developing people's abilities to resolve conflicts
...without
resorting to violence
Official Documents
By-Laws
|
AVP/USA BY-LAWS
Adopted: January 16, 1993
ARTICLE 1
Name, Scope, Function & Structure of Organization
These By-Laws shall govern the national organization for the
Alternatives to Violence Project under the name of Alternatives
to Violence Project/USA, Inc. (AVP/USA). The organization
shall be structured into three levels: local groups, regional
organizations and the national body.
All groups that use the name Alternatives to Violence Project or
AVP shall adhere to the following mission statement:
The mission of the Alternatives to Violence Project is to
empower people to lead nonviolent lives through affirmation,
respect for all, community building, cooperation and trust.
Founded in and developed from the real life experiences of men
and women in prison and others, and building on a spiritual
base, AVP encourages every persons innate power to positively
transform themselves and the world.
AVP/USA is an association of community groups and prison based
groups offering experiential workshops in personal growth and
creative conflict management for adults and youth. The
national organization provides support for the work of these
local groups.
The Local Groups shall consist of organizations that conduct
programs that adhere to the principles of the Alternatives to
Violence Project as contained in these by-laws and the policy
statement. The Regional Organizations shall consist of
organizations set up by the local groups in geographical areas
convenient for networking among local groups. The national
level shall consist of all the United States and its
territories.
Each Local Group shall operate in an area in which it believes
itself competent to cover effectively.
The regional organization of which it is a member shall
work with local groups to determine the boundaries of local
groups within its area.
Local Groups are encouraged to form regional organizations for
mutual support. The boundaries of those regional
organizations shall be determined by the local groups and the
Committee of Local and Regional Groups (CLARG).
Local Groups have the right and responsibility to participate in
CLARG by appointing a local group representative or by
representation through regional organizations. CLARG is
committed to empowering and nurturing existing and emerging
local AVP groups. It is also responsible for
compiling and reporting activity data to be used in the AVP/USA
Annual Report.
Local Groups and regional organizations may or may not be
incorporated as they see fit. They must all, however,
operate within the mission statement, guidelines and policies
developed by AVP/USA, and follow the manuals authorized by
AVP/USA.
1.
Regional organizations and local groups who are not members of
regional organizations shall report annually on their workshops
and other activities to CLARG.
All Local Groups and regional organizations taking
501(c)(3) status from AVP/USA shall submit a financial statement
to the Finance Committee of
AVP/USA annually by a date to be specified by the Finance
Committee.
2.
AVP/USA, its regions and locals are all-inclusive
orgranizations.
AVP/USA and its regional and local bodies shall not discriminate
in any of their policies, appointments or other activities on
account of race, sex, sexual orientation, age, religious
conviction, or criminal history.
This list is meant to suggest intent, not be exhaustive.
3.
AVP does not engage in political action or lobbying and does not
promote any specific political view as an organization.
Members may not espouse a political position in the name of AVP
or when in their role as AVP facilitators.
4. AVP
does not promote any religious doctrine.
5.
The programs of AVP/USA are educational in nature, and are not
psychotherapy.
6.
Each local group and regional organization shall be financially
self-sustaining.
ARTICLE II
Incorporation Tax Exemption
AVP/USA is incorporated under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code as a tax exempt organization. The state of
incorporation shall be determined by its Board of Trustees.
Its Articles of Incorporation shall contain all provisions
required by law to preserve its status as a not-for-profit tax
exempt organization. A group tax exemption shall be sought
for each of its subordinate groups that applies to AVP/USA for
inclusion in the group tax exemption, and that meets the
requirements for obtaining and retaining such a Federal Income
Tax Exemption.
ARTICLE III
1.
A Board of Trustees shall be comprised of the Committee of
Committees (CofC) and the officers of the Corporation.
2.
