BYLAWS

Article 1: Name, Description and Location

The name of the organization is Speaking Up For Us.

Speaking Up For Us shall be a statewide coalition whose representatives work to support local and statewide self advocacy organizations to network with each other and with national organizations. Speaking Up For Us shall conduct the majority of its activities throughout the State of Maine. (A coalition includes independent organizations that agree to work together on common goals.)

Article 2: Purpose (Reason or Mission)

The purpose of Speaking Up For Us shall be:

• to help self advocates keep in contact with each other.
• to assure support for self advocates and self advocacy groups in Maine.
• to help people know their rights.
• to speak up for our rights.

Article 3: Membership

Members of Speaking Up For Us shall be people with developmental disabilities who are actively involved in the group. Members shall have the right to vote at general Speaking Up For Us meetings and for representatives to the Board of Directors.

Meetings open to the general membership are planned monthly whenever possible. The annual meeting for the purpose of reporting on the year’s activities and conducting elections shall be held at an annual self advocacy conference planned by Speaking Up For Us.

Article 4: Board of Directors

Section 1: Management of Speaking Up For Us Affairs

The affairs, assets and activities of Speaking Up For Us shall be managed by a Board of Directors. The Board may adopt rules and make decisions about the facilitation of its meetings as it determines are necessary, as long as those actions are consistent with these bylaws and the laws of the State of Maine.

Section 2: Number of Director

The Board for Speaking Up For Us shall consist of not less than three and not more than eighteen Directors. Whenever possible, three representatives shall be assigned to each of the six regions as defined by the Board of Directors. (Officers shall be included in this number).

Section 3: Selection of Directors and Terms of Office

The term of office for members of the Board shall be two years. The maximum number of terms a person may serve consecutively (in a row) shall be two. A Director who has served two terms may be reelected to the Board after at least one year has passed.

Board Members shall be nominated by the full Board and elected at the annual meeting. The Board shall nominate two to three candidates for each position. Nominations shall be made by the Board at the last regular or special meeting before the annual meeting. Nominees shall have the chance to speak to the general membership before the vote is taken at the annual meeting. The vote shall be by secret ballot. Directors, if they wish, may select their own support person to attend meetings with them.

In the event of a vacancy on the Board, the Board may elect a replacement director to serve until the next annual meeting, at which time the vacancy shall be filled as indicated above.

Section 4: Qualifications for Board of Directors

To ensure effective management of Speaking Up For Us activities and control by members, members of the Board of Directors should have at least the following qualifications:

• Be a member of Speaking Up For Us.
• Have some experience with working on committees.
• Be able to get support where it is needed (for example: transportation, reading & writing, making phone calls, etc.).
• Be able to work as part of a team.
• Be able to follow through on commitments (including travel, arranging time off, representing the group and other actions assigned), or let the Board know if they cannot.
• Be able to speak up and advocate for themselves.
• Be able to cooperate with each other.
• Be able to make their own decisions.
• Be able to do as much as they can for themselves.
• Be able to ask for help when they need it.
• Be able to keep organized.
• Be willing to help support group members, regardless of disability, to take part in activities in a meaningful way.
• Be willing to support everyone to have a chance to speak.
• Be able to support members when they get upset.
• Make sure the Board has their current address and telephone number.

Section 5: Meetings

Regular meetings of the Speaking Up For Us Board Of Directors will be held at least quarterly. Directors shall be notified at least one month before each meeting. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for scheduling, changing and/or planning meetings of the Board of Directors.

Special meetings may be called at the request of the Executive Committee. Directors shall be notified at least one month before such a meeting.

Section 6: Quorum and Voting

A quorum, the number of members necessary for purposes of voting, shall mean that one-half of the members of the Board of Directors are present. Each Director shall have one vote. At any meeting where a quorum is present, a majority vote shall pass any Board resolution, motion or other action.

Section 7: Compensation

The board may approve reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in service to Speaking Up For Us. Directors shall not receive monetary compensation (pay) for service on the Board of Directors.

Section 8: Resignation

A director may resign at any time by providing written or taped notice or notice in person to any officer or advisor of Speaking Up For Us. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, the resignation shall take place immediately.

Section 9: Removal

A Director can be removed from the Board by a vote of the Board, as long as a quorum is present. For removal to be considered, another director must make a motion for removal and state the reason(s) why this motion is being made. The motion must be seconded. The motion shall be considered at the next regular or special meeting of the Board. Notice of the pending removal must be made in the meeting notice. Reasons for removal may include unexcused absence at more than half of the regular and special meetings, unruly conduct at meetings, not following the bylaws, etc.

Section 10: Committees

The board may designate committees to address various activities and issues that arise. Such committees might include: newsletter, conference planning, fundraising, legislation, public education, monthly meeting planning, etc. Such committees shall serve at the pleasure of the board.

