South Bank HIVe.net

An OnLine CommUNITY-Based HIV/Aids, Social Service

and Survivors Support Network

315 W. 7th Street - Suite #2  *  Covington, Kentucky 41011-1391

859-261-HIVe1 (4481) * SoBankHIVe@zoomtown.com

Greetings!

As some of you may know, October 3^rd marks the 19^th anniversary of being told I was infected, diseased, ‘unclean’, a sinnah!, unwelcome, and probably all of the other things that you have imagined and feared…  YOU can Survive; by Standing Up for an end to Stigma, Discrimination, Intolerance and Ignorance.

The Denver Principles (Edited for Life on The South Bank)

We condemn attempts to label us as ‘victims,’ a term that implies defeat, and we are only occasionally ‘patients,’ a term that implies passivity, helplessness, and dependence upon the care of others. We are ‘People With AIDS/HIV’

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ALL PEOPLE.

1. Support us in our struggle against those who would fire us from our jobs, evict us from our homes, refuse to touch us or separate us from our loved ones, our community or our peers, since available evidence does not support the view that HIV/Aids can be spread by casual, social contact.

2. Not scapegoat people with HIV, blame us for the epidemic or generalize about our lifestyles.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH HIV/Aids.

1. Form caucuses to choose their own representatives, to deal with the media, to choose their own agenda and to plan their own strategies.

2. Be involved at every level of decision-making and specifically serve on the boards of directors of provider organizations.

3. Be included in all HIV/Aids forums with equal credibility as other participants, to share their own experiences and knowledge.

4. Substitute low-risk sexual behaviors for those that could endanger themselves or their partners; we feel people with HIV have an ethical responsibility to inform their potential sexual partners of their health status.

RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH HIV/Aids.

1. To as full and satisfying sexual and emotional lives as anyone else.

2. To quality medical treatment and quality social service provision without discrimination of any form including sexual orientation, gender, diagnosis, economic status or race.

3. To full explanations of all medical procedures and risks, to choose or refuse their treatment modalities, to refuse to participate in research without jeopardizing their treatment and to make informed decisions about their lives.

4. To privacy, to confidentiality of medical records, to human respect and to choose who their significant others are.

5. To die--and to LIVE--in dignity.

The drafters of The Denver Principles stormed the closing of the conference in order to present their work. At the presentation, the San Francisco activists had brought the “Fighting For Our Lives” banner. The presentation brought the crowd to tears, and it was a full ten minutes until the audience was able to compose itself. The keynote speaker, Ginny Apuzzo, in response to the presentation, opened with, “if those health care providers in attendance were the health care pioneers, then those of us with AIDS were truly the trailblazers”.

ARTICLE VII.  MEMBERSHIP - The South Bank HIVe adheres to the following principles:

Section 7.1  Members.  A grass-roots, CommUNITY-Based movement of people to demonstrate that speaking up about AIDS is a point of pride, not a source of shame.  –Our strength comes from the members we represent and the alliances we build with other progressive groups, individuals and organizations. We will approach our work by representing the interests of our members and will not engage in back room politics or power brokering that compromises these principles.

The politics of inclusion – We will have equal concern for oppression faced by all disenfranchised people, with a special emphasis on the poor and those on a fixed low-income.   We believe that our work must focus on building a broad base of support for “Quality of Life” issues of social justice that includes, but is not limited to, issues important to our HIV community. This means that long term change is of greater significance than any single issue, campaign, or candidate and our educational and political efforts will reflect that priority.  We will treat all members of our HIV community with the same dignity and respect.

Section 7.2  Meetings of the Members.  An Annual Meeting of the Members shall be held on the third Sunday of May of each year preceding the annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, or at such other time as may be determined by the Board of Directors.  Special Meetings of the Members shall be held at such time or times as determined necessary or appropriate by the Executive Director or the Board of Directors.  If twenty percent (20%) of the Members sign a petition to request a Special Meeting for a specified purpose, then the President shall call a Special Meeting for that purpose to be held within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the petition by President.

Section 7.3  Notice of Meetings.  The Board of Directors shall provide advance written notice of the Annual Meeting of the Members to each Member at least thirty (30) days before such meeting.  The Board of Directors shall provide advance written notice of any Special Meeting of the Members to each Member at least ten (10) days before such meeting, which notice shall state the purpose of the meeting.  Any such notice may be delivered in person, or sent by electronic mail, facsimile, or First Class U.S. Mail. Section 7.4  Voting Rights.  All Members in good-standing shall be eligible to vote at such meeting. Section 7.5  Quorum.  Provided the required notice has been given to the Members of any Membership meeting, a quorum will consist of those present in attendance at said meeting. Section 7.6 Membership Dues. The minimum suggested membership Drone-ation shall be fixed @ $1.00 or any gift of CARE you can make...  The  Section 7.7  Membership Information.  The names and personal contact information of Members, Donors, Affiliates, Agencies shall be kept as required and used only for purposes of the Organization. 

