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N.O.B.L.E.
(New
Orleans Bondage & Leather Enthusiasts)
Club
Bylaws
Posted with spelling corrections Feburary 2009
1.0
Mission
To
support the BDSM
(Bondage & Discipline and Sadomasochism) community of the
greater
New Orleans area through outreach, example, and education. To create
a community where those new to the lifestyle along with those who are
experienced are welcome. To provide support for those who realize
that BDSM is fundamental to their lives and need assistance in
forming the definitions and friendships that are needed to make the
practice of BDSM a safe, sane, and consensual part of their lives. To
create a community where no one need fear abusive behavior. To
promote mutual respect and tolerance in achieving the goal of a
pansexual BDSM community.
2.0
Structure
New
Orleans Bondage &
Leather Enthusiasts (NOBLE) is a private, legally incorporated
not-for-profit adult social organization comprised of individuals
devoted to the practice of BDSM in the greater New Orleans, Louisiana
area.
3.0
Council of Officers
3.1
NOBLE shall be
governed by a Council of Officers that shall embody the sole and only
executive authority of the organization. This Council shall consist
of seven (7) voting members elected at large at a required annual
general membership meeting.
3.2
The Council of
Officers shall conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the
stated mission of NOBLE.
3.2.1
The Council of
Officers shall provide education, promote outreach, and maintain a
strong policy against abuse within the BDSM community.
3.2.2.
Council members
shall preserve confidentiality when dealing with sensitive issues
concerning NOBLE members.
3.3
In the event that a
vacancy should occur on the Council for whatever reason, the Council
shall call a special general membership meeting within thirty days to
elect an interim replacement until the next annual general membership
meeting.
3.4
The Council shall
take action only with a quorum of its officers five (5)
participating.
3.5
The Council's first
order of business following any change in composition shall be to
select a Chairperson. The Chairperson's sole special power is the
ability to call meetings of the Council or general membership and set
the initial agenda. The Council may replace its Chairperson at any
time, at will, and regardless of any established agenda.
3.6
Memberships on the
Council shall officially begin when the newly elected Council member
attends his or her first official Council meeting. Failure to assume
Council duties within thirty (30) days shall constitute resignation
from the Council by default.
3.7
Resignations from the
Council become official when a public statement of resignation is
posted to the NOBLE members list.
3.8
If a Council member
resigns within thirty (30) days of his or her election, that seat
shall be given to the first runner up in the most recent election.
3.9
If a Council member
resigns with fewer than ninety (90) days remaining prior to a general
election, the Council may choose either to operate with one vacancy
or to appoint an interim member for the remainder of the unexpired
term. Selection of this interim member shall be by simple majority
vote of the Council.
4.0
Membership
4.1
Memberships in NOBLE
shall be of two types: Associate and Regular. Regular memberships are
granted by specific action of the Council for a maximum period of one
(1) year and are automatically renewable pending good behavior and
the payment of annual dues. All Regular memberships expire on
December 31st of each year. Associate
memberships may be
granted in accordance with standing rules announced by the Council
without specific Council action or oversight.
4.2
In their actions
regarding the Club, NOBLE Associate and Regular members shall observe
all rules and policies of the Club as set forth by the Council of
Officers, and shall deal with the Club in an honest and
straightforward manner. In order to promote the fellowship of the
organization NOBLE Associate and Regular members are expected to
treat one another with civility and respect. All NOBLE members shall
observe confidentiality in matters regarding other NOBLE members.
4.3
A member who fails to
comply with these standards may be subject to disciplinary action by
the Council. The Council may discipline a member or refuse to renew a
membership based upon a simple majority vote by the Council. The
Council may ban a member based upon a supermajority vote of the
Council; a supermajority defined as a minimum of five (5) votes out
of seven (7). Prior to taking disciplinary action against an
individual, the Council will invite that member to discuss with the
Council the issues involved. No decision will be made by the Council
until such an offer has been made and is either declined or is not
accepted. The Council will at all times attempt to act fairly and
will act deliberately and with consideration, adhering not just to
the letter but to the spirit of NOBLE's bylaws and mission. In all
cases the Council's decision is final.
4.4
The Regular members
assume all duties and powers of the Council in the event that the
Council is dissolved and shall immediately take steps to fully
reconstitute the Council as outlined in section 6.2.1.
4.5
Each Regular member
will be assessed yearly dues, the amount to be set by the Council of
Officers. Member benefits will be determined by the Council.
4.6
Only Regular members
in good standing, sixty (60) days prior to the opening of
nominations, defined as being current on their dues and/or not under
Council imposed disciplinary action, are eligible to vote or to
nominate candidates.
4.7
To be eligible to run
for office an individual must have been a member in good standing for
at least one hundred and eighty (180) days prior to the date of that
election.
5.0
Elections
5.1
Annual elections will
be held no later than fourth (4th) week of
October. The
newly elected Council will be seated after a transition period of two
weeks.
5.2
The nomination period
shall begin two (2) weeks prior to the annual election and close one
(1) week prior to the election.
5.3
All Council members
are to be elected at-large from a common vote on all eligible
candidates, each eligible regular member casting a single vote for
each of the seven (7) candidates of their choice.
5.4
In the event there
are more than more than fourteen (14) eligible candidates a run off
election shall be held between the ten (10) eligible candidates with
the highest vote total from the initial election. The run off
election shall be conducted in accordance with sections 5.1 and 5.3.
6.0
General Provisions
6.1
Bylaws amendments:
the Council may amend these bylaws by a majority vote. Such changes
are not effective unless and until ratified by a two-thirds (2/3rd)
majority of the Regular members in good standing.
6.2
Removal of the
Council: a simple majority of the Regular members in good standing
may call for a special membership meeting at any time to remove the
Council of Officers. A two-thirds (2/3rd)
majority of the
regular members in good standing shall be required to remove the
Council of Officers.
6.2.1
A special
membership meeting shall be convened for the sole purpose of electing
a new Council of Officers no sooner than one (1) week and no more
than one (1) month after the Council has been removed. Election of
the new Council of Officers shall be held in accordance with section
5.0 of the bylaws.
6.3
Term limits: no
member may be elected to more than two (2) full consecutive terms on
the Council in any three (3) year period. A member who has been
elected to complete an unfinished term may after that, be eligible to
be elected to two (2) full terms.
6.4
Council meetings: the
Council shall meet monthly at a minimum. Such meetings shall be open
to all members, the sole exception being discussions pertaining to
conduct of individual members.
6.5
Financial accounting:
the Council shall make available a full accounting of organization
finances on a monthly basis. The Council shall include such an
accounting as a part of the minutes of the first Council meeting of
the month.
6.6
Reporting of Council
decisions: all Council decisions, including the vote count of their
adoption, shall be reported to the membership in timely fashion. The
Council shall also maintain a permanent record of all Council
decisions and shall make that record available to any member upon
request.
6.7
Nepotism: no person
shall be a candidate for the Council if an immediate member of their
family, house or lifestyle relationship is also a candidate. Two (2)
persons who are members of the same family, house or lifestyle
relationship may not serve on the Council at the same time.
6.8
No person shall be a
candidate for election who is not eligible to serve if elected.
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