Saint Louis Lampworker's Society

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Melissa Villadiego

Saint Louis Lampworker's Society Bylaws

Article I. Identity
Section 1 - Name. The name of this Society is SAINT LOUIS LAMPWORKER'S SOCIETY. It will be referred to here as SLLS, or the Society.
Section 2 - Mission. This Society is organized and is to be operated as a non-profit organization.

To preserve the rich and diverse traditions of the art of glass beadmaking/glassworking techniques;
To promote educational initiatives on historical, as well as, contemporary techniques and trends;
To establish programs which promote the art of glass beadmaking and glassworking to the general public, as well as among collectors, potential collectors, museums, the arts community, and educational facilities; and
To institute communications, networking support, and professional development among the glass beadmakers in St. Louis and the surrounding area.

Article II. Business Site
Section 1 - Location. Floating location.

Article III. Membership, Dues, Fees
Section 1 - Dues. All members except honorary/complimentary members shall pay annual dues. The amount, method of payment, and all other details regarding dues will be determined by the Board from time to time, and will be announced to the membership prior to going in effect.
Section 2 - Variances. From time to time, the Board may create variances from the established dues structure.
Section 3 - New Members’ Dues. New members who pay dues in the last quarter of the membership period will be granted paid membership status for the following year.
Section 4 - Member status. Members in good standing will have paid dues.
Section 5 - Conduct of Members. If a Society member is reported to have acted in a manner detrimental to the Mission of the Society, the Board of Directors shall consider the charge. The Board may appoint one or more members to examine the matter. The matter shall be handled in a fair and reasonable manner considering all the facts and circumstances. The Board shall make a final decision as to what, if any, action shall be taken, including revocation of membership. Such a decision shall be communicated to the alleged offending member in writing after a decision has been reached.
Section 6 - Junior Members. Members 18 years old and younger shall be called Junior Members. Their dues shall be $5 per year. Junior members shall not be allowed to use torches at the meetings due to liability concerns.

Article IV. Meetings
Section 1 - General Meetings. A general meeting of the Society shall be conducted during specific months of the calendar year at times and places designated in a prearranged schedule. This schedule for any year shall be approved by the Board of Directors no later than December 31st for the upcoming year.
Section 2 - Special Activities. Special Activities may be conducted upon approval of the Board of Directors.
Section 3 - Quorum. 10 members will be considered a quorum for voting purposes.

Article V. Board of Directors
Section 1 - Composition. The board of Directors shall be comprised of nine (9) elected officers. The elected officers are President, Vice President, Retiring President, Treasurer, Secretary, Webmaster, Librarian, Historian and Publicity Chair.
Section 2 - Meetings and Quorum. The Board of Directors shall meet every other month on dates it shall approve, and on special call of the President. A quorum of the Board of Directors shall be a majority of the board members. A Board meeting ‘on special call’ requires 24 hours advanced notice to the Board members. Such a meeting can be called by the President or by any three (3) Board members.
Section 3 - Duties. The Board of Directors shall transact the day-to-day business of the Society and shall be subject to the will of the membership.
Section 4 - Attendance. Any Board member who misses an excessive amount of meetings without due cause may be removed from their post by the Board of Directors.
Section 5 - Meetings. Society members may attend the Board of Directors’ meetings to make presentations or recommendations regarding the operation of the Society; but such members shall have no vote in the Board of Directors decision-making process. The Board of Directors may further define such members’ participation in those meetings.

