Membership Defined

General Membership in Adelante shall be available to individuals, organizations and businesses that have an interest in and are supportive of the mission of Adelante. The policies and procedures governing membership qualifications, classifications and dues structures will be developed by the Nominations and Membership Committee subject to approval of the Steering Committee.

Membership Meetings

Regular meetings of the members of Adelante shall be held once each month. The date, time and venue for each monthly meeting shall be announced at the regular meeting for the preceding month and this announcement shall be deemed notice to the membership. An annual general membership meeting shall be held yearly during the month of June. Special membership meetings may be held at the discretion of the Steering Committee. Each member shall be entitled to one vote at any membership meeting, according to classification excluding any classifications given ex officio status by the Steering Committee.

Liabilities of a Member

No member of Adelante shall be personally liable for indebtedness, or liability or obligation of Adelante, to any creditor of Adelante.

Notice of Special Meetings

Upon the receipt of a petition for a special meeting signed by at least ten percent (10%) of the individuals who are members of Adelante and setting forth the nature of the urgent business to be discussed at the same, the Chair shall set a date, time and place for the special meeting, such meeting to be held not more than fifteen (15) days after the receipt of the petition. Notice shall be sent by first-class mail to each member of Adelante not less than ten (10) days prior to the date of the special meeting.

Compensation

a. Adelante Members shall not receive any compensation for their service in Adelante, but by resolution of the Steering Committee, expenses of attendance, if an, may be allowed for attendance at any meeting of Adelante or any meeting where Adelante is represented.

b. Members of Adelante shall not be precluded from serving Adelante in any other capacity or receive other compensation, such as for other contracted work.

Qualifications for Membership

Any individual 18 years of age or older, corporation or association sympathetic to the goals of Adelante is qualified to be a member and may submit an application for membership, provided further that no such entity may have be on Community Supervision or Supervised Release after imprisonment for any felony offense at the time the membership application is submitted, or thereafter.

Termination of Membership

The membership of any member may be terminated in the event that a member ceases to be qualified for membership or for cause, including but not limited to, conduct subversive to the best interests of Adelante. breach of duties or loyalty, willful disregard of a provision of these by laws or established policy or decision of the Steering Committee, or a breach of confidentiality. Any member of the Steering Committee may submit a petition for the removal of any member in the form of an affidavit setting forth the facts and circumstances justifying removal. The Steering Committee shall convene within ten (10) days of the receipt of the petition and determine by majority vote, based upon the four corners of the affidavit whether there is reasonable cause to proceed with a formal investigation of the allegations. In the event it is so determined, another special meeting shall be convened not more than fourteen (14) days thereafter to consider the member's removal. At said meeting, interested parties will be permitted to testify either in favor of or in opposition to the member’s removal. The affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Steering Committee members present at the special meeting shall be necessary to remove a member for cause. Any member, the subject of a removal action, shall be notified by certified mail at least five (5) days prior to the removal hearing of the time and place at which the meeting is to take place.