Organizational Structure for AMOS

Mission of AMOS

AMOS is a broad-based community organization comprised of member institutions from throughout central Iowa.  We exist to create a community where all can succeed and to revitalize a strong sense of "active citizenship" among ordinary people.

I. How We Act Together - Leadership Bodies and Meeting Structure

 A. Members - Indivdividuals don't join AMOS as members, institutions do.  Membership is open to any institution in central Iowa whose mission and purpose is consistent with the mission and goals of AMOS.  Member institutions can be religious institutions from all faith and denominational backgrounds, local labor unions, civic organizations or other like-minded institutions.  Becoming a member of AMOS means contributing a dues payment to AMOS and developing a leadership team (core team) who participates in the organization.

B.  Cluster Meetings - AMOS member institutions can form geographic clusters and meet separately as a cluster.  The member institutions of AMOS from the metropolitan Des Moines area form one cluster as do the member institutions from the Ames/Story County area.  Additional clusters can be formed as needed.  The metropolitan Des Moines cluster and the Ames/Story County cluster each hold monthly cluster meetings.  Each member institution can select 2 representatives to participate and vote at the cluster meetings.  Additional representatives from member institutions are welcome as are representatives from potential new member institutions.  Clusters can elect co-chairs to convene and plan cluster meetings.

C.  Central Leadership Team - Comprised of 2 co-chairs elected from each cluster and institutional leaders nominated by each of the clusters, the "Central Leadership Team" is the governing leadership body of AMOS.  They are ratified at an AMOS Assembly.  The clusters nominate the leaders to be on the CLT paying special attention to diversity and balance, demonstrated experience in the organization and commitment to the mission and goals of AMOS.  All CLT members must be members of dues paying AMOS member institutions and should attend IAF national/regional training within one year of being named, if they have not already done so.  Additional members of AMOS member institutions or members of potential AMOS member institutions are welcome to also attend CLT meetings.  The CLT has the authority to appoint a Finance Committee, A Personnel Committee, hire/fire/evaluate the Lead Organizer, approve the organization's budget, carry out the decisions of the organization, build the organization and be responsible for the orgnaization's integrity to its mission.  Membership of the CLT is reviewed annually. * The cluster co-chairs plus 4 at-large membersof the CLT act as the AMOS Board of Directors for legal and fiscal purposes_.  Those leaders are named by the CLT. The CLT would meet six to eight times a year and can call for larger organizations assemblies as needed.

D. AMOS Assemblies- Large AMOS assemblies can be organized by the CLT as needed but should happen at least once a year.  AMOS assemblies are meetings that involve all of the AMOS member institutions and their leaderhship teams.  Assemblies may also involve potential new member institutions.  Organization assemblies can be called by majority decision of the CLT at any time.  The purpose of organization assemblies include but is not limited to: taking action on larger, regional strategies, organizing/kicking off House Meeting campaigns, candidate accountability nights, etc.  Members of the CLT are ratified at organization assemblies as needed.

 E.  Issue Research Teams - Issue Research Teams can be formed and developed by interested leaders from AMOS member institutions as needed.  They would not be stand alone bodies but would be accountable to the CLT.  Issue Research Teams are responsibile for making regular reports (either in writing or verbally) to the clusters and the CLT.

F. AMOS Clergy Caucus- The clergy of AMOS can form a Clergy Caucus and meet as needed for reflection, strategy and action.  AMOS clergy can meet as a cluster or as one body or both.

II. How we Talk with One Another - Communication

A. One-on-Ones - The primary way in which AMOS leaders communicate with one another is through "one-to-one" relational meetings.  Usually a "on-to-one" is scheduled in advance for 30 minutes as a relationship opportunity to get to know one another.  AMOS is a "relational" organization of organized congregations and institutions.  This "one-on-one" relational process should be continued throughout the year by all AMOS leaders.

B. House Meeting Campaigns - From time to time all AMOS member institutions are challenged to participate in a house meeting campaign.  House meetings are small group meetings organzied by each AMOS member institution and its core team where ordinary people come together and tell their stories.  House meetings are led by trained AMOS volunteer leaders or AMOS organizers.  House meetings help AMOS identify new leaders and issue areas that the organization can focus on.  House meeting campaigns should occur every two years or as determined by the CLT.

C. Leaders List/Directory - AMOS will maintain a Leaders List of Directory that will be updated as needed. AMOS clusters can appoint a leader who will take responsibility for maintaining its leader list.  It is the responsibility of the core teams of each of the AMOS member institutions to keep the leader list for their institution up to date.

D. Email Meeting Notices - AMOS maintains an email contact list for its meeting notices.  It is the responsibility of each member organization to add, correct or take names off this email list as needed. 

III. Our Investment in Ourselves - Money/Fiscal Accountability & Leadership Training:

A. The Budget of Amos primarily pays for the time and talent of its Lead Organizer to teach and train leaders as well as the services and resources of the Industial Areas Foundation (I.A.F.) with which AMOS is affiliated.  Congregations/institutions of all sorts are the "Members." The active individuals in each member institution are the "Leaders." AMOS should strive to continually expand the dues base of the organization so that the organization is truly "owned and operated" by its member institutions.  In general, AMOS does not accept government funding.

1. Finance Committee: The Finance Committee is appointed by the CLT and generally meets 10 to 12 times a year.  The primary responsibilities of the AMOS Finance Committee are threefold:

1.Review monthly financial reports with AMOS bookkeeper including  the status of dues and other forms of income and expenses and cash flow for the organization.  Dues checks are made payable to "AMOS" and sent to the AMOS Bookkeeper.  Current AMOS Bookkeeper is John McMichael c/o St. Theresa Catholic Church, 1230 Merle Hay Rd. Des Moines, Iowa 50311-2098

2.Prepare reports for Cluster Meetings and some CLT meetings to ensure fiscal accountability with attention to Member dues.

3. Prepare the annual AMOS budget for approval by the CLT.   

 2. The AMOS Lead Organizer is hired by the CLT or a Personnel Committee they appoint.  The Lead Organizer will work with the CLT and the Finance Committee to allocate his/her time based on the current needs and interests of the organization.

3. The Institutional Dues Plan The dues to become a member institution of AMOS are 1% of the previous year's revenue minus revenue for capital campaigns or school tuition.  It is recognized that some participating institutional memebers cannot and do not start at this level.  The membership dues for congregations and institutions where the 1% formula doesn't work would need to be negotiated on a case by case basis.  Institutions that cannot join at the full 1% rate can join at a lower level with the goal of reaching their full dues payment over time.  The minimum dues payment for any one member institution is $500.00 The maximum dues payment is $15,000.00 per year.

B. Leadership Development and Training:

1. Regional and Local Training - AMOS should strive to offer regular opportunities for local training sessions that teach and re-teach the practices and principles of broad - based community organizing.  Additionally AMOS can work with other IAF organizations in the region to offer more extensive 3 - 5 day regional leadership training.

2. IAF National Training - The Industrial Area Foundation (IAF) offers intensive 6 1/2 day national training every year.  A consistent goal of AMOS should be to send leaders to these trainings every year.

3. Mentoring/Development of Congregational Leadership Teams and Recruitment of New Member Institutions - The primary obligation of membership in AMOS, beyond dues payment, is the establishment of a institutional leadership team (core team) that actively participates in appropriate organizational meetings, identifies and develops leaders from its institutions for the cluster meetings and the CLT, negotiates and pays dues as a member institution and acts as liaison between AMOS and local constituents.