Constitution For the National Association
to Advance Fat Acceptance, Inc.
PREAMBLE
The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance is a nonprofit organization composed of determined individuals seeking to increase the well-being of the fat American. Millions of fat Americans, as well as individuals from around the world, constitute a group that exists in a society geared toward slimness as an ideal. They therefore constitute a minority group with many of the attributes of other minority groups: poor self-image, guilt feelings, employment discrimination, exploitation by commercial interests, and being the subject of ridicule. In addition, they are subject to conditions not common in other minority groups: extreme treatment by some members of the medical profession, inability to purchase most health and life insurance, difficulty in buying clothes, and often a lack of understanding by one’s own family. It is the aim of this organization to help people all sizes of large deal more effectively with these and other problems and to promote more tolerance and understanding from society.
CONSTITUTION
Article I Name and Initials
Sec. 1 The name of this organization shall be the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, Inc.
Sec. 2 The initials of this organization shall be NAAFA.
Article II Mission Statement
The mission of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance is to provide advocacy, education, and support for people all sizes of large. To fulfill this mission we will do the following:
Sec. 1 Disseminate knowledge pertaining to the sociological, psychological, legal, medical, and physiological aspects of fatness as it becomes known.
Sec. 2 Encourage and sponsor research by responsible professionals concerning the above aspects of fat.
Sec. 3 Assist the large number of people regarded by the medical profession as incurably fat, as well as those others for whom permanent weight loss has remained elusive, to adapt themselves to live more effective lives and to promote acceptance within society toward fat people.
Sec. 4 Serve as a forum in which important problems affecting fat people can be openly discussed in a climate unbiased by imposed aesthetic standards and in which solutions to these problems can be discovered and acted upon.
Sec. 5 Give power to solicit, receive, and maintain a fund or funds of real or personal property and expend the same for corporate purposes.
Sec. 6 Work toward demanding equal opportunity for fat people wherever obstacles and discrimination exist.
Article III Definition of Fat
The term fat as used in this Constitution and Bylaws shall mean characterizing an individual whose body weight exceeds that assigned to him or her by commonly accepted medical standards or who is commonly regarded as having excess weight. We choose to use the word fat to describe ourselves in order to remove the negative connotations normally associated with larger-than-average body size.
Article IV Organizational Membership
Sec. 1 There is no restriction on the weight, race, religion, age, gender, or sexual orientation of members.
Sec. 2 The name of the organization is the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance. Citizenship or residence in the United States is not required.
Sec. 3 There shall be appropriate grades of membership.
Sec. 4 The list of organization members and their addresses shall not be sold or gifted to any individuals or organizations. Upon approval of the Board, members of the Board of Directors shall be permitted to reveal the said list to those who have legitimate organizational or clerical need to consult the list. Exceptions will be made for rental of the mailing list for approved purposes, provided the list does not leave the possession of NAAFA.
Article V Government
Sec. 1 NAAFA shall be governed by the Board of Directors, herein referred to as the Board, a group of supporters who have nominated themselves to serve the organization and have been approved by the sitting Board. Board members and officers will be presented to the national membership at each annual convention.
Sec. 2 The Board shall vote on all matters placed before it by its own members or by a petition of five NAAFA members.
Sec. 3 All meetings shall be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order (Newly Revised).
Sec. 4 In some circumstances, secret ballots may be taken at the discretion of the Board.
Sec. 5 The Board shall meet on a quarterly basis and additionally as needed.
Sec. 6 Board members shall be responsible for the organization and operation of NAAFA and for selecting a slate of officers. The Board can elect the following officers: two Co-chairs, Treasurer/Finance Chair, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Public Relations Director, Membership Chair, Convention Chair, Chapter/Allies Liaison Chair, Technology Chair, Newsletter Editor, and Activism Chair (12 officers). If appropriate Board members are not available, several of the above functions may be combined or performed by key volunteers.
Sec. 7 The Co-chairs are responsible for presiding over the Board meetings and any meetings including the general membership. They are available to perform the duties of NAAFA’s spokesperson, coordinate special fund-raising activities, and assist NAAFA in any other matters mutually agreeable to the Board.
Sec. 8 The Treasurer/Finance Chair is responsible for submitting all governmental filings as necessary, providing tax deduction statements to major donors, reviewing cash status reports and bank statements, presenting quarterly financial reports to the Board or more frequently as needed. Signatories on checks shall be that of the Treasurer/Finance Chair. Checks over the amount of $3,000 shall require the signature of the Treasurer/Finance Chair and one other Board member. The Treasurer/Finance Chair also receives mail, is responsible for the membership database in coordination with the Membership Chair, deposits funds, pays NAAFA’s bills, and keeps the Board advised of available funds and outstanding obligations.
Sec. 9 The Recording Secretary fields incoming telephone calls, making referrals as needed, works with Board to ensure that policy statements are in place, maintains an approved list of credentialed contacts who can speak on technical and health issues related to body size, and refers media calls to the Public Relations Director.
Sec. 10 The Corresponding Secretary keeps accurate and concise minutes of each Board meeting and handles e-mail and postal responses to members and others and makes referrals as needed.
Sec. 11 The Public Relations Director works with the Recording Secretary to make sure that all media calls get the official NAAFA position on size acceptance issues. The Public Relations Director refers media to appropriate credentialed persons on technical and medical matters and is responsible for press releases and publicity related to authorized functions, issues, and events. The PR Director will ensure that all press releases and public documents are reviewed by a Board member appointed by Board.
