CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
updated October 2001

[ ARTICLE I - ELECTIONS ] [ ARTICLE II - MEETINGS/GATHERING ]
[ ARTICLE III - COMMITTEES OF THE CONFERENCE ORGANIZATION ] [ ARTICLE IV - FUNDS ]
[ ARTICLE V - SCHOOL OF CHRISTIAN MISSION ] [ ARTICLE VI - PRINTING, MIMEOGRAPHING AND MAILING ]
[ ARTICLE VII - REVISIONS ]

The Constitution and Bylaws of the Wisconsin Conference Organization of the United Methodist Women shall be those found in the Constitution and Bylaws of The Women's Division of the General Board of Global Ministries of the current year.

The following standing rules shall govern the action of the Conference as long as they are in harmony with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Women's Division.

A term shall consist of two year period. All officers shall be elected for one term, and may be re-elected for a second term, to take office January 1 of the following year.

The President shall be elected in even numbered years.
The Vice President shall be elected in even numbers years.

All other officers will be elected as needed according to the term/tenure election.
Committee on Nominations Chairperson shall be elected for one term.

This does not include the members on the Committee on Nominations where a class needs to be filled. Members of the Committee on Nominations shall be elected in classes yearly.

The Committee on Nominations shall present the slate of nominees to the Executive Committee of the Conference Organization who will in turn present them to the local units of the United Methodist Women through an appropriate media, "Catch the Vision", at least one month prior to the Annual Gathering/Meeting of the Conference. A majority vote of those representatives present at the Annual Gathering is necessary for election. Nominations may be made from the floor providing the consent of the nominee has been obtained in advance; the name of the nominee has been given to the Committee on Nominations Chairperson to verify eligibility; and the name of the nominee is filed with the Conference Secretary.

1. Conference elected leadership shall take office January 1 following installation.
2. All elected/appointed Conference officers are expected to attend all Conference United Methodist Women's meetings of which they are a part of by virtue of their office.
3. All elected Conference Officers are asked to submit a report for each executive meeting.
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4. Retiring Conference Officers shall arrange transfer of all records, books, papers and property belonging to the Conference UMW within one month of leaving office.
5. Retiring Conference Officers and incoming Officers will work together in planning; e.g., District Officer Training and share in training situations (suggestions: Retiring officer convene meeting and incoming officer close meeting having had time to build community)

For an officer to fill an unexpired term of office, if the time to be served is six (6) months or longer, the period to be served shall be considered the first term, thus giving the privilege of re-election for one additional term in the same office. If the time to be served is less than six (6) months, it shall not constitute a first term.

The Conference shall send six (6) voting delegates plus two (2) alternates with all expenses being paid by the Conference to the Jurisdiction Quadrennial Meeting. Delegates shall be:

For the Year 2004 — President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Mission Coordinator of Education & Interpretation, and Secretary of Program Resources. Alternatives — Chairperson Committee on Nominations, and Mission Coordinator of Social Action.

For the Year 2008 — President, Vice President, Chairperson Committee on Nominations, Mission Coordinator of Spiritual Growth, Mission Coordinator of Social Action, Communication Coordinator. Alternates — Secretary and Treasurer.

Nominees for the Women's Division shall be elected at the Annual Meeting of the Wisconsin Conference of United Methodist Women prior to the Quadrennial Meeting of the Jurisdiction. This Conference shall elect three nominees from a slate named by the Conference Committee on Nominations. Additional names may be nominated from the floor of the Annual Gathering with consent of the nominee.

1. Appointed leadership shall serve no more than four (4) years. Appointed leaders shall be members of the Executive Committee without vote.

