Section 2. The purposes of this organization shall be:

(a) to be a collective voice for all foster/adoptive parents (hereinafter referred to as resource parents) throughout Central Montana;

(b) to bring about better communication between resource parents, their agencies and the public;

(c) to provide encouragement and leadership to resource parents and placement agencies in order to enhance communication and cooperation;

(d) to improve the public image of resource parents in our community;

(e) to provide a vehicle through which Montana resource parents can improve themselves, advance the quality of service to all individuals receiving foster care or placement by adoption, and to make their needs, as well as the needs of the resource parents known.

Section 3. The operations of TRC are to be carried on, and services provided to eligible individuals throughout our region.

ARTICLE II - Membership Requirements
Section 1. All foster parents licensed by the DPHHS or a licensed child placing agency under the Public Welfare Laws, and adoptive parents who can show proof of adoption of one child, and who are (is an) approved pre-adoptive parent(s).

Section 2. Types of membership:
(a) Active membership in TRC is open to all foster parents who are currently authorized by a duly licensed agency to provide foster care, and any adoptive parent who has at least one child, or who is approved and awaiting an adoptive placement;
(b) Associate membership in TRC is open to any individual who wishes to participate in, and support the purpose of, TRC and who does not qualify for active membership;
(c) Benefactor membership in TRC is open to any individual or organization that wishes to participate in, and support the purpose of, TRC, and who donates $50.00 or more per year to TRC and who does not qualify for active membership. These individuals or organizations will receive mailings, may audit meetings and may be heard at meetings. They will receive a certificate or letter of acknowledgment for their donation.

Section 3. Dues and Privileges:

ARTICLE III - Officers, Boards and Committees
Section 1. The officers of TRC shall consist of President, President-elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Executive, Legislative Executive, Youth Executive, and Immediate Past-President.

Section 2. No individual shall hold any office unless he/she is a voting member of TRC (e.g. licensed resource parent and resides in Montana.)

Section 3. The officers, and the immediate past president, shall be known as the Board of Directors.

Section 4. Special Committees will exist at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

Section 5. Nominations and election of officers:
(a) The election of the officers of TRC shall be by vote at a general meeting of the membership. The Secretary shall receive nominations of candidates for offices four (4) weeks prior to the general election meeting. Nominations from the floor at that meeting will be accepted.

ARTICLE IV - Duties of Officers and Past-President
Section 1. President - (elected - voting member) shall preside at all TRC Board and Membership meetings and shall be responsible for general management and supervision of the affairs and operations of TRC. The President shall be ex-officio member of all committees, except the Nominating Committee, and shall have the authority to appoint ad hoc committees, as needed, and act as the official representative of TRC.

Section 2. President-elect - (elected - voting member) shall assist the President in the performance of their duties and shall assume all the responsibilities of the President in the latter's absence, and act as executive consultant of all standing committees. The President-elect shall automatically serve as President after term.

Section 3. Secretary - (elected - voting member) shall keep minutes of every meeting and prepare a record of officers in attendance, and read minutes of the previous meeting. The Secretary shall also record the name of member who introduces emotion, take charge of all documents belonging to TRC when requested, and call a meeting to order in the absence of the President and President-elect. The Secretary shall notify all members of the meetings, conduct correspondence as directed and read important correspondence or paraphrase the general content of that correspondence at all meetings.

Section 4. Treasurer - (elected - voting member) shall receive all monies payable to TRC and shall issue receipts thereof. All funds or securities in custody of this officer shall be deposited in such bank or banks as the Board of Directors may from time to time elect. The treasurer shall pay all accounts, which shall be open to the inspection of any member of the Board of Directors. The treasurer shall report in writing the state of finances of TRC whenever requested by the Board of Directors, and shall present general meetings a report showing all receipts and expenditures. The Board of Directors may instruct the treasurer to provide a bond at any time for the amount determined by the Board and the cost of which shall be borne by TRC. All financial records need to transfer to the succeeding treasurer as soon as practical. New signature cards should be submitted to the bank within 30 days of the election. A newly seated Treasurer shall conduct a minimal audit of the books and sign documentation records of transfer, along with the outgoing Treasurer.

