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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.