CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF THE NORTH FORK REFORM SYNAGOGUE
Approved at Congregational Meeting, July 12, 1992
Amended 09/17/95, 08/18/96
Article I Name
This congregation shall be known as the North Fork Reform Synagogue.
Article II Purpose
The purpose of this congregation is to promote the enduring and fundamental principles of Judaism and to ensure the continuity of the Jewish people; to enable its adherents to develop a relationship to God through communal worship, study and assembly, to foster harmony, understanding, justice and cultural growth within the community, and to apply the principles of Reform Judaism on the values and conduct of the individual, the family and the society in which we live.
Article III National Affiliation
This congregation shall affiliate itself with the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC). It shall pay dues to the UAHC and be entitled to all services as well as privileges prescribed in the UAHC Constitution and Bylaws.
Article IV Ritual and Religious Practices
Section 1. The congregation shall interpret Judaism in the tradition of Reform Judaism.
Section 2. The official ritual of worship shall be according to the
UAHC Approved Prayer Books.
Section 3. This congregation shall be guided in its religious practices by its rabbi, who in conjunction with the congregation shall take into consideration the interpretations of the Central Congress of American Rabbis (CCAR) and the congregational programs adopted at the UAHC Biennial Assemblies.
Section 4. Location of seats in the place of worship shall be unassigned. It shall, however, be the duty of the Board of Trustees, whenever it may be necessary on special occasions, to reserve a sufficient number of seats to accommodate the membership.
Article V Membership
Section 1. Any person of the Jewish faith by birth or by choice eighteen (18) years of age or over may be elected to membership upon approval of his or her application by a majority vote of the members of the Board of Trustees.
Section 2. For the purpose of assessing dues and other charges, the unit of membership shall be the family. The term "family" shall be construed to mean: a). an adult head of house who is Jewish by birth or choice with or without dependents under the age of 18; b). two adults residing in the same household at least one of whom must be born Jewish or be Jewish by choice and with or without dependents under the age of 18.
Section 3. Each family, as so defined, shall be entitled to vote, with one vote per adult, on any and all congregational matters. A nonªJewish member shall be considered a member in good standing and may share in all aspects of congregational life, with the only exception being that he/she may not serve as an officer or trustee. This restriction is automatically waived should a nonJewish member undergo appropriate religious conversion to Judaism.
Section 4. Members of the congregation shall have all the privileges of membership, subject to the rules and regulations established from time to time by the Board of Trustees, as defined in and subject to these bylaws.
Section 5. The Board of Trustees may establish special membership classifications with such provisions as it shall deem advisable.
Section 6. A. Members shall be responsible for support of the congregation through payment of dues, assessments and other fees as shall be determined by the Board of Trustees and approved by the membership.
Article III National Affiliation
This congregation shall affiliate itself with the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC). It shall pay dues to the UAHC and be entitled to all services as well as privileges prescribed in the UAHC Constitution and Bylaws.
Article IV Ritual and Religious Practices
Section 1. The congregation shall interpret Judaism in the tradition of Reform Judaism.
Section 2. The official ritual of worship shall be according to the
UAHC Approved Prayer Books.
Section 3. This congregation shall be guided in its religious practices by its rabbi, who in conjunction with the congregation shall take into consideration the interpretations of the Central Congress of American Rabbis (CCAR) and the congregational programs adopted at the UAHC Biennial Assemblies.
Section 4. Location of seats in the place of worship shall be unassigned. It shall, however, be the duty of the Board of Trustees, whenever it may be necessary on special occasions, to reserve a sufficient number of seats to accommodate the membership.
Article V Membership
Section 1. Any person of the Jewish faith by birth or by choice eighteen (18) years of age or over may be elected to membership upon approval of his or her application by a majority vote of the members of the Board of Trustees.
Section 2. For the purpose of assessing dues and other charges, the unit of membership shall be the family. The term "family" shall be construed to mean: a). an adult head of house who is Jewish by birth or choice with or without dependents under the age of 18; b). two adults residing in the same household at least one of whom must be born Jewish or be Jewish by choice and with or without dependents under the age of 18.
