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Our Bylaws
Article I: Principal Office
The principal office of the corporation shall be located in the county of Alameda, California.
Article II: Membership
Section 1. Classification of Members. This corporation shall have one class of members with voting rights as specified in these Bylaws. The qualification of eligibility requirements for membership and the rights and obligation of members shall be provided in these Bylaws or under applicable law. The Board of Directors may, by resolution, establish one or more categories of nonvoting associates who may be referred to as “members,” and provide for their rights and obligations (including the obligation to pay dues); however, the terms “member” and “membership,” as used in these Bylaws, shall refer only to voting members.
Section 2. Qualifications for Membership. Membership in the corporation is open to but not limited to any individual natural person that resides or boards in property owned, leased, managed or operated by this corporation. Membership is contingent on adherence to the CR Member Conduct Policy.
Section 3. Admission of Members. Any application for membership must be made in writing and may be submitted to the Board of Directors at any time. The Board, or a person or committee authorized by the Board, will review each application and, if appropriate, certify that the applicant meets the qualifications for membership in accordance with Sections 1 and 2 above. Membership shall commence upon such certification and upon payment of any required dues.
Section 4. Membership Dues. Each member must pay to this corporation, within the time and on the conditions set by the Board, dues and fees in amounts to be fixed from time to time by the Board. Such dues and fees shall be equal from all members of this corporation. The Board may determine the conditions under which any payment of dues shall be refundable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, members residing at the corporation’s property will be charged rent, said rent shall be assessed separately from membership dues or fees, and rents charged to members need not be equal to that of other members.
Section 5. Good Standing. Those members who have paid the required dues, fees, and assessments, if any, and who are not suspended, shall be members in good standing of this corporation.
Section 6. Membership Roster. This corporation shall keep a membership roster containing the name of each member and the last address provided to the corporation by the member for purposes of notice. The roster shall indicate whether a member is in good standing from time to time.
Section 7. Nonliability of Members. No member of this corporation shall be personally liable for the debts, liabilities, or obligations of this corporation.
Section 8. Transferability of Memberships. Membership in the corporation, or any right arising there from, may not be transferred or assigned. Any attempted transfer shall be void.
Section 9. Termination of Membership. Membership in this corporation shall continue until terminated as provided in the Section, or until the member dies, or resigns in writing delivered to the Secretary or Co-Chairs of the corporation. No such resignation shall relieve the resigning member of any accrued but unpaid obligations of such member to this corporation.
A. Basis for Termination. Membership in the corporation shall terminate upon the occurrence of any of the following events or conditions:
i. Expiration. If a membership is issued for a period of time, such membership shall automatically terminate when such period of time has elapsed, unless the member elects to renew the membership.
ii. Nonpayment of Dues. A member’s membership in this corporation shall potentially be subject to termination forty-five days after such member is sent written notice of the failure to pay dues or fees on or before their due date. A member may avoid such termination by paying the amount of delinquent dues or fees, together with any interest thereon, within such forty-five-day period.
iii. Failure to Qualify. On a good faith finding by the Board of Directors, made in accordance with this Section, that a member no longer meets the qualifications set forth in Article II, Section 1 and 2, such member’s membership in this corporation shall terminate.
iv. On a good faith finding by the Board of Directors that a member has materially violated terms of their membership contract, these Bylaws, any part of the CR Member Conduct Policy, or any house rules applicable to their residential unit, and that the member has failed to cure the violation promptly upon request by the board or their house council, such member’s membership in this corporation shall terminate.
B. Termination Procedures. In the case of proposed termination of a membership under subsection A. ii, iii or iv above, the following procedures shall apply:
i. Notice. This corporation shall send a written notice to the member, setting forth the proposal for termination, the reasons for it, the date on which the termination will become effective, and the date, time and place (if any) of the hearing described in the next subsection. Such notice shall be sent at least fifteen days before the proposed date of termination, and at least ten days before the date set for the hearing, by first-class or registered mail, by email, or by personal service, to the last address provided by the member to the corporation for purposes of notice.
