Henniker-San Ramón Blog

Newsletter (Fall 2011)

2011-08-29T19:26:00.000-07:00

To read the full 2-page FALL 2011 newsletter, click on the pages below:

Here's the cover story:

COMING THIS FALL: Join HSR's "Biblio Movil" Mobile Library Fund Drive!

HSR partners with Planting Hope to bring books, arts, classes to rural San Ramón

We're pleased to announce our newest initiative: the "Biblio Movil" Mobile Library Bus project!

Starting this Fall, HSR is organizing a bus full of books, arts supplies, educational materials (and creative teachers, too!) that will visit the remote communities of San Ramón to provide vital literacy support and training to children who have no other access to town libraries. This project is a partnership with Planting Hope (of Montpelier, VT) and several other organizations.

To fund the Mobile Library, HSR plans to raise $8000 by the end of the year. We've already raised about $4500 through coffee sales and direct donations. Now, with your help, we can raise the remaining $3500 to complete this campaign by December and make a difference in the education of hundreds of our sister community's most underserved students!

HSR funds will directly support the purchase of the bus, a bus driver's salary, and overall project supervision from Planting Hope's offices in San Ramón.

Additional funds will come from Planting Hope, a Davis Foundation "Projects for Peace" grant, and fundraising by Skidmore college students (who are already at work in San Ramón!). Future HSR delegations will be able to use the Mobile Library bus to reach new students in remote rural communities.

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED:

Buy HSR fair trade organic coffee at the Henniker Pharmacy or the Harvester Market. All our coffee is fair-trade organic, produced in the San Ramón growing region. Coffee sales fund most of our activities!
Planting Hope Bags: New for Fall 2011, HSR proudly offers a wide selection of beautiful hand-crafted bags, purses, and more made by our partners at the El Chile women's weaving cooperative.
Donate picture books and art supplies for the 2012 Winter delegation. (Watch our blog for more information about this!)
Make your tax-deductible donation at an HSR event or by mail.
Get involved in upcoming events for Fall 2011, and help us get the word out to our neighbors and friends all around the Henniker area!
Join in planning the 2012 Winter Delegation to San Ramón. (Check our blog for upcoming meeting dates.)
Share this newsletter with a friend, and help us spread the word!

"Arbol" by Yaneris

2010-06-21T06:40:00.000-07:00

Yaneris reads us her one-page comic:

Notice how when Yaneris conferences with her teacher, they discover a misunderstanding.

"Pollito" by Reyna

2010-06-14T10:23:00.000-07:00

Reyna reads her comic, "Pollito," in our partner classroom at La Garita, San Ramón:

"El Salto" by Isael

2010-06-14T10:21:00.000-07:00

Isael reads a page from his comics in La Reyna, San Ramón, Matagalpa, Nicaragua:

Welcome to Milena's Classroom

2010-05-30T07:01:00.000-07:00

Meet Milena Argeñal, HSR Comics Exchange partner teacher from La Garita, San Ramón, Matagalpa, Nicaragua:

Report 2 (2010 HSR Comics Delegation to San Ramón)

2010-04-25T17:01:00.000-07:00

Here are some more images from Friday´s workshops:

Students drawing and sharing their personal introductions:
These students really enjoyed mixing fiction with autobiography to tell stories about their community:
Our partner teacher Donald passes out booklets of "Historietas San Ramóneñas" at the end of the workshop:
Students eagerly read through this 24-page booklet of comics by their neighbors and peers...

And now, some notes on our progress thus far in completing the objectives of this year´s Comics Delegation:

Deliver letter of introduction from Henniker Community School to teacher(s) in potential partner schools (initiating student-to-student comics exchange program) -- We´ve visited our top candidate school but both the director and the 4th grade teacher were not at school on that day. We met the students and described the project to them; the next step is to sit down and talk with the director, and pending permission, deliver the intro letter to the teacher. That should happen by Tuesday, when we visit the school to do an afterschool program.
Also, as we develop a more two-sided collaboration with a partner art teacher, we´re planning to rely on his art classes as a focus program for our planned student-to-student exchange.

