Gay Spirit Visions* Bylaws

(Revised December 2006)

 

A. Stewards: Structure, Commitment, and Responsibility
(See Appendix II)

1. To be a member – Steward – of the Council of Gay Spirit Visions (GSV), each person must fulfill the following minimum requirements:
   
   
   1. The person must have attended one Fall Conference, and
   2. Each person will compose a “Letter of Intention” to be submitted at the annual Council Retreat and read at the installation ceremony at that gathering. The Letter of Intention is a statement of one’s proposed commitment of time and energy, specific goals and planning/project interests.
      
      
2. Each person who has fulfilled the minimum requirements to be a
   Steward must abide by the following standards of conduct to be in “good standing.”
   
   
   1. Attend a minimum of nine (9) monthly Council meetings during a calendar year. Any absence is to be communicated in advance of the meeting to the Presiding Elder. A Steward may not have more than two (2) unexplained absences from the Council meetings.
   2. Each Steward may be asked to serve on one or more subcommittees.
   3. All Stewards will be a member in planning and/or facilitating a Fall Conference subcommittee.
   4. While it is the responsibility of each Steward to fulfill his commitments, the Trusted Elders will serve as mentors to a Steward who is not fulfilling his responsibility and will make recommendations to help him achieve and maintain good standing.

B. Trusted Elders: Structure, Commitment and Responsibility
(See Appendix II)

1. To be a Trusted Elder, each person must fulfill the following minimum requirements:
   
   
   1. The person must have served the preceding year as a Steward in good standing, or in the case of a former Trusted El der, must have served in good standing during his term, and
   2. The person must have attended one Fall Conference and one other retreat or two fall conferences, and
   3. The person will compose a Letter of Intention. (see A. 1. b)
      
      
2. Each Trusted Elder must assume and perform his portfolio of responsibility (see B.4) during his term. He must attend a minimum of nine (9) monthly council meetings during a calendar year, as well as all meetings of the Trusted Elders. Any absence is to be communicated in advance of a meeting to the Presiding Elder. A Trusted Elder may not have more than two (2) unexplained absences from Council meetings. At each meeting, the Trusted Elder will present a report when appropriate to his area of assignment. If a Trusted Elder must be absent from any Council meeting or any Trusted Elders’ meeting, he will designate another Trusted Elder or member of that subcommittee to present his report at the meeting.
   
   The Presiding Elder, Presiding Elder-Elect and Elder at Large will be available as needed to assist with other portfolios of responsibility of Trusted Elders. Other Trusted Elders will chair one or more subcommittees. A Trusted Elder will assemble and manage his committee(s) with assistance from the Elder of Service. All Trusted Elders will be a member in planning and/or facilitating a Fall Conference subcommittee.
   
   
3. A Trusted Elder is in good standing if he has fulfilled stated requirements. Any Trusted Elder who fails to remain in good standing may be relieved of his position if, after consultation with the Trusted Elder not in good standing, the consensus of the remaining Trusted Elders is that a recommendation be made to the Council that it is in the best interests of GSV to relieve the Trusted Elder of his position. Consensus approval of the Council must then be reached to relieve the Trusted Elder of his position.
   
   
4. The Trusted Elders will be comprised of seven (7) members. The title, term and portfolio of each are as follows:
   
   
   1. Presiding Elder (aka President) – 2-year term
      
      The business and spiritual leader of GSV; responsible for preserving the mission, fostering the vision and advancing the goals of GSV; responsible for setting the agenda and facilitating each monthly Council meeting and each Trusted Elders’ meeting; oversees all other portfolios and assists as needed; mentors the Presiding Elder-Elect; is the legal authority of GSV and in conjunction with Elder of Finance processes negotiable instruments and business documents.
      
      
   2. Presiding Elder-Elect (aka Vice President) – 1-year term
      
      A Presiding Elder-Elect is chosen at the beginning of the Presiding Elder’s second year of his two-year term and will succeed the Presiding Elder upon completion of that term. The Presiding Elder-Elect assists the Presiding Elder and fulfills duties of the Presiding Elder when necessary; assists with each portfolio of the other Trusted Elders; oversees or assigns leadership to the committees and subcommittees for the conference and retreats.
      
