Main Street Elementary School
Friends of Main Street By-Laws
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MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Friends of Main Street is to provide enrichment programs to all children attending Main Street Elementary School, including but not limited to art, music, after-school, and technology programs.
These programs should support the children's joy, learning, creativity, and education. We also strive to promote a supportive community at our school.
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ARTICLE I: Name
The name of this home and school club shall be known as Friends of Main Street.
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ARTICLE II: Purposes
Section 1.
The purpose of Friends of Main Street is as follows:
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To provide support to the children of Main Street School through:
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Cooperation and communication between home, school, and the community
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The development of fundraising programs and special events
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The volunteer programs and activities
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Plan and implement fundraising events to pay for identified needs of the school that the attendees at the meeting votes and approves as needed
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To oversee expenditures of Friends of Main Street funds as needed
Section 2.
The objectives of Friends of Main Street are developed through committees, projects, programs and conferences; and are governed and qualified by the basic policies set forth hereof.
Section 3.
The organization is organized exclusively for the charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes within the meaning of Section 5O1C(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or corresponding section of any future Federal tax code (hereinafter "Internal Revenue Code").
Section 4.
Dissolution, if necessary, of Friends of Main Street shall be by 2/3 majority of the voting members. In the event of dissolution, any funds and assets remaining in its possession shall be distributed to an organization with like or associated purpose. Such organization shall be by recommendation of the Board with approval of voting members during a Friends of Main Street meeting.
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Section 5.
This organization will meet no less than five times each school year.
Section 6. Parliamentary Procedure
Robert's Rules of Order, Revised shall govern all procedures
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Section 7.
The home base of this organization is Main Street School, Soquel, California
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ARTICLE III: Basic Policies
The following are basic policies of Friends of Main Street:
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The organization shall be noncommercial, nonsectarian, and nonpartisan.
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The name of the organization or any members, in their official capacities shall not be used to endorse or promote a commercial concern or in connection with any partisan interest or for any purpose not appropriately related to promotion of the objectives of the organization.
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The organization shall not directly or indirectly participate or intervene in any way in any political campaign.
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The organization shall work with the school to provide quality education for all children and/or youth and shall seek to participate in the decision making process establishing school policy; recognizing that the legal responsibility to make decisions has been delegated by the people to the Board of Education, State Education Authorities and Local Education Authorities regarding FOMS activities.
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No part of the income or principle of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to any member, Director or Officer of the organization or to any other private individual. Reimbursement for expenditures or the payment of reasonable compensation for services rendered shall not be deemed a distribution of income or principle.
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Any reimbursement written on the Friends of Main Street bank account for reimbursement for expenditures or the payment of reasonable compensation for services rendered shall have a minimum of two signatures from the Board.
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Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on
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by an organization exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or
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by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code.
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ARTICLE IV: Membership
Membership in the Friends of Main Street organization shall be made available without regard to race, color, creed, religion or national origin.​
All parents or guardians of students at Main Street Elementary are members of Friends of Main Street organization.
ARTICLE V: Officers and Their Elections
Section 1. Officers and their Election
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The officers of this organization shall be:
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Chairperson
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Secretary
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Treasurer
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Volunteer Coordinator
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Communication Coordinator
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Any board position can be held jointly by two persons. If two persons desire to share any of the board positions, then both persons for the position shall be voted on and approved by a majority of the attendees at the Friends of Main Street annual meeting.
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Nominations shall be made from the floor at the March/April meeting.
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An anonymous election shall be held at the last meeting in May at which time each candidate shall be given an equal and predetermined amount of time to speak and/or accept the nomination prior to voting.
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Faculty members shall not be eligible for elective office
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The term of office shall be for one year. Proxies may be used to vote on an issue if any of the members are unable to attend a meeting, but proxies will only be accepted at the time when the other votes are collected
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Results of the vote will be disclosed to members
Section 2. Vacancies
A vacancy occurring in any office shall be filled for the remaining term by a person elected by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Board. Notice of said election shall be posted in the school newsletter either electronically or in printed form to notify parents of vacancy.
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Section 3. Officer Onboarding
Incoming officers will be onboarded by existing officers following the election and by no later than July 1st.
Section 4. Removal
Any officer may be removed by a majority vote of all officers sitting on the Board whenever, in the judgment of the organization, the best interests of the organization would be served thereby.
ARTICLE VI: Duties of Officers
Section 1. Chairperson
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To call and preside over all meetings of Friends of Main Street
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To act as the lead organizer from which all committees work
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To keep the master calendar of all events
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To oversee and present a written financial budget report at the final meeting of the year
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To be on the signature card at the bank
Section 2. Secretary
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To keep an accurate record of the proceedings of all Friends of Main Street meetings
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To make copies and present them at the next Friends of Main Street meeting
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To post the minutes (if applicable) and keep a copy of in the Friends of Main Street binder in the school office and archive copies more than 2 years old. To be on the signature card at the bank
Section 3. Treasurer
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To accurately record of all receipts and disbursements
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Insure that all disbursements are accompanied by proper documentation
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To present a written report at each meeting (may be given by Chairperson)
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To receive and reconcile all bank statements and to deliver information to Chairperson
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To consult with the tax accountant and provide any information to the accountant and then report to the board
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To submit federal and state taxes on time to the proper agencies. Keep records of all tax and other filings.
