Purpose
The purpose of this activity is to determine the appropriate administrative structure for your recovery organization.
Why?
Once a Long-Term Community Recovery Organization has been activated or established, the recovery leader and members of the recovery organization, along with other relevant stakeholders, establish bylaws, policies, and procedures according to which the organization operates. Just like the communities they represent, community recovery organizations are made up of stakeholders of varied backgrounds and with different interests, goals, and objectives. The outlining of practices and policies both increases the operational efficiency of the organization and reduces the likelihood of unresolved conflict.
When?
Ideally, bylaws, policies, and procedures for recovery coordination are established as part of a pre-disaster recovery planning effort. However, without an existing recovery framework, these should be formalized prior to or upon the establishment of the community recovery organization. (Days 31-60)
How does my community do this?
- Determine who will draft the organization’s bylaws, and who will approve them. The first step of a recovery organization is for chairs or leadership to meet and make basic decisions about the organizational structure and provisions, including meeting time logistics, selection of organization leadership, and establishing the mission, goals, and objectives of the organization. See a template.
- Write a first draft of the bylaws for review and allow for member input. See the Additional Guidance section for more information.
- Approve bylaws through member consensus. Consider using the “I can live with it” baseline where members work to agree on bylaws by consensus. If a dispute arises, members must consider if they can “live with it”. If not, it is their responsibility to create an alternative proposal. Work through outstanding issues in this manner until the members reach a consensus. See the recovery organization bylaws template.
- Assess and update bylaws periodically. Changes are to be expected as the recovery process progresses. Making space and time to update the bylaws will help keep up with these changes.
Community Call Out: Black Forest, CO
Black Forest Together, Inc. is a long-term community recovery organization formed by citizens of Black Forest to facilitate recovery from the 2013 Black Forest Fire. The community established this organization as a tax-exempt 501(c)3 charitable organization effective August 15, 2013.