By-Laws of Temple Beth Or

Approved and adopted May 3, 1989

As Amended through July 11, 2007

ARTICLE I -- NAME

The congregation shall be known as TEMPLE BETH OR (the Temple).

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The purpose of Temple Beth Or is to create and sustain an innovative democratic synagogue that is supportive of Reconstructionist fundamentals and ideals, experimental programming, and is a place where Jewish traditions and modern thought are merged in a creative and meaningful fashion and in a spirit of inclusion.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Any Jewish person or family, and any non-Jewish person or family on the path to becoming Jewish (as determined by the Rabbi), supportive of the purpose of the Temple as expressed in Article II above, shall be eligible for membership in the Temple, subject to approval by the Board of Directors(the Board).
Section 2. A family membership shall include: spouses/partners, their dependent children, and other dependent relatives residing in the same household on a permanent basis. An individual membership shall be a single parent or a single person. The non-Jewish spouse/partner within a family membership shall be considered a member.
Section 3. Spouses/partners in a family membership shall be entitled to one (1) vote each, and individual members shall be entitled to one (1) vote at Membership Meetings.
Section 4. A member in good standing shall be defined as one who is current in payment of dues and all other financial obligations to the Temple. This determination shall be made by the President and the Vice President Finance based upon standards set by the Board.
Section 5. All privileges of membership shall be limited to members in good standing.
Section 6. The Rabbi's family shall be considered members in good standing and shall be entitled to all the privileges of Temple membership, except voting.

ARTICLE IV -- OFFICERS

The elected officers and their respective duties shall be:

A. President who shall:

1. Serve as Chairperson of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
2. Serve as Chief Administrator of the Temple in the absence of a paid Temple Administrator and supervise office staff and operation.
3. Preside at all Membership Meetings as per Article VIII.
4. Convene an ad hoc By-laws Committee as required by these By-laws.
5. Execute documents on behalf of the Temple.
5. Represent the Temple at community, religious and social functions, and business negotiations.

B. Vice President of Administration who shall:

1. Coordinate house and grounds maintenance.
2. Coordinate library maintenance.
3. Coordinate the development and implementation of community support to offer members during life cycle events and other occasions as guided by the mitzvah of Gemilut Chasidim--"acts of loving kindness" (Anne Fischer Mutual Support Committee).
4. Coordinate membership development activities.

C. Vice President of Programming who shall:

1. Perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President in that Officer's absence or disability.
2. Maintain a calendar of Temple events and significant outside community events (e.g., JCC, Super Sunday, Meals on Wheels) with the purpose of avoiding internal and external scheduling conflicts.
3. Coordinate planning of High Holiday services and events, social events, social action events.
4. Coordinate with the Rabbi regarding conduct and leadership of services and other ritual matters.
4. Coordinate the development and implementation of outreach and social action projects designed to benefit and/or assist individuals and organizations outside of the Temple community as guided by the mitzvah of (Tikkun ha'Olam).

D. Vice President of Education who shall:

1. In consultation with the Rabbi supervise all educational programs, including but not limited to Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation, Torah School, Adult Education and Youth Groups.
2. Act as liaison between faculty and the Board.

E. Vice President of Communications who shall:

1. Maintain a membership roster and e-mail address list.
2. Supervise preparation of membership forms.
3. Coordinate publicity and public relations efforts.
4. Coordinate website development and operation.
5. Coordinate print and electronic newsletters.
6. Provide all notices required by these By-laws.
7. Appoint Corresponding Secretary.

F. Vice President of Finance who shall:

1. Serve as custodian of Temple funds and disburse them in accordance with the budget or as directed by the President for sums up to $200.00 per item, not to exceed $2,400.00 per year, or as directed by the Board for sums in excess of that amount.
2. Establish and manage bank accounts and other investments as directed by the Board.
3. Maintain the Temple financial records and make them available upon reasonable notice to any member in good standing - with the exception of personal financial records and records of contributions.
4. Prepare financial reports to be presented at Board meetings and the Annual Meeting.
5. Coordinate collection of dues and, in consultation with the Vice President Programming, determine financial consideration arrangements.
6. Coordinate preparation of an annual budget to be presented to the Board.
7. Coordinate fundraising operations.

