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BYLAWS OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN

DIOCESE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
Revised and Approved October 28, 2017

ARTICLE I - Name

The name of this Organization shall be the Episcopal Church Women (ECW), Diocese of Central Florida.

ARTICLE II - Purpose

The purposes of this Organization shall be:

  1. To respond to Jesus Christ.

  2. To witness, work and pray for the spread of God's kingdom, submitting to and being guided by the Holy Spirit.

  3. To communicate and implement the purposes and work of the Episcopal Church USA within the Diocese of Central Florida.

    ARTICLE III - Members

    Members of this Organization shall consist of any and all women of all parish and mission congregations within the Diocese of Central Florida.

    ARTICLE IV - Officers

    Section 1. Officers:

    The officers of this Organization shall be: President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, United Thank Offering (UTO) Coordinator and Church Periodical Club (CPC) Director.

    Section 2: Nominations:

    The Nominating Committee shall present to the Annual Meetings at least one candidate for each office to

    be filled. Nominations may be made from the floor, provided the consent of the nominee has been obtained.

    Section 3. Elections:

    A. All officers shall be:

  1. Elected for a term of two (2) years.

  2. Shall be eligible to serve consecutive terms, providing there are no other candidates for the office.

    B. All elections shall be:

  1. By ballot.

  2. Or, in the case of a single candidate for an office, the assembly shall vote by affirmation.

    C. The election of the President, First Vice President and United Thank Offering Coordinator shall be held at Annual Meetings in even numbered calendar years and each second year thereafter.

    D. The election of the Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Church Periodical Club Director shall be held at the Annual Meetings in odd numbered calendar years and each second year thereafter.

    E. The Officers shall:

  1. Assume their duties immediately following the Annual Meeting.

  2. Deliver the files of the office to her successor immediately following the Annual Meeting.

    Section 4. Vacancies

  1. In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the First Vice President shall fill the unexpired term of the President.

  2. In any elected office, except that of President, the President, with the approval of the Executive Board, shall appoint a member to fill the vacancy.

    Section 5. Duties:

  1. The President shall:

  1. Preside at all meetings of the Organization, including Annual Meetings, Executive Board meetings, and special called meetings.

  2. Have general supervision of the Episcopal Church Women.

  3. Appoint all committees and chairmen other than those provided for in these Bylaws.

  4. Be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.

  5. Submit a written report at Annual Meetings.

  6. Submit a written annual report to the Annual Convention of the Diocese to be included in the Convention's Annual Journal.

  7. Submit written reports to the Province IV Representative of the National ECW Board as requested.

  8. Submit articles for publication in the diocesan ECW newsletter currently known as the Episcochat

  9. Appoint a Parliamentarian.

  10. Perform such other duties as may be required.

    B. The First Vice President shall:

  1. Assist the President.

  2. Perform in the absence or incapacity of the President all the duties of the Office of President.

  3. Perform such other duties as may be assigned to her by the President or Executive Board.

  4. Be custodian of and update The Book of Remembrance.

    C. The Second Vice President shall:

  1. Assist the President.

  2. Organize and plan educational programs.

    D. The Secretary shall:

  1. Keep accurate records of the procedures of all meetings of the Organization and the Executive Board.

  2. Distribute copies of approved minutes to members of the Executive Board.

  3. Send out notices of all meetings

  4. Conduct general correspondence.

  5. Maintain a copy of the Bylaws and have them posted to the ECW Web site.

    E. The Treasurer shall:

  1. Submit to the Executive Board a proposed budget for the next fiscal year prior to the Annual Meeting.

  2. Disburse funds as authorized in the budget.

  3. Receives reports on ECW funds received and expended from the CFO/Diocesan Administrator.

  4. Annually prepare and distribute the Gift of Support letter to each parish or women's guild in the Diocese

  5. Submit financial reports for Executive Board members at interim Board meetings.

  6. Submit and distribute a written financial report at Annual Meeting.

  7. Shall prepare a financial budget for the next fiscal year to be submitted to

    the Executive Board for approval and for ratification at the next Annual Meeting.

  8. Send copy of proposed budget to the Diocesan Administrator.

    F. The United Thank Offering Coordinator shall:

  1. Follow the directions of the National Executive Council, USA.

  2. Maintain contact with UTO representatives in each ECW parish and mission.

  3. Send a copy of all mailings to the President.

  4. Submit a written report at Annual Meetings.

  5. Chair the annual UTO Funds Granting Review Committee.

    G. The Church Periodical Club Director shall:

  1. Follow the direction of the National Board of the CPC.

  2. Maintain contact with CPC representatives in each ECW parish and mission in the Diocese.

  3. Send a copy of all mailings to the President.

  4. Submit a written report at Annual Meetings.

 

ARTICLE V- Meetings

Section 1. Annual Meetings:

A. Annual Meetings shall be held at a time and place decided upon by the Executive Board.

B. Voting Body:

  1. The voting body at Annual Meetings shall consist of every ECW member present.

  2. Members of the Executive Board.

    C. Resolutions:

    Resolutions for presentation at Annual Meetings shall be submitted to the Diocesan ECW President at least two (2) months prior to Annual Meetings and posted on the web site.

    Section 2. Special Meetings:

    Special meetings of the ECW, Diocese of Central Florida, may be called by the Executive Board or shall be called upon request of the presidents of one-fifth of the total number of parishes and missions in the Diocese.

