UNA VOCE – SPRINGFIELD AREA
CONSTITUTION
AND BY-LAWS
ARTICLE 1: PURPOSES
Una Voce – Springfield Area, a lay organization of Roman Catholics living in the diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, is a local Chapter of Una Voce America. This organization professes unequivocal loyalty and obedience to the Holy Father and the Magisterium, to Canon Law, and to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. As such, it has been established to advance the following purposes, within the scope established for such local chapters by Articles 1 & 2 of “Una Voce – American Federation Statutes” (see attachment #1).
1.1 To work as a lay movement within the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese for an organic restoration of the liturgy in conformity with its nature and with the Latin tradition.
1.2 To facilitate the sanctification of members through the traditional spiritual life of the Catholic Church (prayer and the Sacraments), especially through more frequent reception of Holy Communion at Indult Tridentine Rite Masses, encouragement of the daily Rosary, and weekly adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
1.3 To promote the celebration of Indult Tridentine Rite Masses in the Springfield area, according to Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter, Ecclesia Dei (see attachment #2). To likewise promote the celebration of all Sacraments under the Liturgical Books in use in 1962 for all those who want them.
1.4 To encourage and promote greater lay understanding of ecclesiastical Latin, the language of the Roman Catholic Church.
1.5 To encourage and when appropriate, provide appropriate educational programs and activities for members and other interested people. The topics shall include, but not be limited to the Tridentine Rite of Mass, the Sacraments according to the 1962 Liturgical Books, ecclesiastical Latin as the language of the Church, the Solemnes method of singing Gregorian chant, and traditional Catholic hymns and polyphony, the truths of Catholic doctrine.
1.6 To network with other organizations, especially other Una Voce chapters, to advance common goals.
1.7 To interact, insofar as possible, with the hierarchy and clergy of the Springfield-Cape Girardeau diocese regarding Una Voce goals and aspirations.
ARTICLE 2: MEMBERSHIP
Una Voce – Springfield Area is an organization of Roman Catholics in the lay state. Therefore, the following types of memberships are available:
2.1 A Roman Catholic in the lay state 18 years of age and over may become a full (voting) member. Unless dues are paid, he may not vote or hold office. A full member may:
2.1.1 Attend and participate in all Chapter meetings
2.1.2 Vote on all issues presented to the membership for decisions;
2.1.3 Attend all open board of Director meetings;
2.1.4 Hold office in the Chapter;
2.1.5 Be appointed as a Committee Chairman;
2.1.6 Be appointed as a Committee Member;
2.1.7 Serve in other Chapter capacities by appointment.
2.2 The following may become associate (non-voting) members, and shall not pay dues: Roman Catholics in the lay state under 18 years of age, Roman Catholic religious and priests. Associate members may serve on committees and attend open Board of Director meetings, as well as attend and participate in Chapter meetings.
2.3 Each member (full or associate) must be a practicing Roman Catholic in good standing with the Church and striving to live a Christ-centered life.
2.4 To apply for membership, a person or a family must fill out and submit to the Secretary the Chapter’s membership application form. Dues (pro-rated during the year) must be paid at the time of application. If the application is not accepted, the payment of dues will be refunded.
2.5 The Board, by majority vote, may accept or reject any membership application.
2.6 The Board, by unanimous vote, may revoke the membership of a member (full or associate), should they deem such action in the best interest of the Chapter.
2.7 Members may over-ride Board decisions under 2.4 & 2.5 above, at a regular of special meeting by a two-thirds majority vote, with at least 50% of the full members voting in person or by proxy.
2.8 The amount of dues shall be determined by the Board of Directors, and may be changed only at the beginning of the year.
ARTICLE 3: OFFICERS
The following four officers shall manage the affairs of Una Voce – Springfield Area: a President, a Vice-President, a Treasurer, and a Secretary.
3.1 The President shall have the authority and responsibilities normally associated with this position. He will preside over all meetings, regular and special. In general, he shall provide leadership. Following the general elections, the President elect will be required to appoint three board advisors prior to the first board meeting at the beginning of the fiscal year. The president will also have the right to remove any appointed advisor at any time during the fiscal year.
