Our current by-laws, as amended on May 20, 2026, may be accessed below. They replace our previously existing Constitution.
BY-LAWS OF THE NEW ENGLAND REGION
of
FJMC International
(as amended May 20, 2026)
These By-laws supersede the Constitution of the New England Region of Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs Inc. Previous amended bylaws / Constitutions were created in 2001, 2010, 2013
ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of this organization shall be the “New England Region of FJMC International” (hereinafter referred to as the “Region”). FJMC International hereinafter referred to as FJMC.
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
In these by-laws, Men’s Clubs/Brotherhoods and Individual Members, collectively, are referred to as “Members”.
A. To maintain a regional organization of Jewish Men’s Clubs/Brotherhoods and Individual Members dedicated to the ideals and principles of Judaism, in cooperation with the general aims, purposes and programs of FJMC and for that purpose to organize, sponsor, develop and support such Members.
B. To help build a dynamic Judaism through the joint social, cultural and religious activities and programs by and for the Region and its constituent Members.
C. To implement the policies and objectives of FJMC on the Regional and Club level in conformity with the constitutions, by-laws, standards, guides and resolutions of FJMC.
D. To support participation in the activities of FJMC.
E. To strengthen the bonds among the constituent Clubs, Regions, and Individual Members of FJMC.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
All affiliated Members in good standing with FJMC within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the States of Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine, or any parts thereof designated by FJMC, and which may from time to time be assigned to this Region by FJMC, are hereby designated Members of the Region and shall be as hereinafter set forth. The term “in good standing” as used in these By-laws shall have the same meaning defined from time to time in the FJMC By-Laws.
ARTICLE IV. MEETING OF THE MEMBERS
A. An Annual meeting of the members shall be held in the spring. The meeting may be in-person or virtual.
B. Regular or Special meetings of the members may be called by the President or by majority vote of the Board of Directors (referred to hereafter as the “Board”).
C. Each attendee from an affiliated Men’s Club/Brotherhood which is in good standing in the Region shall be entitled to one vote upon any matter which may come before this meeting, up to five votes per Men’s Club/Brotherhood. If a Men’s Club/Brotherhood has more than five attendees, then each such attendee shall have a fractional vote, the numerator of which is five and the denominator of which is the number of attendees from such Men’s Club/Brotherhood. FJMC Individual Members in the New England Region shall be collectively considered to be its own club for purposes of voting and being counted in the quorum.
D. One or more voting representatives, representing at least one-half of the Men’s Clubs/Brotherhoods in good standing in the Region, shall constitute a quorum for any meeting provided for in this Article IV.
ARTICLE V. NOTICE OF MEETINGS OF MEMBERS
Notice of all meetings, Annual, Regular or Special, shall be given in writing not less than fifteen (15) days before the meeting and said notice shall be sufficiently given if addressed to each affiliated individual at the address for said individual as it appears on the record of the Region. For purposes of this Article V, notice by electronic communication shall constitute written notice.
ARTICLE VI. OFFICERS
A. The officers of the Region shall consist of a President, an Executive Vice President, between three (3) and six (6) Vice-Presidents, a Communications Secretary, a Recording Secretary, a Treasurer and a Financial Secretary. Additional officers may include an Assistant Communications Secretary, an Assistant Recording Secretary, an Assistant Treasurer and an Assistant Financial Secretary. Each of the officers shall be elected for a two (2) year term commencing July 1 of every other year.
B. The duties of the officers shall be as follows:
1. President: The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Region and shall be responsible for the welfare and advancement of the aims and ideals of the Region. The President shall preside at all meetings of the members, the Board, and the Executive Committee. The President shall appoint the chairman and members of all committees. He shall appoint a Rabbinic Advisor and he may also appoint other advisors as he deems appropriate. He shall further perform such other duties as are necessary or incident to his office. To the extent provided for in the budget approved by the Region, the President may, at his sole discretion, make expenditures on behalf of the Region provided that the amount of such expenditures shall not exceed $350 per item. The total of such expenditures shall not exceed $1,000 in one (1) fiscal year.
