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Bylaws
of the Chesapeake Polyamory Network
As amended April 12, 2005, January 28, 1999, and also reflecting
automatic changes required by the original Article VIII to occur following
the initial election of the Board of Directors)
I. Purposes and Objectives
The purposes and objectives of the Chesapeake Polyamory Network (hereinafter
known as “CPN”) shall be as follows:
A. To provide a safe and supportive environment in which those
choosing to live a polyamorous lifestyle may openly pursue that lifestyle.
B. To provide information and support to those choosing a polyamorous
lifestyle, and those considering such a lifestyle.
C. To educate the general public about the practice of polyamory.
D. To take any actions, not in conflict with any law or these Bylaws,
which may be found by the Board of Directors to be consistent with,
or in furtherance of, these purposes and objectives.
II. Membership
A. Application for Membership; Eligibility; Approval; Appeals
1. Eligibility. Anyone of legal adult age may apply to join CPN
by attending an orientation meeting, completing an Application
for Membership, paying dues for one year of membership (or a longer
period if provided for by the current Board), and agreeing to abide
by the CPN Code of Ethics and Rules of Conduct.
2. Unacceptable applications. If the Board has knowledge that
an applicant's prior actions are at variance with the Code of Ethics
or Rules of Conduct, the Board may, by a majority vote, reject
the application for provisional membership.
3. Provisional membership. Upon completing the actions specified
in subsection (A)(1), the applicant shall become a provisional
member of CPN. During the provisional membership period, attendance
at CPN events will be unlimited, except that a provisional member
may attend only one adult-only event, “adult-only event” being
defined as an event that includes the presence of alcohol or possible
sexual activity.
4. Full membership. In order to become a full member, a provisional
member must attend the required number of events within six months
of joining CPN. The Board, in its sole discretion, and upon request
of the provisional member, may extend the time period for attending
the required number of CPN events. Additionally, the provisional
member must obtain the sponsorship of two full members who neither
reside in the same household as the prospective member nor with
each other. After at least 60 days have elapsed from the beginning
of the provisional membership period, he or she may submit the
completed event attendance form to the Board. The Board, not later
than its next regularly scheduled meeting, shall then vote on whether
to approve the provisional member as a full member. A majority
affirmative vote of the Board members present shall be required
for approval. Full membership is effective immediately upon Board
approval. In the event that the Board denies full membership to
a provisional member, provisional membership is immediately terminated,
and the provisional member shall be notified immediately.
5. Appeals. An applicant whose provisional or full membership
is denied may appeal the decision of the Board by submitting a
written request for a reexamination of the decision. The applicant
may meet with the Board to offer his or her reasoning for appeal
of the denial, and to answer any questions the Board may pose.
The Board shall then vote on the appeal, with the same majority
required for approval of provisional or full membership status.
The Board's decision shall then become final.
6. Reapplication. A provisional member whose application for full
membership is denied may reapply once for membership after a period
of not less than 12 months by again complying with all of the provisions
of subsection (A)(1).
B. Rights and privileges. All members shall enjoy all rights, privileges
and responsibilities of membership, except that provisional members
may not vote in CPN elections or referenda, and may not hold any
elected office.
C. Expiration and reinstatement. Membership in CPN shall expire
if a member fails to pay renewal dues. A member may reinstate his
or her full membership status retroactively to the expiration date
by paying the dues within three months of the expiration date. For
purposes of voting and petitioning, as well as counting total membership
in determining the required number of signatures on petitions, reinstated
membership is effective on the date the dues are paid. Reestablishment
of full membership after expiration by retroactive dues payment shall
not require a new provisional period.
III. The Board of Directors
A. Powers and duties.
1. Governance. CPN shall be governed (consistent with these Bylaws)
by a Board of Directors, elected from among the full members of
CPN, which shall consist of five members. A quorum, which shall
consist of three members of the Board, shall be required to conduct
any CPN business. The Board may delegate functions to any member
or group of members, except those functions explicitly provided
for in law or these Bylaws as Board responsibilities.
2. Functions. The Board shall allocate essential functions, such
as meeting coordination and bookkeeping, amongst its members at
its first meeting after July 1, with its newly elected members.
3. Open and closed sessions. General meetings of the Board may
be attended by any full member, or by a nonmember or provisional
member by invitation of the Board. However, the Board shall hold
closed sessions when the subject matter to be discussed includes
confidential personal information.
4. Disciplinary actions. The Board, by a majority vote, may revoke
a provisional or full membership for cause, to include, but not
be limited to, a violation or series of violations of the Code
of Ethics or Rules of Conduct. In its vote to revoke, the Board
shall simultaneously decide whether the revocation of membership
shall be permanent, or whether the individual may reapply for membership
after a specified period. The Board, by a majority vote, may also
impose lesser sanctions as it deems appropriate, for example, a
warning or a suspension of membership for a finite period from
participation in CPN activities. Before taking any vote on a sanction
against a member under this provision, the Board shall allow the
member and any other involved parties a full opportunity to explain
their view of the circumstances before the Board (in closed session).