[ ARTICLE I - ELECTIONS ] [ ARTICLE II - MEETINGS/GATHERING ]
[ ARTICLE III - COMMITTEES OF THE CONFERENCE ORGANIZATION ] [ ARTICLE IV - FUNDS ]
[ ARTICLE V - SCHOOL OF CHRISTIAN MISSION ] [ ARTICLE VI - PRINTING, MIMEOGRAPHING AND MAILING ]
[ ARTICLE VII - REVISIONS ]

1. The voting body of the Conference Organization shall be those members present at the Annual Gathering.
2. The date of the Annual Gathering shall be set by the Executive Committee.
3. A quorum shall be a majority of the voting members present.
4. Missionaries and Deaconesses who have been commissioned by and have served under the General Board of Global Ministries or is predecessor board and who are present shall be recognized at the Annual Gathering.
5. All invited leadership participants shall have registration, mileage, either an honorarium/Special Mission Recognition/Gift to Mission, and housing if necessary, paid. This leadership could include speakers, music leadership, focus group/workshop leaders, registrar and local arrangements person.

1. Speakers for meetings and events are to be selected by committee. No additional speakers may be added to the program without prior committee approval.
2. There will be no displays, appeals for funds, or sales of items unless prior approval has been granted by the Executive Committee prior to the event.

1. Leadership will be given an honorarium and mileage.
2. Participants will be the Executive Team and School of Christian Mission Registrar/Business Manager and Camp Coordinator.
3. Mileage and meals coming and leaving the retreat will be at Conference expense at the regular rate.

[ ARTICLE I - ELECTIONS ] [ ARTICLE II - MEETINGS/GATHERING ]
[ ARTICLE III - COMMITTEES OF THE CONFERENCE ORGANIZATION ] [ ARTICLE IV - FUNDS ]
[ ARTICLE V - SCHOOL OF CHRISTIAN MISSION ] [ ARTICLE VI - PRINTING, MIMEOGRAPHING AND MAILING ]
[ ARTICLE VII - REVISIONS ]

[ ARTICLE I - ELECTIONS ] [ ARTICLE II - MEETINGS/GATHERING ]
[ ARTICLE III - COMMITTEES OF THE CONFERENCE ORGANIZATION ] [ ARTICLE IV - FUNDS ]
[ ARTICLE V - SCHOOL OF CHRISTIAN MISSION ] [ ARTICLE VI - PRINTING, MIMEOGRAPHING AND MAILING ]
[ ARTICLE VII - REVISIONS ]

1. $100 Special Mission Recognition to Conference presidents, Vice Presidents, Secretaries, and Treasurers on completing two full terms;
2. $50 Special Mission Recognition for all other conference officers who complete two full terms of Conference membership.
3. $30 Special Mission Recognition for conference officers who have completed one full term. Each officer may choose to receive an SMR pin or receive a Certificate without a pin;
4. $50 Special Mission Recognition to Committee on Nominations who have completed four years on the committee including two as Chairperson;
5. $30 Special Mission Recognition to members of the Committee on Nominations serving three (3) or four (4) years;
6. Gifts to Missions ($10 for each year served) in honor of each Committee on Nominations who has served less than a three (3) year term.
7. $30 Special Mission Recognition to appointed officers upon completion of a four (4) year term;
8. $50 Special Mission Recognition to the Dean of the School of Christian Mission who serves two (2) years; and a $30 Special Mission Recognition for serving one (1) year.
9. $10 Gift to Mission to the Assistant Dean for each year served; a $30 Special Mission Recognition shall be given to the Registrar/Secretary, Business Manager/Treasurer and Camp Coordinator upon completion of three (3) or more years of service; a $10 Gift to Mission will be given to all other committee members upon completion of their term. These (h,i) to be presented at School of Christian Mission.

1. The Conference Organization shall give a $25 Gift in Memory in the event of the death of a member of the Executive Committee, including District Presidents, the Committee on Nominations and the School of Christian Mission Committee.
2. A $10 Gift in Memory shall be given in the event of a death in the immediate family (discretion of the Administrative Committee) of the above named committees.

A standing order shall be placed with SERVICE CENTER for new material published by Women's Division, to be sent to all voting Conference Officers.

