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ARTICLE I NAME
The name of this religious society shall be "The Olympia Unitarian Universalist CongregationÓ. This name may also be abbreviated "OUUC."

ARTICLE II PURPOSE
The purpose of this organization shall be to demonstrate the principles of a free faith, as outlined by the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, for religious, educational, and charitable purposes.

ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP
Persons become members when they declare their sympathy with the purposes of the Congregation by signing the Membership Book and making an annual identifiable financial contribution. No test of creed, faith, national origin, race, color, gender, sexual or affectional orientation, physical or mental challenge shall be imposed as a condition of membership.

Members have voting privileges, access to the Congregation's facilities and ministerial services thirty (30) days after signing the Membership Book. Membership can be terminated voluntarily. Members shall reaffirm their status as members annually during the fall pledge drive by completing a pledge card.
The number of voting members will be used in reporting official membership to other organizations.

Membership in OUUC may also be canceled by majority vote of the Board of Trustees for good cause. The person whose membership is at issue shall have the right to know the reasons for cancellation, an opportunity to speak to the Board of Trustees before the vote on cancellation and the right to appeal cancellation to the next congregational meeting by requesting inclusion on the meeting notice.

ARTICLE IV DENOMINATIONAL AFFILIATION
This Congregation is a member society of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA) and subscribes to the principles of, and pledges to support, the Association.

ARTICLE V CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS
The annual congregational meeting shall be held prior to May 1 at a time and place to be determined by the Board. Special congregational meetings may be called by the Board, with the business to be transacted specified in the call to the meeting. Notice of congregational meetings shall be given to the membership at least ten, but not greater than fifty, days prior to the meeting. Twenty (20) percent of eligible voting members shall constitute a quorum at any properly called congregational meeting.

The following matters require approval by a 2/3 affirmative vote at a congregational meeting: (a) appropriating or borrowing sums exceeding fifteen (15) percent of the annual budget in any single transaction; (b) buying, selling, mortgaging or disposing of real property; (c) amending the by-laws; (d) social action resolutions in the name of the Congregation upon which the Board is unable to reach a consensus; and (e) calling a minister. All other matters require only a simple majority vote, including adoption of the annual budget and the canvass plan. No vote may be taken on any business not included in the notice of meeting.

ARTICLE VI BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Between congregational meetings the affairs of the Congregation shall be managed by a Board of Trustees composed of nine voting members plus the minister (as a nonvoting member). The Board functions on behalf of and is subordinate at all times to the will of the membership. In managing the Congregation's affairs, the Board must obtain congregational approval of the annual budget and the canvass plan, as well as of any matter identified in Article V as requiring a vote at a congregational meeting.

Voting Board members shall serve for a period of three years and are elected, three at a time, by the membership at each annual meeting. Terms of Board members and officers begin upon election or appointment and end when the member is replaced by election or appointment. The Board may fill vacant Board member positions or Nominating Panel positions for the remainder of an unexpired term or leave positions vacant to be filled by election at the next Annual Meeting. After having served two full terms or six consecutive years, a person shall not be eligible for Board membership until one full year shall have elapsed.

The Board shall choose from among its membership a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer who shall serve until replaced by a vote of the next Board. The Board shall create subcommittees as necessary to carry on the functions of the Board. If any Board member is absent (without approval from the Board) from two Board meetings in succession, or from three meetings in any six month period, the Board may declare the position to be vacant.

A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum for conducting business. A quorum of the Board shall meet to conduct business at least ten times during each fiscal year. Advance notice of meetings shall be publicized to the membership. Under exigent circumstances at least three members of the Board may call a special Board meeting without prior notice to the congregation. Meetings of the Board are open to the voting membership of the Congregation (except for discussion of issues properly dealt with in closed meetings, such as employment matters).

ARTICLE VII COMMITTEES
The Board shall designate certain standing and temporary committees to perform designated functions to further the purposes of the Congregation. The Board shall set out the authority, composition and responsibility of each committee in written policies which shall be formally reviewed by the committee and voted upon by the Board at least once every five years.

Committees shall have a chair or two co-chairs, at least one of whom shall be a member of the congregation. A chair shall serve a maximum of two consecutive three year terms as chair for a particular committee, with passage of a minimum of one year before becoming chair for that committee again. Upon initiation of a committee, the President of the Board shall appoint the chair or chairs. After a committee is established, committees shall elect their own chair(s), but the Board shall be able to remove any chair or member of a committee for good cause by a Board majority vote.

Councils may be established to coordinate and facilitate the work of committees. The councils shall consist of representatives from those committees .

ARTICLE VIII NOMINATING PANEL
A Nominating Panel shall be created and maintained to nominate at least t one willing individual to run for each available position on the Board, Nominating Panel, or any other elected position to be voted upon by the congregation at the Annual Meeting. The list of nominees shall be included in the notice of the Annual Meeting.

The Nominating PanelÕs function is not to exclude nominees and any qualified person may be nominated, with their consent, as long as said nomination is made known to the Nominating Panel before its last meeting before the printing deadline for the notice of the Annual Meeting. If unfortunate circumstances result in no nominee being available at the time of the Annual Meeting, nominations from the floor may be taken.

The Nominating Panel shall have five members who serve for two years. Three members shall be elected at the Annual Meeting in one year and two members shall be elected the following year (except for the first year, when five are elected, three for two years and two for one year). The members of the Nominating Panel shall select a chairperson from among their membership. Any voting member of the congregation,except present staff and trustees may serve on the Nominating Panel.

ARTICLE IX EMPLOYMENT WITH OUUC
Eligibility for employment by the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation shall not be restricted on the basis of age, national origin, race or color, gender, sexual or affectional orientation, or physical challenge.

The church administrator, music director, and director of religious education shall all have written contracts for definite periods of time, as negotiated with the Board. The Board and the person working in each of these positions shall have the right to renegotiate these contracts upon renewal. Any specific terms of employment for other individuals employed by OUUC shall be as negotiated by the individual and the Board.

ARTICLE X FISCAL YEAR
January 1 through December 31 constitutes OUUC's fiscal year.

ARTICLE XI DISSOLUTION
In the event of the dissolution of the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation (OUUC), all outstanding debts shall be paid and the remaining assets, both real and personal, including all property heretofore and hereinafter donated to said church, shall become the property of the UUA, 25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA, or its successor, subject to all applicable laws.

As amended April 29, 2001.