FCN Charter version 1-2 Adopted Jan 10 2012

1. Federal Communicators Network (FCN) Charter and Bylaws
Version 1.2, last edited 12/25/2011, adopted January 10, 2012
Original Version Adopted October 12, 2011 By the FCN Leadership Task Force*
Article I: Organization
Section 1: Name
The name of this organization shall be “Federal Communicators Network” hereinafter
referred to as FCN.
FCN is a loosely affiliated group of individuals led by federal agency volunteers. It is not
a federally sponsored organization. (Update 12/16/11, DB)
Article II: Program Justification
Section 1: Mission
The mission of FCN is to help federal communicators achieve excellence by providing
free training and opportunities for professional networking, sharing resources and ideas,
and advancing the profession.
Section 2: Purpose
FCN was established in recognition that communication is an essential function for
government activities at all organizational levels.
Our members are dedicated to the goals of improving communication and understanding
among all people, and helping make government more effective.
To achieve these goals, FCN seeks to accomplish the following:
• Provide a resource for sharing best practices in communication in a changing media
environment.
• Improve communication within government and between government and the public
by fostering the dissemination of accurate information regarding federal programs
and projects.
• Promote compliance with the Plain Language Act and other laws related to
communication that affect how federal employees must carry out their work.
• Reduce redundancy and improve government effectiveness by sharing successful
existing templates, presentations, fact sheets, and other information products.
• Promote the professional advancement of communicators in federal jobs through
training opportunities.
• Establish a network of mentors and colleagues willing to offer advice and expertise to
their peers.
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2. Article III: Membership
Section 1. Eligibility
Membership is open to all federal employees and is free of charge.
Prospective members must provide a federal e-mail address so as to receive
communications from FCN and for the purpose of validating their employment with the
federal government.
Prospective members may join FCN by contacting the Chairperson and requesting that
their e- mail address be added to the contact (e-mail) list for the FCN newsletter.
(Subscription to the newsletter is free and open to the public.)
Section 2: Privileges
Members in good standing shall access to all FCN online forums as well as any other
benefits determined by the current Board of Directors.
Article IV: Leadership
Section 1. Board of Directors
A Board of Directors, comprised of Chairperson, Co-Chairperson, and six task force
members shall be elected by the membership at the beginning of each calendar year.
All members of the Board must be members of FCN.
No member of the Board of Directors shall be considered an official representative of
their respective agency.
Section 2. Duties
• Chairperson: The Chairperson shall lead, manage and participate in FCN activities
and will make decisions regarding the operation of FCN where the Board elects not to
vote or is deadlocked.
• Co-Chairperson: The Co-Chairperson shall act in the absence of the Chairperson and
assist the Chairperson in FCN activities.
• Task Force Members: Task Force Members shall be given titles of their own
choosing according to their leadership of specific FCN activities.
• Advisory Board Members: Provide advice and counsel at their own discretion. (DB
12/25/11)
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3. All Board of Directors Members shall:
• Vote on major decisions pertaining to FCN, including amendments to the charter.
Consensus is determined by a simple majority. (12/25, DB)
• Participate in meetings (primarily by phone) regarding FCN governance
• Volunteer 2-4 hours per month to FCN activities, as needed. Board members who do
not participate may be asked to withdraw. (12/25, DB)
Section 3. Term of Office
Board members shall serve for a term of one (1) year or until their successors take office.
Terms shall begin January 1 and run until December 31.
The Chair and Co-Chair may, with their consent and through re-election by the
membership, serve up to three (3) consecutive one-year terms.
Section 4. Nominations and Elections
The Board of Directors of FCN shall be nominated and elected as follows:
• Nominations for all offices will be accepted from the general membership. Members
at large may nominate themselves for elective office, or nominate a colleague.
• Election of Officers and Committee Directors shall take place no later than December
of each year. Candidates with a plurality of the votes are elected.
• Vacancies for the remainder of a term may be filled by Board appointment. Board
members who depart their term of office before the end of the year nominate (12/29,
JV) a replacement to take their place. (12/16/11, DB)
Article V. Meetings
Section 1: Board Meetings
The Board of Directors shall meet a minimum of four (4) times per year.
The meetings will be arranged by consent of those attending, and a written record will be
maintained.
Time-sensitive issues may be decided by the Board by phone or e-mail.
Section 2. Educational Meetings (Training Seminars)
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4. Educational meetings of the membership shall be held at least six (6) times per year or at
the discretion of the Board of Directors.
These meetings can be either in-person events or online events.
Meetings shall be open to all members of FCN.
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Credits
Drafted by Rachel White and Kathleen Taylor. Edited by Dannielle Blumenthal.
Version 1.0 approved by FCN Leadership Task Force (Board of Directors) 10/12/2011
Chair: Dannielle Blumenthal
Approving Task Force Members: Terra Moody, Todd Solomon, Jeff Brooke, Kathleen
Taylor, David Starck, John Verrico.
Version 1.2 approved by FCN Board of Directors (date)
Chair: Dannielle Blumenthal
Approving Task Force Members: Terra Moody, Todd Solomon, Jeff Brooke, Kathleen
Taylor, David Starck, John Verrico.
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