West Michigan Potters Guild

Constitution

 

Article I – Name

 

   The name of this organization shall be the “West Michigan Potters Guild.”

 

Article II – Objectives

 

1.         Aims

   a.          To provide a stimulating and inspirational discussion of problems, interests, and successes;

                toward the goal of mutual improvement of ceramic skills.

   b.          To arouse interest and acquaint the general public with standards, ethics, and appreciation

                of ceramic art.

   c.          To work for the improvement of standards in all areas where ceramic art is involved.

 

2.         Means

   a.          Lectures

   b.          Discussions, seminars, and workshops.

   c.          Group exhibitions.

 

Article III - Membership

 

1.         Membership is open to all persons interested in the aims of the organization.

 

2.                 Memberships shall be Individual, Studio and Newsletter Only. Individual membership is defined

           as one person, Studio Membership is 2 persons sharing a common address, and Newsletter Only

           is one person who is on the mailing list to receive the monthly newsletter. Studio membership

           shall entitle the studio members to one copy of the newsletter to be shared.

 

Article IV – Officers

 

1.         Board

   a.          The governing board of the organization shall consist of the elected officers.

   b.          The retiring president shall serve on the board for one additional year (beyond the regular

                term) in an advisory capacity, with voting privileges.

   c.          The retiring vice-president shall serve on the board for one additional year (beyond the

                regular term) in an  advisory capacity, with voting privileges.

   d.          The governing board of the organization shall consist of the elected officers and those

                additional  members appointed to the board by the officers, including the immediate past

                president, the immediate past vice president and the Spring and Fall Show chairpersons.

                A minimum of 8 persons will make up the board, with voting privileges

 

2.         Officers

   a.          President; Vice President/Chairperson of Program; Secretary, who shall also act as

                Chairperson of memberships; and Treasurer.

   b.          All officers will assume the duties of their office as set down in the by-laws.

   c.          All officers will continue in office for one term. (Two years.)

   d.          Officers must not serve again for a minimum of one year before being considered for

                reelection.

 

Article V – Meetings

 

1.         General Meetings

   a.          All general meetings shall be called by the President with advanced notification sent to all

                members a  minimum of 10 (ten) days prior to the meeting.

   b.          A minimum of five general meetings shall be held, including the annual meeting, which

                shall be held in May of each year and a fall meeting in September for the discussion of

                programs and plans.

   c.          The maximum number of meetings shall be at the discretion of the acting officers of the

                group.

 

Article VI - Quorum

 

1.         General Meetings

   a. A simple majority of those present at a general meeting shall constitute a quorum at any general

       meeting.

 

Article VII – Amendments

 

1.         This constitution may be amended at any general meeting. The proposed amendments must

            be submitted in writing at a previous meeting or received in mail by the membership 10 (ten)

            days before the vote. A simple majority of the quorum of the members present is necessary.

 

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

 

First Amendment

 

Article VIII. Proper Dissolution Clause

 

Section 1. No Dividend shall be declared or paid to any member of the guild nor shall any member

upon dissolution of the guild for any reason be entitled to receive a distribution or any share of the

assets then owned or held by the guild.

 

Section 2. It is expressly understood that the guild is not formed for profit and does not contemplate

monetary gain, profit, or dividends for its members.

 

Section 3. The guild shall be operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes and no

part of its activities shall attempt to influence legislation.

 

Section 4.Upon liquidation, dissolution, or abandonment of the guild, all assets of the guild shall be distributed

to such organization or organizations as determined by the board of directors which are

then tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the 1954 Internal Revenue Code, as amended, or the

corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue Law.

 

WEST MICHIGAN POTTERS GUILD - By Laws

 

Article 1 - Membership and Dues

1.         Members

   a.         A “member in good standing” is one who has paid dues for the current fiscal year, and

               attends a minimum

               of three general or board meetings or earns an equal number of meeting credits for special

               activities announced by the Board from time to time during the preceding fiscal year.

               Members may also combine meeting attendance and activity credits totaling three (3)

               to achieve “member in good standing” status.  A “member in good standing” may apply

               to participate in any Guild-sponsored show and will be given priority in acceptance

                of application over other members in accordance with the application process and

               procedure in effect for that show.

 

   b.          A member who has not attended sufficient meetings or earned the equivalent meeting

                credits in the preceding fiscal year to be considered “in good standing” may apply for

                participation in a guild-sponsored show, however, a higher booth fee may apply. The

                member can send a written appeal to the board three months prior to the guild-sponsored

                show for a waiver of the higher fee. The Board shall consider each  petition individually on

               a case-by-case basis.

 

2.         Privileges of Members

   a.          To participate in and vote in the general meetings of the guild.

   b.          To receive notices and information distributed by the guild.

   c.          To attend meetings and functions of the guild.

   d.          Members may vote by absentee ballot.

   e.          A presenter at a general meeting will receive double meeting credit for that meeting.

 

3.         Dues

   a.          The Membership year (also referred to as the Guild’s Fiscal Year) runs from June 1 to May 31 of

               the following calendar year.

