By-Laws

The Domestic Violence Advisory Council = of Kern

(DVAC)

ARTICLE I

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:2'> &= nbsp; Name

The name of this collaborative is the Domestic Violence Advisory Council= of Kern (DVAC)

ARTICLE II

Mission and Purpose

The mission of DVAC is to provide a collaborative environment where interested persons and community organizations can meet to discuss intimate partner violence (IPV) and its effects on individuals, families and the community. Community partners will work toget= her to find solutions to IPV that will ultimately support the overarching goal to support health, safe, and caring homes for everyone in our community.

The purpose of DVAC is t= o act as an information gathering and identification entity as to domestic violence = issues. To advocate and recommend to the community at large, as well as the policy makers, and community partners, the modifications which can positively affe= ct the DVAC mission to reduce domestic violence in Kern County. DVAC provides education and training through monthly meetings as well as an= nual conferences. While DVAC does not provide direct services, the partners work together on a variety of committees to address specific issues and provide recommendations to community leaders.

ARTICLE III

Organizatio= n

DVAC shall be comprised of an Executive Committee, Ste= ering Committee, those Standing Committees deemed necessary to accomplish the mis= sion of the Council and the members at large, which comprise the General Members= hip.

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ARTICLE IV

Executive C= ommittee

Section 1 - Membership

The Execu= tive Committee of DVAC shall consist of 5 members, comprised of the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, and immed= iate Past President. They shall be members who are elected, pursuant to Article IV section 6 of the by-laws.

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(a) = The president of DVAC shall preside at all meetings, all Executive Committee and Steering Committee meetings and shall have all general powers= and duties usually vested in the office of President and such other duties as m= ay be assigned by the Executive Committee.

(b) = &nb= sp; The Vice-President shall assume the duties of president in his/her absence. The Vice-President shall succeed t= o the &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; position of President, unless otherwise unavailable.

(c) = &nb= sp; The Secretary shall maintain the minutes of all meetings of the Steering Commit= tee, Executive Committee and general = ; &n= bsp; = ; membership meetings. The Secretary shall be responsible for written communications on behalf of the Executive &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Committee and issue the notices of all meetings.&nbs= p; The Secretary shall maintain all written business records of &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; DVAC (i.e., minutes, By-Laws, agendas, etc.).&n= bsp;

(d) = &nb= sp; The Treasurer shall maintain all the books and financial records of DVAC and sh= all authorize expenditures upon approval = &nb= sp; of the Executive Committee. Peri= odic financial reports, when requested by the President, or Executive Committee, will &n= bsp; be submitted in a timely fashion. The Treasurer shall perform other such dutie= s as deemed appropriate by the President. = The Treasurer shall sign all checks.

(e) = &nb= sp; The Past President, immediately following his/her term, shall function in an advisory position with voting powers.

Sectio= n 2 – Meetings

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The Execu= tive Committee of DVAC shall meet at least twice per year to accomplish the primary goals and review and estab= lish the yearly budget. All meetings shall be set at the direction of the Presid= ent as needed to conduct the business of DVAC.

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(a) &n= bsp; One of the primary annual goals of the Executive Committee is to include the development of the annual theme and t= itle &= nbsp; for the October Training Seminar;

(b) &n= bsp; The Executive Committee shall review the budget and establish anticipated budget expenditures and revenue forecast for = ; the year.

Section 3 - Terms of Office

An Executive Committee member shall serve for a minimu= m of one (1) year. The term shall commence on January 1^st, of the year following the election, and terminate on December 31st of the same year.

Section 4 - Powers and Duties

The Executive Committee shall have the powers and duti= es necessary to administer the affairs of DVAC, and may do all such acts consistent with these by-laws.

Section 5 - Quorum

A majority of the Executive Committee shall constitute= a quorum for the transaction of business in representing DVAC.

Section 6- Election of Executive Committee

(a) The Nominating Committee, comprised of the Steering Committee members, shall designate the list of candidates for the positions of Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary to the Executive Committee by October 31^{st
or five (5) days prior to the October annual conference, whichever comes
first. A candidate may submit=
their
own name for nomination to the committee no later than 5:00pm October 1st} or a minimum of 10 days prior to the annual conference, whichever comes first. In the case where the Vice-President cannot succeed to the position of President, the position of President shall also be elected by the membership.