Section 3. Each family, as so defined, shall be entitled to vote, with one vote per adult, on any and all congregational matters. A nonªJewish member shall be considered a member in good standing and may share in all aspects of congregational life, with the only exception being that he/she may not serve as an officer or trustee. This restriction is automatically waived should a nonJewish member undergo appropriate religious conversion to Judaism.
Section 4. Members of the congregation shall have all the privileges of membership, subject to the rules and regulations established from time to time by the Board of Trustees, as defined in and subject to these bylaws.
Section 5. The Board of Trustees may establish special membership classifications with such provisions as it shall deem advisable.
Section 6. A. Members shall be responsible for support of the conªgregation through payment of dues, assessments and other fees as shall be determined by the Board of Trustees and approved by the membership.
B. Membership dues are payable at the beginning of the congregational fiscal year, which is September 30th of each year.
C . The Board of Trustees may waive, extend or modify any financial obligation due from a member.
D. A member who fails to pay any financial obligation due the congregation within four (4) months after such obligation is due and payable may be suspended and deprived of all privileges upon vote of the Board of Trustees, after he/she shall have been notified by certified mail of his/her impending suspension.
Section 7. The resignation of any member shall not relieve him/her from payment of any obligation due the congregation at the time of resignation.
Article VI Meetings
Section 1. The Annual Meeting of the congregation shall be convened by the President by the month of August of each year. At this meeting, reports shall be submitted by the president, the Rabbi and such ther officers, officials, auxiliaries and committees as may be requested to do so by the Board of Trustees. A budget for the coming fiscal year shall be presented and approved, and such trustees and officers as necessary shall be elected. Every member of the congregation shall be notified by mail at least twenty (20) days prior to the holding of the Annual Meeting or of any adjourned Annual Meeting.
Section 2. For the first two years of the congregation's formation, and if approved by members in future years, there shall be two (2) additional congregational meetings between annual meetings to review congregational progress, new developments, board recommendations and such other temple matters as the board and members feel pertinent. The board will notify members of such meetings at least twenty (20) days prior to the meeting.
Section 3. Special meetings of the congregation may be called by the president, or by a majority of the Board of Trustees or on written application of thirty (30) percent of the voting members. The call for a special meeting shall set forth the purpose of the meeting and written notice thereof shall be mailed to such members at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of such meeting. No business shall be transacted at such meeting except that specified in the call.
Section 4. Thirty (30) percent of the members of the congregation shall constitute a quorum at meetings.
Article VII Officers
Section 1. The officers of this congregation shall consist of a president, a vice president, a secretary and a treasurer, all to be elected for a term of two (2) years, at the annual meeting of the congregation. Officers shall assume office within thirty (30) days following the annual meeting. No individual shall serve in a specific office for more than two consecutive terms. Officers must fulfill the qualifications as set forth in Article V, Section 2.
Section 2. The duties of the president shall be to act as chairperson at all congregational and board meetings, to appoint committees, all of which he/she is to be an exofficio member; to call special meetings; to sign all legal documents, and to perform such other duties as are incident to the office.
Section 3. The vice president shall perform such duties as may be assigned by the president. The vice president shall act for the president in case of his/her absence or disability.
Section 4. The treasurer shall be the custodian of all funds of the congregation and shall be the disbursing agent of the congregation as authorized by the Board of Trustees. He/she shall report monthly to the Board of Trustees. He/she shall present a financial report to the congregation at all regular meetings. With the approval of the board, he/she shall arrange for an independent annual audit of the congregation's financial records. The treasurer, in the absence of the vice president, shall assume the duties and responsibilities incumbent upon that office.
Section 5. It shall be the responsibility of the secretary to serve as secretary of the congregation and of the Board of Trustees. He/she shall keep the minutes of both bodies, keep a register of all the members of the congregation, send out notices of all meetings and perform such other duties as are incident to the office.
