Article I: Name and Constitution
This organization is hereby identified and titled “Una Voce Kingston.” Una Voce Kingston is hereby subtitled “Our Lady, Undoer of Knots Chapter.” For brevity, Una Voce Kingston may be referred to as UVK.
UVK hereby undertakes to seek membership in the International Una Voce Federation, specifically falling under Una Voce America, as soon as may be practical.
Article 2: Statement of Purpose
WHEREAS The Apostolic Letter Summorum Pontificum of the Sovereign Pontiff Benedict XVI given Motu Proprio on 7 July 2007, and the accompanying Letter to Bishops:
Guarantees and ensures that the Traditional Latin Mass, also known as the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, Usus Antiquior and Forma Extraordinaria, referred to herein after as ‘the Extraordinary Form’, is to be made available for all who ask for it;
Affirms that the Mass and other liturgical books associated with the Extraordinary Form were never juridically abrogated and, consequently, have always been permitted;
Declared that what was sacred for prior generations, remains sacred and great for us as well, and cannot be suddenly prohibited altogether or even judged harmful; and
Affirmed that any Catholic priest of the Latin rite, whether secular or regular, may celebrate Mass in the Extraordinary Form, and needs no permission from the Apostolic See or from his own Ordinary to do so, and that the faithful may attend such ceremonies;
AND WHEREAS a stable group of faithful Catholics in the Archdiocese of Kingston wishes to support their Archbishop and his priests in giving full effect to the Moto Proprio Summorum Pontificum and the Specific Norms set out in the related Universal Instruction issued on April 30, 2011;
NOW THEREFORE Una Voce Kingston (UVK) has been founded with the following aims:
To work as a lay movement within the Church for an organic restoration of the liturgy in conformity with its nature and with the Latin tradition by helping all the faithful to better to understand, and more fruitfully to participate in, the Catholic liturgy as a sacred action;
To ensure that the traditional Roman Mass (also known as the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite and Usus Antiquior), together with related sacraments and liturgical celebrations, are established and maintained in the Archdiocese of Kingston;
To support and assist priests and seminarians of the Archdiocese desiring to learn and celebrate the Extraordinary Form;
To safeguard and promote the use of Latin, Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony in the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church;
To encourage, wherever it would benefit the faithful, the establishment of non-territorial parishes and/or chaplaincies in which only the liturgical books used in 1962 are employed; and
To serve the Church by providing material and spiritual support for her Bishops, Religious and Clerics.
Article 3 – Membership
Membership in Una Voce Kingston is open to all practicing Catholics in the Archdiocese, including all clerics, seminarians and members of properly established Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
Each member must agree with the Statement of Purpose, and pay any dues established annually by the Executive for members or classes of members. Dues shall be waived for clerics, seminarians and members of properly established Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
Article 4 – Elections
Only members shall be eligible to hold office on the Executive. No member may occupy more than one office at the same time. The term of service for elected officers on the Executive shall be 12 consecutive months.
Election of all officers shall be held at an Annual General Meeting called for that purpose, or another meeting as determined by the Executive. No meeting date for the purpose of election may take place at a time less than nine (9) months since the previous election.
The election of officers may be conducted by oral vote of the members present, unless a majority of members present pass a motion to conduct the election by secret ballot in which case a secret ballot shall be taken for any or all offices specified in the motion. A majority of all votes cast shall be necessary to elect an officer. The election shall be conducted by the Secretary, assisted by two other members chosen by the Chair, who shall assist the Secretary in conducting and counting the votes.
Vacancies in elected offices shall be filled by election at the next regular meeting following the meeting at which the vacancy was declared, in the same manner as the general election of all officers.
Elected officers shall assume their roles on a date as so fixed by the Executive, but in no case shall the executive fix a date more than three (3) calendar months following the election of new officers.
Article 5 – Elected Executive
The Executive of Una Voce Kingston shall consist of the following officers having the responsibilities set out below:
Chair: The Chair shall preside over all meetings, be an ex-officio voting member of all committees of Una Voce Kingston, represent Una Voce Kingston to the Archdiocese and all other groups or persons, and perform other duties as set out in these by-laws or not otherwise provided for.
Vice-Chair: The Vice-Chair shall act as the Chair in the absence of the Chair, and perform any other duties assigned by the Chair, with the exception that the Vice-Chair may not declare the office of Chair to be vacant.
Secretary: Record and keep minutes of all meetings, maintain all records of Una Voce Kingston including membership records, give notice of all Special and Executive Meetings to those entitled to attend, and to report on matters pertaining to the office as and when required.
Treasurer: Receive and pay all monies of Una Voce Kingston, maintain accurate and timely financial records and books, together with the Chair act as one of two authorized officials to sign cheques and authorize other financial transactions of Una Voce Kingston, and open and maintain any bank accounts of Una Voce Kingston authorized by the Executive.
Article 6 – Appointed Officers
The Chair, in consultation with the Executive, shall appoint members to additional positions as determined by a by-law adopted for the purposes of this Article.
Article 7 – Meetings
All meetings of Una Voce Kingston shall be presided over by the Chair, and shall be held at a convenient location within the Archdiocese of Kingston. In the absence or inability of the Chair, the Vice-Chair shall preside and shall execute all of the duties of the Chair. Meetings may be governed informally by consensus, or in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order, or a simplified form thereof, according to the discretion of the Chair.