2. Executive Vice President: The Executive Vice President shall act in the place of the President in his absence in addition to performing such duties as the President may from time to time assign to him. The Executive Vice President is the presumptive successor to the President.
3. Vice Presidents: Each Vice President shall perform such duties as the President may from time to time assign to him.
4. Communications Secretary: The Communications Secretary shall be responsible for (i) the giving of notices of regional meetings of the Members and the Board, (ii) corresponding with FJMC and the Members and (iii) keeping the Region’s electronic communication system current. He shall be responsible for obtaining the names and addresses of the officers of each affiliated Men’s Club/Brotherhood in the Region from the custodian of that record for each such affiliated Men’s Club/Brotherhood. Additionally, he shall perform such other duties as the President may from time to time assign to him. If there is an Assistant Communications Secretary, the Communications Secretary shall designate those of his duties to the Assistant Communications Secretary as the Communications Secretary deems appropriate.
5. Recording Secretary: The Recording Secretary shall be responsible for keeping full and accurate minutes of the regional Members and the Board meetings, and shall send a copy of such minutes to each member of the Board, not later than three (3) weeks after each such meeting. If there is an Assistant Recording Secretary, the Recording Secretary shall designate those of his duties to the Assistant Recording Secretary as the Recording Secretary deems appropriate.
6. Financial Secretary: The Financial Secretary shall ensure that all clubs and Individual members are paying their FJMC dues in a timely manner. He shall also ensure that all clubs are updating their rosters with FJMC in a timely manner, so as to ensure that they are billed correctly. If there is an Assistant Financial Secretary, the Financial Secretary shall designate those of his duties to the Assistant Financial Secretary as the Financial Secretary deems appropriate.
7. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall make payments where necessary upon approval and direction of the President for all proper obligations of the Region, which payments shall be made promptly so as not to adversely affect the credit of the Region. He shall prepare a preliminary annual financial statement and submit the same to the President within thirty (30) days after the end of each fiscal year. He shall also prepare a final annual financial statement and submit the same to the President before the last day of the calendar year in which each fiscal year ends. He shall maintain a checking account in the name of the Region in addition to any additional accounts authorized by the Region. All receipts of the Region shall be deposited in said account(s) and all disbursements shall be made by check or electronic transfer from said account(s). The Treasurer and the President (and Assistant Treasurer, if there is one) are authorized for withdrawals, issuance of checks, and electronic transfers. He shall also provide such financial information about the Region as the FJMC Treasurer may request. He shall, annually, prepare a budget, to be approved by the Board, prior to the start of each fiscal year. The budget shall be a proposed budget for the new fiscal year, and a draft budget for the following year. If there is an Assistant Treasurer, the Treasurer shall designate those of his duties to the Assistant Treasurer as the Treasurer deems appropriate. In case no budget is presented in a timely manner the draft budget created the prior year will be considered in effect.
ARTICLE VII. VACANCIES AND ASSISTANT OFFICERS
A. In the event that the office of President should be vacated, the Executive Vice President will assume that position and shall serve as President for the unfulfilled term until the next election. The new President will appoint one of the remaining Vice-Presidents, with the approval of the Board, to serve as Executive Vice President until the next election. In the event that the office of Executive Vice President should be vacated, the President will appoint one of the Vice-Presidents, with the approval of the Board, to serve as Executive Vice President until the next election.
B. In the event that any office other than the President and Executive Vice President should be vacated, the President, with the approval of the Board, may appoint a member in good standing from one of the Members to serve the unexpired term of the vacated office.
C. If the President deems it advisable and the office is unoccupied, he may appoint an Assistant Communications Secretary, an Assistant Recording Secretary, an Assistant Treasurer and/or an Assistant Financial Secretary, subject to approval of a majority of the Board.
ARTICLE VIII. PARLIAMENTARIAN
A. The President shall appoint a Region Parliamentarian. The Parliamentarian shall be knowledgeable on procedures described in Robert’s Rules of Order. The Parliamentarian shall be well-versed in these Region By-laws.
B. The Parliamentarian shall advise the presiding officer at Board meetings and meetings of the Region’s members on points of order, appeals, and parliamentary inquiries during such meetings.
