North River Kindred – Bylaws

Revised on March 23rd, 2019

Article I. Name of Organization

The name of the organization shall be known as: The North River Kindred.
Other names it may go by are: North River Kindred, Norðuráin, Norðurána, Se Norþ Flēot.

Article II. Corporate Purpose

Section 1. General Purpose

This organization exists exclusively for charitable, religious, and educational purposes, including,
for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt
organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding
section of any future federal tax code.

Section 2. Specific Purpose

The North River Kindred is a religious organization operating within the Greater New York City
area that provides faith services and educational programs relating to the Norse and Germanic
Heathen Reconstructionist pagan polytheistic faith. This faith shall also be known through
by-terms such as: Anglo-Saxon Heathenry, Ásatrú, Heathenry, Urglaawe, etc.

The specific objectives and purpose of this organization shall be:

a. To provide religious services in the Germanic Heathen Tradition.

b. To support the spiritual growth of our own kin and incorporate personal gnosis into
a larger North River Kindred tradition.
c. To provide educational programs on heathen folklore and custom through
discussion groups, online forums, etc.
d. To promote the greater regional heathen community through involvement in local
programs and events (i.e. New York City’s Pagan Pride Day), as well as host public
rituals and spiritual gatherings.
e. To foster and develop interfaith dialogue with the local religious community.

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 Article III. Membership

Section 1. Eligibility for Membership

Application for membership within the organization is contingent upon fulfilling the following
forward criteria. Applicant must have:

1. Acceptable and sufficient knowledge and understanding of the lore, and modern
heathen faith.
2. An understanding and be in agreement that the North River Kindred tradition
includes:
a. Honoring the ancestors (both of our blood and beyond our blood)
b. Honoring the Nature Spirits
c. Honoring the Germanic deities including Loki, but not Thursar, Angroboda,
Fenris, or any entities antagonistic toward humanity.
3. No ties to any racist, nationalist, or bigoted organizations.
4. Reached legal adulthood. Members below the 18 ​MUST​ have parental consent upon
applying. Meeting between at least one member of the Kindred’s governing body
(Article V) and parents may be required at parental and/or council discretion.
5. Residency within the geographical region of kindred operations (Greater New York
City Area).
6. An established reputation within the Greater New York City Area as someone of
worth and honor.
7. Sponsorship by an active member of the Kindred.
8. An affirmative vote for 100% of the kindred active members minus one.

Section 2. Annual Dues

No dues are required for this organization.

Section 3. Active Membership Requirements

Active members must:

1. Uphold and advance the specific purpose of the Kindred laid out in Article II – Section 2.
2. Continue to fulfill the Eligibility for Membership criteria laid out in Article III - Section 1
above.
3. Remain in active participation.

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The Council of Gothar [(COG) see Article V] may waive these requirements in special situations,
per case-by-case review.

Section 4. Rights of Active Members

All members shall have the following rights:

1. Attend private Kindred gatherings.

2. Sponsor guests to attend private Kindred events.
3. Vote for Council of Gothar members and for the Gothi-in-Waiting.
4. Run for a position within the COG. Please note, an individual must be a member for one
(1) year before they are able to exercise this option. (Please see Article V, Section 2).

Section 5. Guests

Guest may be admitted to private Kindred activities based upon member sponsorship and
facilitator approval.

Section 6. Hiatus Members

Members may request to be put on hiatus for up to one (1) year. They do not have any of the
other rights of active members. If the member does not resume contact within one year, their
membership shall automatically be transferred to a terminated status. Said member shall be
notified the change in membership by a member of the COG.

Section 7. Former Members

Any member may resign from the organization at any time and for any reason. Such individuals
no longer have any rights of the active members.

Section 8. Terminated Members

Individuals can have their membership terminated by a majority vote by the COG. This applies to
Active Members, Hiatus Members, and Former Members.

Reasons for termination may include:

1. Not fulfilling the active membership requirements (Article III - Section 3).
2. Incarceration due to a violent crime.
3. Misappropriation of Kindred property and monetary funds, including but not limited
to theft or embezzlement.

Terminated members shall not be welcomed at any kindred event.

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 Article IV. Meetings of Members

Section 1. Definition of Terms

1. Kindred Meetings & Events

The kindred shall meet monthly for the purposes of facilitating events and other social
functions. The event should be announced by its facilitator (see below) to the entire
membership with at least two (2) calendar months notice. This is done to ensure all members
have the time needed to rearrange their schedules.

Events may include rituals and Rites of Passage (naming ceremonies, weddings, funerals, etc.) as
well as potlucks and general social outings.

Any events involving monetary exchange or otherwise outward public appearance in any media
platform must be approved by the Kindred’s governing body (see Article V).

2. Event Facilitator

The event facilitator is expected to provide the goal of the event at least one month prior to the
event.

The facilitator is not expected to undertake every task themselves. Delegation is encouraged as
a way to further build fellowship. However, the facilitator is ultimately responsible for ensuring
that all aspects of the event run smoothly.