Executive Meetings:
Meetings of the Executive shall be conducted at minimum on a quarterly basis, at times and dates set by the Chair, and located at a place reasonably convenient for members of the Executive. The Chair shall in all cases provide a minimum of seven (7) days notice of an Executive Meeting to all members of the Executive.
Officers may participate in Executive Meetings in person, or remotely by teleconference, videoconference, WebEx, or by any other method acceptable to a majority of the Executive. No Executive Meeting may take place unless a quorum of three Executive members are present, at least one of whom is the Chair or Vice-Chair.
Regular and Provisional Meetings:
Regular Meetings of the Chapter should be held once a month, at a time and place to be determined by the Chair, in consultation with the executive members. Notice of all Regular Meetings shall be given to all members, such notice being sufficiently universal and reasonably accessible by members. Individual notice of Regular Meetings to members is not required.
Before a Regular Meeting can begin, a quorum must exist as determined by the Chair. One third of the total members in good standing constitutes a quorum. If a quorum does not exist, the Chair may continue the meeting as a Provisional Meeting, which is to be conducted as a Regular Meeting save and except that no actions or decisions taken at a Provisional Meeting are deemed to have been adopted, authorized or promulgated until such time as they have been ratified by a majority of members present at the next Regular Meeting.
The following agenda is hereby understood as the standard agenda for all Regular Meetings of the Chapter, though deviations may be permitted as so desired by the Chair from time to time, and as circumstances may demand.
Opening prayer
Roll call by the Secretary of all persons present
Introduction of visitors and new members
Review and adoption of minutes of the preceding meeting
Report of Officers - Chair, Treasurer, Vice-Chair
Other agenda items as determined by the Executive, including election of officers to vacant positions, if required
Disposition of any unresolved matters of business continually before the membership, typically referred to as “old business.”
Disposition of any new business arising from members, or members of the executive. present
Announcement of date, time and location of the next regular meeting
Closing prayer and adjournment
Special Meetings:
Special Meetings shall be convened either by majority vote of Una Voce Kingston at a preceding Regular Meeting, or by direction of the Chair. Each Special Meeting must have a stated purpose, and no other business shall be transacted at any such meeting. All members of Una Voce Kingston shall be advised in writing of the date, time, location and purpose of a Special Meeting, according to their preference of meeting notification communicated to the Secretary at the time of becoming a member or renewing membership. Members who have not indicated preferences are deemed to have indicated a preference to be notified by regular letter mail.
The following agenda shall be used at all Special Meetings:
Opening prayer to Mary, Undoer of Knots
Secretary’s report of the date, time, location and purpose of the Special Meeting, together with a summary of the number of members invited, together with the number and kinds of notifications given.
Special order(s) of business
Closing prayer and adjournment
All motions passed, and other actions taken, at a Special Meeting have the same effect as if they were taken at a Regular Meeting.
Annual General Meetings:
The Annual General Meeting occurs once each year between 10 and 14 months following the preceding Annual General Meeting, on a date, time and location determined by the Executive, and replaces the Regular Meeting of the month in which it occurs. The Agenda for the Annual General Meetings is as follows:
Opening prayer
Roll call by the Secretary of all persons present
Introduction of visitors and new members
Review and adoption of minutes of the preceding meeting
Reports of Officers (Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer)
Elections
Disposition of any unresolved matters of business before the membership (typically referred to as “old business”).
Disposition of any new business arising from members present
Announcement of date, time and location of the next regular meeting
Closing prayer and adjournment
Notice of an Annual General Meeting is given as for Regular Meetings, and must be published either on the Chapter’s website in a prominent location on the home or landing page, if one exists. Quorum for an Annual General Meeting is fixed at three members, notwithstanding other provisions for quorum made elsewhere.
Article 8 – Administration and Safekeeping of Funds and Assets
Funds:
All monies obtained from any source, by or through any person or persons, acting for or in the name of Una Voce Kingston or under its direction or authority, shall be considered Una Voce Kingston funds and shall be forthwith delivered to the Treasurer, who will report at each Executive meeting the amounts so received, and who shall deposit all monies received in a bank to the credit of Una Voce Kingston, as soon as practicable. Disbursements from these funds shall be made only by check signed by both the Chair and Treasurer.
No money shall be paid, withdrawn or otherwise removed or encumbered except as authorized by the Executive or by a two thirds majority vote of all members present at a Regular or Special Meeting.
Assets:
Una Voce Kingston may acquire, own, sell, lend and donate liturgical items, books, vestments, training materials, furniture and other items used in the celebration of Mass and other liturgical ceremonies of the Roman Rite according to its Extraordinary Form. Una Voce Kingston may also hold in its possession and use or lend the personal property of its members or others, loaned to Una Voce Kingston by the owner to support the advancement of any purpose set out in Article 2, subject to any restrictions or covenants associated with the item(s).
Any item being loaned out by Una Voce Kingston to another party shall be clearly marked with the name of Una Voce Kingston or owner of the item, and any party taking possession of such an item must acknowledge the ownership and comply with any terms according to which the item is being loaned. In the event that any items loaned are no longer being used or required for the purpose for which they were lent, or where the owner has requested their return, Una Voce Kingston shall take possession and secure the items, and (if applicable) return them to their rightful owners.
Article 8 – Amendments
This Constitution and any Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at a regular meeting held subsequent to a regular meeting at which notice in writing providing for such amendment shall have been given and regularly read.
Article 9 – Bylaws
Bylaws may be adopted by majority vote of the Executive, and must be ratified by majority vote at the next Regular Meeting following said adoption.
