Bylaws
Of
Ozark Avalon,
a Missouri Nonprofit Corporation
effective 14 November 2003
A. The following terms and definitions shall be referenced in the present and all future codifications of this document.
1. ARTICLES: the Articles of Incorporation of the Missouri nonprofit corporation Ozark Avalon
2. BOARD: the currently elected Board of Directors of the Missouri nonprofit corporation Ozark Avalon.
3. BYLAWS: this document.
4. CHAIRPERSON: the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Missouri nonprofit corporation Ozark Avalon.
5. CHURCH: the Missouri nonprofit corporation Ozark Avalon, whose registered address is 26199 Cumberland Church Road, Boonville, MO 65233.
6. OAK SPIRIT: a membership status conferred by the Board of Directors of the Missouri nonprofit corporation Ozark Avalon.
7. PRESIDENT: the President of the Missouri nonprofit corporation Ozark Avalon.
8. RETREAT: an activity of the Missouri nonprofit corporation Ozark Avalon, sanctioned by its Board of Directors, whose purpose is worship and religious education.
9. SECRETARY: the Secretary of the Missouri nonprofit corporation Ozark Avalon.
10. SIMPLE MAJORITY: greater than one half (1/2).
11. SUPER MAJORITY: two thirds (2/3) or greater which super majority vote may be vetoed by the vote of the High Priestess.
12. TREASURER: the Treasurer of the Missouri nonprofit corporation Ozark Avalon.
13. FULL MOON SERVICE: an activity of the Missouri nonprofit corporation Ozark Avalon sanctioned by it's Board of Directors, for the purpose of group worship in the Wiccan Tradition
14. HIGH PRIESTESS: Ozark Avalon shall have a high Priestess. The High Priestess of Ozark Avalon shall be Rose Wise. The next successor High Priestess shall be designated by Rose Wise upon her sole discretion
A. Laws of the Land. The BOARD shall conduct the operations of the CHURCH in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.
A. Articles of Incorporation. The BYLAWS shall be governed by the ARTICLES.
1. Amendment. The ARTICLES may be amended by a SUPER MAJORITY of the BOARD.
A. Composition. The BOARD shall consist of no less than three (3) persons and may consist of as many as seven [7] persons
B. Meetings. All meetings of the BOARD shall be conducted by the consensus method of problem resolution unless otherwise specified in the BYLAWS.
1. Frequency. The BOARD shall meet at least once each calendar quarter.
1. Quorum. A quorum of the BOARD to conduct business shall be a SIMPLE MAJORITY.
2. Medium. The BOARD is empowered to meet personally, by teleconference, "or by any other means, whether physical or electronic, that is mutually acceptable" to officers of the BOARD , and is otherwise in accord with the BYLAWS.
C. Removal. The approval of a SUPER MAJORITY of the BOARD is required to remove an officer of the BOARD from the BOARD.
D. Replacement. The BOARD, in advisement with the HIGH PRIESTESS and OAK SPIRITS, is empowered to replace absent officers and members of the BOARD, to enlarge the BOARD, or to reelect officers of the BOARD. Prospective members of the BOARD must be an OAK SPIRIT.
E. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the BOARD shall be as close to Labor Day weekend as is mutually convenient for members of the BOARD, not to exceed two (2) weeks before or after.
F. Officers. Members of the BOARD shall fill the following offices:
1. President. The duties of the PRESIDENT are to file required reports and papers with the Secretary of the State of Missouri and to ensure the day-to-day operations of the CHURCH.
2. Treasurer. The duties of the TREASURER are to maintain the financial records of the CHURCH.
3. Secretary. The duties of the SECRETARY are to maintain the correspondence files, both paper and electronic, of the CHURCH.
3. Chairperson. The duties of the CHAIRPERSON are to facilitate meetings of the BOARD.
G. Terms of Office. The members of the BOARD shall serve for three (3) years and may be re-elected... "No member of the Board, other than the High Priestess, shall serve more than six (6) consecutive years, but may be reelected after a sabbatical of three years."
A. Induction. The BOARD, in advisement with the HIGH PRIESTESS and OAK SPIRITS, is solely empowered to induct new OAK SPIRITS.
B. Qualifications. Minimum qualifications for induction of OAK SPIRITS are:
1. Visits. A prospective OAK SPIRIT must make at least thirteen (13) visits to the CHURCH during worship services, RETREATS or other CHURCH Activities.
2. Spanning the Seasons. A prospective OAK SPIRIT must have visited the CHURCH during each of the four seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter).
3. Vision. A prospective OAK SPIRIT must, in the sole opinion of the BOARD, embrace the purposes of the CHURCH.
4. Acceptance. A prospective OAK SPIRIT must be willing to accept the status of OAK SPIRIT.
C. Exemption. The BOARD is empowered to exempt the minimum qualifications for induction of OAK SPIRITS if the BOARD feels such exemption is in the best interest of the CHURCH.
D. Benefits of Membership. OAK SPIRITS enjoy the following benefits:
1. Certificate. OAK SPIRITS will receive a certificate suitable for framing.
2. Camping. OAK SPIRITS will receive special camping privileges on the land maintained by the CHURCH during times that are not a RETREAT.
3. Teaching. OAK SPIRITS may have first opportunity to lead religious education classes during RETREATS.
4. Worship. OAK SPIRITS may have first opportunity to lead worship services during RETREATS
E. Sanctions
The BOARD may establish policies for the sanction of Oak Spirits violating the Natural Laws of Ozark Avalon.
A. Land Use. The BOARD shall ensure all worship services, gatherings, RETREATS, and other activities sponsored by the CHURCH use the following guidelines:
1. Natural Laws And Easements. All participants shall comply with the natural laws and easements that govern the land maintained by the CHURCH.
2. Insurance. The BOARD shall ensure proper and adequate insurance is in effect for any gathering, RETREAT or other activity sponsored by the CHURCH, including all paperwork as required by the insuring agency and the laws of the land.
B. Retreats. The BOARD shall, excepting extenuating circumstances, sponsor RETREATS for the common Wiccan holidays.
C. Worship Services. The BOARD shall, excepting extenuating circumstances, sponsor worship services on the Saturday nearest the full moon.
D. Land Rental. The BOARD may rent use of the land maintained by the CHURCH to individuals or organizations whose purposes for renting the land are similar to those of the CHURCH.
A. Amendments. Amendments to the BYLAWS require a SIMPLE MAJORITY of the BOARD.