Greater Birmingham Bead Society By-Laws
ARTICLE I – NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Greater Birmingham Bead Society (GBBS).
ARTICLE II – OBJECT
Section 1. The object and purpose of this society is education and cultural development through participation in and encouragement of interest in the art of beads/beadwork and the promotion of individual members’ works.
Section 2. The object of the GBBS shall be promoted through personal contact, verbal and written communications, including internet resources, meetings, educational workshops, and exhibitions/displays of beadwork.
ARTICLE III – POLICIES
This organization shall be self-governing and self-supporting. The organization may accept gifts and donations from members and other sources without any obligation to its members or the GBBS organization.
ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Any individual who subscribes to the objectives of the GBBS may become a member, subject to compliance with the provisions of these by-laws. The GBBS is non-discriminatory as to race, color, sexual orientation, religion or national origin.
Section 2. A member in good standing upholds the objectives of this organization and is current in payment of dues. Members in good standing shall have all the obligations and privileges of membership including the right to take part in debates, make motions, vote and serve as an officer through election.
Section 3. All members in good standing will receive the GBBS newsletter, membership list, and a copy of the by-laws.
Section 4. A family membership is extended to one adult and anyone in the same household who is under 18 years of age.
Section 5. The Board of Directors shall have the right to remove a member or an officer that exhibits behavior detrimental to or against the interest of the Greater Birmingham Bead Society. The removal requires a majority vote of the Board of Directors. The member or officer having been removed will not be refunded any part of their membership fee. The member or officer having been removed must immediately return all GBBS-related/owned materials in good and working condition.
ARTICLE V – FINANCES
Section 1. The fiscal year of the GBBS shall be January 1st through December 31st.
Section 2. Annual dues shall be set by the Board of Directors and will be used to cover the GBBS operational expenses and adopted projects and programs. They shall not be pro-rated, but shall remain the same through the year regardless of the month a member joins the GBBS.
ARTICLE VI – OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of the GBBS shall consist of a Past President, President, Vice President, Secretary and a Treasurer. Collectively that shall be named the Executive Board of the GBBS. The officers elected by members serve the Executive Board and the GBBS with the same capacities. There will be no election by the Executive Board.
Section 2. The officers of the Executive Board, in conjunction with the Committee Chairpersons, shall collectively be known as the Board of Directors of the GBBS.
Section 3: All officers will be nominated by a formal nomination process and elected by a democratic, written ballot, voting process of the GBBS membership at the September meeting of the current fiscal year. Newly elected officers will officially take office in January of the new fiscal year.
Section 4. Nomination of members for a position as new officers shall be submitted to the Nominating Committee Chairperson in writing. The Nominating Committee shall review the qualifications of each nominee for the office indicated and present the qualified candidates to the GBBS members at the September meeting.
Section 5. The person receiving the most votes shall win the election. In case of a tie, the Board of Directors shall vote and the results of that vote shall determine the election. In the case of another tie, the Executive Board shall cast their vote, and this will determine the final election results
Section 6. Offices vacated during a fiscal year shall be filled for the balance of the year by nominations taken from the floor and voted on by the Board of Directors.
Section 7. An officer, unable to complete the term of office, shall submit a letter of resignation to the Board of Directors at least thirty (30) days prior to resignation. The resignation will become effective on the date the Board approves the resignation.
Section 8. No member shall be nominated or elected to hold more than one office at a time.
ARTICLE VII – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall consist of the elected members of the Executive Board and the Committee Chairs appointed by the President.
Section 2. The duties of the Board of Directors shall be to:
- transact the necessary business of the GBBS between meetings;
- propose changes in the membership dues to the membership;
- conduct other business as may be delegated to it by this organization;
- to promote adopted projects;
- determine date and location of GBBS meetings.
Section 3. Board of Directors Meetings – special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at the request of the President or at the request of a majority of its members. The Board of Directors shall convene at least once each quarter at a minimum.
