Revision 2004

Amendments	Current

Article V Composition of Advisory Board The Advisory Board membership shall consist of the National Coordinator, one Representative at Large, one State Coordinator Representative, one Special Projects Representative and eight (8) Local Coordinator Regional Representatives. All shall have voting privileges except the National Coordinator who shall vote only when the vote determines the outcome of an issue. The following regions shall elect one Local Coordinator Representative; North East - Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York; Mid-Atlantic - Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, D.C.; South East - Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida; Great Lakes - Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota; Plains - Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota; South West - Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona; Rocky Mt. - Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada; Pacific - Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii Regions Map	ARTICLE V. COMPOSITION OF ADVISORY BOARD The Advisory Board membership shall consist of: the National Coordinator, four (4) State Coordinator Regional Representatives, eight (8) Local Coordinator Regional Representatives, one (1) representative each from The USGenWeb Archives Project, The USGenWeb Census Project, and The USGenWeb Tombstone Project, and beginning in 1999, one (1) at-large representative. All shall have voting privileges except the National Coordinator who shall vote only in the case of a tie. The regions from which State Coordinator and Local Coordinator Representatives are elected shall be decided by the Advisory Board on an annual basis.
ARTICLE VI DUTIES AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE ADVISORY BOARD Section 1. The Advisory Board shall perform the duties prescribed by these Bylaws, by the parliamentary authority, and by adopted standing rules and policies. Section 2. The National Coordinator (NC) is the principal administrative officer of The USGenWeb Project with decision authority subject to approval of the Advisory Board. The NC serves as the public representative for the project and presides at all meetings of the Advisory Board. The NC shall serve as an ex officio member of all committees and maintain the national organizational e-mail lists and any appropriate national sub-lists. The NC shall appoint a Recording Secretary and Parliamentarian to the Advisory Board to serve for the term of the NC or until relieved. The NC is authorized to appoint "special committees" deemed necessary or when directed by the Advisory Board. The appointment of "special committees" shall be subject to confirmation by the Advisory Board. A simple majority vote of the AB shall confirm the appointment. Section 3. The Advisory Board is responsible for promptly addressing and resolving national issues, intervening in state issues only upon breach of USGenWeb bylaws. Duties of the Advisory Board include appointing a Webmaster to maintain the national website, appointing and overseeing all standing committees including, but not limited to an Election Committee and a Grievance Committee, and appointing special committees as necessary. Section 4. It shall be the responsibility of the Webmaster and the Advisory Board to ensure that the national website is in compliance with the stated bylaws of The USGenWeb Project. Section 5. The Advisory Board is authorized to remove links from the national website, as appropriate, to websites which fail to comply with the bylaws, rules or policies of The USGenWeb Project or to websites which display inappropriate content. Coordinators of non-compliant websites shall be given a 14 day "Notice to Comply". During the 14 days covered by this notice, the coordinator may request extension, subject to approval of the Advisory Board. Section 6. The Advisory Board shall be responsible for administering internet domains registered to The USGenWeb Project. Section 7. In the event the National Coordinator cannot serve out his or her term, the Representative At Large shall serve as interim National Coordinator. If the Representative At Large cannot serve in this capacity, the Board shall choose an interim National Coordinator from among its membership. If there are more than six months remaining in the National Coordinator's term, the Advisory Board shall conduct a special election within 30 days to select an NC to serve until the National Coordinator chosen at the next regular election takes office. Section 8: In the event a board member is unable to complete his/her term. If 12 months or more of the term exists for the vacating member, a special election shall be held for replacement within 30 days. If the remainder of term is less than 12 months, the Advisory Board shall appoint a replacement within 14 days to serve the remainder of the term. Section 9. Nominees for National Coordinator and Representative at Large shall have the following qualifications: at least one year (the twelve months immediately preceding an election) of continuous service and current activity as a member in good standing, and eligibility to vote within The USGenWeb Project. Qualifications of nominees for State Coordinator Representative, Local Coordinator Representative, and Special Project Representative are the same with the addition that their service shall have been as a State Coordinator, Local Coordinator, or one of the various