 

   b.          Membership dues are payable on June 1. Each member is responsible for the timely

                payment of dues. The Guild may publish dues reminder notices in the newsletter, but no

                individual invoices or notices will  be sent or reminder calls made for dues collection.

   

 

   c.         Amount of dues shall be established by a majority vote of the membership at the annual

               May business  meeting. Any proposal to change the dues structure or amount shall       

              be published in the newsletter in advance of the business meeting to facilitate absentee

                voting by members unable to attend the meeting  in person.

  

d.                   Dues for members joining after December 1 shall be one-half of the annual dues.

 

e.         Membership shall be considered lapsed if dues for the fiscal year are not received by the

            Treasurer on or before July 31. Lapse of membership will result in the member being

            dropped from the Guild’s mailing and membership list, and deletion of any contact

            information and images published on the Guild’s  website. A member may reinstate a lapsed

            membership at any time be remitting full payment of annual dues to the Treasurer, however,

            “member in good standing” status will not apply to any Guild shows during that fiscal year.

            Membership status shall be re-established for the year in which dues are paid, and prior

            membership shall not be considered for priority acceptance of application to a Guild

            sponsored  show.

 

Article II - Governing Board of Officers

 

1.         The officers of the Guild shall constitute the Governing Board.

2.         The Governing Board shall have general supervision over the affairs of the Guild between

            business meetings. It is subject to the orders of the Guild membership, and none of its acts

            shall conflict with the orders of the Guild.

3.         Elected officers have priority in booth space assignments at any guild-sponsored show.

 

Article III - Duties of the Officers

 

1.         President

   a.          To call meetings of the Governing Board.

   b.          To correlate the activities of the Governing Board.

   c.          To preside at all general and business meetings.

   d.          To appoint committees as necessary.

   e.          To arrange for the place, time and date of the general meetings.

   f.            To give information about meetings to the secretary.

 

2.         Vice-President/Program Chairperson

   a.          To attend all meetings.

   b.          To organize the program of all general meetings.

   c.          To provide a projected program schedule, with dates at the Fall meeting.

   d.          To oversee grant writing.

   e.          Stand in for other board members in their absence.

   f.            Will vote to break a tie vote at an officer election.

 

3.         Secretary and Membership Chairman

   a.          To attend all meetings.

   b.          To keep and file all the minutes of the previous meetings and board meetings.

   c.          To read the minutes of the previous meetings and proposals of the Board and the

                General meetings.

   d.          To keep a copy of the Constitution and By-laws available at all meetings.

   e.          To keep an up-to-date list of members for mailings and other purposes.

   f.           To direct all special mail to Committee Chairpersons.

   g.          To enroll new members.

   h.          To print and mail meeting notices 10 (ten) days in advance of each meeting.

   i.           To publish the guild newsletter monthly with the possible exception of July. The newsletter

                shall contain:

               ●          Calendar of meetings and upcoming events.

               ●          Quarterly financial statements and any special financial statements.

               ●          Minutes of meetings.

               ●          Proposals for consideration prior to a vote of the general membership.

               ●          Up-dated membership list, published annually in September.

               ●          Other general information of interest to the membership.

 

4.         Treasurer

   a.          To receive and disburse funds, and keep adequate financial records.

   b.          To renew legal organizational papers annually.

   c.          To make the Treasurer’s books available for audit if the membership request them.

   d.          To act as committee-person of any sales conducted by the membership.

   e.          To present a proposed budget for the coming year at the Fall meeting.

   f.           To provide a quarterly financial statement for publication in the newsletter.

 

5.         Annual Reports

   a.          Written annual reports shall be made by the officers, and placed on permanent file by

                the secretary.

   b.          These reports shall be available to the incoming officers.

   c.          A written summary, with proposals for changes, must be prepared by the officers and

                committee chairpersons and distributed at the annual May meeting.

   d.          A committee appointed by the governing board shall submit an annual audit of treasurer’s

                books at the annual meeting.

   e.          An outside auditor shall be hired to audit bookkeeping on an annual basis.

 

Article IV - Execution of Instruments

 

1.            The Governing Board shall be empowered to establish and utilize any necessary bank

               accounts.

 

2.                     Any withdrawals on these accounts shall be required to carry the signature of two members

               of the governing board.

 

Article V - Elections

 

1.            Nomination and election of officers shall be made in the following manner: A nomination

               committee of three, including a chairperson shall be appointed by the President. The

               nominating committee will have its first meeting in March, prior to the May annual meeting.

               The nomination committee must secure consent of the nominees, prior to mailing the slate

               to the members 10 (ten) days prior to the  annual meeting.  Nominations for the floor shall be

               in order, providing the consent of the nominee has first been obtained.

2.            Elections of vice president and treasurer for a two-year term will be made in odd/even fiscal

               years and  elections of president and secretary in even/odd years to provide continuity in the

               board.

 

Article VI – (Deleted) incorporated in Article 1

 

Article VII - Shows and Events

 

1.            Each guild event will be self-funding; that is, the workshop fees will fund the workshop,

               spring show fees will fund spring show, etc.

 

2.             The both fee is waived for Fall and Spring show chairpersons.

 

RATIFIED 8/22/2006 BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.