Bylaws, Slow Food Greater Olympia
Slow Food USA Mission
Slow Food USA seeks to create dramatic and lasting change in the food system. We reconnect Americans with the people, traditions, plants, animals, fertile soils and waters that produce our food. We seek to inspire a transformation in food policy, production practices and market forces so that they ensure equity, sustainability and pleasure in the food we eat.
Slow Food Greater Olympia Chapter Mission Statement
This chapter of Slow Food USA, known as Slow Food Greater Olympia, supports the Slow Food USA mission of good, clean and fair food with a focus on Thurston County and surrounding communities.
Article 1: Name & Logo
1.A. Slow Food Greater Olympia will use the chapter name and logo of Slow Food only in accordance with the Slow Food Name and Logo Agreement
Article 2: Purpose
2.A. Slow Food Greater Olympia engages the local community in supporting and promoting local, sustainable food and food traditions and advocating for good, clean and fair food for all people.
2.B. Slow Food is a nonprofit organization with public and charitable purposes. It is not organized for the private gain of any person.
Article 3: Membership
3.A Membership in Slow Food Greater Olympia is open to all.
3.B Membership in the chapter is official once an individual pays membership dues to Slow Food USA.
3.C Membership is terminated once the individual does not renew his/her membership.
3.D Members have voting privilege and are eligible to run for Chapter Board positions.
3.E Annual membership fees are determined and collected by Slow Food USA.
3.F Slow Food chapters may not add additional membership dues to the existing annual membership fee.
Article 4: Meetings
4.A Slow Food Greater Olympia will hold a general membership meeting each year for the purpose of electing directors to the board and conducting business to come before the membership.
4.B A quorum at the general meeting consists of those members present.
4.C Board meetings are held quarterly.
4.D The meeting agenda shall be sent to the board in advance via email
4.E A quorum of the Board is defined as half the number of those serving.
4.F The Board may conduct email voting for important issues. A quorum of the Board must vote to validate any email votes.
4.G All board meetings should be open to members - however, the Board may reserve the right to call closed sessions within a meeting.
Article 5: Board Membership and Structure
5.A The Chair liaises with the Regional Governor, the Slow Food USA national office, and other Chapter Chairs in the region. The Chair creates meeting agendas, runs general meetings, acts as primary contact for the group, and ensures that the chapter is meeting all Slow Food USA requirements.
5.B The Treasurer records the income and expenditures of the chapter, reports financial status to the board, manages the chapter's annual tax filing requirements, acts as one of two signing authorities for the Chapter bank account and prepares an annual report and budget for the Chapter.
5.C The Secretary produces minutes for Chapter Board meetings and the Annual Membership meeting.
5.D The Membership Coordinator maintains and updates the chapter's membership list and reports membership status at each board meeting. The membership chair may seek ways to recruit and retain members.
5.E Events Coordinating Committee members assist members in planning, implementing and reporting on events throughout the year.
5.F Other Board members maintain connections to groups with interests related to the Slow Food mission
5.G Other Board members volunteer to provide oversight for the chapter.
5.H One member of the Board will act as one of two signing authorities for the Chapter bank account.
5.I One member of the Board will be responsible for reviewing the Board's conflict of interest policy with new Board members before the first meeting of the calendar year.
5.J Board members serve a one year term from January 1 through December 31.
Article 6: Chapter Board and Officer Elections
6.A Any person who wishes to serve on the Chapter Board must be an active, dues-paid member of Slow Food USA.
6.B At least two months prior to the general meeting, the Board appoints a chair of the nominating committee to oversee the elections process. The chair gathers a committee, which may consist of board members and members at large. The committee is responsible for vetting and recruiting nominees and for ensuring fairness of the process and outcome of an election.
6.C The committee first determines who on the Board is eligible and willing to stand for reelection.
6.D When there are open positions on the Board, the committee may make an announcement to the membership and ask for nominees. The committee can also actively recruit nominees who have specific attributes needed on the Board.