positions associated with the Special Projects, respectively. Section 10. Any elected Advisory Board member may be removed from office for cause by 2/3 majority action of the AB, or, by a recall vote initiated by petition of constituents (if 100 votes elected, 51 petitioners shall cause a recall vote). Cause for removal by the AB is limited to continued, gross, and willful neglect of the duties of office. Causes for removal by constituents may include, but is not limited to, the following offenses: gross dereliction of duty, excessive failure to participate in Advisory Board votes, ethics violations, or conduct characterized by a lack of fairness and good faith such as disparaging, bigoted or grossly offensive behavior that could be injurious to the project, its members or representatives. The petition must be posted on the BOARD-L mailing list at least thirty (30) days before the vote takes place. Any vote to remove an officer must be preceded by a presentation of facts showing cause for removal and shall allow for rebuttal by the officer in question before the vote takes place.	ARTICLE VI: DUTIES/QUALIFICATIONS OF ADVISORY BOARD Section 1. The Advisory Board shall perform the duties prescribed by these Bylaws, and by accepted parliamentary procedures. Section 2. The National Coordinator is responsible for the day-to-day administration of The USGenWeb Project and serves as the public representative for the project. The National Coordinator shall preside at all meetings of the Advisory Board, serve as an ex officio member of all sub-committees, and maintain the national organizational mail lists (i.e., State Coordinators, Advisory Board, and any appropriate sub-lists). Section 3. The responsibilities of the Advisory Board shall include: addressing any problem issues as they arise, aiding the state projects upon request, overseeing elections, advising and mediating, if necessary, any grievances or appeals, and appointing a Webmaster to maintain the national website. Section 4. It shall be the responsibility of the Webmaster and the Advisory Board to ensure that the national website is in compliance with the stated bylaws of The USGenWeb Project. Section 5. The Advisory Board shall also have the responsibility to remove links from the national website, as appropriate, to websites which fail to meet the established guidelines/standards for The USGenWeb Project or to websites which display inappropriate content. Coordinators of any websites found to be in non-compliance shall be notified of such and shall be given a period of two (2) weeks in which to bring their website into compliance. The two-week time limit shall be flexible based on justifiable reasons presented by the website coordinator. Section 6. The Advisory Board shall also be responsible for administering the domains, usgenweb.com, usgenweb.net and usgenweb.org, over which The USGenWeb Project membership has control and for which the members are the official lessees. Section 7. In the case of a vacancy in the office of National Coordinator, the Advisory Board shall elect an Acting National Coordinator from its membership to serve until a special election can take place within 90 days. Section 8. In the event a board member is unable to complete his/her term, the Advisory Board will appoint a replacement to serve until the next scheduled election. Section 9. Nominees for National Coordinator shall have the following qualifications: at least one year (the twelve months immediately preceding an election) of continuous service and current activity as a member in good standing, and eligibility to vote within The USGenWeb Project. Qualifications of nominees for State Coordinator Representative, Local Coordinator Representative, and Special Project Representative are the same with the addition that their service shall have been as a State Coordinator, Local Coordinator, or one of the various positions associated with the Special Projects, respectively. "In good standing" is demonstrated by responding promptly to email, actively supporting researchers' efforts to find information, maintaining their website with appropriate, up-to-date content, and serving as a good example of the guidelines and standards of The USGenWeb Project.
ARTICLE VIII. ADVISORY BOARD PROCEDURES Section 1. A majority of the current voting members of the Advisory Board shall constitute a quorum. Section 2. The vote requirements for motions to be adopted shall be in accordance with the parliamentary authority, except as specified in these bylaws. In all cases determination shall be made by the legal votes cast. Section 3. The Advisory Board shall utilize "roll call votes". Members are responsible for expeditiously responding to vote calls. The duration of voting time for motions shall be a minimum of 24 hours. The maximum duration shall be at the discretion of the presiding officer, except that the voting period shall not exceed 72 hours. Section 4. Voting records of the Advisory Board shall be posted publicly.	ARTICLE VIII. ADVISORY BOARD PROCEDURES Section 1. Nine (9) voting members of the Advisory Board shall constitute a quorum. Section 2. Issues shall require a 2/3 majority, of those board members voting, to pass. Section 3. For major issues, the Advisory Board will announce, at least 48 hours in advance, when the vote will be taken in order for members to have the opportunity to voice their opinion. Section 4. Voting records of the Advisory Board membership shall be posted publicly.
