Let it be known that the “Founder” Michael aka “Bear” or “OSO”  will prayerfully as well as having sought godly counsel, appoint the initial Board Members and although he will not continue on as a “regular” voting member after the board is in place, he will have the power to vote as a tie breaker and have the last word regarding “significant issues” which affect this ministry. The Founder will serve as its “guardian” until further notice. The Founder will have the liberty of being a part of any meeting of the board whether it is calendared or an emergency gathering. No meeting shall occur without the founder’s prior knowledge.

The Governing Board will consist of but is not limited too, a President, Vice President, Sergeant at Arms, Treasurer, Secretary, and members at large which every January will step down in order that the local members of HRMM will endure a nomination & voting process using a paper ballet system. The new board voted in may include members who served in the prior year, if that is the consensus of the members. However, no more than 2 (two) members of the same family are permitted to serve on the board at one time in order to maintain fairness and integrity within the ministry; in that, only one may serve in either the position of President or Vice-President.

If for any reason, a board member resigns their position before the next nomination & voting period, then a special vote will take place at the next calendared Patch Holder’s Meeting. The Founder holds the power to excuse any board member from their position if after serious (criminal/unlawful/immoral) behaviors have been proved.* (See Maintaining Order and Discipline section) This does not mean that the particular individual may not ever serve on the board again, however there needs to be a period of restoration, discipline, and any consequences with regard to the law. This ministry will operate under the laws of the state of California and the United States, *unless any such law forces us to be found in rebellion to GOD.

Any position offered to a member (i.e. Head Road Captain, Assistant Road Captain, Tail Gunner, Fundraising & Events Coordinator, Hospitality Coordinator, Historian, Women’s Ministry, Men’s Ministry, Children’s Ministry, Jail Ministry, etc…) will be discussed between the Founder and the Board and agreed upon. Any position given would be warranted by exemplary behavior on the part of the member, demonstrating their devotion to God, their family, church/fellowship, and HRMM – being mindful of maintaining the safety of members and friends and the integrity of the ministry.

No meeting of the board may be held without “proper” notification to the members. For instance a board meeting/patch holder’s meeting shall be endeavored to be held monthly and appear on our website calendar, barring any unforeseen circumstances. Most board meetings can be attended by any member, although there will be specific times that a “closed meeting” will need to be scheduled and referred to as such, in the case of disciplinary actions, etc….. Monthly meetings are not events open to those outside the ministry, unless the visitor has specific motivation to attend, such as a potential member…but all visitors must be cleared by the founder beforehand by telephone, email or in person.

We believe in the “separation of Church & State” in the following manner. The original response letter of President Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist’s intended that instead of church not being a part of government, that on the contrary that the Government IS NOT to interfere with the establishment and/or practices of the church. In this….the government IS NOT to impose any religion on any citizen, but we as Christians have every right to be involved in every capacity of government; further we have the duty to be involved in these activities – especially the voting process.