Huntington Pride Bylaws

Ratified 01/27/2025

ARTICLE 1: NAME

The name of the organization shall be “Huntington Pride, Inc.” as originally incorporated under the by-laws ratified on 2/29/19. The organization has registered the name “Huntington Pride” and shall be referred herein as simply “Huntington Pride”.

ARTICLE 2: PURPOSE

The Purpose of Huntington Pride shall be to encourage and empower the LGBTQIA+ community of the Greater Huntington, West Virginia area.

ARTICLE 3: MEMBERSHIP

All members of the Greater Huntington LGBTQIA+ community shall be considered members.

ARTICLE 4: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

(a) Any community member who has shown a dedication to the LGBTQ+ community of Huntington, WV may be considered for nomination to the Board of Directors (hereinafter called ‘the Board’).

(b) The number of Board members shall be not less than 5 nor more than 15.

(c) Nominations to the Board shall be made with a focus on diversity and the intent to encourage maximum Community representation. Any Board member may, at a Board meeting, nominate an individual that has fulfilled the eligibility requirements outlined in subsection (a). Said Board member will be given time to explain the benefit they believe this nominee would provide to the organization, after which a nominee interview with the Board shall be scheduled. After the interview, nominees shall be dismissed, and The Board shall discuss the nomination. A vote to confirm or reject the nomination shall take place within seven (7) days at which point the nominee shall be notified of the decision.

(d) Vacancies due to resignation, termination, or death shall be filled through the process outlined in Subsection (c).

(e) No Board member shall have a personal, financial, or political (local, state, or federal) agenda in any organization or activity that conflicts with the mission and purpose of Huntington Pride, unless previously approved by the Board.

(f) All information such as volunteer lists, mailing lists, corporate contributors, etc. shall remain the property of Huntington Pride and shall be kept secure and private. Said information shall not be shared or lent out.

(g) Any individual nominated to be a member of the Board of Directors shall not be involved in a personal relationship with another member of the Board of Directors within the previous 12 months of nomination to the Board.

ARTICLE 5: OFFICERS

(a) All Board members shall have an equal vote in all decisions.

(b) Board members shall decide by majority vote who, from their number, shall be designated as President, Treasurer, and Secretary for legal and operational purposes.

ARTICLE 6: COMMITTEE AND COMMITTEE HEADS

The Board may establish committees to secure the goals of the organization. Each committee must be overseen by a Board member, who may, at their discretion, consult and invite to join said committee any community member they deem appropriate.

ARTICLE 7: MEETING

(a) There shall be one meeting of the Board and membership per month, occurring the same day each month or as near to there as possible. Media may not ask questions during the meeting; they must wait until after the meeting has been adjourned.

(b) The Board shall meet as needed in addition to the monthly scheduled meeting.

(c) No Board member or meeting attendee shall solicit funds for an organization other than Huntington Pride during a membership or Board meeting.

(d) Meetings shall be run according to a written agenda set by the Board.

(e) Any individual may be removed from a meeting at the discretion of the Board.

(f) The President shall oversee all meetings and abstain from all votes therein, unless a tiebreaker vote is required. If the President is not in attendance, a designated member of the Board of Directors shall assume this responsiblity.

ARTICLE 8: REMOVAL OF BOARD MEMBER

(a) Any Board member identifying themselves as a representative of Huntington Pride while soliciting funds for another organization, civil or government, and/or causing a conflict of interest, or any loss of a donation or funding due to this misrepresentation may be removed by a majority vote of the Board.

(b) Likewise, any Board member or official representative portraying Huntington Pride in a negative light in a public forum or acting in contradiction to the Mission and Purpose as defined by Article 2 may be removed by a simple majority vote of the Board.

ARTICLE 9: CHARITABLE & EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE

Huntington Pride is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. Huntington Pride may, for such purposes make distributions to organizations under section 501 (c)(3) of of the internal Revenue Code or corresponding section. No amount of Huntington Pride’s net earnings shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to, its members, Board, or other private person, except that Huntington Pride shall be authorized to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions for the purposes set forth above. Huntington Pride shall not be engaged in carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, except that Huntington Pride shall be authorized to make efforts to prevent discrimination or to improve upon other human rights which would be consistent with purposes of the organization. Neither Huntington Pride nor any of its representatives acting on behalf of it or in any other way representing Huntington Pride may take part in or intervene in any political campaign or on behalf of any candidate for public office. This limitation shall include the publishing, broadcasting, able casting or distribution of statement for such purpose. Huntington Pride shall not conduct any other activities not permitted by acorporation exempt from federal income tax under 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or by a corporation whose contributions are deductible under section 170 (c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code or corresponding section.

ARTICLE 10: DISSOLUTION

In the event of the dissolution of Huntington Pride, assets shall be distributed for purposes allowed within the meaning of section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section, or shall be distributed to the federal government or to a state or local government, for a public purpose.

ARTICLE 11: AMENDMENTS

These by-laws may be amended in whole or in part by a 2/3 vote of the Board members.