BYLAWS OF THE PARTNERSHIP FOR SAFE FAMILIES & COMMUNITIES

OF VENTURA COUNTY

A CALIFORNIA PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION

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Article I.  NAME AND PURPOSE

 

Section 1.01   The name of this organization is the Partnership for Safe Families & Communities of Ventura County (hereinafter “The Partnership”).

 

Section 1.02   The Partnership is organized with the following Mission: “to promote a community committed to safe, healthy, peaceful families.” 

 

The Partnership sets out to achieve this Mission by following its objectives, which are to: 

 

• Promote community awareness of family violence and resources available for prevention, intervention, and treatment.

 

• Facilitate education and training of professionals and community members in prevention, intervention, and treatment of family violence.

 

• Develop and support public policy and legislation that furthers the mission “to promote a community committed to safe, healthy, peaceful families.”

 

• Provide a forum for interagency cooperation and coordination.

 

• Promote and provide direct service through the Network of Care model for use among cross-sector agencies to support the families they serve.

 

• Lift the voices of people with lived experience in all facets of The Partnership.

 

• Participate in and promote “Meaningful Engagement Opportunities” with community partner agencies to inform policy.

  • A meaningful engagement opportunity is anything that involves parents with lived experience providing input, feedback, suggestions, ideas, resources etc. by using their voice to help strengthen families in our community.

 

The Partnership’s role includes working as a collaborative toward the prevention of child abuse and neglect and other forms of family violence across the lifespan. This collaboration includes (among others) concerned citizens and professionals from the business, childcare, education, faith, health, justice, law enforcement, mental health, and social services communities. It also includes survivors of abuse and neglect across the lifespan and consumers of treatment and services regarding the causes and effects of abuse and neglect across the lifespan. 

 

Additionally, the Partnership functions as a multidisciplinary team, coordinating resources, networking, providing education and outreach, and communication for children and families in Ventura County. Much of this work is accomplished through the monthly Strengthening Families Collaborative.

 

Article II.  NON-PARTISAN ACTIVITIES

 

Section 2.01   The Partnership shall serve in a non-partisan capacity.

 

Article III.  OFFICE

 

Principal Office

 

Section 3.01   The principal office of The Partnership for its transaction of business is located in the City of Ventura in the County of Ventura, California.

 

Change of Address

 

Section 3.02   The Partnership Board of Directors is hereby granted full power and authority to change the principal office of The Partnership from one location to another in the County of Ventura, California. 

 

Article IV.  DIRECTORS

 

Composition of Directors

 

Section 4.01  The corporation shall have no less than five (5) and a maximum of 17 directors and, collectively, they shall be known as the Board of Directors.  The number may be changed by amendment of the bylaw and adoption of a new bylaw, as provided in these bylaws.

 

Board of Directors members shall live and/or work within Ventura County, California.

 

Elections

 

Section 4.02 The Board of Directors shall be appointed via an election by the Board with a threshold majority of 75% required. The Board of Directors shall consist of a composition agreed upon by the Board and as appropriate to fulfill the mission statement of The Partnership.

 

The Board of Directors will call for recommendations for board members during the month prior to the organization’s annual meeting. The Board of Directors shall consist of immediate past president, elected officers (President,  Secretary and Treasurer) and other Board members. 

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Nomination

 

Section 4.03  The Board of Directors shall determine the process for the nomination of Board members.

 

Removal of Directors

 

Section 4.04  The Board may declare vacant the office of a Director on the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

1. The Director has been declared of unsound mind by a final order of court; or

2. The Director has been convicted of a felony; or

3. A court of law has issued a verdict of guilty for a crime that goes against the purpose of The Partnership.

4. The director has unexcused absences from two or more consecutive meetings of the Board of Directors.

 

Resignation of Director

 

Section 4.05  Any Director may resign effective on giving written notice to the President unless the notice specifies a later time for the effectiveness of such resignation. A successor may be elected by the Board when the resignation becomes effective.

 

Vacancies in The Board

 

Section 4.06 (a)  Vacancies on the Board of Directors shall exist on the death, resignation, or removal of any Director.

 

Section 4.06 (b) Vacancies on the Board of Directors shall be addressed in the same manner as “elections” above and can occur anytime during the year. 

 

Decision-Making Model

 

Section 4.07  Decisions by the Board of Directors are made by majority vote. Once a motion has been made and seconded, discussion on the motion takes place if needed. The motion is put to a vote.  In the voting process each current sitting board member is entitled to one (1) vote on a motion, with a threshold majority of 75% of voting board members required to carry the motion.

 

Powers

 

Section 4.08  Subject to the provisions of the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation law and any limitations in the articles of incorporation and bylaws relating to action required or permitted to be taken or approved by the members of the corporation, the activities and affairs of this corporation shall be conducted and all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the direction or the board of directors.

