NAME:  The name of this Fellowship shall be "The Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship of Abilene".

PURPOSE:  The purpose of this Fellowship is the free quest of high values in religion and in life.  Freedom shall be our method, reason our guide, fellowship our spirit, character our test, and service our aim.

MEMBERSHIP:  Any person in sympathy with the purpose and program of this fellowship and willing to abide by the provisions of its constitution, may become a member by signing the Fellowship Membership Book.

DENOMINATIONAL AFFILIATION:  This fellowship shall be a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association and of the Southwestern Unitarian Universalist Conference.

MEETINGS: 
SECTION 1: Meetings of the General Membership shall be held weekly throughout the year.
SECTION 2: The Annual Business Meeting shall be held each year in the month of May.
 
OFFICERS:   The officers of this Fellowship shall consist of a Coordinator, Recorder, Treasurer, Program Director(s), and Religious Education Director.

Officers shall hold offices for one year and until their successors have been elected.

These officers constitute the Executive Committee and shall be chosen by ballot of the General Membership at the Annual Business Meeting of the Fellowship.

The immediate past Coordinator will be an Ex-Officio member of the Executive Committee with full voting privileges. Positions other than the above that may become necessary will be filled by appointment by a three-fifths vote of The Executive Committee, and shall not have voting privileges on The Executive Committee.

Should an Executive Committee member's seat be vacated by that member, one of the remaining Executive Committee members shall fill the position temporarily until that member resumes his/her seat.  In case of a replacement election, the General Membership shall be notified of the time and place of this election at least thirty days beforehand.

The Executive Committee shall have general charge of the property of the Fellowship, the conduct of all its business affairs, and control of its administration, including the appointment of such committees as it may deem necessary, except as otherwise designated by this Constitution.

FISCAL YEAR:  The fiscal year shall end May 31st.

QUORUM:  Two-Thirds of the Active Membership shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting business.  Active Membership shall be determined by the Executive Committee.

Quorum of The Executive Committee shall consist of any Two-Thirds of the Executive Committee members.






AMENDMENTS:   This Constitution may be amended or repealed at any designated meeting of the Fellowship by a Two-Thirds vote of the Active Members present, providing they constitute a quorum and 30 days notice is given to the General Membership.


BYLAWS: 
SECTION 1:  The Executive Committee shall meet at least twice during a year.  The General Membership shall be informed of the time and place and business, and may attend.

SECTION 2:  A tentative  budget shall be prepared by The Executive Committee and approved by the Active Membership at the Annual Meeting in May.

SECTION 3:  The Executive Committee shall approve all major expenditures of funds in accord with the Budget and prior to the disbursements of the funds.

SECTION 4:   No member of the Fellowship shall have permission, either express or implied, to contract or in any way commit the Fellowship to any indebtedness in excess of the budget as approved by the Membership.

SECTION 5:  Duties of the Officers:

                A. The Coordinator shall preside at all Business Meetings.

B. The Recorder shall serve as Secretary at Business Meetings and
 may also serve as Public Information Director.

        C. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the deposit and disbursements of 
all Fellowship funds and shall maintain records of financial transactions.

                D. The Program Director shall plan and arrange for adult programs at regular
meetings of the membership.

E. The Religious Education Director shall plan and arrange for educational activities for the children of the Fellowship.
                
SECTION 6:  Procedures for the election of Officers:

A.        In addition to the recommendations of the Nominating Committee, nominations may be made from the Floor, and these require a Second.

B.        Nominating oneself, or seconding one's own nomination is not permitted.
C.        In each contested race, one minute will be allowed for the nomination speech.  Each nominee may make a two minute acceptance speech.

D.        After the speeches have concluded, ballots will be passed out for that office.

E.        One representative of each candidate may be present to verify the ballot count.

SECTION 7:.Term Limits
No restriction shall exist on the number of terms an individual may be elected to any office.

ASSETS:   All assets of the Fellowship are pledged for use in performing its religious functions.  Upon discontinuance or dissolution of the Fellowship, all assets will be transferred to the Unitarian Universalist Association, 25 Beacon Street, Boston, Massachusetts.
                
                
This Constitution was approved by Two-Thirds vote of the members present at the Annual Business Meeting on May 16th,1993. Changes approved on May 17th, 1998 and May 31, 2003



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