    Section 3. Provincial Meetings

  1. Delegates to Province IV meetings shall be the President, UTO Coordinator, CPC Director, and a fourth delegate to be determined by the Executive Board. If any of these cannot attend the meeting, the Executive Board may select a replacement.

  2. The Executive Board will determine the portion of travel and registration expenses that will be defrayed from the ECW diocesan treasury.

    Section 4. Triennial Meetings

  1. The delegates to Triennial shall be the President, UTO Coordinator, CPC Director, and the Diocesan Distinguished Woman. If one of these cannot attend the triennial meeting, a replacement may be selected by the Executive Board.

  2. The Executive Board will determine the portion of travel and registration expenses that will be defrayed from the ECW diocesan treasury.

    ARTICLE VI - Executive Board Section 1. Members:

    The Executive Board shall consist of fifteen (15) members:

  1. Seven (7) elected officers,

  2. Five (5) Deanery Directors, and

  3. Three (3) ex-officio members with one vote each: - Immediate past diocesan ECW President - President of The Order of the Daughters of the King®

    - Diocesan Altar Guild Directress.

    Section 2. Meetings:

  1. The Executive Board shall convene at least three (3) times annually. Conference calls will fulfill the requirement for a meeting.

  2. Special meetings may be called by the President or may be called upon request by at least five (5) members of the Executive Board.

    Section 3. Quorum:

    A quorum shall consist of a majority of the posts filled of the members of the Executive Board

    Section 4. Duties

    The Executive Board shall:

  1. Implement the purposes of this Organization as stated in Article II.

  2. Suggest plans and methods of work.

  3. Act for the Organization between meetings.

  4. Approve a financial budget each year.

  5. Make and execute plans for Annual Meetings

  1. Interpret these Bylaws, its decision being final.

  2. Enact rules for the operation of the Organization.

    Section 5. Voting

    Voting may be in writing, electronic or by telephone.

    ARTICLE VII — Committees

    Section 1. Standing Committees:

    Standing committees shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Board, which shall designate the duties of the Standing Committees.

    Section 2. Special Committees:

    Special committees shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Board, which shall designate the duties of the Special Committees.

    ARTICLE VIII - Deaneries

    Section 1. Boundaries:

    Boundaries of deaneries shall be established by the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida and are currently named Northwest, Northeast, Central, Southwest and Southeast Deaneries.

    Section 2. Deanery Directors

  1. Shall be elected within each deanery for a term of two (2) years.

  2. Shall be eligible to serve more than two (2) consecutive terms, providing there are no other

    candidates for the position.

  3. Shall assume office at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting.

  4. Shall assist in the planning of and preside at all meetings of the deanery.

  5. Shall have general supervision of the work of the deanery and serve as a communication conduit

    with the churches in the deanery and the diocesan ECW Board.

  6. Shall notify the Diocesan ECW President and Secretary of all changes in the deanery, such as changes in roster, meetings and other pertinent information

    Section 3. Meetings:

    Deanery Meetings should be held in deaneries at least yearly (preferably in the spring) with additional meetings being optional.

    ARTICLE IX — Diocesan Distinguished Woman

    Nominations for Diocesan Distinguished Woman shall be received by the Executive Board in accordance with guidelines established by the Executive Board and national ECW. Each parish may nominate a woman in the parish whose life in the secular community reflects her Christian values. The parish should submit the name and biography of its nominee to the Executive Board (by a date to be announced) in the year preceding the Triennial Meeting. The Executive Board will select from the nominees, the person it determines to be most deserving to represent the Diocese of Central Florida as Diocesan Distinguished Woman at Triennial. The woman selected will be announced at the annual meeting preceding Triennial. The person selected will serve as a delegate to Triennial with all expenses paid; she will hold the honor of Diocesan Distinguished Woman until the next ECW Triennial

    Meeting. Honorees are not eligible to be selected more than once.

    ARTICLE X — Special ECW Outreach Project

    Each year, the Executive Board shall select a special diocesan-wide outreach project. Consideration is to be given to contributions to the outreach project at deanery and annual meetings. Churches also are encouraged to remember this project as they plan their fundraisers.

    ARTICLE XI - Finances and Fiscal Policy Section 1. Administrative Fund:

    Each ECW parish or mission within the Diocese shall be encouraged to provide a Gift of Support each year. A Gift of Support will enable the Diocese of Central Florida ECW to meet expenditures of the Organization, provide member support for Diocesan, Provincial, and National functions and to expand our ministry in the coming years.

    Section 2. Fiscal Year:

    The fiscal year shall be from September 1- August 31.

    Section 3. Financial Review:

    The newly elected Treasurer shall receive an update from the CFO/Diocesan Administrator on the state of the ECW account.

    ARTICLE XII - Amendments

    These Bylaws may be amended at any Annual Meeting by a two-thirds vote of members present. Notice shall be given in writing to the Executive Board and to the membership two (2) months prior to the Annual Meeting.

    ARTICLE XIII - Parliamentary Authority

    Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall be the parliamentary authority of all matters of procedure not specifically covered by the Bylaws or special rules of order adopted by this Organization.

    BYLAWS REVISION COMMITTEE:

    Winsome Stern, Diocesan ECW President St Mary's, Belleview Florida

    LaVerne Vines Collins, Ex-officio St. George, The Villages

    Elizabeth Herrick, 1st Vice President Advent, Dunnellon

    Dr. Lorraine K. Harris, Ed.D., Parliamentarian St. John-the-Baptist, Orlando

 

 

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