Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression NFP, Inc.
BYLAWS
ARTICLE I -NAME
The name of this association is Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression NFP, Inc., hereinafter referred to as CAARPR. It is the Chicago branch of the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.
ARTICLE II -PURPOSE
The purpose of CAARPR is to work for the freedom of all political prisoners; to work to preserve the Bill of Rights of the U. S. and Illinois State Constitutions; to work to abolish white supremacy and racial discrimination; to work for the brotherhood and sisterhood of all people, regardless of race, religion, ethnic background, gender or sexual orientation.
ARTICLE III -BASIC POLICIES
The following are basic policies CAARPR:
We will educate and organize our community to work for genuine unity of all people regardless of race, religion, ethnic background, gender or sexual orientation.
We will educate and organize our community to work for affirmative action against racism and social injustice.
We will educate and organize our community to support the U. S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and other Amendments to the Constitution.
CAARPR shall be noncommercial, nonsectarian, and nonpartisan.
Neither CAARPR nor members of its Executive Committee in their official capacities on its behalf, shall endorse a commercial entity, political party, or political campaign, or engage in activities not related to promoting the purposes of the organization.
ARTICLE IV – MEMBERS AND DUES
Each individual member of the CAARPR shall pay annual dues of twenty-five dollars ($25.00), fifteen dollars ($15.00) for the unemployed and students, and free for prisoners.
Affiliated organizations shall pay dues based on their annual budget, as follows:
Organizations with budgets under $10,000 per year - $100.00.
Organizations with budgets between $10,000 and $50,000 per year - $500.00.
Organizations with budgets over $50,000 - $1,000.
ARTICLE V -OFFICERS
Section 1: Each officer shall be a member of CAARPR.
Section 2: An officer who has not paid his/her dues by September 1 for the current calendar year will be considered to have resigned.
Section 3: Officers and elections:
The officers of this organization shall consist of three co-chairs, a secretary, and a treasurer.
Officers shall be elected at the annual meeting of CAARPR-Chicago.
Officers, shall assume their official duties following the close of the annual meeting, and shall serve for a term of one year.
Section 4: Nominating committee:
The officers of CAARPR-Chicago shall constitute a Nominating Committee for the purpose of securing nominees for all positions of officers prior to the annual meeting.
The Nominating Committee shall nominate at least one eligible person for each office, and report its nominees at the annual meeting, at which time additional nominations may be made from the floor.
Only those persons who have signified their consent to serve if elected shall be nominated for or elected to such office.
Section 5: Vacancies in Office:
A vacancy occurring in any office shall be filled for the remainder of the term by a person elected by a majority vote of the Executive Committee, notice of such election having been given. If a vacancy occurs in the office of Co-chair, the remaining Co-chair shall serve notice of the election.
ARTICLE VI -DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1: The Co-chairs shall:
take turns presiding at all meetings ofNAARPR-Chicago;
be members ex officio of all committees;
coordinate the work of the officers and committees of CAARPR in order that the Purpose and Policies of CAARPR may be promoted.
Section 2: The secretary shall:
record the minutes of all meetings of the association;
have a current copy of the bylaws;
maintain a membership list;
be responsible for all correspondence concerning the CAARPR.
Section 3: The treasurer shall:
have custody of all the funds of the association;
keep a full record and accurate account of receipts and expenditures;
make disbursements as authorized by the co-chairs or Executive Committee.
Ensure that checks are signed by the treasurer, a co-chair, or secretary, anyone of whom shall be authorized to sign checks.
present a written financial statement of total receipts and expenditures for the year ending one month prior to the annual meeting.
have the accounts available for auditing by a committee of not fewer than three members, upon request by the Executive Committee or 35 per cent of the membership.
The Executive Committee, when satisfied that the treasurer's annual report is correct, shall sign a statement of that fact at the end of the report.
Section 4: Turnover of Records
All officers shall perform the duties outlined in these bylaws. Upon expiration of the term of office or in case of resignation, each officer shall turn over to the co-chairs, without delay, all records, books, and other materials pertaining to the office, and shall return to the treasurer, without delay, all funds pertaining to the office.
ARTICLE VII -EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE and STEERING COMMITTEE
Section 1: The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers of CAARPR plus chairpersons of committees established by the Executive Committee.
Section 2: The duties of the Executive Committee shall be:
to transact necessary business in the intervals between CAARPR meetings and such other business as may be referred to it by CAARPR;
to create standing and special committees;
to approve the plans of work of the committees;
to present a report at the regular meetings of CAARPR;
to select an auditor or an auditing committee to audit the treasurer's accounts whenever it deems this to be necessary;
Section 4: Regular meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held between meetings of CAARPR. A majority of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.
Section 5: The Executive Committee may recommend the removal of any officer not performing duties as outlined in the bylaws. An affirmative vote of two thirds (2/3) of the CAARPR members present and voting at a regular meeting at which such a recommendation is presented shall be necessary for the removal of an officer, prior notice having been given to all members via US Postal Service mail or electronic mail.
