Bylaws are definitions and rules for an organization and are required for FHE to operate as an organization. Last year, the FHE Board created a bylaws committee to revise the FHE bylaws to better reflect the current organization and better align with regulatory requirements.
FHE must post proposed changes to the bylaws in at least two consecutive issues of the newsletters prior to members voting on approval or denial of the changes. This is the first posting of the proposed changes.
The largest material change to the bylaws is the removal of the membership requirement that members must be in Forsyth county or the surrounding counties. This opens up membership to other North Carolina homeschools and also drops the sports only limited membership.
FHE members will be voting on the adoption of the proposed bylaw from September 15 through September 30.
Proposed bylaws:
I. ORGANIZATION:
- A. The name of this organization is Forsyth Home Educators, Inc., also known as “Forsyth Home Educators” and/or “FHE”.
- B. FHE is a non-profit organization incorporated under the laws of North Carolina.
- C. FHE operates exclusively for charitable and educational purposes and in a manner consistent with Chapter 55A of the General Statutes of North Carolina and §501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or successor provisions.
- D. The principal office and registered agent are listed with the North Carolina Secretary of State.
- E. The fiscal year of FHE runs from August 1-July 31. This is also known as the “Membership Year”.
- F. In the event that FHE dissolves, after payment of all debts, all assets shall be distributed to a charitable or religious corporation that is exempt under Internal Revenue Code §501(c)(3) or any successor section.
II. PURPOSE:
- A. Forsyth Home Educators exists to provide biblical Christian encouragement and support to current and prospective homeschoolers.
- B. STATEMENT OF FAITH
- We believe the Bible is the only inspired Word of God and is inerrant and infallible in the original writings. (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:21)
- We believe there is one God eternally existent in three persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1-3; John 1:1, 10:30, 37-38)
- We believe that the Father created the heavens and the earth and everything in them. (Genesis 1:1-2:3)
- We believe humans are created as distinctly male and female at conception. (Gen. 1:27, Psalm 139:13-16)
- We believe God designed marriage as the joining of one man and one woman in a lifelong union. We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other. (Genesis 2:18-25, Matthew 19:3-9, Romans 1:24-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Galatians 5:18-25, Ephesians 5:22-33, 1 Peter 3:1-7)
- We believe by the miracle of the virgin birth that the Lord Jesus Christ, the only and eternal Son of God, became man without ceasing to be God, in order to reveal God and redeem man. We believe that He lived a sinless life, He died for our sins and He rose bodily from the dead for our justification. We believe He now is exalted at the right hand of God, that He is the Head of the Church, the Lord of the individual believer, that He is ministering as our Great High Priest and Advocate. We are awaiting His bodily return. (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:35; John 1:14, 18; Hebrews 4:14-15, 7:25-27; Romans 4:25; Ephesians 1:19-23; Acts 1:11.)
- We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and that the Holy Spirit reproves the world of sin, regenerates the believing sinner, and baptizes him into the Body of Christ. (John 16:7-8, 13-15; Titus 3:5-6; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13)
- We believe that man was created in the image of God, but that he sinned, incurring not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. (Genesis 1:27, 2:16-17, 3:1-24; Romans 5:12-14)
- We believe that salvation is the free gift of God to be received only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and by which we are restored to eternal life and right relationship with God. (John 3:16, 5:24, 11:25; Romans 5:15-21; Ephesians 2:8-10)
- We believe that the true Church is composed of all who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and thereby constitutes a spiritual unity of believers, the Body of Christ. (Romans 8:9-11;1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27; Galatians 3:26-29)
- We believe that all disputes should be resolved biblically. (Matthew 18:15-16, Proverbs 15:1, Matthew 5:9, Colossians 3:13)
- We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, and in the final judgment. (John 5:28-29, Revelation 20:11-15)
III. MEMBERSHIP:
- A. Definitions:
- 1. Homeschooling Household: One or more parents or grandparents homeschooling one or more children.
- 2. Membership: Membership is afforded to a family or household that meets the membership eligibility requirements.
- B. Eligibility Requirements: All members of FHE must:
- 1. Submit a membership application and pay the membership dues.
- 2. Agree to respect and honor the FHE Statement of Faith.
- 3. Agreed to abide by the FHE Adult Code of Conduct and the FHE Student Code of Conduct.
- 4. Meet one of the following conditions:
- a. A household that has a child or all children of pre-compulsory school age OR
- b. A Homeschooling Household that is registered with the NC Division of Nonpublic Education (NCDNPE) OR
- c. A household with at least one homeschool graduate.
- C. Dues:
- 1. Membership Dues are paid for the Membership Year or any portion thereof.
- 2. Membership Dues payment allows participation in activities only in the academic year for which dues are paid.
- 3. The annual membership dues for the following year will be determined each spring by the Board.
- 4. Membership dues are nonrefundable and not prorated.
