PUNTA GORDA GARDEN CLUB BYLAWS

PUNTA GORDA GARDEN CLUB

BYLAWS

ARTICLE I

This club shall be known as the Punta Gorda Garden Club, Inc.

ARTICLE II - OBJECT

To promote the beautification and improvement of Punta Gorda and the surrounding areas; to encourage the growing of flowers and shrubbery in private and public places; to cooperate in the conservation of natural resources and to promote education in these areas; and to promote all objectives of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. (FFGC).

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

The membership of The Punta Gorda Garden Club shall consist of two classes: Active Membership and Honorary Membership

Section 1 – Active Membership.

a.   Prospective members shall be accepted into membership at any general meeting of the Punta Gorda Garden Club, Inc.

      b.   Full privileges and responsibilities of membership may be assumed upon completion of an application form and payment of dues.

      c.   Active members are expected to take an active interest in gardening and support all projects sponsored by the club.

      d.   Active members are expected to attend meetings and to serve when called upon.

      e.   Active members have the privileges and responsibilities of membership in the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc., Deep South Region, National Garden Clubs, Inc. and receive all benefits thereof.

Section 2 - Honorary Membership

The Honorary Members shall be divided into two (2) Classes: Active and Special

      a.   Active Honorary Membership

May be offered to members in good standing of the Punta Gorda Garden Club, Inc., who have shown outstanding service to the club upon recommendation of three-fourths (3/4) vote of the Board of Directors present and voting and approval by three-fourths (3/4) vote of the club members present and voting at the Annual Meeting in April.

            1.   Member is exempt from paying dues to the Club.

            2.   Dues to FFGC will be paid by the Club.

b.   Special Honorary Membership

May be offered to those who have not been members of the Club, but who have been outstanding in their support of the aims and goals of the Club.

1.      This may be granted upon recommendation of three-fourths (3/4) vote of the Board of Directors present and voting and approval by three-fourths (3/4) vote of the club members present and voting at a General Meeting.

2.      Dues will not be paid to the Club or to Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc.

ARTICLE IV – DUES

Section 1 – The annual dues of an Active Member shall be twenty-five dollars ($25.00)

Section 2 – Annual dues become payable in March and shall be delinquent if not received by May 1.  If dues are not received by May 31, membership privileges shall be forfeited.

ARTICLE V – OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES

Section 1 – Elected Officers

a.       The elected Officers of the Punta Gorda Garden Club, Inc. shall be a President, a First Vice-President, a Second Vice-President, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary and a Treasurer.

b.      Officers shall be elected for a term of two (2) years at the Annual Meeting in April in the odd-numbered years.  No elected officer shall serve consecutive terms in the same office except the treasurer, who shall not serve more than five (5) consecutive terms.

c.       Officers shall assume their duties at the close of the May Meeting of the election year except for the Treasurer who shall assume office at the end of the fiscal year May 31.

Section 2 – Appointed Officers

The Historian and the Parliamentarian shall be appointed officers.

Section 3 – Vacancies

a.       If a vacancy occurs in the presidency, Vice-Presidents shall move up according to rank.

b.      Vacancies in the office of second Vice-President, recording secretary, corresponding secretary, or treasurer shall be filled for the unexpired term by the president subject to the approval by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors present and voting.

ARTICLE VI – DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1 – President

The President shall:

a.       Be the official representative of the Punta Gorda Garden Club, Inc.

b.      Preside at all meetings of the Club, the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee.

c.       Be a member ex-officio of all committees except the Nominating Committee.

d.      Appoint a Parliamentarian to serve as advisor and to be a member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee.

e.       Appoint chairmen of committees.

Section 2 – First Vice-President

The First Vice-President shall:

a.       Perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President.

b.      Be the chairman of the program committee.

c.       Assume the duties of President-elect as of March 1 in the odd numbered years.

1.   Select potential chairman of committees.

2.      Make preliminary plans and preparation for the next administration.

Section 3 – Second Vice-President

The Second Vice-President shall:

a.       Assume the duties of the President in the absence of the President and First Vice-President.

b.      Shall be chairman of the club projects.

Section 4 – Recording Secretary

The Recording Secretary shall:

a.       Keep correct minutes of all meetings of the Club, the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee.

b.      Perform any other duties assigned by the President

Section 5 – Corresponding Secretary

The Corresponding Secretary shall:

a.       Conduct the correspondence of the Club.

b.      Perform any other duties assigned by the President.

Section 6 – Treasurer

The Treasurer shall:

a.       Have charge of all funds.

b.      Deposit, hold and pay out monies.

c.       Keep accurate account and record all receipts and expenditures.

d.      Collect dues and maintain the official membership roll.

e.       Notify members if dues have not been received by May 1.

f.       Annually submit books for review after the fiscal year end, May 31

            and before June 20.

g.      Transfer to the succeeding Treasurer custody of all monies and all records pertaining to this office at the close of the fiscal year and review in the odd-numbered years.

h.      With the President, prepare the annual budget to be presented to the Board of Directors at the April Board Meeting for approval by the membership at the Annual April Meeting.