Speaking Up For Us shall designate an Executive Committee that consists of all the officers, plus additional members as appointed by the Board (for example: chairs of other standing committees). The Executive Committee shall have authority to act on behalf of the full board to manage the affairs of Speaking Up For Us between meetings of the full board. The Executive Committee shall provide a report of any actions taken to the full board prior to any regular or special meeting. The Board may limit the authority of the Executive Committee by resolution (a vote at a full meeting).

Article 5: Officers

Section 1: Election and Term of Office

The officers for Speaking Up For Us shall be a chairperson, co-chairperson, secretary and treasurer. Other officers may be appointed or elected by the Board as deemed necessary.

Officers shall be elected by vote of the Board of Directors at the first regular or special meeting of the Board following the annual meeting. The term of office for officers shall be one year. No officer shall serve more than two consecutive terms in the same position.

In addition to the qualifications for members of the Board of Directors, officers should have the additional qualifications of being able to travel independently, to read and write and to represent Speaking Up For Us, and the secretary should be able to help with minutes. If unable to do these things independently, an officer must have a support person to back him/her up.

Section 2: Duties

The duties of each officer shall be as follows:

Chairperson:

•  Runs the meeting
•  Represents the group
•  Signs papers
•  Keeps the group informed
•  Keeps organized
•  Sets up meetings
•  Changes meeting when necessary
•  Talks to people about self advocacy
•  Calls together meetings of the Executive Committee
•  Makes sure monthly meetings get facilitated

Co-Chairperson:

• Talks to people about self advocacy
• Listens to members about what to talk about at meetings
• Fills in for the chairperson when he/she is not there
• Helps the chairperson
• Learns about the chairperson's job
• Represents the group

Secretary:

• Makes sure note are taken
• Makes sure letters are written
• Makes sure records are filed and kept
• Keeps track of charts and lists at meetings
• Keeps track of the next meeting
• Sends invitations to meetings
• Talks to people about self advocacy
• Represents the group

Treasurer:

• Makes sure records are tracked for funds for Speaking Up For Us
• Represents the group
• Talks to people about self advocacy
• Makes sure checks are issued to cover Speaking Up For Us expenses
• Assures that Speaking Up For Us assets are deposited in appropriate accounts
• Makes sure the Board is aware of financial reports
• Collects money as appropriate

Section 3: Vacancies

Officers may resign or be removed only if the procedure is followed for resignation or removal of a director as described above in Article four, Sections eight and nine.

In the event of a vacancy of an officer's position, the Board may elect a replacement to complete the term.

Article 6: Finances

The fiscal year of Speaking Up For Us shall begin on the first day of July and end on the thirtieth day of June each year.

All funds received on behalf of the organization shall be credited to Speaking Up For Us. Such funds shall be deposited in accounts designated by the Board of Directors. All payments approved on behalf of the organization shall be signed by a representative designated by the Board of Directors.

All funds and expenditures shall be accounted for and supervised by the treasurer and/or a budget committee as designated by the Board. The Board may elect to assign a fiscal agent for Speaking Up For Us to assist in managing its accounts.

Article 7: Advisors and/or Coordinators

Speaking Up For Us advisors shall be designated (chosen) by the Board of Directors to support the Board, participants at monthly meetings and members of various committees and activities as directed by the Board. Local and regional groups shall be responsible for identifying their own advisors, but may ask the Board of Directors for assistance. In addition, directors, committee members and other members of Speaking Up For Us may at any time identify their own advisors.

In addition to regular advisors, Speaking Up For Us may elect to hire an advisor(s) and/or coordinator(s) to act at the Board’s direction to support the organization. In such an event, rate of pay, job description and employment agreements shall be determined by resolution (vote) of the Board of Directors.

The role of advisors will be to assist the group in reaching its goals, getting information, making decisions, making action plans, delegating responsibilities and carrying out action plans. In all cases the advisor will support members to do these tasks as independently as possible.

Advisors to the Board shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. Though it is suggested that the Board of Directors and concerned members try to resolve informally any issues with an advisor, an advisor may be removed at any time by a vote of the Board.

A volunteer advisor may resign at any time by providing written or taped notice or notice in person to the president or secretary of Speaking Up For Us. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, the resignation shall take place immediately.

Upon notification of the resignation of an advisor, the Board shall decide at the next regular or special meeting whether the position needs to be filled. If a new advisor is needed, the Board will choose one.

Article 8: Amendments (Changes) to Bylaws

The Board of Directors may, by a vote of members present, if a quorum is present, amend or change these bylaws, provided that written or taped notice of the proposed changes is sent to all directors at least one month prior to the meeting where the decision is made.

Amended & Approved: June 13 & 14, 1998