Blog Use Guidelines

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

1. All posts must align with the Mission and Philosophy of HSR.
2. 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.
3. All material (either posted or directly linked) must be appropriate for readers of all ages.
4. 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.
5. We will post news of upcoming, current, and past delegations, to inform our communities and to generate interest in our activities.
6. We will post news that affects our communities and our activities in both New Hampshire and San Ramon.
7. 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.
8. 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.)
9. 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.)
10. All blog authors will agree to follow these guidelines (in their final, accepted form), and will work to help each other follow the guidelines.
11. 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:

1. A unique, descriptive, and brief title.
2. The name of the person posting the information (and contact information!).
3. Grammatically correct, spell-checked content using complete sentences.
4. OPTIONAL: One or more graphics or photographs that help to explain/illustrate the post, along with text explaining the graphic and/or its origin.
5. 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!

Bylaws of Henniker-San Ramon

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.