Section 6: The Executive Committee may open its meetings to other members of the association. Members who regularly attend such meetings of the Executive Committee may be appointed to a Steering Committee by the Executive Committee. Meetings of the Steering Committee shall have the authority of the Executive Committee, except that when an issue is designated as a policy issue by a majority of the Executive Committee members present only members of the Executive Committee will be allowed to vote on that issue.
ARTICLE VIII -MEETINGS
Section 1: Regular meetings of CAARPR shall be held throughout the year. Dates of meetings shall be determined by the Executive Committee and announced at least 48 hours in advance.
Section 2: Special meetings of CAARPR-Chicago may be called by any co-chair or a majority of the Executive Committee.
Section 3: The annual meeting shall be held in July.
Section 4: Any number of members plus a majority of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business in any meeting of this association.
ARTICLE IX -COMMIITTEES
Section 1: Only members of CAARPR shall be eligible to serve in any elective or appointive positions.
Section 2: The nominating committee or Executive Committee may create such committees as it may deem necessary to promote the Purpose and Basic Policies of CAARPR.
Section 3: The chairperson of each committee shall present a plan of work to the Executive Committee for approval. No committee work shall be undertaken without the consent of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE X -FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of this association shall begin on July 1 and end on the following June 30.
ARTICLE XI -PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern the CAARPR in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not in conflict with these bylaws.
ARTICLE XII -AMENDMENTS
Amendments may be made to the bylaws at anytime with approval of 60 per cent of the membership present and voting at a meeting called for that purpose, and for which seven (7) days notice having been given. Amendments to the bylaws must be submitted to the Executive Committee for transmission to all members vie electronic Email or U. S. Postal Service mail.
ARTICLE XIII – USE OF ORGANIZATIONAL STATIONARY AND LETTERHEAD, LIST SERVE, FACEBOOK PAGE, TWITTER ACCOUNT:
Section 1
CAARPR stationary and letterhead may be used only for official CAARPR business. Letterhead may not be used by any person to conduct personal business.
Section 2
When posting to any list serve no member of the Chicago CAARPR Against Racist and Political Repression should sign their name on behalf of the CAARPR without approval from the Officers of the CAARPR, except in a case in which members are acting collectively on behalf of a committee created by the CAARPR. People may individually endorse actions or public statements and identify themselves as members or leaders of the CAARPR with a clear statement attached that the organization affiliation is for identification purposes only.
Section 3
Racist, sexist, homophobic, and chauvinist content will not be permitted on list serves, Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, and any other social media maintained by the CAARPR. Violators of this policy will be banned from these media by their administrators. People who are banned may appeal their banning to the Officers of the organization.
Section 4
Personal ad hominem attacks on individuals, regardless of their membership status, will not be permitted on social media maintained by the CAARPR. People who post such content will be moderated, such content will be blocked, and if they continue to post such content, will be banned. People who are moderated or banned may appeal the action of the moderators to the Officers of the organization.
Section 5
Members of the CAARPR who engage in the dissemination through any medium of racist, sexist, homophobic or chauvinist material, or personal ad hominem attacks on individuals, regardless of who they are, will be asked by the Executive Committee to cease such activities immediately.
Article XIV - CONTACTS WITH LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES:
Section 1
Any CAARPR Steering Committee member who has contact with any representative of a local, state, or federal law enforcement agency or agent that in any way concerns CAARPR business should report that contact to the Officers.
Section 2
No member of the CAARPR should contact any local, state, or federal law enforcement agency or agent on behalf of the CAARPR without the approval of the officers and the Steering Committee, except in cases regarding individual incarcerated persons in which local, state or federal prison authorities are contacted regarding their conditions of imprisonment.
Section 3
Except in cases of emergency or imminent danger, no person, regardless of membership status, should initiate or invite any local, state, or federal law enforcement agent or agency to enter into the offices of the CAARPR, or events sponsored by the CAARPR, unless specifically requested to do so by the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE XV - DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES
Section 1
Allegations of a violation of any of the by-laws of the CAARPR will be taken up by the Executive Committee in person with any member alleged to have committed the violation.
Section 2
If a member is alleged to have violated the rules and by-laws of the CAARPR and disputes the allegation, the Executive Board will meet to hear from both the accuser and the accused.
Section 3
If the Executive Committee and the accused are unable to resolve the allegation to the satisfaction of its members and the accused, the accused will be asked to dissolve his/her membership in and all ties to the CAARPR.
Section 4
In cases in which a person who is perceived by the general public as a leader or spokesperson of the CAARPR is asked by the Executive Committee to dissolve his/her membership in the CAARPR, the Executive Committee shall be authorized to take whatever action it feels is necessary to make the dissociation of the CAARPR with that person publicly known.
Adopted June 14, 2005, amended April 16, 2011, and further amended August 20, 2014. Further amended February 18, 2015. Further amended July 27, 2022.