Welcome!

January 1998

YA-KA-AMA INDIAN EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT, INC.

BY-LAWS

 

ARTICLE I

The Mission of Ya-Ka-Ama Indian Education and Development, Inc. is to support traditional Native cultures and values, to enable Native learners to become contributing members of their communities, to promote Native control of educational institutions, and to improve educational opportunities and resources for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians throughout our district.

Name

Name

The official name of the Corporation shall be Ya-Ka-Ama Indian Education and
Development, Inc.  Hereafter referenced as Ya-Ka-Ama means “Our Land” in the Pomo Kashaya language.

ARTICLE II

Territory/Office/Jurisdiction

Location/Territory/Jurisdiction

Ya-Ka-Ama Indian Education and Development, Inc. is located at 6215 Eastside Road, Forestville California, on 125 Acres.

ARTICLE III

Purpose

Ensure the security and lives of the Native Community in Education and Cultural values.
Enhance the lives of the Native Community including Elders, Children and Native
Community.

ARTICLE IV

General Membership

Qualifications of Members

1. All members of this corporation shall be of American Indian descent who are at
   Least eighteen (18) years of age, who reside in Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino or
   Marin County, and who demonstrate an interest in the improvement in the
   education of American Indians.

2. All members who register to vote at Ya-Ka-Ama are entitled to one (1) vote in
   Elections and on matters submitted to the general membership.

 

 

ARTICLE V

Meetings

General Membership Meetings

1. General membership meeting will be held in October of each year.

2. Special membership meetings may be called at the discretion of the Board of Directors.                                                                                                      

3. Notice of meetings shall be by the most expedient manner.

General Membership Quorum

1. Twenty five (25) members in attendance shall constitute a quorum for General Membership meetings.

2. Membership meetings shall be governed by these By-Laws.

ARTICLE VI

Board of Directors

Governing Body

The Governing body of Ya-Ka-Ama Indian Education and Development, Inc.
shall be the board of Directors and the members of the Board shall be called
Directors.

Qualifications of Directors

Any member of the corporation who is eligible to vote may become a Director
in accordance to Article VIII, Election of Board of Directors.

Number of Directors

The regular Board of Directors shall consist of the four officers; Chairperson,
Vice Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer; and four (4) Members-At-Large.

Term of Office

The terms of office for members of the board of Directors shall be staggered,
with four (4) members elected each year to serve for two (2) year terms.

Vacancies

Vacancies that my occur from resignation, removal or death of a Director, shall
be filled at the next regular Board of Directors meeting by the Chairperson and approved by a vote from the general membership.

Removal Directors

1.         Any Director, whether an office or Member at Large, may be removed from
            office, for a specific cause, that was/is detrimental to the community and
            Ya-Ka-Ama, , by a recommendation of the Board of Directors and a  majority
            vote by members in attendance at a General membership meeting.

2.         Any Director who is absent from any two consecutive General Membership or
            Board of Directors meetings, specific or otherwise, without noticed cause is
            subject to be removed.

ARTICLE VII

Powers of the Board of Directors

Administration

The Board of Directors shall conduct the overall management and control of
the corporation affairs, except as otherwise specified in these By-Laws through
the Administrative Policies and Procedures developed and adopted by the Board
of Directors.

Personnel

The Board of Directors shall have the power to hire and dismiss all personnel,
except as otherwise specified in these By-Laws and within the State Personnel
Regulations, through the Personnel Policies and Procedures developed and
adopted by the Board of Directors.

Fiscal

The Board of Directors shall have the power to manage all monies, authority
to sign contracts and enter into agreements for Ya-Ka-Ama Indian Education,
except as otherwise specified in these By-Laws through the Fiscal Policies and
Procedures developed and adopted by the Board of Directors

ARTICLE VIII

Election

Board of Directors

Board of Directors shall be elected by the general membership at the annual
Election on the last Saturday in February.

 

Nomination/Election Committee

The Nomination Committee will be appointed by the Chairperson at the meeting
prior to the Nomination Meeting in January of each year.  The Nomination
Committee will accept nominations to the Board of Directors at the Community
Nomination Meeting.  All candidates must submit a Declaration of
intent to be placed on the slate of candidates.

Community Nomination Meeting

The Nomination Committee will accept nominations to the Board of Directors 
at the Community Nomination Meeting at least three (3) weeks before the
Annual Election on the last Friday in January. of each year.

Declaration of Intent

All nominees shall submit a Declaration of Intent to verify acceptance of the
nomination. Verified Candidates will be included on the Slate of Candidates
and be placed on the ballot for the Election in February.

Board of Directors Election

Election will be held at Ya-Ka-Ama  The polls will open between 10:00 a.m.
and 4:00 p.m.  Voters will be given a written ballot that will include the
established slate of candidates. who have submitted a Declaration of Intent.

Registration

All Voters must register on the day of the election by declaring eligibility and     
signing the Election Roster.  Ballots will be counted immediately after the polls   
close at 4:00 p.m. by the Nomination/Election Committee..

Results/Count of Ballots

Results of the Election will be declared and posted at Ya-Ka-Ama. Elected
Board of Directors will be officially seated at the next regular Board
of Directors Meeting.

ARTICLE IX

Officers

Election of Officers

The Board of Directors shall elect the officers of Ya-Ka-Ama From the Board of
Directors at the first regular Board of Directors meeting in March of each year.

1.         The officers of the corporation shall be the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson,
            Secretary and Treasurer.  The remaining four (4) Directors will be Members
            at Large.

2.         Officers shall serve for a one (1) year term.

Duties of Officers

1. Chairperson     The Chairperson shall have general supervision, direction, and
   control of the business and affairs of the corporation.  He shall preside at the
   membership and Director’s meetings, and have such other powers and duties as
   shall be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors.  The President
   shall have the power to appoint any Board vacancies.

2. Vice-Chairperson.   The Vice Chairperson shall perform all the duties of the
   President in his absence and other duties as shall be prescribed from time to time
   by the President or the Board of Directors.

3. Secretary.  The Secretary shall keep a record of the preceding of all meetings and
   perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the
   President.  The Secretary shall certify contracts, agreements, and grants in the
   name of the Corporation, Ya-Ka-Ama Indian Education and Development, Inc.

4. Treasurer   The Treasurer shall collect and receive all monies and funds for the
   corporation and deposit them in the bank designated by the Board of Directors. 
   The Treasurer shall cause to oversee audits, contracts agreements and grants on
   behalf of the Corporation, Ya-Ka-Ama Indian Education and Development, Inc.

Board of Directors Meetings

1.         Regular Meetings.  Regular meetings of the Board shall be held on the first
            Monday of each month.

2.         Special Meetings.  Any special meetings of the Board may be called by the
            Chairman or four (4) members of the Board.

3.         Notice   Notice of the Special meeting shall be sent to all Directors not less
            than twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting is held.

4.         Quorum   One-half plus one (51%) of the Board of Directors (not including
            vacancies) shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

5.         Actions  Action items taken by the majority of the Directors at a meeting at
            which a quorum is present shall be the action of the Board

ARTICLE X

Amendments
Articles of Incorporation

Proposed amendments to the Articles of Incorporation not inconsistent with the
California General Non-profit Corporation laws shall be initiated either by the
Executive Committee or by a petition signed by one-eighth (1/8) of the
membership body. 

Said amendments shall be submitted in writing to the
President at least sixty (60) days prior to a vote of the general membership and
to the membership at least two (2) weeks prior to the meeting at which the vote
on the change shall be taken. An amendment may be adopted by a two-thirds
(2/3) vote of all the membership eligible to vote.

 

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