By-Laws of The Tennessee Valley Bonsai Society

Article I—Membership

Section 1. Anyone interested in furthering the objectives of the Society may become a member upon payment of the required dues
Section 2. Active members are those whose dues are paid. Voting privileges shall be confined to active members only.
Section 3. Membership is for the calendar year with dues payable by January 3. Those unpaid by February 15 will be removed from membership.

Article II—Meetings

Section 1. Regular meetings shall be held monthly preferably on the Second Saturday of each month with the possible exception of holidays falling on this date, in which case the meeting may be rescheduled by the President.
Section 2. When a meeting cannot be held on the normal date the President shall set an alternate date and notify the membership in writing no less than two weeks before the set date.
Section 3. Special meetings may be called by a majority of the Executive Committee. The membership shall be notified in writing no less than two weeks prior to that meeting.

Article III—Election Of Officers

Section 1. All officers shall be elected by a majority of active members present at the annual meeting. If more than one candidate for any office is nominated, that officer shall be elected by secret ballot. These officers shall be introduced at the December meeting as Officers Elect and shall take office on January first the following year.
Section 2. The term of office shall be for a period of one year with the exception of the Treasurer, which shall be for a period of two years. Incumbent officers may be re-elected for only one consecutive term.
Section 3. The President, upon completion of his/her elected term of office shall automatically become a member of the Executive Committee the following year.

Article IV—Duties of Officers

Section 1. President
The President shall preside at all meetings, act as chairperson of the Executive Committee, appoint committees, designate chairpersons as required, and perform all duties as usually pertain to the office of president. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the nominating committee.
Section 2. Vice-President
The Vice-President shall assume all the duties of the President if the latter is unable to preside. The Vice-President shall serve as chairperson of the Program Committee. This committee will be responsible for determining the program activities of the Society.
Section 3. Secretary
The Secretary shall record, report to Executive Committee and membership, and file the minutes of all meetings, and shall keep the records of membership and dues.
Section 4. Treasurer
The Treasurer shall deposit all funds received in a bank approved by the Executive Committee. He/she shall disburse funds for payment of Society authorized obligations. His/her books and accounts shall at all times be open to inspection by the President, the Executive Committee, and any authorized auditors. The Treasurer shall provide a report at each regular meeting. The Treasurer’s term of office shall be for a period of two years.

Article V—Committees

Section 1. An Executive Committee shall be comprised of the four elected officers and the outgoing President. The Executive Committee shall formulate policies and take such action as is necessary for the good of the Society. All vacancies among officers shall be filled by appointments made by the Executive Committee for the unexpired term.
Section 2. A Nominating Committee shall consist of three members appointed by the President. The President shall designate the chairperson.
Section 3. Other committees considered necessary in carrying out the objectives of the Society may be appointed by the President subject to the approval of a majority vote of the Executive Committee.

Article VI—Quorums

Section 1. A quorum of the Executive Committee will be three members.
Section 2. At any general meeting of the Society, members attending shall constitute a quorum, a member and spouse being counted as one member, unless they both paid dues.

Article VII—Affiliations

The Society may affiliate with the American Bonsai Society and Bonsai Clubs International as a member, but joining any other organizations shall not be a membership requirement for any individual who requests admission to The Tennessee Valley Bonsai Society.

Article VIII—Amendments

These By-Laws may be amended by a majority of a quorum at any regular meeting, providing notice of the proposed changes have been announced at the previous meeting and a written notice sent to every member immediately thereafter.

Article IX—Expenditures

Any new money expenditures shall be approved by a quorum of the members.

Article X—Parliamentary Procedure

Robert’s Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure not covered by the constitution and by-laws of The Tennessee Valley Bonsai Society.

Article XI—Dues

The amount of the annual dues shall be established by vote of the membership at the November meeting. Yearly dues shall be paid at the January meeting or prior thereto. Members not paying dues by the end of January shall be considered delinquent.

Article XII—New Members

Section 1. New members joining after January shall pay prorated dues, based on the remaining months in the year.
Section 2. The dues for a member and spouse living at the same address shall be the same as that of a single member; however, the member and spouse shall have only one vote between them, not one vote each unless dues were paid by both.

Article XIII—Assessments

No assessments of any nature whatsoever shall be levied against any officer or member, individually or collectively.

Article XIV—Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Society shall be from January 1 of each year through December 31.