ii. Hearing. The member shall be given an opportunity to be heard, either orally or in writing, not less than five days before the effective date of the proposed termination, by the Board or the person or committee authorized by the Board to decide whether the proposed termination will take place. If the member does not appear and has not notified the Secretary of any adequate reason therefore, or chooses not to appear at the hearing, the termination shall be effective automatically on the proposed date of termination.
iii. Determination. Following the hearing date, the Board (or the person or committee authorized by the Board to decide whether the proposed termination will take place) shall decide whether or not the member should in fact be terminated, suspended, or sanctioned in some other way. For the purposes of termination, a vote, according to the procedures set forth in these Bylaws, of two-thirds of the Board members present in favor of terminating a member shall suffice. Any member that is subject to termination has no right to vote in any decisions regarding their termination. This decision to terminate a member shall be final, and the member shall be promptly notified of it. If a member is terminated hereunder, all membership rights of such member in the corporation shall cease on the effective date of the termination stated in the notice given pursuant to subsection B. i above. v. Refund. The Board may determine whether any person whose membership has been terminated or suspended shall receive a refund of any dues already paid. Any refund shall be prorated to return only the unaccrued balance remaining for the period of the dues payment.
Article III: Membership Rights
Section 1. Voting Rights. Subject to these Bylaws and this corporation’s other policies and procedures, members of the corporation shall have the exclusive right to vote, as set forth in these Bylaws, on:
(a) the election of directors;
(b) the removal of directors pursuant to Section 5222 of the California Nonprofit public Benefit Corporation Law, except as defined in Section 4 of Article V of these Bylaws;
(c) any amendment to these Bylaws that affects member voting rights, and all amendments to the Articles of Incorporation of this corporation, except for amendments permitted to be adopted by the Board of Directors alone under Section 5812(b) of the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law;
(d) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets or funds of this corporation;
(e) any merger of this corporation;
(f) dissolution of this corporation; and
(g) any other matters that may properly be presented to members for a vote, pursuant to this corporation’s
Articles, bylaws, or action of the Board of Directors, or by operation of law.
Section 2. Inspection Rights
A. Articles and Bylaws. This corporation shall keep at its principal office in California current copies of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the corporation, which shall be open to inspection by members at all reasonable times. If this corporation has no principal office in California, the Secretary shall furnish such copies to any member on written request thereof.
B. Accounting Records; Minutes. On request, any member (in person or through an agent or attorney) may inspect and copy the accounting books and records of this corporation and the minutes of the proceedings of the members, the Board, or and Board Committee, at any reasonable time.
C. Membership Records. The right of members to have access to the membership records of this corporation shall be governed by Sections 6330 through 6332 of the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law.
Section 3. Other Rights. In addition to the rights described in these Bylaws, members of the corporation shall have any other rights afforded voting members under the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law.
Article IV: Member Meetings and Voting
Section 1. Member Voting. Decisions of the membership shall be reached through modified consensus, as defined in Section 4 of Article XI of these Bylaws, except where a different voting process is specified.
Section 2. Member Meetings. At least once a year, a meeting of the membership will be held at a date, place, and time determined by the Board of Directors, for the purpose of electing directors and transacting such business as may come before the meeting.
Section 3. Special Meetings of Members.
A. Who May Call. Special meetings of the members may be called
(i) by the Board of Directors, or
(ii) on the written request of either five percent of the membership or at least three members, whichever is greater. B. Procedures for Calling Special Meetings Requested by Members. If a special meeting is called by members, the requesting members shall deliver a written notice specifying the general nature of the business proposed to be transacted personally, by registered mail, or email transmission, to the Chair, or the Secretary of this corporation. The requested meeting will be held not less than ten, nor more than ninety, days following the receipt of the request. If appropriate notice of such a meeting is not given within eight days after delivery of the request, the requesting members may give the notice. Nothing contained in this subsection shall be construed as limiting, fixing, or affecting the time of any meeting of members called by the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Record Dates. For any notice, vote (at a meeting or by written ballot), or exercise of rights, the Board of Directors may, in advance, by resolution, fix a record date, and only members of record on the date so fixed shall be entitled to notice, vote, or exercise rights, as the case may be. For this purpose, a person holding a membership as of the close of business on the record date shall be deemed a member of record.
