by Donna Martz
Last year, Bastard Nation filed as a public benefit corporation in the state of California, and adopted new bylaws consistent with the laws of that state. A copy of the new bylaws can be found on the internet at the link listed, or you can write and ask for a copy. http://bastards.org/whoweare/bylaws.htm For those who may might not have the time or inclination to read the full text, the most significant points follow.
Our Official Name
Bastard Nation: The Adoptee Rights Organization.
We are a 501(c)(4) corp. with assets irrevocably dedicated to the public trust.
Our Mission
Bastard Nation is dedicated to the recognition of the full human and civil rights of adult adoptees. Toward that end, we advocate the opening to adoptees, upon request at age of majority, of those government documents, which pertain to the adoptee's historical, genetic, and legal identity, including the unaltered original birth certificate and adoption decree. Bastard Nation asserts that it is the right of people everywhere to have their official original birth records unaltered and free from falsification, and that the adoptive status of any person should not prohibit him or her from choosing to exercise that right. We have reclaimed the badge of bastardy placed on us by those who would attempt to shame us; we see nothing shameful in having been born out of wedlock or in being adopted. Bastard Nation does not support mandated mutual consent registries or intermediary systems in place of unconditional open records, nor any other system that is less than access on demand to the adult adoptee, without condition, and without qualification.
Membership requirements
Requirements for membership in Bastard Nation are to pay dues, and to uphold the mission and bylaws. A member can be ousted for open and consistent disagreement with Bastard Nation and its purposes to the point of disrupting the operation of the organization, or, for conduct likely to bring disgrace, or disrepute upon Bastard Nation.
Committees
There are a number of committees that you can volunteer to join. The committees with roles described in the bylaws are: Legislative, Public Relations, Events, Publishing & Arts, Membership, Fiscal, Fiscal Development, Education & Training, and Technology. Ad Hoc committees may also be formed.
Elections
We hold annual elections by first class mail and all members eligible to vote. A quorum of 20% of the membership is required for an election vote to be valid. The board of directors is elected in this manner for staggered 2 year terms. The board should consist of at minimum 3: President, Secretary, Treasurer, up to 7, uncompensated people. The president appoints the committee to nominate officers, although any member may nominated by a petition of 2% of the membership. See below for election information.
Annual Meeting
We hold an annual meeting, usually at our annual conference, but anyone can call a special meeting at any time, if 10% of the membership will agree to attend.
Donna Martz is Treasurer of Bastard Nation. A New Jersey native, Donna is a an adoptee, an engineer, and currently resides in Texas.
Nominations to the Bastard Nation Board of Directors
If you or someone you know would like to be considered for the committee being formed to nominate candidates for Bastard Nation's Board of Directors, please contact Marley Greiner by email at maddogmarley@worldnet.att.net. Formal nominations will be announced at Bastard Nation's annual meeting in New Orleans.
(This feature appeared in the Winter 2002 issue of the Bastard Quarterly.)
Copyright 2002 Bastard Nation
All Rights Reserved