International Transport Workers Federation (ITF)
Constitution
OF THE NORTH AMERICAN MARITIME MINISTRY ASSOCIATION
Adopted by the Plenary Meeting, September 16, 2002
ARTICLE I, NAME
The name of the organization shall be the North American Maritime Ministry
Association (NAMMA).
ARTICLE II, MISSION STATEMENT
NAMMA is an ecumenical Christian association of individuals and organizations
in maritime ministry. NAMMA assists with spiritual, moral, justice, and
physical concerns of seafarers and all others in the maritime community.
NAMMA is open to inter-religious cooperation and dialog.
ARTICLE III, PURPOSE
NAMMA’s purpose is to provide support and inter-communication for
all members, and will attempt when appropriate to cooperate with local,
state and federal authorities and all organizations interested in the
welfare of those in the maritime industry. Any other provisions notwithstanding,
NAMMA will at all times operate for religious, charitable and educational
purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, or a corresponding section of any future federal tax code
of the United States.
ARTICLE IV, NATURE
Section 1, Non-Profit, Religious, Charitable and Educational
NAMMA is formed without capital stock and functions as a non-profit organization.
Its work is exclusively religious, charitable and educational. No NAMMA
funds shall inure to the personal benefit of any association member.
Section 2, Membership Eligibility
Maritime ministries recognized by established religious or secular organizations
and individuals actively involved in any form of maritime ministry and
who subscribe to the mission and purpose of NAMMA shall be eligible for
membership in accordance with the Constitution and By-Laws of NAMMA.
Section 3, Types of Membership
A. An agency member may be any agency engaged in maritime ministry. An
agency is defined as an organization which is incorporated and operated
by a board of directors.
B. Ministry members are individuals, paid or volunteer, in maritime ministry.
C. Associate members are any individuals who subscribe to the purposes
of the organization and who contribute to NAMMA through prayer, ancillary
support, and financial support. They shall have voice but no vote in meetings
of the association.
D. Lifetime members may be enrolled by majority vote of the board of directors
and shall enjoy all the rights and privileges of ministry membership.
E. Members of all types are subject to approval of the board of directors.
Section 4, Dues.
The board of directors shall determine membership dues, subject to approval
of the annual plenary meeting. Lifetime members shall not be required
to pay dues. Dues are accepted throughout the year. In order to vote at
the annual plenary meeting of the Association, a member’s dues must
be paid by April first of the curr
XXXX (MISSING COPY)
DIRECTORS
Section 1.
The governance of NAMMA shall be vested in a board of directors, who shall
direct the policies, procedures and budget of the association.
Section 2
The board shall consist of 12 voting members: four officers and eight
board members-at-large. Denominational representatives to the board will
serve ex officio, with voice but no vote. Only voting members of NAMMA
are eligible for election to the board of directors.
Section 3
Any vacancy of the elected board of directors shall be filled until the
next meeting of the membership of NAMMA by a majority vote of the remaining
members of the board at their next meeting.
Section 4
The board of directors shall meet at or about the time of the annual meeting
of the association and at least one other time during the year to conduct
the business of the association.
Section 5
The president may call special meetings of the board of directors at any
time. It shall be his or her duty to call special meetings upon request
made upon him or her by any four (4) members of the Board of directors,
provided a quorum is assured. Notices of such meetings shall be given
in the manner provided in the By-Laws.
Section 6
A majority of the voting members of the board of directors shall constitute
a quorum at all meetings, regular or special, for the transaction of all
business of the board.
Section 7
Each board member shall serve as a member of a regular or special committee
of the association as appointed by the president.
Section 8
The board shall be covered by indemnity and liability insurance covering
its fiduciary responsibility.
ARTICLE VI, OFFICERS
Section 1
The officers of the Association shall be the president, vice president,
secretary and treasurer. Their terms shall be a period of two (2) years.
Section 2
All officers shall be voting members of the Association.
Section 3
The principal duties of the president shall be to preside over all general
meetings of the association, the board of directors, and to direct the
activities of the association under the supervision and control of the
board of directors. The president shall appoint all standing and special
committee chairs. Chairs of standing committees shall be members of the
board of directors. The president may not serve more than two (2) consecutive
terms.
Section 4
The principal duties of the vice-president shall be to perform the duties
and functions of the president in case of his or her absence or inability
to preside and to perform such other duties as shall be required by the
By-Laws or by the board of directors.
Section 5
The principal duties of the secretary shall be to correspond, to provide
minutes of all meetings, to be responsible for all documents and papers
which belong to the association and to perform such other duties as shall
be required by the By-Laws or the board of directors.
