Task Force By-Laws

BY-LAWS OF THE ROCKDALE COUNTY COALITION
AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Article I

Section 1. Name

The name of the organization shall be the Rockdale County Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Section 2. Geographical Area

Primary administration of the organization (hereafter, the .Coalition.) shall be connected in the Rockdale County in the State of Georgia.

Section 3. Official Address

The official address of the Coalition shall be as designated by the Chairperson of its Board of Directors. For the purpose of ensuring public access the official address shall be maintained on file in the office of the Rockdale County State Court Judge.

Article II

Section 1. Mission

The mission of the Coalition shall be to implement a coordinated community response to domestic violence to:

• Prevent domestic violence;

• Protect the victims of domestic violence; and,

• Educate victims, perpetrators, and the community on domestic violence and issues related to domestic violence and its effects on our community.

Section 2. Functions

The functions of the Coalition shall be as follows:

• to promote changes in societal attitudes and systemic problems that prevent meaningful improvement and resolution of the problems associated with domestic violence;

• to encourage the coordination of existing public and private resources in the best interest of the men, women, and children impacted by domestic violence in Rockdale County;

• to promote the availability of public and private services needed by the perpetrators and victims of domestic violence.

Section 3. Voting and Quorum Requirements

At meetings of the general membership, each member whether an individuals or organization, shall be entitled to one vote in person on matters requiring a vote of the Task Force.s general membership. Ten percent of the total general membership present in person and entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum.

Except as otherwise provided by these By-laws, all questions shall be decided by a majority vote of members, present in person and entitled to vote.

ARTICLE IV

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. Functions

The Task Force.s Board of Directors shall conduct, manage, and control the affairs and property of the Task Force.

Section 2. Composition and Election

The Board of Directors shall consist of no fewer than xxx, but no greater than xxx persons, each of whom shall be an individual member of the Task Force or a designated representative of an organizational member of the Task Force. At least 35 percent of the members of the Board of Directors shall be participants in or designated representatives of participants in the Task Force.s Interagency Agreement.

The Directors shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee and, except as otherwise provided in these By-laws, elected by the Task Force members at a general membership meeting. The outgoing Chairperson of the Board of Directors will automatically be appointed as member of the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Term of Office

The term of office of the members of the Task Force.s Board of Directors shall be one (1) year.

Section 4. Vacancies

In the event of a vacancy among the Directors, through death resignation or otherwise, the Board of Directors may elect a successor to hold office for the unexpired portion of the term.

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. Officers

The Task Force.s Board of Directors shall have the following officers: Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson/Treasury, and Secretary.

Section 2. Election and Term of Office

Officers shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee and elected at the monthly general membership meeting. Officers shall take office on October 1 of the year in which he or she is elected, and shall serve a term of one calendar year, or until his or her successor is elected.

Section 3. Duties

Section 3 (a). In General

The officers shall perform the duties defined by these By-laws and shall assume, when authorized by the Board of Directors, additional duties necessary to the efficient administration of the Task Force and the fulfillment of its mission.

Section 3 (b). Chairperson

The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Task Force; cause adequate notice of all Task Force meetings to be issued; be an ex officio member of all Task Force committees, except the Nominating Committee; and perform the duties that usually pertain to such office.

The Chairperson shall appoint the Chairperson of all Task Force Committees, except the Nominating Committee.

Section 3 (c). Vice Chairperson

The Vice Chairperson shall assume such duties as may be designated by the Board of Directors. In the absence or removal of the Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson shall perform the duties of the Chairperson.

The Vice Chairperson shall also serve as the fiduciary officer of the Task Force and all of the duties deemed necessary by the Board of Directors.

Section 3 (d). Secretary

The Secretary shall serve as the Secretary of the Task Force. The Secretary shall cause minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors and the general membership meetings to be distributed to the members of the Board of Directors and the Task Force members, respectively.

Section 4. Duties and Powers of Directors

The Board of Directors shall establish policies, goals, general activities, and administrative procedures for the Task Force. The Board of Directors shall approve any fund raising activities of the Task Force and budgets for the expenditure of Task Force funds, taking into consideration the Task Force.s stated mission, goals, functions, and limitations on its activities.

A Director will assume an active membership on one or more Task Force committees, or will take an active role in a specific activity of the Task Force.

Section 5. Meetings

Section 5 (a). Regular Meetings

There shall be at least one meeting of the Board of Directors, quarterly.

Section 5 (b). Special Meetings

Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairperson and/or Secretary.

Section 5 (c). Voting and Quorum Requirements at Meetings

At meetings, each Director, present in person, shall be entitled to one vote. Except as otherwise provided in these By-laws, all questions shall be decided by a majority vote of Directors, present in person and entitled to vote.

One-third of the Board of Directors, present in person, shall constitute a quorum.

Section 6. Removal of Director

Any Director who has engaged in conduct prejudicial to the purpose and mission of the Task Force or who shall be absent with explanation from two (2) consecutive meetings of the Board shall, at the discretion of the Board of Directors or the members of the Task Force, forfeit his or her Directorship. Prior to taking any action to remove a Director, the Board shall give him or her written notice of the alleged violation(s) and an adequate opportunity to be heard regarding the alleged violation(s). If the Director is the designated representative of an organizational member of the Task Force, the member organization shall be entitled to similar notice, and with the approval of the Board of Directors, may replace the Director with another designated representative. The decision of the Board of Directors shall be final.

Section 6 (a). Removal of Officers

Removal of officers shall be consistent with the procedure set forth in these By-laws for the removal of a Director.

ARTICLE VI

COMMITTEES

Section 1. Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall consist of five (5) members, three (3) of whom shall be members of the Board of Directors.

The Chairperson of the Board of Directors shall call the first meeting of the Nominating Committee. The Chairperson of this committee shall be elected by a majority vote of its members.

Section 2. Public Awareness Committee

The Public Awareness Committee shall, with the approval of the Board of Directors, develop and organize short-term projects of interest to the entire Task Force and community, develop, coordinate and promote educational activities designed to promote the mission and goals of the Task Force.

Section 3. Healthcare Committee

The Healthcare Committee shall, with the approval of the Board of Directors, develop and build a consensus among practitioners in the community including, but not limited to hospital staff, physicians, nurses and mental health for implementing procedures to meet and promote the mission and goals of the Task Force. The effort shall be continuous.

Section 4. Criminal Justice Committee

The Criminal Committee shall, with the approval of the Board of Directors, develop and build a consensus among practitioners in the community including, but not limited to law enforcement, judges, and prosecutors for implementing procedures to meet and promote the mission and goals of the Task Force. The effort shall be continuous.

Section 5. Services Committee

The Services Committee shall, with the approval of the Board of Directors, shall evaluate and improve the response of social and medical services to the needs of domestic violence victims.

Section 6. Additional Committees

The Task Force Chairperson, working with the members of the Board of Directors, shall organize as many additional committees and working groups as necessary to conduct the administration of the Task Force.

ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS

These By-laws may be altered, amended, or repealed at any meeting of the Board of Directors by a two-thirds majority vote of the Directors, present in person and entitled to vote, provided that the notice of such meeting includes a description of the proposed action.