Lorain Medina LWML

BYLAWS
OF THE LUTHERAN WOMEN’S MISSIONARY LEAGUE
OHIO DISTRICT LORAIN-MEDINA ZONE

Article I – NAME

The name of this organization shall be Lutheran Women’s Missionary League Ohio District Lorain-Medina Zone (hereinafter referred to as Lorain-Medina Zone, or Zone). The Ohio District (hereinafter referred to as District) is a subordinate organization of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (hereinafter referred to as LWML).

Article II – OBJECT

The object of the Lorain-Medina Zone shall be

a) To provide opportunity for Christian fellowship;
b) To promote the object of the District and LWML; (This encompasses all of the items you listed above.)
c) To provide representation at LWML conventions. (You could certainly expand this to read “district and national LWML conventions.”)

Article III – MEMBERS

Section 1
Women’s organizations within congregations of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (hereinafter referred to as LCMS), on campuses, in resident homes, or in other settings shall be eligible for membership as societies.

Section 2
Eligible societies shall have complied with membership requirements as set forth in Article III, Section 2 of the District Bylaws.

Section 3
Any woman in communicant membership with a congregation that has a women’s society affiliated with the LWML Ohio District and who supports the objectives of the Zone shall be eligible for society membership.

Section 4
Societies formed in a setting other than a congregation, a campus, or a resident home by women who hold communicant membership in an LCMS congregation shall be eligible for membership upon acceptance by the District Executive Committee.

Section 5
Individual membership is available to a woman in an LCMS congregation with or without a society affiliated with LWML. Application is made to the Executive Committee of the District. Individual membership is not considered society or a unit.

Section 6
One (1) or more societies affiliated with the LWML within a congregation, on a campus, in a resident home, or in other single settings shall be considered one (1) unit. Each affiliated society, however, shall receive all informative material sent out by the District or the Zone.

Article IV – ZONE ORGANIATION

Section 1
The Lorain-Medina Zone shall conform to the Ohio District LCMS circuit boundaries (currently North Central 3) as closely as possible.

Section 2
The Lorain-Medina Zone shall write its own bylaws provided there is no conflict with the bylaws of the District. Four (4) copies of the bylaws and any subsequent proposed amendments shall be submitted to the District Structure Committee Chairman for approval by the Committee before being presented to the zone membership for adoption.

Section 3
The Lorain-Medina Zone shall
a) Conduct the following functions:
ii. A Fall Rally to be held on a Saturday in September, October or November;
iii. A Prayer Service to be held on the first (1st) weekend after Ash Wednesday;
iv. A Christian Life Workshop to usually be held on a Saturday in April or May;
v. Any other function as may be desired by the zone.
b) Assist the District in implementing the LWML programs in the zone;
c) Receive freewill offerings and other contributions at the various zone activities for the purpose of paying all incidental expenses, including the expenses of the zone delegates to the LWML convention. All funds over and above the necessary expenses may be sent to the District Financial Secretary (See also Article XII – Finances);
d) Send a copy of the minutes of the zone board and zone events to the District President;
e) Send a copy of the zone event program and minutes to the District Archivist-Historian.

Section 4
Each unit within the Zone shall be given an opportunity to host Zone functions on a rotating basis.

Article V – SOCIETY/UNIT PARTICIPATION

Section 1
The society/unit shall
a) Conduct mission meetings devoted to the work of the LWML at least once a quarter and study the mission topic in the Lutheran Woman’s Quarterly or a similar suitable topic;
b) Promote mission service in the congregation;
c) Distribute the official publication of the national LWML, the Lutheran Women’s Quarterly and the Ohio District Edition (hereinafter referred to as ODE);
d) Collect mite box or other voluntary offerings at least once a quarter;
e) Forward monetary donations to the District Financial Secretary at least once a quarter (See also Article XII – Finances);
f) Elect delegates and alternates to the District convention as provided for in Article VI, Sections 1 and 2.

Section 2
The society/unit(s) hosting the Fall Rally, Prayer Service and the Christian Life workshop shall
a) Register and identify each guest by unit and collect the Registration fees as needed;
b) Provide space and equipment needed for the program and provide worship bulletin;
c) Provide the opening devotion and collect offerings/mites.
d) Prepare food as needed.
e) Conduct Prayer Service using suggested LWML Prayer Service for the year.

