Governance

The by-laws, as written.

The club's governing document: membership, meetings, officers, and money.

The front of the Universal School building on a clear day

At a glance

Six rules worth knowing.

Art. II, Sec 1

Membership is automatic

Every father or legal guardian of an enrolled student in good standing is a regular member — and regular members vote.

Art. IV, Sec 2

The by-laws set no dues

The fundraising committee finds the ways and means to fund the club's annual budget instead.

Art. II, Sec 3

The meeting rhythm

Officers meet monthly; the general membership meets quarterly; the last meeting of the year elects the next year's officers.

Art. II, Sec 3

Quorum is fifteen

Fifteen voting members make a general meeting official. What passes there is the act of the club.

Art. III

Six offices, elected yearly

President, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, moderator, member at large. Three-term limit; 50% meeting attendance to run.

Art. III & IV

Money stays at the school

All club funds sit in the school's own general account. Officers may allocate up to $500; anything larger passes the membership and the school.

The document

Universal School Mother/Fathers’ Club By-Laws

The by-laws are written jointly for the Mother/Fathers’ Club — the school’s two parent tables under one document.

Article I: Name and Purpose

Sec 1 Name: The name of this organization shall be (Universal School Mother/Father’s Club) here in known as “Club.”

Sec 2 Purpose: The purpose of this club shall be to directly promote and sponsor activities, which will assist the faculty and administration of Universal School in fostering the education, religious and moral development of its students.

The following are the goals that the club is continuously trying to achieve:

  • To interest parents and the community in the activities of Universal School
  • To sponsor close cooperation between parents, students, and faculty at Universal School
  • To support all programs involving the development of Universal School students, including religious, academic, and athletics activities
  • To raise funds to be used to further the above goals and help the school at large

Sec 3 Status: The club is an auxiliary organization of Universal School, and as such, it is subject to the authority of the Board of directors of Universal School.

Article II: Membership and Meetings

Sec 1: Eligibility: Any mother/father or legal guardian of an enrolled student, who is in good standing, at Universal School shall be a regular member of the club. Regular members are voting members.

Sec 2: Honorary Members: Administration and teacher, as well as parents who no longer have children at Universal School by virtue of graduation can be honorary members of the club. Honorary members shall not have voting rights.

Sec 3: Meeting of the general membership and officers

  • Place: General membership shall meet at Universal School or as the majority of the association designate.
  • Quorum: The number of voting members required for a general membership meeting shall be fifteen (15). The acts of the members of the club at a meeting at which quorum has been determined to be present shall be considered to be the acts of the club. The quorum of officers meeting is simple majority of the officers.
  • General membership meeting: The Club’s general membership shall meet once every quarter. The last meeting of the year shall be to elect officers for the following school year. If officers are not elected during the last meeting of the year, they shall be elected in the first general membership meeting for the year in which the officers will serve. The meeting following election shall be used to approve annual agenda, projects, and budget.
  • Officers meeting: The officers of the club shall meet once a month on the same day and time. Adjustment in the number and/or date of meetings may be made by the president or majority of officers with adequate notice.
  • Special meeting: A special meeting of the general membership or officers can be called by the president, moderator, or fifteen (15) voting members of the club.
  • Records: The secretary of the club shall be responsible for keeping records of all general, officers, and special meetings as well as agendas, budgets and agreements of the club. A copy of the records is to be kept with the secretary and another copy is to be submitted to the school board secretary to be presented during the next Board of directors meeting.

Article III: Officers

The management of the affairs of the club shall be vested in an executive committee and approved by the general membership.

Sec 1 Number: The executive committee shall consist of president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, moderator, and one member at large. A total of 5 members. The president or her/his designee is an automatic member of the School Board of Directors representing father/mother’s club.

Note: the source document lists six offices and states “a total of 5 members” in the same sentence. Published as written.

Sec 2 Eligibility: Any voting member of the club shall be eligible to hold office provided they attended 50% of regular meetings during the previous school year. Attendance requirements may be waived by a simple majority of the membership during election meeting.

Sec 3: Authority

  • The executive committee of the club is authorized to do and perform such official acts as are needed in carrying out the business of the club, subject always to the approval of the general membership. The president of the club will automatically be a member of the Board of directors of Universal School during their term of office.
  • The president and other officers shall have the power and authority to enter into agreements and contracts with vendors and others in order to carry out the club’s events an activities. They also may allocate funds of the club in amounts not to exceed $ 500.00. Any allocation over $ 500.00 shall be subject to the approval of the general membership and the executive committee of Universal School.
  • The father/mother’s club or its executive committee does not have the power to commit the club or Universal School to affiliation or memberships with any other organizations without the approval from the Board of directors.

Sec 4: Nominations and Elections

  • The executive committee of the club shall be elected annually during the last meeting of the year by a simple majority votes cast by voting members present at the meeting.
  • Nominations may be submitted to the election committee by any voting. Nominations can be made from the floor subject to the approval of the election committee.
  • No officer may hold the same office for more than three consecutive terms. The newly elected officers shall take office at the end of the meeting in which they are elected in order to meet prior to the start of the next school year for organizational purposes and to prepare the budget, and agenda for the following school year.

Article IV: Committees

Sec 1 Committee Appointments: The Club’s executive committee shall have the power to appoint the members of all standing and special committees of the club except specified in these bylaws. The president of the club may appoint the chairperson of all committees.

Sec 2: Standing Committees

  • The executive Committees: This committee shall consist of all elected officers of the club. It shall exercise the power of the club between meetings of the general assembly. It shall have general supervision over all events and projects carried out by the club. The executive committee shall prepare the agenda for all meetings. The president of the club shall be the president of the executive committee. It will also coordinate work with the mother’s/father’s club executive committee.
  • Membership, Nomination, and election Committee: This committee shall keep a list of all members of the club both voting and non voting. It shall send out notices to members regarding club meetings and events. The committee will also organize the annual election including the nomination process, and voting procedures among other things.
  • Athletic Committee: This committee shall promote the schools athletic program and events, and coordinate their attendance. The committee will also, with the help of the fundraising committee, sponsor and raise funds for various athletic teams and activities.
  • Fundraising Committee: This committee will help in the planning and implementation of the school’s annual fundraising efforts. Also, the committee will find ways and means to fund the club’s annual budget. This committee shall be chaired by the club treasurer.

Sec 3: Special Committees

The president shall have the power to name any special committees, which he deems, necessary, for the proper administration of the business of the club. Special Committees shall be dissolved after its purpose or goal has been achieved.

Sec 4 Authority: Each committee has full discretion to research, draft, recommend, and implement all the necessary items to fulfill its responsibility to the executive committee and general membership. The chairperson of each committee shall submit an annual committee report to the executive committee of the club prior to the annual meeting so the committee can use these reports to produce its annual report. A copy of all committee reports shall be submitted to the moderator for review.

Sec 5 Account: The club being an integral part of the school it shall deposit all funds in the school’s general account and withdraw against it by no mean this club has the authority to establish separate bank account.

Sec 6 Amendment: Shall be the Universal School Board

Note: the club’s source document ends here — Sec 6 is incomplete in the copy on file. The club secretary’s record governs.

Questions? Bring them to any monthly meeting — dates here.

Membership isn’t a form. It’s your kid’s enrollment.

Every father or legal guardian of an enrolled student is a voting member · Art. II, Sec 1