Wild Hare Protogrove

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Official Bylaws of Wild Hare Grove, ADF

NAME AND PURPOSE
1. Name: Wild Hare Grove, A.D.F. ("the Grove") is a local branch of Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship, Inc. ("ADF") in the metropolitan Kansas City area, including areas of both Kansas and Missouri.
2. Scope and Purpose: Wild Hare Grove is a nonprofit entity organized to practice the full spectrum of legal activities appropriate for a religious congregation, including a variety of charitable, educational and community service activities.
  The Grove's primary purpose is to provide public Druidic ritual, worship, and fellowship in the traditions of the ancient Indo-Europeans, adapted to modern needs and sensibilities.
3. Affiliation and Precedence: Wild Hare Grove supports the vision and purpose of ADF, and abides by their bylaws; in the event of conflict, the national bylaws shall take precedence. The Grove will also strive to abide by all applicable local, state, and national laws in all activities, and as a non-profit corporation.
MEMBERSHIP
1. Scope: Membership in Wild Hare Grove is open to all who are interested in Druidic beliefs and traditions, and the study, development, and implementation of those traditions and practices as outlined in the ADF bylaws.
2. Categories: Wild Hare Grove recognizes the following categories of membership: Local Member, Full Member, Youth Member, Lapsed Member, and ADF Member.
3. Requirements:
  1. Local Member: Local Membership shall be open to those persons who are 18 years of age, have attended at least one High Holiday ritual and one other Grove-sponsored event in the preceding four months, and are not banned or suspended by ADF or Wild Hare Grove.
    Applicants shall make their intent known to at least one member of the Executive Triad, who will announce the applicant's name at the next two Grove-sponsored events and by official communication channels as outlined in the Grove's policies and procedures. Taking into account any objections voiced by other members, the Executive Triad may confer Local Membership by unanimous vote, subject to payment of the new member's first monthly dues. At that time, the new member will have their name and the date entered in the Membership Book, and may sign or make their mark in the book.
    1. Refusals: Applicants who are refused membership shall be given reason by a member of the Executive Triad, and may re-apply for membership in four months.
  2. Full Member: Any Local Member who is also a currently active member of ADF is automatically granted Full Membership. Failure to maintain ADF or Local membership will result in the revocation of Full Membership as well.
  3. Youth Member: Youth Membership shall be open to those persons who are between the ages of 13 and 17, and meet all other requirements for Local Membership. Application shall occur as with Local Memberships, with the additional requirement that a parent or legal guardian be present to confirm for the Executive Triad that permission has been granted.
    1. Coming of Age: Upon their 18th birthday, Youth Members will automatically be granted Local or Full Membership as appropriate.
  4. Lapsed Member: Local, Full, or Youth Members who do not attend at least one Grove-sponsored event in the preceding four months, or fail to pay their membership dues for six months, may be considered Lapsed Members, and no longer be considered "current" or "active" for the purposes of these bylaws. The Executive Triad is empowered to waive this provision of the bylaws for extenuating circumstances at their discretion. Attendance at Grove events and/or payment of dues shall reinstate the Member to their prior status or an equivalent membership category as appropriate.
  5. ADF Member: Any currently active member of ADF who is not also a member of Wild Hare Grove may present their membership card to request access to membership-only events. Two members of the Executive Triad, or one member of the Executive Triad and the host for the event, may grant permission for a single event, except in cases where the person is banished or suspended from Grove-sponsored activities.
4. Dues:
  Dues for Local and Youth Membership shall be set at the Annual Meeting for the following fiscal year, and recorded publicly and in the Policies and Procedures. These amounts will be reviewed at each annual meeting for suitability, following the Pursewarden's report.
  1. Working Dues: Those experiencing financial hardship may apply to fulfill their local membership dues through volunteer service to the Grove rather than through monetary donations. Applicants must have been Local, Full, or Youth Members in a prior financial year without having lapsed, and shall apply to the Executive Triad for consideration. Approval by unanimous decision of the Executive Triad means that some or all of the current fiscal year's dues may be accrued by working at pre-approved tasks for various Triads of the Grove, at the rate of $1/1 hour of volunteer service.