Article VI – CONVENTIONS AND REPRESENTATION

Section l
Unit Representation at District conventions shall be two certified delegates and two certified alternates from each congregation.
a) Each unit shall present names of delegates and alternates to the Zone President for certification at least nine (9) weeks prior to the convention.
b) In the event that neither the certified delegate nor alternate is able to serve, a member of the same unit may serve as delegate upon certification in writing by the Zone President and presentation to the Convention Registrar and the District Recording Secretary.

Section 2
Zone representation at national LWML conventions shall be one (1) certified delegate and one (1) certified alternate from each Zone having ten or less units and one (1) additional delegate and alternate for each additional ten units or major fraction thereof*;
a) The selection of delegate and alternate shall rotate among the units of the Zone, alphabetically;
b) Each unit shall have been a member of the Zone one year before qualifying to select a delegate to the convention;
c) The names and addresses of the delegates and alternates shall be presented to the LWML Ohio District President for certification by the District deadline.
d) The following expenses of a delegate to the national LWML convention may be paid by the Zone:
i) Coach fare from the nearest airport to the point of destination, or standard mileage;
ii) Registration fees, meals and lodging as established by the Convention Host.
e) In the event neither the delegate nor the alternate is able to serve, a member of the same unit, or another member of the Zone may serve as delegate upon certification in writing by the District President and presentation to the LWML Recording Secretary.
f) The delegate to the national convention shall report to the membership at the next Fall Rally and to units as invited.
*a major fraction of ten (10) is defined as six (6) or more.

Article VII – OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS

Section l
The elected officers of the Lorain-Medina Zone shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.
a) Officers shall be elected by ballot at the Fall Rally to serve for a term of two years and shall not be eligible for more than one re-election. If nominees are not received for an elected position an officer may be re-appointed by voting members present at the Fall Rally.
b) The election of the President and Vice President shall alternate with the election of the Secretary and Treasurer.
c) A simple majority vote shall constitute election to office.
d) Officers shall be installed and assume duties in January of the following year.
e) In case of a vacancy the Executive Committee may appoint a replacement to finish the term.

Section 2
The Executive Committee shall appoint a Pastoral Counselor.

Section 3
The Executive Committee may appoint a Publicity Chairman, Archivist-Historian, Christian Life Chairman, Review Committee and Bylaws Committee.

Article VIII – DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1
The President shall:
a) Preside at Zone functions and at all meetings of the Executive Committee;
b) Shall be responsible for the execution of all valid resolutions passed by the Zone, District and national LWML and;
c) Be ex-officio member of all committees.

Section 2
The Vice President shall:
a) Be responsible for programs presented at Zone functions, with the assistance of the Executive Committee;
b) Assist the President and perform the duties of the president in her absence or inability to serve;
c) Promote mission service by sharing ideas with other units;
d) Arrange hospitality for Zone guests if needed;
e) Serve as the Nominating Committee Chairman.

Section 3
The Secretary shall:
a) Keep a record of the proceedings of all Zone Rally and Executive Committee meetings, noting attendance at all Zone functions;
b) Send a copy of the minutes of each meeting to the Zone officers, Pastoral Counselor, Zone webmaster, unit presidents, secretary to the District President and District Archivist-Historian.
c) Conduct correspondence as may be requested by the President and/or the Executive Committee and record action taken;
d) Provide a zone mailing list and bylaws to the Executive Committee and unit presidents;
e) Serve if needed as the Archivist/Historian;
f) Announce details of zone functions by mail to all zone officers, unit presidents and pastors of zone congregations prior to event;
g) Promote zone functions through congregational newsletters and bulletins to local newspapers;
h) Report important results of functions to the local newspapers and the ODE.

Section 4
The Treasurer shall:
a) Receive all money collected at Zone functions and deposit it in a bank checking account approved by the Executive Committee;
b) Make Payments for all expenditures as approved by the Executive Committee;
c) Keep an itemized account of all receipts and expenditures;
d) Submit records to the Review Committee, appointed by the Executive Committee at the end of each term of office.

Section 5
The Archivist-Historian shall:
a) Keep a comprehensive record of all Zone functions and send a copy to the District Archivist-Historian.
b) Fulfill the duties of the Secretary as needed.