G. Secretary who shall:

1. Record minutes of all Board and membership meetings and submit them in writing for approval at the next such meeting; and make those minutes available to any member in good standing upon reasonable notice.
2. Maintain a list and index of motions and resolutions currently in effect.
3. Create and maintain a listing of all Temple policies in effect.
4. Coordinate the assembling and preservation of historical Temple records.
5. Act as corporate secretary as needed.

H. Each Vice President shall create and/or maintain an Operations Manual designed to assist and support his or her successor in office.

ARTICLE V -- BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. The business and activities of the Temple shall be administered in accordance with the Temple By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation by a Board of Directors. The Board shall be responsible for management of the affairs, funds, property and records of the Temple. It shall establish the annual dues. It may levy special assessments. Assessments over One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per family are subject to the approval of a majority of the Temple membership present at any Membership Meeting. It shall also perform such functions as the Temple members may direct, by a majority vote at Membership Meetings.
Section 2. The Board of Directors shall consist of no more than 20 and no less than12 members and shall be composed of the seven Officers as listed in Article IV of these By-Laws, the immediate past President and Vice-President of Programming, and the remaining to be members at large. The Officers and members at large shall be elected by a majority vote of those members in good standing present and voting at the Annual Meeting and shall serve for a term of two years. The terms of members at large are to be staggered so that each year five expired positions will be filled. In order to achieve this, at the first annual meeting at which Board members are elected under these By-laws, five positions shall be for a term of one year and five shall be for a term of two years.
Section 3. Each Vice President shall have members at large assigned who shall collaborate and cooperate with the Vice President in carrying out their respective responsibilities, and who shall assume leadership positions in furtherance thereof.
Section 4. A majority of the full Board shall constitute a quorum for any meeting of the Board. All decisions of the Board shall be made by a majority vote of those Board members present and voting, unless mandated to the contrary in these By-Laws. Voting by proxy or absentee ballot shall not be allowed.
Section 5. The President may designate one Board member to act as Parliamentarian, Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised Edition, unless otherwise specified in these By-Laws.
Section 6. A. In the event an Officer or Member at Large is unable to fulfill his or her term of office, any member in good standing of the Temple shall be elected to complete that term by a vote of the full Board. The voting shall be conducted in the manner set forth in paragraph B of this section.



B. A notice of the vacancy and request for nominations shall be sent to all Board members by e-mail. A second e-mail will be sent ten (10) days later listing the names of all nominees and requesting that each board member vote for one nominee. Ten (10) days after the sending of the second e-mail, votes shall be tallied and the nominee receiving the most votes shall be elected.
Section 7. Any member of the Board who has been absent from three (3) consecutive meetings, or who has acted in willful disregard of the duties of a Board member, may be removed from office upon a vote of the Board equal to seventy-five percent (75%) of the full Board.
Section 8. The Board shall have regularly scheduled meetings every other month, notice of which meetings shall be published in the Newsletter, on the Temple website and/or by Temple-wide e-mail. Any member in good standing may attend any scheduled meeting and address the Board upon invitation of the Chair.
Section 9. Special meetings of the Board may be called by written petition of four (4) members of the Board. The notice of the special meeting shall include the item(s) to be discussed. No other items may be added to the agenda. Notice of the meeting shall be given by Temple-wide e-mail at least three (3) days prior to the special meeting. Any member in good standing may attend any special meeting and may address the Board upon invitation of the Chair.
Section 10. Executive Committee.

A. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 of this Article, the Executive Committee shall consist of the President, the five Vice Presidents, the Secretary and the immediate two Past-Presidents.



B. The members of the Executive Committee shall communicate amongst themselves and the Rabbi as needed to direct the day-to-day operation of the Temple, consistent with the policies of the Board of Directors and to keep one another informed of actions taken by them.



C. The Executive Committee shall meet formally once a month. A quorum of the Executive Committee shall be four (4) Members. Any member in good standing may attend a meeting except when the Executive Committee meets as the Personnel Committee pursuant to paragraphs D and E of this section.



D. When meeting as the Personnel Committee, the Executive Committee shall have the authority to hire, evaluate, terminate or change the job status or conditions of employment of all employees (except the Rabbi) provided that an individual being so considered shall have notice and an opportunity to make a presentation on his or her own behalf.