A. Notice of Meetings. Unless otherwise fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for the purpose of determining which members are entitled to notice of any members’ meeting, shall be the business day preceding the date on which notice for that meeting is given. If the Board, by resolution, fixes a record date for notice, the record date shall be not less than five, nor more than ninety, days before the date of the meeting.
B. Voting at Meetings. Unless otherwise fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for the purpose of determining which members are entitled to vote at any members’ meeting shall be the day of that meeting. If the Board, by resolution, fixes a record date for voting, the record date shall be not more than sixty days before the date of the meeting.
C. Voting by Written Ballot. Unless otherwise fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for the purpose of determining which members are entitled to vote by written ballot shall be the day on which the first written ballot is mailed or solicited. If the Board, by resolution, fixes a record date for voting, the record date shall be not more than sixty days before the day on which the first written ballot is mailed or solicited.
D. Other Lawful Action. Unless otherwise fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for the purpose of determining which members are entitled to exercise any rights in respect to any other lawful action, shall be the date on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto or the sixtieth day before the date of such other action, whichever is later. If the Board, by resolution, fixes a record date for determining entitlements, the record date shall be not more than sixty days before the date of such other action.
Section 5. Time and Manner of Notice of Meetings. The Secretary shall give written notice of each member meeting to each member who, of the record date for notice of the meeting, would be entitled to vote at such meeting. The notice shall be delivered to the last address provided by the member to this corporation for purposes of notice, either personally or by email, or first-class, registered, or certified mail not less than ten nor more than ninety days before the date of such meeting, or by other mail not less than five nor more that ninety days before the date of such meeting.
Section 6. Contents of Notice. The notice shall state the place, date and time of the meeting and (a) in the case of special meetings, the general nature of the business to be transacted, and no other business may be transacted; or (b) in the case of the annual meeting, the names of all those who are nominees for director as of the date of the notice, and those matters which the Board, as of the date of the notice, intends to present for action by the members, but any proper matter may be presented at the annual meeting for such action.
Section 7. Notice of Certain Actions Required. Unless the vote of the membership shall be unanimous, any of the following votes shall be valid only if the general nature of the action approved was stated in the notice of the meeting at which the vote occurred: (a) to remove a director without cause, (b) to fill a vacancy on the Board, (c) to amend this corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, or (d) to voluntarily dissolve this corporation.
Section 8. Member Quorum. Forty percent of the memberships then in effect shall constitute a quorum.
Section 9. Act of the Members. Except for election and removal of directors, every decision or act made by the members present and voting at a duly held meeting, at which a quorum is present, according to the process of modified consensus as set forth in Section 4 of Article XI, is the act of the members.
Section 10. Manner of Voting.
A. Voting at Meetings. Voting at meetings shall be made in open discussion.
B. Proxy Voting Prohibited. Proxy voting shall not be permitted on any matter put to the vote of the members.
C. Cumulative Voting Prohibited. Cumulative voting shall not be permitted.
D. Action by Written Ballot Without a Meeting.
i. Generally. Any action required or permitted to be taken by members at a meeting may be submitted for a vote by written ballot pursuant to this Section without a meeting.
ii. Content of Written Ballots. Any written ballot distributed to the members to vote on a matter shall set forth the proposed action and provide an opportunity to specify approval or disapproval of the proposal, or in the case of electing board directors, an election among a set of candidates.
iii. Time for Return of Ballots. All written ballots shall provide a reasonable time within which to return them to this corporation and each ballot shall state on its face or in an accompanying notice the date by which it must be returned in order to be counted.
iv. Requirements for Valid Action. Approval by written ballot shall be valid only when the number of votes cast by ballot within the time period specified equals or exceeds the required quorum set forth in these Bylaws, and when the action has been approved by all members casting ballots.
v. Solicitation Rules. Written ballots shall be solicited in a manner consistent with the requirements for notice of members’ meetings. All solicitations of written ballots shall indicate the number of responses needed to meet the quorum requirement for valid action and shall state the percentage of affirmative votes necessary to approve the measure submitted for membership approval.
vi. Revocation of Written Ballots. If a member who has cast a written ballot desires to change their vote, the member may do so provided they notify the Secretary of the corporation in writing prior to close or the balloting period and casts a new ballot within the balloting period.