Article IX – NOMINATIONS

Section 1
A Nominating Committee of three (3) members shall be appointed by the Zone President, with approval of the Executive Committee. A member is not eligible to serve consecutive terms, except the Chairman (See Article VII – Officers and Elections and Article VIII – Duties of Officers).
a) The Secretary shall serve as the chairman.
b) Members shall be from different units if possible.
c) A vacancy on the committee shall be filled by a member of the same unit as the departing member, if possible, and shall be appointed by the Zone President.

Section 2
The Nominating Committee shall
a) Submit names of at least two (2) nominees, if possible, for each elective office to be filled;
b) Select nominees who are members of the Zone and have served in a leadership capacity at the unit level;
c) Select candidates for President who have served as a member of the Executive Committee;
d) Obtain written consent of all nominees to serve, if elected;
e) Publish the report of the Nominating Committee, including a resume of each nominee, by mail and if available via internet and electronic communication to the Executive Committee, all zone units, and pastors of zone congregations prior to the Fall Rally;
f) Prepare printed ballots with the names of the nominees listed in alphabetical order.

Section 3
Other options for nominations:
a) Any member or unit may suggest names for nominations for elected office and shall do so by submitting completed nomination and consent forms to the chairman of the Nominating Committee by the date designated by the Nominating Committee.
b) Nominations for elected officers may be made from the floor of the rally, provided written consent of the nominees has been secured and they meet the stipulated qualifications for office.

Section 4
The Nominating Committee shall present to the President names of persons qualified for appointive positions.

Article X – COMMITTEES

Section 1
The Executive Committee shall:
a) Consist of the elected officers, the appointed officers, the Pastoral Counselor, and each unit president or representative from within the Zone, with four units constituting a quorum;
b) Meet prior to each Zone function or at the call of the President;
c) Plan programs presented at Zone functions, determine registration fees, food allowance, time schedule, and program expenditures as needed;
d) Appoint the Zone Pastoral Counselor.

Section 2
The Bylaws Committee shall:
a) Be appointed by the Zone President and consist of up to 5 members, including one member of the Executive Committee;
b) Review the Zone Bylaws periodically and submit to the Executive Committee for their consideration, such amendments as deemed necessary, or as required by the Zone, District and LWML bylaws;
c) Assist units in the preparation of unit by-laws bylaws so they are in accord with the Zone, District and LWML bylaws.

Section 3
The Review Committee shall:
a) Consist of two (2) members appointed by the Zone President at the end of the Treasurer’s term of office to review the records of financial transactions and submit a report to the Executive Committee.

Section 4
Other committees may be appointed by the Zone President as necessary.

Article XI – COUNSELORS

Section 1
The Zone Counselor shall:
a) Be appointed from among the Zone pastors to serve a term of two (2) years;
b) Be appointed at the Executive Committee meeting preceding the election of the Secretary and Treasurer.
Section 2
The Zone Counselor shall:
a) Attend all Zone functions;
b) Conduct devotions at Zone functions and Executive Committee meetings;
c) Install newly elected officers;
d) Offer spiritual guidance to the Zone officers and committees.

Article XII – FINANCES

Section 1
An offering shall be taken at all Zone functions for the purpose of paying to following expenses:
a) The incidental expenses of Zone business and functions;
b) The Zone delegate going to the LWML convention;
c) The Zone President going to the District convention.

Section 2
Additional funds may be raised at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

Section 3
No mites shall be allocated for a mission project by the Zone. All mites shall be forwarded to the District Financial Secretary.

Section 4
The fiscal year of the Lorain-Medina Zone shall be from April 1 to March 31 inclusive. The Treasurer shall adhere to these dates in closing the Zone’s books.

Article XIII – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the proceedings of the Lorain-Medina Zone in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the LWML Bylaws, Zone Bylaws, applicable laws or Christian principles.

Article XIV – AMENDMENTS

Section 1
These bylaws may be amended by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting at the Fall Rally.

Section 2
Proposed bylaw amendments or revisions shall be
a) Presented to the Executive Committee for consideration;
b) Submitted in required number to the chairman of the District Structure Committee for review and approval by the committee;
c) Submitted to each unit within the Zone at least sixty (60) days previous to the next Fall Rally.

Section 3
By unanimous vote a proposed amendment may be presented to the Fall Rally without previous notice. A three-fourths (3/4) vote shall be required for adoption.