NYRA-Vermont

The name of this organization shall be NYRA-Vermont, hereinafter referred to as the Chapter, which is a chapter of the National Youth Rights Association, Inc., hereinafter referred to as the Association.

The object of this Chapter shall be to promote, encourage, and facilitate the elimination and reform of laws that limit the freedom of young people in the State of Vermont; to promote, encourage, and facilitate the creation of laws that protect such freedom; and to promote awareness of the legal and human rights of young people in the United States.

Section 1. Membership Eligibility and Admission Procedure. Any Vermont resident who is eligible for membership in the Association shall be eligible for membership in the Chapter. Any person who becomes a member of the Chapter must also become a member, paying or non-paying, of the Association. A proposal for membership shall be sent physically or electronically to the Secretary, who shall report it at the next regular meeting of the Chapter. Voting upon the admission shall take place at that same meeting, and a majority vote shall elect to membership. A person so elected shall immediately be declared a member of the Chapter, and the Secretary shall promptly submit that person's membership information to the Association.
Section 2. Fees and Dues. No fees or dues shall be assessed as a requirement for membership in the Chapter.
Section 3. Resignation from Membership. Any member desiring to resign from the Chapter shall submit his or her resignation in writing to the Secretary, who shall present it to the Executive Board for action. Any member who resigns from the Association must also resign from the Chapter.
Section 4. Disciplinary Action. A member may be required to resign by a unanimous decision of the Executive Board. A person who is removed from membership in the Association shall also be removed from membership in the Chapter.
Section 5. Reinstatement. Individuals shall be reinstated to Chapter membership in accordance with the Association’s standing rules. The Chapter shall not charge a reinstatement fee.

Section 1. Officers and Duties. The officers of the Chapter shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a College Outreach Director, and a High School Outreach Director. These officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws and by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Chapter.
Section 2. Nomination Procedure, Time of Elections. Nominations shall be taken from the floor at the regular meeting held on the first Sunday in April. Before the election at the annual meeting in May, additional nominations from the floor shall be permitted.
Section 3. Ballot Election, Term of Office. The officers shall be elected by ballot to serve for one year or until their successors are elected, and their term of office shall begin at the close of the annual meeting at which they are elected.
Section 4. Office-Holding Limitations. No member shall be eligible to serve more than six consecutive terms in the same office.
Section 5. Attendance Requirement. An officer who is absent from three consecutive meetings of the Chapter, or from three consecutive meetings of the Executive Board, shall be considered to have vacated his or her office.

Section 1. Regular Meetings. The regular meetings of the Chapter shall be held on the first Sunday of each month unless otherwise ordered by the Chapter.
Section 2. Annual Meetings. The regular meeting on the first Sunday in May shall be known as the annual meeting and shall be for the purpose of electing officers, amending bylaws, receiving reports of officers and committees, and for any other business that may arise.
Section 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called by the President or by the Executive Board and shall be called upon the written request of five members of the Chapter. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call. Except in cases of emergency, at least three days’ notice shall be given.
Section 4. Quorum. Five members of the Chapter shall constitute a quorum.

Section 1. Board Composition. The officers of the Chapter, including the Outreach Directors, shall constitute the Executive Board.
Section 2. Board’s Duties and Powers. The Executive Board shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Chapter between its business meetings, fix the hour and place of meetings, make recommendations to the Chapter, and perform such other duties as are specified in these bylaws. The Board shall be subject to the orders of the Chapter, and none of its acts shall conflict with action taken by the Chapter.
Section 3. Board Meetings. Unless otherwise ordered by the Board, regular meetings of the Executive Board shall be held on the third Sunday of each month. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the President and shall be called upon the written request of two members of the Board.
Section 4. Electronic Meetings. The Executive Board may conduct its meetings electronically by chat room or instant messaging, provided that all members of the Board may participate.

Section 1. Committees; President’s Ex-Officio Committee Membership. Such committees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the President as the Chapter or the Executive Board shall from time to time deem necessary to carry on the work of the Chapter. The President shall be ex officio a member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.
Section 2. Electronic Meetings. A committee may conduct its meetings electronically by chat room or instant messaging, provided that all members of the committee may participate.

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the 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 the Chapter may adopt.

These bylaws may be amended at any annual meeting of the Chapter by a two-thirds vote, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing at the previous regular meeting.

In addition to these bylaws, the Chapter shall be governed by the Association’s bylaws and standing rules, and by the policies of the Association’s Board of Directors.

NYRA Quote of the Month

"No guarantees come with children's liberation. But neither the promise of great benefits to all nor the prediction of great difficulties ahead can serve as the reason for granting or denying rights to children. Rights will be granted because without them children are incapacitated, oppressed, and abused."

National Youth Rights Association
Vermont Chapter

Bylaws of the Vermont Chapter of NYRA

National Youth Rights Association Vermont Chapter

Bylaws of the Vermont Chapter of NYRA

National Youth Rights Association
Vermont Chapter