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ARTICLE I
Name of Organization
The Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma, hereafter known
as the Dart Center, shall have a policy oversight body designated as
the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE II
Mission Statement
The Dart Center is a global network of journalists, journalism
educators and health professionals dedicated to improving media
coverage of trauma, conflict and tragedy. The Center also addresses
the consequences of such coverage for those working in journalism.
The Dart Center:
- Advocates ethical and thorough reporting of trauma; sensitive,
professional treatment of victims and survivors by journalists;
and greater awareness by media organizations of the impact of
trauma coverage on both news professionals and news consumers.
- Educates working journalists about the science and psychology
of trauma and the implications for news coverage.
- Develops and disseminates research, training modules and educational
curricula.
- Creates and sustains partnerships among media professionals,
therapists and others concerned with trauma, and nurtures peer-support
among working journalists.
- Serves as a forum for print, broadcast and internet journalists
to analyze issues, exchange ideas and advance strategies related
to reporting on violence and catastrophic stress.
ARTICLE III
The Executive Committee
Section 1: The Executive Committee provides policy oversight for the
center, now based at the University of Washington. In cooperation with the University of Washington,
the Executive Committee guides the Dart Center’s mission
through policy formation, program evaluation, budget approval, and co-selection and annual review of the executive director.
Section 2: Matters pertaining to selection and review of the executive director, budget adoption, and establishment of major policies
and program changes shall be subject to a vote.
ARTICLE IV
Executive Committee Membership
Section 1: The Executive Committee shall have
not less than ten nor more than fifteen members, including four officers, the executive director
and five to ten at-large members. The officers shall be president, vice
president, secretary and chairman emeritus. The Executive Committee
can increase its number with a two-thirds vote of the committee.
Section 2: Members shall serve staggered terms
of three years each. That means starting in November 2003 three
executive committee members shall have terms expiring one year
later in November 2004, three members in November 2005 and two
members in 2006. The only exception would be the chairman emeritus,
who, with approval of these bylaws, will serve a lifetime term.
The president shall establish the staggered terms.
Section 3: Executive Committee members can be
granted a second term with a majority vote of the committee. However,
after serving two consecutive terms, members must wait three years
before becoming eligible to serve another term. Any officer ending
a second term of membership can be automatically granted an extra
year of membership to serve the term as an officer.
Section 4: Membership shall consist of at least
one individual from the following areas: print journalism, broadcast
journalism, trauma-related professional practice and academia.
The rest of the members shall be at-large members dedicated to
the Dart Center’s mission and service on the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee shall be comprised of a proper and diverse mix
of members.
Section 5: Members shall:
- Advance, promote and support the mission of the Dart
Center.
- Participate in at least two of the quarterly meetings per year. Members
can miss a meeting if they provide a written excuse to the president.
Meeting dates and times should be scheduled at or immediately after the previous meeting
so members have sufficient time to plan for and schedule the next
meeting.
- Serve on any subcommittees, as designated by the president.
- When appropriate, raise resources or assist in raising
resources for the Dart Center.
Section 6: Members can be removed with a two-thirds
vote of the Executive Committee. Any member who is up for a removal
vote must abstain from the vote.
Section 7: Vacancies that occur because of a
resignation or dismissal shall be filled by the president, based
on recommendations from the Executive Committee, for the remainder
of the vacated term. Regular vacancies shall be filled based on
a nomination from any member and a two-thirds vote of the Executive
Committee.
Section 8: All Executive Committee members shall
be unpaid for their work on behalf of the Executive Committee.
Section 9: Ex officio members may be appointed
to the Executive Committee by majority vote. Ex officio members
cannot vote on any Executive Committee business and may be excluded
from meetings if the matter involves a personnel or legal matter,
or is deemed "confidential" by the president.
Section 10: The president may invite certain
“guests” to participate or attend Executive Committee
meetings or functions.
ARTICLE V
Leadership of the Executive Committee
and the Executive Director
Section 1: Officers shall be chairman emeritus,
president, vice president and secretary.
Section 2: Officers and executive
director can
act for the Executive Committee provided:
- All of the officers and executive director agree to the
decision or policy.
- Other Executive Committee members are notified of the
decision and allowed to comment.
- The action doesn’t require a two-thirds vote of
the entire committee.
If an officer is incapacitated or cannot be reached in a timely
manner, then the remaining officers can make a decision for the
Executive Committee.
Section 3: Officers shall be:
- President: The president shall conduct meetings, appoint
members to subcommittees, work with the executive director
to implement and advance center policies, and chair or choose a designee to chair, the evaluation of the Executive Director. The president also can
fill any vacancies based on resignation or dismissal and make
recommendations to fill any regular vacancies, and shall serve as the chairperson of a search or selection committee for Center Executive Director. The president shall
serve a two-year term, with an option for a second term.