3. Annual Membership Meeting

The kindred’s governing body shall host an annual kindred membership meeting at the Spring
Thing that will be held in the Spring of each year. It shall be comprised, at a minimum, of the
following elements:

● An opening and closing ritual to Tyr as Lawbringer and God of the Thing.
● Major announcements, such as:
o Kindred goals for the coming year, as set by the Council.
o Reporting on goals and events of the past year.
● Bylaws updates, such as:
o Resolutions presented to the Council, and the Council's determination for each.
o An opportunity for active members to overrule any resolution determination by
the Council. This can be done with approval of 75% of the active members
present.
● Hold elections for the kindred’s governing body (both COG and GIW - See Article V).

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 ● If applicable, a welcoming ceremony to the new members.

Article V. Governance Body

Section 1. General Powers

The affairs of the kindred shall be managed by a governance body known as the Council of
Gothar (herein may also be abbreviated to: “COG” or “The Council”). The COG shall have control
of and be responsible for the management of the affairs and property of the organization.

Section 2. Number, Tenure, Requirements, and Qualifications

The number of COG members shall be fixed from time-to-time, but shall consist of no less than
three (3) nor more than nine (9), and must be odd numbered at all times. Each member of the
COG shall:
1. Be elected by 75% of the active members present at the annual membership
meeting.
2. Be an active member of the kindred for no less than one (1) year.
3. Serve a term of three (3) years.
4. Be actively involved in furthering the purpose of the kindred.
5. Upon election, immediately enter upon performance of their duties and shall
continue in office until their successors shall be duly elected and qualified.
The 3 year terms should be offset and strive to ensure only ⅓ of the COG is elected every year.
This is done to ensure a continuity of knowledge within the COG.

Section 3. Responsibilities

1. Gothar shall be responsible for supporting the facilitators for each event and act as a
resource for them.
2. Gothar shall uphold and maintain the Bylaws.
3. Gothar may be called upon to act as counselors by the general kindred membership
seeking advice.
4. Gothar shall act as facilitators for conflict resolution. Resolution may include steps
up to and including termination of membership (see Article III – Section 8).

Gothar are additionally encouraged to become trained and certified as clergy to more deeply
fulfill the responsibilities outlined above.

Section 4. Gothi In Waiting

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One kindred member, fulfilling all the criteria to be a gothi, will be elected by the kindred
annually at annual membership meeting to act as a Gothi in Waiting (GIW) for a term of one (1)
year. This active member will have no special duties or privileges until such time as a vacancy
occurs within the COG. The Gothi in Waiting shall automatically be placed within the COG to
ensure that there are always an odd number of gothar. Should another vacancy occur before
elections can be held at the annual membership meeting, the GIW will forfeit their position to
once more ensure the COG retains an odd number of gothar.

Section 5. Quorum

The presence (in-person) of at least three (3) COG members shall be necessary at any meeting to
constitute a quorum to transact business, but a lesser number shall have power to adjourn to a
specified later date without notice. The act of a majority of the COG members present at a
meeting at which a quorum is present shall be an act of the COG, unless an act of a greater
number is required by law or these by-laws.

Section 6. Forfeiture

Any COG member who willfully wishes to forfeit their position must notify the COG immediately,
thereby allowing the remaining COG members to fill the position.

Any COG member who fails to fulfill their requirements may be voted to be removed.
Additionally, any financial violations during tenure will result in immediate removal from both
COG and active memberships.

Section 9. Size

The number of seats must remain odd at all times. It shall consist of no less than three (3) nor no
more than nine (9). The COG may reduce or expand its number of seats as needed by a simple
majority vote. The change in size of the COG will take place at the annual membership meeting
as part of the election process.

In extreme circumstances, the COG may reduce its size outside of the annual membership
meeting to mitigate vacancies. This action must be approved by 75% of the kindred members.

Section 10. Vacancies

Wherever a vacancy occurs in the COG, it shall be automatically filled by the Gothi in Waiting.
If there are less than three COG members, a special election must be held to fulfill vacancies
outside of the annual meeting. The structure of this special election shall be determined by the
Council at a Council Meeting. This structure will be communicated to the active membership
immediately upon concluding the meeting.

Section 10. Compensation

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Members of the COG shall not receive any compensation for their services.

Article VII. Amendments

Section 1. Bylaws

The COG may amend these bylaws by unanimous vote (100%) at any council meeting.

Once a year, between the beginning of the calendar year and the Spring Thing, the Council must
vote upon resolutions submitted to the COG by the active membership. These resolutions only
require a majority vote (at least 51%) to amend the bylaws.

Article VIII. Operating Procedures

Section 1. Overview

This section includes a list of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the kindred and COG.
These SOPs are intended to be an organic collection of ideas for how the kindred as a whole
should function. As such, these SOPs can be changed at any time.A majority vote of the COP
shall be needed to add / remove / after the COG SOPs. A majority vote of the kindred shall be
needed to add / remove / alter the kindred SOPs.

It is expected that some of the SOPs enumerated below will transition into the full Bylaws
document.

Section 2. Governance Body SOPs

Below is a collection of the currently active SOPs for the COG.

1.

Section 3. Kindred Body SOPs

Below is a collection of the currently active SOPs for the COG.

1.

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