Section 6
The principal duties of the treasurer shall be to receive and disburse
all monies belonging to the association, to keep an accurate record of
the money and property on hand and generally to keep an accurate record
of all matters pertaining to said office as shall be required by the By-Laws
or the board of directors. The treasurer shall furnish a statement of
the financial condition of and a budget for NAMMA annually and as such
times as the board of directors shall require. The treasurer shall serve
as a member of the finance committee.
Section 7
Any officer may be removed according to the procedures stated in the By-Laws.
ARTICLE VII, VOTING AND ELECTIONS AT ANNUAL OR SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
Section 1
Voting on all matters of the Association is limited to agency and ministry
members of NAMMA and shall be on a basis of one vote for each type of
member in good standing in accordance with the By-Laws.
Section 2
Voting shall be by voice, ballot or other means as the matter may require.
The association or the board shall have the right, as the case may require,
to determine the method of voting. Voting at all elections shall be by
secret written ballot.
Section 3
A majority of votes cast shall be sufficient for adoption or decision
upon any matter before NAMMA, except as otherwise required by this constitution.
In the election of full term, at large board members, a majority of votes
cast shall be necessary for election.
Section 4
Each officer or member of the board of directors shall assume office immediately
after the official close of the final public sessions of the annual meeting
of the association and shall remain in office until the end of the second
annual meeting of the association thereafter until his or her successor
has been duly elected or duly qualified, or until he or she submits his
or her resignation to the board of directors.
Section 5
The board of directors shall appoint a nominating committee of three people.
At least one shall be a member of the board of NAMMA and at least one
shall not be a member of the board. The intent of the nominating committee
shall be to nominate at least two candidates for each vacant office of
NAMMA and each vacant seat on the board of directors. The nominating committee
shall make every attempt to find candidates who will balance the geographic,
gender, racial and denominational membership of the officers and board.
All nominees of the nominating committee, having consented to their nomination,
will be submitted to the NAMMA membership at least one month before the
date of election. Additional nominations may be made from the floor of
a general meeting of the association.
ARTICLE VIII, MEETINGS
Section 1 - Annual Membership Meetings
The Association shall hold an annual meeting within each calendar year
at a time and place to be determined by a majority vote of the board of
directors. If the board of directors, by a majority vote, decides that
the annual meeting must be postponed, all the officers and members of
the board of directors shall retain office until the impeding cause has
been removed and a meeting has been held.
Section 2 - Special Membership Meetings
A special general meeting may be called by a majority of the board of
directors. Notices of special meetings and their purpose shall be made
forty-five (45) days in advance by U.S. mail or in any other way authorized
by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IX, STAFF
The board of directors may engage a salaried staff, provided each individual
position has been approved by a majority of votes cast by the NAMMA members
at a general meeting. Such membership vote will be by written ballot.
ARTICLE X, PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES
Parliamentary procedures is to be followed in the conduct of meetings
as set forth in Robert’s Rules of Order, revised edition, except
as may be amended by these articles of the Constitution or By-Laws. The
president shall designate a Parliamentarian.
ARTICLE XI, RESIGNATIONS
Resignations from the board of directors or the association offices shall
be submitted in writing either to the president of the Association or
the vice-president in the event of a vacancy in the presidency.
ARTICLE XII, BY-LAWS
By-Laws regulating the activities of the officers and board of directors
of the association, as well as the conduct of business at general meetings
of the association, shall be adopted by the voting membership of the association
by simple majority vote at any general meeting and may be revised from
time to time in a like manner at any general meeting. By-Laws changes
may be proposed by any voting member, or by the board of directors. Proposed
changes to the By-laws must be provided to the secretary sixty days in
advance of the meeting at which they are to be considered. The changes
must be provided to the membership at least forty-five days in advance
of the meeting.
ARTICLE XIII, ADOPTION OF THIS CONSTITUTION
The Constitution shall become effective upon its adoption by two-thirds
(2/3) of those present and voting at the meeting at which it shall be
presented.
ARTICLE XIV, AMENDMENTS
A copy of any proposed amendments of this Constitution shall be sent to
the secretary of NAMMA at least three (3) months prior to the scheduled
general meeting of NAMMA. A proposed amendment must be endorsed by at
least fifteen (15) voting members in good standing. A copy of the proposed
amendment will be mailed to all members of the association at least forty-five
(45) days prior to the date of the next scheduled general meeting. Such
an amendment shall be adopted at a general meeting by the affirmative
vote of two-thirds (2/3) of those present and voting.
