I. Aims and Composition of the Federation
Article 1: Objects of the Federation
The Una Voce - America Federation (UVAF) has the following objects:
- to offer structural unity to various associations in the United States which pursue aims identical with or similar to those of the Una Voce movement as defined below
- to represent their common interests with the International Federation Una Voce, and through the FIUV, with the central authorities of the Church
- to serve as a means of communication, exchange and information between the members of the Federation and to assist in their development
- to provide evaluations and reports on new liturgical legislation and developments
- to promote the formation of associations having the same aims in any city, state or region where such associations do not yet exist.
Article 2: Aims of the UNA VOCE movement
- to work as a lay movement within the Church for an organic restoration of the liturgy in conformity with its nature and with the Latin tradition
- to ensure that the traditional Roman Mass as codified in the Missale Romanum edited by Pope John XXIII is maintained – both in practice and in law – as one of the forms of Eucharistic celebration which are recognized and honored in universal liturgical life
- to obtain freedom of use for all other Roman liturgical books enshrining "previous liturgical and disciplinary forms of the Latin tradition" (cf. motu proprio "Ecclesia Dei", n. 5)
- to safeguard and promote the use of Latin, Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony in the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church
- actively to encourage the establishment of non-territorial parishes and/or chaplaincies in which only the liturgical books used in 1962 are employed
- to serve the Church by helping the members of the movement and, through their apostolate, all the Christifideles better to understand, and more fruitfully to participate in, the Catholic liturgy as a sacred action.
Article 3: Duration and Seat of the American Federation
The duration of the Federation is unlimited.
The office of the Federation shall be located at the address agreed upon by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
Article 4: Members of the Federation
A. Admission
Any autonomous association of Catholics in the United States or Canada, governed by elected lay officers and pursuing aims similar to those defined in Article 2 above, is eligible for membership of the Federation.
The application for membership is to be addressed to the general office of the Federation. Approvals of applications will be made by the Board or by an officer designated by the Board for this purpose.
Admission as a member implies, for the association concerned, adherence to these Statutes.
B. Withdrawal from the Federation
Membership in the Federation lapses
- upon resignation addressed to the chairman of the Federation
- upon expulsion, by majority decision of the directors of the Federation
C. Procedures
Once the directors of the Federation have reached a decision concerning a request for admission or expulsion it is communicated to the association in question by the chairman, who is under no obligation to explain the reasons for such a decision.
II. Governance of the Federation
Article 5: The Board of Directors
The executive of the Federation comprises a Board of Directors, the number of which must be at least three, but may not exceed nine.
Each Director must belong to a member-organization of the Federation, different wherever possible from that to which his colleagues on the Board belong.
Candidates for election as Directors are put forward by the members of the Board.
Each member can vote for as many candidates as there are places on the Board to be filled. The candidates receiving the largest number of votes are elected.
Directors are nominated for a period of three years. Their mandates are renewable.
Once the Board of Directors have been elected, they will elect from them or from elsewhere in the Federation or even outside the Federation as it deems necessary, a Chairman by secret ballot and simple majority of votes. There will be as many ballots as are necessary to achieve the required majority. The duration of the mandate of the Chairman shall be three years, unless renewed or revoked by majority vote of the Board.
The members of the Board may choose from amongst themselves, or from outside the Federation as it deems necessary by simple majority of votes, one or more officers, such as a Vice-chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. The duration of the mandate of each officer shall be three years, unless renewed or revoked by majority vote of the Board of Directors.
Article 6: Joint decisions
- Each director of the Federation is entitled to vote, either at an official meeting or in written consultations and elections.
- Each director has one vote for each resolution.
- With the exception of "extraordinary issues" defined in #4, all issues are decided by a simple majority.
- Extraordinary issues are decided by a two-thirds majority. These are:
- Admission or expulsion of any association to or from membership in the Federation
- Any undertaking or public statement of the Federation which exceeds the strict limits of the statutory aims defined in Articles 1 and 2 above
- Any amendments to these Statutes.
Article 7: Administrative functions of directors and officers
- The Board of Directors may meet by common consent, or may choose to conduct its business by email in a discussion group format. If meetings take place, minutes shall be recorded.
- The board is responsible for the direction of the Federation. It may delegate specific responsibilities to the Chairman or other officers, but such authority may be revoked or changed at any time by the Board.
- If nominated, the Vice-chairman supports the Chairman or performs other roles as the Board may require.
- If nominated, the Treasurer controls the funds of the Federation under the direction and responsibility of the Board of Directors.
- If nominated, the Secretary aids the Board and its officers in all material tasks concerning the current administration of the Federation.
III. Income of the Federation
Article 8: Nature of Income
The resources of the Federation are:
- membership fees payable by the members of the Federation which are fixed by their ordinary joint decision
- contributions which it may receive
- interest and income from assets and stocks which it may own.
Article 9: Financial administration
The resources of the Federation are controlled by the Treasurer who accounts for his actions to the Board at least once a year.
If it thinks necessary, the Board can have the accounts checked by any expert they may nominate. During the first six months of each year the Board will communicate to the member associations the accounts for the previous year.
IV. Miscellaneous
Article 10: Duties of members of the Federation
The Chairman of the Federation is obliged to keep the Board of Directors of the Federation informed of his activities on behalf of the American Federation, and to promptly communicate to them any information that relates to the objects and aims enumerated in Articles 1 and 2.
The members of the Federation are obliged
- to keep the Federation informed of their activities: to put at its disposal, for its archives and for communication to other members of the Federation, a sufficient number of copies of any circular or publication they may edit.
- to pay the annual subscription (if set), regularly when due.
- to give their support to any initiative (action or undertaking) taken or recommended by the Federation in relation to the aims of the Federation, unless such an initiative could be considered inopportune by one of the associations with regard to its own territory.
Article 11: Bylaws
The Board of Directors may prepare and enforce a governing set of bylaws approved or amended by a majority of the Board whenever the need may arise.
V. Dissolution
Article 12
The Federation can be dissolved only if not less than three quarters of the registered members approve a motion to this end, either at a Board meeting or by postal vote. In this case the net assets of the Federation will be distributed to the then registered members of the Federation on a pro rata basis proportionate to the subscriptions paid or payable by them for the last complete calendar year.
Signed:
Board of Directors of Una Voce-America Federation
July, 2005
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