Return to Henniker with response letter from partner teacher -- Pending meeting with partner school.

Identify convenient channel of communication between San Ramón and Henniker (for transmission of student artwork) -- One partner teacher has offered a local art school office as a transmission point. (They have a scanner, digital camera, and email connection.)
Identify potential student translator groups at the high school level -- English instruction seems to be somewhat tenuous at the public high school level, and we anticipate relying on student translators in NH for the bulk of the translation work. This week we plan to speak with the Ministerio de Educacion and explore what might be possible.
Initiate planning for 2011 NH student delegation to SR -- Our potential partners in this enterprise will return to SR this week from another brigade, and at that time we will arrange a meeting.
Communicate support plan for Women´s Legal Defense Fund -- still pending arrangement of meeting.

Report 1 from San Ramòn

2010-04-22T18:54:00.000-07:00

The 2010 Comics Delegation to San Ramòn is under way! We have scheduled a full slate of Comics Workshops over the next two weeks as we initiate exchange programs between classrooms here in Nicaragua and back home in New Hampshire.

Planning our workshops with our co-teacher Donald...

Our first workshop in comunidad La Reina...

Starting our personal introductions...

Taking suggestions from the group....

Henniker Despedida: 2010 Comics Delegation

2010-04-19T06:09:00.000-07:00

HSR held a despedida (going away) party for the 2010 San Ramón Comics Delegation, which will spend the next two weeks in San Ramón, drawing comics with students and organizing exchange programs.

We folded, stapled, and cut lots of mini comics to share with students... Stay tuned for news!

12 Feb 2010: Reading of HSR Comics!

2010-02-07T19:48:00.000-08:00

Join us for our next reading of comics by artists of Henniker, NH and San Ramón, Nicaragua:

ALSO SEE:

Recent blog posts from the HSR Comics Exchange

The FaceBook listing for this event

HSR Comics Delegation Video

2009-12-05T09:25:00.000-08:00

Library Books for San Ramon

2009-03-18T10:11:00.000-07:00

HSR Comics Exchange Delegation

2009-03-05T19:12:00.001-08:00

We're posting notes and photos from our HSR Comics Exchange Delegation to Nicaragua here:

http://www.marekbennett.com/comicsworkshop/category/comics-workshop/henniker-san-ramon/

HSR Hosts "Planting Hope" Teen Delegation from Matagalpa, Nicaragua

2009-02-01T19:22:00.001-08:00

Henniker-San Ramon hosted thirteen new friends from San Ramon and other towns surrounding Matagalpa, Nicaragua this weekend.

Here are some photos from our Saturday night Dance Party at Daniel's Restaurant:
In a traditional Nicaraguan "Despedida" party, the entire town turns out to bid farewell to an honored guest. The town of Henniker gave a rockin' "Despedida" for our new friends from Planting Hope!

Thanks to our wonderful DJs, Chris and Ray from Hillsboro!

For more photos, notes, and materials, visit Marek Bennett's Comics Workshop website.

SCHEDULE: Comics Exhibit & Delegation Reception Weekend

2009-01-28T18:02:00.001-08:00

Here's our official schedule for this weekend's public events; please spread the word, and we hope to see you on Friday and/or Saturday night!

FRIDAY, 30 January ~ "Planting Hope" delegation arrives via Boston.

12:30 pm = Delegation arrives at John Stark Regional High School (JSRHS)
2:30-3:00 = Delegation travels between JSRHS & Henniker Community School (HCS) (Check in at main office)
3:00-5:00 = Delegation meets with Comics Exchange students & Marek Bennett (HCS FACS room)
Introductions, tour of HCS, drawing activities, preparations for evening.
5:00-7:00 = Pizza dinner at Sonny's Restaurant (Main St.) (HCS families & teachers welcome to join)
7:00-9:00 = COMICS EXCHANGE EXHIBIT & DELEGATION RECEPTION (HCS Cafetorium) -- Free and open to the public!Comics readings, signings of original new mini-comics, presentation by the "Planting Hope" delegation, celebration of arts and community! [HSR blog post] [press release]
9:00 = Delegation goes home with host families

