Mission Statement
The Society of Esseans International and all of its chapters and affiliates, functioning as not for profit associations, shall be dedicated to the following goals:
1. To embrace, promote and publicize the fundamental premise of Esse, which is that the cosmos is an infinite presence whose perpetual activity gives rise to tangible material forms;
2. To form an international community of like-minded individuals to encourage a rational approach to religion, philosophy and daily life based upon logic and science;
3. To promote individual liberty and tolerance for diverse philosophical and religious points of view.
These goals shall form the pillars of the Society of Esseans International and all of its chapters and affiliates.
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1. A chapter may be formed by any three adults who shall serve as the Founding Committee and as interim President, Secretary and Treasurer during a founding period of no more than two years.
2. A written interim statement of purpose and two signed copies of the interim chapter charter must be submitted via normal postal service to the Home Chapter of the Society of Esseans International for approval. This charter may later be amended by the membership of the chapter subject to the approval of the Home Chapter of the Society of Esseans International, but is required for initial chartering.
3. The applying chapter functioning under the guidance of its Founding Committee shall function from the onset as an autonomous not-for-profit association and organization.
4. From its onset, a chapter shall solely be responsible for its operation under the laws of its locale and understands that the Home Chapter of the Society of Esseans International assumes no liability whatsoever in this regard by issuing a charter for said chapter.
5. Any charter issued by the Home Chapter of the Society of Esseans International may be revoked for failure to abide by the terms set forth in the Interim Charter.
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Interim Founding Chapter Charter
Every chapter of the Society of Esseans International will be granted a charter, just to make everything official. Don't let the legal jargon here scare you off -- this is just a formality in order to ensure that chapters can be legally affiliated with the Society of Esseans in the spirit of our mission statement. The sample charter below was used to establish the Santa Cruz Chapter (the Home Chapter of the Society of Esseans International), and some details might not apply to all chapter and may be altered subject to the approval of the Home Chapter.
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The {Insert Locale} Chapter of the Society of Esseans International
FOUNDING CHAPTER CHARTER
I. Name: The name of this organization shall be the {Insert Locale} Chapter of the Society of Esseans International (herein referred to as the Chapter).
II. Statement of Purpose: The purpose of this organization shall be to:
1. Promote, as a philosophical perspective, the Essean premise that the cosmos is an infinite presence whose perpetual activity gives rise to tangible material form,
2. Inform and educate people about concept of Esse,
3. Challenge irrational assumptions of concerning the origin, status and functioning of the material universe,
4. Challenge illogical perspectives of oppressive religious cults,
5. Support freedom of expression for rational viewpoints in society and the culture as a whole;
6. Facilitate discussion, debate, and dialogue over these issues in a warm, friendly, and open atmosphere where individuals feel free to speak their personal views.
III. Affiliation: The Chapter shall be an official chapter of the Society of Esseans International (herein referred to as the Society).
1. Through this affiliation the Chapter is entitled to all rights and benefits conferred upon them by the Society as an official chapter of the Society:
2. Recognition by the Society as an officially affiliated chapter.
3. Legal rights to use the name Society of Esseans International as specifically granted by the Society.
4. Permission to use materials copyrighted by the Society and / or provided by the Society at Chapter functions.
5. The right to promote the Society and other Society chapters at their functions.
6. Entitlement to funding from the Society when resources avail.
7. Advice and help in running the Chapter.
8. The acting president of the Chapter shall present the Society with a report at the end of each fiscal year detailing the activities of the Chapter during that fiscal year and explaining how those activities do or do not uphold the mission statement of the Society and the statement of purpose of the Chapter.
9. The Chapter shall undergo an annual evaluation by the Society at the end of each fiscal year to determine the extent to which the activities of the Chapter during the past fiscal year have or have not upheld the mission statement of the Society and the statement of purpose of the Chapter.
10. The Society Home Chapter executive board shall have the authority to revoke affiliation with the Chapter, at their discretion, should:
a. The activities of the Chapter leadership at any time violate the mission statement of the Society or the statement of purpose of the Chapter.
b. The president of the Chapter fails to submit a report at the end of each fiscal year detailing the activities of the Chapter during that period and explaining how those activities do or do not uphold the mission statement of the Society and the statement of purpose of the Chapter.
c. The annual review of the Chapter concludes that the leadership of the Chapter is not upholding or is not prepared to uphold the mission statement of the Society or the statement of purpose of the Chapter.
d. Should affiliation with the Society be revoked by either party at any time, the Chapter shall no longer have any of the rights and benefits conferred upon as an official Chapter of the Society including:
i.. Recognition by the Society as an officially affiliated Chapter.
ii. Legal rights to use the name Society of Esseans International and the term Esse as it pertains to the Society.
iii. Permission to use materials copyrighted and provided by the Society at Chapter functions.
iv. The right to promote the Society and other chapters at their functions.
v. Entitlement to any funding from the Society.
vi. Advice and help in running their organization.
IV. Membership:
1. Any registered member of the Chapter, although anyone may attend meetings and events hosted by the organization.
2. Only registered members of the Chapter may hold office and vote in elections for the organization's officers.
3. Only the authorized Chapter officers shall spend the organization's funds.
V. Events, Meetings, and Promotions:
1. The Chapter shall meet as determined by the officers or membership.
2. The Chapter shall host debates, speakers, and discussion meetings according to the statement of purpose as deemed appropriate by the officers or membership.
3. When the Chapter organization promotes the itself or its views, it shall do in a manner that shall favorably reflect upon the Chapter and the Society.
VI. Officers:
During its Founding Period, the Chapter shall have a minimum of three officers: a president or chairperson, a secretary, and a treasurer who:
1. Shall have a good understanding of the concept of Esse.
2. Shall use and convey this knowledge whenever necessary at events, meetings, and promotions of the organization.
3. Shall be the official spokesperson for the Chapter on issues related to Esse and the Society.
4. Shall publicly adhere to and abide by the statement of purpose of the Chapter.
5. Shall present the Society with a report at the end of each fiscal year concerning the activities of the Chapter during that year and explaining how those activities do or do not uphold the mission statement of the Society and the statement of purpose of the Chapter.
6. Failure of any officer to uphold the duties of their office are grounds for removal from office.
7. An officer may be removed from office by a 2/3 vote of the registered members of the Chapter.
VII. Criteria for holding office:
1. All individuals holding office must be registered members of the Chapter and be elected by a majority vote of the members of the organization voting.
2. The elections shall be held every two years and may be conducted via email.
3. In the case of a resignation of an officer from office, a special elections may be held to fill the office until the next regular election.
4. Subject to the above stipulations, all officers hold their position until the legal end of their terms of office.
5. There are no limitations on the number of terms of office an individual may hold.
[Note: this Interim Chapter Charter must include the printed names, addresses and country of all three members of the Founder's Committee. All three must sign the Interim Chapter Charter and submit it to the Home Chapter of the Society of Esseans International in accordance with its guidelines. An official form of this Interim Chapter Charter may be secured for printing from admin@sei-esse.org. ]
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