6.E Voting takes place at the general membership meeting by ballot, show of hands, or by voice.
6.F The membership may vote to accept the slate of candidates recommended by the nominating committee, or, in the case of multiple candidates running for the open position(s), the candidate(s) receiving the most votes gain the seat(s).
6.G In the case of a board position becoming vacant mid-term, the Chapter Chair may appoint, with Board approval, a person to fill the unexpired term.
6.B At least two months prior to the general meeting, the Board appoints a chair of the nominating committee to oversee the elections process. The chair gathers a committee, which may consist of board members and members at large. The committee is responsible for vetting and recruiting nominees and for ensuring fairness of the process and outcome of an election.
6.C The committee first determines who on the Board is eligible and willing to stand for reelection.
6.D When there are open positions on the Board, the committee may make an announcement to the membership and ask for nominees. The committee can also actively recruit nominees who have specific attributes needed on the Board.
6.E Voting takes place at the general membership meeting by ballot, show of hands, or by voice.
6.F The membership may vote to accept the slate of candidates recommended by the nominating committee, or, in the case of multiple candidates running for the open position(s), the candidate(s) receiving the most votes gain the seat(s).
6.G In the case of a board position becoming vacant mid-term, the Chapter Chair may appoint, with Board approval, a person to fill the unexpired term.
Article 7: Amendments
7.A Any member may propose an amendment to the bylaws. Any proposed amendment to the bylaws must be submitted to the secretary and distributed to the board at least 30 days before a vote of ratification by the board.
Article 8: Ratification
8.A The chapter bylaws or their amendments are ratified by a vote of the Board upon the completion of writing.
8.B The chapter bylaws must be available to chapter members, the Regional Governor and Slow Food USA staff, and posted to the chapter web site.
Ratified by the Slow Food Greater Olympia Board January19, 2011
Slow Food Greater Olympia Conflict of Interest Policy
Board members must scrupulously avoid conflicts of interest between the organization's interests on one hand, and their personal, professional, and business interests on the other. The chapter cannot be a vehicle for any one business. This includes avoiding potential and actual conflicts of interest, as well as perceptions of such conflicts.
No Board member shall derive any personal profit or gain by reason of his or her participation with Slow Food USA. This conflict-of-interest policy prohibits or limits business transactions by Chapter Board members and requires them to disclose potential conflicts.
As a normal practice of the Board, each individual shall disclose to the chapter, any personal interest which he or she may have in any matter pending before the chapter and shall refrain from participation in any decision on such matter. Such disclosures should be recorded in the meeting's minutes.
Board members may be reimbursed for expenses incurred in Chapter sponsored events and programs, but are prohibited from being paid to serve on the Board. Board members will not receive pass-through dollars for individual projects. The Board will only hire or contract with a board member if they are the best qualified individuals available, and willing to provide the goods or services needed at the best price.
Approved by the Slow Food Greater Olympia Board January 19, 2011
Slow Food USA Guidelines Standards of Behavior for Local Chapter Board Members
Slow Food Chapter Board members have the obligation to meet the following standards of conduct, and to hold other Board members accountable to them as well.
Communicate and work together with common courtesy and collegial respect; disagree without being disagreeable.
Create a welcoming environment for new members and volunteers.
Always represent Slow Food and its mission in a positive and professional manner; keep disagreements within the Chapter.
Accurately present the Slow Food's policies and positions when communicating on behalf of the organization; not use a Slow Food leadership role or title to advance personal views.
Respect Board obligation to the Slow Food's members; use member lists and information about members for organizational purposes only.
Use Slow Food resources wisely and in keeping with the fiduciary responsibility of all leaders.
Foster an open democratic decision-making process; respect decisions once they are made.
Praise publicly; criticize privately and tactfully.
Handle disputes on the most local level, according to the guidelines provided in the Slow Food USA National Statute. If disputes cannot be resolved locally, the Regional Governor should be contacted to serve as an impartial mediator. If there is a conflict with your designated Regional Governor, ask for assistance from another impartial Governor.