Gothic Volunteer Alliance
Charter of Purpose and Articles of Operation and Rule
Revision: 14th of December, 2011
The Gothic Volunteer Alliance (G.V.A.) is an action league dedicated to serving the community through public service. The organization is a kinship of those from within the Gothic sub-culture who seek the betterment of inter-cultural relations and understanding through participation and public service in the community.
I. Charter Article Prime:
G.V.A. will not be the pulpit of any singular set of political, partisan, or religious ideas, nor will it entertain self-promotion of any individual, group, business or other organization. The G.V.A. will not be the forum to lobby laws or rally legislation. The organization will focus on service to the local community through volunteer actions and acts of charity.
a) This omits non-partisan voter registration solicitation, such as a “get out the vote” campaign.
II. Charter of Operation Public:
G.V.A. will operate as a business that is structured to serve the community. It shall be an organization of legitimacy in the eyes of the public and in the eyes of the law. The operational charter and ledgers will always be made public and available for all to view, as will any permit or application with the local, state or federal government.
a) Including DBA
b) Including all acquisitions of finance
c) Including all records of spending
d) Including all physical and conceptual holdings
e) Including all permits & applications
f) Including all records of trademark and copyright
It is not the intent of G.V.A. to incur any profit for any individual or group of individuals.
III. Charter of Organization Rule
G.V.A. will be ruled by a council, known in the organization as Stewards, who shall make all decisions for day-to-day operations. In order to ensure a productive and cohesive Stewardship, incoming Stewards shall be elected by vote of the current Stewardship after reliably assisting in an Auxiliary or Administrative position for at least four months with at least six volunteer activities logged.
a) There is no limit to consecutive terms.
b) Stewards can step down at any time.
c) Successors are determined by Stewardship vote.
d) The general membership may be asked to make a vote of “no confidence” should the actions of any Steward be questionable or continually ineffective.
IV. Charter of Organization Rule II
The Stewardship shall consist of no more than 13 total members and no less than 7. It will take a majority vote to pass an action.
It will require a unanimous vote of all Stewards to propose any change to any article in the Charter Rules. Before a change is made, it must be presented to the current DBA holder for approval and made public for 5 business days, demonstrating any stricken sections and additions. During this time, anyone can challenge the change to the Charter Rules. If no challenge is made, the change may pass. If a challenge is made, the Stewardship will pursue appropriate measures via meeting and/or online discussion in order to meet common ground within 5 business days.
Members of the general membership may bring forth to the Stewardship a petition to ratify the Charter Rules.
Meetings of Stewards or general membership shall follow loose Robert’s rules when in open forum and when calling for votes.
Votes will be by hand when called for, by voice when called for, and by ballot means (physical or on-line virtual) when called for by a Steward member.
Passing an action during any live meetingwill always require a minimum of 51% of the Stewardship in attendance.
Vote counts during live meetings will be recorded to the minutes.
General Membership Voters must have attended a G.V.A. volunteer community action.
V. Charter of Operational Legitimacy
The organization will hold a DBA which will be publicly known. The DBA will be used to secure a singular bank account in the name of the organization and all statements and ledgers regarding this account will be made public record. This account will be known as the “General Fund.” The holder of the DBA will be the trustee of the account and will adhere to financial institution policies. When possible, a second signer will be assigned to the account in accordance with financial institution policies. No significant withdrawal or spending from this account will be done without the voted approval of the Stewardship.
a) The DBA may be transferred at the expense of the organization to an appointed and/or trusted representative.
b) Primary and Secondary signers may book meeting halls per approved spending caps.
c) Significant withdrawal consists of any withdrawal over $100.
d) All spending or intended reimbursement from this account requires a ledger recorded and collected receipt.
e) Costs of permits, DBA and applications shall come from the general funds.
f) Should the organization file for legal 501(c)(3) status, the DBA will transfer accordingly.
g) Should the 501(c)(3) status be attained, the DBA holder will elect the required board of trustees and hire the required CPA for federal and state tax filings paid for through the general funds.
VI. Charter of Information Privacy
The Organization will hold all volunteer obtained information as private and confidential. The register and address book of records of volunteers will not be utilized for promotion outside of the organization and shall require legal warrant to view. The information attained regarding volunteers will not be sold.
a) No volunteer, Steward or member shall impede legal warrant to view these records.
b) All Stewards should be provided access to the volunteer database.
VII. Charter of Participant Release of Liability:
Service and participation in the G.V.A. is voluntary. All volunteers will sign a release of liability for any events or actions participated in that are hosted by the organization, or otherorganizations the G.V.A. volunteers work in conjunction with. Volunteers will hold harmless the G.V.A and other organizations volunteers work in conjunction with.
VIII. Charter of Member Equality:
While G.V.A. is meant as a kinship of the Gothic sub-culture, it will not be exclusionary of those in other cultures who wish to participate. Volunteers shall be treated as equals. None shall be excluded from the organization based on race, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or religious, philosophical or spiritual beliefs.
IX. Charter of Meeting:
General attendance meetings shall be held bi-monthly/tri-monthly (as meets the needs and schedule), and all that transpires shall be made public record, recorded in minutes.
Stewardship meetings shall be held every month, or as frequency of activities demand.
a) The Stewardship shall elect the recorder with an elected alternate.
b) Minutes will be sent for approval by the Stewards within 72 business hours. Minutes will be posted publicly (to web) within 72 hours of being approved.
X. Non-Participation in Legal Matters Personal
The Gothic Volunteer Alliance, as an organization, will not participate in or make policy regarding the legal issues of individual members or groups of members who file suit, make legal orders of restraint, pursue charges against or maintain personal issues with other members. Where State, Federal, County and City laws or legal issuances have been made by these entities to one or more organization members, the matter will be considered purely a legal issue and receive no considerations other than in person/in writing directives from authorized officers/agents of these entities, as the Gothic Volunteer Alliance is not responsible for the interpretation or enforcement of these laws/orders, merely the compliance to these laws and orders as determined by the proper authorities.
The Gothic Volunteer Alliance, as an organization, will not entertain community disputes which may or may not arise from personal matters, opinions, rivalry, friendships/alliances, which may or may not involve legal authorities or officers of the law.