B. Elections. The board of directors shall make available to the members reasonable nomination and election procedures given the nature, size and operations of the corporation. Nomination and election procedures shall be stated in a written policy which may be amended from time to time by the board of directors and which shall be made available to members upon request of any member.
Section 11. Waiver of Notice or Consent by Members.
A. Generally. Any action of the members taken at a meeting where a quorum is present by for which proper notice was not given, will be presumed valid if, either before or after the meeting, each member entitled to vote who was not present at the meeting signs (i) a written waiver of notice, (ii) a consent to holding the meeting, or (iii) an approval of the minute. The waiver of notice need not specify the purpose or general nature of business to be transacted at such meeting unless action is taken or proposed to be taken on matters specified in Section 7 of the Article, in which case the waiver of notice must state the general nature of the matter. All such waivers, consents or approvals shall be filed with the minutes of the meeting.
B. Effect of Attendance at Meeting. Attendance by a member at a meeting shall also constitute a waiver of notice of that meeting, unless the member attends for the sole purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business due to the inadequacy or illegality of the notice. Attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right to object to the consideration of matters not included in the notice of the meeting which are required to be described therein pursuant to Section 7 of this Article, if the objection is expressly made at the meeting.
Section 12. Action by Unanimous Written Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the members at a meeting, may be taken without a meeting if all members shall individually or collectively consent to such action in writing. If action is taken by written consent, the consent(s) shall be filed with the corporate minutes.
Article V: Board of Directors
Section 1. Corporate Powers; Exercise By Board. The Board of Directors of this corporation shall have powers to the full extent allowed by law, except that decisions involving any of the following must be either 1) ratified approved) by the membership in accordance with the quorum requirements and voting procedures described in these bylaws, or 2) voted upon by the membership in the first instance (again, in accordance with the quorum requirements and voting procedures described in these bylaws):
a) any subject upon which “members of the corporation shall have the exclusive right to vote,” as set forth in Article III, Section I;
b) any amendment to these bylaws;
c) any change in the ownership of real property owned and/or controlled by this corporation (including but not limited to any change in the ownership of land and/or structures located at 3088 or 3090 King St., Berkeley, California 94703);
Section 2. Number and Qualification of Directors. The number of directors shall be not less than six (6) and no greater than twelve (12). The members of this corporation shall from time to time, by resolution, determine an exact number of directors of this corporation. Any amendment of the preceding sentence shall require the approval of the members. Directors of this corporation must be members of this corporation in good standing at the time of their election.
Section 3. Limitations on Interested Persons. At all times, not more than forty-nine percent of the directors of this corporation may be interested persons. An interested person means either:
(a) any person currently being compensated by this corporation for services rendered to it within the previous twelve months, whether as a full-time or part-time employee, independent contractor, or otherwise, excluding any reasonable compensation paid to a director in his or her capacity as director; or
(b) any brother, sister, ancestor, descendant, spouse, brother-in-law, sister-in- law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, or father-in-law or any such person.
Section 4. Election and Term of Office of Directors. Each director shall serve for a term of one year, or until membership as defined in Article I, Section 1 and 2, is terminated. Upon failure to attend three consecutive Board meetings, a director may be removed by a vote of the Board. Each director shall hold office until expiration of the term and until a successor has been elected.
Section 5. Vacancies. A vacancy shall be deemed to exist on the Board in the event that the actual number of directors is less than the authorized number for any reason. Vacancies may be filled by the remaining directors (unless the vacancy was created by removal of a director by the members in which case only the members may fill the vacancy) or by the members, for the unexpired portion of the term.
Section 6. Resignation and Removal of Directors. Resignations shall be effective upon receipt in writing by the Co-Chairs, or the Secretary of this corporation, unless a later effective date is specified in the resignation. The members may remove any director at any time, with or without cause.
Section 7. Annual Board Meeting. A meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held at least once a year. Annual meetings shall be called by any two directors, and noticed in accordance with Section 9 of this Article.
Section 8. Special Board Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by any two directors, and noticed in accordance with Section 9 of this Article.
