Local Bylaws

Draft of By-Laws for
Akron Centenary United Methodist Men

Article I The Order of Business for this unit shall be conducted in an orderly and business-like manner according to the Constitution and By-Laws. Any question not covered by the By-Laws shall be decided in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order. Noted exceptions to Robert's Rules of Order are listed in Article IX.

Article II Duties of Officers
A. President: The President shall be the presiding officer of the unit and shall preside at the annual, regular, and special meetings of the unit and the Cabinet. He shall have general oversight over the work of the unit. He shall be an ex-officio member of all committees and task forces, except the Nominating Committee. He shall be familiar with the work of the General Commission on United Methodist Men and that of the District President and Conference President.

Coordinate with his cabinet to develop a vision for what the UMM should accomplish during the year and put it in writing

Delegate or do a devotional message for each monthly meeting

Delegate or do opening and closing prayers for each monthly meeting

Develop and deliver copies of monthly agendas for the UMM meetings and use them to lead the meetings and keep the men on track

Attend Ad Council meetings and communicate information from them back to the UMM

Attend Ministry Summit meetings and communicate information from them back to the UMM

Handle ad hoc requests for the services of the UMM as they come up by either handling the task himself or delegating it

Accept project ownership and bottom-line responsibility for successful execution of Men’s Day

Read mail in UMM mailbox and communicate it to the UMM

Read email sent from National UMM organization and communicate it to the UMM

B. Vice President: The Vice President shall assist the President, accept assignments made to him, preside in the absence of the President, and assume full responsibility for that office.

Accept project ownership and bottom-line responsibility for successful execution of annual Prayer Breakfast

Accept project ownership of at least one other major project that the President asks him to be in charge of

Function as a Parliamentarian to help the President keep order when he runs the meetings

Execute the President’s duties if he becomes unavailable

C. Secretary: The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping the minutes and all records shall include all meetings of the unit and the Cabinet—the annual, regular and special. The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping records suitable for historical filing and efficient conversion to web pages.

Accept ownership and bottom-line responsibility for producing type written copies of notes for every meeting

Keep copies of the notes and be able to produce them when needed

Keep a written record of attendance and be able to produce it when needed

Coordinate with someone from the Church web team to get the notes on the UMM section of the church website

D. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall collect and disburse all funds. Adequate records shall be kept and a report shall be made at all meetings of the unit and the Cabinet. Requests for disbursements of funds not approved in the budget shall be made by the President, Cabinet, or the unit.

Keep track of revenues and disbursements

Keep a record of who has paid their annual dues

Keep track of financial amount committed to all projects, tasks, or services

Produce a written Treasurer’s Report for every meeting. This report will show revenues, disbursements, and financial amount committed

E. Men's Chorus Leader: The duties of the Men's Chorus Leader are:

Keep a roster of the men that are committed to singing in the Choir

Keep a record of who attends Choir practices

Remind the men about the dates of practices and performances

Work with the Director to select songs

Substitute for the Director and lead practices if necessary

F. Remaining UMM Members

Volunteer to perform tasks when asked and follow through on your commitments

Suggest and lead your own projects or services for things you are passionate about

Attend at least 80% of the meetings

Come to meetings mentally prepared by reviewing old meeting notes and announcements in advance

Article III Committees
A. Cabinet: The Cabinet makes plans for the unit and evaluates same. It transacts interim business. However, all transacting must be approved by the unit at its next regular or special meeting. The Cabinet shall meet at the call of the President or as often as it deems necessary.

B. Projects: The Projects Committee shall plan and execute all projects of the unit.

C. Program: The program Committee shall plan all programs both on a short-range and a long-range basis.

D. Nominating: The Nominating Committee shall be elected from the floor at the regular annual meeting of the unit. The Nominating Committee shall consist of five persons, including the pastor and lay leader. The Nominating Committee shall present its slate of officers and chairmen of all standing committees at the annual meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor.

E. _______________________________________________________

F. _______________________________________________________

Article IV Appointment of Committees and Task Forces: The President, in consultation with the Cabinet, shall appoint additional committees and task forces deemed necessary in order to carry out the purpose and objectives of the unit.

Article V Regular Meetings: Regular Meetings of the Centenary United Methodist Men shall be held on the first Saturday of the month at 9:00 AM at a place to be determined by the President.

Article VI Voting Procedures: Voting in an election for officers shall be by secret ballot unless otherwise decided. Voting on other matters at all regular and special meetings shall be by voice vote, show of hands, or by standing unless otherwise ordered by vote of unit.

Article VII Vacancy: When a vacancy occurs in an office or a committee, the vacancy shall be filled by the President in consultation with the Cabinet.

Article VIII The By-Laws may be amended at any annual, regular, or special meeting of the unit by a two-thirds majority vote of all members present provided the notice of such proposed amendment is given 10 days in advance. However, there must be a quorum of our active roster present in order to have the vote.

Article IX Noted Exceptions to Robert's Rules of Order

Because of the relative small size of our order, the president can freely execute his right to make motions, vote and engage in debate as he sees fit.