Article VI. Officers
Section 1 - President. The President shall be the principal executive officer, with responsibility for the general supervision of the affairs of the Society, shall be the official spokesperson for the Society and its Board of Directors, and shall conduct all meetings in a business like manner. The President shall be an official member to all committees. The President shall call for a written report from each committee chair as needed, or at the expiration of that committee.
Section 2 - Vice President. The Vice President shall assist the President and assume all duties and responsibilities of the President during the President’s temporary absence or inability to serve. The Vice President shall be responsible for the programs for all regular meetings and special events for the Society.
Section 3 - Retiring President. The Retiring President shall sit on the Board of Directors to assist in the affairs of the Society.
Section 4 - Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be custodian of all Society funds and shall keep accurate records to account for the same. Treasurer shall deposit funds in a bank or other investment fund approved by the Board of Directors and make disbursements as directed by the Board, keeping financial accounts of the Society according to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The Treasurer shall prepare monthly and annual financial statements and the year-end report shall be presented at the December meeting. The Treasurer shall also send out meeting notices to all members and potential members
Section 5 - Secretary. The Secretary shall keep accurate records of all General Meetings and Board of Directors meetings and handle the general correspondence and notices of the Society. The Secretary shall maintain the Society's Bylaws. The Secretary (or a person he or she designates) shall make quarterly reports of the Society’s activities to the Bead Release.
Section 6 - Webmaster. The Webmaster shall maintain the Society's website and keep it up to date. The Society shall be responsible for the cost of the website.
Section 7 - Librarian. The Librarian shall be responsible for acquiring, cataloging and maintaining the Society’s books, videos and equipment. The Librarian will be responsible for knowing where they are at all times and enforcing library rules.
Section 8 - Publicity Chairman. The Publicity Chairman shall be responsible for the general publicity of the Society including shows, galleries and Society publications.
Section 9 - Historian. The Historian shall be responsible for photographing various Society events and maintaining the Society's gallery of images.

Article VII. Elections, Nominations, Terms
Section 1 - Terms of Office. All officers will serve for one year until their successors have been duly elected and have qualified, or until removed as herein provided. The Vice President will automatically become the President the next term. The out going President will sit on the Board of Directors.
Section 2 - Vacancies. In case any office of the Society becomes vacant by death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, or any other cause, the office may be filled by appointment of the President, subject to affirmative vote of the majority of the Board of Directors, although such majority may not constitute a quorum, present at any annual or special meeting called for that purpose. Each person so elected to fill a vacancy shall remain an officer until the next scheduled election and qualification of his/her successor.
Section 3 - Nomination Committee. The nomination Committee shall consist of the current Chairman of the Board (president) a former President and the current vice president This committee and shall have these duties:

Develop a slate of at least one (1) nominee for each elective office. At the November general meeting, accept nominations from the floor for the officers being elected that year, provided the nominator is a member in good standing and presents to the Nomination Committee written consent of the person being nominated.
By December submit an official ballot to the voting membership.

Section 4 - Ballots. All candidates shall be elected by ballot that shall contain the name of each candidate listed alphabetically under the office for which the candidate is nominated or by show of hands. The Nominating Committee shall certify the winners of each office and communicate the results of the election to all members of the Society.
Section 5 - Vacant offices. The Board of Directors shall declare a Board office vacant upon:

death
resignation or
failure to perform the duties of the office.

The Board of Directors shall declare an office vacant by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the other elected Board members. The elective members for the Board of Directors shall fill a vacancy in the elective Board position until the next election for that office with a Society member.

Article VIII. Financial Matters
Section 1 - Finances. This Society is not intended as a profit making organization, nor is it founded with the expectation of making a profit. This Society shall use its funds only for objects and purposes specified in these Bylaws. All funds shall be received and disbursed by the treasurer.
Section 2 - Bills, Notes, etc. All bills payable, notes, checks, or other negotiable instruments of the organization shall be made in the name of the organization and shall be signed in accordance with resolutions duly adopted by the organization. No officer, either singly or jointly with others, shall have the power to make any bills payable, notes, checks, drafts, warrants, or other negotiable instruments or endorse the same in the name of the organization, except as herein expressly prescribed and provided. The Directors, by resolution, may authorize any employee of the organization to sign organization checks.

Article IX. Fiscal Year
Section 1. The fiscal year of the organization shall end in December each year.

Article X. Amendments
These Bylaws may be altered, amended, repealed, or added to by affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast with a minimum of 10 members of SLLS casting votes, provided that written notice shall have been sent (at least a week before the vote) to all members, the notice shall state the alterations, amendments or changes proposed to be made in this Code of Regulations. Only such changes as have been specified in the notice shall be made. Members may vote prior to the meeting by e-mail or written letter. Only one vote per member will be accepted.

Article XI. Copies of Bylaws
Each member upon joining the Society shall be provided a copy of the Bylaws.

Article XII. Dissolution
The society may be dissolved by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) majority of its voting members as described in the Bylaws. Any remaining assets will be sold to interested parties with all monies given to a charitable organization selected by the Society.