AVP/USA shall be governed by policies and decisions
agreed upon by the AVP Community at the Annual National Gathering. The Board of
Trustees is responsible to the Annual National Gathering and the
authorities of the state of incorporation for the management of
the property and affairs of the Corporation.
The AVP Community entrusts the Board of Trustees with the day to
day management of the organization between Annual National
Gatherings, including such matters as hiring (and terminating)
employees, contracting for services, personnel functions and
expending money for the benefit of the organization.
The Board shall
delegate all tasks to appropriate committees, except those
specifically required to fulfill its fiduciary responsibilities.
3.
The Board of Trustees shall meet at least once a year at
the Annual National Gathering and at other times as needed.
A record of decisions made at the Annual Gathering is to
be approved by the Board of Trustees and posted on the AVP/USA
website promptly after each meeting.
4.
Quorum: At
any meeting of the Board of Trustees, one half of the total
membership of the Board shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE IV
Annual National Gathering
1. There
shall be an Annual National Gathering of AVP/USA each year, at a
time and date set by the Board of Trustees.
2.
The Annual National Gathering is the ultimate policy
making body of the Corporation.
3.
The Treasurer shall present to the Annual National
Gathering a report, verified by the Finance Committee, showing:
a) the assets
and liabilities of the Corporation at the end of the preceding
fiscal year;
b) the
principal changes in such assets and liabilities during said
fiscal year;
c) receipts
of the Corporation (designating those restricted to particular
purposes) during said fiscal year; and
d)
disbursements during said fiscal year.
Such report shall be permanently filed with the records of the
Corporation and posted to the website within sixty (60) days of
the Annual Gathering.
4.
The Finance Committee shall submit to the Annual National
Gathering a proposed budget.
5.
Ratification of Important Matters of Policy: Issues
determined by any committee, in consultation with the Committee
of Committees, to involve important matters of policy shall be
submitted for ratification to the Annual National Gathering.
ARTICLE V
Officers
1.
The officers of the Corporation shall be the President,
Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, who shall take office
at the end of the Annual National Gathering which approved them.
Vacancies may be filled by the respective committees naming
these officers and for a term to expire at the end of the next
Annual National Gathering.
2.
The President: The President shall be nominated by the
CofC with input from CLARG. The President shall be appointed by
the Annual National Gathering and serve a one year term and can
be reappointed for two successive terms. The President
shall have the authority to sign on behalf of the Corporation
all contracts and other instruments under seal.
3.
The Vice President: The Vice President shall be nominated
by CofC with input from CLARG. The Vice-President shall be
appointed by the Annual National Gathering and serve a one year
term and can be reappointed for two successive terms. The
Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President in case
of the absence of the President or upon the Presidents request,
including the authority to sign on behalf of the Corporation,
all contracts and other instruments under seal.
4.
The
Secretary: The Secretary shall be nominated by the
Communications Committee and shall normally then serve as a
member of the Communications Committee. The Secretary
shall be appointed by the Annual National Gathering and serve a
one year term and can be reappointed for successive terms.
The Secretary shall keep records of the meetings of the Board of
Trustees and the Annual National Gathering. The
Secretary shall have custody of the Seal of the Corporation and
shall have charge of all records and papers of the Corporation.
5.
The
Treasurer: The Treasurer shall be nominated by the Finance
Committee and shall be a member of the Finance Committee and
shall be appointed by the Annual National Gathering and serve
one one-year term and can be reappointed for three successive
terms. The Treasurer shall have custody of the
corporate funds and securities and keep accurate accounts of
receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the
Corporation, and shall deposit all monies and other valuable
effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such
depositories and with such right of withdrawal and access as may
be designated by the Finance Committee. The funds of the
Corporation shall be disbursed as ordered by the Finance
Committee and the Treasurer shall make proper vouchers for such
disbursements and shall render to the Finance Committee,
whenever it may require it, an account of all her or his
transactions and of the financial condition of the Corporation.
The Finance Committee shall from time to time determine who
shall be authorized on the Corporations behalf to sign checks,
drafts or other financial instruments.
