By-laws

 BY-LAWS OF THE ALLATOONA QUILTERS GUILD
 

Approved at March 2018 General Meeting;  Reviewed Dec 2021.  No changes
 
 

Article I. Name
 

This organization shall be known as the Allatoona Quilters’ Guild; herein referred to as the Guild.
 

Article II. Purpose
 

It shall be the purpose and goal of the Guild to promote and perpetuate the art of quilting. The work of the Guild is designed to benefit and educate all persons interested in preserving, continuing and advancing this art. The Guild shall encourage a high standard of design and technique in all forms of quilting, and shall promote the art of quilting by sponsoring workshops and exhibits.
 

Article III. Territory and Headquarters
 

The Guild is located in the state of Georgia and meets in Cobb County.
 

Article IV. Membership
 

Section 1. A person is eligible to become a member of the Guild upon payment of one year’s dues.
 

Section 2. Guests and visitors will be welcome to attend two general meetings and then will be invited to become members at the third meeting.
 

Article V. Officers
 

Section 1. The Officers of the Guild shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.
 

Section 2.  All officers will be elected for one calendar year.
 

Section 3. Officers may be elected to consecutive terms.
 

Article VI. Duties of the Officers
 

Section 1. The President shall be the official representative of the Guild and shall preside at all meetings. The President shall be a member of all committees and shall appoint the Chair of such. The President shall submit a budget proposal for approval by the Executive Board; herein referred to as the Board.
 

Section 2. The Vice President shall serve as Chair of the Program Committee and shall perform the duties of the President in the absence or disability of the latter.
 

Section 3. The duties of the Secretary shall include keeping a record of all proceedings of the Guild and Board.
 

Section 4.  The duties of the Treasurer shall include keeping a record of all income and expenditures; reimbursing expenditures and making bank deposits. Treasurer will prepare a financial report for the General Meeting and a budget update for the Executive Board.
 

Section 5.   In case an officer cannot complete their term, a temporary replacement may be appointed by the President (or the Board) until the next general meeting at which time a permanent replacement will be nominated and elected by the membership.
 

Article VII. Board
 

Section 1. The Board shall be made up of the elected officers of the Guild and the Chairs of all standing Committees.
 

Section 2. The immediate past president is an ex officio member of the Board.
 

Section 3.  Officers and one chair from each standing Committee will have a vote.  If a person is the chair of more than one committee, they shall only have one vote.
 

Article VIII. Duties of the Board
 

The job descriptions of the Officers and all standing Committee Chairmen are attached to the Bylaws as an Appendix.
 

Article IX. Elections
 

Section 1. All officers shall be elected in November for the following calendar year.
 

Section 2.  The President may appoint a Nominating Committee to secure candidates for the offices of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer and conduct the election.         
 

Article X. Meetings
 

Section 1. The Guild shall hold a minimum of four general membership meetings a year.
 

Section 2. A quorum for the transaction of business at general meetings shall be forty percent (40%) of the membership.
 

Section 3. A quorum for the transaction of business at a Board meeting shall be eight (8) Committee members to include a minimum of two (2) officers.
 

Article XI. Finances
 

Section 1. The fiscal year for the Guild shall begin on January 1 and shall end December 31.  Dues shall be due at the beginning of the fiscal year.
 

Section 2. An annual budget proposal for the following fiscal year will be submitted by the current President to the Board at the November Board meeting.
 

Section 3. Members of the Guild shall pay yearly dues in an amount determined annually by the Board.
 

Section 4. New Members joining the Guild after June 30 shall pay one-half the amount of the dues.
 

Section 5. The Board must approve all non-budgeted expenditures over $250.
 

Article XII. Stipends
 

Section 1. Stipends will not be paid to Guild members for presentations at General Meetings or for teaching a workshop on a specific topic. Guild members will not be reimbursed mileage for presentations given at a General Meeting or for teaching a workshop.
 

Section 2. Reimbursements for supplies purchased for workshops taught by Guild members can be made, if the Guild member requests reimbursement. If the reimbursement is requested, the participants taking the workshop will pay for the reimbursement. No reimbursements will be taken from the General Fund Account.
 

Article XIII. Dissolution
 

In the event that dissolution of the Guild appears desirable for any reason, approval of fifty-one (51%) percent of the total membership shall be obtained by ballot at two (2) consecutive general meetings. Any assets remaining shall be applied and distributed to the final payment and discharge of any liability or obligation of the Guild. Any remaining assets shall be distributed by approval of the membership.
 

Article XIV. Amendments
 

Section 1. Proposals for amendments of these bylaws shall be submitted in writing to the Board, not less than seven days prior to the next scheduled meeting.
 

Section 2. Notice of proposed amendments of the By-laws shall be published in the newsletter which precedes the next general meeting. At the general meeting the proposed amendments will be open for discussion. The proposed amendments may be referred to a committee for further study.