SATURDAY, 31 January ~ Delegation Tours Henniker

Morning = Breakfast with Host Families
10:00 am = Delegation meets at Tucker Free Library*
10:00-12:00 = Tour of Henniker (Library, Historical Society, Historic sites, important municipal sites, businesses, etc.)
12:00-4:00 = Corn bread and chili lunch and sledding party at Depot Hill
Evening = Dinner with Host Families
8:00 = DANCE PARTY at Daniel's Restaurant (Main Street) -- Free and open to the public! [HSR blog post]

SUNDAY, 1 February ~ Delegation departs for VT

9:00 am = Potluck Pancake Breakfast at Bennett Road
10:30 = Entire delegation meets at the Bennett's house, & departs for VT

January 31: Dance Party with HSR & the "Planting Hope" Delegation

2009-01-22T06:29:00.000-08:00

Saturday, 31 January
Dance Party!
Daniel’s Restaurant
(Downtown Henniker)
8pm

Gather family and friends and come enjoy the classic New England ambiance of Daniel's. Meet and greet the visiting Nicaraguan delegation and bust a move on the dance floor with music from the local DJ outfit 'Mix Manifesters' or share a song at the open mic session. This is a free event!

Comics Exchange Exhibit & Reception: Friday, January 30

2009-01-18T12:21:00.000-08:00

Come celebrate the the arts in our sister communities!

Comics Exchange Exhibit

"Planting Hope" Delegation Reception

Friday, January 30th, 7-9 pm
at the Henniker Community School (Western Ave, Henniker, NH)

Read (and collect) the comics we've created about Henniker!
Learn about our ongoing Henniker-San Ramόn Comics Exchange (Winter-Spring 2009)

Meet the "Planting Hope" Teen Delegation from Matagalpa, Nicaragua
Learn about Henniker's sister community of San Ramόn, Nicaragua

Please join us in this town-wide celebration! If you would like to help prepare and clean up for this event, please email HSR. We are looking for community assistance in preparation, refreshments, and clean-up.

2008 Holiday Benefit Concert

2008-11-30T10:51:00.000-08:00

Come celebrate the Sister Community Project with us!:

Holiday Benefit Concert

& Fair Trade Craft Fair

featuring

Dean Stevens

David Dodson

Saturday Dec, 13th
at the Congregational Church of Henniker (Maple Street, Henniker, NH)

Craft Fair at 6:00 PM

(Parish Hall)
Concert at 7:00 PM (Sanctuary)

Admission by donation, to benefit the
Henniker-San Ramón Sister Community Project
and the Chincha Peru Reconstruction Project
Join us for a spirited evening of fair trade, fun, and music!

HSR Hosts "Roots of Migration" by Gloria Andino Lopez

2008-10-12T18:38:00.000-07:00

Henniker-San Ramon and Witness for Peace New England bring you this timely program:

"Roots of Migration" by Gloria Andino Lopez

7:00, Friday, October 17, 2008

Simon Center Great Room

New England College, Henniker, NH

Please join us for this important presentation, where Ms. Lopez will share firsthand knowledge of policies affecting living and working conditions in rural Nicaragua, and how this impacts immigration to the United States.

View WFP's flyer for this event. (Print it out and spread the word!)

ALSO: Read about the rest of Witness For Peace's Fall 2008 Speaker Tour

CECOCAFEN Information

2008-07-27T11:45:00.001-07:00

Here is some background information about CECOCAFEN, the coffee growers' cooperative that grows the beans for Henniker-San Ramon Coffee.

Henniker-San Ramon Comics Exchange

2008-07-04T18:27:00.001-07:00

We're pleased to announce a series of afterschool Comics Workshops, coming to the Henniker Community School in Fall 2008! In these classes, Henniker students will create original comics about their community.

Comics creator, teacher, and Henniker native Marek Bennett will lead the program.

