COALITION BYLAWS

Approved: May 2005

Revised: November 2005

Amended: July 2006

Amended: August 2006

Amended: March 2008

ARTICLE I:  Name

The name of this coalition shall be the Coalition for a Safe and Drug-Free Newaygo County, herein referred to as the Coalition.

ARTICLE II:  Vision & Mission

Vision: Newaygo County is constantly moving toward being free from abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and their related consequences.

Mission: The Coalition’s members, in cooperation with students, parents, and community service agencies, resolve to provide a safe, healthy, and positive environment that leads our children to become caring, contributing citizens, and to reduce substance abuse among youth through education, peer mediation, and community substance abuse prevention strategies.

ARTICLE III:  Purpose/Role

The role of the Coalition is:

• To develop a strong partnership between national, state, and local agencies regarding the Coalition’s funding, its mission and strategies.
• To disseminate information about the operations of the Safe & Drug Free Schools and Communities Program from the perspective of the Coalition and its members.
• To provide information to educational agencies and policy makers about program successes, issues, needs and potential solutions.
• To encourage activities to enhance school and community collaboration in prevention efforts.
• To manage and disperse Coalition funds to local schools and program initiatives.
• To communicate with members, schools, and communities and act as a clearinghouse for information about potential policy and program decisions concerning drug and violence prevention.
• To coordinate services with the local health department and tobacco coalition to limit tobacco access to minors.
• To create a Website and have this updated with new information and meeting announcements within 30 days of an event.
• To provide insight and policy to local law enforcement regarding countywide compliance checks, and training for retailers in the sales of alcohol and tobacco to deter access by youth.

ARTICLE IV:  Membership

1.  Membership in the Coalition shall be open to individuals or their designees who coordinate and/or manage Coalition funds, or contribute to the overall welfare provided in the mission statement of the Coalition:

• Public and private educational agencies.
• Religious organizations.
• State, county or local governmental agencies.
• Local health, treatment, and prevention agencies.
• Other interested parties who support the mission of the Coalition (i.e., parents, retired Coalition members, volunteer groups, 501c3 organizations).

2.    There shall be three categories of members:

• Aware Member.  Receives minutes and updates from the Coalition, shares in passion for prevention work, and may increase involvement at a later time.
• Participatory Member.  Supports the Coalition by engaging in time-limited projects and tasks, shares a deep concern for prevention in the community, and may attend some monthly coalition meetings.
• Voting Member.  Attends sixty (60) percent of monthly meetings, advocate on behalf of the Coalition’s mission and vision, participates in Coalition events and projects, must participate on one (1) Coalition subcommittee, and carry out work of the coalition as set forth in the strategic and implementation plans.

ARTICLE V:  Meetings

• Regular meetings will be held 12 times each year; the second Friday of each month.
• Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson or a majority of the Executive Committee as needed, and require that prior notice be given to the general membership.

 ARTICLE VI:  Executive Committee

• The Executive Board shall consist of five (5) members: Chairperson, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and two (2) Trustees.
• The position of Secretary will be held by the lead agency.
• The Chairman, Vice-Chair and Trustees shall be selected at the last regular meeting of each fiscal year.  These selections will stagger with two being selected in each year, allowing for two-year terms.  Selections may be determined by the Executive Board, or by member vote as necessary.
• The Chairperson may, from time to time, assign other members to perform such duties as may be found necessary.
• The Chairperson shall preside at meetings of the Coalition, develop agendas for the meetings, and sign appropriate documents as approved by the Executive Committee.

• Chairperson: The Chairperson shall organize the agenda for and preside over all authorized meetings.  S/He shall appoint liaisons to any other organizations or committees the Coalition will be involved with.

   

• Vice-Chairperson: The Vice-Chairperson shall perform the duties of the Chairperson in his/her absence and fulfill other responsibilities as designated by the Chairperson to meet the mission of the organization.
• Secretary:  The Secretary shall be responsible for correspondence of the Coalition as directed by the Chairperson, and for recording and distributing the minutes of all meetings of the Coalition within 30 days following the meeting.

 

• Trustees (2):  The Trustees shall be voting members of the Coalition assigned to the Executive Committee.

 

ARTICLE VII:  Voting

Members will all be given one vote, with exceptions:

• Only one vote from any one organization or agency.
• Member must attend 60 percent of meetings.
• New members, or their designee, must attend two consecutive meetings to establish voting rights.
• Members from outside the Coalition covered area (non-voting).

When a vote is required, each member will be notified no later than seven (7) days prior to the vote regarding said vote.

Voting may be administered via meetings, email, fax, or U.S. mail.  All votes must be in writing and documented by such.

ARTICLE VIII:  General Terms of Coalition Participation

• Membership is on a volunteer basis.
• Only voting members may vote on matters needing a Coalition decision.
• A majority of members, or their designees, participating at an official Coalition meeting constitutes a quorum at that meeting.
• Regular meetings will be held monthly.
• Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson or a majority of the Executive Committee on an as-needed basis.

ARTICLE IX:  Position Statements

Members will resolve issues and positions through the following methods:

• Consensus will be attempted as the issue is presented on the agenda at a Coalition meeting.
• If consensus is not reached by the end of a specified time determined by the members in attendance, the voting membership will decide by a simple majority vote.
• Membership voting will be administered via fax, email, U.S. mail, or any combination thereof, and all responses will be recorded.

Any official position or position statements endorsed by the Coalition should first be approved by the Coalition membership through a majority vote.

Entire membership will be polled through means of Coalition meeting attendance,  fax, email, U.S. mail, or any combination thereof, on specific issues as they arise

ARTICLE X:  Amendments

The Coalition, at any regular or special meeting, may amend or repeal these bylaws, or adopt new bylaws by a majority vote of  the members present, if notice setting forth the  terms of  the proposal has been given in accordance with any notice requirement for such meetings.

ARTICLE XI:  Parliamentary Authority

The Coalition shall be governed by rules of procedure as adopted by the Coalition.  In NO event shall the Coalition adopt Robert’s Rules of Order.  The presiding officer at his/her discretion may use, however, Robert’s Rules of Order as a “guideline” in the conduct of meetings.  The purpose of this parliamentary procedure is to ensure the minority has rights that cannot be changed by the majority.)

AGREEMENT:

As a Coalition member, I agree to support, collaborate and advocate for stronger measures to control the access and availability of alcohol and tobacco in order to reduce rates of use amongst youth.  I agree to the bylaws and terms mentioned and I am willing to act as a supporting member of this Coalition and its cause.