Model Articles of Organization

RIGHTS OF MEMBERS

All members of the business have an equal vote in the consensus decision making of all (COOP) business matters, except as specifically noted in the bylaws and articles of organization. Members have the right to initiate and formulate policy decision, in accordance with the "General Assembly of Members" section in the bylaws. The bookkeeping and all other business information is to be accessible to members upon their reasonable request. However, financial and bookkeeping records are not to leave the office unless approved by the membership. All members have an equal claim to the available work. In cases where there is a shortage of work, and a surplus of members desiring work, the work shall be apportioned equally. Members have the right to an equal hourly wage. All business tools and equipment are available for reasonable personal use; however, (COOP)'s needs for these tools takes priority over personal use and all tool use is subject to (COOP) Tool Use Policy.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERS

All members must work at least 500 hours per year. An exception to this is described in the section entitled Leave of Absence. Members are required to give the earliest possible notice of vacations or leaves of absence, and to generally coordinate their availability with (COOP) work scheduling needs. Members are to demonstrate integrity in their dealings with any individual or group with whom they are acting as Agents for (COOP). This includes but is not limited to other members, clients, vendors, subcontractors, and building inspectors.

Members are expected to work together to promote a cooperative and supportive work environment. This includes respecting each others' opinions and desires expressed at meetings and job sites, encouraging all workers' input into on-site decisions when appropriate, and sharing desirable and undesirable tasks.

All members should participate in bringing their job to a successful completion. This will necessitate familiarity with the job contract (including change orders) and a general understanding of bid allocations for the various job categories. Members should also be familiar with the order of tasks on their job and assist in the general organization of the work site. Members are expected to have an adequate complement of tools for daily work.

When appropriate, members should assist their job coordinator in administrative tasks such as the recording of material or tool purchases and use of inventory supplies. Members are also expected to sign out all (COOP) tools taken from shop or another job site and to return them to the shop when finished. Workers on each job site should coordinate use of tools with other job sites so that needs are met whenever possible.

All members have the responsibility to participate in the rotation of job coordinators for different jobs. For various reasons the membership may allow certain members to assume this role more than other members, although the membership should strive to spread this responsibility as equally as possible among all members.

(COOP) shall rotate the task of facilitator of the business meetings. The facilitator is responsible for keeping discussions focused on the agenda item being discussed and for maintaining a cooperative approach to the resolution of discussed items. All members present at the meeting have a responsibility to aid the facilitator in these tasks.

RESIGNATION OF MEMBERS

A member may resign his/her membership by delivering a written resignation to the principle office address or to a regular or special meeting of the membership. The departing member shall have the opportunity to address the membership regarding their resignation at a regular or special meeting. This written resignation shall be considered effective upon acknowledgment by the membership. Financial matters pertaining to the departing member shall follow the procedure outlined in the bylaws section, "Termination of Membership".

JOB COORDINATION

All members working in the field are expected to rotate in and out of the position of a job coordinator. The job coordinator is responsible for:

1. familiarity with the job contract and the cost breakdown of the bid.

2. all communication with the client & for recording all significant communication in the job log.

3. recording all job-related expenses with the bookkeeper and for providing the office with any necessary information relating to the job.

4. scheduling all subcontractors.

5. the organization of the work in order to successfully bring the job to completion.

6. informing all workers on the job site of a general description of the work, including the job flow chart.

7. encouraging participation of workers in work-site decisions when appropriate.

8. facilitating sharing of desirable and undesirable work among workers as much as possible.

9. bringing potential or real problems pertaining to the job site to the attention of other members for input towards resolution, especially if such problems could affect the welfare of (COOP).

AGENDA COMMITTEE

The Agenda Committee's purpose is to aid in the formulation and discussion parameters of business policy. A policy issue, initiated by any member, shall be reviewed by the committee, in accordance with the "General Assembly of Members" section in the bylaws. The committee shall outline the various aspects of a potential decision, and if necessary, separate out the major elements involved in the decision. Whenever possible, the committee will make specific recommendations based on their discussion of the policy. The committee will draw up the agenda for the members' business meeting, and include any pertinent or helpful information which would facilitate a discussion among the members.

The Agenda Committee shall be made up of three persons who volunteer or are otherwise selected from the membership. The Committee personnel shall be rotated so that all members have the opportunity to serve on it. At the conclusion of each calendar quarter, the Committee shall change personnel, with one person remaining to serve a second quarter. Committee members are limited to serving two consecutive quarters.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

A member must give notice of a Leave of Absence if he/she is intending to be withdrawn from the workforce for a period between one-and-a-half months to one year. Notice of a Leave should consist of a written statement describing the reason for and duration of the Leave as well as any means of contact while on Leave. This notice should be submitted as early as possible, but not less than one month prior to a leave of one-and-a-half months to 3 months; not less than 2 months for a leave from 3 to 6 months; and not less than 3 months for a leave from 6 months to one year.

While on Leave, a member has no decision-making rights unless they are able to attend meetings where decisions are made. At the remaining members' discretion, an important decision may be delayed in order to elicit the "on-Leave" member's participation.

The minimum annual work requirement of 500 hours will be reduced in proportion to the percent of the year that the member is not on-Leave.