Bylaws are deifinitely key to any group. All I can say is don't appreicate them till something does go wrong and you have something to back you up in black and white. No matter how trivial or how major the issue is the bylaws are the saviour for any group that wants it to run professionally.
cindy
Cindy<br />
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<br>"People have the right to be stupid, but some abuse the privelege."
PA Pres - one other major benefit to having bylaws in place is that it takes all personal issues out of the equation. Nobody can ever say they were treated unfairly if bylaws are in place and, as <also> points out, adhered to.
Bylaws are rules that the entire team is accountable to and consistent, fair application is key.
Imagine having a secretary who would like to have creative license over the minutes - and that she is a very dear friend of yours. You might feel uncomfortable saying, "Gee, your minutes lack professionalism or are a bit too creative." Instead, you can show her the bylaws and say that while you appreciate her creative side, the bylaws are pretty specific about the format the minutes must be presented in. Nothing personal comes into the exchange.
Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same."
"The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat but in the true perfection of one's character."
in addition to HAVING bylaws it is equally important that the group know what they are and ADHERE to those laws.
dont know how many posts here say they have by laws but ignore them for various reasons (like, they cant find them etc)
a law means nothing if its not enforced.thats the prez that should see to it, unless you have a parlimentarian position whose job it is to make sure the bylaws are followed.
The bylaws contain the most fundamental principles and rules regarding the nature of the organization. This single document, while properly referred to as the bylaws, is often referred to as a constitution or a constitution and bylaws. Unless otherwise provided by law, the organization does not formally exist until bylaws have been adopted.
I just typed in bylaws into search on this site and it came up with 16 pages right off the bat and they are probably way more than that. Flip thru some of those and you will see lots of reasons why you should have bylaws.