 

Financial Management and Oversight

 

Section 4.09 The fiscal year of The Partnership shall begin on July 1st and end on June 30th. Quarterly reports, showing income, expenditures, and pending income, shall be submitted to the Board of Directors by the Executive Director after being reviewed by the Treasurer. The Partnership shall maintain accurate financial records, including receipts, invoices, and bank statements. To ensure asset protection, all financial assets shall be held in the name of The Partnership and managed in accordance with sound financial practices and established policies.

 

The Board of Directors shall approve an annual budget each June. The annual budget will be prepared by the accountant and Executive Director and presented to the Board by the Treasurer. All expenditures must be within the approved budget, and any major changes to the budget must be approved by the Board. The Treasurer will conduct an annual internal audit each year and report the findings to the Board. In the event an external audit is needed, the Board will retain an external auditor.

 

Terms of Office

 

Section 4.10  Each director shall serve for a term of one year. Directors that are elected to serve in an officer role shall hold that office for two years. Directors serve until the expiration of the term for which they are elected. If a director holds an officer role, they will serve until the expiration of the term for which they are elected and until a successor has been elected and qualified. Individual directors may serve an unlimited number of consecutive terms.

 

Non Liability of Directors

 

Section 4.11  The Directors shall not be personally liable for the debts, liabilities, or other obligations of the corporation.

 

Insurance for Corporate Agents

 

Section 4.12  The Board of Directors may adopt a resolution authorizing the purchase and maintenance of insurance on behalf of any agent of the corporation (including a director, officer, employee, or other agent of the corporation) against any liability other than for violating provisions of law relating to self-dealing (Section 5233 of the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law) asserted against or incurred by the agent in such capacity or arising out of the agent’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the agent against such liability under the provisions of Section 5238 of the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law.

 

Article V.  MEETINGS

 

Place

 

Section 5.01   Meetings of the Board of Directors, or Subcommittees of the Partnership shall be held virtually or at such locations as may be designated by the Board of Directors.  

 

Regular Meetings

 

Section 5.02  Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at least quarterly and more often as necessary for the purpose of transacting such proper business as may come to the meeting.

 

Section 5.03  The annual meeting of the corporation will be held during the month of June.

 

Notice of Meetings

 

Section 5.04   Written notice of the annual meeting, board meetings, and subcommittee meetings shall be distributed generally via email in advance of the meeting whenever possible.

 

Quorum for Meetings

 

Section 5.05  For the purpose of meetings of the Board of Directors, a quorum shall consist of 75% of currently appointed board members. No business shall be considered by the board at any Board of Directors meeting at which a quorum, as defined herein, is not present.  The only motion which the board president (or his or her designee) shall entertain at such a meeting is a motion to adjourn.

Proxy Voting

 

Section 5.06   Board of Directors entitled to vote shall not be permitted to vote or act by proxy.

 

Conduct of Meetings

 

Section 5.07   The President of The Partnership or The President’s designee shall be chairperson of the Board of Directors meetings. 

 

Annual Report to Directors

 

Section 5.08  An annual report shall be provided to the Board of Directors and the Ventura County Board of Supervisors once each fiscal year by the President of the Board of Directors and the Partnership’s Executive Director.

 

Action by Consent with and without Meeting

 

Section 5.09  Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors under any provision of law may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the board signal their consent to the action by affirmatively responding to an email notice of action or by not raising an objection to the email notice within 48 hours or other stated deadline for response.

 

Such written or constructive consent shall be recorded and filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board and shall have the same force and effect as unanimous consent by the Directors at a regular Board of Directors meeting.  

 

Article VI. OFFICERS

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Appointed Officers

 

Section 6.01  The board of directors’ nominated slate of board members will include the following officers of the corporation, to be voted in by the board of directors with a 75% majority:

 

President Emeritus serves as advisor to Partnership President for a term of up to 1 year.

 

President presides as chairperson at Board of Directors meetings; serves as organization’s lead spokesperson and designates any other appropriate spokespeople in specific circumstances as appropriate; reports as needed to public entities and other organizations as appropriate, including making annual report to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors; oversees the Executive Director; and serves as lead media spokesperson.

 

Treasurer possesses an understanding of financial accounting for nonprofit organizations, regularly reviews financial reports and bank statements, works with the Executive Director and the accountant to ensure appropriate financial reports are made available to the rest of the Board in a timely manner, in collaboration with the President, conducts an annual audit of the financials and reports any findings to the rest of the Board.

 

Secretary ensures the storage and accuracy of all board records, takes board meeting minutes or reviews minutes if that task is assigned to a staff member, provides notice of meetings of the board and/or of a committee when such notice is required.

 

Other Board Members

 

Section 6.02  Board members not serving as officers will participate in board meetings as scheduled and actively support the mission of the organization, attend, promote and/or support Partnership activities and events and maintain current knowledge of the Partnership’s goals and financials.