(b) The ballot containing the names of the candidates and directions for voting, shall be delivered no later than October 31^st or on the day of the annual conference in October, whichever comes first, to all Steering Committee mem= bers and interested members of the General Membership as the express responsibil= ity of the Chair of the Nominating Committee.&= nbsp; The completed ballots are to be returned to the Chair of the Nominat= ing Committee for the tabulation of votes no later than November 1st.

(c) The new Executive Committee shall be confirmed by the Steering Committee by November 30^th, with the results being made available within five= (5) working days to all voting participants via the website or email.

Section 7 - Vacancies

Vacancies on the Executive Committee shall be filled b= y a majority vote of the Steering Committee at any regular or special meeting, including by phone or via email. Each person so elected shall serve as a Representative until a succe= ssor is elected pursuant to Article IV, Sec. 6, of the by-laws.

Section 8 - Special Committees

A majority vote of the Executive Committee may establi= sh a special Board committee for any purpose and tenure, not to exceed one year. The President of the Executive Committee has ex officio<= /i> membership on all special and standing committees.

ARTICLE V

Steering Co= mmittee

Section 1 - Membership

The Steering Committee shall be a maximum of twenty (2= 0) representatives, comprised of interested Chairs of the Standing Committees = and community agency representatives. They shall be selected by the President w= ith the approval of the Executive Committee.

Section 2 - Meetings

The Steering Committee shall meet no less than eight (= 8) times per year. They will establish programs, review budgets, and implement plans necessary to achieve goals for DVAC. Notice of regular meetings of the Steering Committee shall be given to each member personally, by mail, telephone, or email, at least three (3) days prior to the scheduled date.

Section 3 - Terms of Office

A Steering Committee Representative shall serve for a minimum term of one (1) year. The term shall commence on January 1st of each year and terminate on December 3= 1st of the same year.

Section 4 - Proxies

Each Steering Committee Representative shall identify a proxy who will attend in their absence.&nb= sp; They shall provide that name to the President upon their committee appointment.

Section 5 - Chairman of the Steering Committee=

The President of the Executive Committee shall act as = the Chairman of the Steering Committee.

ARTICLE VI

Standing Co= mmittees

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Section 1 - Standing Committee Chairs

The Chairs of the Standing Committees may be appointed by the President with the approval of the Execu= tive Committee, or chosen by the committee itself with the aforementioned approval. Committee Chairs sh= all not conduct any business, or represent their actions as authorized in the n= ame of DVAC, without the approval of the President. All financial transactions must be approved with consent of the Executive Committee. The Committee Chairs are responsib= le for reporting to and communicating with the President on a monthly basis as to = the progress of their respective committees. They, or their designee, shall pre= side over the meetings of their committee at a time and date as chosen by the committee members.

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Section 1 – Committee Composition<= /u>

Additional Standing Committees can be established as t= he need arises, with the majority approval of the Executive Committee. At this time the following committ= ees are suggestions for implementation as the need arises.

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Education and Outreach

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Special Events

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Transitional Housing

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Aging and Elderly Issues

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Law and Policy Research

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Rural Issues

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Nominating

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Death Review

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Child and Adolescent Issues

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Court Process

ARTICLE VII

General Mem= bership

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Section 1 - Members at Large

The members at large shall be representatives of varyi= ng community interests. The President and Executive Committee shall diligently seek to invite persons from the following agencies or local programs to att= end general membership meetings and to participate in DVAC activities and committees:

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Aging and Adult Services

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Advocacy Programs

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Community-Based Organizations

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Corrections

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Kern County Department of Human Services

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; District Attorney

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Education

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Faith Based Organizations

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Higher Learning Institutions

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Judiciary

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Law Enforcement

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Media

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Medical

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Mental Health Providers

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Parole

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Private Attorney

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Probation

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Public Defender

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Public Health

   &nbs= p;        *        &= nbsp; Victim/Witness

Section 2 - Meetings

Meetings of the general members of DVAC shall be held = at least eight (8) times a year, as designated by the Executive Committee. The meetings shall serve as a foru= m to inform of DVAC’s activities, provide training and general information, and encourage additional participation in the Standing Committees.

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Section 3 - Amendments to By-Laws

Upon recommendation of the Executive Committee, any or= all parts of these By-Laws can be amended by a majority vote of the Steering Committee.