Section 9. Notice. Notice of the annual meeting and any special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director and to each member at least four days before any such meeting if given by first-class mail or forty-eight hours before any such meeting if given personally or by telephone, including a voice messaging system or other system or technology designed to record and communicate massages, telegraph, facsimile, electronic mail, or other electronic means, and shall state the date, place, and time of the meeting.
Section 10. Waiver of Notice. The transaction of any meeting of the Board of Directors, however called and noticed and wherever held, shall be valid as though taken at a meeting duly held after proper call and notice, if a quorum is present, and if, either before or after the meeting, each or the directors not present signs a written waiver of notice, a consent to holding the meeting, or an approval of the minutes. All waivers, consents and approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting. Notice of a meeting shall also be deemed given to any director who attends the meeting without protesting the lack of adequate notice before the meeting or at its commencement.
Section 11. Quorum. A majority of the total number of directors then in office shall constitute a quorum. In addition, any member of the corporation in good standing may attend any meeting of the Board of Directors with the exception of executive sessions of the Board held to discuss matters which must be kept confidential to protect the interests of the corporation. An act decided upon, according to the process of modified consensus as defined in Section 4 of Article XI of these Bylaws, by the members present at a meeting at which a quorum of the directors is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors, except as otherwise provided in Article V, Sections 5 (filling board vacancies) and 12 (taking action without a meeting); Article VI, Section 1 (appointing Board Committees); Article VIII, Section 3 (approving Self-dealing transactions); Article IX, Section 2 (approving indemnification); and Article XI, Section 4 (amending Bylaws), of these Bylaws or in the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law.
Section 12. Action without a Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board may be taken without a meeting if all members of the board (other than any director interested in a transaction so approved) shall individually or collectively consent to such action in writing. Such written consents shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board, and shall have the same force and effect as the unanimous vote of such directors.
Section 13. Telephone and Electronic Messages. Directors may participate in a meeting through use of conference telephone, electronic video screen communication, or other communications equipment so long as all of the following apply:
(a) each director participating in the meeting can communicate with all or the other directors concurrently;
(b) each director is provided with the means of participation in all matters before the Board, including the capacity to propose, or the interpose an objection to a specific action to be taken by the corporation;
(c) this corporation verifies that (i) a person communicating by telephone, electronic video screen, or other communications equipment is entitled to participate in the Board meeting as a director, or by invitation of the Board or otherwise, and (ii) all motions, votes, or other actions required to be made by a director are actually made by a director and not by someone who is not entitled to participate as a director; and
(d) any member who wishes to take part in such a meeting is afforded the opportunity to do so.
Section 14. Standard of Care.
A. General. A director shall perform the duties of a director, including duties as a member of any Board Committee on which the director may serve, in good faith, in a manner such director believes to be in the best interest of this corporation and with such care, including reasonable inquiry, as an ordinarily prudent person in a like situation would use under similar circumstances. In performing the duties of a director, a director shall be entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports, or statements, including financial statements and other financial data, in each case prepared or presented by:
(i) one or more officers or employees of this corporation whom the director believes to be reliable and competent as the matters presented;
(ii) counsel, independent accountants, or other persons as to matters which the director believes to be within such person’s professional or expert competence; or
(iii) a Board Committee upon which the director does not serve, as to matters within its designated authority, provided that the director believes such Committee merits confidence; so long as in any such case, the director acts in good faith after reasonable inquiry when the need therefore is indicated by the circumstances and without knowledge that would cause such reliance to be unwarranted. Except as provided in Article VIII below, a person who performs the duties of a director in accordance with this Section shall have no liability based upon any failure or alleged failure to discharge that person’s obligations as a director, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any actions or omissions which exceed or defeat a public or charitable purpose to which this corporation, or assets held by it, are dedicated.
Section 15. Director Inspection Rights. Every director shall have the absolute right at any reasonable time to inspect and copy all books, records, and documents, and to inspect the physical properties of this corporation.
Section 16. Compensation of Directors. The membership may authorize, by resolution, the payment to a director of reasonable compensation for services as a director. The membership may authorize the advance or reimbursement to a director or actual reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out his or her duties as a director, such as for attending meetings of the Board and Board Committees.
Section 17. The directors and officers shall not be personally liable for the debts, liabilities, or other obligations of the corporation.