    For confidentiality, no differentiation will be made in public between those paying regular dues or working dues; however certain exceptions may be made for internal Grove procedures among Triads.
5. Resignation: Any Youth, Local, or Full Grove Member may resign without prejudice from Wild Hare Grove at any time by written or electronic communication to the Scribe. After such notification has been communicated to the Executive Triad and accepted, the Membership Book shall be amended to note the resignation and date beside the original entry for that member.
6. Suspension and Banishment: Anyone may be suspended or banished from Wild Hare Grove with cause, by a two-thirds vote of those present and eligible to vote at the annual meeting or at a special meeting called for that purpose. Suspensions shall entail the removal of the member from the current membership roster for the duration of the suspension. Banishments may be enforced on members or non-members alike, and constitutes a forbiddance of the individual from all Grove-sponsored events for the duration of the banishment.
  1. Notification: No one may suspended or banished from the Grove without prior notification of the reasons thereof, sent by the Scribe or another member of the Executive Triad if the Scribe is to be suspended or banished. All reasons must be attested by a current Local or Full Member of the Grove, and the individual must be given an opportunity to speak in their defense before the vote, although they may not vote on this issue themselves. The outcome of all such proceedings will be published through official Grove communication channels, and communicated to the Mother Grove as appropriate.
  2. Duration: Suspensions of membership shall be necessarily limited in duration; banishments may be limited in duration or indefinite. In either case, the duration must be included as part of the matter to be voted on as a single issue. In the case of indefinite banishments, a current Local or Full Member may petition the duration for reconsideration at an annual meeting no less than three years after the banishment is instituted.
7. Expulsion from Events: Anyone who disrupts, threatens, or otherwise imperils the functioning of Grove-sponsored events may be expelled by any member of the Executive Triad, or the host of that event. If the individual refuses to leave the event upon being informed, a charge of criminal trespass or other legal action may be pursued. This action neither requires nor forbids suspension or banishment of the individual from future Grove-sponsored events.
VOLUNTARY TRIADS (probably need a better name!)
1. Purpose and Duration: In order to further the purposes and aims of the Grove, Voluntary Triads may be formed for specific defined purposes, for indefinite or definite duration. All Voluntary Triads are subject to all provisions of these bylaws, and those of ADF. These Triads may fulfill the roles of Guilds, Committees, and Study Groups in other local ADF groves, and are encouraged to communicate with those subgroups of similar purpose.
2. Formation and Membership: Any Full Member of the Grove may petition the Senior Druid to form a uniquely purposed and named Triad, under the auspices of Wild Hare Grove. Participation in these Triads will not be limited to the membership categories described elsewhere in these bylaws, but a majority of the participants must be current Full, Local, or Youth Members. Despite the name, the size of these Triads is not limited, except that any Triad with closed membership may not include more than half of the official Grove membership as specified in the ADF bylaws.
  The head of each voluntary Triad shall at all times be a currently active Full, Local, or Youth Member of Wild Hare Grove, and is responsible for submitting reports for each meeting to the Scribe in a timely manner.
3. Dissolution: The Executive Triad may dissolve any Voluntary Triad, whether or not their duration or purpose has been fulfilled. Any Voluntary Triad may also dissolve itself at any time.
CALENDAR
1. Reckoning of the Year: The liturgical, fiscal, and organizational calendar of the Grove shall coincide with the civil calendar, beginning on January 1st.
2. Eight High Days: As set forth in the ADF bylaws, Wild Hare Grove will provide public ritual on eight High Holidays, spaced equally throughout the year. The names and official dates of these holidays can be found therein.
  For practical purposes, celebration of these holidays may take place within a fortnight centered around the official date, as is most convenient for the members of the Grove.
