Last night, Gwin Londrigan, Jennifer McGrail, Laura Redmond and I met for several hours creating our proposed Policies and Procedures to supplement our newly adopted by-laws (found on-line in the member's only section of the website). The committee has been working diligently to bring the proposed Policies and Proceudures to the Board of Directors and then to the General Membership for approval.
Since all of these documents seem a little complicated, I thought I would take a moment or two to describe what these documents are really all about-So, here goes.....
JLCD, like other organizations, are governed by several official documents! (paraphased from http://www.associationforum.com/)
Articles of Incorporation: An organization's articles of incorporation can be thought of as the organization's contract with the state. The articles generally identify the organization's name, legal purpose and the disposition of its assets upon dissolution.
Bylaws: The bylaws will necessarily be more specific than the articles, but may not contravene what is outlined in the articles of incorporation or conflict with the law of the state. Bylaws should not overly restrict the organization 's operations.
Policies and Procedures: Further levels of specificity should be contained in a policy and procedure manual detailing the rules governing the association 's operations. Membership processes, administrative rules, financial policies, parliamentary procedures and the like generally should be outlined in policies.
Hope this makes this "clear as mud", to use a phrase often quoted my by Grandmother:)
