Friends

Black Oak Mine Unified School District

Friends of the Nature Area

By-Laws 

Article I                      Name

            The name of this council shall be Friends of the Nature Area (FONA).

Article II                     Purpose

The purpose of this council shall be to advise the Superintendent and Black Oak Mine School Board  in matters pertaining to the Nature Area  and its educational program, to perform the duties that have been or may be assigned to it by the Superintendent  of the Black Oak Mine Unified School District, and to make other recommendations as the council, in its judgment, feels to be of benefit to the Georgetown Nature Area.

Article III                   Membership

            Section 1:        Composition

            The council may be composed of the following:

1. Two or more Representatives  or staff of the  Black Oak Unified School District
2. Two  or more Community  Representatives representing community organizations, agencies or businesses like Forest Service, Blodgett, KFOK, Rotary  and GDR
3. Two  or more parents of pupils, or retired staff of BOMUSD
4. One or more high school Student Representatives
5. The goal is to maintain a 7-11 member council.

Section 2:        Term of Office

1. No specific terms are recommended. Members may remain on the council as long as they remain active.

Section 3:        Selection Process

1. Parents, school staff  and community members may  be selected by their respective groups during the month of May and shall assume membership at the September meeting.
2. The student representatives shall assume membership at the first council meeting following their volunteering or recommendation in the fall. Students may be recommended by staff.
3. Those persons who are members of this council at the time of the adoption of these by-laws are considered current council members

Section 4:        Voting Privileges

1. Each council member shall be entitled to one vote and may cast that one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the council.

Section 5:        Termination of Membership

1. A member shall no longer hold membership should he or she cease to be a residence of the Black Oak Mine School District attendance area.
2. Any member may resign by filing a written resignation with the FONA chairperson
3. Any member missing three consecutive meetings (not including July and August) shall  no longer be considered active.

Section 6:        Vacancies

1. Any vacancy on the council shall be filled for the remainder of the year if possible.

Article IV                    Officers

            Section 1:        Officers           

1.  Elected officers of the council shall be Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary.

            Section 2:        Election and Term of Office

1. All officers may be elected by ballot at the September meeting.
2. New officers may assume their duties at the next meeting, once elected.
3. No member may hold the same office more than four years in succession.
4. A vacancy in the office shall be filled by a majority vote of the council for the unexpired portion of the term.
5. Written notice of the election of officer(s) shall be given two weeks prior to the election

Section 3:        Duties of the Officers

Chairperson: It shall be the duty of the Chairperson to create the agenda and preside at all meetings.

Treasurer: The Treasurer shall represent the Chairperson in assigned duties and substitute for the Chairperson during his or her absence and keep track of the BOMUSD  Nature Area bequest budget.The Treasurer will also report records from Nature Area account at Georgetown School

Secretary: The Secretary shall record the minutes of all meetings and keep on file all records and communications of the council. The secretary will also send out the agenda and minutes via email to the FONA  list.

 

Article V                     Committees

The council may, from time to time, establish and abolish such standing or special committees as it may desire, for example Arts in Nature Fest committee or Maintenance Committee. No standing or special committee may exercise the authority of the council.

Article VI                    Meetings of the Council

1. All meetings shall be open to the public.
2. Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson or by the majority vote of the council with sufficient notice by mail, phone, or e-mail to entire council membership
3. One half plus one of the council members present at a meeting shall constitute a quorum. However, consensuses is the desired goal of the group
4. To conduct business, a quorum must be present.

Article VII                  Parliamentary Authority

The current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the council in all cases where they are not in conflict with these by-laws.

Article VIII                 Amendments

Provisions of these by-laws may be amended by a three-fourths vote of the elected council members present at a duly constituted meeting, providing such amendments are received by all council members at least two weeks prior to the meeting.

Approved at FONA meeting on            9/18/08

.