Effective April 5, 2022

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Qualification for Membership

 

First Step Alliance (or the “Organization”) shall have a single class of non-voting members (each, a “Member” and together, the “Members”), who shall participate in the furtherance of the goals of First Step Alliance.  All Members shall affirm their support for the Organization’s mission and vision, and pay dues, as provided for herein. The eligibility requirements for membership, and the rights and duties of Members, as provided for herein, and as otherwise established by action of the Board of Trustees of the Organization (the “Board”) from time to time, shall be authoritative, and no individual shall be deemed a Member without satisfaction of such qualifications.

 

Membership Roster.  This Organization shall maintain a membership list containing the name of each Member and the last address provided to this Organization by the Member for purposes of notice.  The list shall indicate whether a Member is in good standing from time to time.

 

Right of Members

 

Members shall have the opportunity to participate in the Organization and communicate with the Organization’s leadership through:

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• Special Meetings of the Members. Special Meetings may be called by a majority of the Trustees as laid out in the bylaws. The Board shall cause the meeting notice to be given to Members not less than ten (30) days prior to the date of the meeting. The agenda for a Special Meeting shall be established by the Board or in consultation with the Board.

• Participation in Sponsored Activities.  Members shall be eligible to participate in activities sponsored by the Organization, including community outreach and educational activities.

• Volunteering.  Members may apply to volunteer with the Organization through the following link:  https://www.firststepalliance.org/volunteer-with-us

• Recommendations for New Board Members. Members of the Organization may submit their recommendations for new Board members in writing to the Board at least 60 days before the date of any election of Trustees. The Board President (or his or her designee) will present these nominations to the Board for consideration.

• Participation in First Step Alliance Programs.  Through First Step Alliance partner organizations, members may have access to the Fresh Start Banking and Financial Education Programs. 
   

Non-liability of Members.  No Member of the Organization shall be personally liable for the debts, liabilities, or obligations of the Organization.

 

Transferability of Memberships.  Membership in the Organization, or any right arising therefrom, may not be transferred or assigned. 

 

Obligations of Members

 

Affirmation of Organizational Mission: Each Member must support the mission and vision of the organization.

 

Membership Dues.  Each Member must pay to the Organization, within the time and on the conditions set by the Board, a financial contribution (“dues”) in the minimum amount of ten dollars ($10) or as otherwise fixed from time to time by the Board, or else obtain a financial hardship waiver.  Such dues and fees shall be equal for all Members of the Organization, provided that the Board may determine the conditions under which any payment of dues shall be waived, or refundable, including but not limited to a Member or potential Member’s financial hardship.

 

Other Requirements; Good Standing.  Those Members who have paid the required dues, fees, and assessments, if any, who are not suspended, and who have otherwise fulfilled the requirements of membership as promulgated by the Board from time to time shall be members in good standing of the Organization.

 

Termination of Membership

 

Termination of Membership.  Membership in the Organization shall continue until terminated as provided in this Part, or until the Member dies, or resigns in a writing delivered to the Secretary or President of the Organization.  No such resignation shall relieve the resigning member of any accrued but unpaid obligations of such Member to the Organization.

 

Basis for Termination.  Membership in the Organization shall terminate upon the occurrence of any of the following events or conditions:

 

(i)     Failure to Qualify.  On a good-faith finding by the Board that a Member no longer meets the qualifications of the organization for membership, the Member’s membership in the Organization shall terminate.

 

(ii)    Interests of Organization.  On a good-faith finding by the Board that continued participation by the Member in the Organization as a Member is not in the best interests of the Organization and the furtherance of its purposes.

 

Termination Procedures.  In the case of proposed termination of a membership of the Organization, the following procedures shall apply:

 

(i)     Notice.  This Organization shall send a written notice to the Member, setting forth the proposal for termination, the reasons for it, and the date on which the proposed termination shall become effective. Notice may be sent by first-class or registered mail or electronic mail, to the last address provided by the Member to the Organization for purposes of notice.

 

 The Organization may, in its sole discretion, provide for a hearing regarding the termination of a membership, provided that no Member shall be entitled to such hearing prior to having their membership terminated.  If the Organization determines that a hearing is warranted, the notice shall include the date, time, and place of the hearing that may be provided to such Member, and shall be sent at least fifteen days before the proposed date of termination, and at least ten days before.

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