1. All checks written by the Treasurer shall be vouchered, except those to Women's Division and those to recipients of transient funds.
2. A transportation allowance for all Conference Officers shall be allowed at the rate of 30 cents per mile for authorized travel to the driver only. A vehicle carrying four (4) or more shall be allowed at the rate of 35 cents per mile.
3. Conference officers shall be allowed a maximum of $15 per diem meal expense: ($3 breakfast, $5 lunch and $7 dinner).
4. When a Conference meeting necessitates commercial overnight accommodations, the rate of reimbursement shall be at the rate of two (2) to a room.
5. When reservations are made by Conference, cancellations must be received by the registrar at least 24 hours in advance, or the individual is responsible to reimburse the Conference.
6. Conference officers may be reimbursed for total motel overnight expenses in unusual circumstances, (i.e., car breakdown, inclement weather).
7. The Conference President's registration, room, meals and mileage to the Wisconsin Annual Conference shall be paid from the United Methodist Women Conference funds, when not paid by the Wisconsin Annual Conference.
8. When meetings are called by the Conference organization, the expenses are those of the Conference. In the event that the Executive and the Program Committees hold meeting immediately preceding the Conference Annual Gathering, the method of payment for expenses incurred shall be as follows:
9. Annual Gathering payment:
   1. The Conference organization shall pay Annual Gathering registration, meal cost, mileage and lodging for Conference Officers and Conference nominees.
   2. Districts shall pay registration, meals, mileage and lodging for all District Officers attending, including the newly elected officers.
10. Dependent Care
    1. Dependent Care shall be allowed up to $25 per day for elected leaders who attend Conference sponsored events or meetings, as well as: Regional School. Local units and families are encouraged to volunteer help with this care.
    2. Special meeting notices should include a space that can be checked and returned if child care help will be needed.
    3. Persons planning special meetings shall arrange for child care with the understanding that if no children are present, reimbursements will be made for one hour of service only.
    4. If it is a daytime meeting, and more than one member needs child care, the Chairperson, or someone they delegate, would be responsible for arranging for a sitter at the meeting, etc.
    5. If an evening meeting, or only one person needs child care, the member(s) involved shall arrange a sitter at home, and if the sitter is paid, the expense shall be vouchered and reimbursed.
11. Conference Officers shall be encouraged to attend one District Annual Gathering (other than their own) each year at Conference expense.
12. Conference shall budget to include District representation to Assembly and Jurisdiction Quadrennial meetings, therefore, the Districts shall not budget for these events.
13. District organizations are responsible for expenses of the Conference Officers when attending meetings of the Executive Committee of the District in which they reside.
14. When Conference officers are invited to participate in a District Annual Gathering, other than their own District, their expenses shall be paid by that District.
15. The President or representative may attend General Conference at Conference expense as an observer.

[ ARTICLE I - ELECTIONS ] [ ARTICLE II - MEETINGS/GATHERING ]
[ ARTICLE III - COMMITTEES OF THE CONFERENCE ORGANIZATION ] [ ARTICLE IV - FUNDS ]
[ ARTICLE V - SCHOOL OF CHRISTIAN MISSION ] [ ARTICLE VI - PRINTING, MIMEOGRAPHING AND MAILING ]
[ ARTICLE VII - REVISIONS ]

1. There shall be a Conference School of Christian Mission following the Regional School each summer. School Committee members shall attend with the expenses paid from the School budget. All additional Conference elected and appointed leadership including the members of the Conference Committee on Nominations shall attend at Conference expense.
2. The Communications Coordinator when providing their own computer will be given an honorarium of $100.
3. All District elected and appointed mission team members, as well as members of the District Committee on Nominations, shall attend at District expense. Meals, mileage, lodging and registration are these expenses.
4. All Women's Division members, Jurisdiction organization officers residing within the Conference and the Resident Bishop shall be invited to attend at Conference expense.

1. The Committee for the School of Christian Mission shall be composed of the following Elected leadership (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chairperson of Nominations, four Mission Coordinators, Secretary of Program Resources), Dean, Assistant Dean, Business Manager/Treasurer, Registrar/Secretary, Communications Coordinator. The Dean, Assistant Dean, Business Manager/Treasurer, Registrar/Secretary, Camping Coordinator and Chair of Mission Alive, shall be other than Conference and District officers.
2. Nominations for these positions shall be made by the SOCM Nominating Committee of two (2) members appointed by the Dean from the Committee of the School of Christian Mission at their August meeting and the Chairperson of the Committee on Nominations of the Conference organization. These persons shall be appointed for a two (2) year term.
3. Tenure of office. Dean, no more than two (2) years. Assistant Dean, no more than two (2) years. The Registrar/Secretary, Business Manager/Treasurer, Camping Coordinator, Communications Coordinator, (these four positions) no more than four (4) years.
4. The Dean and Assistant Dean shall attend Regional School of Christian Mission at Conference expense.