C. The Parliamentarian shall advise the presiding officer at Board meetings and meetings of the Region’s members on rules of the Region described in these By-laws.
D. The Parliamentarian may be called upon by the President and the Executive Committee to Chair a By-laws Review Committee.
ARTICLE VIX. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A. The Board of Directors (the “Board”) shall consist of the President, the Executive Vice President, each of the Vice-Presidents, the Communications Secretary, the Recording Secretary, the Treasurer, the Financial Secretary, the Assistant Communications Secretary, the Assistant Recording Secretary, the Assistant Treasurer and the Assistant Financial Secretary (to the extent these Assistant posts have been filled), the General Members and all Past Presidents provided that each Past President remains an FJMC member in good standing. All Board members shall be entitled to vote on all issues coming before the Board. If a Past President misses more than three consecutive Board meetings, he shall no longer be entitled to vote at Board meetings, though he still remains a member of the Board. Thereafter, if a non-voting Past President attends three consecutive Board meetings, he will then regain Board voting privileges.
B. The Parliamentarian shall be a non-voting member of the Board. However, if he is a voting member by virtue of some other position he holds, he shall retain the right to vote at Board meetings.
C. Any action taken by the Board must be approved by a majority of its members present in the presence of a quorum, as defined in item E.
D. The General Board Members shall be selected by the President in consultation with the other members of the Board. In addition, at the request of the president of a Men’s Club/Brotherhood in good standing, he may request, to the President of the Region, to be appointed as a General Member of the Board. The term of each General Board Member shall commence on the date he is appointed and shall end on the following June 30. General Members will be selected to fill perceived Board needs and to ensure that all affiliated Men’s Clubs/Brotherhoods which are in good standing and desire representation on the Regional Board have such representation.
E. The quorum for the Board will be seven (7) voting members.
ARTICLE X. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
A. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, the Executive Vice President, each of the Vice-Presidents, the Communications Secretary, the Recording Secretary, the Treasurer, the Financial Secretary, the Assistant Communications Secretary, the Assistant Recording Secretary, the Assistant Treasurer and the Assistant Financial Secretary (to the extent these Assistant posts have been filled), and the Immediate Past President of the Region.
B. The Executive Committee shall work with the President to define committees for the region, committee chairs, and staffing of committees.
C. The Executive Committee will work with committees to define key decisions for committee functions, such as event pricing, venue, constraints, etc., ensuring that decisions fall within the budget approved by the Board and is consistent with any other decisions approved by the Board.
D. The Executive Committee shall assist the President in setting the agenda for upcoming meetings of the Board and any meetings of the members of the Region, and preparing content for those meetings.
ARTICLE XI. PROCEDURES FOR NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS
A. Not less than ninety (90) days prior to the Annual Meeting of the member Men’s Clubs/Brotherhoods, the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee of four members in good standing plus the immediate Past President. No member Men’s Club/Brotherhood shall have more than one representative, and there shall be no more than one Individual Member appointed to the committee. The immediate Past President shall serve as chairman of the Nominating Committee.
B. Nominations for any office shall be selected from members in good standing from member Men’s Clubs/Brotherhoods or Individuals Members within the Region.
C. In addition to including nominations for the offices of President, Executive Vice President, Vice-Presidents, Communications Secretary, Recording Secretary, Treasurer and Financial Secretary, the report of the Nominating Committee shall also include a recommendation as to whether or not one or more of the offices of Assistant Communications Secretary, Assistant Recording Secretary, Assistant Treasurer and Assistant Financial Secretary should be filled and, if so, the nominees for such offices.
D. The report of the Nominating Committee must be sent by US mail or e-mail to all member Men’s Clubs/Brotherhoods and the Board at least fifteen (15) days prior to the election which shall take place at the Annual Meeting.
E. Nominations for any office may also be made by petition signed either physically or electronically by officers of at least four member Men’s Clubs/Brotherhoods in good standing and filed with the Recording Secretary or from the attendees in good standing at the Annual Meeting.
F. The President may not be elected for more than two (2) terms. A President may, additionally, serve out the conclusion of the term of his predecessor, if the office becomes vacant.
