Bylaws

Article I. Name

The name of this organization shall be Cumberland Valley Rising.

Article II. Mission

Cumberland Valley Rising is dedicated to political and educational action within our central Pennsylvania communities. This grassroots organization defends and promotes core American values, including diversity, inclusivity, freedom from bigotry and oppression, and access to education.

Cumberland Valley Rising (CVR) supports community-based political, educational and non-profit organizations and movements that share similar values. We provide information and resources to help members engage in local politics, arrange educational opportunities for members and the community, and provide support and advocacy for groups affected by bigotry and xenophobia. Above all, CVR members are dedicated to being a visible presence in the Cumberland Valley.

Article III. Membership

Regular meeting attendance and membership are open to any person who is in sympathy with the mission of Cumberland Valley Rising. Any person attending or participating in CVR regular or committee meetings, events or social media is required to abide by these bylaws.

Meeting attendees are invited to participate in discussions and committee activities. Membership is conferred by the following:

1. Providing one’s name and email contact information to the steering committee
2. Participation in at least 50% of regular meetings between January 1 and November 1 and participation in one or more committees

Members are invited to vote in CVR’s Annual Meeting and any special meetings called by the Steering Committee.

It is the goal of Cumberland Valley Rising to be both welcoming and inclusive. We recognize, however, that there are those who do not share our goals, values or mission and who may seek to disrupt the work of Cumberland Valley Rising. With that in mind, the following limitations to attendance and membership will be upheld and enforced as necessary.

Limitations to Attendance/Participation/Membership:

1. Speech or behavior that hinders, disrupts, threatens or abuses any individual(s) or the work of Cumberland Valley Rising will not be tolerated.
2. Any two Steering Committee members may ask any disruptive or unsympathetic person(s) to leave any CVR-sponsored event or meeting at any time, insofar as allowed by law.
3. Any person may be asked to immediately leave a committee meeting by the chair of that committee. Any person may be permanently removed from committee membership by a majority vote of that committee, to be ratified by a majority vote of the steering committee.
4. Any person may be permanently banned, so far as allowed by law, from any and all Cumberland Valley Rising meetings, events and/or social media accounts upon a majority vote of the Steering Committee.
5. All public communications made on behalf of CVR must be approved by the Steering Committee.
6. Any post may be hidden or deleted from CVR social media or other online accounts by any member of the Steering Committee at any time.
7. Any person seeking access to any CVR private online account must be approved by a member of the Steering Committee. Any person may be blocked from access to such accounts by any member of the Steering Committee, to be ratified by a majority vote of the Steering Committee.

Article IV: Meetings

The Annual Meeting of Cumberland Valley Rising, to be held during the month of November, shall be called by the Steering Committee. Election results take effect on January 1. The business to be transacted at the Annual Meeting shall be set forth in the notice of the meeting, which shall be communicated to the general membership via email at least 10 days before the meeting. Those present at the properly called Annual Meeting shall constitute a quorum for the purposes of that meeting.

Special meetings shall be called by the Steering Committee at its discretion or upon written petition to the Steering Committee, said petition to be signed by not fewer than ten (10) representatives of the voting membership. The Steering Committee shall call the special meeting within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of said petition, providing email notice of the meeting date and business to be transacted to the general membership at least ten (10) days in advance. Those present at any properly called special meeting shall constitute a quorum for the purposes of that meeting.

Regular meetings of CVR shall be organized by the Steering Committee, which shall provide the agenda for those meetings.

The dates of meetings of the Steering Committee shall be determined by the President. Fifty (50) percent of the membership of the Steering Committee shall constitute a quorum at Steering Committee meetings.

Article V. Officers and Steering Committee

The Steering Committee shall have general oversight of Cumberland Valley Rising, the conduct of its committees and events and the control of its finances and administration. It is the role of the Steering Committee to further, protect and provide organizational structure and support to Cumberland Valley Rising’s on-going mission.

All members of the Steering Committee shall be eighteen (18) years of age or older.

