CFIRE Bylaws

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Name and Principal Office 

Section 1
The name of the organization shall be CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALIST INTERNAL REVENUE EMPLOYEES (CFIRE).

Section 2
The principal office for the organization’s business transactions shall be located at the current National President’s or National Treasurer’s post-of-duty and/or residence.
 

Section 1
Members of the local chapters shall be current or former employees of the Internal Revenue Service, employees from other federal agencies, and contractors. Members must subscribe to the principals, goals, and objectives as stated in these by-laws of the organization.

Section 2
The local chapters will elect at a minimum a president, vice-president and administrator. The chapters shall adhere to the NEB election practice of such offices being of a two-year duration with one re-election to the same office.

Section 3
Chapter membership is granted after the new chapter sends their name, EIN, mailing address and list of officers to their regional vice-president (RVP). The RVP will forward the information to the national mailbox and the national treasurer. Chapters are required to pay annual membership dues designated by the National Executive Board (NEB).

Section 4
There shall be a chapter for retired employees called the Leisure-Virtual Chapter. This chapter will focus on issues particular to retirees and on prayer for the other chapters, as well as individual prayer requests. This chapter may also comprise those IRS employees located in areas of the country where a chapter is not yet established. mbership 

 Eligibility for Office
In order to be eligible for office, an individual must meet the following requirements:

• Be a professed Christian
• Be a member of the organization and in good standing
• Be familiar with IRS policies and support the directives of the agency insofar as they do not conflict with Christian principles
• Be actively involved in the activities of the organization
• Be a current or former IRS employee subject to the restrictions in Article VI, Section 1, Item 6
• Be nominated for office by a member of the organization in good standing
• Be available to attend NEB meetings
• Every minister, board member, employee, or volunteer shall affirm their agreement with the Articles of Faith and shall conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent therewith.

 National Executive Board (NEB)
 

Section 1

The NEB shall be the legislative body of the organization and the designated "parent" chapter of Christian Fundamentalist Internal Revenue Employees for the tax-exempt status. All other chapters will report to it as subordinates. All members of the NEB are members of the parent chapter and, upon leaving office of the NEB, cease to be members of the parent chapter.

Section 2

The NEB shall serve as an advisory board to the local chapters, any national committees, and the membership at large.

Section 3

The NEB shall consist of a duly elected President, Vice-President, four (4) Regional Vice Presidents, Treasurer, two (2) Administrators, two (2) Historians, Chaplain, and four (4) At-Large Members (preferably, one (1) from each region). The NEB shall also consist of one (1) to three (3) appointed IRS Executives agreed upon by the elected NEB members.

Section 4

The elected members of the NEB will serve for a term of two (2) full calendar years. They can serve no more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same NEB position. The appointed members may serve indefinitely.

Section 5

New officers of the NEB will be elected by the current NEB and the local chapters’ presidents at the annual national training conference. The NEB may appoint a member to fill any vacancy caused by an unexpired term.

Section 6

The NEB will be empowered to determine the general policies of the organization. Local chapter members may submit proposals to their chapter president, who in turn will submit the proposals to their Regional Vice Presidents for discussion and voting by the NEB.

Duties of the National Executive Board Officers  (NEB)
 

 Section 1
The President shall:

• Oversee the executive affairs of the organization
• Be responsible for the overall spiritual direction and oversight of the parent chapter
• Serve as chairperson of the NEB
• Provide information requested by the Internal Revenue Service officials
• Preside over NEB meetings
• Collaborate with IRS officials and other entities on various organizational issues
• Enforce all laws and rules of the organization

Section 2

The Vice-President shall:

• Assume duties of the President during his/her absence
• Act as mediator or advisor to solve any problem involving an individual chapter that may be referred by a Regional Vice President or other NEB member, keeping the President apprised of progress
• Make visitations to local chapters, when possible
• Resolve local chapters’ problems and disputes; make referrals to the vice-president and NEB, as appropriate
• Provide oversight, if requested, for local chapter election problems and/or issues
• Forward to and collect from the local chapters any information or feedback needed at National level

Section 3

The Regional Vice-President shall:

• Make visitations to local chapters, when possible
• Resolve local chapters’ problems and disputes; make referrals to the vice-president and NEB, as appropriate
• Provide oversight, if requested, for local chapter election problems and/or issues
• Forward to and collect from the local chapters any information or feedback needed at National level

Section 4

The Treasurer shall:

• Receive and disburse all National CFIRE funds as approved by the NEB
• Provide budget reports at scheduled NEB meetings
• Ensure that properly maintained financial books and records are audited annually and available at all times for review
• Make deposits of all proceeds received, as needed
• Send out the annual chapter dues letter and spreadsheet attachment to gather information for the annual report to IRS
• Maintain the records for the tax exempt status of the parent and file any paperwork required for the parent chapter, including any applicable 990 returns; maintain yearly financial reports from the subordinates to monitor compliance with any 990 filing requirement they may have
• Oversee the conference financial matters in accordance with the Conference Manual

Section 5

The Administrators shall:

• Maintain the non-financial official records of the NEB
• Notify NEB members of all meetings
• Record NEB meeting minutes for the NEB’s review
• Maintain copies of all NEB correspondence
• Assist in other areas as requested by the President and/or Vice President

Section 6

The Historians shall:

• Collect and maintain historical records and documents of the National CFIRE organization
• Analyze and provide recommendations to the NEB about region locality and local chapter alignment
• Assist the At-Large members with the Remote Chapter

Section 7

The Chaplain shall:

• Open and close the NEB meetings with prayer
• Assist and provide spiritual direction and oversight of the parent chapter
• Assist the At-Large members with the Remote Chapter

 Section 8
The At-Large Members shall:

• Provide immediate support and serve as a back-up to the RVP in their absence (leave, illness, etc.)
• Assist in areas as requested by the President and/or Vice President
• Provide leadership and mentor members of the Leisure-Virtual Chapter

 Nomination and Elections of NEB
 

Section 1
Nominations

• The nomination and election committee will consist of two groups: the historians and at-large members in the years their positions are not up for election, alternating with six (6) local CFIRE members whose chapters are in good standing with the national organization
• Be responsible for the overall spiritual direction and oversight of the parent chapter
• The NEB, local chapter officers and local CFIRE members in good standing shall be eligible to nominate a candidate for NEB office
• Nominations for an NEB office shall be submitted to the nomination committee and shall be received 1 month prior to elections
• Nomination committee should distribute a list of candidates for office(s) at least two (2) weeks prior to the election
• Current NEB officers can be nominated for any other position on the NEB. If current NEB officer is elected to a new position, the President and Vice-President can appoint any CFIRE member in good standing to continue the vacant position.
• After 6 years of being vacant from the position, any NEB member can be re-elected for a position they formerly held

Section 2
Elections

• Elections The election of NEB officers shall be held at the annual National CFIRE training conference during the NEB and Chapter Presidents meeting, or in the absence of a training conference, at the discretion of the Elections Committee
• Any current NEB member and local chapter Presidents, or their designate (if chapter is in good financial standing with the National organization) shall be eligible to vote. One vote is allowed per chapter.
• Election of officers shall be by secret ballot. Absentee ballots should be made available by nominating committee for those officers attending the conference but not able to be present to vote
• Any candidates receiving a majority of votes shall be declared the new elected officer of said office

 Section 3
All officers shall take office on January 1 of the year following their election. 

Section 4
All elected officers’ term of office shall be two (2) years or until relieved by newly elected officers. (The initial terms of officers may be staggered for continuity.) No elected officer can hold a position more than two (2) consecutive terms.

Section 5
Any office may be declared vacant, for cause, upon recommendation of the NEB.

Section 6
Each elected officer shall maintain files and records and shall deliver them to his/her successor before vacating his/her office.. 

Executive and General Meeting

Section 1

The NEB will meet as designated by the President.

Section 2

A quorum of the NEB shall be a simple majority of its board. A quorum for this purpose will be at least 5 NEB members. 

The NEB shall be empowered to create committees to aid the goals of the organization or perform special functions as the need arises. Listed below are examples of committees that may be appointed as approved by the NEB. 

Duties and responsibilities for all committees are established by the NEB.

• Program/Development
• Nominating/Election
• Membership
• By-Laws
• Fund Raising
• Sick & Bereavement
• Conference/Planning 

NEB Resignation, Removal and Vacancies

Section 1
A NEB member shall be dismissed during their tenure of service if they voluntarily resign.

Section 2
A NEB member shall be dismissed during their tenure of service if the NEB unanimously determines at any special meeting duly called and held for such purpose: (a) that the NEB member does not faithfully and/or satisfactorily perform their responsibilities; or (b) that the member is out of harmony with the CFIRE and/or spiritual leadership of the NEB; or (c) that the member is scripturally or lawfully disqualified.

Section 3
Only if the NEB, after due examination, shall unanimously determine good and sufficient cause to substantiate the removal of a NEB member who no longer fulfills the requirements of membership on the NEB shall he then be removed from his NEB position (temporarily or permanently), but not necessarily from his membership standing in CFIRE, unless refusing to be reconciled.

Section 4
A vacancy or vacancies in the NEB shall be deemed to exist in case of resignation, retirement, or removal of a NEB Member, or if the authorized number of NEB is increased. The NEB members shall recommend CFIRE members in good standing to fill vacancies on the board in an interim capacity, providing that prevailing conditions of need warrant such appointments by decision and unanimous approval of the NEB. The interim appointment shall continue until the next regularly scheduled election, at which time the position shall be elected under normal guidelines.

Section 5
When a member is appointed to an interim position on the NEB, the interim service will not affect his future ability to serve the normal number of elected terms in the same office as described in Article IV above. 

 Conferences

Section 1
An annual training conference will be held annually to inform and educate local chapter members about enhancing and furthering their federal careers.

Section 2
The conference will be held at a location determined by the NEB at the previous year’s conference. When possible, the NEB will approve locations for the following two (2) years.

Section 3
Local chapters who wish to have their location considered must present their proposal to the NEB and demonstrate that they have enough resources to successfully put on a conference.

Section 4
All conference policy and procedure can be found in the Conference Manual.