- Vice president: The vice president shall conduct meetings
in the president’s absence and as requested by the president
during a regular meeting. The vice president shall be in charge
of the selection process for the Advisory Council, with the Executive
Committee recommending possible members, and serve as a liaison
to that Council. The vice president shall serve a two-year term,
with an option for a second term.
- Secretary: The secretary will work with the president
and executive director to establish agendas for all Executive
Committee meetings and with the chairman emeritus for visioning
processes. The secretary shall ensure that minutes are recorded
at all meetings. The secretary shall serve a two-year term with
an option for a second term.
- Chairman Emeritus: The chairman emeritus is a lifetime
honorary position bestowed to Dr. Frank Ochberg, the Dart Center’s
founder. The chairman emeritus shall serve as an adviser to the
president and executive director, and conduct any visioning processes
for the Dart Center, in conjunction with the president and executive
director. The chairman emeritus shall also work with the president
and the executive director to prepare a slate of officers for
the Executive Committee’s approval when it becomes necessary.
Section 4: The executive director is a voting
member of the Executive Committee. The executive director shall
administer the Dart Center, hire all employees, and coordinate all functions of the Dart Center.
The Executive Director has no fixed term of office. The executive director is not an officer of the
Executive Committee.
Section 5: All officers require a two-thirds
vote of the Executive Committee before they assume their offices.
ARTICLE VI
Meetings
Section 1: The Executive Committee shall hold
four regular meetings a year, at least one being in-person. A quorum occurs when more than half
of the Executive Committee members are in attendance, whether by telephone or in person. All meetings
will be conducted using Robert’s Rules of Order.
Section 2: The president can call special meetings,
in concurrence with the executive director. The chairman emeritus
can call visioning processes, with consent from the president
and executive director.
Section 3: The Dart Center shall cover any reasonable
expenses incurred by Executive Committee members in traveling
to and from meeting destinations or in conducting any business
for the Dart Center.
Section 4: The president will schedule meeting
times in concurrence with the executive director.
Section 5: Meeting agendas shall be planned
by the president and executive
director. Executive Committee members can add an agenda item up
to two weeks before the scheduled meeting. Agendas should be sent
to Executive Committee members at least one week before a scheduled
meeting. Any other items can be covered under the “New Business”
part of the agenda.
ARTICLE VII
Advisory Council
Section 1: The Executive Committee shall establish
an Advisory Council that shall be comprised of people who are noteworthy
in the journalism, trauma and/or related fields.
Section 2: Advisory Council members serve in an
honorary capacity. Thus, they are not involved in the decision-making
process of the Dart Center or its Executive Committee. They can
provide advice or contribute materials to the Dart Center.
Section 3: A majority of the Advisory Council
members should be identified as journalists or shall be in journalism-related
fields.
Section 4: Prospective Advisory Council members are nominated
by Executive Committee members and receive final approval by a
majority vote of the entire committee. Members added before or
after the quarterly meetings must be approved by a consensus
or majority vote of the Executive Committee. They serve five-year
terms, but the Executive Committee can award lifetime status to
an individual. Members can be past Executive Committee members,
but current Executive Committee members and Dart Center staff
cannot serve on the Advisory Council.
Upon Executive Committee approval, Advisory Council members will
receive official invitations from the Executive Committee president
and/or the Dart Center executive director.
Section 5: A member can withdraw voluntarily
from the Advisory Council by making a request to the Dart Center
executive director. However, a two-thirds vote of the Executive
Committee is required before a member can be removed from the
Advisory Council.
ARTICLE VIII
Adoption & Publication
Section 1: Upon approval by a two-thirds vote
of the Executive Committee, these bylaws shall take effect.
Section 2: Any change of these bylaws requires
a two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee.
Section 3: Upon approval, the bylaws shall be
posted on the Dart Center's Web site, and hard copies shall be
made available to Executive Committee members and "ex officio"
members.
ARTICLE IX
Location of the Dart Center
Section 1: The Executive Committee has the authority to locate the center at a university or institution, or establish it with 501c3 status at an independent location.
Section 2: Changing the location of center requires a two-thirds vote. The president must constitute a bylaws subcommittee to revise the bylaws that existed before the vote. The revised bylaws must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee.
Section 3: If the center becomes a separate, non-profit entity, the Executive Committee will become a board of directors and automatically add another member, the treasurer, who will be appointed by the president to serve until the next regular meeting, wherin an election for treasurer, by Board members will occur. All Executive Committee members shall become members of a non-profit organization's board and assume all necessary risks associated with that status.
Section 4: If a non-profit or 501c3 status has been filed, the executive director shall become an ex officio member and shall not have voting status on the board of directors. At the time, the board then must conduct yearly evaluations of the executive director and can remove the executive director by a two-thirds vote. All other center employees can attend meetings at the invitation of the executive director, in conjunction with the president.
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