3. Annual Meeting: In the third quarter of each year, a business meeting shall be scheduled for the purpose of elections, bylaws amendments, and communication between the Grove leadership, members, and supporters. This meeting shall be open to all who have attended at least one Grove event in the current organizational year, as well as members of the ADF Board of Directors ("the Mother Grove") and the Regional Druid for the Grove, as defined in the ADF bylaws.
4. Other Meetings: Other events sponsored by the Grove may be scheduled at the convenience of the membership, including special meetings and referenda as outlined elsewhere in these bylaws. At least one public ritual or other event shall be scheduled every calendar month. In addition, certain membership-only or restricted-membership events may be scheduled at the convenience of the target audience.
ELECTIONS AND REFERENDA
1. Elections: Election of officers shall be held at the annual meeting, as outlined in these bylaws. Should a quorum be unavailable at that meeting, the Executive Triad must set a meeting before December 31st for another election. Should a quorum still not be met, the Executive Triad may call additional special meetings as needed to conduct the election.
2. Referenda: If a majority of those eligible to vote in Grove elections request in writing to the Executive Triad for a referendum on a particular subject, a special meeting on that topic must be called within the next two calendar months.
3. Voting Eligibility: All Full Members and those Youth Members who are also current members of ADF may vote in all Grove elections. In addition, Local Members and all Youth Members may also participate in other decision-making processes for the Grove or Voluntary Triads. However, Lapsed Members are not afforded their usual voting privileges.
4. Notification: When possible, all elections and referenda will be announced through official Grove communication channels at least seven days ahead of the meeting date.
5. Quorum: Quorum for Grove elections and referenda on current officers shall constitute one-half of all eligible members, plus one. The Triad responsible for executing that decision shall determine quorum for other Grove decisions.
6. Determination of Majority: If a clear majority is not obtained during a Grove election for an Executive Triad role, a runoff election of the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be held at that same meeting. If a majority is still not possible, any member of the ADF Seers Guild not standing for election in that role may petition the current Executive Triad to decide the outcome by a divination method of their choice, to be made known at the time of petition. The Executive Triad has final responsibility for certifying the outcome of such a result.
7. Absentee and Proxy Voting: Absentee and proxy statements will be allowable for all elections and referenda. Signed proxy statements shall name a Local or Full Member to cast votes in accordance with the signer's wishes, or to cast votes on previously unspecified issues for that meeting only. Absentee ballots must be signed, and shall count toward any unamended matter put to a vote, including runoff elections. Proxy and absentee ballots will not count for the purposes of determining quorum.
OFFICERS
1. Executive Triad: The Senior Druid, the Pursewarden, and the Scribe shall constitute the Executive Triad, and function as equal officers of the Grove, fulfilling all usual functions of Directors for nonprofit organizations. All officers must be currently active Full Members of the Grove, and all positions must be filled by distinct individuals.
2. Senior Druid: The Senior Druid shall preside at all meetings of the Grove and the Executive Triad, articulate the spiritual vision of the Grove, and be responsible for other duties that would otherwise be performed by the President of a non-profit organization. The Senior Druid shall be Wild Hare Grove's representative on the ADF Council of Senior Druids. They may become an ex officio member of any Voluntary Triad of this Grove, and may attend any Grove-sponsored event, at their discretion. The Senior Druid is also responsible for compiling a quarterly report to the Mother Grove on the state of the Grove, and reviewing all other officers' reports.
  1. Eligibility: All candidates for Senior Druid must have been a Full Member of the Grove for at least one year prior to the election, have regular access to e-mail or telephone, and have a demonstrated thorough knowledge of the guiding principles and purposes of ADF Druidry.
3. Pursewarden: The Pursewarden shall be responsible for the disbursement of funds and deposit of monies collected, and other fiduciary responsibilities that would otherwise be performed by the Treasurer of a non-profit organization. The Pursewarden is also responsible for compiling a quarterly report to the Mother Grove on the financial health of the Grove, and an annual report to be presented at the Grove's annual meeting.
