BYLAWS OF ATHEISTS OF UTAH
ARTICLE I. Name.
The name of this organization shall be Atheists of Utah, organized under the laws of the State of Utah as a non-profit corporation. The business address shall be the home address of the current Secretary-Treasurer.
ARTICLE II. Purposes.
The purpose of Atheists of Utah is to create a community for non-theists (atheists, agnostics, skeptics, humanists, freethinkers, etc.) and promote non-theism by various means including but not limited to:
• regular meetings open to members of Atheists of Utah and the general public;
• dissemination of materials pertaining to non-theism, the history of non-theism versus established religion, and church/state issues in the United States;
• non-theistic moral and ethical philosophy,
• and serving the larger community through service projects and other forms of outreach.
ARTICLE III. Membership and Voting.
Section 1. Obtaining Membership
Any person, 18 years of age or greater, or a minor with parental consent, who supports our purposes may become a voting member of Atheists of Utah by completing a membership application and making an annual monetary contribution that meets the currently set minimum.
Section 2. Voting
For the purpose of voting, an individual must be a member for at least 60 days prior to casting any vote and be in attendance at the meeting at the time the vote is taken or return a mail-in ballot prior to the specified deadline.
Section 3. Termination of Membership
(a) A member may terminate membership at any time by requesting such action to the Secretary. (b) Membership of any member who has not made a contribution of record of at least the required minimum during the previous year, shall be terminated and the member’s name shall be removed from the membership roll by the Secretary one week prior to the Annual Meeting. (c) Membership may be terminated by the Board of Trustees for conduct unbecoming to a member, demonstrating non-agreement with or engaging in activities contrary to the purposes of Atheists of Utah.
ARTICLE IV. Meetings.
Section 1. Annual Elections and Business Report
Board Members will be elected in May (via mail-in ballots) or June (at the Annual Meeting) of each year. Whether to conduct board elections via mail-in ballot or at the Annual Meeting will be determined each year by the Board of Trustees. Voting on any issue or election will either be done by mail-in ballot or by meeting of a quorum of members, but not both.
The Board of Trustees will prepare an annual Business Report. This report will detail the previous years budget and propose a new budget for the upcoming year for members to approve. This report can either be posted on the website, mailed to members, or given at the Annual Meeting. The budget shall operate for the fiscal year from July I through June 30 of the succeeding year. The budget may be modified by vote of the membership and shall be approved by vote of the members. Expenditures that deviate from the budget may be approved by the Board and must be reported to the membership at the next Membership Meeting.
Section 2. Annual Meeting
An Annual Meeting of members shall be held in June of each year. If Board election was done by mail-in ballot in May, newly elected board members will be introduced at the meeting. Otherwise, election of members of the Board of Trustees will occur at the Annual Meeting including any positions on the Board of Trustees that have been vacated during the previous year.
The agenda for the Annual Meeting may include a financial report from the Secretary-Treasurer, if the Business Report was not voted on by ballot in May.
Section 3. Special Meetings
Special Meetings of members may be called at any time by the Board of Trustees.
Section 4. Notice of Meetings
Notice of any Meeting shall be provided to all members at least fourteen days preceding the Meeting. Notices shall contain an agenda of the items of business to be transacted. Additional items of business may be transacted provided that two-thirds of the members present and voting approve the consideration of those items. Notice shall be provided in any newsletter or at any previous gathering under Atheists of Utah auspices and may be provided to members by electronic mail or by First Class U.S. Postal Mail.
Section 5. Conduct of Business
Twenty percent of the membership residing in Utah shall constitute a quorum. If not voting by mail-in ballots, a majority of those present and voting is necessary to take any action on behalf of Atheists of Utah. If voting by mail-in ballots, a majority will authorize any action on behalf of Atheists of Utah. If the quorum of members present is greater than 19, then meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order.
ARTICLE V. Board of Trustees, Officers and Responsibilities.
Section 1. Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees shall consist of three or five members who are members in good standing, serving three-year terms. Terms of Board members will be staggered such that one or two new members will be elected each year and the most senior members of the Board will be vacating. Membership on the Board of Trustees will terminate by the request or by death of the Board member or may be terminated by declaration of the Board following absences of a Board member from two consecutive Board meetings. Any vacancy on the Board may be filled until the next mail-in ballot election or Annual Membership Meeting by vote of the remaining members of the Board. At the next following Annual Membership Meeting or mail-in ballot election, members of Atheists of Utah shall elect a Board member to serve the remaining term of office, if any.
Section 2. Governance
The Board of Trustees shall govern the affairs of Atheists of Utah. The Board shall hold regular meetings at least once per year to address governance of Atheists of Utah and more frequently, if necessary. If any two members of the Board request that a Board meeting be held, the President shall call a meeting. The Board shall elect its officers at the first regular meeting of the Board, to be held immediately following the Annual Meeting of the Membership. Notice of Board meetings shall be timely provided to members of the Board. The Board may appoint individuals or committees and delegate to them the responsibility for carrying out any function specified by the Board.
Section 3. Officers and Responsibilities
Officers of the Board of Trustees shall consist of a President, Vice-President and Secretary-Treasurer. The President shall preside at meetings, execute documents on behalf of the Atheists of Utah and perform any duties that usually apply to such an office. The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President at the request of, or during the absence or incapacity of, the President. The Secretary-Treasurer shall maintain minutes of annual membership meetings and of meetings of the Board of Trustees, the Membership Roll, financial records, and any other records of Atheists of Utah and cause notice of any meetings of the Atheists of Utah to be provided to all members and notice of Board meeting to Board members.
ARTICLE VI. Dissolution.
Dissolution of Atheists of Utah may occur by action of the Board of Trustees of by vote of the members. In case of dissolution, all of the assets of the Atheists of Utah, after all just claims upon it have been paid, shall be conveyed to any organization eligible to receive them, at the direction of the membership or the Board, whichever caused the dissolution of the organization.
ARTICLE VII. Amendments.
These by-laws may be amended at any legally held annual or special meeting with a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting or by mail-in ballot with a two-thirds majority from eligible voters. If amended at a meeting the proposed amendment must have been included in the advance notice of the meeting.
