Organization Charter

Article I – Name and Description of Organization

  1) Name:  The name of the organization will be the Cherokee County North Carolina 9-12 Project,          
       hereinafter referred to as the ‘9-12 Project.’

Article II – Mission & Vision Statements

1) Mission: To inject a non-partisan, proactive, persuasive and constructive voice of rational reasoning into our local, state and national political affairs; a strong citizen’s voice that represents our conservative values, beliefs and principles consistent with our unique American heritage and traditions, our constitutional rights, and the innate wisdom of our founding fathers.
2) Vision: The 9-12 Project will be the principle driving force for taking back our nation and demonstrating pre-eminent leadership in our local resistance movement. Our goal-driven reform campaign initiatives are totally successful in redirecting our elected representatives to support our traditional core values and principles, our individual and constitutional liberties, the exercise of a “limited government” philosophy, implementation of fiscally responsible government spending, and the ending of fraud & corruption and the peddling of special interests in Raleigh and Washington.

Article III – Values Statements

1) It is our position that both primary political parties in the United States (specifically the Democrats and Republicans) have misused the nation’s resources and have systematically worked to dismantle the Constitution.
2) We will support and endorse only those candidates for public office who will pledge the following:
(a) To serve a limited number of terms.
(b) To be fiscally responsible.
(c) A belief in limited government.
(d) A belief in individual responsibility and individual rights, in specific contrast to a “welfare state” and “collectivism.”
(e) To remain independent of party coercion.
(f) To uphold the Constitution of the nation, state, county, or municipality of which they intend to run for office.

Article IV – Affiliations

1) The 9-12 Project will be a fully self-governing and independent organization. We will maintain a relationship with organizations that share our mission, vision, and values.

Article V – Scope of Activities

1) The 9-12 Project’s activities may include, but not limited to, the following:
(a) Promote and maintain communication and joint activities with organizations that share our mission, vision, and values.
(b) Support and endorse candidates for public office.
(c) Communicate the organization’s positions on pending legislation to elected officials
(d) Promote to the general public the organization’s positions on pending legislation, elected officials, candidates for office, and the organization’s values
(e) Fundraisers and other events to raise money to support the above activities

Article VI – Membership & Voting

1) Membership is open to all United States citizens.
2) Only those who have been registered members for 90 days prior to board elections and who are eighteen years of age on the date of the election are eligible to vote in the organization’s elections.   
3) Eligible voters shall be entitled to one vote.
4) Members may only hold one permanent office at a time.

Article VII – Election of Executive Board and their Leadership Roles & Responsibilities

1) Elections

(a) The election of the Executive Board will occur at the general meeting in October of each odd year and will be by written ballot.
(b)  Only legal permanent residents of North Carolina 18 years and older, who have been registered members 90 days prior to the elections, are eligible to hold office. 
(c) A list of the eligible candidates and their biographies will be circulated under a “first notification” of candidates to the group general membership via the website no less than forty-five days prior to the scheduled election.
(d) The vote is by secret ballot, and when the ballots are tabulated on the day of the election, a plurality of the ballots cast shall decide the elections.

2) Officer Leadership Roles
 
(a) A President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer will serve as executive officers.
(b) The Executive Board will consist of the four executive officers.  There may be up to seven (7) “at large” board members. The Executive Board will provide oversight for the organization.
(c) The executive officers and at large board members will be elected by majority vote of the eligible voters present at the general meeting in October of each odd year.
(d) All elected officials shall be elected for one term (two calendar years). Elected officials may serve two consecutive terms in each position. If an official has been appointed to a partial term, the official may be elected to this same position the subsequent terms.

(e) If the President leaves office during the term, the Vice President is automatically promoted to the position of President.
(f) If any elected position other than President leaves office during their term, the President shall nominate a candidate for the vacated position and submit that name to the Executive Board within thirty -(30) calendar days. The Executive Board shall vote on this nominee within seven calendar days of the nomination by the President.  A minimum affirmative vote of seven (7) of the total board members is required to approve the nomination. 
(g) Elections for Executive Board and “at large” members will be held in October of each odd year, and assume office on 1 January of the following year.
(h) Any elected official may be removed from office by vote of the Total Board. A minimum affirmative vote of seven (7) of the total board members is required to remove an elected official. The board shall notify the member in writing of the grievance(s) against them and the member shall have thirty (30) days to respond.
(i) All board decisions require approval of 50% of a quorum of the board, other than those decisions affecting leadership.
(j)  A quorum consists of a minimum of six (6) Executive Board members.
(k) The two co-founders of the 9-12 Project are Jerry Kilpatrick and William Hack, Jr.

