By-Laws of the Michigan
Jewish Conference
Article I – Name
The name of this organization shall be the Michigan Jewish Conference (“the Conference”).
The purpose of the Conference shall be:
1. To disseminate information, exchange views and share ideas between and among member communities in order to build stronger Jewish communities statewide;
2. To develop and maintain a spirit of unity and cooperation among the Jewish communities of Michigan to collectively advance their mutual goals and ideals;
3. To establish and maintain an influential presence in our State Capitol and to engage in advocacy on behalf of Jewish communal needs and social concerns;
4. To meet with, establish networks among, and build coalitions with other humanitarian and social justice organizations at the state level;
5. To educate state officials regarding issues of importance to member communities and to encourage state recognition of special Jewish interests and events.
1. Every Jewish community in the state of Michigan shall be eligible for membership in the Conference. For purposes of determining eligibility, a Jewish community shall be defined as an area which has a federation or council of Jewish agencies or which, if not federated, is otherwise a recognizable and distinct geographic area such as a township, city or county with at least one Jewish communal institution such as a synagogue. Eligibility for new community membership or for reinstatement shall be determined by a majority vote of the preexisting members.
2. Every Jewish health, welfare, educational, charitable, or benevolent institution, organization, or agency in the state of Michigan whose purpose is consistent with the Conference shall be eligible for non-voting membership in the Conference. Eligibility for new non-voting membership or for reinstatement shall be determined by a majority vote of voting members.
1. The Officers of the Conference shall include a President, one to three Vice-Presidents and a Secretary. These Officers constitute the Executive Committee. There must always be a representative from the Detroit community as an officer on the Executive Committee.
2. The term of office for all regularly elected officers shall commence upon election and shall hold office for a term of two (2) years or until election of new officers is held.
3. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Conference and shall perform all duties incident to that office in order to advance the purposes of the Conference. The President shall create such committees as he or she considers necessary and appropriate and shall appoint committee chairpersons and members. The President shall consult with the Vice-President(s) in connection with such appointments.
4. The Vice-President(s) shall perform all duties incident to such office or which may otherwise be delegated to them by the President.
5. The Secretary shall maintain an accurate record of the proceedings of the Conference and the Executive Committee.
1. The Board of Directors of the Conference shall consist of one to three delegates from each member community. Each delegate shall be appointed by the member community from among its lay membership in accordance with such procedures as each member community may institute.
2. Directors shall be appointed by their respective communities, with a letter of appointment from his/her sponsoring community, to serve for two-year terms commencing at each Annual Meeting of the Conference.
3. Member communities shall fill vacancies created among their delegates, if at all, for the balance of the term in which the vacancy was created.
4. The Conference shall hold regular meetings at times and places designated by the President. Directors shall be notified at least one week before regularly scheduled meetings.
5. A quorum shall be deemed to exist if there is at least one delegate present at the meeting from at least half of the member communities of the Conference.
6. Each member community shall have but one vote. The vote of each member community shall be determined by a majority vote of that community’s delegates present at the meeting at which the vote is taken.
Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the proceedings and order of business at all meetings of the Conference Board of Directors.
1. The Annual Meeting of the Conference shall be held on a date and time and at a place decided upon by the Board of Directors. The Annual Election of Officers shall be held at the Annual Meeting.
2. At least ninety (90) days before the Annual Meeting, the President, with the approval of the Board, shall appoint a Nominating Committee from among the members of the Board. The Nominating Committee shall consist of four (4) persons plus a Chairman for the nomination of the Officers of the Board of Directors. The committee will nominate one person for each office to be filled to serve a two-year term.
3. The Nominating Committee shall give current Conference delegates notice of the slate of nominees and of the Annual Meeting, at least thirty (30) days before the Annual Meeting. Additional nominations may be made by petitions signed by at least twelve (12) directors and delivered to the President at least ten (10) days before the Annual Meeting. Challenged nominees shall, if defeated, have the right to run for any other office. The notice of the Annual Meeting shall state the process for nominating officers by petitions.
These by-laws shall become effective upon ratification by at least fifty percent (50%) of the founding member communities.
Once ratified, the by-laws may be amended by vote of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, provided that the proposed amendment and the existing provision shall be set forth in the notice of the meeting, which shall be delivered to members no later than thirty (30) days prior to the meeting at which the amendment will be voted upon.
Article X – Election of Officers
1. A Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the President. The Committee will nominate one person for each office to be filled to serve a two-year term.
2. A meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held at which time the Nominating Committee shall present its list of candidates for a vote. Additional nominations for any office can be added to the slate for consideration.