The Finance Committee may provide that the Treasurer can
authorize execution on behalf of the Corporation resolutions
which a bank may require as pre-requisite to opening,
maintaining or changing an account without requiring the Finance
Committee to pass such a resolution in the exact form required
by the bank. This provision constitutes approval by the
Finance Committee of such resolutions in whatever form the bank
may require that the Corporations Treasurer approve.
ARTICLE VI
Standing Committees
1.
Committee of Committees:
The Committee of Committees is the board of trustees and
shall be composed of the clerks of all the committees and the
officers of the corporation.
The CofC shall nominate, with input from CLARG, to the
Annual National Gathering a person to be appointed as President
and a person to be appointed as Vice President of AVP/USA. The
Committee of Committees has the responsibility to share
information and to coordinate the committees in regards to the
budget and other matters. Decision making remains at the
committee level. But, in the event of disagreement among
committees, the Committee of Committees shall facilitate a
resolution. This responsibility shall include all
amendments to the budget
2.
Committee of Local and Regional Groups:
The Committee of Local and Regional Groups (CLARG) is
comprised of representatives appointed from each Regional Group.
The clerk or co-clerks will sit on the Committee of Committees.
CLARG shall provide input to the CofC for nominations of
President and Vice President to be presented to the Annual
National Gathering.
CLARG assists locals and regions, helps resolve territory
disputes and serious violations of policy or standards, supports
existing and emerging local groups, and makes policy
recommendations to the Annual National Gathering.
3.
Conference Committee:
The Conference Committee has the responsibility for
planning and facilitating the Annual National Gathering,
including budget, site selection, agenda, program and all
preparations and publicity.
4.
Education Committee:
The Education Committee has the function of developing
AVP/USA manuals and other instructional materials and training
as needed.
5.
Finance Committee:
The Finance Committee is responsible for
overseeing all financial matters of the Corporation. It shall prepare a proposed annual budget for
the Annual National Gathering, with input from committees and in
consultation with the Committee of Committees. It shall
prepare an annual financial report to include at least an income
and expense report and a balance sheet for the fiscal year that
will be presented to the Annual Gathering. It shall
nominate to the Annual National Gathering a person to be
appointed as Treasurer of AVP/USA.
6.
Communications Committee:
The Communications Committee shall be responsible for
establishing and maintaining the communications system of
AVP/USA, including disseminating and responding to electronic,
written and verbal communications. It shall nominate to
the Annual National Gathering a person to be appointed as
Secretary of AVP/USA. It is also responsible for
developing [except manuals], publishing, marketing and
distributing AVP/USA materials and visual aids.
The Annual National Gathering may establish or dissolve
committees when there is an interest from the membership to do
so. Such an action shall be noted in the minutes of the
Gathering where it occurred.
All committees are responsible for recruiting their own members,
appointing their own clerks and recording clerk and for
determining their budgetary needs and method of functioning.
Committees shall provide annual reports to the National
Gathering and post these reports to the website within sixty
(60) days of the Annual Gathering.
ARTICLE VII
Decision Making
Decisions of AVP/USA shall be made by the consensus process that
incorporates ideas from the entire group.
ARTICLE VIII
Fiscal Year
The Fiscal Year of the Corporation shall be twelve months and
shall run from July 1 through June 30.
ARTICLE IX
Amendments
These By-Laws may be amended by the decision-making process
described in Article VII, provided notice of the proposed
amendment has been mailed or e-mailed to representatives of local
groups and the general AVP community, regional organizations, and committees at least 30 days
in advance of the date set for action on the amendment.
In order that as much of the community as possible is
represented at least indirectly at the national gathering,
it is the responsibility of local groups to inform all of their
members both inside of prison and in the community of any
proposed changes to the by-laws. |
|
Revised: 06/15/2014 © 2014 AVP/USA, Inc.
(footer)