Gaia Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation

V-A. Regular Rituals for Business
The main business of the Community shall be conducted at regular Rituals for Business by the Committee of the Whole. At least a Quorum of the Board of Trustees (more than half of the current Board of Trustees) must be present at each Ritual for Business. The dates of regular Rituals for Business of the Community shall be determined by the Community itself, or by any person or persons designated by it.

Decisions of the Committee of the Whole shall be made using a blended consensus/supermajority model, except where otherwise stated in these bylaws. If at a future date the Committee of the Whole wishes to move to a different decsion-making model, such decisions must be made at a Special Ritual for Business, as defined in Article V-A-1.

V-A-1: Special Rituals for Business
A Special Ritual for Business may be called at the written request of 10% of the current Full Active and Associate members or by a quorum of the Board of Trustees. The business to be transacted at such Special Rituals for Business shall be set forth in the notice of the meeting, which shall be communicated to all active members, at least 72 hours in advance, unless otherwise specified in these bylaws. A Special Ritual for Business may occur during a regularly scheduled Ritual for Business, or may also set a different day and time.

Quorum for such a meeting is to be constituted by forty (40) percent of the current Full Active and Associate members, as well as a quorum of the Board of Trustees. Other decisions requiring a Special Ritual for Business are specified elsewhere in these bylaws.

V-B. Executive Sessions of the Board of Trustees
All Rituals for Business shall be open to all interested parties except that the Board of Trustees shall have the authority to determine that it is in the best interests of the Community that a particular item, or particular items, of a confidential nature such as confidential personnel issues be considered in executive session ("Executive Session"). The Board may decide by a majority vote of a least a quorum to enter into such Executive Session, such vote being cast in an open meeting. All persons other than elected Board Members will be excluded from such Executive Session unless specifically invited to attend by a majority decision of Board Members present at the meeting. It is the intent of the Community to normally conduct its business in as open a manner as possible with the recognition that on rare occasions some items must be discussed in confidence.

V-C. Facilitation of Rituals for Business
Facilitation of Rituals for Business shall be rotated among Board of Trustees members or other persons that the Board may designate.

V-D. Approval of Annual Budget
The Annual operating budget for the coming fiscal year shall be presented for approval by the Committee of the Whole at a Ritual for Business no later than June.