BYLAWS OF THE
MAHONING VALLEY WATERCOLOR SOCIETY
ARTICLE I
Name and Objectives
Section 1. Name. The name of this organization is the Mahoning Valley Watercolor Society.
Section 2. Purposes. The primary purposes of this organization are to assist artists working in water-based media, to educate through demonstrations of painting techniques, to display and constructively critique the work of members, to encourage public exhibition of art, and to promote art in the Mahoning Valley.
Section 3. Governing Regulations. This organization shall be governed by the Bylaws of the Mahoning Valley Watercolor Society as approved on May 11, 2015, with amendments, if any, that may be made from time to time.
ARTICLE II
Membership
Section 1. Membership in this organization is open to all artists from beginner to professional who work in water-based media.
Section 2. Persons maintain active membership and are listed in the annual membership booklet as long as they pay annual dues of $25.00 (in effect as of Spring 2018).
Section 3. Persons who have maintained an active membership for at least fifteen years but who are no longer able to attend meetings may be designated Life Members by Executive Committee nomination and a two-thirds vote of the active membership. Life members would retain all the rights of active membership but would no longer be required to pay annual dues.
Section 4. Founding Members, Honorary Members, and Life Members shall be listed in the annual membership booklet. Honorary and Life Members are not required to pay dues.
Section 5. Membership Privileges: active members shall have access to all available benefits offered by the Society including use of the Society’s lending library of books and DVDs, participation in members-only exhibitions, participation in the annual painting exchange and selection of favorite painting, and eligibility to vote for officers (in May) and to approve the annual budget (in September).
ARTICLE III
Officers
Section 1. Officers. The elected officers of this organization will be president, president-elect, secretary, and treasurer. Officers appointed by the president after consultation with the Executive Committee will include assistant treasurer, public relations officer, librarian, member-at-large, photographer, and web manager.
Section 2. Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will consist of the president, president-elect, secretary, treasurer, and immediate past-president.
Section 3. Election of Officers. All officers must be active members and will serve two-year terms beginning June 1st. Officers will be elected by those present at the May meeting. Current officers other than president and president-elect may run for consecutive terms.
Section 4. Duties of Officers.
4.1 The president will call and preside at all meetings of the Society and of the Executive Committee, appoint committees deemed necessary or helpful in furthering the business of the Society, represent the Society in the larger Mahoning Valley art community, and fulfill the other usual responsibilities of the office of the President.
4.2 The president-elect will preside at any meeting where the president is absent and will perform such duties as are assigned to him/her by the president.
4.3 The secretary will maintain records and supplies for the Society, keep and publish any
minutes of the Society and Executive Committee meetings, maintain correspondence and
other files related to the Society, edit and publish the annual membership booklet, and
administer and maintain the Society Facebook page. In the absence of the president and president-elect, the secretary will preside at the meeting.
4.4 The treasurer will collect, deposit, and account for all monies received by the Society from dues and other sources; pay all bills approved by the Executive Committee; arrange for the investment of all funds not required for current operation; and provide at each meeting a financial report of the Society.
4.5 The assistant treasurer will perform the duties of the treasurer when that officer is not present or is unable to attend the meeting and will perform such duties as are assigned to him/her by the treasurer or president.
4.6 The librarians will maintain the Society’s collection of books and audio-visual materials and make these resources available at each meeting.
4.7 The public relations officer will provide publicity for group shows and other Society activities.
4.8 The web manager will design, edit, and maintain the Society’s web site.
4.9 The immediate past president will serve as a member of the Executive Committee.
Section 5. Duties of the Executive Committee.
5.1 The Executive Committee will supervise annual and long-range planning of the Society’s activities; advise and assist Society officers and committees; have jurisdiction over any society issues not provided for in these Bylaws; and, in the event of the loss of any officer by reason of death, incapacity, or resignation, appoint a temporary officer to serve until the election of new officers.
5.2 When a new slate of officers is needed, the Executive Committee will seek nominations or, at its discretion, will appoint a three-person Nominating Committee.
ARTICLE IV
Meetings
Section 1. The Society meets from 7 pm to 9 pm on the second and fourth Monday of the following months: September, October, November, January, February, March, and April. In addition, the Society meets once a month in December and May. No meetings are held in June, July, and August. Additional meetings or workshops may be scheduled, and members will be notified by e-mail, Facebook, web site, or phone. Unless listed otherwise, meetings are held in Fellowship Hall of Disciples Christian Church, 565 Boardman-Canfield Road from 7 pm to 9 pm. Specific dates and program details of the meetings are published in the annual membership booklet.
Section 2. Calling of Meetings. Regularly scheduled meetings of the Mahoning Valley Watercolor Society will be published in an annual booklet distributed to all active members and will be posted on the Society Facebook page. Additional Society meetings may be held upon call of the President or the Executive Committee. All active members shall be duly notified of Society meetings by the Secretary.
Section 3. Quorum. Ten active members, including at least four members of the Executive Committee, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any regular or special meeting.
Section 4. Parliamentary Authority. In all matters not specified by these Bylaws, the procedures set forth in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall be used.
ARTICLE V
Dues
Section 1. Active Membership Dues. All active members will pay to the Society treasurer annual dues of $25.00 (beginning in 2018-19). Workshops that may be offered occasionally will carry an additional fee.
ARTICLE VII
Amendments
Section 1. Amendments. These Bylaws may be amended by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the active members present and voting at a regular Society meeting, provided the proposed amendment or amendments have been given to the members by e-mail or Facebook posting at least two weeks prior to the vote.
Adopted May 11, 2015
Amended May 8, 2017