Section 4. The President shall, in its sole discretion, have the authority to appoint Committee Chairs and to add committees, as needed. A list of the Committee Chairperson’s responsibilities will be provided by the President at the time of acceptance of the appointment.
ARTICLE VIII – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. The President shall:
- preside at all meetings of the GBBS;
- coordinate the work of the officers and committees;
- appoint committee chairpersons, as needed;
- be authorized to sign checks if the Treasurer is unable to do so;
- call meetings of the Board of Directors;
- call meetings of the Executive Board;
- appoint an auditing committee, not to include the Treasurer, to review the books annually or whenever there is a change of Treasurer. The committee shall submit its written report at the next scheduled meeting for action by its membership;
- review and approve the newsletter prior to distribution.
- hold a copy of all the passwords for all GBBS accounts including, but not limited to the website, banking, etc.;
- set agendas for the GBBS meetings and all Executive Board and Board of Director’s meeting.
Section 2. The Vice President shall:
- assume the duties of the President in the absence of the President;
- if the office of President should become vacant between elections, the Vice President shall fill the vacancy until a President is elected for the balance of the current fiscal year;
- be an aide to the President;
- assist all other officers, as needed.
Section 3. The Secretary shall:
- prepare the minutes of all meetings for the greater GBBS membership, as well as the Executive Board and the Board of Directors;
- send communications as directed by the President, Executive Board and/or Board of Directors;
- keep the meeting minutes book.
Section 4. The Treasurer shall:
- have custody of all funds of the GBBS;
- keep a full and accurate account of receipts and expenditures;
- pay all bills on time and sign all checks;
- present a written financial statement at each meeting including Executive Board and Board of Directors meetings;
- shall send members dues reminders in November;
- be responsible for the production and distribution of membership cards;
- submit all financial records to the auditing committee annually;
- pass on financial records to new Treasurer in December.
Section 5. The office Past President shall be automatically filled by the President having served their entire term in office of the previous fiscal year. The responsibilities of this position shall be primarily as consultant and an advisor and shall serve as an honored member of the Executive Board.
Section 6: All officers shall perform the duties outlined in these by-laws and additional duties as assigned by the President and/or the GBBS membership. All communications between Board members shall be in written form and dispatched either by US Postal service or electronic form and shall be carbon copied to all Executive Board and Board of Directors members.
ARTICLE IX – MEETINGS
Section 1. Regular meetings of the GBBS shall be held monthly. Minutes of both the Board of Directors meeting and the GBBS meetings at large will be kept by the Secretary and will be presented for approval vote at the following meeting. All minutes must be signed by both the President and the Secretary and kept in a minute book.
Section 2. Quorum. For voting purposes, a quorum shall consist of members present at a meeting.
Section 3. The regular meeting in December shall be known as the annual meeting and shall be for the purpose of concluding the past year’s business. A financial audit shall be performed and concluded during the month of December and reported to the membership prior to the new treasurer taking office in January.
ARTICLE X – SPECIAL COMMITTEES
Special and standing committees as may be needed to promote the objectives of the GBBS may be appointed by the President, Executive Board, Board of Directors, or the membership.
ARTICLE XI – AMENDMENTS
Section 1. These by-laws may be amended by a majority vote of members present at the any meeting. The changes will be given to the membership one month in advance so that members can have adequate time to review the changes. Absentee voting can be done via email to the BOD and must be concluded one week prior to the meeting date.
Section 2. No by-laws amendment affecting the objectives or purpose of the GBBS shall be permitted
Section 3. Membership shall be informed in writing of the changes to the by-laws at the next meeting.
ARTICLE XII – DISSOLUTION
Upon dissolution of the GBBS, after paying for the debts and obligations of the GBBS, the remaining assets shall be distributed to the charity of choice of the GBBS. None of the funds shall revert to any individual member.
AMENDMENTS
February 2009 Adopted change in meeting night from second Thursday to second Monday evening.
December 2009 Adopted change in meeting location to Dawson Memorial Baptist Church located at 1114 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, Alabama 35209.
December 2009 Adopted change in meeting night schedule to resume on second Thursday of each month.