| ARTICLE I |
This organization shall be known as the PITTSBURGH BONSAI SOCIETY. |
| ARTICLE II |
Purpose of this Society shall be to bring together at frequent
intervals, those who are interested in the art of Bonsai. To
disseminate knowledge, encourage others and Generally create interest
and exchange information in the art of Bonsai through lectures and
demonstrations |
| ARTICLE III |
| Section 1 |
All persons interested in Bonsai shall be eligible for membership
in the Society and become members upon payment of dues and shall
receive a Membership Card and a copy of the Bylaws. |
| Section 2 |
Each member in good standing whose dues are paid in full for the
current year shall be entitled to one vote on all matters brought
before the Society and each member may vote by proxy. A member
who votes the proxy must vote in accordance with the written
instructions of the absent member. All written proxies shall be
turned over to the Secretary at the conclusion of the voting. |
| Section 3 |
There shall be two (2) classes of membership; individual and
honorary. The amount of dues shall be recommended by the Board of
Directors and approved by the membership. All dues are payable in
advance in January. Dues must be paid by the March meeting or
thereafter become delinquent. If a member's dues are not paid by
March 31, the member shall be notified in writing by a notice
included in their April newsletter. If the dues are not paid by April
30 the members name shall be removed from membership. |
| ARTICLE IV |
| Section 1 |
The officers of the Society shall be President. Vice-President, Recording
Secretary. Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer. The officers shall be
elected by ballot or voice. The term of office shall be one year from the
first day of January of each year through the last day of December of each
year. No member shall hold more than one office at a time. No member shall
be eligible for the same office for more than two consecutive
terms. |
| Section 2 |
The Board of Directors of the Society shall consist of the officers,
Chairman of all Standing Committees and the immediate Past-President. Chairman
of the Standing Committees appointed by the President shall be; Publicity,
Membership, Education, Annual Exhibit and Sale and Finance/Development.
A Program Co-Chairman is to be appointed by the Vice-President. The Board
of Directors shall meet at least once each quarter. Other meetings may
be called by the President and must be called at the written request of
three (3) members of the Board of Directors. A quorum of the Board of Directors
shall consist of six (6) members. All actions and recommendations of the
Board of Directors shall be reported to the membership at the next regular
meeting. |
| ARTICLE V |
| Section 1 |
The President shall have general superintendence of the affairs of
the Society, shall preside at all meetings, shall keep informed of all
work of the Society and shall make such reports of the members to the Board
of Directors as may be deemed necessary or as the Board of Directors may
require- The President shall be a member ex-officio of all committees except
the Nominating Committee and upon retirement becomes a member of the Board
of Directors for a one year term. |
| Section 2 |
The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President in the
absence of the latter or whenever the President may be unwilling or unable
to perform the duties of his office. In addition, by virtue of the office
the Vice-President will automatically become Co-Chair-man of the Program
Committee. |
| Section 3 |
The Recording Secretary shall be responsible for keeping accurate,
properly recorded minutes of all meetings including those of the Board
of Directors and of all Annual or Special meetings of the
membership. |
| Section 4 |
The Corresponding Secretary shall be responsible for the preparation
of the Monthly Newsletter and any other official correspondence of the
Society as the Board of Directors and/or President shall
authorize. |
| Section 5 |
The Treasurer shall be responsible- for the receipt of all monies and
shall pay out by check only. All checks are to be signed by both the Treasurer
and the President. The Treasurer shall keep a book record of all monies
of the Society that are received and disbursed and shall render a financial
report as the Board of Directors shall require. The Treasurer shall present
a written report at each meeting and an annual report at the last meeting
of each year which subsequently shall be examined and certified by an Auditing
Committee appointed by the President. The Treasurer shall submit to the
Board of Directors an annual budget which shall be held to by all Officers
and Committees. The fiscal year I shall be from the first day of January
of each year through the last day of December. |
| Section 6 |
The primary functions of the Standing Committees of the Society are
as follows:
-
PROGRAM - Arrange monthly programs and workshops
-
PUBLICITY - Advertise monthly meetings and all special events
-
MEMBERSHIP - Encourage prospective members and generally create interest
in the Society
-
EDUCATION - Disseminate information on Bonsai
-
FINANCE/DEVELOPMENT - Raise funds and plan special projects
-
ANNUAL EXHIBIT AND SALE - Coordinate annual exhibition and sale
|
| ARTICLE VI |
The meetings shall take place on the third Wednesday of each month
at 2 time and place selected by the Board of Directors with the approval
of the membership- The annual meeting for the election of the officers
shall be held in October. Two months prior to this meeting the
Board of Directors shall select a Nominating Committee of three
members who shall present a slate at the September meeting to be
voted on at the October meeting. At the time of election,
nominations from the floor will be in order. If the slate presented
by the Nominating Committee contains one name only for each office
and there are no nominations from the floor, this shall constitute
an election. If more than one name for any office appears on the
slate and/or nominations from the floor are added, election will be
by ballot. |
| ARTICLE VII |
Seven members, two of whom shall be officers, shall constitute a quorum
for the Society if the membership is twenty or under. If the membership
is over twenty, then one-third of the membership shall constitute a quorum. |
| ARTICLE VIII |
The order of Business at all meetings of the Society shall be as follows:
-
Meeting called to order
-
Reading of the minutes of the previous meeting
-
Treasurer's Report
-
Reports from standing Committees
-
Additional Committee Reports
-
Unfinished Business
-
New Business
-
Adjournment of Business Meeting
-
Program
|
| ARTICLE IX |
Robert's Rules of Order, revised, shall be the parliamentary authority
for the Society |
| ARTICLE X |
These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed by the membership
of the Society at any stated meeting by an affirmative vote of two-thirds
of the members present and voting, provided notice of the meeting and a
copy of the proposed amendments have been submitted in writing at the previous
meeting. |