  1. Eligibility: All candidates for Pursewarden must have been a Full Member of the Grove for at least six months prior to the election without lapsing, have regular access to e-mail and telephone, and have demonstrated organizational skills.
4. Scribe: The Scribe shall be responsible for maintaining a record of all elections, referenda, and other business meetings, prepare ballots for same including absentee and proxy ballots, organize incoming correspondence for the Grove, and other clerical responsibilities that would otherwise be performed by the Secretary of a non-profit organization. The Scribe is also responsible for compiling a quarterly report to the Mother Grove on events and minutes of meetings.
  1. Eligibility: All candidates for Scribe must have been a Full Member of the Grove for at least six months prior to the election, have regular access to e-mail and telephone, have a basic knowledge of ADF policies and procedures, and have a demonstrated technical proficiency for the tasks of the role.
5. Terms: All officers shall serve until December 31st of the organizational year that they are elected to serve, unless removed for other reasons. If an election does not occur by December 31st due to lack of quorum, the current officers shall serve until such time as new officers are elected.
  Alternatively, we could have staggered two-year terms, which are slightly harder to explain.
  There are no limits on how many terms an officer may serve for the Grove.
6. Nominations: Nominations shall be accepted from eligible Full Members of the Grove no later than September 1st of each year. Candidate names for each Executive Triad position will be distributed at all September and October events, and through all official Grove communication channels. Should there be no nominations for a particular role, the officer currently holding that role may solicit nominations from eligible Full Members.
7. Removal and Resignation: Officers may be removed from office before the end of their term by a two-thirds majority of votes at a referendum called for that purpose, or may voluntarily resign by submitting their intent to do so to another member of the Executive Triad. The entire Executive Triad may also submit their collective resignations to any former Senior Druid who is still a currently active with the Grove.
  1. Notification: No officer may be removed from office without prior notification of the reasons thereof, sent by the Scribe or another member of the Executive Triad if the Scribe is to be removed. All reasons must be attested by a current Local or Full Member of the Grove, and the officer must be given an opportunity to speak in their defense at the referendum, although they may not vote on this issue.
8. Filling Vacancies: In the event of a vacancy through death, incarceration, resignation, removal, or expulsion, a special election shall be called within one calendar month to fill the open positions, unless the normal annual election is within two calendar months, in which case the vacancy will stand until that time.
FINANCIAL RECORDS
1. Open Records: All Wild Hare Grove financial records shall be available upon request from any member as described elsewhere in these bylaws. The Pursewarden may schedule a time convenient to both parties for reviewing these records.
DISSOLUTION
1. Effect: It is the preference of the membership of the Grove that, upon the dissolution of the corporation, all properties and assets remaining after the payment of debts shall be disposed of by making them available first to other local Groves of ADF in Missouri and Kansas, and then to the Mother Grove. Any remaining assets and properties after those entities have refused, may be made available to other Druidic or Neopagan organizations in the metropolitan Kansas City area.
AMENDMENTS AND RATIFICATION
1. Amendments: These bylaws may be amended by two-thirds of the entire membership at the annual meeting or any referendum called for that purpose, after no less than 30-days of notice informing members of the text and reasoning of proposed amendment(s) through official Grove communication channels. Amendments may be initiated by the Executive Triad, or may be submitted to the Executive Triad by petition of any three current Local or Full Members of the Grove. All amended versions must comply with ADF bylaws, and must contain an amendment clause similar to this one.
  1. Non-substantive Revisions: Changes to these bylaws for typographical errors or renumbering which do not change the substance of the bylaws may be made by the Scribe upon approval of the Executive Triad.
  2. History and Notification: A history of amendments and revisions must be attached to all subsequent official versions of these bylaws. Following any changes, new copies of these bylaws shall be made available to all current members of the Grove, as well as the Mother Grove.
2. Ratification: These bylaws were adopted by unanimous approval of those individuals ("Charter Members") who signed our grove application on or before June 30th, 2007 C.E. Subsequent copies may opt not to include these signatures, but they shall remain a part of the Grove's records in perpetuity.