Become A Member

Individual Membership

Anyone can join BAYC.  when you jion BAYC, you are placed on our contact list and we will send you notices about upcoming events,  workshops, and issues that effect young children and their families.   For a Member Profile form, please click here.  Your completed form can be returned by email, FAX, or dropped off at the United Way.

Membership

The Bridgeport Alliance for Young Children (BAYC), is open to all individuals, active and/or interested in addressing the challenges of Early Childhood in Bridgeport and termed "Members."  Members may be Bridgeport parents, residents, elected officials, educators, health providers, businesses, community organizations, state and city agencies, social clubs and other neighborhood-based organizations.  This document is the agreement regarding participation in the Bridgeport Alliance for Young Children, hereafter referred to as BAYC.  Members are requested to sign an Agreement to Collaborate.

Vision Statement

Bridgeport will be a strong community that has the resources and commitment to nurture successful children.

Mission Statement

The Bridgeport Alliance for Young Children will work in partnership with families and the greater community to ensure access to quality early care, education and health services for every child from birth through age eight.

Formed in 2006, BAYC's initial goals are to (1) develop and implement a collaborative infrastructure that includes the voice of parents; (2) solidify political and corporate alignment with the BAYC mission; (3) generate, coordinate, and leverage funding; and (4) enhance and expand services and accessibility to services. 

Benefits of membership in the Alliance:

  • An established infrastructure and sounding board for advocacy and strategy development that is focused on early childhood care and education.
  • Identification of the gaps in services for children, and building the relationships to meet these needs and avoid duplication in investments
  • Information, strategic perspective and collaboration that will facilitate the ability of participants to further the missions of the member organizations.
  • The support and accountability that comes from goals and objectives shared by partners
  • A stronger, more credible voice for advocacy

Responsibilities of Members

  • Partner organizations and individuals agree to participate in quarterly BAYC meetings and in the work of least one standing committee: Parent Partnerships, Mental & Physical Health, Early Care & Education (School Readiness).  Regular participation is important, and organizations may choose to distribute the workload by designating alternate representatives.
  • Facilitate an inclusive process that represents the diverse neighborhoods within the city.
  • Engage with our respective organizations to build a shared community perspective. Bring perspective, build consensus within BAYC and in other roles in the community.
  • Advocate for community action that aligns with BAYC goals.
  • To Search for creative approaches to build community investment in solutions for young children.
  • Actively support BAYC goals and committee work
  • To Move the group forward. Help to build the momentum and sustainability of BAYC strategies, and where appropriate, apply resources or in-kind support.
  • Provide expertise which will help BAYC make decisions.

Resources

Resources required to run the business of BAYC will be generated through voluntary in-kind and financial donations from the participants to the extent possible.  Additional funding will be generated through the collaboration of the membership to request funding through grants or other donations.  There will be no membership dues.

Governance

BAYC's daily operations will be managed through the voluntary leadership of members.  The Steering Committee will be comprised of BAYC co-chairs, fiscal sponsor, standing committee co-chairs, and other voting members as recommended by the nominating committee.  The Steering Committee will have at least 15 and not more than 21 members.

The BAYC Chair shall preside at all meetings of the full Membership and Steering Committee and with the assistance of Vice Chairs shall be responsible for nominating individuals for appointment to Work Groups.  Two (2) Vice Chairs who shall assume the duties of the Chair in the absence of such Chair.  The Vice Chairs shall perform any additional duties assigned by the Chair.  Each Vice Chair shall be assigned to provide Steering Committee support to two (2) of the Work Groups.

Responsibilities of the Steering Committee include such tasks as:

  • Facilitating meetings
  • Facilitating policy decisions
  • Overseeing financial analysis
  • Approving grant applications
  • Approving expenses
  • Monitoring and reporting Alliance progress
  • Submitting progress reports to the Alliance funding sources
  • Managing professional services contracts

 

The Bridgeport Public Education Fund, Inc. shall serve as the fiscal agent for BAYC and will operate according to the terms of the Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement.

Voting

The Alliance strives for consensus.  However, if required, The Bylaws outline the structure where each individual or member organization has one vote, with all votes being equal.  Robert's Rules of Order shall be followed to initiate a vote. 

BAYC members shall vote:

  • To adopt or modify the BAYC mission, vision, guiding principles, Agreement to Collaborate and/or to adopt a position.  In those instances when an endorsement or public statement is requested by two or more members, a special meeting may be called and voting may be taken by secure email.
  • To establish annual goals.
  • To approve the BAYC Budget.  A detail report of all expenditures shall be presented quarterly. 

Participants will be considered voting members if they have a signed an Agreement to Collaborate on file with the Coordinator.  A new Agreement to Collaborate must be signed each fiscal year.

All other Alliance action items shall be decided by consensus.

Signature Authorization

  • Major projects and the annual BAYC budget require approval of the Membership according to our current voting procedures. This will be documented in BAYC minutes.
  • The Steering Committee may approve new contracts that are consistent with the intent of the Community Plan and the Membership
  • This approval can be documented via email or fax.
  • Three Steering Committee member signatures are required for contract approval.
  • A current list of the Steering Committee members will be maintained by the Coordinator, an employee of the Fiscal Sponsor.
  • Contracts/expenses more than $500 must be approved by one (1) co-chair.
  • If the expenses are consistent with a previously approved budget, payment can be authorized by the Coordinator.
  • Partners may not approve contracts or expenses to be paid to them or the organization they represent.
  • If the Chair and both co-chairs are going to be unavailable they may designate signature authorization to another Steering Committee member.
  • The fiscal agent acts as check and balance to ensure that expenses never exceed available funding.

Procedures

BAYC will create a Standard Operating Policies and Procedures manual to govern its functioning.  The manual may be obtained from the Coordinator.