BY-LAWS FOR
THE VILLAGE QUILTERS OF CATONSVILLE, MD, INC.
Revised January 2014
ARTICLE I – NAME
ARTICLE II – PURPOSE
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
ARTICLE IV – MEETINGS
ARTICLE V – OFFICERS AND DUTIES
ARTICLE VI – FISCAL MATTERS
ARTICLE VII – AMENDMENTS
ARTICLE VIII – DISSOLUTION
ARTICLE I – NAME
A. The name shall be THE VILLAGE QUILTERS OF CATONSVILLE, MARYLAND, INC. (Hereafter, the Guild), and is an independent, non-profit corporation.
B. The Guild is affiliated with the National Quilting Association, Inc., and was chartered as Chapter 114 of that association in 1981.
ARTICLE II – PURPOSE
A. The purpose of the Guild is to preserve and promote the art and heritage of quiltmaking through educational and charitable means; to provide fellowship among interested persons in all aspects of quilting; and to enjoy and appreciate each other’s work.
B. The Guild is not organized for personal profit. No part of the net income shall benefit any individual member, except when a member may be hired as a principal lecturer/ teacher.
C. All officers and members agree to abide by the Articles of Incorporation as established by the Corporate Charter for Tax Exempt Status in 2002.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
A. Membership shall be open to anyone who is in agreement with the stated purpose of this Guild, and has paid the established dues.
B. Dues shall be established in spring of the current year upon recommendation of the Executive Board, published in the May newsletter, and voted on by a majority of those present at the May meeting.
C. Dues shall not be refundable.
D. Guests may attend two meetings, paying the required guest fee, and thereafter shall pay membership dues.
ARTICLE IV – MEETINGS
A. Meetings are scheduled for the third Thursday of the month, except for July and August when the Guild does not meet. The President may alter this schedule by notifying the membership one month in advance as well as in the newsletter.
B. When a vote is called, a quorum shall consist of 25 percent (25%) of the membership and a majority vote shall rule.
C. Where the Bylaws are silent, Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall be the parliamentary authority in all cases where they apply.
ARTICLE V – OFFICERS AND DUTIES
Section 1 – OFFICERS
A. The elected officers shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Program Chair. They shall constitute the voting members of the Executive Board.
B. Standing Committee Chairs shall be nonvoting members of the Executive Board.
C. In case of a vacancy, the remaining officers shall appoint a successor to complete the term.
D. No single person shall serve more than three consecutive terms in one office.
E. A Nominating Committee (not including Executive Board Members) shall be established in February of each year by the Executive Board to find new officers-elect, if necessary, and present names to the Executive Board by the April meeting.
F. Officers-elect shall be announced at the May meeting and published in the June newsletter.
G. Officers-elect shall be voted on by a majority vote of the membership at the June meeting and shall assume office after the June meeting.
H. The Executive Board shall be responsible for establishing and maintaining the Standing Rules for the Guild. The Rules shall be published in the September newsletter as well as included in the current directory.
Section 2 – DUTIES
A. President
1. Shall preside at all general meetings.
2. Shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Board and shall call those meetings regularly.
3. Shall be responsible for the December holiday meeting with the help of the Board.
4. Shall be a member of all Standing Committees.
5. The most recent past president shall be an ex-officio member of the incoming Executive Board, without voting rights, for one year.
B. Vice President
1. In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall perform the duties of the President.
2. Shall perform such managerial duties as the President might assign.
3. Shall be responsible for coordinating gift blocks for the outgoing President and any others deemed necessary.
4. Shall succeed the outgoing President for the next year.
C. Secretary
1. Shall take minutes at each meeting of the Guild and of the Executive Board.
2. Shall prepare a synopsis of the minutes and present it to the Guild in verbal or written form, at the discretion of the Executive Board.
3. Shall maintain a copy of the current Bylaws and Standing Rules in permanent record.
4. Shall be responsible for keeping the official papers of the Guild.
D. Treasurer
1. Shall collect and deposit revenues, pay bills, and keep financial records in a timely manner.
2. Shall report the Guild’s finances to the membership in verbal or written form, at the discretion of the Executive Board.
3. Shall be responsible for presenting a budget to the Executive Board for approval.
4. Shall prepare all government forms in a timely manner.
E. Program Chair
1. Shall plan programs for monthly meetings except for December.
2. Shall plan workshops, etc. as desired.
3. Shall coordinate with other groups and guilds as needed, including scheduling raffle ticket sales.
4. Shall be responsible for contacting and contracting any speaker for Guild programs and follow-up with a thank you note.
ARTICLE VI – FISCAL MATTERS
A. No member shall obligate the Guild to any contracts or expenses without approval of the Executive Board.
B. No officer shall approve an expenditure of over $200 without the approval of at least one other elected officer.
C. Two authorized signatures shall be required on all checks exceeding $1,000.
D. All contracts obligating the Guild shall be signed by an elected officer.
E. The checking account shall have three authorized signatures.
F. An audit shall be performed by two Guild members (not Executive Board members) appointed by the Executive Board. Audit shall be prior to the September meeting of each year and when books are passed to a new Treasurer.
G. The fiscal year shall be September 1 through August 31.
H. The Executive Board shall be responsible for reviewing the Treasurer’s proposed budget for the coming year and presenting it to the membership. It shall be available at the September meeting.
ARTICLE VII – AMENDMENTS
A. Amendments to these Bylaws may be proposed by any member and given to the Executive Board in written form.
B. The proposed amendment shall be published in the Guild newsletter twice before a vote is called.
C. Adoption of a proposed amendment shall be by majority vote of members present at a Guild meeting.
ARTICLE VIII – DISSOLUTION
A. Should the Guild be dissolved, any funds remaining in the Guild treasury shall be distributed to a nonprofit organization, qualified under IRS Code 501(c), to be named by a vote of the membership.
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