Pulaski LEAH Bylaws

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Purpose
a. Pulaski Loving Education at Home (LEAH) exists to support Christian families in home
education in the Northern Oswego County and Southern Jefferson County area. Pulaski
LEAH members represent a diversity of traditions within the Christian faith and are united
in their commitment to home education. Pulaski LEAH is a local chapter of the New York
State Loving Education at Home (NYS LEAH). As such, its establishment, leadership,
operations, and final dissolution are subject to the oversight of the Board of Directors of
NYS LEAH according to the Bylaws of NYS LEAH.
b. We believe that every family has the God-given legal and constitutional right to home
educate in New York State, regardless of their philosophy of education or religious
affiliation. NYS LEAH is not a church nor is this organization meant to replace the ministry
of the local church to the home education family.
Membership
a. Membership is open to all families homeschooling or considering homeschooling in the
Northern Oswego and Southern Jefferson County area. Members should understand the
Christian orientation of the group.
b. Members must read and accept the NYS LEAH Statement of Faith and Bylaws and Pulaski
LEAH Bylaws.
c. New members will submit an application to Pulaski LEAH for approval by the Leaders and
Members. The applicant agrees to be governed by the NYS LEAH Bylaws and Pulaski LEAH
Bylaws.
d. Each applicant will become a member when their application has been approved by the
Local Board and their dues are paid.
e. As required by NYS LEAH, Pulaski LEAH Leadership (consisting of the Pulaski LEAH officers)
reserves the right to dismiss any member whom Leadership determines has not honored
the Statement of Faith, NYS LEAH Bylaws, or Pulaski LEAH Bylaws; or has harmed the
testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ, home education, the Bible as the word of God, and/or
Pulaski LEAH. Failure to agree to the NYS LEAH Statement of Faith and adhere to the
Bylaws of Pulaski LEAH may lead to revocation of a familys membership without refund
of dues paid, or in suspension from group activities for a period of time, as determined
by the board.
f. Use of the LEAH logo, LEAH name, or group insurance or NYS 501(c) status is prohibited
unless the activity/event is sponsored by a LEAH group.
g. Families considering membership are welcome to visit a monthly meeting and may attend
social events, such as an end-of-year picnic, etc., as a guest of a LEAH member. Only LEAH
members can participate in organized LEAH events that require insurance, such as classes,
field trips, etc.
h. Membership runs from October 1 September 30.
Organizational Structure
a. The Officers of the Local Board of Pulaski LEAH shall consist of the following:
i. Chapter Leader(s)

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ii. Treasurer
iii. Secretary
iv. Educational Planning Coordinator
v. Program Planning Coordinator
vi. Communication Coordinator
Offices may be filled by individuals or married couples. All officers shall sign a statement
that they agree with everything contained within the NYS LEAH Statement of Faith and
NYS and Pulaski Bylaws.
The Local Board shall function as the Coordinating Committee. The Coordinating
Committee shall have authority to set policy, and decide issues that cannot be resolved
by a single Coordinator, oversee spending of any Pulaski LEAH funds, fill vacancies on the
Committee, and call and set the date and place for Membership and Support Meetings.
The Coordinating Committee shall meet no less than three times each year.
Duties
i. Chapter Leader: Shall act as liaison with NYS LEAH and other support groups, act
as legislative coordinator, handle home-school inquiries, be the groups media
contact, and is responsible for the overall functioning of the Pulaski LEAH
organization. The Chapter Leader shall attend Regional Meetings and the Annual
Meeting at the NYS LEAH Convention.
ii. Treasurer: Is responsible to keep financial records, prepare the financial plan for
the organization, submit budgets to the Board, prepare financial reports for the
meetings of the Board and general membership, collect and submit the
membership dues to NYS LEAH by the chapters annual renewal date, collect
sports insurance fees and names of participants and be the organizations
insurance liaison with NYS LEAH, disburse chapter funds upon decision of the
Board, and keep track of budgets.
iii. Secretary: Records Committee meetings and is responsible to notify members of
scheduled meetings, distribute necessary materials and safely store any
necessary documents so they are readily accessible.
iv. Educational Planning Coordinator: Manages Planning Meetings to coordinate
field trips, group classes and other group activities such as concerts and science
fairs.
v. Program Planning Coordinator: Participates in Planning Meetings to coordinate
Adult Support Group Meetings.
vi. Communication Coordinator: Maintains and distributes the member directory
and member newsletter, and works with other board members to keep the group
calendar up to date.
Election of Officers
i. Nominations for Officers will be accepted and organized each summer prior to
the Annual Meeting. Officers will be voted on during the Annual Meeting.
ii. Election shall be by a majority of active parental members present at the Annual
Meeting. Election shall be by private ballot unless there are uncontested
nominations.
iii. Terms of office shall be the same as Membership: October 1 September 30.

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iv. There is no maximum number of terms an Officer shall be permitted to serve.

