Mission of Reason - Full Member Home Page

This is a set of the most recent web version of the
Mission of Reason Bylaws

Bylaws of the Mission of Reason
Article I

Section 1: Name

The name of the organization shall be Mission of Reason.

Section 2: Purpose

The Mission of Reason is was founded to promote the use of
reason in personal, societal, and global decision-making. It does
so by working towards these specific aims:

a. Creating a nurturing place for those who prefer reason as the
basis of personal decisions.
b. Encourage people, intuitions, and societies to use reason to
improve their priorities and assumptions.
c. Engaging in humanitarian efforts of charity and volunteer work to
improve ourselves and to make the world a better place.
d. Acknowledging the works of individuals and institutions that
show leadership in the use of reason to the benefit of society.
e. Providing resources that assist people, institutions, and society
in using reason more effectively to set priorities, define goals,
understand issues, resolve conflicts, and perform self-
assessment.
f. To research and present the intellectual and cultural traditions of
the world in a way that promotes rational thought, inspiring
personal vision, and a coherent perspective.

Article II – Membership

Section 1: Types

a. Level 1 Members: Full Members.
For a nominal membership fee (initially targeted at $35/yr) anyone
can become a full member of Mission of Reason for a period of
one year. In order to maintain this membership, they must
maintain their dues and not act in contradiction to the mission of
Mission of Reason in dealing with the institution, or representing it.
Full Members receive discounts on select merchandise and
services, and are allowed to participate in general polling, which is
used in support of decision-making at the board level and to
determine a representative sampling of the perspectives at
Mission. Board Members are required to maintain full membership
status.
b. Level 2 Members: Associate Members
Anyone can sign up to be on a local chapter list or Internet list as
an associate member in order to participate in general events and
receive access to discussion groups and updates from Mission of
Reason. In order to maintain this membership, they must respond
periodically to a confirmation that the contact information is active.
These members may be periodically polled to determine a
representative sampling of the perspectives at Mission of Reason.
c. The local chapter executive committees must be Level 2
Members.
d. The Board of Directors determines any membership status
issues with a vote and has the right to terminate memberships.

Section 2: Non-Discrimination Policy

The Mission of Reason (MOR) will not discriminate with regard to a
person’s race, color, nationality, gender, age, ancestry, disability,
marital status, sexual orientation, military status, religious
affiliation, or ethnic origin with regard to: access to membership,
access to workshops, coursework, chapters, Special Interest
Groups (SIGs), The Citizen of the World program (COTW), or with
regard to the holding of any role within the organization. Note that
MOR takes the position that what a person thinks or does cannot
be reasonably justified solely through social or institutional
affiliation, heritage, or other status, but must be justified through
the use of sound reasoning. MOR does not discriminate in its
position that everyone has this personal responsibility.

Section 3: Termination

Membership naturally terminates at the end of the period for which
dues are paid, during a periodic purge of inactive mailing labels, or
upon the non-renewed end of a term as a director, respectively for
each category.

Any membership may be terminated if the Board of Trustees by a
three-fourths vote determines that a member is acting contrary to
the goals of reason in regards to or in representation of the
Mission of Reason.

Article III - Annual Board Meeting

Section 1: Annual Board Meeting

Annual Board Meeting
The date of the regular annual meeting is set by the board of
directors who shall also set the time and place. The annual
meetings will generally be held in an online forum over a period of
30 days

Section 2: Special Meetings.

Special meetings may be called by the Chair or the Executive
Committee.

Section 3. Notice

Notice of each meeting shall be given to each member, by email or
otherwise, not less than two weeks before the meeting.

Article IV

Section 1: Board Role, Size, Compensation

The board is responsible for overall policy and direction of the
Mission of Reason, and delegates responsibility for day-to-day
operations to the Council Director and committees. The Board
shall have up to 7 and not fewer than 3 members. The board
receives no compensation other than reasonable expenses.

Section 2: Meetings

The Board shall meet at least two (2) times per year, generally in
an online forum, or optionally by phone or in person at an agreed
upon time and place.

Section 3: Board Elections

Election of new directors or election of current directors to a
second term will occur as the first item of business at the meeting
of the corporation. Directors will be elected by a majority vote of the
current directors.

Section 4: Terms:

All board members shall serve 5 years, but are eligible for re-
election.

Section 5: Quorum

A quorum must be attended by at least 66 percent of the Board
members before business can be transacted or motions made or
passed.

Section 6: Notice

An official board meeting requires that each board member have
written notice two weeks in advance sent via email or postal
service.

Section 7: Officers and Duties

There shall be four officers of the Board consisting of a Chair, Vice
Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. No person shall hold more than
two of these positions, and the Chair and Vice Chair are mutually
exclusive.

The Chair shall convene regularly scheduled Board meetings,
shall preside or arrange for other members of the executive
committee to preside at each meeting in the following order: Vice-
Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.

The Vice-Chair will chair committees on special subjects as
designated by the board, and act as Chair upon the unavailability
of the Chair.

The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping records of Board
actions, including ensuring the taking of minutes at all board
meetings, the sending out meeting announcements, the
distributing copies of minutes, and the agenda to each Board
member, and assuring that corporate records are maintained.

The Treasure shall make a report at each Board meeting.
Treasurer shall instantiate and chair a finance committee as the
board size warrants and as voted by the board, assist in the
preparation of the budget, help develop fundraising plans, and
make financial information available to Board members and the
public.

Section 8: Vacancies

When a vacancy on the board exists, nominations for new
members may be received from present Board members by the
Secretary two weeks in advance of the Board meeting. These
nominations shall be sent out to Board members with the regular
Board meeting announcements, to be voted upon at the next Board
meeting. Non-term-end vacancies will be filled only to the end of
the particular board member’s term that is being replaced. End-of-
term vacancies will be for a full term.

Section 9: Resignation, Termination, and Absence

Resignation from the Board must be in writing and received by the
Secretary. A board member shall be dropped for excess absence
from the board of directors through a three-fourths voted
determination of the board members. A board member may be
removed for other reasons by a three-fourths vote of the other
members.

Section 10: Special Meetings

Special Meetings of the Board shall be called upon the request of
the Chair or one-third of the Board. Notice of special meetings
shall be sent out by the secretary to each Board at least two weeks
in advance.

Article V – Committees

Section 1: Instantiation of Committees

The Board may create committees as needed, such as
fundraising, housing, etc. The Board Chair appoints all committee
chairs.

Section 2: Executive Committee

The (maximum of) five officers of the board serve as the Executive
Committee. Except for the power to amend the Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws, the Executive Committee shall have all
the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the intervals
between meetings of the Board of Directors, subject to the
direction and control of the Board of Directors.

Section 3: Finance Committee

The Treasurer is Chair of the Finance Committee, when formed,
which includes up to three other board members. If a separate
Finance Committee is not formed, the Executive Committee
assumes these responsibilities. The Finance Committee is
responsible for developing and reviewing fiscal procedures, a
fundraising plan, and annual budget with staff and other Board
members. The Board must approve the budget, and all
expenditures must be within the budget. Any major change in the
budget must be approved by the board or the Executive
Committee. The fiscal year shall be the calendar year. Annual
reports are required to be submitted to the Board showing income,
expenditures, and pending income. The financial records of the
organization are public information and shall be made available to
the membership, Board members, and the public.

Article VI – Amendments

Section 1: Amendment Procedure

These Bylaws may be amended when necessary by a two-thirds
majority of the board

---end of bylaws.