GPC Venturing Officers’ Association Bylaws

Article I: Name
The name of this organization shall be the Greater Pittsburgh Council Venturing Officers’ Association, hereinafter the Association.

Article II : Purpose
The purpose of the Association shall be to provide a forum for the youth leadership of the Venturing Crews of Greater Pittsburgh Council, to provide Venturing program support to crews through the district officers, to promote Venturing and its programs, to assist the district Roundtable Commisioners and staffs upon request, and also to provide a variety of program and training events for youth all across the Council.

Article III : Parliamentary Authority
To the extent which they are applicable and not in conflict with these bylaws the rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern meetings of the Association and all subsidiary bodies.

Article IV : Crew Representatives
§ A : Number
Each Venturing Crew in the Greater Pittsburgh Council shall have the right to send two Crew Representatives to be members of the Association.

Greater Pittsburgh Council Crew 530, being itself a part of this Association, shall not send any Crew Represenatives to the Association.

§ B : Eligibility
Any currently registered youth member in the Crew is eligible to be selected as a Crew Representative. If the youth ceases to be a registered youth member of the Crew, then they are no longer eligible to serve as a Crew Representative from that Crew to the Association. No person may be a Crew Representative from more than one Crew at a time.

§ C : Selection

The duration and method of the selection of Crew Representatives is left to the discretion of the Crew, subject to the eligibility provisions above.

Article V : Venturing General Assembly
§ A : Authority
The Venturing General Assembly shall meet annually elect the Council and District Venturing Cabinets and conduct any other business that needs to be addressed at that time.

§ B : Composition
The Venturing General Assembly shall be composed of all Crew Representatives in attendance. Each Crew Representative in attendance shall be entitled to one vote.

Officers of the Association are not ex officio members of the General Assembly, although they may be selected as a Crew Representative.

Article VI : Council Venturing Cabinet
§ A : Authority
The Council Venturing Cabinet shall organize the planning and implementation of Venturing events and training at the council level. The Cabinet shall also organize training and support for District officers conducting programs within their District, and work to promote Venturing on all levels throughout the Council.

In the event of a vacancy in the office of Council Venturing President when there is no Council Venturing Vice-President for Administration or Council Venturing Vice-President of Program to fill that office, the Council Venturing Cabinet shall elect an eligible individual to serve as Council Venturing President for the unexpired portion of the term of office.

§ B : Meetings
The meetings of this Council Venturing Cabinet shall occur monthly at a regular time and place to be set by the Cabinet.
Meetings of the Council Venturing Cabinet do not need to be held during the Summer months.

§ C : Composition
The Council Venturing Cabinet shall be composed of the Council Venturing President, the Council Venturing Vice-President for Administration, the Council Venturing Vice-President for Program, the Council Venturing Secretary, all District Venturing Presidents, and all District Venturing Vice-Presidents.

§ D : Council Venturing President
The Council Venturing President shall serve as the spokesman and representative of the Council Venturing Cabinet, the Venturing General Assembly, the Association, and all Venturers within the Council.

The Council Venturing President shall preside at all meetings of the Venturing General Assembly and the Council Venturing Cabinet.

In the event of a vacancy in the office of Council Venturing Vice-President for Administration or Program, the office of Council Venturing Secretary, or a District Venturing President where there is no District Venturing Vice President to fill that Position, the Council Venturing President shall appoint an eligible individual to serve in that office for the unexpired portion of the term of office.

§ E : Council Venturing Vice-President for Administration
The Council Venturing Vice-President for Administration is responsible for the oversight and support of all District officers.

The Council Venturing Vice-President for Administration shall perform the duties of Council Venturing President should that officer be temporarily unable to perform them.

The Council Venturing Vice-President for Administration shall immediately assume the office of Council Venturing President should that office become vacant.

§ F : Council Venturing Vice-President for Program
The Council Venturing Vice-President for Program is responsible for the oversight and support of all Committees not reporting to the District Venturing Cabinets, and to assist in organizing events that address all five areas of the Venturing program.

The Council Venturing Vice-President for Program shall perform the duties of Council Venturing President should that officer and the Council Venturing Vice-President for Administration be temporarily unable to perform them.