In Winter of 2008-9, a delegation of HSR members will bring those comics to San Ramon, and work with Nicaraguan students to create comics about San Ramon to share with Henniker.

You can learn more about this exciting project at Marek Bennett's Comics Workshop website....

Letter of Thanks from Los Pipitos

2008-07-04T18:06:00.000-07:00

In Spring 2008, HSR has directed monetary support (from our local coffee sales) to Los Pipitos childcare center, funding physical therapy for handicapped students in rural areas of San Ramon.
Below is a letter of thanks from Lilliam Selva, the coordinator of Los Pipitos. The green text is Ms. Selva's text, and the italics are our English translation:

LOS PIPITOS

San Ramon 21 de junio de 2008.

Sister Communities of San Ramon Nicaragua (SCSRN)

En nombre de la asociación de padres con hijos discapacitados queremos dirijirnos a ustedes para hacerles llegar nuestros mas profundos agradecimientos por el aporte que ustedes nos brindan cada año a traves del hermanamiento. Tuvimos noticias por medio del Lic. Oscar González representante del hermanamiento, que Henniker nos ha donado $ 1000.00 para pago de fisioterapia. Estamos muy contentos y los padres de familia ya estan enterados.

In the name of the Association of Parents with Handicapped Children, we want to direct ourselves to you to make you receive our most profound gratitude for the support that you give us each year of our (communities’) sisterhood. We had news via Oscar Gonzalez (representative of the sister community) that Henniker has given us $1,000 to pay for physical therapy. We are very happy and the parents of families are now entered (in the therapy).

Gracias a Henniker por acordarse de nosotros, de este sector tan vulnerable que no tiene ayuda del gobierno nacional ni del gobierno municipal. Si no fuera por su apoyo este centro no contara con la ayuda de profesionales que hasta hoy laboran, somos reconocidos en esta ciudad y a nivel del departamento de Matagalpa por la integración de los niños en las escuelas.

Thanks to Henniker for aligning yourselves with us, in this vulnerable sector that does not have aid from the national government nor from the municipal government. If it weren’t for your support this center would not (be able to) count on the aid of professionals who have worked here until now; we are recognized in this city and at the level of the department (state) of Matagalpa for the integration of the children in the schools.

Gracias Henniker y a Comunidades Hermanas de San Ramón Nicaragua por este apoyo que viene a beneficiar a este sector tan olvidado por la sociedad.

Thanks Henniker, and to the Sister Communities of San Ramon, Nicaragua, for the support that comes to benefit this sector that is (otherwise) forgotten by society.

Aprovecho la oportunidad de saludarles y nuevamente desearles muchos exitos.

I take advantage of the opportunity to salute you all, and once again wish you much success.

Hasta Pronto.
Until soon.

“Una sonrisa vale más que mil palabras”
“A smile is worth more than a thousand words.”

Lilliam Selva
Coordinadora Pipitos
Coordinator of Pipitos
San Ramón.

BELOW: Members of HSR tour Los Pipitos in 2007.

Thoughts on Solidarity

2008-06-22T16:08:00.000-07:00

Jason Paul writes:

"[During our school visits,] we have begun by asking some of the teachers to write a paragraph on solidarity and what solidarity means to them. Here are some of the responses:"

Izdania Soberana Perez, 33 years old, 16 years experience as elementary teacher:
Solidarity is the mutual aid which is developed between children, adults, schools, communities etc depending on their needs, almost always, this is born of every person...

Coleta Martinez, 33 years old, 4 years experience as elementary teacher:
Solidarity is the capacity that we have as people to help others when necessary. If it comes from the heart comradery among people is easier to practice. All of us posess the ability to develop this quality, but very few put it into practice.

Myriam Zelaya, 57 years old, 30 years experience as elementary teacher:
Solidarity consists of giving help to the people who need it, being nice to the people around us and sharing difficult moments with them with sincerity, caring, and love.