Section 18. Executive Session. The Board of Directors and any Board Committees shall only meet in executive session during a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present. The Board, in its discretion, may exclude anyone who is not a member of the Board of Directors from an executive session. Additionally, the board may exclude from an executive session any director who is determined by the board to have conflict of interest in the matter to be discussed in executive session.
The board may meet in executive session to discuss or to consider any of the following:
(a) pending or potential litigation,
(b) matters relating to the formation or negotiation of contracts with third parties,
(c) member discipline (including proposed suspension or termination),
(d) personnel matters, or
(e) to meet with a member, upon the member’s request, regarding the member’s payment of dues, fees, rent, other obligations to the corporation.
The minutes of any Board or Board Committee meeting which includes an executive session shall note the general nature of any matter discussed in executive session and any decisions made in executive session. The minutes of an executive session meeting need not contain detailed notes of points of discussion.
Article VI: Committees
Section 1. Board Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution of the directors present at any Board meeting as defined in Article V, create any number of Board Committees, each consisting of two or more directors, and only of directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board and to make final decisions on those matters which the board has delegated to the Board Committee. Appointments to any Board Committee shall be by resolution of the directors present at any duly held Board meeting at which a quorum is present Board Committees may be given all the authority of the Board, except for the powers to:
(a) set the number of directors within a range specified in these Bylaws;
(b) fill vacancies on the Board of Directors or on any Board Committee;
(c) fix compensation of directors for serving on the Board or any Board Committee;
(d) amend or repeal these Bylaws or adopt new Bylaws;
(e) approve amendments to the Articles of Incorporation of this corporation;
(f) amend or repeal any resolution of the Board of Directors which by its express terms is not so amendable or repealable;
(g) create any other Board Committees or appoint the members of any Board Committees;
(h) spend corporate funds to support a nominee for directors after there are more nominees than can be elected; or (i) approve any merger, reorganization, voluntary dissolution, or disposition of substantially all of the assets of this corporation.
Section 2. Advisory Committees and Working Groups. The Board of Directors may establish one or more Advisory Committees to the Board and/or one or more Working Groups. The members of any Advisory Committee or Working Group may consist of directors or non-directors and may be appointed as the Board determines. Advisory Committees and Working Groups may not exercise the authority of the Board to make decisions on behalf of this corporation, but shall be restricted to making recommendations to the Board or Board Committees, and implementing Board or Board Committee decisions and policies under the supervision and control of the Board or Board Committee.
Section 3. Meetings.
A. Of Board Committees. Meetings and actions of Board Committees shall be governed by and held and taken in accordance with the provisions of Article V of these Bylaws concerning meetings and actions of the Board of Directors, with such changes in the content of those Bylaws as are necessary to substitute the Board Committee and its members for the Board of Directors and its members. Minutes shall be kept of each meeting of any Board Committee and shall be filed with the corporate records.
B. Of Advisory Committees and Working Groups. Subject to the authority of the Board of Directors, Advisory Committees and Working Groups may determine their own meeting rules and whether minutes shall be kept.
Section 4. Authority of the Board. The Board of Directors may adopt rules for the governance of any Board or Advisory Committee or Working Group not inconsistent with the provisions of these Bylaws.
Article VII: Officers
Section 1. Officers. The officers of this corporation shall be two Co-Chairs, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The corporation may also have, at the discretion of the directors, such other officers as may be appointed by the Board of Directors. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, except that neither the Secretary nor the Treasurer may serve concurrently as the Co-Chairs of the Board, if any. The Co-Chairs of the Board shall be elected from among the directors of the corporation.
Section 2. Election. The officers of this corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors, and each shall serve at the pleasure of the Board, subject to the rights, if any, of as officer under any contract of employment.
Section 3. Removal. Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment, any officer may be removed, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors or by an officer on whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board of Directors, or by a vote of the membership.
Section 4. Resignation. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to this corporation. Any resignation shall take effect on receipt of that notice by such officer or at any later time specified by that notice and, unless otherwise specified in that notice, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of this corporation under any contract to which the officer is a party.
Section 5. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office for any reason shall be filled in the same manner as these Bylaws provide for election to that office.
Section 6. Co-Chairs of the Board. The Co-Chairs of the Board shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board or these Bylaws.
