NORTHWIND
NATURAL FOODS COOPERA TI VE INC.
BYLAWS
Adopted by the
membership September 21, 2002
ARTICLE I
The name of this
association is Northwind Natural Foods Cooperative Inc.
ARTICLE II
The provisions of the
Articles of Incorporation of the association are hereby made a part of these
By-laws.
ARTICLE III
Purposes
Section
1 To
provide a marketing and purchasing outlet for primarily natural, organic,
unprocessed foods and related items at a minimum price, on a nonprofit basis.
Section 2 To educate and promote to the community healthy lifestyles, wellness and a whole foods diet emphasizing natural, organic and unprocessed foods.
Section
3 To
educate the community as to the benefits and potentials of our cooperative and cooperatives
in general and to cooperate with other cooperatives.
ARTICLE IV
Membership
Section I Membership is open to any
individual or household interested in purchasing foods or utilizing services
provided by the cooperative. A household includes all individuals sharing a
common kitchen.
Section 2 The
fee to join the cooperative is $ 10.00 per membership. The annual renewal fee
is waived for the remainder of the "membership year" during which a
new member joins.
Section 3 Subsequent
annual membership renewal fees are due October first of each year. (The
membership year runs October 1 through September 30.) 0.) The
annual membership renewal fee is $15.00.
Section 4 Members
are divided into workers and non-workers. The Board of Directors will set rates
and methods of member discounts on store merchandise.
ARTICLE V Rights
and Powers of Members
Section 1 Members are entitled to
one vote per membership at all general membership meetings.
Section 2 Members approve and elect
the Board of Directors.
Section 3
a) Members as a group can
reverse decisions made by the board through a vote at a general membership
meeting.
b) All changes in question
are to be published in accordance with ARTICLE VII, Section 2, prior to being
changed by the general membership.
Section 4 Members may petition for a
general membership meeting (see ARTICLE VII – Meetings).
ARTICLE VI
Removal and Reinstatement of Members
Section I Members
will be removed from the current membership list if they fail to pay the annual
membership fee.
Section 2 If
a member is removed from the list of current members, the "to-join"
membership fee is not refunded.
Section 3 Members
can be reinstated to good standing by paying the annual membership renewal fee.
ARTICLE VII
Membership Meetings
Section 1 The cooperative shall hold
general membership meetings at least once each calendar year for the purpose of
elections, reports on the state of the cooperative, committee reports, and to
determine the policies and future plans of the cooperative.
Section 2 Written notice of the time and
place of all general membership meetings shall be posted at the store together
with a postal mailing to all current members no later than 15 days prior to all
such meetings.
Section 3
a) A general membership
meeting must be called upon written request of 10% of the total current
memberships. The written request must be presented to the Board of Directors.
The Board must schedule a special general membership meeting within 60 days of
receiving the request.
b) The Board of Directors may call a general membership meeting at
any time.
c) All general membership meetings called must meet the notice
requirements of these By-laws.
Section 4
a) One vote per membership is allowed on each question.
b) A quorum shall consist of 10% or 25 of the current voting members,
whichever is less. A lesser number than the requirement means adjourning the
meeting and a new time for the meeting will be established by the Board of
Directors. Those present at the new meeting will constitute a quorum.
c) Voting by proxy is not allowed.
d) A simple majority of current members present shall pass each
question.
ARTICLE VIII
Board of Directors
Section 1
Qualifications Any adult member in good standing, having the
interests of the cooperative and its purposes as a personal concern.
Section 2 No more than one board
member is allowed from any membership.
Section 3 Elections
a) The maximum number of
people serving on the board shall be nine.
The term of office of board members shall be two years with the option
of reelection to the board. Members will be elected to the board at each annual
general membership meeting and at any other general membership meeting called
to elect members to the board.
b) Nominations for the board
will be from a nominating committee, by nomination from the floor, and by
volunteer basis.
c) A simple majority vote of
those present at the meeting will elect the board members.
d) There will be four
officers of the board of directors: President, Vice-President, Secretary and
Treasurer. Officers will be chosen yearly by each new board as the first order
of business at its first meeting. The remaining board members will also elect
officers when vacancies occur and, as the board deems necessary.
Section 4 Meetings
a)
A minimum of ten (10) monthly board meetings per
fiscal year shall be held.
b)
At least 51% of the total number of board members must
be present to conduct a board meeting. If less, the meeting will be adjourned
and a new one will be scheduled.
c)
Decisions will be reached on a consensus basis unless
a motion is made and is seconded for a vote. A simple majority will carry all
motions voted upon.
d)
All meetings are open to the membership except those
closed sessions dealing with personel matters
involving employees or potential future employees.
e)
Notice of impending board meetings must be posted on
the store bulletin board at least ten (10) days before the meeting in order for
a valid meeting to occur.
