Metroplex Atheists
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Metroplex Atheists Articles of Incorporation

Articles of Association of the undersigned, a majority of who are citizens of the United States, desiring to form a Non-Profit Association under the Law of Texas, do hereby certify:

First: The name of the Association shall be Metroplex Atheists.

Second: The place in this state where the principal office of the Association is to be located is the City of Watauga, Tarrant County.

Third: Said Association is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

Fourth: The names and addresses of the persons who are the initial trustees of the Association are as follows:

Colin Sewards
6 Fort Worth Ct
Mansfield, TX 76063-2159

John Hattan
6109 Estill
Watauga, TX 76148-3002

Fifth: No part of the net earnings of the Association shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the Association shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article Third hereof. No substantial part of the activities of the Association shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Association shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of theses articles, this Association shall not, except to an insubstantial degree, engage in any activities or exercise any powers that are not in furtherance of the purposes of this Association.

Sixth: Upon the dissolution of the Association, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of my a Court of Competent Jurisdiction of the county in which the principal office of the Association is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

Metroplex Atheists Bylaws

Name: The name of this organization shall be "Metroplex Atheists".

Purposes: The purposes of the organization shall be:

  1. To educate its members and the general public about:
    1. the nature and vital importance of separation of governments and religions, as required by the first amendment of the United States Constitution; and,

    2. the intellectual validity and the individual and social values of atheism, and the rejection of all forms of supernaturalism.
  2. To provide social meetings where members can come together with others of similar views and beliefs.
  3. To protect the constitutional and civil rights of atheists as members of a free and open society.

Officers: The officers of this organization shall consist of a chairman, a vice chairman, a secretary, and a treasurer. The officers shall be elected annually to serve from January 1st to December 31st and be known collectively as the executive board.

Duties of Officers:

  1. Chairman:
    1. Preside at meetings and plan the dates, times, and places of each meeting
    2. Oversee the timely implementation of board and membership decisions and delegate authority and responsibility.
    3. Call emergency and regular meetings of the executive board as required.
  2. Vice-Chairman:
    1. Preside at meetings when the chairman is absent.
  3. Secretary:
    1. Maintain a record of the activities of each meeting.
    2. Report directly to the Chairman.
  4. Treasurer:
    1. Collect and record any donations at meetings.
    2. Collect and record the dues, the amount of which is to be decided by the membership.
    3. Report directly to the Chairman.

An appointee of the chairman shall fill any vacancy on the executive board that occurs between elections until a special election can be held.

Meetings: Presently one meeting per month is being held on the third Sunday of each month.

Membership: Voting membership in Metroplex Atheists requires the following:

  1. Agreement with the purpose of the organization, as described in the "Purposes" section above.
  2. A membership fee of one dollar ($1), collected yearly by the treasurer.

  3. Attendance of at least four monthly meetings within the last twelve. Written rolls of attendance will be taken at each meeting in case there is a question of voting eligibility.

Amendments: These bylaws may be amended by a majority vote at a regular or any emergency meeting. All proposed bylaw amendments must be submitted to the executive board at least two months before the meeting at which they will be considered. A copy of the suggested amendments will be given to each member, either in person or by mail

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