3) Officer Leadership Responsibilities are as follows:

(a) President
1. Have general supervision over all the organization’s affairs.
2. Fill vacated offices for the unexpired term by appointment, as required.
3. Act as liaison between the group and other organizations.
4. Be responsible for and preside at meetings of the group.
5. Act as spokesperson for the 9-12 Project.
6. In the event an office is vacated before the designated term has expired, the President will ensure that a full report of activities and commitments being pursued by this office is prepared and delivered to the incoming officer.
b) Vice-President
1. At the request of the President, or in the President’s absence, perform all the duties of the President.
2. Succeed to the office of President, if the President is unable to continue to fulfill the duties or resigns.
c) Secretary
1. Keep the minutes of the Executive Board meetings.
2. Keep the minutes of the organization meetings.
3. Cause all required notices to be duly given.
4. Maintain the organization’s website (if applicable).
5. Receive and process all membership applications.
6. Maintain a current list of members.
7. Act as a final authority in all matters dealing with parliamentary procedure.
d) Treasurer
1. Cause all reports, statements and other documents required by law to be properly kept and filed with the organization.
2. Collect, expend, and keep account of all the moneys received and spent by the group.
3. Deposit moneys in the name of the organization.
4. Prepare and post financial report to the organizational website as reconciled.
5. Prepare and submit a financial statement at the termination of the current term of office, to be submitted to the Executive Board within thirty days after the termination date.
e) All Executive Board Members
1. Schedule all organization meetings.
2. Approve all organization purchases over $100 of a non –reoccurring nature.
3. Organize all committees.
4. Remove elected officials from office, if required.
5. Uphold this charter and positions/policies adopted by the 9-12 Project.

4) Purchasing Authorization

a) Purchases of one hundred dollars ($100) or more require a majority vote of the Executive Board, one exception being purchases of a reoccurring nature (i.e. rents of facilities, taxes).
b) Purchases of any amount require a pay voucher and receipt, the exception being rents and other reoccurring payments.

Article VIII –Meetings

1)  General Membership Meetings

(a) The entire organization will meet approximately eight (8) times per year. Meetings are announced, scheduled and the Executive Board prepares the agenda. 
(b) Meetings are open to the public.

2) Executive Board Meetings 

(a) The Executive Board will meet as required.
(b) Meetings of the Executive Board shall be open to all 9-12 members.
(c) All proposals and recommendations shall be brought before the total board for approval.
(d) Guest participation at these meetings is limited and is allowed only at the invitation of the President.
(e) The President is responsible for preparing the board meeting agenda and presiding over the meeting.
(f) Proper parliamentary rules of procedure will be followed throughout the course of all business meetings in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order;
1. Roll call
2. Reading and disposal of unapproved meeting minutes
3. Reports of standing committees
4. Reports of special committees
5. Special business
6. Unfinished (Old) business
7. New business
8. Adjournment
(g) A record of all meeting minutes of the Executive Board must be kept in written form for a period of seven years and retained for inspection as necessary. Minutes of the board meeting shall be published and made available to the general membership.

Article IX – Committees

1) Committees will be formed and disbanded by the Executive Board. The president shall appoint the chairperson.
2) Minutes will be kept at committee meetings and forwarded to the Board of Directors.

Article X – Approval & Amendment

1) Amendments to the Charter
(a) Any member of the 9-12 Project can submit amendments to this charter.
(b) Amendments must be submitted in writing to the Executive Board stating Article number and
        paragraph to be changed or added this must be signed by two other members.
(c) Changes must be submitted a minimum of 60 days prior to the general election occurring in October of each odd year.
(d) Amendments require approval by a minimum of seven (7) affirmative votes of the total Board members, and placed on the ballot to be voted on by membership during October general meeting of each odd year.
2) This charter is effective upon approval by a minimum of seven (7) affirmative votes of the total Executive Board members.
Article XI – Dissolution
  Upon dissolution of this organization, all equipment, supplies and funds will be left in escrow for a period of two years, and then equally distributed between the local homeless shelter and the food bank.
         1)  The existing board at the time of dissolution will make determinations during this period. The last Treasurer will maintain the account until the two year time period.
        2)  At the end of two years the equipment and monies shall be given to certain named charities, as approved by the last board.

 

Ratified:  14 Nov 2011