Jamileth Ordeñana, 35 years old, 8 years experience as elementary teacher:
It is sharing what I know and what I have, knowledge, virtues, helping to forge a better world where children are not mistreated. It is to struggle for a dignified education for everyone. It is to make the rights of others valued. It is learning to learn and sharing. It is helping others meet their needs whoever they may be, wherever they may be.

Roger Salgado, 31, years old, 9 years experience as elementary teacher:
Solidarity is a very fundamental element which has to do with one person to another, or one country to another with the end of helping in a way that is moral, economic, or in knowledge to get out of the paradigm of being held back as a people.

School Visits Continue

2008-06-20T07:09:00.000-07:00

Here are more photos from one of a series of school visits by Jason and Lucila:

Lucila and the classroom teacher are applying the literacy techniques taught in last month's Teacher Training workshop.

International Cataract Aid in San Ramon

2008-06-20T06:58:00.001-07:00

Here's an example of other international aid programs in San Ramon: "Brother countries" like Venezuela and Cuba are funding cataract operations for up to 300 patients in San Ramon, according to La Nueva Ya radio station.

Literacy Training: Follow Up Visits

2008-06-09T12:09:00.000-07:00

Here is a note from Lucila, the lead teacher in the Professional Development Literacy Workshops for teachers in the San Ramon school system:

Hello dear friends from Henniker,

I wanted to let you know that I am very content with the way we are going about this training and I consider this to be the way to work with teachers who don't seem accustomed to having follow up or supervision.

During these last few weeks I have been visiting schools and observing [many different] classes.... Many teachers sought more support from me, asking me about doubts that they had and also asking for my intervention so as to show them how to work a certain area. I feel that this work in the classrooms is very enriching for the teachers because when it comes time to do activities sometimes questions arise and can be resolved with a little help. At the same time many teachers continue giving their classes the same as they have for years (despite having enjoyed the workshop, indicating on their evaluation forms that they believed they could use what they had learned). Doing school visits is a way of ensuring that they begin to put into practice these new ways of teaching.

I have also seen some brilliant classes in which teachers gave a lot of importance to the meaning of texts, using and expanding the activities introduced in the workshop, thus facilitating greater reading comprehension. This, on a personal level, makes me very happy.

Thanks for giving me, and us, your trust and the possibility of doing this work with the teachers of San Ramon. I hope that we continue together on this path of encounters, hope, and solidarity, and that with our shared efforts we help to make things more just. Ok, now I say goodbye hoping to meet you this summer and share more about these interesting experiences lived in San Ramon. Thanks again!

Until soon,
Lucila

Lucila and Jason have been conducting follow up visits to classrooms and schools in the San Ramon's countryside.

Blog Use Guidelines

2008-05-23T18:39:00.000-07:00

Here are some recommended guidelines for posting on the HSR blog:

All posts must align with the Mission and Philosophy of HSR.
All posts must have EITHER a direct connection with HSR's activities or interests, OR an indirect connection through a member of HSR or another group with similar activities or interests.
All material (either posted or directly linked) must be appropriate for readers of all ages.
HSR believes in transparency; we will post brief notes of meetings and events. The official minutes of HSR meetings are available to the public at the next HSR meeting, and will not be posted on this blog.
We will post news of upcoming, current, and past delegations, to inform our communities and to generate interest in our activities.
We will post news that affects our communities and our activities in both New Hampshire and San Ramon.
When we post about a person or group who was not present at a meeting, or was not aware of the post, we will notify that person/group about the post.
Several members of the Henniker group will be invited to become authors on this blog. (HSR Members: If you would like to become an author, email Marek Bennett.)
Members of the San Ramon group will also be invited to join the blog as authors. (This bilateral expansion of the blog may happen soon or over the next year or two.)
All blog authors will agree to follow these guidelines (in their final, accepted form), and will work to help each other follow the guidelines.
Comments will be active, and moderated by an ADMIN account (currently Marek Bennett, but ideally info@hennikersanramon.org ...)

