Bisbee Fiber Arts Guild By-Laws
May 2013
Article I: Name and Mission
The name of this organization shall be "Bisbee Fiber Arts Guild.” The Guild is dedicated to learning, teaching, and promoting fiber arts.
Article II: Goals
A. Meeting and socializing with those with similar interests.
B. Learning through "show and tell" and talks and/or demonstrations by members and guests.
C. Holding formal classes and workshops with outside and member instructors for members and guests.
D. Exhibiting fiber arts skills and creations to the public for outreach and education.
Article III: Powers
Section 1. The Guild shall have the power to
a) receive, administer, and disburse dues, assessments, and other grants to further its ends;
b) acquire, hold absolutely or in trust for the purposes of the Guild, and to convey property real and personal;
c) publish papers, leaflets, booklets, drafts, or books;
d) hold exhibits and other group events when feasible;
e) affiliate with other organizations; and
f) engage in such other activities as are in keeping with the objectives of the Guild.
Section 2. All contractual agreements shall be put in writing and shall be signed by the President and either the Secretary or the Treasurer.
Article IV: Membership
Section 1. Membership in the Guild shall be open to persons interested in, or actively engaged in the textile crafts. There shall be no discrimination based on sex, race, creed, color, or age.
Section 2. Each dues-paid member shall have one vote in the transaction of the business of the Guild and shall be eligible for any appointive or elective office in the Guild.
Section 3. Non-payment of dues and other abuses of membership shall be handled at the discretion of the Executive Board.
Article V: Meetings
Section 1. General meetings shall be held up to ten times per year, normally in September, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May, and June. Special meetings may be called by the Executive Board.
Section 2. Business may be transacted by a simple majority vote of those due-paid members present at a general meeting.
Section 3. Roberts Rules of Order shall govern all proceedings to which they are applicable upon request of the members present.
Section 4. Notification of any regular or special meetings shall be announced to the members at least five days before such meeting by the Secretary.
Article VI: Officers
Section 1. The officers of the Guild shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Tenure of office shall be two years. Terms of office shall be staggered.
Section 2. The President shall preside at all meetings. With the approval of the Executive Board, the President shall appoint Chairpersons of all Committees; shall be a member ex-officio of all committees except the Nominating Committee; and shall perform such other acts as the title implies.
Section 3. The Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President in the event of absence.
Section 4. The Secretary shall be responsible for the Guild's correspondence; shall keep minutes of all membership and Executive Board Meetings; shall make these minutes available to the members prior to the meetings.
Section 5. The Treasurer shall keep, or cause to be kept, accurate records of the Guild's financial transactions and membership. The Treasurer shall submit monthly reports, showing the beginning balance, debits, credits, and an ending balance, accompanied by a photocopy of the most recent dated bank statement. The Treasurer shall submit an annual report of the cash receipts and disbursements to the Executive Board and the members; and shall make sure that all state and federal reporting requirements are met.
Article VII: Executive Board
Section 1. The Executive Board shall consist of the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the immediate Past-President.
Section 2. The Executive Board shall be responsible for the continuity of the activities and business of the Guild and shall make recommendations to the membership on matters requiring a vote of the membership.
Section 3. The Executive Board shall hold a minimum of four meetings per year, with additional meetings called as necessary. These meetings shall be open to non-voting participation by any member of the Guild.
Section 4. Questions shall be decided by a simple majority vote of all Executive Board members. In the case of a tie vote, the decision of the President shall be final.
Section 5. The Executive Board shall have the power to make interim appointments to fill a vacancy in an office until elections are held.
Article VIII: Elections
Section 1. A Nominating Committee, consisting of three dues-paid members shall be appointed by the Executive Board at the November meeting to present a slate of nominees for approval at the December general meeting.
Section 2. At that time elections shall be open to further nominations from the floor. No one may be nominated without prior consent.
Section 3. All officers elected in December will take office at the end of the January meeting for a two-year term.
Article IX: Finances
Section 1. The fiscal year of the Guild shall be October l through September 30. The membership year shall be from October 1 through September 30.
Section 2. Annual dues shall be payable in October for the year ahead. Members in arrears at the December meeting shall not be entitled to vote, and after notice, will be dropped from the rolls. Reinstatement is accomplished by payment in full of the current year's dues. Dues are not prorated for partial year memberships.
Section 3. Dues shall remain the same unless Executive Board action to change them is approved by a vote of the members.
Section 4. Payment of bills incurred from transaction of Guild business shall be authorized by agreement of a majority of the Executive Board at the request of the Treasurer. The Treasurer and any one of the President, Vice-President or Secretary shall sign checks for amounts over $500; lesser amounts may be signed only by the Treasurer.
Section 5. The income from annual dues, investments, and other sources, shall be available for current uses consistent with the purposes of the Guild.
Section 6. Budgets shall be submitted by the Treasurer and committee chairpersons in October of each year.
Section 7. Funds handled in conjunction with special events of the Guild shall be channeled through the Guild Treasury, whether or not the Guild retains any of the funds.
Section 8. Each Committee shall have jurisdiction over use of funds allocated.