Achot - UMJC Sisterhood
| Achot Member Guidelines |
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These are the guidelines for Achot, the national/international sisterhood of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations. Since Achot is under the auspices of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations we have no need to be incorporated but we do have a need for by-laws and procedures of how Achot is to organized and run. The following constitute the by-laws and procedures.
Article 1- Name Achot, Hebrew for sister, is the official name of the National/International Sisterhood of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregation.
Article II- Purpose
Article II - Membership Section 1- Congregational Membership: Any sisterhood or women's group who is a member in good standing of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations (hereafter referred to as the UMJC) is eligible for Congregational membership. Section 2 - Individual Membership: Any woman who is a member in good standing of any member congregation of the UMJC is eligible for membership in Achot. Section 3 - Associate Membership: Any woman, who is in agreement with the vision and purpose of Achot, but not a member of an associate congregation of the UMJC is eligible for membership. Section 4 - Dues: Any decisions regarding dues shall be established by majority vote of convened members of Achot. Dues are annual. Section 5 - Duties and Privileges of Membership: Congregational and individual members agree to accept the vision and purpose of Achot. Both congregational and individual members will take an active role in promoting Achot's tzedakah project. Individual members will have voting privileges. Individual members may chair or be a member of any standing or as hoc committee. Individual members may hold an elected office. Associate members will take an active role in promoting and sponsoring the tzedakah project of Achot. Any woman who is an associate member also accepts the vision and purpose of Achot. An associate member may serve on a standing or as hoc committee. An associate may not hold an elected office. Section 6 - Revocation of Membership The Executive Committee may expel or suspend membership for being in arrears for two years or more, or for failure to meet the minimal standards for membership. Full members may be suspended for lack of participation at the annual convened meetings of Achot (either in person or by proxy, this also applies to congregations). Section 7 -Reinstatement of Membership An individual member or congregational member suspended or expelled by decision of the Executive Committee may be reinstated by the Executive Committee. Section 8- The Founding Members The full founding members of Achot are Merryl Eaton, Linda Lieber, Sherry Moore and Jane Resnik.
Article IV- Officers Section 1- the Offices -The offices for Achot will consist of Chairwoman, Vice-chairwoman, Recording Secretary/Historian, Corresponding Secretary, and treasurers. Section 2- Eligibility - Individual members of good character and reputation will be eligible to hold office in Achot. It is important that those running for office hold to the vision and purpose of Achot. The individual needs to be a member for at least one year, with the exception of the first year of the organization's existence. Section 3 - Election- Officers shall be elected be a simple majority vote of the members at the annual UMJC conference. Section 4 -Term - The term of office shall be two years with a limit of three consecutive terms.
Section 5- Resignation- Any officer that wants or needs to resign must give notice to the other executive board members with the understanding that said office needs to be filled within a reasonable time, at least within two months. During the two month period said officer will continue with the duties of her office with due diligence. If circumstances are such that the officer is unable to carry out her duties for the interim, the Chairwoman has the authority to release the said officer from this requirement. Chairwoman will hold ultimate responsibility to fill the position with input from the other officers. The member who is designated to said position shall serve until the next vote for officers.
Article V - Duties of Officers Section 1 -Duties of Chairwoman - Chairwoman will be a supportive and loyal team player able to interact with the broad spectrum of the women within Achot. She will coordinate all the activities for the sisterhood. The chairwoman will run the business meeting of the sisterhood. The chairwoman will be Achot's representative on the UMJC steering committee, representing the concerns of the sisterhood to the Union and the concerns of the Union to the sisterhood. The chairperson will have the overall responsibility for the Achot SMILE project. Chairwoman will serve as an advisor to new Chairwoman when her term of office is completed. Section 2- Duties of Vice-chairwoman- The Vice-chairwoman will be supportive of the chairwoman, fulfilling the areas as designated by the Chairwoman and the Executive committee. She will preside over meetings when the chairwoman is not able to preside over the meeting. In the event that the Chairwoman is not able to complete her term of office the vice-Chairperson will succeed to the office of Chairperson. Section 3 - Duties of Recording Secretary/Historian - The Recording secretary shall take minutes at Achot's meeting and executive board meetings. She would also have the responsibility to keep a running history of the sisterhood and its activities. She would be responsible for distribution of the minutes to members and the executive board. Section 4- Duties of the Corresponding Secretary - The corresponding secretary shall be responsible for all correspondence that pertains to the sisterhood, including the formulation and distribution of the sisterhood newsletter, webpage, etc. Section 5 - Duties of the Treasurer - The treasurer will be responsible to keep track of monies that come into the sisterhood and the funneling of the monies through the UMJC office. It will be the treasurer's responsibilities to send reminders if dues are delinquent. She would be responsible to follow up on how the monies are allocated for the SMILE PROJECT. The treasurer will be responsible to pay any outstanding bills. She would keep a report on the finances of the sisterhood. The treasurer will be responsible for any offerings at the sisterhood meetings.
Article VI-Executive committee The executive committee shall consist of the officers of Achot and the chairpersons of any standing committee and at least the outgoing chairperson in an advisory capacity. If deemed necessary the Executive committee can appoint other outgoing officers as advisors. The executive committee shall have the authority to transact the business and affairs of Achot between annual meetings. The Executive committee shall have the authority to establish temporary committees to be established at the next annual meeting of Achot. The Executive committee will also have the authority to convene any necessary meeting in addition to the annual meeting.
Meetings- The Executive Committee will meet at least twice yearly, preferably at the Rabbi's retreat and at the annual conference.
Article VII- Amendments-Any full member may propose an amendment to these by-laws by submitting it at least 90 days prior to the annual meeting to the Executive committee. Any proposed amendment will be distributed to the membership at least 60 days prior to the annual conference. The adoption of amendments requires a ¾ majority vote of those convened at the annual conference. The Executive Committee will provide for voting by proxy on any matter, in such manner as it shall be prescribed, at the annual meeting of Achot.
Article VII -Standing committees As of July 1, 2007 there are no standing committees.They may be added as deemed necessary. When such committees are in existence the chairperson of a standing committee will be headed by officers of the executive committee COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE- This committee is headed by the corresponding secretary. The communications committee will oversee all communications to the members. This committee will have oversight of the Achot newsletter and webpage. EVENT COMMITTEE- This committee is responsible for planning and implementing all events for Achot, other than fundraising events. This will include seminar and luncheon at the Union's annual conference. The vice-chair is the acting head of the events committee. FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE- this committee is responsible for planning and implementing all fund-raising activities for Achot. This committee will be responsible for reporting on the outcome of the activities and where the monies raised were distributed. They will bring the disbursement issues before the members of Achot for a vote. The treasurer is the acting head of the fundraising committee. Committee Members- committee Chairs shall appoint the members of their committees, with confirmation by the executive board. Article VIII- Resignation of Office or chairmanship- If any officer or chairperson needs to resign from office or chairmanship they must give notice to the executive committee two months before they need to resign. The executive committee will appoint a new officer or chairperson, who will finish out the existing term of office. The resigning officer or chairperson will continue their duties for the two months before resignation is complete. The executive committee retains the authority to release the officer or chairperson early from the responsibilities of office or chairperson.
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