Grove of the Elder Oaks
ByLaws
(initial draft)
ARTICLE 1: PURPOSE
Grove of the Elder Oaks, ADF is a nonprofit religious,
educational, scholarly, artistic, and charitable association, organized to
practice the full spectrum of legal activities appropriate for a religious
congregation.
To serve the
spiritual and educational needs of Mid-Michigan and surrounding areas, Grove of
the Elder Oaks provides public Druidic ritual and worship, classes and
discussion groups in Druidic arts and lore, opportunities to enhance and deepen
the spiritual development of our membership, service to enhance and sustain our
local communities and environments, and religious support of the community in
the Druidic way, (e.g. counseling, blessings, advising, et al.).
As a local
congregation of Ár nDraíocht Féin, Elder Oaks Grove shall abide by the national
bylaws of Ár nDraíocht Féin, A Druid Fellowship, Inc.
Article 2: Calender
In the Druidic tradition we celebrate 8 high days as
set by the Ár nDraíocht Féin mother grove.
The dates of these High Days are set by the
Mother Grove in Article #3:2 of the National ADF By-laws.
For ceremonial purposes each High Day may be celebrated upon
either the legal date, the astronomical date, or upon a date mutually
convenient, within a fortnight, to the participants of the particular
celebration involved.
In addition, Grove of the Elder Oaks may honor traditional ethnic
holidays as agreed upon by a vote of the grove members.
ARTICLE 3: MEMBERSHIP
1.
Members must
be at least 18 years of age or have written, signed informed consent from a
parent or guardian.
2.
Full Grove
Member: Local members of the grove
as defined in article 3, who are also current members of the national
organization, Ár nDraíocht Féin. Only
Full Grove members may participate in elections. Only Full Grove members may hold office in the grove.
3.
Local Grove
Members: Local members are those who meet ADF eligibility requirements, have attended at least
3 events, and is invited to join. Members will be encouraged to join ADF, as it is a
requirement for voting privileges and acknowledgement of Dedicant Path completion.
4.
National
Member: National members are those
who are members of the national organization, Ár nDraíocht Féin, but not Local
Grove members or Full Grove members. National Members have voting rights in Ár nDraíocht Féin, but not with the
local Grove.
ARTICLE 4: VOTING
1.
All members who fulfill the criteria of the
category of Full Grove member shall be considered voting members of Grove of
the Elder Oaks, ADF.
2.
Except as otherwise noted in these By-laws, a
quorum for voting purposes shall consist of the voting members representing 50%
of the Full Grove members.
3.
Each member receives 1(one) vote.
ARTICLE 5: ANNUAL MEETING
The Annual meeting shall
be held within 1 month of the Winter Nights gathering.
All officer elections will
be held on the annual meeting.
The annual meeting will
serve as the beginning of elected terms in office.
ARTICLE 6: OFFICERS
Senior Druid
The Senior Druid of the
Grove of the Elder Oaks Shall be Matthew Rutledge
until date of resignation.
The Senior Druid shall be
responsible for providing leadership in the Grove, appointing replacements for
vacant positions, and provide Quarterly reports as required by ADF.
The term for elected
Senior Druids shall be 1 year.
Scribe
The Scribe of the Grove of
the Elder Oaks Shall be Krystle Rutledge until the date of resignation.
The scribe shall be
responsible for keeping minutes for all meetings, including attendance, changes
in membership, and Omens of return. Scribe will maintain an up to date membership roster. The scribe will also make this
information all available to the Senior Druid for quarterly reports.
The term for elected Scribes
shall be 1 year.
PurseWarden
The Pursewarden will be elected for a term from eligible members during the Annual meeting.
The pursewarden shall be responsible for all accounting tasks including but not limited to
tracking membership dues, dispersing money for grove expenses, and maintaining
cash accounts.
The term for elected Pursewardens shall be 1 year.
Other Officers
Other officers, their term length and their
responsibilities may be established later by unanimous decision by the
above-mentioned officers.
ARTICLE
7: FINANCIAL RECORDS
All members of Grove of
the Elder Oaks, ADF and of the ADF Mother Grove are entitled to see the grove
accounting records, to be made available by the Pursewarden.
The Pursewarden will also provide such access to
grove financial records by government officials as required under applicable
law. The Pursewarden will respect the confidentiality
of individual donors and donations, as permitted under applicable law. Summary
statements of receipts and disbursements will be regularly available. An annual
report must be compiled at the end of each year.
ARTICLE
8: DONATIONS AND FUND ALLOCATION
An amount specified by the Executive Committee and approved
by the membership shall serve as the membership dues to Grove of the Elder
Oaks, thus entitling members to rights and privileges stated in Articles 3 and
4 of these by-laws, and other services/publications not stated in these
by-laws. Dues represent a requested contribution and may be waived for
individuals with cause, at the discretion of the Executive Committee. The
amount of the suggested membership dues, and the dispersion thereof, shall be reviewed/revised
at the annual meeting and approved by a majority of the voting members. All
amounts will be published at least annually.