ARTICLE XII. STATE PROJECTS Section 1. Section 1. The state web site shall include direct links to the state's local and state-level special project sites, the USGenWeb Project national site and USGenWeb Special Projects websites. In addition, each state web site shall provide links to information for current and prospective local coordinators, including but not limited to state bylaws, rules and/or policies, official national and state logos, and the USGenWeb project Bylaws, Rules and Policies and Copyright Information pages. Section 2. Each state shall have a State Coordinator (SC) elected by majority of state members voting. A State Coordinator may not serve more than 36 consecutive months unless re-elected. Each state shall hold an election for State Coordinator every 36 months, or sooner if specified by adopted state bylaws/rules. Each state shall have a Assistant State Coordinator (ASC) appointed by the State Coordinator or elected by the state membership pursuant to adopted state bylaws or rules. The State Coordinator, as primary administrative officer of the state project may appoint additional ASC's as necessary to assist in administration of the state project. Assistant State Coordinators who are "appointees" are not eligible to be a candidate for the national office of State Coordinator Representative. Section 3. State projects are required to comply with all USGenWeb Project bylaws, rules, and policies. State projects are encouraged to adopt additional bylaws, rules or policies, as appropriate for their state, provided they do not conflict with national bylaws, rules or policies. Section 4. State Coordinators must remain subscribed to the State Coordinator's mailing list. State Coordinator duties include, but are not limited to, oversight and maintenance of the state web site, administering the state mailing list for Local Coordinators, maintaining an up-to-date roster of names and email addresses of the state's Local Coordinators and state-level Special Project Coordinators and providing this list to the Election Committee promptly when requested, supervision of the development and implementation of state procedures for the periodic review of component websites of the state project, and promptly forwarding messages pertaining to USGenWeb Project business to the state mailing list for Local Coordinators when requested to do so by the Advisory Board Chair or the Chair of an appointed committee. Section 5. The state project has authority and responsibility to remove links to websites which fail to comply with national or state adopted bylaws, rules and policies. Notice must be given and ample time to comply must be allowed as circumstances warrant. Local Coordinator(s) may request an extension of time to comply subject to approval by the state authority. Section 6. If a State Coordinator is unable to perform his/her duties, the Assistant State Coordinator, or other support team, shall serve until an election can take place within 60 days. A majority shall elect. Section 7. State Coordinators and Assistant State Coordinators are subject to removal for valid cause; by 2/3rds vote of the Advisory Board, or by majority vote of the Local Coordinators within the state subsequent to a recall petition submitted to and approved by the Advisory Board.	ARTICLE XII. STATE PROJECTS Section 1. Each state shall have a State Coordinator who manages the state website and oversees the state project. In addition, each state shall have an Assistant State Coordinator or other support team in place that can take charge in case the State Coordinator becomes unavailable for a period of 30 days, unless there are extenuating circumstances. Section 2. The state website shall include direct links to the county pages, The USGenWeb Project national website, The USGenWeb Project Archives (Digital Library) at both their own state and the national levels, The USGenWeb Project's Guidelines/Standards for county websites (which includes a link to the Official Project Name/Logo page), The USGenWeb Project Copyright Information page, and the WorldGenWeb Project. Section 3. It shall be the responsibility of each state organization to ensure that the state project is in compliance with the stated bylaws of The USGenWeb Project. Section 4. State Coordinators shall remain subscribed to the State Coordinators mailing list and maintain a current mailing list of all local-level coordinators. State Coordinators shall provide their name, postal address, and phone number to the National Coordinator to be held in strictest confidence and only used in the case of an emergency. Section 5. State projects are empowered to develop/adopt any additional rules/bylaws and guidelines, as appropriate, for their state so long as they do not conflict with these bylaws. State projects shall be highly encouraged to develop and adopt rules/bylaws that cover grievance procedures within the state Section 6. It shall be the responsibility of each state project to periodically review local-level project websites to ensure compliance with The USGenWeb Project/XXGenWeb Project established guidelines/standards. Section 7. The state project shall have the responsibility to remove any links to websites which fail to meet The USGenWeb Project/XXGenWeb Project established guidelines/standards. Section 8. State Coordinators shall be elected to those positions by the local-level coordinators within the state. Those State Coordinators and Assistant State Coordinators in place at the time these bylaws are adopted shall be exempt from election procedures, unless he/she/they are removed, resign, or are unable to perform their duties. Section 9. State Coordinators and Assistant State Coordinators are subject to possible removal by a 2/3 vote of the Advisory Board and a 2/3 vote of the Local Coordinators within the state. A quorum of 75% of the Local Coordinators shall participate in order for the vote to be binding. Section 10. If a State Coordinator is unable to perform his/her duties, the Assistant State Coordinator, or other support team, shall serve until an election can take place within the state. In the case of state projects with more than one Assistant State Coordinator, they shall choose one among themselves to serve in the interim.