1. Conference Scholarships
   1. Registrar is to keep a card file of recipients, cross indexed by individual, units and years awarded.
   2. Those who have not received scholarships will have priority over those who have received support.
   3. A unit will receive no more than the equivalent of one full scholarship per year.
   4. Following the guidelines, the registrar in consultation with the scholarship committee (Dean, Registrar and Conference President) determines who is to get the scholarship.
   5. In the event of unusual circumstances, these guidelines may be waived by the scholarship committee.
2. Newly Ordained Elders or Elders transferred into the Conference will receive a full scholarship to School of Christian Mission for the year of Ordination or Transfer to be used that year or the second or third year following ordination.
3. Gilpin Memorial Scholarship fund
   1. Interest earned on this memorial fund will be used for scholarships.
   2. Preference shall be given to first time attendees.
   3. Scholarship shall not exceed one half of the cost of the school.
   4. The Registrar in consultation with the Scholarship Committee will determine who will receive the available funds.

[ ARTICLE I - ELECTIONS ] [ ARTICLE II - MEETINGS/GATHERING ]
[ ARTICLE III - COMMITTEES OF THE CONFERENCE ORGANIZATION ] [ ARTICLE IV - FUNDS ]
[ ARTICLE V - SCHOOL OF CHRISTIAN MISSION ] [ ARTICLE VI - PRINTING, MIMEOGRAPHING AND MAILING ]
[ ARTICLE VII - REVISIONS ]

When Conference elected leadership sends a mailing of general plans of resources to District counterparts, they shall send a copy of the cover letter to the District President, Conference President, and Conference Secretary.

District Newsletters shall be sent to Staff in Region, Women's Division Director residing in the Conference, all Conference Officers five officers in each District, including the President, Vice President, Communications Coordinator and two others: the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and as many women as is feasible in the Local units.

It shall be the policy that each Conference officer actively involved the corresponding District officer when it becomes necessary for her to communicate with local units. Any letter to elected leadership of local units should be agreed upon jointly by those whose names appear as preparing the letter.

There shall be a Conference Yearbook, including all Conference and District Leadership, Local Unit Presidents and other pertinent information

Mailing of the yearbook shall be sent to: All Local Unit Presidents, all District Officers, Members of the Conference Executive Committees and members of the Standing Committees, Retiring Conference Officers for up to two (2) years, the Area Bishop and District Superintendents, the Area Staff and Conference Archives. Officers of the North Central Jurisdiction, Presidents and Secretaries of other Conferences in our Jurisdiction, Women's Division Staff in Region, President and Associate General Secretary of Women's Division and shall be kept on file with the Conference Secretary's records.

1. The Conference organization shall promote (by mail or other means of communication) only such activities as are directly associated with the work of United Methodist Women as outlined in Women's Division.
2. It shall be the policy that no appeal for funds shall be made to local units, District or Conference organizations by any organization or individual which has not been authorized by the Executive or Administrative Committee.

1. The Conference Newsletter for United Methodist Women will be published three (3) times a year.
2. It will be sent to all Conference and District officers, Local Unit Presidents and Secretaries, School of Christian Mission officers, Mabel Heil Scholarship Committee, District Superintendents, officers of the North Central Jurisdiction, Presidents and Communications Coordinators of other Conferences in our Jurisdiction.

[ ARTICLE I - ELECTIONS ] [ ARTICLE II - MEETINGS/GATHERING ]
[ ARTICLE III - COMMITTEES OF THE CONFERENCE ORGANIZATION ] [ ARTICLE IV - FUNDS ]
[ ARTICLE V - SCHOOL OF CHRISTIAN MISSION ] [ ARTICLE VI - PRINTING, MIMEOGRAPHING AND MAILING ]
[ ARTICLE VII - REVISIONS ]