DRAFT LIDMUG Constitution (based on Lilug Bylaws)
NOTE: During the meeting on May 29th, review of these draft Bylaws discovered several issues which meeting participants thought needed addressing. To illustrate areas of the bylaws that likely need modification or rewriting, these issues are highlighted below IN RED. Notes are in blue.
THE BYLAWS OF THE LONG ISLAND DIGITAL MONEY USERS GROUP
ARTICLE I - NAME OF ORGANIZATION
The name of the organization is the Long Island Digital Money Users Group and may be referred to as such. It may also be referred to as LIDMUG.
ARTICLE II - PURPOSES
One primary purpose of LIDMUG is to promote the use of cryptocurrencies and to discuss the computer science behind cryptocurrencies among the members of the Long Island community. A second primary purpose is to provide an environment open to all to who wish to learn how to use, and understand cryptocurrencies.
ARTICLE III - QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERSHIP
Note: what defines an active member vs an inactive one? 66% of active members are required for a super-majority vote.
A person becomes a permanent member of LIDMUG if he or she either:
(a) attends a meeting and adds his or her name to the permanent membership list, which is kept by the Secretary or another officer designated by the Secretary,
or,
(b) is signed up for the Main LIDMUG email list, in which case his or her name will be placed on the permanent membership list by the Secretary or another officer designated by the Secretary
ARTICLE IV - MEETINGS
LIDMUG shall meet on a regular basis in a designated meeting place. All meetings will be open to all. Information about the meeting time and place shall be made publicly available.
All LIDMUG business shall be conducted during regular meetings. The president (or vice-president in his/her absence) shall be responsible for presiding over the meeting.
A meeting consists of at least two phases:
"Old Business", where proposals that have been discussed previously can be enacted by consensus, withdrawn, or voted on.
"New Business", where new motions can be brought before LIDMUG by the presiding officer. A motion can also be brought before LIDMUG by a petition signed by a number of active members greater than the square root of the total number of active members (rounded down).
Note: Where are the number of active members stated?
ARTICLE V - CONDUCTING LIDMUG BUSINESS
LIDMUG business consists of motions related to: - The creation of new officer positions or committees. - The delegation of power to officers or committees. - The election of officers. - A motion for impeachment proceedings against an officer. - The allocation of LIDMUG funds. - The amendment of the LIDMUG constitution.
A motion may depend on the passage of a motion currently under consideration. If the prerequisite motion fails to pass, the dependent motion automatically fails.
Whenever possible, LIDMUG business shall be conducted by consensus. Consensus on a motion shall be considered achieved when the proposal is brought up on a LIDMUG electronic forum one week prior to a regular meeting without any active member objecting or the motion being withdrawn. If consensus cannot be achieved after two meetings, a vote can be called either by the meetings presiding officer or by verbal request of at least half of the active members present. If a vote is called the motion must be decided by the voting process given below. If a vote is not called, the presiding officer may at his or her discretion either carry the motion over to the next meeting or declare the motion dead.
Note: Dependent motions, "electronic forum" is a bit vague, and I never see these rules get used at LILUG (where these Draft Bylaws came from) -- everything is done in-person.
ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS
LIDMUG shall have four mandated officers, a president, a vice-president a secretary and a treasurer. LIDMUG may also create new positions as necessary.
An election must be treated as LIDMUG business in accordance with the procedures given above. In the case that a vote is called for, a secret ballot should be taken.
Officers will be elected for a term not to exceed one year. They may serve multiple terms. If a post becomes vacant, an election to fill it must be held in one of the next two meetings, with election occurring in the third.
A motion for impeachment proceedings should be treated as LIDMUG business. Should the motion pass, a neutral party shall be designated to preside over the meeting until the issue is settled. Both the accusers and the accused shall be given time to explain their cases, and then the issue shall be settled by a super-majority vote, as described below.
ARTICLE VII - OFFICERS' DUTIES
The president is responsible for planning and running meetings. The vice-president shall assist the president in performing his or her duties. The secretary is responsible for noting attendance, taking minutes, and filling out paperwork as required. The responsibilities of this position may be fulfilled by the members of a secretarial committee. The treasurer is responsible for ensuring the club funds are spent as designated by the membership. He is primarily responsible for financial transactions. He is also responsible for a financial summary and disclosure of records at least every other month.
These officers, as well as new positions created in the course of LIDMUG business, shall be delegated additional powers as necessary to further the LIDMUG's purpose.
ARTICLE VIII - COMMITTEES
LIDMUG shall have the power to create and delegate power to committees as necessary to further LIDMUG's purpose. Criteria for membership on a committee shall be set by the motion that creates the committee.
ARTICLE IX - VOTING
Voting may be used to decide issues facing LIDMUG. It can also be used to elect officers.
Non-super-majority votes are decided using an alternate voting system, with the use of public or secret ballots, as called for by the type of vote. In a vote called for the purpose of electing officers, the secret balloting is used. Public balloting is used otherwise.
Super-majority votes are used for deciding impeachment proceedings and for amending constitutional bylaws. In this voting method, greater than 66% of all active members must cast votes in favor of the motion for it to pass.
Members may designate a proxy for their vote in the case that they are unable to attend a meeting. Absentee members should be active on the email list and should cast their votes via that list if possible. A signed and authenticated statement must be produced for a proxy vote to be recognized.
When non-super-majority voting is appropriate for any issue or candidate before LIDMUG, where a single choice must be elected above two or more choices, the approval method for voting will be used. This should be used in public or secret votes.
Note: "Using an alternate voting system" wording is quirky. The"approval method" is not specified. What denotes an active member vs an inactive one is not specified.
ARTICLE X - MONEY
The treasurer shall manage and control all property of the club.
LIDMUG shall not pay, assume or become responsible for the personal or unauthorized debts or liabilities of any individual member of the club.
ARTICLE XI - RESTRICTIONS
LIDMUG shall be non-racial, non-partisan and non-sectarian, and shall wholly abstain from any political or labor affiliation or endorsements for any public office. Any illegal acts pertaining to LIDMUG or conducted in LIDMUG forums will result in immediate disqualification of membership and removal from all forums.
ARTICLE XI – Conflict of Interests
LIDMUG shall adopt a conflict of interest policy, the purpose of which is to protect the interest of the organization when it contemplates entering into transactions or arrangements that might benefit the private interest of a LIDMUG officer.
If a LIDMUG officer has failed to disclose a real or apparent conflict of interest, as defined in the policy, or has otherwise not complied with the policy, after following the procedures outlined in the policy, and after a public warning period of no less than 31 days, the remaining members of the LIDMUG government shall have the authority to remove the officer in question from his/her government position. The right to use LIDMUG funds by the officer in question shall be suspended during the warning period. If the officer is removed, to fill the vacated position, nominations will then be held at the next plausible regular meeting and a subsequent election will be held.
Note: The conflict-of-interest policy is mention several times, but is otherwise unspecified.
ARTICLE XIII - AMENDMENTS
Amendments to these bylaws should be treated as LIDMUG business, as per the rules outlined above. If a vote is taken, it shall be a super-majority vote.
Note: Requirements for what makes a LIDMUG meeting official is unspecified. For instance, those present at the May 29th meeting believe that calling a LIDMUG meeting via Meetup should not be an "official" method.
