Charter of the Unitarian Universalist
Church of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Inc.

as of January 10, 1999
 

We, the undersigned, hereby associate ourselves together for the purpose of being incorporated under the laws of the State of Florida applicable to corporations not for profit, under the following proposed Charter:
 

ARTICLE I - Name

A. The name of the corporation shall be the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Inc., and it is to be located in Broward County, Florida.
 

ARTICLE II

A. The general nature and purpose of this corporation shall bring religious liberals in closer acquaintance and cooper- ation for the study and practice of religion.
 

ARTICLE III

A. The membership of this corporation shall consist of the undersigned subscribers and any other person over the age of fourteen, regardless of race, color, national origin, previous religious affiliation, or sexual orientation, who are in sympathy with the objectives and purposes of this organization. Persons not now members may become members by signing the membership book, thereby signifying their intent to become a member. The qualifications of membership shall be further determined by the Bylaws.
 

ARTICLE IV

A. This corporation shall have perpetual existence.
 

ARTICLE V

A. The names and addresses of the subscribers to this Charter are: FRED E. STANTON, 415 N.E. 8th Avenue, LEN J. MESSINA, 3600 Galt Ocean Drive, BETTY W. VALIN, 1605 S.E. 9th Street, NORTON HILTON, 710 N.W. 33rd Terrace, JERROLD E. SHAFFNER, 523 N.E. Fourth Avenue, all of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
 

ARTICLE VI

A. Between Meetings of the Membership, the policy making body of this corporation shall be a Board of Trustees, composed of ten (10) voting members of the corporation. This Board shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and six (6) Trustees. The President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer of this corporation shall be elected at the annual meeting and shall serve for a term as specified in the Bylaws. B. The Trustees shall be elected at the annual meeting and shall serve for a term of two (2) years; however, at the first annual meeting, in May 1959, three (3) of these Trustees shall be elected for a term of one (1) year and three (3) shall be elected for a term of two (2) years. Thereafter, each Trustee shall be elected for a term of two (2) years. C. The Board of Trustees shall elect its own chairperson who shall vote only in case of a tie. D. Vacancies in the above Offices and Trusteeships shall be filled by the Board of Trustees through appointments, and such appointees shall serve with full authority until the next annual meeting, at which time their successors shall be elected to com- mence a new term, or to fill an unexpired term, whichever the case may be. E. All Officers and Trustees shall hold office for their duly constituted terms, or until their successors are properly qualified. F. A vacancy shall automatically result when a Board mem- ber is absent from three (3) monthly meetings between any two Annual Meetings of the Membership, regardless of the reason for such absences, at which time the Board shall fill the vacancy.
 

ARTICLE VII

A. The first election of the Officers and Trustees shall be held at the annual meeting in May 1959, unless this Charter is not approved by such time, and in such event, it will be held within sixty (60) days after such approval, and further, in such cases where annual meeting, then such elected Officers shall serve only until the annual meeting of May 1960.
 

ARTICLE VIII

A. The names of the Officers and Trustees who are to man- age all the affairs of this corporation until the first election under this Charter are as follows: FRED E. STANTON President LEN J. MESSINA Vice President BETTY W. VALIN Secretary NORTON HILTON Treasurer As Trustees: GERARD DeBRUIN H. DON MOORE GEORGE P. DUNLEVY, Jr. MAX WELBORN DAVID C. VAN AUSDALL JERROLD E. SHAFFNER
 

ARTICLE IX

A. New Bylaws shall be adopted within sixty (60) days after the approval of this Charter by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership present at a meeting called for such purpose. This procedure shall be used from time to time for passing on additional Bylaws to this Charter.
 

ARTICLE X

A. All amendments to this Charter must receive a two- thirds (2/3) vote of the voting members present at a meeting called for that purpose. All amendments to the Bylaws or reces- sions thereof must receive a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the voting members present at a meeting called for that purpose. B. All voting by the membership to sell, mortgage or transfer in any way (including by gift) real estate owned by the church requires approval of the majority of the voting members at a special meeting.
 

ARTICLE XI

A. The annual meeting of this corporation shall be held during the month of May of each year, the actual date of said month to be set, each year, by the Board of Trustees, in due time and with due notice to the membership. B. Officers and Trustees sitting as of January 1, 1989, shall serve until their successors are elected.
 

ARTICLE XII

A. No member of this corporation shall have any vested right, interest or privilege in or to the assets, functions, affairs, or franchises of the corporation, or any right, inter- est, or privilege which may be transferable or inheritable, or which shall continue after his or her membership ceases.
 

ARTICLE XIII

A. Upon dissolution of this organization, all of its assets remaining after payment of all costs and expenses of such dissolution, shall be distributed to the Unitarian Universalist Association of Boston, Massachusetts, or its successor, or if none, to a similar religious organization which has qualified for exemption under section 501 sub-paragraph (c), sub-paragraph 3, of the Internal Revenue Code or to the Federal Government or to a state or local government, for a public purpose, and none of the assets will be distributed to any member, Officer, or Trustee of this organization. ------------------------------------------------ Witness the hands and seals of the Incorporators, at Fort Lauderdale, County of Broward and State of Florida, this 23rd day of April, 1959. FRED E. STANTON NORTON HILTON LEN J. MESSINA JERROLD E. SHAFFNER BETTY W. VALIN Incorporators Approved 27 April 1959; Amended for re-incorporation 7 December 1966; Amended 22 August 1971; 5 January 1975; 21 Septem- ber 1975; 4 January 1981, 22 March 1981; 9 January 1983; 22 December 1988; 13 January 1991; January 10, 1999.