Bylaws of the Humanists of West Suburban Chicagoland

Adopted 11/06/2002

Article 1 - Name

The name of this organization is the Humanists of West Suburban Chicagoland,

a chapter of the American Humanist Association, a secular non-profit educational organization.

All listings shall be under Humanists: Humanists of West Suburban Chicagoland.
or Humanists-WestSuburbanOfChicagoland, as in the HWSC Yahoogroups list:

Humanists-WestSuburbanOfChicagoland@yahoogroups.com

Article 2 - Purpose

The purpose of the Humanists of West Suburban Chicagoland is

to create and maintain a community that affirms and promotes Humanism

as a rational philosophy which is informed by science, inspired by art, and motivated by

compassion; and affirming the dignity of each human being; supporting the maximization

of individual liberty and opportunity consonant with social and planetary responsibility;

advocating the extension of participatory democracy and the expansion of the open society,

standing for human rights and social justice; being free of supernaturalism, and recognizing

human beings as part of nature and holding that values—be they religious, ethical, social,

or political—have their source in human nature, experience, and culture; and that Humanism

thus derives the goals of life from human need and interest rather then from theological or

ideological abstractions, and asserts that humanity must take responsibility for its own destiny.

Article 3 - Membership

Any person shall be eligible to voting membership who is in general accord
with the above-stated purpose, an active member of the American Humanist Association,

registers with this Chapter of West Suburban Humanists, and pays the membership

dues established by this Chapter. (Membership in the American Humanist Association

is encouraged at the level of The Committee of 1000.)

Article 4 - Government

The association shall be governed by its members and, between meetings by a
Board of Directors of five members, elected by the membership

for terms of one year.

The bylaws, established rules and regulations, and Robert’s Rules of Order,

shall give direction to all proceedings.

Article 5 – Meetings p. 2

Regular meetings of the membership and the Board shall be held at times and
places set by the Board and/or the membership. Special meetings, social events,
public programs, etc., may be scheduled by the Board or by a committee it
appoints. The members assembled at any regular or called meeting may act as

a committee of the whole. A quorum for the transaction of business at Board

meetings shall be a majority of elected Board members. A quorum of the

membership shall be 20% of the total membership. All votes require majority

equal to a quorum of either the Board of Directors, or of the registered membership.

Article 6 - Elections

The Board of Directors shall be approved at the May meeting for the

next program year beginning July 1^st of that year.

Article 7 - Amendments

Amendments of these bylaws may be proposed by vote of a majority of the
Board members or by a majority of those present and voting at a Membership

meeting, or by petition of 20% of the members of the association.

Notice of a proposed amendment shall be given to the paid membership prior

to voting by members at regular membership meeting. Enactment of all

amendments shall be by vote of a majority ( equal to or larger than the quorum)

of the members voting at a regular membership meeting.

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