The Executive Committee shall allocate funds for grove
events and activities. The Pursewarden shall disperse
these funds.
Grounds for suspension or expulsion are stated in the ADF
by-laws. Local Grove Members may be suspended or expelled by a 2/3 vote of the
voting membership, under those grounds. If a member under consideration for
suspension or expulsion is a grove officer, he/she may be suspended or expelled
only by a two-thirds vote of the remaining officers, and only after review by
the ADF Mother Grove or the Archdruid.
Full Grove Members who resign from ADF may remain Local
Grove Members.
Full Grove Members who are suspended or expelled from ADF
must show cause why they should be allowed to remain Local Grove Members. Members who have been banned temporarily or permanently from
attending ADF activities, by the ADF Mother Grove in accordance with the ADF
by-laws, will not be permitted to remain Local Grove Members or to attend grove
rituals. Such bans must be announced in ADF publications.
Members may resign from membership at any time for personal
reasons, and will be eligible to rejoin Grove of the Elder Oaks at a later
date. Any member who fails to renew their dues within three months of
membership expiration shall be deemed to have resigned and will no longer
receive grove literature. Local grove members who have failed to renew their
membership shall forfeit the right to all grove publications, as determined on
an individual basis by the Executive Committee. If otherwise remaining active,
they may rejoin Grove of the Elder Oaks by payment or waiver of dues.
Members who fail to attend scheduled grove events for six consecutive
months, and who cease to contribute to the activities and purposes of Grove of
the Elder Oaks over that time, ordinarily will be considered to have resigned
their membership in the grove. They will no longer receive grove literature
after their dues renewal date. Special circumstances, e.g., illness, military
service, participation in intensive training programs, or extended travel, may
be considered in interpreting this requirement or in issuing an invitation to
rejoin the grove.
Any officer, who is deemed to be not fulfilling the
requirements as stated in Article 7 of these by-laws, shall be formally
notified by the remaining officers and, if efforts are not taken to continue
the function of said office, then the grove voting membership shall, by a 2/3
vote, relieve said officer of his/her office and the Senior Druid shall appoint
a replacement of that office. If there is no suitable replacement for a vacated
office the Senior Druid will assume responsibility of fulfilling that office
and its functions. Similarly, if any officer, for personal or other reasons,
believes that he/she must resign from the office a letter of resignation must
be sent to the Senior Druid and the Senior Druid shall appoint a replacement
for that office. If there is no suitable replacement for a vacated office the
Senior Druid will assume responsibility of fulfilling that office and its
functions. In the event of the resignation of a Non-elected Officer, the Senior
Druid may appoint a suitable replacement for the vacancy.
The Senior Druid, who for personal or other reasons, must
resign from office, MUST submit, in writing, a formal resignation from this
position to the Archdruid and to ALL grove Officers.
Upon the resignation, the Scribe shall be appointed Senior Druid until formal
elections for Senior Druid can be held.
In the case of a person who was declared temporarily or
permanently incapacitated at the time of his/her resignation or removal from a
position of responsibility, the Executive Committee shall require a reevaluation
of his/her competency similar to the process which has declared incapacity,
before s/he may seek election or appointment.
Suspended or expelled members may not hold office or act in
any way as representatives of Grove of the Elder Oaks, ADF and have no right to
receive any publications, and may not continue to participate in Druidic study
programs offered by Grove of the Elder Oaks, ADF. Impeached officers may remain
as regular members, but may not run for any office unless the Executive Committee
deems otherwise.
Grove of
the Elder Oaks, ADF is organized exclusively for charitable religious,
educational and scientific purposes including for such purposes the making of
distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under
section 501(c)3 of the Interval Revenue Code or a
corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
No part
of the net earnings of the Corporation shall inure to the benefit of, or be
distributable to, its members, directors, officers, or other private persons,
except that the Corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable
compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in
furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article I of these by-laws.
No
substantial part of the activities of the Corporation shall be the carrying on
of propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation, and the
Corporation shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing
or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any
candidate for public office.
Notwithstanding
any other provisions of these by-laws, this Corporation shall not, except to an
insubstantial degree, engage in any activities or exercise any powers that are
not in furtherance of the purposes of this Corporation.
Upon the
dissolution of this Corporation, the officers shall, after paying or making
provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the Corporation, dispose of
all the assets of the Corporation exclusively for the purposes of the
Corporation in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized
and operated exclusively for Neopagan religious,
educational or charitable purposes as shall at that time qualify as an exempt
organization or organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1954 as revised (or the corresponding provision of any future United
States Internal Revenue Law), as the officers shall determine.
Any such
assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of
the county in which the principal office of the Corporation is then located,
exclusively for such purposes or to such Neopagan organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are
organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.