Model Constitution of (your parish) Teen SOYO
Preface
1. This Constitution shall be revised as needed.
2. This Constitution shall be the governing laws of the (your parish) Teen SOYO.
1. The name of this organization shall be the (your parish) Teen Society of Orthodox Youth Organizations hereafter referred to as the (your parish) Teen SOYO.
2. This organization derives its authority to function by virtue of the consent and blessings of His Eminence, the Most Reverend Metropolitan and Primate of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of
1. To promote among the young people of the (your parish) a complete devotion to the Holy Orthodox Church, its Faith, Canons, and Worship.
2. To encourage the young people of the (your parish), to actively participate in the many functions and programs of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of
3. To initiate and coordinate spiritual and charitable works and activities.
1. The powers of the (your parish) Teen SOYO Executive Board shall be:
a. To direct, manage, supervise and control the business, properties and funds of the (your parish) Teen SOYO.
b. The (your parish) Teen SOYO Executive Board shall have no right or power of supervision, right of disposal, nor any supervisory power over their treasuries.
1. The Executive officers of the (your parish) Teen SOYO shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, Spiritual Advisor or Parish Priest and Youth Director(s). Individuals who wish to run for any office (except Spiritual Advisor and Youth Director) must meet the following requirements: (1) Be at least 13-years-old, but not more than 19-years-old, and (2) be in good sacramental standing in their Church.
2. The President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected at an annual meeting, set forth by the (your parish) Teen SOYO. All officers shall serve for a period of one year and shall conclude their term when their successors are elected and installed. No individual may serve for more than two (2) terms in any one office.
3. Any vacancy occurring in any elective office shall be filled in the manner prescribed in the By-laws.
1. The (your parish) Teen SOYO Spiritual Advisor shall be the parish priest, or another parish clergy appointed by the pastor.
2. The (your parish) Teen SOYO Youth Director(s) are appointed by the parish priest.
3. The Spiritual Advisor and Regional Youth Director(s)' job is to guide and help the members of the (your parish) Teen SOYO. The members of Teen SOYO will have the right to make decisions to fulfill their role in the life of the Church.
4. Both the Youth Director(s) and the Spiritual Advisor are members of the Executive Board. No meetings should take place without at least one of them present.
5. Both the Spiritual Advisor and Youth Director(s) work under the direction of the Archdiocese Youth Director.
1. The President of the (your parish) Teen SOYO may, from time to time, establish temporary committees to investigate and report on questions relevant to the operations of the (your parish) Teen SOYO.
2. The President shall appoint a chairperson to each committee and get approval from the other executive officers.
3. Standing Committees shall be established by the President and shall perform such duties as specified in Article X of the By-Laws.
1. The (your parish) Teen SOYO Executive Board may institute special projects with the advice of its Advisors, and its members for obtaining additional revenues to be used for designated charitable works in the fulfillment of its purposes as outlined in Article II of this Constitution.
2. All funds received by this organization form sources shall be designated as special funds and their use shall be restricted to the fulfillment of the specific purpose for which they were raised.
1. Regular meetings of this organization shall be held according to (your parish) Teen SOYO.
1. These By-laws shall be revised as needed.
2. These By-laws shall be the governing laws of the (your parish) Teen Society of Orthodox Youth Organizations.
3. No individual shall disregard these By-laws, or create conflict in any way, without
prior consent of a majority of the (your parish) Teen Society of Orthodox Youth Organizations Members.
1. Any person between the ages of thirteen (13) and nineteen (19) years, who is a member in good standing of (your parish) church is eligible for membership in (your parish) SOYO.
2. Any person between the ages of eighteen (18) and nineteen (19) may be a member of Teen SOYO and/or the Fellowship of St. John the Divine, but under no circumstances be an officer in both at any level.
1. President:
The President shall preside at all meetings. The President shall perform all those duties usually associated with the office of President and exercise general supervision of the work and activities of Teen SOYO. The President shall issue the call for the meetings and he shall appoint such committees as may be deemed necessary.
2. Vice President:
The duties of the Vice President shall be to preside in the absence of the President. The Vice President shall oversee all committees. The Vice President shall also perform such other duties as pertain to the office or as may be assigned to him by the President.
3. Secretary:
The Secretary shall attend all meetings and shall keep the minutes of all meetings. The Secretary shall assist the President and the Executive Board in the conduct of the business affairs of Teen SOYO and shall perform such duties as are specified or implied in the Constitution and By-laws, or as may be assigned by the Executive Board.
4. Treasurer:
The Treasurer shall receive all funds paid to (your parish) Teen SOYO and shall deposit the same in the official depositories as designated by the Executive Board. The Treasurer’s accounts shall be opened to the inspection of the President, the Executive Board, the Spiritual Advisor, Youth Directors, and any other auditors named by the Executive Board.
Article III – Executive Board
1. The Executive Board, as constituted under Article IV of the Constitution, shall meet at such times and places as may be determined by call of the President, or by written request of a majority of the Executive Officers.
2. In addition to the enumerated powers outlined in the Constitution and By-laws, including raising revenues, management of the assets and properties, committees, and call of meetings, the Executive Board shall execute any mandate of the (your parish) SOYO. The Executive Board may expend such funds as are necessary for supplies to conduct reasonable business of this organization.
3. The Powers of the Executive Board shall be: (1) To initiate motions and resolutions, (2) To authorize the expenditure of monies (3) To conduct research and investigations either as a committee of the whole or by special committee responsible to the Board, and (4) To consider reports by members and all permanent and special committees.
4. Youth Director(s): The Parish priest of (your parish) shall appoint the Youth Director(s). He or she shall attend all Executive Board meetings and meetings of the (your parish) SOYO. His or her advice shall be sought and respected by the President, the Executive Board and the members of (your parish) SOYO in all matters affecting the welfare of the organization and the fulfillment of its objectives. His or her consent shall be required on all matters where specifically stipulated in the Constitution and/or By-Laws.
5. Special decisions by the Executive Board should always be done in consultation with the Spiritual Advisor and Youth Director(s).
1. The President shall be responsible for the preparing of the agenda for all meetings of the Executive Board and the (your parish) SOYO.
2. Both the Youth Director(s) and the Spiritual Advisor are members of the Executive Board. No meetings should take place without at least one of them present.
1. All persons nominated must conform to the provisions in Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution.
2. All nominations shall be made from the floor. The voting shall be by secret ballot.
3. A simple majority vote of all votes shall be necessary for the election of officers. In the event that any ballots cast does not show a majority, the nominee having the lowest number of votes shall be dropped and on succeeding ballot(s) the same procedure shall be followed until some nominee shall have received the majority of all votes. Cumulative voting shall not be permitted.
1. In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice President shall assume the office of President and serve out the remainder of the term.
2. In the event of a vacancy in any of the other offices, the Executive Board shall elect a qualified member to fill the office for the remainder of the term. All persons nominated must conform to the provisions in Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution, and Article VIII, Section 3 of these By-laws. The Executive Board shall determine when a vacancy exists.
3. In the event of a vacancy in any appointed office, the vacancy shall be filled by presidential appointment.
1. There shall be any number of permanent committees appointed by the President. The chairperson of each committee shall report to the President and shall be invited to all meetings of the Executive Board.
1. The Treasurer shall have the accounts audited at the request of the Executive Board. No transactions may be made during the audit. An audit must be done at lease once a year.
2. All records and funds are to be turned over to the newly elected Treasurer at the conclusion of the audit.