(These are suggested By-Laws. Please feel free to make changes, additions, or deletions as desired.)

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Article I	The Order of Business for this unit shall be conducted in an orderly and business-like manner according to the Constitution and By-Laws. Any question not covered by the By-Laws shall be decided in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order. Noted exceptions to Robert's Rules of Order are listed in Article IX.
Article II	Duties of Officers A. President: The President shall be the presiding officer of the unit and shall preside at the annual, regular, and special meetings of the unit and the Cabinet. He shall have general oversight over the work of the unit. He shall be an ex-officio member of all committees and task forces, except the Nominating Committee. He shall be familiar with the work of the General Commission on United Methodist Men and that of the District President and Conference President. Coordinate with his cabinet to develop a vision for what the UMM should accomplish during the year and put it in writing Delegate or do a devotional message for each monthly meeting Delegate or do opening and closing prayers for each monthly meeting Develop and deliver copies of monthly agendas for the UMM meetings and use them to lead the meetings and keep the men on track Attend Ad Council meetings and communicate information from them back to the UMM Attend Ministry Summit meetings and communicate information from them back to the UMM Handle ad hoc requests for the services of the UMM as they come up by either handling the task himself or delegating it Accept project ownership and bottom-line responsibility for successful execution of Men’s Day Read mail in UMM mailbox and communicate it to the UMM Read email sent from National UMM organization and communicate it to the UMM B. Vice President: The Vice President shall assist the President, accept assignments made to him, preside in the absence of the President, and assume full responsibility for that office. Accept project ownership and bottom-line responsibility for successful execution of annual Prayer Breakfast Accept project ownership of at least one other major project that the President asks him to be in charge of Function as a Parliamentarian to help the President keep order when he runs the meetings Execute the President’s duties if he becomes unavailable C. Secretary: The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping the minutes and all records shall include all meetings of the unit and the Cabinet—the annual, regular and special. The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping records suitable for historical filing and efficient conversion to web pages. Accept ownership and bottom-line responsibility for producing type written copies of notes for every meeting Keep copies of the notes and be able to produce them when needed Keep a written record of attendance and be able to produce it when needed Coordinate with someone from the Church web team to get the notes on the UMM section of the church website D. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall collect and disburse all funds. Adequate records shall be kept and a report shall be made at all meetings of the unit and the Cabinet. Requests for disbursements of funds not approved in the budget shall be made by the President, Cabinet, or the unit. Keep track of revenues and disbursements Keep a record of who has paid their annual dues Keep track of financial amount committed to all projects, tasks, or services Produce a written Treasurer’s Report for every meeting. This report will show revenues, disbursements, and financial amount committed E. Men's Chorus Leader: The duties of the Men's Chorus Leader are: Keep a roster of the men that are committed to singing in the Choir Keep a record of who attends Choir practices Remind the men about the dates of practices and performances Work with the Director to select songs Substitute for the Director and lead practices if necessary F. Remaining UMM Members Volunteer to perform tasks when asked and follow through on your commitments Suggest and lead your own projects or services for things you are passionate about Attend at least 80% of the meetings Come to meetings mentally prepared by reviewing old meeting notes and announcements in advance
Article III	Committees A. Cabinet: The Cabinet makes plans for the unit and evaluates same. It transacts interim business. However, all transacting must be approved by the unit at its next regular or special meeting. The Cabinet shall meet at the call of the President or as often as it deems necessary. B. Projects: The Projects Committee shall plan and execute all projects of the unit. C. Program: The program Committee shall plan all programs both on a short-range and a long-range basis. D. Nominating: The Nominating Committee shall be elected from the floor at the regular annual meeting of the unit. The Nominating Committee shall consist of five persons, including the pastor and lay leader. The Nominating Committee shall present its slate of officers and chairmen of all standing committees at the annual meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor. E. _______________________________________________________ F. _______________________________________________________
Article IV	Appointment of Committees and Task Forces: The President, in consultation with the Cabinet, shall appoint additional committees and task forces deemed necessary in order to carry out the purpose and objectives of the unit.
Article V	Regular Meetings: Regular Meetings of the Centenary United Methodist Men shall be held on the first Saturday of the month at 9:00 AM at a place to be determined by the President.
Article VI	Voting Procedures: Voting in an election for officers shall be by secret ballot unless otherwise decided. Voting on other matters at all regular and special meetings shall be by voice vote, show of hands, or by standing unless otherwise ordered by vote of unit.
Article VII	Vacancy: When a vacancy occurs in an office or a committee, the vacancy shall be filled by the President in consultation with the Cabinet.
Article VIII	The By-Laws may be amended at any annual, regular, or special meeting of the unit by a two-thirds majority vote of all members present provided the notice of such proposed amendment is given 10 days in advance. However, there must be a quorum of our active roster present in order to have the vote.
Article IX	Noted Exceptions to Robert's Rules of Order Because of the relative small size of our order, the president can freely execute his right to make motions, vote and engage in debate as he sees fit.