Membership Dues and Financial Plan
a. The Pulaski LEAH dues structure and financial plan shall be developed by the Treasurer
and approved by the Local Board for the Membership to approve at the Annual Meeting,
in time to submit dues.
Meetings and Activities
a. The Annual Meeting of Pulaski LEAH shall be held in August of each year.
b. The business of the Annual Meeting shall be the election of officers, adoption of and dues
structure and financial plan, adoption of any amendments to the Bylaws and any other
necessary business at hand.
c. Aside from the Annual Meeting, business meetings will be called as necessary. Special
Meetings may be called by Leadership. All members shall be notified of a Special Meeting
at least two weeks prior to the meeting date; the notification shall contain the topics to
be considered. Only these topics shall be dealt with in the Special Meeting.
d. Pulaski LEAH shall provide at least five Adult Support Group meetings each year.
Directory and Newsletter Policies
a. Pulaski LEAH members are not to share their member directories or newsletters with
anyone who is not a member as member names, phone numbers and email addresses in
them are not to be made public.
b. Pulaski LEAH recognizes that member contact information is privileged to members
including but not limited to addresses, email and phone numbers and may not be used
for soliciting, spam or group emails, texting and messaging unrelated to homeschooling.
Field Trips and Activities
a. Field trips taken as a LEAH group will only be open to LEAH members unless otherwise
noted. It is encouraged that families register early to allow an accurate count of those
attending.
b. Details of registration will be managed by the Educational Planning Coordinator.
c. Participants are asked to arrive AT LEAST 15 minutes before departure or meeting time.
If a registered participant cannot attend, the family should notify the contact person as
soon as possible.
d. If there are too few participants, any field trip may be canceled. Registration fees may or
may not be refunded depending on the event.
e. All children must be supervised and act appropriately. It is expected that at least one
parent or designated responsible adult will attend field trips to be with their children at
all times.
f. Members and students will be required to wear gender-appropriate attire and use rest
facilities/locker rooms coordinating with the gender with which they were born, as
determined by God.
g. If any student is injured during the course of a LEAH-sponsored event or activity, a Parent
or Guardian must fill out an Incident Report and submit it for Board review within 48
hours of the incident.
h. Parents should remember and encourage children to be mindful that wherever we are,
we are a testimony to homeschooling, LEAH, and the God we serve. Personal grooming
and dress, punctuality, and respectful behavior and treatment of others is expected.

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Provisions for the IRS 501(c)(3) Classification under the NYS LEAH Umbrella
a. Pulaski LEAH is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational and/or scientific
purposes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code.
b. No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be
distributable to its members, trustees, officers or other private persons, except that the
organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for
services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes
set forth in the purpose clause hereof. No substantial part of the activities of the
organization shall be carrying on of propaganda, or participate in or intervene in
(including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf
of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of this document,
the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a)
by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an
organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal
Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future tax code.
Dissolution
a. Upon the recommendation of the Chapter Leadership a petition to dissolve shall be
submitted to the NYS LEAH Regional Representative. Upon approval of NYS LEAH, this
chapter may be dissolved and its activities closed. After payment of all bills and proper
claims, remaining assets shall be disposed of in cash or in kind by transfer to a similar
home education organization, approved by NYS LEAH, or by transfer to NYS LEAH.

Adopted by a vote of the membership on February 9, 2016

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Chapter Leader, Dawn Ewart

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Treasurer, Julie Reid

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Secretary & Communication Coordinator, Melinda VanRy

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Educational Planning Coordinator & Program Coordinator, Lucy Forrester

NYS LEAH Statement of Faith

Section 1. Preface
Our Statement of Faith includes only those truths upon which all true Christians agree. It concerns the
Authority of Scripture, Deity of Christ, the Person and Work of Jesus Christ (the Gospel) as revealed in
Scripture. It is the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 2, Ephesians 4:5) which distinguishes believers
from non-believers. There are many other precious truths taught in the Bible over which godly men have
differed in understanding. Therefore, this is not a statement of all that is important to believe, but of all
that is essential to believe for Christian fellowship and unity. (Romans 15:7).
Section 2. We believe:
1. The Bible to be the inspired, infallible, divinely preserved Word of God, the supreme and final
authority for all faith and life.
2. That there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. In the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and
atoning death through His shed blood on the cross, His bodily resurrection, His ascension, and His
imminent bodily return in power and glory.
4. That man was created in the image of God, but fell into sin and is therefore lost, and only those
who put their faith in Jesus Christ alone, not trusting in any personal works whatsoever, can be
saved.
5. That salvation is the free gift of God brought to the sinner by grace and received by personal faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose substitutionary death on the cross paid the penalty for mans sin.
6. That the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict mankind; indwell, guide, instruct, and empower
the believer for godly living and service.
7. That God created man and woman after His own Image, and that God has ordained marriage,
consisting of one man and one woman, to be the foundation of the family and to be the only
legitimate and Godly expression of sexuality.
8. In the spiritual unity of believers through our common faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that
individual doctrinal differences which may exist, outside of the aforementioned, should not
hinder the unity of Christian home educators.