Ellis Christian Women’s Job Corps

A Ministry of Ellis Baptist Association

In Cooperation with Woman’s Missionary Union

Bylaws

Article I

Purpose

Ellis Christian Women’s Job Corp is organized, and shall at all times, be operated for exclusively religious an educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The purpose of this ministry is to give needy women a hand up, not a hand out.

Article II

Mission Statement

The mission of Ellis Christian Women’s Job Corp is to equip women with the life and employment skills necessary for them to obtain self-sufficiency within their culture; to introduce them to faith in Jesus Christ; and provide a mission opportunity for women to help women to be all they can be through the love of God.

Article III

Theme

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to proper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Article IV

Member

The Ellis Baptist Association is the sole member with full voting rights.

Article V

Consents

Consent of the Ellis Baptist Association is required to:

(a)    Incorporate

(b)   Merge or consolidate with any other organization or entity

(c)    Sell, lease or exchange all, or substantially all, of the corporation’s assets

(d)   Dissolve

(e)    Adopt a plan of distribution.

(f)    Adopt a budget

Consent of the Ellis Baptist Association may be given by the Association at the Annual Celebration or by the Leadership Team of the Ellis Baptist Association.

Article VI

Advisory Council

A. Members of the Council

The Advisory Council will consist of at least six (6) persons but not more than twelve (12). More than one half of the members shall be an active member of an Ellis Baptist Association church. A Council Member who has served two full successive terms shall not be eligible for re-election until he or she has been out of office for one full year.

Ex-officio members shall consist of the Ellis Baptist Association Executive Director, the Ellis CWJC Executive Director, Assistant Site Coordinator, Treasurer and an Ellis CWJC graduate.

B. Election

The Advisory Council will recommend to the Leadership Team of the Association new members and those filling an unexpired term for election.

C. Term

The Advisory Council shall be divided into three classes. The classes shall, to the extent possible, be composed of an equal number of members. The Council is divided into an equal number serving three years, two years and one year. Council terms shall begin on January 1st of the year following their election. A Council Member elected to fill a vacancy shall serve the unexpired term of his or her predecessor. The Ellis CWJC graduate shall serve a term of three years.

D. Council Member Training

Each new member of the Council shall attend an orientation in the first quarter of his or her term. The Executive Director is responsible for this training.

E. Meetings

The Advisory Council shall meet at least quarterly or as necessary to conduct business. Every effort will be made to determine issues by full consensus. Notice of meetings may be given by written notice, by U.S. Mail or delivery service, by facsimile, by E-Mail, by telephone, or by any combination of such methods.

F. Removal

(a) A Council Member who fails to attend three (3) consecutive meetings (or ½) of the meetings of the Council in a calendar year) may be removed by the Council at any regular scheduled meeting.

(b) Ellis Baptist Association may remove, with or without cause, a member of the Council.

(c) A Council Member may be removed, with or without cause, by the vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Council.

G. Compensation

No Council Member shall receive or be entitled to any salary or other compensation for services in his or her role as Council Member. Actual expenses incurred by a Council Member may be reimbursed when authorized by the Council. The Board shall not permit the Advisory Council to make any loans to Council Members.

H. Committees

The Advisory Council may appoint special committees or authorize the Chair to appoint committees composed, in whole or in part, of Council Members and persons who are not Council Members. Such committees may conduct studies, provide advice and assistance, conduct fund raising events, and make recommendations to the Council.

I. Fund Raising

The Advisory Council shall be responsible for on-going fund raising and each Council Member is expected to contribute individually.

Article VII

Officers of the Advisory Council

A. Officers

The Officers of the elected advisory Council shall be the Chair, one or more Vice Chairs, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers and assistants as may be elected by the council. The Chair and Vice Chair shall be Council Members; the Secretary or Treasurer may, but need not be, Council Members.

B. Chair of the Council

The Chair of the Advisory Council shall preside at the meetings of the Council, and shall perform such other duties as may be requested or directed by the Council. The Chair shall be an ex officio member of all committees of the Council and shall coordinate their work.

C. Vice Chair of the Council

In the absence or inability to act on the part of the Chair, the Vice Chair shall perform all the duties of the Chair.

D. Secretary

The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping, in permanent form, the minutes of the meetings of the Council. The Secretary shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the By-laws and as required by law.

E. Treasurer

The Treasurer shall be responsible for handling all funds, accounting and reporting. Records will be maintained according to generally accepted accounting procedures for nonprofit organizations. Financial statements shall be prepared monthly and provided to the Advisory Council and the Leadership Team of Ellis Baptist Association. Yearly giving reports shall be mailed to all individual contributors.

F. Vacancies

A vacancy in any office (other than the office of Council Member) arising from any cause, may be filled by the Council at a regular or special meeting.

Article VIII

Staff

A. Executive Director

The Executive Director shall be responsible to the Advisory Council for administration of the ministry and its endeavors. The Executive Director shall make a report to the Council, at least annually, of the work and condition of the corporation. She shall from time to time submit to the Board such other reports on the affairs of the Ministry as deemed necessary or appropriate for the Council. The Executive Director serves as the Site Coordinator. The Executive Director is expected to attend all meetings of the Council.

B. Assistant Site Coordinator

The Assistant Site Coordinator works directly for the Executive Director.

C. Vacancies

A vacancy in the office of Executive Director or any paid staff may be filled by the Advisory Council at a regular or special meeting.

Article IX

Financial Matters

A. Employee bonding requirement

The Advisory Council shall procure and maintain fidelity bonds covering the Executive Director and/or such other officers and employees as are designated by the Council.

B. Insurance requirement

The Advisory Council shall maintain a special multi-peril policy under the Ellis Baptist Association.

C. Annual audit requirement.

The Advisory Council shall cause the affairs of the ministry to be audited each year by independent auditors when required to meet the requirements of grants received.

Article X

Amendment to Bylaws

This Constitution may be amended or revised by resolution or adopted by vote of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the entire membership of the Advisory Council at any regular or special meeting of the Advisory Council, provided that a copy of the proposed change or revision is furnished to all Members not less than thirty (30) days prior to the meeting. This change will be effective upon approval of the Leadership Team of Ellis Baptist Association.

Adopted by the Advisory Council on this 18 day of August, 2008

Approved by the Leadership Team of Ellis Baptist Association on 16 day of September, 2008

Approved at the Annual Celebration of Ellis Baptist Association on 12 day of October, 2008