The member being considered for disciplinary action may invite
not more than two other persons to attend the closed Board meeting.
IV. E lection of the Board; Term of Office; Removal.
A. Nominating Committee. A Nominating Committee, selected by the
Board from among the members eligible to vote, shall present to the
membership at least one candidate for each open position not later
than May 1 of each year.
B. Election to the Board. Members of the Board shall be elected
to staggered three-year terms by majority vote of the eligible, full
members. Elections shall be conducted in May of each year by ballot,
distributed to all members eligible to vote as of May 1, not later
than June 1 of each year. Any candidate nominated for election may
provide a statement, not to exceed 250 words, for inclusion with
the ballot packets. All such statements must be received by the Board
by May 1 of each year. Ballots shall include space for write-in candidates.
Ballots must be returned to the nominating committee for tabulation
not later than June 15 of each year. In the event that two candidates
tie, the Board shall conduct a runoff election as promptly as practical
between the two candidates receiving the most votes.
C. Date of office. The elected Board members shall take office on
July 1 following their election, or immediately in the case of a
runoff election held after June 30.
D. Term limits. A member may be elected to a maximum of two consecutive
full terms on the Board.
E. Removal of Directors.
1. By the Board. The Board may, by a majority vote, remove one
of its own members for malfeasance.
2. By the membership. Upon receipt of a petition to remove a Board
member from office for serious malfeasance, signed by at least
20 percent of the membership eligible to vote, the Board shall
hold a referendum, using a ballot, on the removal question within
30 days of receipt of the petition. It shall require a majority
of the votes cast to remove a Board member from office by this
method. For purposes of this provision, a petition signature shall
remain valid for 30 days from date of signing.
3. By nonperformance. Any Board member who misses three consecutive
meetings of the Board without sufficient cause, or who misses 40
percent or more of the Board meetings in a given electoral year,
shall be deemed to have resigned his or her position on the Board,
and the Board shall act to fill the consequent vacancy as provided
in these Bylaws.
F. Vacancies. In the event that any Board position becomes vacant
for any reason, the Board shall fill the vacancy by electing, by
majority vote, a member to fill the vacancy until the next regular
election, at which time a member will be elected to serve the balance
of the term.
V. Dues
A. Amount. The amount of dues shall be established by the Board.
B. Term of membership. Dues shall cover the period from the date
of payment through the end of that calendar month and the 12 succeeding
months. The Board may elect to permit the prepayment of multiple
years' dues, with a concomitant extension in the term of membership.
C. Refunds. No refund of dues may be made resulting from withdrawal
of membership either voluntarily or by action of the Board; provided,
however, that in cases where a petition for full membership is denied
by the Board, dues previously paid by the provisional member shall
be refunded within 30 days of the Board's action.
VI. Attendance at CPN Events
A. Conditions for attendance. All attendees at events will, by either
membership or special announcement, be apprised of the Rules of Conduct.
Any member may attend any CPN event, except (1) any member whose
membership has been suspended or revoked by the Board, or (2) events
for which specific conditions have been articulated (such as “women
only”). Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws,
the host of any CPN event held in the host's home may preclude any
specific member or nonmember from attending. All attendees shall
be encouraged to join CPN after attendance at three events.
B. Reciprocity. The Board may establish reciprocal agreements with
other organizations providing for attendance at events or concurrent
memberships.
C. Anyone who has been denied membership, or whose membership has
been suspended or revoked, may not attend a CPN event as the guest
of another member.
D. Underage restrictions.
1. All persons in attendance at CPN-sponsored adult events must
be of legal adult age. “Adult event” is defined as
any event which includes the possibility of sexual activity.
2. No one under the age of 21 will be served alcohol at any CPN
sponsored event.
VII. Amendments
A. Proposals. A proposal to amend these Bylaws may be presented
either by the Board or upon the petition of at least 20 percent of
the membership entitled to vote. For purposes of this provision,
a petition signature remains valid for 30 days.
B. Referenda. Upon notification to the membership of an amendment
proposal by the Board, or upon receipt by the Board of an amendment
petition signed by the requisite number of members, the Board shall,
within 60 days, hold a referendum on the amendment question. Approval
of the amendment shall require a three-fourths majority vote of the
eligible members voting.
VIII. Dissolution
In the event of the dissolution of CPN, whether voluntary or involuntary,
all remaining assets, after the satisfaction of all outstanding indebtedness
or other obligations, shall be transferred to another similar organization.
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