ARTICLE XII. COMMITTEES
A. The President shall appoint such committees as the President and the Executive Committee determine are necessary or appropriate to perform the duties and carry out the functions of the Region.
B. The President, in consultation with the Executive Committee, shall appoint the Chairs and Deputy Chairs of each Committee.
C. Committees shall have the authority, in consultation with the Executive Committee, to define details of programming, pricing, and venue for programs for which they are formed.
ARTICLE XIII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
A. All meetings of the Members and Board shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order, except as specifically provided for herein.
B. The fiscal year shall be from September 1 through August 31 of each calendar year.
C. All assets of the Region shall stand in the name of New England Region of FJMC International.
D. It shall be the responsibility of the outgoing President to deliver the regional assets to his immediate successor.
E. It is the intent that the term of officers aligns with the two-year terms of FJMC International officers.
ARTICLE XIV. AMENDMENTS
These By-laws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of all voting representatives present and voting at any meeting of the Members, provided that no less than fifteen (15) days prior notice of such proposed amendment shall have been sent by US mail or e-mail to the President of each affiliated Men’s Club/Brotherhood in good standing in the Region.
ARTICLE XV. DISPOSITION OF FUNDS, DISSOLUTION OF THE REGION, POLITICAL ACTIVITY
A. Upon dissolution of the Region, the governing body of the Region shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all liabilities of the Region, return all remaining assets of the Region to FJMC, unless FJMC should no longer exist, in which case the governing body shall dispose of all assets of the Region exclusively to the successor organization of FJMC, if such an organization exists, or, if that is not possible, for Jewish religious or Jewish charitable purposes.
B. No part of the net earnings of the Region shall inure to the benefit of, or to be distributed to, its Members, trustees, officers, other private persons, except that the Region shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of its purposes.
C. No substantial part of the activities of the Region shall be carried on to influence legislation, and the Region shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publication or distribution of statements), any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office or in any other activity that might adversely affect the status of the Region as an organization exempt under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code or any amendments thereto.
ARTICLE XVI. INDEMNIFICATION
The Region shall, to the extent legally permissible, and only to the extent that the status of the Region as an organization exempt under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code or any amendments thereto is not adversely affected thereby, indemnify each of its trustees, officers, employees and other agents (including persons who serve at its request as trustees officers, employees or other agents of another organization in which it has interest) against all liabilities and expenses, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise of claims, as fines and penalties, and counsel fees, reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, in which he or she may be involved or with which he or she may be threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of being or having been such trustee, officer, employee or agent, except with respect to any proceeding not to have acted in good faith; provided, however, that as to any matter, disposed of by a compromise payment by such trustee, officer, employee or agent, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise, no indemnification either for said payment or for other expenses shall be provided unless such compromise shall be approved as in the best interest of the Region, after notice that it involves such indemnification by a disinterested majority of the governing board, provided that there has been obtained an opinion in writing of an independent legal counsel to the effect that such trustee, officer, employee or agent appears to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that his or her action was in the best interests of the Region. Expenses, including counsel fees, reasonably incurred by any such trustee, officer, employee, or agent in connection with the defense or disposition of any such action, suit or other proceeding may be paid from time to time by the Region in advance of the final disposition thereof upon receipt of an undertaking by such individual to repay the amounts so paid to the Region if he or she shall be adjudicated to be not entitled to indemnification under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 180, Section 6. or any amendments thereto. The right of indemnification hereby provided shall not be exclusive of or affect any other rights to which any trustee, officer, employee or agent may be entitled. Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to indemnification to which Regional personnel may be entitled by contract or otherwise under law. As used in this paragraph, the terms “trustees”, “officer”, “employee”, and “agent” include their respective heirs, executors and administrators, and an “interested” trustee is the one against whom, in such capacity, the proceedings in question or another proceeding on the same grounds is pending.
Respectfully Submitted,
By-laws Committee:
Martin Paley, President
Stephen Shrago, Executive Vice President
Kenneth Turkewitz, Chair
Paul Davidson
Richard Gray
Howard Kaufman
Mark Rudin