| Fur-Ever Friends for Mercer County Animals
Bylaws Article I. Name, Values and Mission Fur-Ever Friends for Mercer County Animals is a non-profit, all volunteer organization dedicated to supporting the needs of the Mercer County Animal Control Facility. We are incorporated in the State of Illinois. Values We support the Mercer County Animal Control Department in providing a safe and clean environment for animals that are lost and/or need a new home. We support the idea of no more homeless pets. We support the idea to spay/neuter pets to control animal overpopulation. We support Mercer County Animal Control Department’s efforts to promote animal adoptions. We support the Mercer County Animal Control Department’s efforts to prevent animal cruelty in all forms. We support educating the general public about the benefits of pet ownership and companionship and for the encouragement of family pet ownership. Mission To assist with funding for needed veterinary services or other special needs above and beyond the county’s budgetary current standard of care for the animals. To raise money to help fund a new animal shelter building thereby reducing the burden on the county. To promote and support the spaying and neutering of animals thereby reducing the number of animals coming into the shelter. To raise awareness of Mercer country residents about the immediate needs and long term goals of the Animal Shelter. To help the county provide a safe and healthful environment for lost/homeless animals pending adoption in other ways not mentioned above as determined appropriate by Board of Directors. In conjunction with Mercer County Animal Control, support and promote an animal foster care program. In conjunction with Mercer County Animal Control, support and promote a shelter volunteer program. Article II. Membership Section 1: General Section 2: No membership fees are required. Article III. Officers Section 1: Officers The group shall have three officers: a President/Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer, who shall be elected by a simple majority of those Fur-Ever Friends for Mercer County Animals members in attendance at the annual election meeting. In addition, the membership may elect a Vice-Chair and such other officers as the Board of Directors may deem necessary. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person, except for the office of President/Chairperson. Section 2: Term of Office Each officer shall be elected to serve for a term of one (1) year. There shall be no limit to the number of terms an Officer may serve. Section 3: Duties The group President/Chairperson shall preside over all group activities and may designate committees, if deemed necessary, to oversee specific responsibilities or projects. Possible committees include, but are not limited to, Public Education, Site Coordination, Fund-raising, or Volunteer coordination. The group Secretary shall keep all official group records. The group Treasurer shall preside over all financial aspects of the group. Article IV. Board of Directors Section 1: Board of Directors The group’s Board of Directors may be made up of the group’s officers, or members, or a combination of the two. The Board of Directors shall be elected by a simple majority of those Fur-Ever Friends for Mercer County Animals’ members in attendance at the annual election meeting. Directors may be elected to serve specific positions as Committee Chairpersons/Coordinators. Section 2: Numbers and Terms of Office The number of the Board of Directors shall be not less than three (3) or more than eleven (11). Each Director shall be elected to serve for a term of two (2) years. All efforts shall be made to elect Directors on a staggered schedule so that the majority of the Directors’ terms are not scheduled to conclude during any one year. There shall be no limit to the number of terms a Director may serve. Section 3: Duties The business and affairs of the group shall be managed by its Board of Directors.. Article V. Parliamentary Authority Roberts Rules of Order shall serve as a guideline. Article VI. Amendment of By-laws The By-laws can be amended with a two-thirds affirmative vote of the Board and the members in attendance. Article VII. Dissolution Dissolution of the group may only be accomplished by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the Board of Directors and the members in attendance. Notice of proposed dissolution must be sent by U.S. mail to all Board of Directors and all members of record prior to the meeting at which the vote shall be taken. On dissolution, all the groups’ assets shall be given to Mercer County Animal Control’s building fund. If a new building has been realized, then all the group’s assets shall be given to Mercer County Animal Control’s SPA (special projects for the animals) account. Adopted at general meeting this _5th_ day of _November__ 2014 by unanimous vote. |