Constitution and Bylaws

UNITED METHODIST INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

ARTICLE I
NAME

The name of this organization shall be the UNITED METHODIST INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION (Association) commonly known as UMITA. (pronounced “u-mĭt-uh”)

ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION

The United Methodist Information Technology Association is a voluntary, unincorporated association with a principal place of business at 1 Music Circle North, Nashville, TN 37203. The Association shall at all times be subject to The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, as amended from time to time. The laws of the State of Tennessee shall govern the interpretation and enforcement of these by-laws.

ARTICLE III
PURPOSE AND FUNCTIONS

A. Purpose. The Association is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, or scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code. The purpose of the Association is the exchange of technology information including, but not limited to, the sharing of ideas, data, and education all for the purpose of making Disciples for Christ.

B. Functions. The functions of the Association are to:
1. Enable conference Information Technology usage.
2. Communicate to and with United Methodist organizations about Information Technology usage.
3. Educate United Methodist organizations Information Technology administrators and staff.
4. Disseminate current information about Information Technology in relation to The United Methodist Church.
5. Provide a method for common application development.
6. Stimulate application software development for conference applications.
7. Coordinate research and development in software development.
8. Coordinate information systems between United Methodist organizations.
9. Facilitate information systems integration between United Methodist organizations.

ARTICLE IV
MEMBERSHIP

A. Membership in the Association is open to any United Methodist annual conference, provisional conference, central conference, missionary conference, jurisdictional conference or general board or agency. Membership is established when the annual dues for that member organization have been paid. Dues are due September 1 each year. Each member is entitled to one vote during meetings of the Association. The member organization shall designate its voting representative at the time its dues are paid.

B. Termination: Membership shall terminate if a member organization does not pay its annual dues by the due date.

ARTICLE V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES

A. Board of Directors. The Association shall have a Board of Directors (Board) elected by the voting representatives of the membership at the Association’s annual meeting. The Board shall consist of Directors in the following two categories:

Voting Directors
Eight Directors elected by the voting representatives of the membership.
The immediate Past President (ex officio)

Non-voting Directors
A Staff Person from the General Council on Finance & Administration of The United Methodist Church (GCFA) appointed by the GCFA General Secretary A United Methodist Communications (UMCom) Staff Person appointed by the UMCom General Secretary ).
The Host Conference representative (ex officio) ).

The Board shall have at least one voting member from each jurisdiction provided a voting member runs for election from each jurisdiction. Each voting director shall be elected for a four-year term . There shall be four classes of two voting directors each. General Agency staff may serve as voting directors.

The Board shall be responsible for acting on the Association’s behalf between meetings, preparing the annual meeting program, developing the Association’s annual budget; and other duties normally prescribed for a Board of Directors.
The Board shall temporarily fill any vacancy that arises between the Association’s annual meetings. Any such vacancy shall be permanently filled by the voting representatives at the next meeting of the members.

B. Committees. The Association, or the Board acting on the Association’s behalf, may from time-to-time establish committees necessary to perform specific functions.

ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS

A. The Association Officers shall include a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Webmaster. The Officers shall be elected from the voting members of the Board by the Board. Board Officers may not serve more than 2 consecutive 1 year terms in the same position. The responsibilities of the officers shall be those usually with an organization.

ARTICLE VII
MEETINGS

A,. There shall be an annual meeting of the Association.

B. The number of voting representatives of members who attend the annual meeting of the Association shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting all business of the Association. All action shall be by majority vote of the voting representatives of members present. The rules contained in the current edition of Roberts Rules of Order shall govern the business meetings of the Association in all situations with which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these by-laws and any special rules of order the Association may adopt.

C. A majority of voting directors shall constitute a quorum for transacting all business of the Board . All action shall be by majority vote of the voting directors present. The rules contained in the current edition of Roberts Rules of Order shall govern the business meetings of the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these by-laws and any special rules of order the Association may adopt.

D. Any action that may be taken at the annual meeting of the Association or at any Board meeting may be taken by email ballot as long as each voting representative of members or each voting director consents to the ballot. Consent is granted if the voting representative of members or voting director votes on the ballot issue. Any action via email ballot shall be by majority vote of the voting representatives of members or voting directors.

ARTICLE VIII
PROHIBITIONS AND LIMITATIONS

No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, directors, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the exempt purposes of the organization. No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, this organization shall not, except to an insubstantial degree, engage in any activities or exercise any powers that are not in furtherance of the purposes of this organization.

ARTICLE IX
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Conflicts of interest and the appearance of impropriety must be avoided by all persons relating to their work in relation to the Association. This policy shall apply to all the voting representatives of members, directors, officers, staff, and volunteers of the Association.

ARTICLE X
DUES

Membership dues shall be established at the annual meeting upon recommendation by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS

Amendments to this Constitution and Bylaws may be made upon two-thirds vote of the voting representatives of members present at any annual meeting of the Association. However, notice of any proposed changes shall be sent to the members at least two (2) weeks prior to the meetings.

ARTICLE XII
DISSOLUTION

Upon the dissolution of the organization, all assets of the organization remaining after all liabilities and obligations of the organization have been paid, satisfied and discharged, will be transferred, conveyed, and distributed to an official United Methodist 501(c)(3) organization as determined by the Board

Revised 9/10/2015