BYLAWS OF      PORTLAND PARENT UNION Founded by Sheila Warren and co-founder Ronald Warren

 

ARTICLE I - NAME, PURPOSE Website http://www.portlandparentunion.com/

 

Section 1: The name of the organization shall be Portland Parent Union another name could be Sheila Warren Portland Parent Union we are also called PPU.

 

Section 2: The _Portland Parent Union_ is organized exclusively for mobilizing families, advocacy, research and educational purposes, more specifically to Parents with children in k-12th grade schools . The Purpose is to centralize parents and families to connect them to the resources, education, and supports necessary to empower them to be strong advocates for their children and for each other and ultimately for positive institutional changes and the greater common good. 

 

ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP

 

Section 1: Membership shall consist of all Parents, Grandparents and Community Members who want to participate regardless of class, race, ethnicity, and cultural beliefs and are interested in becoming better advocates for children. This organization is Parent lead.

 

ARTICLE III - ANNUAL MEETING and RETREAT

 

Section 1: Annual Meeting. The date of the regular annual meeting shall be set by the PPU President and Chair of Board of Advisors who shall also set the time and place. We set the annual meeting at the end of the year in December.

 

Section 2: Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called by the Executive Director, or the Executive Committee.

.

Section 3: Notice. Notice of each meeting shall be given to each board member, by email or phone call, not less than 3-21 days before the meeting. Due to capacity Board is expected to update themselves by reading newsletter or reviewing website. 

 

ARTICLE IV –BOARD OF ADVISORS

 

Section 1: Board Role, Size, Compensation. The Board of Advisors is responsible for policy support, reports, expert advice  and works their individual programs of Parent Union and offers expertise advice and support to the Executive Committee. The Board shall have up to _ 10_ and not fewer than_5__ members. The board receives no compensation and is all volunteer. The board is expected to show up at most PPU events to help promote  PPU. A board member should not have their own agenda when at a PPU event.

 

Section 2: Meetings. The Board shall meet at least every other month, at an agreed upon time and place. (Fourth Thursday)

 

Section 3: Board Elections. Appointment or election of new board members or election of current members to a second term will occur as the first item of business at the annual meeting of the Portland Parent Union. Members will be elected by a majority vote of the current  board members and can be appointed by the  Executive Committee in an emergency or when needed if capacity is not in place. Since PPU is all volunteer it is sometimes necessary to keep PPU consistent to the process. Folks managing the meetings must keep the member list current by checking with the Director.

 

Section 4: Terms. All Board members shall serve __2-3__ year terms, but are eligible for re-election.

 

Section 5: Quorum. A quorum must be attended by at least  50% 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 email or phone notice for emergencies 2 hours or  3-4 days in advance. One to two weeks in advance for non emergencies. 

 

Section 7. Officers and Duties. There shall be five officers of the Parent Union consisting of a Executive Director Sheila Warren, Associate Director Cashawn Edwards, Secretary Joslyn Baker, Treasurer _______, Team Chairs, Board of Advisers Chair (Optional), this also can be the Director or the Associate Director's role.

​

Their duties are as follows:

 

The Chair shall convene regularly scheduled Board meetings, shall preside or can arrange for other members of the executive committee to preside at each meeting in the following order: President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. The Vice- President or board chair will chair committees on special subjects as designated by the board. Works with the Board Secretary to edit notes, get approval from Director and send out to all with the agenda.

 

The secretary can also do this. 

 

The chair runs the board meeting, comes up with agenda either by herself with approval at the meeting (when director not available for pre approval) or with the Director when available.

 

The Secretary Joslyn Baker shall be responsible for keeping records of Board actions, including overseeing the taking of minutes at all board meetings, sending out meeting announcements when working with Chair, distributing copies of minutes when approved and the agenda to each Board members at meetings, as well as assuring that PPU records are maintained. Helping the Chair update members as well as keeping tract of attendance.

 

The Treasurer ______shall make a report at each Board meeting. Treasurer shall chair the finance committee, assist in the preparation of the budget, help develop fund raising 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 a Board meeting. These nominations shall be sent out to Board members with the regular Board meeting announcement, to be voted upon at the next Board meeting. These vacancies will be filled only to the end of the particular Board member's term.

 

Section 9: Resignation, Termination and Absences. Resignation from the Board can be in writing or verbal and received by the Secretary. A Board member may be removed by a three-fourths vote of the remaining board members. PPU honors different types of board members.: working members, absentee members, financial support members and annual meeting members. A member can be voted out if have unexcused absenteeism up to a year. 

 

Section 10: Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board shall be called upon the request of the President or board chair. Notices of special meetings shall be sent out by the Secretary to each Board member postmarked one to two weeks in advance. In an emergency 2hours to 3-4 days. (phone call or email)

 

ARTICLE V – COMMITTEES

 

Section 1: The Board may create committees as needed, such as fund raising, housing, etc. The Board Chair appoints all committee chairs.

 

Section 2: The five officers serve as the members of the Executive Committee. Executive committee only will have  the power to amend the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, the Advisory Board will have input also.  

Executive Committee shall have all of the powers and authority of the Board of Advisors in the intervals between meetings of the Board of Advisors.

 

Section 3: Finance Committee. The Treasurer is chair of the Finance Committee, which includes one other Board member. The Finance Committee is responsible for developing and reviewing fiscal procedures, a fund raising plan, and annual budget with staff and other Board members. The Executive committee will approve the budget, and all expenditures must be within the budget. Any major change in the budget must be approved by the Executive Committee not the Advisory Board. The fiscal year shall be the calendar year. Annual reports are required to be submitted to the Executive Committee and shared with the Advisory Board for any corrections. 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: These Bylaws may be amended when necessary by a two-thirds majority of the Board of Directors. Proposed amendments must be submitted to the Secretary to be sent out with regular Board announcements.

These Bylaws were approved at a meeting of the Board of Advisors and the Executive Board of Portland Parent Union on

April 15  , 2010 Sheila Warren Director