This blog will present a professional, positive, and dynamic face for our organization. Whenever possible, EACH blog post will contain:

A unique, descriptive, and brief title.
The name of the person posting the information (and contact information!).
Grammatically correct, spell-checked content using complete sentences.
OPTIONAL: One or more graphics or photographs that help to explain/illustrate the post, along with text explaining the graphic and/or its origin.
Links to primary sources or other sources of the information in the post.

Other features we will work to implement:

Automatic Spanish Language translation of all pages (available via http://www.google.com/language_tools?hl=en as soon as this blog becomes public)
RSS subscription -- perhaps a feed reader in the sidebar?
Picasa albums -- a good way to share our photos?
Google Analytics tracking code (when we make the blog public) -- to learn how viewers use the blog, and what they're most interested in reading, etc.

Do you have some suggestions? Please add you comments below!

Literacy Training for San Ramon Teachers

2008-05-21T18:14:00.000-07:00

Here are Jason Paul's photos and notes from last week's Teachers' Professional Development conference in San Ramon, made possible by a grant from HSRSCP. This report demonstrates the importance, excitement, and challenges of presenting such programs:

After having steady [electrical] power almost all week long we awoke this morning to Murphy's Law ["If something CAN go wrong, it WILL."]. After having gotten up at 5:00 to put 5 gallons of water on to boil for coffee for the [program participants], when I got up for a second time at 6:00 and hit the light switch nothing happened. So we hemmed and hawed for a brief spell and then decided to proceed forward. Mercedes lent us her back-up battery and we set out making trips to the school, projector, computer, battery, pastries, and coffee....

Lucila got through most of the first part of her powerpoint presentation and the battery died. She went on for a few more minutes and we stopped for the coffee break. When we returned, the power was back.

62 teachers were in attendance, there was good participation, and it seemed that everyone gained a decent to excellent command of the material.
There was a lot of positive feedback on the evaluation forms. Teachers thought the information would be helpful to them in their work and many expressed a desire for the rest of the teachers in San Ramon to get the same workshop.
There was also interest in receiving more workshops of this nature in the future.

So ... it is safe to say that stage one has been a success. In the next week [program presenter] Lucila will do follow-up visits to classrooms, and I will join her upon returning from Peru. When we got home at 12:30 and I set the battery to charge it went for about 2 minutes and the power was gone again. So we made it in the nick of time....yay!

-- Jason Paul

BELOW: Program presenter Lucila (right) and participating teachers. BELOW: A sample program feedback form from an enthusiastic participant.

Meeting: February 7, 2008

2008-02-07T19:34:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the blog! Please use comments to suggest topics, share your views, and request more information.

At our meeting tonight in Henniker, we decided to maintain this blog as a public bulletin board about our activities.

Here are a couple links we mentioned tonight:

Jason Paul's October 2007 photo album from Chincha Alta, Peru
...and Jason's December 2007 photos from Chincha Alta
Here's the GoogleMap of Chincha Alta, Peru.
Dan Paul's link to: Earthquake-Resistant Construction of Adobe Buildings: A Tutorial
Dan's link to an earthquake-resistant construction site

NicaNet Homepage

2007-11-16T19:08:00.000-08:00

NicaNet provides information and inspiration about the many people and stories of Nicaragua.

For example, they've posted a page on the effects of Hurricane Felix.

Nicaraguan Newspaper: El Nuevo Diario

2007-11-16T19:05:00.000-08:00

El Nuevo Diario is a newspaper in Managua.

15th Anniversary Retreat

2007-11-12T18:49:00.000-08:00

We celebrated our 15th anniversary with a three-day retreat in Henniker. Participants shared their memories, interests, and hopes for Henniker, San Ramon, and the sister community project.

Elena came up from Managua to facilitate the meeting.

We'll post our resolutions soon.

Bylaws of Henniker-San Ramon

2004-12-14T06:14:00.000-08:00

ARTICLE I – NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1 – Name:

The name of the organization shall be "Henniker-San Ramon". It shall be a nonprofit organization incorporated under the laws of the state of New Hampshire.