ARTICLE VIII.  Board Of Directors

Section 8.1  Composition.  The Board of Directors shall be comprised of up to seven (7) Directors.  In addition, all other Officers and Titled Positions shall be ex officio members of the Board of Directors.  The ex officio members of the Board of Directors shall not have a vote, except that the Executive Director/CEO shall vote in the case of a tie.

Section 8.2  Qualification, Election, and Term of Office.  To be a Director, an individual must be a Member of the Corporation.  Directors shall be elected at the Annual Meeting of the Members to serve for a term of two years.

Section 8.3  Resignation or Removal of a Director.  A Director may resign upon written notice to the Chairperson.  A Director may be removed, with cause, upon a two-thirds vote of the Directors then in office, provided that written notice of the proposed removal is provided to that Director at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting.

Section 8.4  Vacancy.  In the case of a vacancy on the Board of Directors due to the resignation, removal, incapacity, or death of a Director, the remaining Directors shall appoint a Member to fill the vacancy who shall serve for the balance of the term.

Section 8.5  Meetings.  Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held monthly at such time as called by the Chairman or as set by the Board of Directors.  Notice of meeting shall be provided at least 24 hours prior to the meeting in person, or by electronic mail, facsimile, or telephone answering system, or at least 5 days prior to the meeting by First Class U.S. mail.

Section 8.6  Quorum.  The presence at a meeting of the Board of Directors of at least one-half (1/2) of the voting Directors then in office shall constitute a quorum.  A Board member who is included in a meeting by conference telephone through which each member may hear and speak with each other member shall be deemed present at the meeting.

Section 9.1  Executive Director/Ceo:  Shall chair meetings of the Members and serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Organization.  To be Executive Director/Ceo, an individual must be a Member of the Corporation capable and willing to be publicly visible as a Face of HIV/AIDS in Kentucky on The South Bank.  The Executive Director/CEO shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and the Membership. Section 9.2 Chairman of The Board.  Shall chair meetings of the Board of Directors, and serve as their chief representative.  To be Chairman, an individual must be a Member of the Corporation.  The Chairperson shall be elected by the members of The Board following the Annual Meeting of the Members. 

Section 9.3  Secretary.  The Board of Directors shall appoint a Secretary at its first meeting of a fiscal year, to serve until his or her successor is appointed.  The Secretary must be a member of the Board of Directors.

Section 9.4  Treasurer.  The Board of Directors shall appoint a Treasurer at its first meeting of a fiscal year, to serve until his or her successor is appointed.  The Treasurer must be a member of the Board of Directors.

Section 9.5  Development Director.

Section 9.6  Program Director.

Section 9.7  CommUNITY Relations Director.

Section 9.8  Vacancies.  In the case of a vacancy due to the resignation, incapacity, or death of an Officer or Director, the current Board of Directors shall appoint a Member to fill the vacancy who shall serve for the balance of the term.

Section 10.1  Policies and Procedures.  The Board of Directors may adopt Standard Operating Policies and Procedures to govern the operation and meeting of the Organization.  Such Standard Operating Policies and Procedures shall be the authority governing matters not otherwise covered in these Articles.

Section 10.2  Suspension of Rules.  No procedural rule shall be suspended except by a two-thirds vote of the Membership.

Section 10.1  Proposal.  Any proposed amendment to these Articles shall be submitted to the Chairperson or Secretary in writing.  They shall promptly distribute a copy of such proposed amendment either in person or by electronic mail, facsimile, or First Class U.S. mail to each member of the Board of Directors.

Section 10.2  Submission to Members.  The Board of Directors shall submit the proposed amendment at the Annual Meeting or a Special Meeting of the Members for consideration.  The Board of Directors shall distribute a copy of the proposed amendment to the Members with the notice of such meeting and at least thirty (30) days prior to such meeting.

Section 10.3  Adoption.  An amendment to these Articles shall be adopted upon the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Members present at the meeting at which it is submitted.

Section 11.1  Indemnification.  The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless its Directors and Officers to the fullest extent permitted by both the non-profit corporation law of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the federal tax law governing organizations exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  (Application for exempt status is pending)

Section 11.2  Authority to Bind.  Except as may be authorized on occasion by the Board of Directors or as provided by applicable law, only the President or his or her designate shall have the authority to bind the Corporation to any contract, note, pledge, or other agreement or instrument.

Section 11.3  No Discrimination.  No individual or organization shall be denied association with the Organization on the basis of age, sex, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Section 11.4  Fiscal Year.  The records of the organization shall be maintained on the basis of a fiscal year ending December 31 of each year.

Copyright (c):

The Michael W. Connett Living Trust/South Bank HIVe