ARTICLE XV, DISSOLUTION
Upon dissolution or termination of the association, its assets will be
distributed equally to the agency members for the benefit of workers in
the maritime industries for religious, charitable and educational purposes
with the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 or any corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
BY-LAWS
Adopted by the Plenary Meeting, September 16, 2002
1. Application for Membership - Constitutional Reference IV.2
Applicants for membership must fulfill the appropriate membership criteria.
Relevant documents will be provided to the secretary.
2. Dues - Const.Ref. IV.3 & 4
All dues are in U.S. Dollars; if received in another currency, they will
be credited at the exchange rate when deposited.
Agency Members with budgets over $125,000 per year, 0.2% of budget; with
budgets under $125,000 per year, $250.00.
Ministry Members, $70.00
Ministry Members whose agency paid dues, $45.00
Associate Members, $45.00
Dues notices will be mailed by January 15 by the executive secretary.
On receipt of dues by the treasurer, the secretary will issue membership
cards to members in good standing. All dues payments must be postmarked
by April 1 to entitle voting privileges.
3. Staggered Terms of Board Members - Const.Ref. V
Board members at large will be elected in two (2) classes of four (4),
each class elected in alternate years.
4. Removal of Officers - Const.Ref. VI.7
Three (3) members of the board may move for removal of an officer of NAMMA
for just cause. Cause may be failure to perform constitutional duties,
loss of membership in NAMMA, conviction for civil crime, or loss of denominational
endorsement. Such resolution must be approved by two thirds of all serving
voting board members, not including the officer under consideration. The
officer under consideration may appeal the board’s decision to the
general membership, when a vote of two-thirds (2/3) majority at the general
meeting will be necessary to reverse the board’s decision.
5. Nominations and Ballots for Election. - Const.Ref. VII.5, VII.2
Each annual plenary must consist of at least two sessions. Nominations
for election of officers and board members must be made and accepted at
the first session of the annual plenary, by 5 p.m., two days prior to
the final session when elections will take place. Ballots will be printed
and provided to voting members.
In case no candidate for a particular office receives a majority on the
first ballot, the second ballot will be run off between the two candidates
receiving the most votes on the first. In election of board members, the
candidate receiving the lowest number of votes will be eliminated from
succeeding ballots. In case of ties, all those for least votes will be
dropped.
6. Denominational Representatives. - Const.Ref. V.2
Denominational representatives serving as board members shall include
but are not limited to those duly appointed by the Apostleship of the
Sea; Lutheran Association for Maritime Ministry; The Mission to Seafarers
in North America and the Carib-bean; and the Southern Baptist Convention.
Additional denominational represen-ta-tives to the board shall be approved
by vote of the board of directors.
7. Bonding of the Treasurer. - Const.Ref. VI.6
The treasurer of NAMMA will be bonded at the expense of NAMMA.
8. Audit. - Const.Ref. V.1 & 7
The financial records of NAMMA will be audited by an independent certified
public accountant at least every five years. The finance committee shall
be responsible for an internal or independent audit each year.
9. Executive Secretary - Const.Ref. V.1 & IX
The executive secretary is accountable to the board of directors, reporting
to the executive committee through the president. The executive committee
is responsible for the executive secretary’s annual review, which
shall be reported to the board.
10. Policies and Procedures - Const.Ref. V.1
Policies and procedures may be established by vote of the board of directors
from time to time. A handbook of policies and procedures will be maintained
by the executive secretary. Copies of current policies will be provided
to the board of directors, and to members upon request. These policies
will include those affecting financial transactions and other business
procedures of the association.
11. Standing Committees. - Const.Ref. V.7, VI.1, 3, & 6
There shall be five standing committees: Executive, Finance, Fundraising,
Nominating, and Membership/Credentials. The Executive Committee shall
consist of all the elected officers of the association, who have the power
to act on behalf of the board of directors on any emergencies between
board meetings.
12. Notice of Meetings. - Const.Ref. V.4 &5, VIII
Notice of all meetings will be sent to the appropriate parties at least
45 days in advance.
North American Maritime Ministries Association
Rev. Lloyd Burghart
Executive Secretary - NAMMA
US: Box 2434, Niagara Falls, NY 14302
CAN: 13-159 Canboro Rd., Fonthill, ON L0S 1E5
NAMMA Phone: 905-892-8818
Mobile: 905-327-0448
to send e-mail to the Rev. Lloyd Burghart
HOME | News | About Us | Resources | Newsletters | Friends | SeamenSOS
All
pages copyright 2001-2007 North American Maritime
Ministries Association
Website design and maintenance by Schweers
Design.
NAMMA seeks to promote and expand maritime ministry locally and nationally by increasing awareness among the stakeholders of the services available to seafarers by NAMMA members. This includes maintaining a database of mariner services, the development of a consultant corps to assist local centers, and creating materials and opportunities.