Section 7. Secretary. The Secretary shall supervise the keeping of a full and complete record of the proceedings of the members and the Board of Directors and its committees, if any, shall supervise the giving of such notices as may be proper or necessary, shall supervise the keeping of the minute books and membership records of this corporation, and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board or these Bylaws.
Section 8. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of this corporation and shall supervise the charge and custody of all funds of this corporation, the deposit of such funds in the manner prescribed by the Board of Directors, and the keeping and maintaining of adequate and correct accounts of this corporation’s properties and business transactions, shall render reports and accountings as required, and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board or these Bylaws.
Article VIII: Certain Transactions
Section 1. Loans. Except as permitted by Section 5236 of the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law, this corporation shall not make any loan of money or property to, or guarantee the obligation of, any director or officer, provided, however, that this corporation may advance money to a director or officer of this corporation or any subsidiary for expenses reasonably anticipated to be incurred in performance of the duties of such director or officer so long as such individual would be entitled to be reimbursed for such expenses absent that advance.
Section 2. Self-Dealing Transactions. Except as provided in Section 2 of this Article, the Board of Directors shall not approve or permit the corporation to engage in any self-dealing transaction. A self-dealing transaction is a transaction to which this corporation is a party and in which one or more of its directors has a material financial interest, unless the transaction comes within Section 5233(b) of the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law.
Section 3. Approval. This corporation may engage in a self-dealing transaction if the transaction is approved by a court or by the Attorney General. This corporation may also engage in a self-dealing transaction if the Board determines, before the transaction, that (a) this corporation is entering into the transaction for it sown benefit; (b) the transaction is fair and reasonable to this corporation at the time; and (c) after reasonable investigation, the Board determines that is could not have obtained a more advantageous arrangement with reasonable effort under the circumstances. Such determinations must be made by the Board in good faith, with knowledge of the material facts concerning the transaction and the director’s interest in the transaction, and by a vote of a majority of the directors then in office, without counting the vote of the interested director or directors.
Where it is not reasonable practicable to obtain approval of the Board before entering into a self-dealing transaction, a Board Committee may approve such transaction in a manner consistent with the foregoing requirements, provided that, at its next meeting, the full Board determines in good faith that the Board Committee’s approval of the transaction was consistent with such requirements and that it was not reasonably practical to obtain advance approval by the full Board, and ratifies the transaction by a majority of the directors then in office without the vote of any interested director.
Article IX: Indemnification and Insurance
Section 1. Right of Indemnity. To the fullest extent allowed by Section 5238 of the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law, this corporation shall indemnify its agents, in connection with any proceeding, and in accordance with Section 5238. For purposes of this Article, “agent” shall have the same meaning as in Section 5238(a), including directors, officers, employees, other agents, and persons formerly occupying such positions; “proceeding” shall have the same meaning as in Section 5238(a), including any threatened action or investigation under Section 5233 or brought be the Attorney General; and “expenses” shall have the same meaning as in Section 5238(a), including reasonable attorneys’ fees.
Section 2. Approval of Indemnity. On written request to the Board of Directors in each specific case by any agent seeking indemnification, to the extent that the agent has been successful on the merits, the Board shall promptly authorize indemnification in accordance with Section 5238(d). Otherwise, the Board shall promptly determine, by the consent of a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to the proceeding whether, in the specific case, the agent has net the applicable standard of conduct stated in Section 5238(b) or Section 5238(c), and, if so, shall authorize indemnification to the extent permitted thereby. If the Board cannot do so because there is no quorum of directors who are not party the proceeding for which indemnification is sought, the Board shall promptly call a meeting of the members. At that meeting, the members shall determine whether, in the specific case, the applicable standard of conduct stated is such Section has been met, and, if so, the members may authorize indemnification to the extent permitted thereby.
Section 3. Advancing Expenses. The Board of Directors may authorize the advance of expenses incurred by or on behalf of an agent of this corporation in defending any proceeding prior to final disposition, if the Board finds that:
(a) the requested advances are reasonable in amount under the circumstances; and
(b) before any advance is made, the agent will submit a written undertaking satisfactory to the Board to repay the advance unless it is ultimately determined that the agent is entitled to indemnification for the expenses under this Article. The Board shall determine whether undertaking must be secured, and whether interest shall accrue on the obligation created thereby.
