BYLAWS OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN OF PROVINCE VIII

Adopted September 27, 2025

Article I

NAME

The name of this organization is the Episcopal Church Women of Province VIII

Article II

PURPOSE

The purpose of this organization is to unite the women of the Episcopal Church in Province VIII to fulfill their mission of worship, service, study and outreach, working in cooperation with the Province, dioceses, congregations, clergy and Bishops

Article III

MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Members of this organization shall include all women of the Episcopal Church in Province VIII.

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall consist of President, Vice-President/Representative to National Board of Episcopal Church Women (NECW), Secretary/Treasurer, Member-at-large for Communications and Member-at-large for Social Justice

Section 3. The Board of Directors shall consist of all elected officers, all Province VIII representatives or Chairmen of affiliated organizations, including but not limited to; incoming officers-elect, The United Thank Offering, The Church Periodical Club, The Order of the Daughters of the King, Leading With Heart Circle, Diocesan Representatives, and any appointed positions. Past Province ECW Presidents, the Girls’ Friendly Society, are invited as ex-officio members with voice, but without vote.

Section 4. Members of the Board are expected to fulfill their obligation of service, including regular attendance at Board Meetings. If unable to do so, their position may be taken under review by the Executive Board and a recommendation regarding their status will be voted on by the Board.

Article IV

OFFICERS

Section 1. The elected officers of this organization are those elected by the general body and shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, Member-at-Large Communications and Member-at-large Social Justice. They shall serve as the Executive Committee of the ECW Province VIII.

Section 2. Duties of Officers

A. The President shall: 1. Plan and preside at the Annual Province VIII Episcopal Church Women’s Meeting. 2. Attend Triennial Meeting as Province VIII Episcopal Church Women Representative. 3. Appoint the Chaplain, Committee Chairs, and fill vacant positions as needed, with the approval of the Executive Board. 4. Represent ECW at Synod meetings. 5. Serve Ex-Officio on all committees except the Nominating Committee. 6. Convene Executive Committee meetings as needed.

B. The Vice- President shall: 1. Assume the duties of the President in her absence. 2. Serve as Province VIII Representative to the National ECW Board. 3. Report up-to-date National activities to Province VIII members.

B. The Secretary-Treasurer shall: 1. Record and distribute minutes of all meetings including Board Meetings. 2. Verify Annual meeting attendance, by Diocese, to determine quorum. (Article VII, Section 1) 3. Receive and distribute all monies. Prepare financial statements and report to membership at annual meetings. 4. Prepare accounting records for Triennial audit.

Article V

NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1.
A. Nominations Committee shall consist of three members appointed in the year following the Triennial Meeting by the President with the concurrence of the Executive Board.

B. The President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, Members-at-Large and Representatives of Affiliate Organizations shall be elected at the Province VIII ECW meeting in the year preceding the Triennial Meeting and shall take office at the end of the Triennial Meeting.

C. Officers shall serve for three years or until their successor is elected. Consecutive membership on the Board in any capacity shall be limited to six years (2 terms) for all elected offices. A member who has served more than one-half of an unexpired term may be eligible for election to the same office. Members shall be eligible for re-election to a previously held position following a period of one year, or one term, off of the board. Vacancies occurring in an elected office or in an elective chair position, except the office of President, shall be filled by appointment by the President. The appointee shall serve for the remainder of the term, and should this exceed twenty-four months,then this shall constitute as a full term of service. Elective and appointive terms shall coincide with the ECW Province VIII Annual Meeting.

Article VI

FINANCE

Section 1: Each diocese is requested to contribute an Annual Fair Share as recommended by the Executive Committee to help with administrative expenses including, but not limited to, the expenses of the President, Secretary-Treasurer, Representative to the United Thank Offering and the representative to The Church Periodical Club to attend the annual Province ECW VIII Meeting. The President and President-elect (if she is not the current Vice-President), and the Vice-President-elect may be financed to attend the Triennial meeting .

Section 2: The fiscal year shall coincide with the calendar year.

Article VII

MEETINGS

Section 1: This organization shall meet once a year, in person or virtually online as conditions require, at the call of the President. Members shall be notified of the meeting at least (60) days in advance. All members in attendance shall have seat and voice. Each Diocese shall have one vote. A simple majority of provincial dioceses (currently 18) shall constitute a quorum.

Section 2: After such notification these By-Laws may be amended at any meeting by a Majority vote of the dioceses represented.

Article VIII

AUTHORITY

Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be the Parliamentary authority in all Procedures not covered in these Bylaws.