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ARTICLE I – MISSION

 

Tampa Bay Bears, Inc is an organization formed by gay men within the Bear community to foster relationships with other gay members in the community and to provide support to LGBT+ charities and other charitable organizations through social activities, fund raising, and volunteer work. The organization is organized exclusively for charitable purposes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

   

ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP

 

 Section 1: QUALIFICATIONS: Membership is open to all men in the LGBT+ community who pay membership dues and agree to adhere to our governing mission. The Tampa Bay Bears shall accept adult members without regard to familial status, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, or disability.

 

Section 2: DUTIES: Members shall elect the Board of Directors, hereafter referred to as the Board, who will promote the purpose of the organization, set the policies and mission statement, create committees as appropriate, review the organization’s financial reports, establish, and collect dues.

 

Section 3: GOOD STANDING: Members in good standing support the purpose of the organization, seek opportunities to participate/volunteer in events and pay established annual dues.

 

Section 4: SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION: The Board may temporarily or permanently suspend or expel by two-thirds vote any member’s rights or privileges set forth in this manual or in the by-laws for behavior that is deemed inappropriate and not in line with the mission statement of the Organization. This includes but is not limited to the following: a. Voting privileges, b. Monthly meeting participation, c. Public representation of the Organization, d. Attendance to Organization Events. Once suspended, a two-thirds vote of the Board is required to reinstate any rights or privileges. Upon suspension by the board, the offending member may appeal to the Open Membership, but must obtain a 2/3 vote of the full open membership to avoid suspension or expulsion.

 

Section 5: VOTING: Each member in good standing is entitled to one vote on any issue brought before the membership requiring a vote.

 

Section 6: DUES: Upon the recommendation of the Board, a dues fee structure shall be established by the Board at a monthly Board meeting.

 

Section 7: DISSOLUTION: Upon the dissolution of this organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Organizations shall be selected by the majority of the Board.

 

Section 8: COMPENSATION: No part of the net earnings of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes described in section 501(c)(3). No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the corporation shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the corporation shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

 

Section 9: MEMBERSHIP AGE: At no time shall a member under the age of 18 be admitted to the organization.

 

 

ARTICLE III – MEETINGS

 

Section 1: MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS: These meetings will occur as needed at a date, time and location as determined by the Board.

 

Section 2: NOTICE OF MEETINGS: The exact place, date and time of the membership meetings shall be published at least fourteen (14) days in advance via email, the website and/or social media outlets.

 

Section 3: SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS: These meetings may be called by a majority of the Board. The purpose of the special membership meetings, its place, date and time shall be announced at least seven (7) days in advance.

 

Section 4: BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS: The Board shall meet monthly and report to the membership. Board meetings may be closed to non-Directors at the request of a majority of the Board present. A majority of the Board must be present to conduct business. A special Board meeting may be called at the request of a majority of the Board and with at least seventy-two (72) hours’ notice of the purpose, time, and place of such meeting. In a regularly scheduled monthly Board meeting, the Board will set annual dues for the next year.

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ARTICLE IV - BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 1: RESPONSIBILITIES: The Board is responsible to the membership and shall act to oversee and administer the activities and affairs of the Organization.

 

Section 2: MEMBERSHIP: The Board shall be composed of up to eleven (11) members in good standing. If an adequate number of candidates are not available at the time of the election, then the available candidates will be elected to the new Board with the remaining positions to be filled at a later time (see Section 5: VACANCIES). Board elections shall be publicized at least thirty (30) days in advance via email, the website and/or social media outlets. Board members' terms run for two (2) years. The board members must have staggered terms. The initial board will have six (6) directors with terms ending in December 2022 and (5) directors with terms ending in December 2021.

 

Section 3: NOMINATIONS: Nominations for consenting candidates shall be accepted from the members in good standing starting thirty days before the annual meeting until the Board defined cutoff date. In all cases, nominees shall be members in good standing at the time of their nomination.

 

Section 4: ELECTIONS: The Board shall elect at the Annual Meeting the Executive Committee positions of President, Vice-president, Secretary, and Treasurer. The President must have been a Board member for at least one year before being elected. The Board shall ensure that positions of President and Treasurer are held by separate individuals. Board positions may not be held by more than one member from a domestic partnership, marriage, other relationship that may be deemed as a conflict of interest.

 

 

Except as noted above for President and Treasurer, Board members may hold multiple officer positions.

Officer duties, as described in this document, may be delegated to other Board members or general Organization  members, but shall be the responsibility of the assigned Board officer.

 

Section 5: VACANCIES: Any vacancy occurring on the Board other than during the end of a term may be filled from the general membership by the affirmative vote of the majority of the remaining Directors. A Director elected or appointed to fill a vacancy shall be elected or appointed for the remainder of the term of the seat being vacated. A vacancy that will occur at a specific later date may be filled before the vacancy occurs; however, the new Director may not take office until the vacancy occurs.

In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the Board shall elect a new President who meets the requirements for the office (see Section 4: Elections).

 

Section 6: REMOVAL FROM OFFICE: A member of the Board can be removed from the Board by a vote, held by ballot, of two-thirds (2/3) of the Board members not including the Board member being removed. If the removal motion is successful, the action will be effective immediately. The vote to remove a Board member may not be completed by secret ballot and must be open to the general membership.

 

Section 7: FINANCIAL AUTHORIZATION: The President and Treasurer shall be authorized and require to establish and maintain a bank account for the benefit of the Tampa Bay Bears, Inc.

 

Section 8: ATTENDANCE:  Board meeting attendance is required of all board members to assure good governance. Any absences should be communicated in advance.  Any board member who misses three board meetings in a calendar year may be considered to have resigned from the board.

 

 

ARTICLE V – COMMITTEES

 

Section 1: STANDING COMMITTEES: Committees shall be established by the board.

 

Section 2: SELECT /AD HOC COMMITTEES: Each Select Role or Ad Hoc Committee shall be chaired by the elected Board member or selected Organization member as applicable. All committee chairs shall regularly call meetings and are responsible for the work of their committees. The committees are administrative and implementary in nature, with only those powers that are specifically delegated by the Board. The President may create ad hoc committees as deemed necessary.

 

Section 3: COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP: Committees shall be composed of elected Board members or selected current Organization members as applicable. Committee composition should reflect the mix of professional knowledge and experience that would be optimal.

 

Section 4: REVIEW: The Board shall regularly review the work of all committees. Several times each year the Board shall review, in depth, the work of each committee in order that the Board may determine the committee’s effectiveness and recommend changes deemed necessary to improve its performance. Any activity seeking official sanction or endorsement by the Organization requires Board approval.

 

ARTICLE VI – AMENDMENTS

 

After at least fourteen (14) days notice has been given of the consideration of a change to the bylaws, these bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members in good standing who are present at any membership meeting. Any prepared amendment must be presented in written format to the membership. Any motion to accept the amendment will be for the document as a whole and not be cast seriatim (by paragraph). Voting rights are not transferable and members must be present at the time a vote is taken to cast their vote.

 

ARTICLE VII - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the current edition of ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER, NEWLY REVISED, shall govern in all cases in which they are applicable, except where they are inconsistent with these bylaws.