Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Generic Theatre Bylaws

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   Our group has, with appreciation, adopted the generic bylaws featured here as our own (with the appropriate changes and attributions, of course). 

On the 15th of February we will be electing our board of directors and I would like to know if the bylaws need to be read out loud page by page and then voted upon for adoption, or if I can just give each officer of the board a copy to take home and we can then approve them without a formal reading at our next meeting.

I am very weak on Parliamentary Procedure, and could really use your suggestions on this one.

Thanks

Bill

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Guests Guest	Topic: Generic Theatre Bylaws Posted: 2/08/01 at 12:21am
	Our group has, with appreciation, adopted the generic bylaws featured here as our own (with the appropriate changes and attributions, of course). On the 15th of February we will be electing our board of directors and I would like to know if the bylaws need to be read out loud page by page and then voted upon for adoption, or if I can just give each officer of the board a copy to take home and we can then approve them without a formal reading at our next meeting. I am very weak on Parliamentary Procedure, and could really use your suggestions on this one. Thanks Bill

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Guests Guest	Posted: 2/08/01 at 3:15am
	Either would work. The important thing is that the Directors know what they are voting on. It does not seem to me that they would know what they are voting on if you throw a 12 page document at them at a meeting and vote on it 30 seconds later. I think you can lead then through the bylaws without reading each word. You can explain the various paragraphs and how they would actually be implemented. I am a big supporter of mailing things early to they can look it over when they have time. Watch out for wordsmithing - spending hours arguing over each and every word - Boards love to do this. The important thing is to get them in place, live with them for a while then make any changes that you find you need after several months.
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Guests Guest	Posted: 2/11/01 at 7:24pm
	I was the point person for our lawyer when we were applying for 501 (c)(3) exemption. In the process, the lawyer had suggested changes to our by-laws to make them more in line for what the IRS likes to see. Our board spent an entire meeting going through the by-laws, and although they were reluctant to spend the time going over them, by the end of the meeting they were glad we did. I agree with Doug that you should have one person pore over every minutae and then paraphrase what it means in normal language. The lawyer was a great help untangling the "legalese." Even if you throw the document at them well in advance, most members would probably only give it a brief perusal and then suggest adopting it without really understanding it. Incidentaly, we got our lawyer through an organization called Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. They provide pro bono legal advice for the exemption process. Good luck.
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Guests Guest	Posted: 3/01/01 at 8:18am
	Our theater is applying for 501.c status and would appreciate any samples of language you may have submitted in your application to the IRS as well as any requests by them for additional clarification. It would be a great help to us so that we do not have to develop this language from scratch. ( please note that what I am requesting is all public information.) Thanks!
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Guests Guest	Posted: 3/01/01 at 10:21am
	e-mail me your address - I can't e-mail the 501 c3 application - we didn't have any requests for additional information - I sent it in and they sent the approval back. e-mail me at atoi@seattletheater.net Doug
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