Adopted: December 4, 1994 

Amended: June 15, 1995; Sept. 15, 1995; April 29, 1998 
 

ARTICLE I--Purpose

 
 

SECTION ONE

 

Nature in Legend and Story (NILAS) is an educational organization, which also  addresses both environmental and artistic concerns. The mission of NILAS is as  follows: "We are a group of people dedicated to understanding relationships between  human beings and the natural world, through the mediation of stories, poems,  legends,  pictures and other cultural products. We regard interactions of  people with fauna and  flora as a subject that is sufficiently significant,  complex and interesting to merit the  most serious attention of both poets  and scholars. We view literature and the arts as  inheritors of the tradition  of old mythologies, which were less concerned with  interpersonal relationships  than with the orientation of the human race with respect to  other beings.  We seek to promote the understanding and exploration of these  relationships,  through education, scholarship, the arts and other activities."

SECTION TWO

Changes in, or additions to, this mandate will require the approval of a two-thirds  majority at a meeting of the Board of Directors.

SECTION THREE

The activities of NILAS include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: public  programming (including lectures, storytelling, poetry, symposia), publication of a  >newsletter, coordination and mutual support for people devoted to our agenda.

ARTICLE II--Location

 

SECTION ONE

NILAS is located in Westchester County of New York State, at a location which may be  altered from time to time by the Board of Directors. The major office of NILAS is  currently located at: c/o Boria Sax, Ph.D./ 25 Franklin Avenue, 2F/ White Plains, NY 

10601.

ARTICLE III--Membership

SECTION ONE

Membership in NILAS will be open to all who are generally accepting of the purposes of  the organization, and it may be purchased by payment of annual dues.

SECTION TWO

Members shall be entitled to elect the Board of Directors, according to the procedures  outlined in the by-laws.

ARTICLE IV--Board of Directors

 

SECTION ONE

At annual meetings, members of NILAS may elect representatives to any vacancies on  the Board of Directors. Should the membership of the Board prefer, the election may  also be conducted by mail. In order to run for the Board of Directors, it is necessary to  be a member of NILAS. Each nomination for the Board of Directors must be made or  seconded by at least one current member of the Board of Directors. A term on the  Board of Directors normally lasts for two years, but it may also be terminated by  resignation at any time. An individual may be re-elected an indefinate number of times.  Proxies are acceptable in an election.

SECTION TWO

The number of the Board of Directors shall be not less than four or more than ten.  Should the number of members fall below that required, the Board of Directors shall  appoint additional members.

SECTION THREE

All members of the Board of Directors are required to contrubute actively, in some way,  to the organization. Should a Board Member be unable or disinclined to do so, he or  she will be expected to resign.

SECTION FOUR

Major administrative decisions of NILAS shall be made by the Board of Directors,  including any amendment of the by-laws and the appointment of officers. Such  decisions may be made in person at a meeting, but such a meeting is not required, and  business may also be conducted by telephone, by mail or e-mail. The Board may also  delegate authority to committees or to individuals.

SECTION FIVE

When these by-laws go into effect, those currently listed as members of the Board of  Directors or Officers in NILAS literature may, if they wish to make the committment in  time and energy, serve an additional year on the Board of Directors. To do this, they  must express the desire at the meeting at which these by-laws are adopted, either in 
person or through a representative. Otherwise, they shall be listed as members of the  Board of Advisors. They may also, if they choose, run immediately for a two-year term.  All those with special offices in NILASD shall continue in those offices until there is a  decision to the contrary.

SECTION SIX

A simple majority from either body is enough to change any item in the by-laws except  the mandate, which requires a two thirds vote.

ARTICLE V--Officers

 

SECTION ONE

Officers of NILAS including President (formerly Director), Vice President, Secretary and  Treasurer shall be appointed by the Board of Directors and shall conduct day-to-day  busniness of the organization. They shall also be authorized to appoint individuals or  committees for special purposes and projects.

ARTICLE VI--Board of Advisors

 

SECTION ONE

There is no fixed number for the Board of Advisors. Members may be appointed to an  indefinite term by either the President or the Board of Directors.

SECTION TWO

Members of the Board of Advisors have no fixed duties beyond being available to offer  assistance through their expertise. Membership may be terminated eithter by  resignation or by a vote of the Board of Directors.

SECTION THREE

All those listed as members of the Board of Advisors when these by-laws go into effect  shall remain on the Board of Advisors unless or until a decision to the contrary is made.

ARTICLE VII--Dissolution

 

SECTION ONE

In the event of dissolution of NILAS, all remaining funds may be, at the determination of  the Board of Directors, passed on to an organization or organizations with similar  purposes, after other obligations have been settled.

ARTICLE VII--Miscellaneous

 

SECTION ONE

NILAS is a non-stock, non-profit organization.

SECTION TWO

Boria Sax is the founder of NILAS. 

AMENDMENT I (adopted unanimously 6/15/95)

The name of the organization is changed from "NILAS" to "NILAS, Inc." 

AMENDMENT II (adopted 9/15/95)

 

SECTION ONE

 

The following statement shall replace the mission statement listed  in Article One, Section One of the by-laws:  "To promote understanding of traditional bonds between human beings  and the natural world."

SECTION TWO

The statement formerly designated as the "mission statement" of NILAS, Inc., listed in  Article One, Section One of the by-laws, shall be retained as an official position of  NILAS, Inc. It shall, however, henceforth, be designated as the "statement philosophy of NILAS, Inc."

AMENDMENT III (adopted 4/29/98)

 

SECTION ONE

Upon passage of this amendment, membership in NILAS becomes synonymous with  the Board of Directors. Those who are currently members of NILAS  but not members  of the Board of Directors at the time of passage of this amendment shall continue to  receive privileges as such, including the newsletter, for until the membership for which  they have paid expires. They shall not, however, automatically be able to renew their  membership. Those currently on the Board of Directors shall serve the remainder of  their terms  and may continue to do so indefinitely, provided they remain in contact with  the NILAS and continues to make a small annual contribution. The Board of Directors  will be henceforth referred to as the "members."

   

SECTION TWO

To become a new member of NILAS, one should be nominated by a current member,  who must also instruct the prospective member about NILAS. The membership may  then be given final approval either by agreement of a current officer (President, Vice  President, etc.) or achieving a plurality in a vote among members. All members will  continue to be asked for a small annual contribution to NILAS in order to help finance  the newsletter and other projects.  The amount of this contribution, however,  shall be  at the member's discretion. Members are, furthermore, asked to follow the activities of  NILAS and remain at least minimally involved. 

SECTION THREE

The newsletter published by NILAS may be sold, either by subscription or by individual  issues, independently of membership.   

SECTION FOUR

The number of members of NILAS will not be subject to any limit.

Amendment IV (Adopted 8/26/03)

ARTICLE III--Membership

SECTION ONE

Membership in NILAS will be open to all who are generally accepting of the purposes of the organization, and it may be purchased by payment of annual dues.

ARTICLE IV--Board of Directors

SECTION TWO

The number of the Board of Directors shall be not less than four or more than fifteen. Should the number of members fall below that required, the Board of Directors shall appoint additional members.

ARTICLE VI--Board of Advisors

SECTION ONE

There is no fixed number for the Board of Advisors. Members of the Board of Advisors may be appointed to an indefinite term by consensus vote of the Board of Directors.

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