CAAV Corporate Bylaws

CLIMATE ACTION ALLIANCE OF THE VALLEY BYLAWS

Revised in 2020 with approval in January 2022. First adopted October 2012.

Article 1 – Mission, Goals, and Objectives

Mission:

The mission of the Climate Action Alliance of the Valley (CAAV) is to limit the impact of humans on Earth’s climate and minimize the effects of inevitable climate change in order to protect the future for Earth and its inhabitants.

Vision:

The vision of CAAV is to create and nurture climate action in our Shenandoah Valley community so that we can become a regional leader in promoting climate change mitigation and resilience.

Goals:

1. CAAV’s goal is to train and mobilize community members to engage in local and regional efforts that promote climate change mitigation and resilience.

2. CAAV’s goal is to achieve policies and legislation that enable and advance the systemic changes required to promote climate stabilization and resilience.

Objectives:

For Goal 1:

· To educate ourselves and others and demonstrate skills and strategies for reducing climate impacts and building climate resilience.

· To encourage and enable personal and societal transformation to minimize climate change impacts.

· To form alliances with other organizations with shared priorities on climate change mitigation and resilience.

For Goal 2:

· To research the impacts of proposed policies and legislation on Earth’s climate and to communicate with legislators about those impacts.

· To influence the positions of political candidates and officials to advance climate policies and legislation.

· To inform the public and mobilize them to vote for decisive climate action.

Article 2 - Term & Dissolution

CAAV is established for an unlimited period; it can be dissolved at the discretion of the Steering Committee and in accordance with the provisions in these By-Laws. A motion to dissolve CAAV requires a two-thirds majority vote of all Steering Committee members for approval.

Article 3 - Members

Although the locus of CAAV is the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, general membership is open to anyone concerned about the impacts of human-caused climate change and how to minimize them. Membership is established by either requesting addition to the CAAV email distribution list or by “Liking” CAAV on Facebook. Voting privileges are reserved for members of the Steering Committee as specified in Article 6.

Article 4 - Termination of Membership

Members may terminate their relationship with CAAV by notifying the Secretary by email or postal mail and requesting removal from the email distribution list, or by “Un-Liking” CAAV on Facebook.

The Steering Committee may remove any Member from CAAV for cause at its discretion by a two-thirds vote.

Article 5 – Governance

CAAV shall be governed by a Steering Committee containing up to 18 individuals. The Steering Committee is vested with decision-making authority through consensus. Should it be impossible to reach consensus on an issue, then a decision will be reached by majority vote. A quorum of half the current Steering Committee members plus 1 is required for a vote. If no quorum is present, issues will be tabled until the next meeting. If an issue is time sensitive, results of the discussion may be communicated to the missing members by e-mail and a vote taken by e-mail ballot.

Article 6 - Steering Committee

· The Steering Committee is the governing body of CAAV and has the power to set policies and procedures. Only members of the Steering Committee have voting privileges.

· The initial complement of Steering Committee members will be those serving on the Steering Committee at the time of adoption of these By-Laws.

· Appointment and Term of Steering Committee Members:

• Vacancies on the Steering Committee shall be filled in a timely manner by majority vote of the incumbent Steering Committee members, based on Nominating Committee recommendations.

• Steering Committee members typically serve three-year terms, but may remain in their role indefinitely.

• Steering Committee members may resign from their positions by providing written notice to the Steering Committee Chair or other officer.

· It is expected that all Steering Committee members will actively participate in the activities of CAAV through regular attendance at Steering Committee meetings and through service on a standing or ad hoc committee, or in some other capacity.

· Compensation - Steering Committee members and officers serve in a voluntary capacity and receive no monetary compensation for their services as Steering Committee members; however, they may receive reimbursement for expenses if authorized by the Treasurer upon receipt of appropriate documentation.

· Removal of Steering Committee members - Steering Committee members may be removed for cause by a two-thirds majority vote of all the other Steering Committee members. Such action can be taken at a meeting of the Steering Committee only if: (1) Notice of the meetings specifies that such action is among the purposes of the meeting, (2) Committee members have received such notice one week prior to the meeting, and (3) The subject of the action has been notified one week prior to the meeting.

· Guests, visitors, and observers are welcome at Steering Committee meetings. Should they wish to make a presentation, they may do so at the discretion of the Steering Committee Chair.

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