- 5. Hardship scholarships for membership dues are available and must be approved by the Board.
- D. Rights:
- 1. To nominate FHE Board members.
- 2. To submit one FHE Board ballot entry per Membership.
- 3. To submit proposed bylaw amendments to the Board for consideration.
- 4. To submit one ballot entry per Membership on proposed bylaw amendments.
- E. Revocation:
- 1. An individual’s ability to participate in FHE may be revoked for any reason by a two-thirds majority vote of the FHE Board.
- 2. A Membership may be revoked for any reason by a two-thirds majority vote of the FHE board.
IV. BOARD/OFFICERS:
- A. The governing board will consist of
- 1. Four officers: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
- 2. Sports Committee Liaison.
- 3. No fewer than four members at large. The board will determine the appropriate number of members at large for the following year before the board election.
- B. Eligibility Requirements for prospective Board members:
- 1. The president, vice president, and treasurer must have previously served on the FHE board before election to those offices.
- 2. The sports committee liaison must have served previously either on the Sports Committee or the FHE board before election to this office.
- 3. Members seeking election to the FHE Board must meet the following criteria:
- a. Have been a member in good standing for the previous and current membership years, having renewed both years by Dec. 31st.
- b. Having homeschooled for a minimum of a full school year prior to their nomination, a nominee must also be homeschooling for the current academic year, or the nominee has graduated a homeschooled child/children.
- c. Sign and uphold the FHE Statement of Faith and Adult Code of Conduct.
- 4. Spouses may neither run for the Board on the same ballot nor serve concurrently.
- C. Election of board members:
- 1. Nominations:
- a. The Board must determine and communicate the nomination period no less than 14 days before the nomination period begins.
- b. The nomination period shall occur in March or April but no later than April 15.
- c. The nomination period must be no less than 14 days.
- d. Nominations may only be submitted by members in good standing.
- e. Nominations must be submitted in the form prescribed by the Board.
- 2. Balloting:
- a. The ballot will be comprised of candidates for each position by:
- 1. Verifying that the nominee meets the eligibility requirements.
- 2. Contacting the eligible nominees to communicate the nomination.
- 3. Confirming the acceptance of the nomination.
- 4. Communicating the candidates and their positions for publication for voting.
- 3. Voting for specific Board positions shall be conducted between the dates of May 1st and May 31st each year and shall last for a period of no less than 14 days.
- 4. Each Membership is entitled to one ballot entry.
- 5. Each board position will be elected by a simple majority of returned ballots.
- 6. The ballots are to be reviewed by at least two FHE members who are not running for board positions.
- a. The ballot will be comprised of candidates for each position by:
- D. Board member terms:
- 1. The term of each board member shall span the membership year.
- 2. Midterm vacancies shall be filled by Board appointments from the list of members who meet the Board eligibility requirements.
- E. Removal of a Board member:
- 1. The Board reserves the right to remove a board member by a ⅔ majority vote of remaining board members.
- 2. Grounds for removal of a board member:
- a. Missing more than three of the regularly scheduled board meetings.
- b. Is no longer qualified for Board membership.
- c. Has significantly abused their position.
- d. Is in gross violation of the code of conduct or statement of faith.
- F. Compensation:
- 1. Members of the Board of Directors shall receive no compensation for their service.
- 2. Members of the Board of Directors shall be reimbursed for all approved expenses for the operation of FHE and any FHE-sponsored activities.
- G. Board Meetings:
- 1. Business of the board will only be conducted when at least a ⅔ quorum of the Board members can hear and be heard during the meeting.
- 2. A majority of Board members present must be in agreement for a vote to pass unless otherwise designated in these bylaws.
- 1. Nominations:
- A. The governing board will consist of
V. COMMITTEES:
- A. The board may appoint committees as necessary for the operation of FHE. The Board must approve all committees and committee members each year.
- B. Policies and procedures of each committee must be submitted to the board for approval annually OR in the event of any proposed changes.
- C. The Board must appoint one current Board member to each committee.
- D. Members seeking to join an FHE committee must meet the following criteria:
- 1. Sign and uphold the FHE Statement of Faith and Adult Code of Conduct.
- 2. Be a current member in good standing.
VI. HOSTS:
- A. Every FHE-sponsored event must have a designated host who has signed the FHE Adult Code of Conduct and Statement of Faith.
- B. The host(s) must remain on site for the duration of the event.
VII. BYLAW AMENDMENT:
- A. Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to the Board with supporting information as to the purpose of the proposed amendment, and name and contact information of the submitter.
- B. The board shall, by majority of the entire board, agree or decline to present submissions for a membership vote.
- C. Board-approved amendment proposals along with the supporting purpose statement, must be officially communicated to the membership for a period of at least 60 days within one membership year prior to membership vote.
- D. Proposed amendments will be accepted upon the approval of two-thirds (⅔) of the returned member ballots.