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 ByLaws & Standing Rules

CCW Organization Notebook provided by the Joliet Diocesan CCW

 

No, Please do not dismiss!       As boring as they might sound to some (except wierdos like me), these ARE important.  A good time to create them if you do not have them, or review them if you do, is annually at the beginning of your program year, which typically corresponds to the school year.

 

Bylaws are similar to a Constitution, and indeed organizational bylaws used to be called its Constitution.  “Bylaws: An organization’s bylaws define the association: its name, purpose, structure and the general means for carrying out its purpose”1  Are you your parish’s Altar & Rosary Society, its Council of Catholic Women or its Parish Women’s Group? or even a specific interest, such as St. Whatever’s Parish Pro-Life Action group? or Blessed Someone’s School Support Organization? Is every woman in the parish considered a member, or is membership limited to those who pay dues?  How many and who are your officers, when are they elected and for how long do they serve?  When and where are your general meetings?  Does your board and/or Executive Committee (who are they?) meet separately?  Do you have particular Commissions (such as the NCCW Commissions) and/or special Committees?  How do you change (or amend) any of the above?  (I have samples of typical Parish CCW Bylaws; if you are just beginning this process; and are interested in receiving them, please contact me – Marianne McKeague, 2006-8 JD CCW Organization Services Chair, at mariannemck@sbcglobal.net or call me at 630-834-2183.)

Answers to the above questions need to be put in writing so that everyone in your parish – including your pastor and/or moderator – will be able to define your organization.

 

Once in place, Bylaws should not need to be changed too often.  Standing Rules, on the other hand can be changed by a simple majority vote of the Parish CCW at any meeting at which there is a quorum (something else which should be defined in your Bylaws).

 

Standing Rules are EXTREMELY helpful in the day-to-day decisions of your board and council:  They help you remember your traditional practices.  For example: When, where, and how often are your regular general meetings?  Does your board meet separately?  Usually when and where?  Who makes decisions on what checks to write?  What is the process?  Are particular officers or specific chairs responsible for particular events/programs?  What is your WoY selection process, your Nominating Committee process (for new officers, next year’s Nominating Committee)?  How is your WoY honored in your parish?  Are particular organizations typically funded each year:  an annual gift to the parish, honorariums to the vowed religious of your parish; school and/or religious education students, Girl Scouts, the Diocesan BBSF fund; the NCCW Annual Appeal?  Who receives complimentary tickets to your fund-raisers (your pastor/moderator, of course, but Deacons and their wives, Deanery or Diocesan representatives)?  Does your council pay all or some of your delegates’ (typically your President and one other) expenses to Diocesan and/or National Conventions?  Does your council pay other leadership training expenses for your board members, such as fees for Diocesan Commission Days, the Deanery Spring Institute, registration at the Diocesan and/or National Convention?

 

As helpful as are the guidelines established in your Standing Rules, the best thing about them is that they can be changed by a simple majority vote at any board meeting.  They are thus very flexible, and can respond fairly quickly to changing needs/responsibilities; at the same time, they provide a pattern or guide for future board decisions.

 

A file containing copies of each succeeding Bylaws and Standing Rules, arranged by date, should be kept by each Council’s Recording Secretary to provide a historical reference record.