E. With regard to the Rabbi, the Executive Committee shall:

1. Receive and evaluate recommendations of the various members and employees who interact with the Rabbi.
2. Consult and collaborate with the Rabbi with a view toward enhancing the Rabbi's effectiveness and ability to meet the needs of the congregation.
3. At least every six months, evaluate the Rabbi's performance and share the conclusions of the evaluation with the Rabbi.
Section 11. A. With the exception of religious school teachers, no member may serve on the Board of Directors if that member, his or her spouse, life partner, dependent child or other dependent relative living in the same household on a permanent basis, is or becomes an employee of the Temple or is or becomes an independent contractor of the Temple. Exceptions to this policy may be approved by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.



B. A member who is a religious school teacher may be a Member at Large of the Board but may not be a member of the Executive Committee regardless of the office held by that member.

ARTICLE VI - COMMITTEES.

Section 1. The Nomination Committee shall be formed no later than ninety (90) days preceding the first of the month during which the Annual Meeting is to be held. It shall be composed of seven (7) members elected by the Board, at least three (3) of whom shall be members in good standing who are not members of the Board. The Committee chairperson shall be appointed by the President from those elected to the Committee. The Committee shall:



A. Publish in the Newsletter, on the Temple website and/or by Temple-wide e-mail at least two (2) months prior to the Annual Membership Meeting, a request for submission of names of those members interested in election as a Vice President or Member at Large of the Board.



B. Publish in the Newsletter, on the Temple website and/or by Temple-wide e-mail at the beginning of the month of the Annual Membership Meeting the names of the members on the slate of candidates.



C. Submit to the Annual Membership Meeting a slate of candidates for election as Vice Presidents and members at large of the Board.



D. Deliberations of the Nominating Committee shall be closed and confidential. Candidates under consideration, or others, may be invited by the Committee chairperson to attend specific meetings, but they may not be present during the Committee's deliberations.
Section 2. The Special Considerations Committee shall be composed of the Vice President of Programming and the Vice President of Finance and shall consider the reduction of the dues and/or other fees on an individual basis in cases of financial hardship. Its deliberations shall be closed and confidential, and no report shall be made to the Board.



Decisions of the Special Considerations Committee may be appealed to the Executive Committee, and the Committee shall inform the applicant of such right. An appeal shall be considered at the next Executive Committee meeting following receipt thereof by any member of the Executive Committee.
Section 3. The By-laws Committee shall be formed upon submission of a proposal to amend these By-laws as provided in Article X hereof. Its chair and members shall be appointed by the President and approved by the Board by an e-mail vote as described in Article V, Section 6 B.
Section 4. In addition to the committees enumerated in this Article, the President, Vice Presidents and Secretary shall have the authority to create ad hoc committees to carry out the responsibilities of their respective offices.

ARTICLE VII -- BUDGET AND FINANCE

Section 1. The fiscal year shall run from July 1 through June 30.
Section 2. The Vice President of Finance shall prepare a proposed budget for the next fiscal year and submit it to the Board for approval at the Board's April meeting unless otherwise directed by the Board.
Section 3. All checks and other withdrawals from Temple accounts shall be signed by any two (2) of the following: President , Vice President of Programming, Vice President of Finance.
Section 4. The following shall be presented to the Board for approval: any non-budgeted expenditure or change in Temple assets valued in excess of $250; reallocation of budgeted funds; new indebtedness.

ARTICLE VIII- MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

Section 1. Annual Membership Meeting.

A. The Annual Membership Meeting (the "Annual Meeting") shall be held in the month of May unless otherwise directed by the Board.



B. The Agenda of the Annual Meeting shall include:

1. Annual reports from the President and Vice Presidents with a written report submitted to the Secretary.
2. A financial report, to be presented by the Vice President of Finance or a designee.
3. The election of the President, Vice Presidents, Secretary and members at large of the Board.

a. The chair of the Nominating Committee shall present its slate.
b. Additional nominations may be submitted in writing to the Secretary any time prior to the beginning of the Annual Meeting. Such nominations shall be signed by the nominee and five (5) other members in good standing. Notice of those nominations received prior to the publication of the slate of candidates as provided in Article VI Section 1 hereof shall be included in such publication.
c. The President, Vice Presidents and Secretary shall be elected by a simple majority. Those elected as members at large shall be those receiving the most votes.