Section 5 Powers and
Duties
a) The board shall be responsible for the direction and administration of the cooperative.
b) The board shall authorize and approve of all borrowing of money,
the pledging and mortgaging of the assets needed as securities for the sum so borrowed.
c) The board will form and either head or be
responsible for all committees.
d) The board and store manager shall be
responsible for the hiring and firing of all employees.
e) The board shall ensure job descriptions including wage scales are
given to all employees at the time they begin employment.
f) The board
shall ensure that all store policies are clearly defined in writing. This would
include topics
such as retail mark-ups, worker discount schedule, volunteer and coordinator
policies and the like.
Section 6
Removal and Dismissal
a)
A board member absent without good cause from two
consecutive board meetings will be notified that she/he will be removed from
the position at the next board meeting wiles the remaining board members decide
on reinstatement.
b)
If a petition is filed with the board by 10% or 25 of
the current memberships, whichever is less, seeking the removal of one or more
board members from office, such questions shall be placed before the board at
the next meeting for consideration. A reasonable time shall be allocated at the
meeting for consideration of such removal and at the conclusion of such time,
each member of the board shall vote by secret, written vote for or against
removal, requiring a 2/3 majority of the board. The board member(s) in question
shall be entitled to vote if present and chooses to do so. If removal is voted,
the board member may appeal by requesting the matter be submitted to the next
general membership meeting. The board shall determine whether, while such
appeal is pending, the member shall or shall not continue to function as a
member of the board. The board shall decide whether the appeal shall be
considered at the next scheduled general membership meeting or at a special
general membership meeting. The general membership will decide whether to
terminate or to allow completion of the board member's term.
Section 7
Duties of Officers
a) President – Presiding chairperson at board and general
membership meetings. Has voting privileges with equal to other board
members. Shall sign, wi the Secretary, all notes,
deeds, conveyances of real estate, leases, contracts, etc., however, any
contracts and agreements shall not be binding wiles approved by the board
within fourteen days.
b) Vice-President – Discharge the duties of the President in the
absence or disability of the latter and/or if requested by the President. Can have additional duties as assigned by the board or President.
c) Secretary – Keep a correct record of all general and special
membership meetings. Keep a correct record of all board meetings. Notify
members by mail, posters or newspaper of all required meetings. Deep a current membership directory. Serve as official
correspondent for the cooperative.
d) Treasurer – Shall disburse the funds of the cooperative as
directed by the board. Shall present accurate statements of
the financial condition of the cooperative as may be required. Shall
advise the board of the cooperative's current and projected financial condition
as it relates to anticipated expenses wider consideration. Shall provide any
and all pertinent financial information to the cooperative's contracted
accountant, if applicable, and shall confer mid council with said accountant
regarding current and projected financial condition. Shall
oversee the day to day financial policies and operations of the store with the
store manager as directed by the board.
Section 8
Vacancies
a) If a single board vacancy occurs the
remaining board members may appoint an interim member who will serve until the
next annual or special membership meeting, which ever comes first, at which
meeting the membership will fill the vacancy by election. (A special meeting is
not required). If more than one board vacancy occurs at a time, the remaining
board may appoint one interim member and immediately calla special general
membership meeting to fill all vacancies by election.
b) Officer vacancies will be filled by the board, from the current board if possible. Office of President must be filled from the current board.
ARTICLE IX Committees
a) The
committees shall be responsible to the board in the form of monthly reports.
b) Only
committee members have a vote on issues at committee meetings.
c) Co-op employees can be full-fledged voting members on committees subject to the approval of the board of directors.
d) Committees have no policy-making power.
ARTICLE X Store Manager
Section 1 the Store Manager is an
employee and is responsible to the board in the form of monthly reports.
Section 2 The Store Manager is
responsible for the day to day operation of the store as directed by the board
of directors and outlined in the Store Manager's written job description.
ARTICLE XI
Amendments
Section I By-laws may be enacted, amended or repealed by a simple majority at general membership meetings.
Section 2 All proposed by-law
changes are to be published, posted, and mailed with a general membership
meeting notice in accordance with timing in Article VII, Section 2 prior to
being introduced and acted upon at such general membership meeting. Proposed
by-law changes may be modified from the floor at the general membership
meeting. for which they were duly published, posted
and mailed. Any individual member's proposed by-law changes must be submitted
in writing to the board of directors. All proposed (individual member or board
of directors') by-law changes must be submitted in writing to the board of
directors.
ARTICLE XII
Capital Structure
Section 1 Non-profit, with capital
and income to come from membership fees, sales and fund raising events approved
by the board.
Section 2 Based on the net profit of
the cooperative at the end of each fiscal year, the Board of Directors shall
establish a percentage of patronage refund. The mode, method and/or amount of
refund will be established by the Board of Directors based on current
non-profit laws of the State of Michigan.
ARTICLE
XIII Fiscal year
The official balance runs from October 1 through
September 30 of each year. Financial statements are to be completed at the end
of each quarter: December, March, June and September.
ARTICLE XIV Audits
Section 1 The board may request an
audit of the cooperative's financial record at any time.
Section 2 The general membership may
petition for an audit upon written request of 20% or 25 members. whichever is less.
ARTICLE XV
Dissolution
If the cooperative is dissolved, the membership shall name another cooperative(s) or other non-profit organization(s) to receive any surplus after all obligations have been paid.
