Mission
Alameda Renters Coalition (ARC) is a volunteer-run organization founded in 2014 to empower renters and advocate for economic and racial justice in housing.
Bylaws
A. Definitions and Responsibilities of Members
General Membership is open to Alameda renters and their allies who function within the organization mission, vision, values, and bylaws, including the membership requirements described here. All members must fill out a membership application and be accepted, within 30 days of receipt, by steering committee or its designee. All members must fill out a membership application and be accepted, within 30 days of receipt, by steering committee or its designee. All members must agree to accept communications from ARC. Members may opt out of having their contact information shared with ARC’s partner organizations. All members are encouraged to serve on committees and/or serve as liaisons to ARC partner organizations.
Voting membership is open to members who abide by the general membership requirements in item 1 above and the voting membership requirements below. Every voting member must attend and sign in at a minimum of two qualifying activities per twelve-month period, one of which must be an ARC meeting. Attending an ARC picnic, walking with ARC in the July 4th parade, and speaking at a City Council meeting or writing a letter to City Council for a cause ARC supports is another example of a qualifying activity. All qualifying activities must be trackable. Events are tracked through Zoom or with sign-up sheets, which an officer from the membership committee will provide at events, collect, and record in a spreadsheet. This running record is printed before each event and used as a reference for voting eligibility when a vote is taken. The officer must find a substitute to gather sign-ups for events they cannot attend. Once a member reaches the attendance requirement, they are immediately qualified to begin voting at general meetings. Non-meeting qualifying activities are defined by steering committee annually. General and voting members will be notified of this designation. Steering committee may vote to give voting member status to any general member who doesn’t meet the voting membership requirements. The candidate’s voting member status in general meeting votes is confirmed with a 3/4 vote by steering committee. Once confirmed, voting status is effective immediately.
Voting members are encouraged to pay dues as their means allow. Suggested annual dues are $5. Voting members have the right to vote, with reasonable accommodations as needed, on organizational decisions in accordance with ARC governance documents, such as endorsement of candidates and legislation, electing ARC officers, and organizational policies. Voting members may be in leadership positions on committees, including steering committee. Membership rolls will be maintained by membership committee.
Complaint review process: SC receives and reviews a member complaint, SC notifies and provides opportunity for the affected party/ies to respond, If necessary, SC votes on a resolution. Removal from ARC as a voting member or from a post requires a ¾ vote of SC.
B. Names and Roles of Action Committees
ARC has approved the following committees.
Membership: keeps membership rolls/applications, collects dues, coordinates with the steering committee (SC) and treasurer to tracks event attendance for voting membership
Communications: includes (a) webmaster, (b) person monitoring /responding to social media, (c-d) one or two people answering tenant hotline calls, Facebook messages, and emails, (e) person to send out emails to members. Committee coordinates with SC on content for messaging and services.
Fundraising: coordinates with treasurer and SC on organizational needs. Applies for grants and solicits donations. Works with committees on fundraising events.
Events: plans special events such as annual picnic and July 4th parade for members to earn voting credits. Coordinates with other committees to facilitate their events. Updates both internal and public ARC calendars.
Alameda City Legislation/Oversight
CA State Legislation/Oversight
Tenant Organizing
Seniors & Disabled – Advocacy
Communities of Color – Advocacy
Immigrant Advocacy – Advocacy
C. Definition and Responsibilities of Action Committees
Action committees function within the organizational mission, vision, values, and bylaws. An action committee is defined as having at least three members, effective after the first year of the committee’s existence. An action committee’s name and function cannot be substantially changed without review by the steering committee (SC), because the initial designation has been deemed essential to ARC. Each year, each action committee determines its own chair and SC representative and alternate representative. The committee chair calls meetings and follows up with members’ work. SC representative or an alternate will attend SC meetings and have the right to vote in SC decisions.
Each action committee representative or an alternate must attend general meetings in order to inform membership of their work. The committee determines its own meeting structure and who will carry out the work. Unresolved grievances within committees may be appealed in writing to SC. Excluding ad hoc committees, action committees must meet at least once a month to maintain active status. Meeting is broadly defined, for example in person, online, or conference call. Each action committee will email to SC a monthly written report, including meeting dates, who attended and current, upcoming, and finished activities. Each action committee self-evaluates annually to review progress and goals, and submits a written report to SC.
D. Definition and Responsibilities of Steering Committee (SC)
The steering committee (SC) functions within the organization mission, vision, values, and bylaws. The primary role of SC is to keep the organization functioning and productive.SC is defined as having one representative from each of the action committees plus officers as described in (D). While an ARC member may be in more than one committee and/or may be a voting officer, no one person has more than one vote in SC decisions. A quorum of simple majority (50% + 1) of total SC membership must be in attendance for SC to make official decisions for ARC. A simple majority vote (50% + 1) of SC members in attendance is required to make official ARC decisions, except where noted.
SC establishes organizational policy and coordinates the implementation of goals. SC determines budget and approves/allocates funds for committee activities. SC shall approve official communications, both oral and written, on behalf of ARC. SC shall meet at least once a month. An officer must record minutes including meeting dates, who attended, votes taken, and current, upcoming, and finished activities.
Attendance: If an action committee representative (or their alternate) to SC misses more than 1/3 of SC meetings in a four-month period, a review by SC goes into effect. SC oversees annual review of officers, action committees, and partner-organization liaisons and determine appropriate action. Complaint review process: SC receives and reviews a complaint. SC notifies the affected party/ies and provides opportunity for response. If necessary, SC votes on a resolution. Removal from ARC or from a post in ARC requires a ¾ vote of SC.
SC completes an annual self-review to determine if it is meeting its responsibilities under the by-laws and to determine appropriate action. SC shall select from among its members a SC convener whose duties include scheduling the time and location of each SC meeting, collecting agenda items and drafting meeting agendas, and distributing this information to SC. SC shall select from among its members a general membership convener whose duties include scheduling the time and location of each general meeting, collecting agenda items and drafting meeting agendas, and coordinating with the communications committee to announce this information to the general membership. The general membership convener can choose facilitators for general meetings.
E. Definition and Responsibilities of Officers
Officers function within the organization mission, vision, values, and bylaws. Officers’ roles and responsibilities in the steering committee (SC) include: The treasurer must know FPPC rules. The treasurer has authority to enforce necessary financial recordings in compliance with these rules. The recording secretary records minutes of SC meetings including meeting dates, who attended, votes taken, and current, upcoming, and finished activities. Minutes are to be emailed to all SC members within one week of each meeting. The recording secretary keeps brief notes of general membership meetings and records any official votes.
Officers are to be determined and elected by SC. Term of office is to be reviewed and determined annually by SC. Each officer has only one vote in SC even if they are also an action committee representative. Each committee representative or alternate must attend general meetings in order to have that topic represented in voting and informing general membership.
F. Definition and Responsibilities of Liaisons to Partner Organizations
Liaisons to partner organizations function within the organization mission, vision, values, and bylaws. Liaisons attend the partner organization’s meetings and provide a written report to the steering committee (SC) and general membership within one week of meeting. No person may hold more than one liaison position unless no other approved member is willing to be liaison for that partner organization. Liaisons rotate annually. Every liaison completes an annual self-review and has a review by SC. ARC partner organizations include Alameda Justice Alliance (AJA), Regional Tenant Organizing (RTO), and Tenants Together (TT).