Section 4. Volunteer Coordinator
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To work with Chairperson to determine what volunteer needs will be for the school year
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To promote and publicize all fundraising efforts throughout membership, leading execution
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To maintain and grow active volunteer community, appropriately connecting volunteers to opportunities where they can best positively impact Friends of Main Street
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To coordinate "back to school" packages, including updating online Volunteer Signup form
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To greet new volunteers, ensuring they feel welcome and ready to participate with FOMS
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To manage list of active volunteers, keeping update, and removing parents who are stepping down
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To back up the Secretary when sitting Secretary is unable to perform duties
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To be on the signature card at the bank
Section 5. Communication Coordinator
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To regularly write and publish newsworthy information and details related to Friends of Main Street activities, events, and fundraising both ahead of the school year commencing and throughout the year
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To manage and oversee social media postings, printed flyers, website copy/updating, and other communication media (e.g., banners)
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To be on the signature card at the bank
ARTICLE VII: Meetings
Section 1.
Regular membership meetings shall be held no less than five (5) times each school year.
All meetings shall be posted in the principal's newsletter and on school marquee.
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Section 2.
The Chairperson or a majority of the Board may call special membership meetings, with three (3) days posted notice being given.
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Section 3.
Seven (7) members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business in any meeting of this organization.
ARTICLE VIII: School Representatives
Section 1. School Site Principal
The Principal or designated alternate should attend all monthly meetings. The Principal has the option to attend committee meetings.
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Section 2. Teacher Representative
The teacher representative and alternate shall be a volunteer from the teaching staff. If there are more than two volunteers, the staff will elect the representative. The teacher representative is not a voting member.
ARTICLE IX: Special Committees
Section 1.
The Board may create such special committees, as it may deem necessary to promote the objectives of the organization.
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Section 2.
The chairperson of each special committee shall present a plan of work initially to the Committee Coordinator. After initial approval, the plan is proposed to the full Board.
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Section 3.
No committee work shall be undertaken without the consent and approval of the Board.
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ARTICLE X: Standing Committees Chairpersons
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The chairperson for each standing committee shall be a volunteer.
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For each standing committee, the chairperson is responsible to make the activities and events happen for his/her committee. He/she must organize, get volunteers, run the event and write an event summary to be presented to the Board.
ARTICLE XI: Standing Committees
The standing committees shall conduct activities and events for the Friends of Main Street organization.
These committees are to propose to the board where the funds raised from their committee's activities​
shall be applied. The distribution of funds raised can change from year to year, but said change in distribution shall be Motioned, Seconded, and Approved by the Board and attendees at the meetings, then and posted in minutes.
ARTICLE XII: Requests for Funds
All requests for funds over $300 that are outside of the Friends of Main Street's operating budget must be submitted in writing. Requestors should complete a written request form that is available from the FOMS Treasurer. The request should be returned to the Treasurer or Chairperson no later than two weeks before the next FOMS meeting. Requests will be posted in the school office at least one week prior to the meeting as a notice to the members.
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Requestor or designee shall present the request at the FOMS meeting and a vote on the request will be taken. A majority of the members in attendance shall approve the request.
ARTICLE XIII: Amendments
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Notice of proposed amendment to the bylaws has to be given and added to the agenda fourteen days prior to a regular membership meeting. The regular membership meetings must be no less than twenty five days apart.
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At the first regular membership meeting after the notice, the amendment must be debated upon and no vote is held for the proposed amendment.
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At the second regular membership meeting after the notice, the amendment must be debated upon and a first vote is held for the proposed amendment. A two thirds majority of the voting members present at the meeting would qualify the amendment for a second vote. Henceforth, any modifications to the proposed amendment will disqualify the proposed amendment for a second vote.
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At the third regular membership meeting after the notice, the amendment must be debated upon and a second vote is held for the proposed amendment. The amendment shall become effective upon approval of two thirds majority of the voting members present at the second vote.
ARTICLE XIV: Liability of Members
No organization or individual member of any organization shall be personally liable to any creditor, or for any indebtedness or liability of Friends of Main Street, and any and all of the creditors of the organization shall look only to the assets of the organization for payment.
ARTICLE XV:
In emergency matters requiring immediate Board action, the Chairperson may call a meeting for the Board of 48 hours by phone. The notice shall state the emergency matter to be considered, but business transacted at the meeting shall not be limited by such statement.