3.2 The Vice-President shall assist the President. Should the Presidency become vacant, the Vice-President shall assume the office of President.
3.3 The Treasurer shall manage the financial affairs of Una Voce – Springfield Area. He shall maintain sound financial records and make an annual financial report to the membership. He shall advise the board and the membership on all financial matters. He shall maintain all bank accounts and sign all checks, which must also be co-signed by the President.
3.4 The Secretary shall maintain reasonable written records of all activities of the Chapter. He shall conduct all correspondence with other organizations. He shall take and publish minutes for all meetings of the membership or Board.
3.5 All Officers must be full members of Una Voce – Springfield Area.
3.6 No person shall hold the same office for more than five consecutive years.
3.7 All Officers shall be elected annually at a regular meeting, with nominations from the floor, and secret balloting.
3.8 Mid-term vacancies shall be filled by elections at special meetings called for that purpose.
3.9 The membership may remove an Officer for reasonable cause at a regular or special meeting, after 30 days notice in the Newsletter, by a ¾ majority vote at a regular or special meeting, with at least 50% of full members voting in person or by proxy.
ARTICLE 4: BOARD MEMBERS
The following article defines the board of directors for Una Voce – Springfield Area.
4.1 The board of directors will consist of the four officers as referred to in Article 3 and three board advisors. No board meeting will be considered valid unless all board members positions are filled at the beginning of the fiscal year.
4.2 The term of the four officers will run consistent to their term in office and will terminate when their position as officer is vacated either voluntarily or by annual vote of the general membership. The term of office for the three advisory board members will begin at the start of the fiscal year and terminate at the end of the fiscal year of their appointment.
4.3 The office of Vice-president, Secretary, Treasurer, and each advisor member will each have a single voice vote on all matters concerning the operation of Una Voce – Springfield Area at all regularly scheduled and specially scheduled board meetings.
4.4 The office of President will refrain from voting on all general board matters but will be required to cast the deciding vote in the event that there is a tie vote during any of the board meetings.
ARTICLE 5: MEETINGS
Meetings may be regularly scheduled (“regular”) or specially called (“special”).
5.1 If possible, all meetings shall be announced in advance in the Newsletter. If this is not possible, the member calling the meeting is responsible for contacting every affected person within a reasonable time before the meeting.
5.2 In general, all Board of Directors meetings should be open to the entire membership. However, the Board may, by unanimous vote, call a closed meeting.
ARTICLE 6: THE FISCAL YEAR
The Chapter’s fiscal year shall coincide with the calendar year.
ARTICLE 7: AMMENDMENTS
To be practical for a period of years, this Constitution must be reasonably easy to amend. The following procedure may be used to make any changes that seem desirable.
7.1 The Board of Directors shall, after a majority vote in a regular or special meeting, draft the proposed amendment.
7.2 The proposed amendment shall be published in the next issue of the Newsletter.
7.3 At a regular or special meeting of the entire membership, not sooner than 30 days after the publication of the proposed amendment in the Newsletter, a 2/3 majority vote of the members, with at least 50% of the full members voting in person or by proxy, shall be required to approve the amendment.
7.4 After approval by the membership, the amendment will be added or inserted into the Constitution by the Secretary, who shall then make revised copies available to all members.
ARTICLE 8: DISSOLUTION
Should it become necessary or advisable to dissolve Una Voce – Springfield Area, the following procedure shall be followed:
8:1 The Board of Directors shall, after a majority vote in favor of dissolution, have it announced in the Newsletter that a general membership vote will be taken at the next regular or special meeting, which shall not be sooner than 30 days.
8.2 At that general membership meeting, after due discussion, a vote will be taken. A 2/3 majority vote, with at least 50% of the full members voting in person or by proxy, is required to dissolve Una Voce – Springfield Area.
8.3 If Una Voce – Springfield Area owns any tangible assets, these shall be sold, with first options given to members. The proceeds shall be turned over to the Treasurer.
8.4 After dissolution and liquidation of assets, the Treasurer shall pay all outstanding bills. All money left over shall be given to a Board-selected community of priests in good standing with the Church that says only the Tridentine Mass.
END