The Council Venturing Vice-President for Program shall immediately assume the office of Council Venturing President should that office and that of Council Venturing Vice-President for Administration become vacant.

§ G : Council Venturing Secretary
The Council Venturing Secretary shall record all minutes at meetings of the Council Venturing Cabinet and General Assembly, work with Committees to promote Venturing events, and publish a regular newsletter for the Association to be distributed to Venturers in the Council.

Article VI : District Venturing Cabinets
§ A : Authority
The District Venturing Cabinets shall organize the planning and implementation of Venturing events and training at the district level within their respective districts, as well as work to provide program support for units in the district when requested, in support of the various Venturing programs, and also offer support to the District Roundtable Commissioner and staff.

§ B : Meetings
The District Venturing Cabinets shall meet regularly at a time and place set by each Cabinet.

§ C : Composition
Each District in the Council shall have a District Venturing Cabinet that shall be composed of the District Venturing President, the District Venturing Vice-President, and all Crew Representatives sent by Crews in that District.

§ D : District Venturing Presidents
The District Venturing Presidents shall serve as the spokesmen and representatives of their respective District Venturing Cabinets and all Venturers within their District.

The District Venturing Presidents shall preside at all meetings of their respective District Venturing Cabinet.

In the event of a vacancy in the office of District Venturing Vice-President, the District Venturing President shall appoint an eligible individual to serve in the vacated office for the unexpired portion of the term of office.

§ E : District Venturing Vice-Presidents
The District Venturing Vice-President shall assist the District Venturing President in the performance of that officer's official duties.

The District Venturing Vice-President shall perform the duties of District Venturing President should that officer be temporarily unable to perform them.

The District Venturing Vice-President shall immediately assume the office of District Venturing President should that office become vacant.

Article VII : Appointment of Committees

The Council Venturing President is authorized to appoint Committees to report to the Council Venturing Cabinet or General Assembly.

The District Venturing Presidents are authorized to appoint Committees to report to their respective District Venturing Cabinets.

Article VIII : Election of Officers
§ A : Time and Place
Association Officers shall be elected by the General Assembly at the annual Venturing Conclave held in the Spring of each year.

§ B : Term of Office
Newly elected officers shall take office at the installation ceremony following their election and shall continue to serve until the election of their successors, so long as they remain eligible to hold office.

§ C : Eligibility
Any youth member of any Crew in the Council shall be eligible to run for any office of the Association, so long as they have not reached the age of 20 years at the time of the election.

§ D : Procedure
The Council Venturing President, Council Venturing Vice-President for Administration, Council Venturing Vice-President for Program, and Council Venturing Secretary shall be elected by the General Assembly as a whole.

The District Venturing Presidents and District Venturing Vice-Presidents shall be elected by the Crew Representatives sent by Crews in their respective Districts.

After all nominations have been received and before ballots are cast candidates shall be permitted the opportunity to speak briefly.

All elections shall be conducted by secret ballot. A majority of votes cast shall be necessary to elect.

Article IX : Removal from Office
§ A : Notice
Notice of intent to remove an officer must be given at the previous meeting of the body that will hold the removal vote or be mailed to all members of that body at least 2 weeks prior to the meeting at which the removal vote will occur.

§ B : Authority to Remove
The Council Venturing President, Council Venturing Vice-President for Administration, Council Venturing Vice-President for Program, and Council Venturing Secretary may be removed from office by a 3/4 vote at a meeting of the Council Venturing Cabinet.

The District Venturing President sand District Venturing Vice-Presidents may be removed from office by a 3/4 vote at a meeting of their respective District Venturing Cabinet.

§ C : Response
Prior to to any removal vote, but after the reasons for the removal have been given, the officer to be removed shall have the opportunity to publically respond.

Article X : Amendment
§ A : Notice
Proposed amendments to these Bylaws must be distributed to all Crews in the Council at least 30 days prior to the beginning of the annual Conclave at which they will be considered.

§ B : Authority to Amend
The General Assembly may adopt proposed amendments by a 3/4 vote at the annual Conclave.