ARTICLE XIII. SPECIAL PROJECTS Section 1. Special projects which support the purpose and goals of The USGenWeb Project may apply to the USGenWeb Advisory Board for approval as an official USGenWeb Special Project. Section 2. The name of the special project shall be The USGenWeb ______ Project. Section 3. The members of each officially-approved USGenWeb Special Project shall together elect one Special Projects Representative to serve as a member of The USGenWeb Project Advisory Board. Section 4. Each official Special Project shall have a Coordinator (SPC) to oversee its operations. The founding SPC shall hold that office until such time as he or she steps down or is otherwise unable to continue. Thereafter, a new SPC shall be elected by a majority of that Special Project's members every 36 months, or sooner if specified in the Special Project's bylaws/rules. The SPC, as primary administrative officer of the project may appoint one or more Assistant Special Project Coordinator(s) (ASPC) as necessary to assist in administration of the Special Project. Section 5. Special Project Coordinators and Assistants are subject to removal for valid cause; by 2/3rds vote of the Advisory Board, or by majority vote of the members within the special project subsequent to a recall petition submitted to and approved by the Advisory Board. Section 6. If a Special Project Coordinator (SPC) is unable to perform his/her duties, an Assistant SPC, or other support team, shall serve until an election can take place within 60 days. A majority shall elect.	ARTICLE XIII. SPECIAL PROJECTS Section 1. Special projects shall be established by The USGenWeb Project to promote the gathering of information in specialized areas. A coordinator shall be appointed by the Advisory Board to organize the project and enlist volunteers. In addition, each special project shall have an Assistant Project Coordinator or other support team in place that can take charge in case the Project Coordinator becomes unavailable for a period of 30 days, unless there are extenuating circumstances. Special projects shall be repositories for public domain or research documents and shall provide an easily accessible website for online research by the genealogical community. A collection of links does not constitute a special project, although links to appropriate websites maintained by other individuals or organizations are encouraged. Section 2. The name of the special project shall be The USGenWeb ______ Project Section 3. The staff members of The USGenWeb Archives Project, The USGenWeb Census Project, and The USGenWeb Tombstone Project shall each elect one Special Project Representative to serve as a voting member of The USGenWeb Project Advisory Board. Section 4. Project Coordinators shall be elected to those positions by the project staff. Section 5. Project Coordinators are subject to possible removal by a 2/3 vote of the Advisory Board and a 2/3 vote of the project staff. A quorum of 75% of the project staff shall participate in order for the vote to be binding. Section 6. If a Project Coordinator is unable to perform his/her duties, the Assistant Project Coordinator, or other support team, shall serve until an election can take place among the project staff. In the case of special projects with more than one Assistant Project Coordinator, they shall choose one among themselves to serve in the interim.
ARTICLE XIV. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES AND APPEAL PROCESS Section 1. All members of The USGenWeb Project have the right to submit a grievance or appeal to the Advisory Board. The Advisory Board, as the governing body of the project, has authority to resolve grievances or appeals as the situation warrants. Section 2. Grievances should be submitted to the National Coordinator, the Regional Representative, or the Representative at Large.	ARTICLE XIV. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES AND APPEALS PROCESS Section 1. All members of The USGenWeb Project have the right to request that the Advisory Board advise on issues related to grievances and appeals and to mediate, if necessary. Section 2. Members should submit their grievance or appeal to one or more of the board representatives from their region.