      
   3. Elder of Finance – Indefinite term
      
      Responsible for processing and reporting financial issues; chairs the Finance Committee; in conjunction with the Presiding Elder processes negotiable instruments and business documents.
      
      
   4. Elder of Communication – Indefinite term
      
      
   Responsible for all internal and external communications (written, oral and electronic); keeps corporate minutes; acts as liaison with other agencies; principal spokesperson for the media; chairs Communications Committee; maintains mailing list/database; coordinates production and distribution of the newsletter (Visionary).
   
   
   5. Elder of Service – Indefinite term
      
      Coordinates metro Atlanta social events and activities (potlucks, heart circles, etc.); manages human resources issues; assists other Trusted Elders in staffing their subcommittee(s) and events.
      
      
   6. Elder of Archives – Indefinite term
      
      Custodian of all archival matters; counselor to GSV on issues of history and continuity of past, present and future endeavors; chairs Properties Committee; maintains inventory and storage of costumes, graphics, documents, materials, etc.
      
      
   7. Elder at Large – 2-year term
      
      Available to assist all other Trusted Elders in fulfilling the responsibilities of their portfolio; may coordinate special projects/needs.
      


5. Succession Plan
   
   At the October Council meeting, the Trusted Elders will present a proposed slate of Trusted Elders for the upcoming Council year (from Council Retreat to Council Retreat). Stewards can nominate other individuals who meet the requirements to be a Trusted Elder and whose skill sets match a particular portfolio. Upon consensus, the approved slate of Trusted Elders will be inducted at the annual Council Retreat. (see A.1.b).
   
   
6. Vacancy
   
   When a vacancy occurs within the Trusted Elders, the remaining Trusted Elders will – within 60 days – submit a recommendation to the Council for consideration and approval.
   
   
7. Term of Elderhood
   
   With consensus approval of the Council any Trusted Elder term may be extended.

Appendix I – Our Mission Statement

Gay Spirit Visions

We are committed to creating safe, sacred space that is open to all spiritual paths, wherein loving gay men may explore and strengthen spiritual identity.

We are committed to creating a spiritual community with the intent to heal, nurture our gifts and potential, and live with integrity in the world.

We are committed to supporting others in their spiritual growth by sharing experiences and insights.

To fulfill these goals we facilitate annual retreats and conferences, sponsor social events, publish an online journal, and maintain Internet-based communications for men who love men.

Appendix II – Our Process

While portfolios of responsibility have been declared, the intention is that Trusted Elders and Stewards work together as a team, utilizing a consensus approach, to accomplish goals. Each Trusted Elder and Steward should be mindful of the mission statement of GSV (see Appendix I) and maintain those principles with integrity.

Gay Spirit Visions gatherings are drug and alcohol free events.

* The organization is legally incorporated as The Council of Trusted Elders of Gay Spirit Visions, Inc.

The organization is referred to as Gay Spirit Visions (GSV).

The management group is referred to as the Council.

The officers are referred to as Trusted Elders.

The support persons are referred to as Stewards.

Appendix III – Amendments and Changes to Articles of Incorporation and/or By-laws

Amendments and changes to the Articles of Incorporation and/or By-laws of the Council of Trusted Elders of Gay Spirit Visions, Inc. will be made by the Trusted Elders and Stewards following the process outlined in Appendix II. As the organization evolves, major changes to the Articles of Incorporation and/or By-laws may be required.

The Trusted Elders and Stewards may also implement a transition plan for broader changes to the organization, its structure, or the commitments and responsibilities of Trusted Elders and Stewards. A transition plan will include:

• Selection of Trusted Elders, Stewards, or their designees to serve as a transition team, known as Walks-Between Elders
• Documentation of the decision-making process during any transition period
• Documentation of the transition time-frame, including the beginning date and the ending date (at which time the Articles of Incorporation and/or By-laws will be finalized)

As with the process defined in Appendix II, the Walks-Between Elders will work together as a team – utilizing a consensus approach – to accomplish goals, remaining mindful of the Mission Statement of Gay Spirit Visions and maintaining those principles with integrity.