – Parliamentary Authority

Robert’s Rules of Order, newly revised, shall govern the proceedings of the Chapter wherever it is applicable and consistent with these by-laws.