Sec. 12 The Membership Chair works with the Technology Chair and the Finance Chair to handle renewal notices and to develop and implement new membership cards.
Sec. 13 The Convention Chair is responsible to oversee national and regional conferences, including selection of venues, publicity, volunteer coordination, and arrangement of services. The Convention Chair works with key volunteers and may hire a convention coordinator subject to approval by the Board.
Sec. 14 The Chapter/Allies Chair handles chapter relations and deals with allies in other size acceptance organizations on mutually beneficial activities with input from the entire Board. The Chapter/Allies Chair is responsible for contact with local NAAFA organizations to obtain news and information to disseminate through the newsletter to the national membership and also serves to provide assistance, either directly or through referrals, to local organizations seeking assistance.
Sec. 15 The Technology Chair works on database issues with the Treasurer/Finance Chair and supervises key volunteers and moderators of the Web site. The Technology Chair is responsible for the NAAFA Web site with the Board establishing site graphic and content policy and provides technological support to other Board members as needed.
Sec. 16 The Newsletter Editor works under the direction of the Technology Chair on producing a quarterly Newsletter for e-mail distribution. The Board will establish ad sales, editorial policies, and publishing procedures.
Sec. 17 The Activism Chair works with the Recording Secretary, the Public Relations Director, the Chapter/Allies Chair, and the Board in coordinating activities and disseminating information relating to issues or national action undertaken by NAAFA consistent with NAAFA’s mission statement.
Sec. 18 The Board shall elect as many Advisors or Honorary Trustees as it deems necessary and shall consult them at its discretion.
Sec. 19 The Board shall appoint a properly qualified individual to serve as Counsel, to dispense legal advice, to represent NAAFA in all legal matters, and to assist the Board in any other matters mutually agreeable to the Board and the Counsel.
Sec. 20 Where duties of the various positions listed above are not given, the duties listed in Robert’s Rules of Order (Newly Revised) shall apply.
Article VI Quorum
A quorum shall be required for the voting on any business except the setting of a new date for a meeting. A quorum will be said to exist when at least one half of the total number of Board members are present at any a meeting.
Article VII Finances
Sec. 1 The expenses of NAAFA shall be borne by donations, fees, gifts, bequests, income from the sale of any special publications, income from conventions and other activities, income from endowments and investments, and funds raised by the Board and other NAAFA members.
Sec. 2 All advertising will require Board approval.
Sec. 3 Major gifts to NAAFA may be accepted pending discussion with the full Board.
Sec. 4 Membership dues shall be solicited annually. Other funds may be solicited from members from time to time as determined by the Board for special needs and projects.
Sec. 5 At the close of each fiscal year, defined as September 30 of each year, an independent Certified Public Accountant may be engaged to review or audit the financial statements of NAAFA and to issue a report on those statements to the Board.
Article VIII Affiliations
Sec. 1 NAAFA, Inc. may choose to affiliate with other nonprofit organizations that promote size acceptance or consider weight as a protected class. Such affiliation requires Board approval.
Sec. 2 The Board shall establish local chapters in geographical areas that have shown interest in having such chapters to facilitate the work of NAAFA on the local level. Such chapters, if established, shall exist at the pleasure of the Board, shall adhere to the terms of the Constitution and Bylaws, and shall observe any additional constraints placed on their activities by the Board.
Article IX Amendment of the Constitution and Bylaws
The Constitution and Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the total number of Board members.
Article X Conflict of Interest
Sec. 1 A conflict of interest is defined as any situation in which a Board member’s personal interests or those of a close friend, family member, business associate, corporation to which the Board member belongs, or person to whom the Board member owes an obligation could influence the Board member’s decisions and impair the Board member’s ability to act in NAAFA’s best interest or represent NAAFA fairly, impartially, and without bias. A conflict of interest exists if a decision could be, or could appear to be, influenced; it is not necessary that there is actual influence.
Sec. 2 A NAAFA Board member shall not directly or indirectly benefit from any business activity involving NAAFA except in unique situations authorized by the Board. No NAAFA Board member shall derive any personal profit or gain, directly or indirectly, by reason of his or her participation in NAAFA unless specifically authorized by the Board. Each individual Board member shall disclose to NAAFA any personal interest that he or she may have in any matter pending before the Board and shall refrain from participation in decisions on such matters.
Article XI Additional Restrictions for Incorporation in New York State
Sec. 1 Nothing herein shall authorize this corporation, directly or indirectly, to engage in or include among its purposes any of the activities mentioned in Membership Corporation Law, Section 11, or Social Services Law, Section 35.
Sec. 2 The property of this corporation is irrevocably dedicated to charitable purposes, and no part of the net income or assets of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of any supporter, trustee, or officer of the corporation, nor shall any private individual be entitled to share in the distribution of any of the corporate assets upon dissolution of the corporation.
Sec. 3 No part of the activities of the corporation shall be carrying on propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, or participating in, or intervening in (including the publication or distribution of statements), any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Any exceptions to this policy must be consistent with New York State and Federal statutes in force at the time, that apply to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt organization.
Sec. 4 In the event of dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, all of the assets and property remaining after payment, or provision for payment, of all debts and liabilities of the corporation shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation, or corporation that is organized and operated for charitable purposes and that has established its tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as amended, subject to an order of a Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
Sec. 5 The use and disposition on dissolution or winding up of real or personal property owned or used by this corporation in states other than New York shall be limited to the purpose stated in the foregoing paragraph in such a manner as to satisfy the requirements of the laws of such states for exemption of such property form property taxation in such states.