Section 7 – Historian

The Historian shall record the noteworthy achievements of the administration.

Section 8 – Parliamentarian

The Parliamentarian shall:

a.       Assist on points of Parliamentary procedure when requested.

b.      Fulfill required duties as outlined in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised.

ARTICLE VII – NOMINATING COMMITTEE

There shall be a nominating committee composed of two (2) members elected from the floor at the January meeting in the odd-numbered years and a chairman appointed by the President.

The Nominating Committee shall serve until the successors are elected in January of the odd-numbered years.

Nominating committee shall:

a.       Nominate one (1) candidate for each elected office to be filled after having ascertained that each nominee is qualified and willing to serve if elected in the odd-numbered years.

b.      Finalize and report the prepared slate to the March Board of Directors and present to the General Membership at the March meeting in the odd-numbered years.

c.       Publish the slate of nominees in the April newsletter.

d.      Elections of officers at the Annual Meeting in April of the odd-numbered years.  Nominations may be made from the floor with the consent of the nominee.  In the event that there is only one nominee for any elected office to be filled, election may be by voice.

e.       Request the availability of the Parliamentarian and of Past Presidents for counsel.

ARTICLE VIII – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors shall consist of the elected and appointed officers, Executive Committee, Chairmen of Standing Committees, and Chairmen of Special Committees

Section 1 - The Board of Directors transacts the general business of the Club, considers all questions of policy and presents recommendations to the Club for action.

Section 2 – A quorum of the Board of Directors shall be a majority of the Executive Committee.

Section 3 – Shall meet on the Wednesday preceding regular meetings unless otherwise specified by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IX - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1- The Executive shall consist of the President, First Vice-President, Second-Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, Parliamentarian and three (3) Directors.

Section 2 – A quorum of the Executive Committee is a majority of said committee.

Section 3 – Shall meet at the call of the President.

Section 4 – The retiring President automatically becomes a Director.

Section 5 – Nomination of one (1) new Director shall be presented annually at the March meeting by the Nominating Committee and elected at the April meeting.  The term of office is for two (2) years.

ARTICLE X – COMMITTEES

Section 1 – Standing Committees

a.      Shall be established by the Bylaws

b.      The chairmen shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors.

Section 2 - Standing Committees:

1.      Awards

2.      Bylaws

3.      Chaplain

4.      Civic

5.      Environmental

6.      Garden Therapy

7.      Habitat for Humanity

8.      Horticulture

9.      Hospitality

10.  Membership

11.  Newsletter

12.  Publicity

13.  Scholarship

14.  Sunshine

15.  Yearbook

16.  Youth

17.  Web Master

Section 3 – Special Committees

May be appointed and dismissed by the President with the approval of the majority of Board of Directors present and voting.

ARTICLE XI – MEETINGS

Section 1 –Regular meetings shall be held in the months of September through May, unless

otherwise specified by the Board of Directors.

Section 2 - The April meeting shall be the Annual Meeting of the Membership.

Section 3 - A quorum shall be one-fourth (1/4) of the general membership present and voting.

ARTICLE XII – AMMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may be amended at the April Annual Meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting, provided the proposed amendments have been sent to each club member two weeks before the annual meeting.

ARTICLE XIII – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern this Club except in cases where they do not apply, or are not consistent with these Bylaws.

Revised April, 18, 2007

SPECIAL RULES OF ORDER

The order of business shall be:

a.       Invocation

b.      Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America

c.       Minutes

d.      Treasurer’s Report

e.       Report of the Executive Committee

f.       Report of the Board of Directors

g.      Report of Standing Committees

h.      Report of Special Committees

i.        Special Orders

j.        Unfinished Business

k.      New Business

l.        Announcements

m.    Adjournment

Revised April 18, 2007

STANDING RULES

1.      Each member shall be entitled to bring guests to regular meetings.

2.      The President shall be sent to the FFGC Annual Convention and is required to attend all meetings of the convention and make a report to the Club.

3.      The Club will pay the registration for the President and elected delegates attending District IX and FFGC Convention.

4.      New members shall receive a yearbook and nametag from the Membership Chairman upon notification that dues have been paid.

5.      Committee Chairmen shall prepare/update a job description, which shall be passed to each succeeding Chairman, President and President-elect.

6.      A tree shall be planted in a public place in memory of a deceased member.

7.      Members when assigned to a hostess committee for a General or Special meeting shall share in the expenses.

8.      Monies budgeted for publicity shall cover lunches for the press and other guests invited by the Board.

9.      The Parliamentarian and Directors shall arrange for a suitable gift for the outgoing President.

10.  At the Annual Meeting in April, the President shall appoint two (2) active club members to review the books of the current year.  The report shall be furnished to members of the Executive Committee.

Revised April 18, 2007