Bylaws of the Strega Nona Society
Adopted, Church of the Sacred Earth Board of Directors, October 1, 2003.
Purpose of the Society: The purpose of the Strega Nona Society shall be the promotion of the spiritual education and well being of Pagan children within the Panthea Institute. Working in cooperation with the Panthea Institute, we will work to meet the needs of children and families with children within our community, by means of financial assistance, educational programming for children and families, or sponsorship of childcare for children of families attending Panthea Institute events, as appropriate.
I. Membership:
A. Eligibility for Membership: Membership in the Strega Nona Society will be open to adults who are members of The Church of the Sacred Earth, or are personally invited to join the Society by a member of the Church or by another member of the Society.
B. Application for Membership: Membership in the Strega Nona Society will be granted upon receipt of each of the following:
1. A letter requesting membership/signing up by roster at a Strega Nona or Church of the Sacred Earth event.
2. Confirmation of invitation by a member of either the Church or Society.
3. Payment of the annual dues for membership in the Society.C. Annual Dues: Will be set by the Strega Nona Society Board, but will be at least $5 per member per year. Payment is due at or before the annual business meeting of the Society each year.
D. Membership in the Society is not a prerequisite for aid from the society.
II. The Officers and the Board
A. The Officers of the Society shall be as follows: Chair, Church of the Sacred Earth Representative, Treasurer. There must always be at least three individuals serving on the Board.
B. Appointment of Officers
1. The Strega Nona Chair will be elected by the Membership of the Society in attendance at the annual business meeting, during the course of that meeting.
2. The Church of the Sacred Earth Representative to the Strega Nona Society will be appointed by the Church, according to their own procedures.
3. The Treasurer of the Strega Nona Society will be the currently serving Treasurer of the Church of the Sacred Earth.C. Duties of the Officers
1. The Chair will have the primary responsibility for organizing fundraising activities on behalf of the Society, for coordinating the disbursement of funds or coordination of children’s spiritual educational activities with selected Pagan religious or educational institutions, and for making final decisions on these matters after consultation with the rest of the Strega Nona Board and membership as may be appropriate.
2. The Church of the Sacred Earth Representative will advise the Chair on the selection of Pagan religious and spiritual educational institutions to assist. The Church of the Sacred Earth Representative will retain a copy of the current Strega Nona bylaws, and will supply them to the Church of the Sacred Earth Board upon request.
3. The Treasurer will maintain all financial records of the Society, including detailed records of all disbursements and contributions. These records will be submitted to the Panthea Board on an annual basis. The Treasurer will also submit all required documentation of IRS or other tax-status determining bodies, either to the body directly and as required, or to the Panthea Institute Board as established in their procedures. The Strega Nona Treasurer will, in cooperation with the Strega Nona Chair, add new members to the Society as provided for above, and maintain a membership list. The Treasurer will furnish a copy of the current membership list to the Chair on an annual basis.
III. Meetings
A. Annual Meetings: Meetings of the membership of the Strega Nona Society will be held at least annually, at a time published at least three months in advance. Publication may be through the publications of The Church of the Sacred Earth, through oral communication at the Society’s annual business meeting, or announced via a Society listserve to which all members of the Society are permitted access.
B. Proxies: Proxies will not be accepted for votes at the annual meeting of the Society; however, nominations of candidates for Chair may be made by means of written request of absent members.
C. Special Meetings of the Board: Special Meetings of the Board may be held at any time, provided 14 days notice are given all members of the Board. Special Meetings of the Board may be held in person, via teleconference call, in chatrooms, or in any other convenient manner, provided only that the meeting is “live” or synchronous rather than a mere exchange of letters or emails. Board members are encouraged to counsel with one another outside of meetings on an ongoing basis throughout the year.
IV. Activities of the Society
A. Financial Support for families and children’s participation in Pagan religious life through scholarship funds administered by approved Pagan organizations.
1. The Strega Nona Society will engage in fund raising on behalf of children and families with children within the Pagan community.
2. The Strega Nona Chair may then designate funds for financial support for scholarships for Pagan minors to attend or participate in Pagan religious and educational events. This support may take the form of scholarship aid, program underwriting, or the purchase of materials relevant to the religious instruction of Pagan youth, as the Chair deems appropriate.
3. Financial aid may be given directly to legal non-profit, religious, or educational Pagan institutions. Any conditions of this aid must be clearly stated in a letter to the head of that organization at the time of the donation.
4. Financial aid in the form of individual scholarships to Pagan minors may also be given, upon receipt of an application for aid made on their behalf, clearly establishing the educational/religious purpose of the scholarship.
5. The Strega Nona Chair will provide full documentation of all proceeds of fundraising activities and distribution of funds within 30 days of their occurrence. Complete records of all supplies purchased by the Strega Nona Society and their consumption or presence in inventory, will also be provided within 30 days of purchase or use.V. Amendments to These Bylaws
These bylaws may be amended by a vote of any 2 of the 3 Board members, subject to ratification by simple majority of Strega Nona members in attendance at the next annual meeting of the Society.VI. Adoption of These Bylaws
1. These bylaws, including the regular appointment of officers under these bylaws, will commence with the approval of the Strega Nona Society Bylaws by the Church of the Sacred Earth Board under the regular procedures for that organization.
2. Until regular appointment of officers can begin, the Acting Board of the Society has the right to designate replacement officers for any members of the Acting Board who resign, until such time as the regular appointment of officers can proceed.
3. The current acting Officers of the Strega Nona Society are: Penny N--, Chair; Cat Chapin-Bishop, Temporary Representative; Kirk White, Treasurer.VII. Provision For Dissolution of Society
In the event of dissolution of the Strega Nona Society, all assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, with first preference given to the Church of the Sacred Earth, if still in existence as an eligible institution. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of the Church of the Sacred Earth is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.