Section 3.01: Members
A person shall be considered for membership with YFCC upon completion of a signed application and paying a non-refundable application fee of $250.00. Upon approval an additional $250.00 non-refundable membership fee is required. Total fees are $500.00. The membership may change the amount of the membership fee from time to time with a vote of 2/3 of the members. Once accepted membership is perpetual unless terminated by either the member or due to cancellation by the community. If terminated by the member, the member may reapply in the future and will be required to pay a new application fee and a new membership fee. Membership terminated by the community is permanent and requires a super majority vote of the membership for reconsideration. If approved by a super majority of the membership, the member terminated by the community may reapply and is required to be reconsidered by the board. Only members shall live in PODs owned by YFCC. All members shall provide deposit all income into the general fund. All members are considered as equal no matter how much money they are providing to the community. As an example a member whose entire capability to pay is $1000.00 per month and a member who entire capability to pay is $5000.00 per month are to be consider as equal because they are both paying what they are capable of paying.
Section 3.02: Control of Operations
Through membership meetings, referenda, and open committee meetings, the members of YFCC shall have direct control of YFCCs operations. Electronic voting is allowed for meetings, elections, and referenda as permitted by the methods specified in YFCC policy.
Section 3.03: Membership Meetings
(a) At least four (4) General Membership Meetings (GMMs) shall be held annually. (One per quarter). The Board shall decide the dates of these four (4) meetings at its first meeting in September. The dates of the three (3) subsequent GMMs may be rescheduled at any General Membership Meeting (GMM) or by the board.
(b) Special Membership Meetings may be called by the Board of Directors or by a petition of 2/3 of the membership or 50 members, whichever is less.
(c) Members shall be given seven days written notice of General Membership Meetings and three (3) days notice of Special Membership Meetings, including the scheduled business in detail, and in accordance with state statutes. No individual shall have more than one (1) vote. No voting by proxy. Sealed votes on specific questions shall be permitted.
(d) Quorum shall be 2/3 of the membership or 50 members, whichever is less.
(e) In general, membership meetings shall follow Rogers’ Rules of Order.
(f) Any votes to change a supermajority voting requirement in the bylaws or policies will require a vote from the General Membership Meeting (GMM) with the same supermajority.
Section 3.04: Consideration by the Board of Directors
Any member may initiate action for consideration by the Board by presentation of a proposal to the Board.
Section 3.05: Powers of the Membership
The membership shall be given final say on any matter that concerns the amendment of these bylaws where permitted, and any other questions called to the attention of the membership by the Board or by petition of the membership, except for officer elections and removal (see Sections 5.01(h) and Section 5.02) and except where restricted by these bylaws. Such matters where the membership has final say shall be considered only by a membership meeting or by a referendum of the membership.
Section 3.06: Referenda of the Membership
(a) A referendum shall be called either by the Board or by a petition of 2/3 of the membership or 50 members, whichever is less. Petitions must be presented to the Membership Officer, Member Services Coordinator, Coordinating Officer, or the volunteers they appoint for verification. The person who verifies the petitions must inform the Board at its next meeting of what was proposed and whether it had enough petitioners. Referenda questions shall be on written ballots. Referenda questions may be drafted by any member, but any other member may add information to the question. The member who presented the petition and the person who verified the petition will make a written presentation of the issues available at YFCC PODs and the office at least three (3) business days in advance of the ballots being collected, and then deliver ballots to the members as soon as practical within 14 business days after the petition is verified.
(b) To overturn a membership vote made at a membership meeting or by referendum petition to overturn of 2/3 of the membership or 50 members, whichever is less, must be presented to the Board or the Coordinating Committee within fourteen business (14) days of the original vote. At this point the standard procedure for referenda is operative with one (1) exception: A petition to overturn must be approved by at least two-thirds (2/3) of the voting membership, not a simple majority. A failure of a referendum to overturn an original vote leaves the original vote standing. No more than one (1) attempt to overturn may be made per original vote.
(c) There shall be twenty-four (24) hours between a decision by the Board and its execution. An action by the Board may be recalled or affirmed by a referendum of the membership. Upon notification that a petition is pending, the Board shall be enjoined from executing a decision for one (1) additional week. There will be a twenty-four (24) hour waiting period between the passage of a membership referendum and its execution. A decision of the membership may be recalled or affirmed by a subsequent membership referendum. Upon notification that a recall petition is pending, the responsible body shall be enjoined from executing a decision for two (2) additional weeks.