Section 5. Membership Executive - (elected - voting member) shall maintain current roster of membership of TRC and annotate type of membership. The Membership Executive shall take charge of recruitment efforts as directed by the Board of Directors and shall report accomplishments.

Section 6. Legislative Executive - (elected - voting member) shall maintain familiarity with ongoing state and national legislative issues that may impact on foster/adoptive care and/or resource parents. Shall report regularly to the Board of Directors regarding lobbying efforts or legislative issues and opportunities in which TRC members may participate. Shall present such opportunities to the general membership as directed. Shall take charge of organizing such group efforts by TRC.

Section 7. DFS Representative - (appointed - non-voting member) shall provide guidance and liaison between TSC, the Department of Family Services and the communities that TRC serves. Shall attend meetings and may participate in all TSC activities.

Section 8. Youth Executive - (appointed - voting member) shall be a member of an adoptive and/or foster family, under the age of eighteen (18) years at the time of appointment. Shall represent the interest of youth associated with TRC. This person shall have leadership capability and demonstrate an ability to represent the youth of TRC. Shall be responsible for performing liaison between youth and the Board. The Youth Executive shall be capable of working cooperatively with Board members. Shall attend Board meetings to present ideas and to provide feedback from his/her constituents. Shall play an active roll in helping to determine TRC activities as applied to involvement and preferences of minors affiliated with TRC.

Section 9. Immediate Past-president - (voting member) shall act as an adviser to the current President.

ARTICLE V - Duties of the Board of Directors
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall interpret and enforce the provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws of TRC and shall have the responsibility:

(a) to promote by attitude and action constructed social action needed to bring about changes and improvements in the child welfare system and in legislation pertaining to children and the family;

(b) to act as an information center and research body regarding constitutional matters, finances, educators, speakers, seminars, conferences, etc., and to disseminate such information;

(c) to provide communication between recognized child placement agencies and TRC;

(d) to keep an up to date record of the membership;

(e) to cooperate with other associations which have similar objectives in whole or in part to those of TRC and which do not conflict with the aims and objectives of resource parent associations;

(f) to maintain full responsibility for all funds and securities of TRC and to control the expenditures thereof;

(g) from time to time by resolution, to authorize the treasurer with such other officer or officers as may be named in such resolution to sign, accept, withdraw and endorse on behalf of and in the name of TRC;

(h) to formulate such rules and regulations as to be in the best interest and objectives of TRC;

(i) to be responsible for removing elected officers from office who have been deemed derelict in their duty, misrepresentative of TRC, absent from three successive Board of Directors meetings, or any other act which a majority of the Board of Directors deems appropriate for dismissal. They shall furthermore be responsible for notification of such removal to the removed officer within 30 days of action;

(j) to attend out of schedule meetings as called by the President or the President's representative;

(k) to take action on issues passed by a majority vote of a quorum meeting. Quorum shall consist of 3/4 of the Board of Directors;

(l) to receive, review, and act upon written complaints against TRC;

(m) to fill vacancies for any office within 60 days;

(n) to meet prior to the annual state meeting in order to discuss affairs of TRC;

(o) to submit names of persons for consideration for honorary membership of TRC.

ARTICLE VI - Mode of Amendment
Section 1. The bylaws of TRC may be added to, amended or repealed in whole or in part by two-thirds of the members at any meeting, provided, however, that a written notice of the intention to add to, amend or repeal the bylaws in whole or in part has been given to each voting member of record at least fifteen (15) days prior to the scheduled meeting.

ARTICLE VII - Financing
Section 1. TRC will look to authorized child placing agencies, to federal or private funding, to voluntary contributions and to earned income for its financing.

Section 2. The fiscal year shall be January 1 to December 31.

ARTICLE VIII - Dissolution
Section 1. Upon dissolution of The Right Connection of Montana, Inc. all cash and assets will be transferred to The Montana State Foster/Adoptive Parents Association.

(signed)
____________________________________________________
Debb L. Peterson McClary, President January 25, 2003

Amendments:

1. Article IV, Section 4.
"Signatures of two (2) Board members are required on all checks." [Deleted by majority membership vote, 1/03]

2. Article VIII, Section 1.
"Upon dissolution of The Right Connection of Montana, Inc. all cash and assets will be transferred to The Montana State Foster/Adoptive Parents Association." [Added by majority membership vote 1/03]