MLQG Bylaws as of September 2014

Mountain Laurel Quilt Guild By-laws

Article I Name

The name of this organization shall be Mountain Laurel Quilt Guild.

Article II Purpose

The purpose of this guild shall be to further the art of quilting through education, to provide a means of sharing ideas, materials, skills, and fellowship, and to encourage self-expression through the art of quilting.

Article III Membership

Section 1 Guild membership shall be open to any individual interested in furthering the purpose of this organization and willing to pay the designated dues.

Section 2 Any child up to and including eighteen years of age who is interested in quilting may join the guild as a junior member after paying the designated dues for a junior member and presenting a signed parental permission slip.

Section 3 The membership year shall be January 1 through December 31.

Section 4 Dues shall be paid by each member by February 1. If dues are not paid by the March meeting, the member will be dropped from the membership list and will no longer be considered a member. A new member joining after July 1 will pay one half the membership dues. Any change of annual membership dues will be recommended by the board and confirmed by a majority vote of the members present at the appropriate meeting.

Section 5 Prospective members and guests may attend two (2) meetings without charge. Further attendance constitutes membership, and dues shall be paid.

Article IV Officers

Section 1 The officers of the organization shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 2 The executive board shall consist of the officers, the immediate past president, and committee chairs.

Section 3 The annual election of officers shall take place at the regular meeting in October of each year. Officers will be installed in December and begin their duties with the January meeting.

Section 4 Nominating Committee will meet prior to the August meeting to prepare a slate of officer nominees that will be published in the September newsletter. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor. All nominations will be with the consent of the nominee. Voting shall be voice or show of hands. Officers are elected by a majority vote of the members present at the October meeting.

Section 5 Officers may serve only two consecutive one-year terms in any single office.

Section 6 If an office is vacated during its term, the executive board will appoint a member to serve the unexpired portion of the term.

Article V  Duties of Officers

Section 1 President

a. shall preside at all monthly meetings of the guild.

b. shall call and preside over at least three board meetings each year. c. shall call special meetings as deemed necessary.

d. shall appoint committee chairs and may attend all committee meetings. e. shall be authorized, along with the treasurer, to sign checks.

Section 2 Vice-President

a. shall assist the president as called upon and shall perform all functions of the president in her/his absence.

b. shall serve as the program chair for the monthly meeting.

Section 3 Secretary

a. shall record and maintain minutes of all general and executive board meetings

b. shall submit minutes of general meetings to the newsletter editor in a timely fashion.

c. shall send cards to members in need of support.

Section 4 Treasurer

a. shall be responsible for all fiscal matters of the guild and shall present a monthly report.

b. shall prepare a yearly budget draft to be finalized by the board and confirmed by a majority vote of the members present at the January meeting.

c. shall be authorized, along with the president, to sign checks.

d. shall review the books, along with another member, before taking office.

Article VI Committees

Section 1 Committee chairs may only serve two consecutive one-year terms. If no replacement is found, the current chair may serve another year, if she/he is willing.

Section 2 The president shall appoint chairs of the following committees each year: a. Publicity— shall be responsible for publicizing the regular meetings, in the local media.

b. Newsletter--shall be responsible for editing, publishing, and distributing the monthly newsletter in time to be received prior to the regular meeting.

c. Membership—

i. shall keep a current roll of the membership with names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses and keep the newsletter editor informed of changes.

ii. shall collect dues and distribute membership cards.

iii. shall record member attendance at meetings. iv. shall publish a yearly roster.

e. Outreach—shall oversee service projects approved by the board.

f. Hospitality—shall organize refreshments for the Christmas party, the exhibit reception, any Gmeiner receptions the guild hosts, and other special events.

g. Historian—shall maintain an archive of digital photographs and scanned articles of importance to the guild.

h. Workshops

i. shall schedule, publicize, and oversee a program and workshop with a quilter of national significance

ii. Shall schedule, publicize, and oversee other guild workshops throughout the year.

i. Website—shall maintain the guild’s website.

Section 3 Chairs of ad hoc committees, such as exhibit, raffle quilt, door prize, and retreat, shall be appointed as needed.

Article VII Meetings

Unless otherwise notified, the guild will meet at 7 PM on the third Monday of each month. Some meeting dates may deviate due to speaker availability and holidays.

Article VIII Amendments to By-Laws

Section 1 Amendments to these by-laws may be proposed in writing by any member, by the executive board, or by an ad hoc committee.

Section 2 Proposed amendments to the by-laws shall be published in the newsletter and shall be voted upon by the membership at the following meeting.

Section 3 Amendments to the by-laws shall be approved by a simple majority of members present.

Article IX Dissolution of the Organization

All money left over when the guild dissolves will be donated to a charity, recipient to be determined by remaining guild members at time of dissolution.

Amended April 2013

Amended July 2014