Note: The STVS was founded in 1986 by Eric Park.
Preamble
SacTown Veg Society (STVS) is a democratically run membership association that promotes a vegan diet. We recognize “vegan” to mean a plant-based vegetarian diet (i.e., abstinence from flesh, including meat, fish, and fowl, and their byproducts, as well as all dairy and egg products). The Society encourages vegetarians and non-vegetarians to participate. STVS will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, age, or sexual preference. STVS operates on a non-profit basis.
I. Principles
STVS is associated for the following purposes:
• To sponsor vegan potlucks and other educational and social activities;
• To educate the membership and general public about vegetarianism; and
• To promote a vegan version of vegetarianism.
II. Officers
Elected officers of STVS will be as follows: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Appointed positions of Membership Coordinator, Health and Nutrition Adviser, Newsletter Coordinator, Web Master, Librarian, and other positions as needed* will be filled by STVS members appointed by the elected officers.
* Other offices filled on an as-needed basis approved by the general membership include, but are not limited to, Events Coordinator, Animal Rights Liaison, Publicity Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, Potluck Coordinator, Social Media Coordinator, and Rideshare Coordinator.
All positions, elected and appointed, shall serve as board members. The officers and other board members will act in accordance with the principles of the organization and assist in implementing decisions of the membership.
Officers will be elected by a mail ballot, except when there is only one candidate for the position, in which case that person shall be declared elected by acclamation.
III. Bylaws
A. Fee Structure. Dues and membership categories will be adjusted from time to time by the board in consultation with the membership as needed and to bring them into harmony with the dues and membership categories of SacTown Veg Society.
Additionally, a fee shall be collected at STVS potluck dinners from those attendees who have not brought food or drink.
B. Decision Making. All decisions of the membership will be made by simple majority vote. Voting is open to all current SVS members.
C. Amendment of the Charter. The Charter may be amended by the following procedure: Any proposed amendment shall be introduced and discussed at a general membership meeting. A synopsis of the proposed amendment shall then be printed in the subsequent newsletter, and a final decision shall be made at the next membership meeting.
D. Benefits. In addition to voting privileges, STVS members may receive other benefits as expressed in the current STVS brochure.
Ratified at the general membership meeting, May 18, 1997
Amended at the general membership meeting, March 15, 1998
Amended at the general membership meeting, January 21, 2001
Amended at the general membership meeting, January 16, 2005
Amended at the general membership meeting July 18, 2010
Amemded at the May 13, 2012 SVS membership meeting
Amended at the March 10, 2013 SVS annual meeting