Section 4. Insurance. The Board of Directors may adopt a resolution authorizing the purchase of insurance on behalf of any agent against and liability asserted against or incurred by the agent in such capacity or arising of the agent’s status as such, and such insurance may provide for coverage against liabilities beyond this corporation’s power to indemnify the agent under law.
Article X: Grants Administration
Section 1. Purpose of Grants. This corporation shall have the power to make grants and contributions and to render other financial assistance for the purposes expressed in this corporation’s Articles of Incorporation.
Section 2. Board of Directors Oversight. The Board of Directors shall exercise itself, or delegate, subject to its supervision, control over grants, contributions, and other financial assistance provided by this corporation. The Board shall approve a process for reviewing and approving or declining all requests for funds made to this corporation, which shall require such requests to specify the use to which the funds will be put, and to include a mechanism for regular Board review of all grants made. The Board shall similarly approve a process for authorizing payment of duly approved grants to the approved grantee.
Section 3. Refusal; Withdrawal. The Board of Directors, in its absolute discretion, shall have the right to refuse to make any grants or contributions, or the render other financial assistance, for any or all of the purposes for which the funds are requested, In addition, the Board, in its absolute discretion, shall have the right to withdraw its approval of any grant at any time and use the funds for other purposes within the scope of the purposes expressed in this corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, subject to any rights of third parties under any contract relating to such grant.
Section 4. Accounting. The Board of Directors shall determine under what circumstances to require that grantees furnish a periodic accounting to show that the funds granted by this corporation were expended for the purposes that were approved by the Board.
Section 5. Restriction on contributions. Unless otherwise determined by resolution of the Board of directors in particular cases, this corporation shall retain complete control and discretion over the use of all contributions it receives, and all contributions received by the corporation from solicitations for specific grants shall be regarded as for the use of this corporation and not for any particular organization or individual mentioned in the solicitation.
Article XI: Miscellaneous
Section 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of this corporation shall end each year on December 31.
Section 2. Contracts, Notes, and Checks. All contracts entered into on behalf of this corporation must be authorized by any two officers, and, except as otherwise provided by law, every draft, promissory note, money order, or other evidence of indebtedness of this corporation shall be signed by the Treasurer and Co-Chairs, or in the instance of an absent Treasurer or Co-Chair, any member authorized in writing by the absent Treasurer or Co-Chair to sign on behalf of that officer. All checks issued on behalf of this corporation must be authorized by an individual designated by the Treasurer or at least one Co-Chair.
Section 3. Annual Reports to Members and Directors.
Within 120 days after the end of this corporation’s fiscal year, the Board shall furnish a written report to all of the directors and members of this corporation which report shall contain a copy of the IRS Form 990 filed by the corporation for that fiscal year and any additional information required by Corporations Code Sections 6321 and 6322 not contained in the IRS Form 990.
Section 4. Modified Consensus. All resolutions of the Board of Directors or of the members of this corporation shall be made using modified consensus, unless these Bylaws specify otherwise. In using modified consensus to reach a decision at such a meeting, the members present must make two good-faith attempts to ensure that all directors or members (as applicable) present agree upon the resolution in question; after failing twice to do so, the directors or members (as applicable) present may pass the resolution with a two-thirds majority.
Section 5. Articles can be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the members during a properly noticed meeting at which a quorum is present.
Section 6. Amendments. Amendments to these Bylaws may be adopted, as follows. Such amendments shall require unanimous written consent of the Board, or by a two-thirds majority vote of the Board during a properly noticed Board meeting at which a quorum is present.The Board may not amend the Bylaws if the amendment would materially and adversely affect the rights of members; such an amendment may only be made by a two-thirds vote of the membership at a Membership Meeting or Special Membership Meeting. If a proposed Bylaw amendment will be considered at a meeting, it shall be submitted in writing to the persons entitled to vote thereon at least one week before such meeting.
Section 7. Governing Law. In all matters not specified in these Bylaws, or in the event these Bylaws shall not comply with applicable laws, the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law as then in effect shall apply.