Vermont Veterans Working Together for Peace & Justice Through Non-violence. Wage Peace! 

Southern Vermont Veterans For Peace Chapter 88 By–laws

Last discussed and considered June 1, 2003 - Norwich VT
Approved items as noted in brackets.
   

ARTICLE I.  NAME

The name of Chapter 88 shall be Southern Vermont Veterans For Peace (SVVFP) as per charter granted by the national Veterans For Peace, Inc., (VFP) St. Louis MO on November 25, 2002. 

[Article I Approved by founding charter – 25 Nov 02]

ARTICLE II.  STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

 We, having dutifully served our nation, do hereby affirm our greater responsibility to serve the cause of world peace. To this end we will work, with others:

(a)    Toward increasing public awareness of the costs of war

(b)   To restrain our government from intervening, overtly and covertly, in the internal affairs of other nations

(c)    To end the arms race and to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons and

(d)   To abolish war and violence as instruments of national policy, internationally and domestically.

(e) To make non-violent conflict resolution an integral part of national policy.

To achieve these goals, members of Southern Vermont Veterans For Peace are dedicated to the use of non-violent means and to maintain an organization that is both democratic and open with the understanding that all members are trusted to act in the best interests of the group for the larger purpose of world peace. 

We urge all people who share this vision to join us. 

[Article II modified and approved by consensus – 04 May 03]

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

All members of Chapter 88 work for peace so there will be no distinction or separate classification of members or membership.  All are welcome as members including draft resisters, honorably and otherwise discharged veterans.  There will be no discrimination on membership. 

[Article III approved by consensus – 02 Feb 03

ARTICLE IV. DUES

Chapter 88 requires no dues for membership. 

[Article IV approved by consensus – 05 Jan 03]

ARTICLE V.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chapter 88 does not have a Board of Directors

[Article V approved by consensus – 05 Jan 03]

ARTICLE VI.  MEETINGS

Section 1.  Meeting Schedule

Meetings shall take place monthly on the second Sunday of the month.  The location of the meeting shall rotate throughout Southern Vermont at a location as agreed upon by the membership in order to equitably distribute membership driving burden.  All members not attending a meeting will be notified by email and telephone tree.

[Article VI Section 1 approved by consensus – 01 June 03]

Section 2.  Facilitation

A facilitator will be chosen at the end of each meeting and will serve until the end of the following meeting.  

[Article VI Section 2 approved by consensus – 02 Feb 03]

Section 3.  Minutes

A scribe shall record any determination made (decision or vote) and a summary of thoughts expressed.  The scribe will use newsprint on easel for visualization by attending members.  Electronic scribing will take place via computer for keeping minutes and records.  

[Article VI Section 3 approved by consensus – 01-June-03]

Section 4. Quorum

A quorum consists of those members attending any scheduled meeting.

[Article VI Section 4 approved by consensus – 02 Feb 03]

Section 5. Transaction of Business Between Meetings

Decisions which require quick action will be performed utilizing electronic means provided all notices, quorums, votes and actions take place with full notification of all member.  A telephone tree for members without email is established with members calling other members in their toll-free calling area when possible.

[Article VI Section 5 approved by consensus – 02 Feb 03]


Section 6.  Open Meetings
All meetings are open and public.  There will be no secret nor closed session meetings.

[Article VI Section 6 approved by consensus – 02 Feb 03]

Section 7. Motions, Proposals or Calls for Decision
Any member may present a motion, proposal or call for decision at any time with discussion to follow.  Such calls will be done sequentially.  A simple majority will end any discussion.

[Article VI Section 7 approved by consensus – 02 Feb 03]

Section 8. Motion Passage
The motion, proposal, or call for decision presented for a vote does not pass when it is blocked by any single member exercising a blocking vote.  All voting will be open.  There will be no secret votes.  A person exercising a blocking vote can be asked to modify the blocking vote into a negative expression.  The question may be asked: What could we do to change the resolution so that the block is removed?  Every time a decision is called for, the membership in attendance will wait 60 seconds before making the decision allowing time for reflective thought.  

[Article VI Section 8 approved by consensus – 02 Feb 03]

Section 9. 

[Article VI Section 9 removed 01-June 03.  

ARTICLE VII OFFICERS

If there are any officers, selection will take place by simple majority and can be reversed similarly.

[Article VII approved by consensus – 02 Feb 03]

ARTICLE VIII.  SALARIES

No salaries or other compensation is available.

[Article VIII approved by consensus – 02 Feb 03]

ARTICLE IX. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules in Robert’s Rules of Order in any form will not be used.  Consensus replaces parliamentary authority.

[Article IX Section 7 approved by consensus – 02 Feb 03]

ARTICLE X. AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS

The By-Laws may be amended, changed or deleted at any time given proper notification and opportunity for participation as per Article VI.

[Article X Section 7 approved by consensus – 02 Feb 03]