Please Note:
All Additions made to the By-Laws are in Green print
All Deletions made to the By-Laws are in Green brackets [ ]
AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE
HOUSTON [CHAPTER]
ARTICLE I
NAME AND OBJECTIVE
Sec. 1 This organization shall be known as [the Houston Chapter of the] American Jewish Committee Houston.
Sec. 2 The mission of the American Jewish Committee is:
(a) To safeguard the welfare and security of Jews in the United States, in Israel and throughout the world.
(b) To strengthen the basic principles of pluralism around the world, as the best defense against anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry.
(c) To enhance the quality of American Jewish life by helping ensure Jewish continuity and deepen ties between American and Israeli Jews.
In accordance with this statement, [the Houston Chapter of the] American Jewish Committee Houston shall devote itself to the implementation of this mission of the American Jewish Committee and to the advancement of democracy, pluralism and mutual understanding.
Article II
Membership
Sec. 1 Eligibility – Jews, who are citizens or residents of the United States and desire to aid in the furthering of the purpose and program of the American Jewish Committee, shall be eligible for membership in the Committee.
Sec. 2 Dues – Each member shall pay annual dues in an amount determined by the National Board of Governors.
Article III
Officers
Sec. 1 Officers [of the Chapter] shall be: President, President-elect, four [4] Vice Presidents, Secretary-Treasurer and Immediate Past President.
(a) In the absence of the President or his/her inability to serve, the Executive Committee may name an Acting President whose term will not exceed one year.
(b) In the second year of a President’s tenure, a President-elect will be proposed by the Nominating Committee for election to that position at the Annual Meeting
Sec. 2 Officers [of the Chapter] shall be members in good standing; shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee and elected at the Annual Business Meeting.
Sec. 3 Officers shall hold office for a period of one [1] year from the date of election.
Sec. 4 An officer may serve no more than two [2] consecutive terms in the same elected position, exclusive of appointment to fill a vacancy.
Sec. 5 Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired portion of a term of office by a vote of the Executive Committee.
Sec. 6 Officers shall be responsible for implementation of and participation in AJC Houston [Chapter] goals and programs.
Duties of [Chapter] officers shall be those prescribed for and appropriate to such offices, including:
(a) The [Chapter] President shall serve as presiding office of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
(b) There shall be four Chapter Vice Presidents
1. International Affairs Vice President
2. Domestic and Jewish Affairs Vice President
3. Development Vice President
4. Intergroup and Interfaith Affairs Vice President
(c) The Secretary-Treasurer shall be responsible for matters of chapter administration, management and resources.
(d) The Immediate Past President shall serve as chairman of the Nominating Committee.
Article IV
Executive Committee
Sec. 1 There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the Officers [of the Chapter], the Chairs of the four [4] standing committees set out in Article VI, Section 1, the Chairs of ACCESS and Crucial Issues Series and two at-large members appointed by the President.
Sec. 2 The Executive Committee shall meet at the request of the [Chapter] President or upon the request of a majority of the Executive Committee.
Sec. 3 The Executive Committee shall have responsibility for all AJC Houston [Chapter] affairs; shall consider all matters of concern [to the Chapter]; and shall make recommendations for policy decisions and specific action to the Board of Directors.
Article V
Board of Directors
Sec. 1 (a) There shall be a Board of Directors consisting of the Officers [of the Chapter] and fifty-five [55] other Chapter members in good standing; fifty [50] of whom shall be elected at an Annual Business Meeting and five [5] of whom may be appointed by the President. Directors are responsible for establishing [Chapter] goals and objectives.
Members of the Board of Directors are expected to make a minimum annual donation to the AJC in an amount set by the Executive Committee.
(b) All past [Chapter] Presidents shall serve as ex-officio members of the Board, with full voting privileges.
Sec. 2(a) Each elected Director shall be elected for a term of two [2] years. [and may be reelected for additional two-year terms.]
(b) Twenty-five [25] Directors shall be elected each year. After a one [1] year absence from the Board as an elected Director, eligibility shall be restored for election as a Director. Completion of a term on the Executive Committee shall restore eligibility for all Board of Director positions. The Executive Committee shall determine the number of board members to be elected each year.
(c) The five [5] Directors appointed by the President shall serve for a single, one [1] year appointment.
Sec. 3 (a) Vacancies: The Executive Committee shall nominate candidates to fill vacant Board positions. Such nominations shall be subject to approval by the Board of Directors.
(b) Unexpired term: The Executive Committee shall nominate candidates to fill vacant unexpired Board terms. Such nominations shall be subject to approval by the Board of Directors.
Sec. 4 (a) The Board of Directors shall hold a minimum of seven [7] regular meetings during the calendar year to conduct [Chapter] business.
(b) The Board of Directors shall meet at the request of the [Chapter] President or upon the request of a majority of the Board of Directors
Sec. 5 All Chapter members who serve on the National American Jewish Committee Board of Governors or Board of Trustees, or serve on a National Committee or Commission, shall be ex-officio members of the Chapter Board of Directors.
Article VI
Chapter Commissions and Committees
Sec. 1 There shall be four [4] standing commissions consisting of:
1. Intergroup and Interfaith Affairs
2. Domestic and Jewish Affairs
3. International Affairs
4. Development
Sec. 2 Nominating: A Nominating Committee shall be responsible for nominating Officers and candidates to the Board of Directors. It shall consist of seven [7] members [of the Chapter]: the Immediate Past President, who shall be appointed as chairman; three [3] from the Board of Directors; and three [3] from the general membership, exclusive of the Board of Directors and Officers. Each member of the Nominating Committee shall be selected by the President and submitted to the Board of Directors for confirmation.
Sec. 3 Ad Hoc: Committees shall be created as deemed necessary by the Board of Directors.
Article VII
Advisory Committee
There shall be an Advisory Committee that shall consist of past [Chapter] Presidents, members of the National Board of Governors, and other Chapter members, as may be selected by the President.
Article VIII
[Chapter] Meetings
Sec. 1 Annual Meeting: There shall be an Annual Business Meeting to elect and install officers, directors, amend bylaws, and to conduct other business of the Chapter.
Sec. 2 Special Meetings: At the discretion of the President, other meetings may be held.
Sec. 3 Meeting Notice: [Chapter] [m]Meetings require a minimum two week written notice by U.S. mail, sent to the most recent listed address of each Chapter member.
Sec. 4 Quorum: Those members in good standing present at any regularly called meeting shall constitute a Quorum.
Article IX
Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern [the] AJC Houston [Chapter] in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order th[e]at [Chapter] may be adopted.
Article X
Amendment of Bylaws
The bylaws of the Chapter may be amended by a two-thirds [2/3] vote of members present at the Annual Meeting, provided that the proposed changes are mailed to members, two [2] weeks prior to the meeting.
Adopted: September 1982
Amended: September 1985
Amended: October 1987
Amended: October 1990
Amended: October 1991
Amended: May 2006
Amended: June 2007
Proposed changes January 2010
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