The Steering Committee shall consist, but not be limited to, the officers of the organization, including the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary and Webmaster, to be elected annually from within by majority vote of the Steering Committee. Steering Committee members may hold more than one office, at the discretion of the committee.

Initial (2017) Steering Committee

CVR’s initial Steering Committee, to be in office through 2017, is made up of members self-appointed at the time of CVR’s creation in December, 2016. CVR’s first elected Steering Committee will take office in January, 2018.

The Steering Committee shall consist of at least five (5) and no more than eleven (11) members, elected for staggered three (3) year terms at the Annual Meeting. (In order that terms will be appropriately staggered, the 2017 Annual Meeting will elect Steering Committee members for terms of between one (1) and three (3) years.) Steering Committee members may be elected for up to two (2) consecutive terms, before being required to take a one (1) term break.

Any Steering Committee member who misses more than three (3) meetings in a calendar year shall be required to step down from the committee unless this requirement is waived by a formal vote of the committee.

The Steering Committee may fill vacancies by appointment with persons who shall serve until the next annual meeting.

Officers

The Steering Committee shall select officers from within its membership annually, at the first meeting following the Annual Meeting.

The offices of President and Vice-President shall have term limits of three (3)years. The President is generally expected, although not required, to remain available in an advisory capacity for at least one (1) year following their term of office. The Vice-President is generally expected, although not required, to succeed to the role of President when the current President steps down.

As of 2018, the offices of President and Vice-President shall be filled by people who have been on the Steering Committee for at least one year.

The President shall call, create agendas and facilitate meetings, act (or appoint someone to act) as point person for the organization at large, and inform the Steering Committee of major issues and concerns as they arise.

The Vice-President shall support the work of the President, and act in the President’s stead when the President is not available.

The Treasurer shall pay bills, maintain bank accounts and provide a monthly financial report to the Steering Committee.

The Secretary shall take minutes at both regular and Steering Committee meetings and shall provide those minutes to the Steering Committee prior to the next Steering Committee meeting.

The Webmaster shall facilitate, supervise and maintain CVR’s online presence, including but not limited to CVR’s website, social media pages and email accounts.

All officers and members of the Steering Committee will endeavor to work together in a cooperative and congenial manner, keeping foremost in mind the stated mission of this organization. Decisions are best made by consensus, rather than formal vote; in the event of contention, Robert’s Rules of Order may be invoked at the discretion of the President or Vice-President.

Article VI. Committees

Committees are the working body of Cumberland Valley Rising. Committees are expected and encouraged to operate with relative freedom and independence, while remaining within the structure and oversight of CVR.

Committees shall be created, combined and/or disbanded by the CVR Steering Committee.

The Steering Committee shall be informed of all events and/or given copies of all materials and publicity generated by any CVR committee. The CVR Steering Committee may veto any event or association at its discretion. Each committee shall have a Steering Committee member as one of its members.

Each committee shall choose a chair from within its ranks, whose job shall be to facilitate committee meetings, manage committee membership and emails and maintain close communication with the Steering Committee. Any committee chair who misses more than three (3) committee meetings in a calendar year, or who otherwise neglects to fulfill the duties of committee chairmanship, may be asked to step down by a vote of the committee or by the Steering Committee.

CVR members, working within their own committees and between committees, will endeavor to work together in a cooperative and congenial manner, keeping foremost in mind the stated mission of this organization. Decisions are best made by consensus, rather than formal vote; in the event of contention, Robert’s Rules of Order may be invoked at the discretion of any committee chair.

Article VII. Fiscal Year

The fiscal year shall be January 1 to December 31.

Article VIII. Dissolution

The organization, Cumberland Valley Rising may be dissolved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Steering Committee. In the case of dissolution of the organization, all of its property, real and personal, after paying all just claim upon it, shall be conveyed to and vested in a non-profit organization that is in sympathy with the mission of CVR. The Steering Committee shall perform all actions necessary to effectuate such conveyance.

Article IX. Amendments

These bylaws, so far as allowed by law, may be amended or replaced at any special or annual meeting of the organization by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present and voting. Notice of any proposed change shall be contained in the notice of the meeting.