Section 6. In the event of prolonged absence, resignation, death or disability of any officer or trustee of the congregation, the board shall declare the office vacant and order an election to fill the office at the next regular or special meeting of the congregation.
Section 7. Before assuming office, all officers and trustees shall be covered by a blanket position fidelity bond, the cost of which shall be borne by the congregation.
Section 8 . All disbursement of congregational funds shall require the signatures of two (2) officers, one of whom shall be the treasurer. The trustees shall be responsible for developing a system to regularly monitor disbursements.
Article VIII Board of Trustees
Section 1. The Board of Trustees shall consist of the officers of the congregation, three (3) members elected by the congregation, and the immediate pastpresident. Members of the Board of Trustees must fulfill the qualifications as set forth in Article V, Section 2.
Section 2. The congregation shall elect, for the first year, one third of the trustees to serve for one year, onethird to serve for two years, and onethird to serve for three years.
Section 3. The congregation shall thereafter elect, as the above terms expire, one trustee for a term of three years, provided, however, that no trustees shall be elected for more than two (2) successive threeªyear terms.
Section 4. The Board of Trustees shall have the general management of the affairs, funds, records and property of the congregation. It shall act on all matters of policy, fill all vacancies on the board until the next congregational election, and perform such other duties as the members of the congregation in regular or special meetings may prescribe.
Section 5. The Board of Trustees shall meet once a month and, in addition, may meet at the call of the president or by petition of three (3) members of the board. All meetings of the board shall be open to the membership except that the board may from time to time declare itself in executive session. Provision will be made to notify members of all scheduled meetings.
Section 6. Five (5) members of the Board of Trustees shall constitute a quorum.
Section 7. The office of any trustee who is absent without adequate excuse from three (3) successive regular meetings of the board may be declared vacant by the board.
Section 8. The Board of Trustees shall have the authority, in consultation with the Rabbi, to engage professional staff and other employees and to fix their duties and compensation.
Section 9. The Board of Trustees shall designate the bank, banks or trust company for deposit of congregational funds.
Section 10. Members of the board, as the chosen lay leaders of the congregation, shall individually and collectively set the example to the membership by active participation in the life and activities of the congregation. In order to be a trustee, an individual must be a member in good standing in the congregation.
Article IX Rabbi
Section 1. The congregation shall abide, in its selection of a Rabbi, by the rules and regulations of the Rabbinical Placement Commission of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the Central Conference of American Rabbis and the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion.
Section 2. The Rabbi shall be selected by a special committee appointed by the President with the approval of the Board of Trustees. This committee shall recommend to the Board of Trustees a Rabbi to be elected. Upon approval of the Board of Trustees, this recommendation shall be presented to the congregation at a regular or special meeting. A majority vote of the members present shall be required for the initial election of a Rabbi.
Section 3. Upon the completion of the term of the Rabbi's initial period of service, the board shall make a recommendation as to his/her reappointment. This recommendation shall be submitted to a regular or special meeting of the congregation. A majority vote of those members present shall be required to act upon the recommendation of the board. Following the Rabbi's initial election by the membership, the ongregation shall be guided in reference to his/her future tenure, life tenure, retirement or termination of service, as well as rabbi/congreªgation relationship, by the procedures recommended by the CCAR & UAHC.
Section 4. Any fulltime Rabbi shall be enrolled in the Rabbinical Pension Plan and in the health and other insurance plans of the UAHC and CCAR, the congregation defraying all or a part of the premiums.
Section 5. The Rabbi shall have the right to attend all meetings of the Board of Trustees and the congregation, except when requested for some special reason to absent himself/herself. He/she shall be an exªofficio member of all committees.
Article X Professional Staff
In cooperation with the Rabbi, the Board of Trustees may create and fill such professional staff positions as Administrator, Cantor and Educator.