C. Notice of the Annual Meeting shall be published in the Newsletter, on the Temple website and/or by Temple-wide e-mail no less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the meeting.
Section 2. Special Membership Meetings.

A. Special Meetings of the membership may be called by: a) the President, b) five (5) members of the Board, or c) written request of at least ten percent (10%) of the members in good standing. The request shall specify the item(s) to be considered and shall be presented to the Vice President of Communications who will provide the notice required herein.



B. At least ten (10) days' notice of Special Membership Meetings shall be published on the Temple website and/or by Temple-wide e-mail. The notice shall specify the item(s) to be considered, and no other business shall be considered at the Meeting.
Section 3. A quorum for any Membership Meeting shall be fifteen percent (15%) of the number of members in good standing, but shall not be less than twenty (20) members.
Section 4. Decisions of the membership, unless otherwise specified in these By-Laws, shall be a majority of those members in good standing present and voting. There shall be no voting by proxy or absentee ballot allowed.

ARTICLE IX - RABBI

Section 1. Selection.

A. As appropriate, the President shall appoint a committee to recommend to the Board the terms and conditions of the Rabbi's employment.



B. Before the Board may approve a contract with a new Rabbi, the candidate must be confirmed at a Special Membership Meeting. At the Meeting, a majority of two-thirds of all members voting will be required for confirmation.

1. The vote shall be by secret written ballot. The Executive Committee or its designee(s) shall be responsible for creation, distribution, collection and counting of the ballots.
2. The provisions of Article VIII, Paragraph 2 shall apply to the meeting, except that voting by absentee ballot shall be allowed. Absentee ballots cast shall be included in determining whether a quorum has been attained.
3. The ballot and voting procedure shall comply with such other requirements as may be determined by the Board from time to time to be required to ensure the integrity of the process.

ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Amendment by the Board of Directors

A. Any member of the Board who seeks to amend these By-laws shall present a written proposal to the President . Any member in good standing of the Temple who seeks to amend these By-laws shall present to the President a written proposal signed by at least five (5) other members in good standing of the Temple.



B. Within two weeks after receipt of a written proposal, the President shall select the members and chair of the ad hoc By-laws Committee and submit those names to the Board for an e-mail vote as described in Article V, Section 6 B.



C. The By-laws Committee shall commence meeting no later than three weeks after its approval by the Board, and shall prepare a written report reciting its recommendations no more than two weeks after its last meeting. A copy of the written report shall be provided to the Vice President of Communication who shall immediately distribute copies to the Board.



D. All proposed amendments shall be discussed and voted upon by the Board at the next regular meeting after the written report of the By-Laws committee has been provided to the members. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present shall be required for passage. If a proposed amendment fails to receive the required two-thirds vote, it may be reconsidered at the next ensuing regular meeting of the Board. Any amendment which fails to pass after two (2) votes as provided herein may not again be considered by the Board, may be presented again as provided in paragraphs A, B and C of this section.

1. Notice of a Board meeting at which an amendment to the By-laws will be considered, including a copy of the By-laws Committee report shall be provided to the Temple membership by e-mail.
2. If the By-Laws Committee has submitted only its recommendation without a proposed amendment, then the Board shall consider that recommendation, and if a majority of the members present so vote, shall direct the By-Laws Committee to draft a proposed amendment which shall then be provided to the members of the Board and voted upon as provided in paragraphs B and C.
Section 2. Amendment by the General Membership

A. An amendment to these By-laws may be considered at a special meeting convened as provided by Article VIII, Section 2 of these By-laws.



B. Any such amendment must be passed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at the Special Membership Meeting.

ARTICLE XI - INDEMNIFICATION

The Temple shall hold all Officers and Directors harmless from any liability, other than for gross negligence, which may be imposed upon them resulting from actions taken in pursuit of the Temple's business.

ARTICLE XII - EFFECTIVE DATE

These By-Laws shall take effect immediately upon their adoption and supersede all prior By-Laws and amendments or revisions thereof.