Section 2 – Purpose:

The purpose of the organization shall be to build ties of friendship and understanding between the people of Henniker, New Hampshire and San Ramon, Nicaragua. Henniker-San Ramon is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes.

ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 – Membership:

Membership shall consist of the board of trustees.

ARTICLE III – BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Section 1 – Board role, size and compensation:

The board is responsible for overall policy and direction of the organization. The board shall have up to twenty, but not fewer than five members. The board receives no compensation other than reasonable expenses.

Section 2 – Terms:

All board members shall serve two-year terms, but are eligible for re-election for up to five consecutive terms.

Section 3 – Meeting and notice:

The board shall meet at least quarterly, at an agreed upon time and place. An official board meeting requires that each board member have written notice at least two weeks in advance.

Section 4 – Board elections:

During the last quarter of each calendar year, the board of trustees shall elect Trustees to replace those whose terms will expire at the end of the calendar year. This election shall take place during a regular meeting of the trustees, called in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws.

Section 5 – Election procedures:

New trustees shall be elected by a majority of directors present at such a meeting, provided there is a quorum present. Trustees so elected shall serve a term beginning on the first day of the next calendar year.

Section 6 – Quorum:

A quorum must be attended by at least forty percent of board members for business transactions to take place and motions to pass.

Section 7 – Officers and Duties:

There shall be four officers of the board, consisting of a chair, vice-chair, secretary and treasurer. Their duties are as follows:

The chair shall convene regularly scheduled board meetings, shall preside or arrange for other members of the Executive Committee to preside at each meeting in the following order: vice-chair, secretary, treasurer.
The vice-chair shall chair committees on special subjects as designated by the board.
The secretary shall be responsible for keeping records of board actions, including overseeing the taking of minutes at all board meetings, sending out meeting announcements, distributing copies of minutes and the agenda to each board member, and assuring that corporate records are maintained.
The treasurer shall make a report at each board meeting. The treasurer shall chair the finance committee, assist in the preparation of the budget, help develop fundraising plans, and make financial information available to board members and the public.

Section 8 – Vacancies:

When a vacancy on the board exists mid-term, the secretary must receive nominations for new board members from present board members two weeks in advance of a board meeting. These nominations shall be sent out to board members with the regular board meeting announcement, to be voted upon at the next board meeting. These vacancies will be filled only to the end of the particular board members term.

Section 9 – Resignation, termination, and absences:

Resignation from the board must be in writing and received by the secretary. A board member shall be terminated from the board due to excess absences, more than six unexcused absences from board meetings in a year. A board member may be removed for other reasons by a three-fourths vote of the remaining trustees.

Section 10 – Special meetings:

Special meetings of the board shall be called upon the request of the chair, or one-third of the board. Notices of special meetings shall be sent out by the secretary to each board member at least two weeks in advance.

ARTICLE IV – COMMITTEES

Section 1 – Committee formation:

The board may create committees as needed. The board chair appoints all committee chairs.

Section 2 – Executive Committee:

The four officers serve as the members of the Executive Committee. Except for the power to amend the articles of incorporation and bylaws, the Executive Committee shall have all the powers and authority of the board of trustees in the intervals between meetings of the board of trustees, and is subject to the direction and control of the full board.

Section 3 – Finance Committee:

The treasurer is the chair of the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee is responsible for developing and reviewing fiscal procedures, fundraising plans, and the annual budget with other board members. The board must approve the budget and all expenditures must be within the budget. Any major change in the budget must be approved by the board or the Executive Committee. The fiscal year shall be the calendar year. Annual reports are required to be submitted to the board showing income, expenses, assets, liabilities and equity. The financial records of the organization are public information and shall be made available to board members and the public.

ARTICLE V – AMENDMENTS

Section 1 – Amendments:

These bylaws may be amended when necessary by two-thirds majority of the board of trustees. Proposed amendments must be submitted to the secretary to be sent out with regular board announcements.

CERTIFICATION

These bylaws were approved at a meeting of the board of trustees by a two-thirds majority vote on Tuesday, December 14, 2004.