Article XI Committees
All committees are to have at least two members from the congregation to include at least one board member. The following standing committees shall be appointed by the president at the first meeting of the Board of Trustees following the annual election:
A budget and finance committee , consisting of not less than three (3)members, to include the treasurer.
A facility committee , consisting of not less than two (2) members.
A membership committee , consisting of not less than two (2) members.
A fundraising committee, consisting of not less than three (3) members.
A religious school committee (Synagogue School Committee), consisting of not less than three (3) members with at least two (2) of these members being parents or guardians of students in the religious school.
A religious practices committee , consisting of three (3) members.
A committee on interfaith relations and social action , consisting of
two members.
A nominating committee as hereinafter provided in Article XII.
All members of congregational committees must be members in good
standing of the congregation.
Article XII Nominations
Section 1. Nominations of officers and trustees after the first
election when the congregation is organized shall be made by a
nominating committee appointed by the president, with the consent of a
majority of the Board of Trustees. Said committee shall be appointed
not less than sixty (60) days prior to the annual meeting at which
elections will be held.The nominating committee shall consist of two
(2) members of the Board of Trustees whose terms of office do not
expire at the next ensuing election and one (1) member of the
congregation at large.
Section 2. The slate of nominees shall consist of one nomination for
each officer and for each trustee whose term of office shall expire at
the close of the then current fiscal year.
Section 3. Selections of the nominating committee shall be reported to
the Board of Trustees, and notice of said nominations shall be mailed
to the congregation at least twenty (20) days prior to the Annual
Meeting.
Section 4. Nominations for any elective office may be made by
members of the congregation, said nominations to be filed with the
secretary at least ten (10) days before election.
Section 5. Notice of nominations by petition must be mailed to all
members of the congregation at least five (5) days before the
election.
Article XIV Real Estate
Before any contract shall be entered into for the purchase, sale or
alienation of real estate by or for the congregation, the Board of
Trustees must ascertain all relevant material facts and submit them to
the congregation at a regular or special meeting to be called for that
purpose. It shall require a vote of twothirds (2/3s) of the members
present to authorize any purchase, sale or alienation of real estate.
Article XV Fiscal Year
The fiscal year shall begin annually on September 30.
Article XVI Amendments
Amendments to this constitution and bylaws shall be presented in
writing and shall be initiated by the Board of Trustees or by at least
thirty (30) percent of the members of the congregation, and shall be
filed with the secretary. Such amendments may be acted on at any
regular meeting of the congregation or at any special meeting called
for that purpose. Copies of the proposed amendments, with the
arguments for and against them, shall be mailed to each member along
with notice of the meeting at least ten (10) days prior thereto. An
affirmative vote of twothirds (2/3s) of the members present and
voting shall be necessary to adopt any amendment.
Article XVII Rules of Order
The rules of procedure at meetings shall be determined by Roberts
Rules of Order, latest revised edition.
Article XVIII Dissolution, NonInurement, Restrictive
Legislation, and Restrictive Purposes and Activities
Section 1. In the event of dissolution of the congregation, all
of its remaining assets and property shall, after necessary expenses
thereof have been paid, be distributed to such organizations as shall
qualify under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
or corresponding provisions of any subsequent Federal tax laws; or to
the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a
public purpose.
Section 2. No part of the net earnings of the congregation shall
inure to the benefit of any member, trustee, director, or officer of
the congregation, or any private individual (except that reasonable
compensation may be paid for the services rendered to or for the
congregation), and no member, trustee, director, or officer of the
congregation or any private individual shall be entitled to share in
the dissolution of any of the assets of the congregation on
dissolution.
Section 3 . No substantial part of the activities of the congregation
shall be carrying on propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence
legislation (except as otherwise provided by Section 501(h) of the
Internal Revenue Code) or participating in or intervening in
(including the publication or distribution of statements) any
political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
Section 4. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution
and Bylaws, the congregation is organized exclusively for religious
purposes, as specified in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, and shall not carry on any activities exempt from
Federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) or corresponding sections
of any subsequent Federal tax laws.
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