Mid Cities Fine Artists    

(Incorporating amendments through October 12, 2011)

 Article I

NAME

The name of this organization shall be Mid-Cities Fine Artists. It shall be identified in this Constitution as “the Organization”.

Article II

PURPOSE 

1. The Organization shall be dedicated to the furthering of education and interest in the visual arts, as manifested in painting, drawing, mixed media, photography and other arts in the local community.
2. It shall provide an artistic outlet for the furtherance of the visual arts, directing its endeavors to give local artists the opportunity of participation while striving for the highest level of self-expression.
3. It shall create a sense of unity in persons involved in the arts, and promote interest and enjoyment of learning through fellowship with other members of the Organization.
4. It shall sponsor exhibitions in the community so that others may have the opportunity to acquaint themselves with members’ endeavors. Shows and exhibitions shall be limited to visual arts only. No crafts will be accepted for exhibit.
5. The Organization shall be a non-profit corporation, qualifying as an exempt organization under Section 501 © (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

Upon dissolution of the corporation, the Executive Committee shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all remaining assets of the corporation in visual arts. The recipient organization or organizations must be operated exclusively for charitable educational, religious or scientific purposes and shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or correspondence provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

  Article III

MEMBERSHIP

Membership shall be open to beginner, amateur and professional artists and to non-artists who are interested in promoting and supporting education and interest in the visual arts in the local community. No member shall be accepted as a representative of business but in an individual capacity only. Members must be at least 18 years of age.

 Section 1.  Application for membership:

New members shall be admitted only by application. Prospective members may attend two meetings without charge but must become dues-paying members if they attend thereafter. Each new application must be submitted to the Membership Chair.

 Section 2.  Dues:

An entrance fee of $5.00 will be paid by new members, and annual dues shall be $30 per year. Additional family members living at the same address as a member of the Organization may become members by paying $15 annual dues after paying the $5.00 entrance fee. Such members shall have full membership privileges. New Members joining after the first of January will pay the $5.00 entrance fee plus a reduced rate of $15 for the balance of the fiscal year.

 Annual dues shall be due and payable on May 31 of each year. All dues not paid by June 15 will cause the member to be dropped automatically from the roll, and a new entrance fee will be required for reinstatement. No refunds of dues shall be made.

 Section 3.  Resignation: 

Resignation of an elected officer shall be made in writing to the President who shall report the same action at the next general meeting.

 Section 4.  Sponsors:

Sponsors are individuals or businesses that wish to donate for one membership year (June 1 thru May 31). Sponsors will not have voting privileges and will not be counted as such for meeting the quorum requirements and will not be included in the list of sponsors or donors to the annual judged art show. The minimum donation shall be $30.00.

Article IV

OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS

 Section 1.  Officers

Elective officers of the Organization shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

 Section 2.  Duties of the Officers

1. The President shall be the chief corporate officer and shall preside at all the meetings of the Organization and the Executive Board. The President shall perform all other duties usually pertaining to the office and shall appoint members and chairmen of standing committees and the parliamentarian, subject to approval of the Executive Board. The President shall coordinate the work of all officers and shall serve as ex officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.
2. If the need arises, members may nominate and vote in two Co-Presidents instead of one president. The two Co-Presidents will equally assume the duties of the President as stated in Section 2, A. 1.
3. The Vice President shall assist the President in the exercise of presidential duties, and shall perform the duties of the President at all times when (s)he cannot give active service. In addition, the Vice President shall arrange programs, publicity and all physical accommodations for meetings.
4. The Secretary shall perform all duties relevant to that office, taking minutes of each meeting and other duties as assigned by the President.
5. The Treasurer shall serve as collector and custodian of all funds of the Organization, which shall be deposited in a local bank and paid out upon authorization of the Executive Board. (S)he shall keep accurate and up-to-date records of income and expenses, and shall provide monthly reports to the Executive Board. The Treasurer shall also serve as chairman of the Finance Committee.

Section 3.  Terms of Office

The term of office for each officer shall be one year. Officers may be re-elected.

Section 4.  Election of Officers

1. Officers of Mid-Cities Fine Artists are to be selected by a Nominating Committee of at least three members of the Organization, including two or more members from the Executive Board.

2. The Nominating Committee shall nominate at least one candidate for each office. Should there be more than one nomination for any office, the voting shall be by ballot and a plurality shall elect.
3. Nominations shall be presented at either the March or April meeting of the Organization. Officers will be installed at the May meeting.
4. In case the President or Co-Presidents are unable to serve out the term for which elected, the Vice President shall assume the Presidency. In case of vacancy in any other office, the Nominating Committee shall recommend to the Executive Board a member to fill the vacancy.

Article V

BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

 Section 1.  Executive Board

The Executive Board shall be composed of the elected officers, the appointed officers (such as Parliamentarian) and all the committee chairmen. The Board shall meet monthly or at the call of the President.

 Section 2.  Standing Committees

There shall be the following Standing Committees: Membership, Programs, Finance, Exhibits, Publicity, History, Telephone, and Nominating.

1. It shall be the duty of the Membership Chair to receive the yearly membership dues and make sure the Treasurer receives all monies for membership. Keeps a list of all members who have paid dues. Those that have not paid dues for the coming year should be notified and urged to pay before June 15. They shall be responsible for publishing an Annual Membership Book.
2. The Program Chair shall be in charge of formulating the programs throughout the year for the purpose of carrying out the Organization’s aims. This committee shall be chaired by the Vice President of the Organization.
3. The Telephone/Email Committee shall keep members informed of programs and activities of the Organization as needed.
4. The Finance Committee shall prepare an annual budget for the Organization, have general supervision of all expenditures, and shall attend to proper disposition of any accumulated funds approved by the Executive Board. The Committee shall be composed of the Treasurer who shall serve as chairman, and others who may be named by the President.
5. The Exhibits Chair shall be responsible for all arrangements of the Organization’s public showings and exhibitions, Artwork of the Month Contest coordinating all its activities with the Executive Board.
6. The Publicity Committee shall be responsible for informing the public of the Organization’s meetings, activities, and events. The Vice President of the Organization shall serve as chairman.
7. The Historian shall keep a record of the Organization’s activities.
8. The Nominating Committee of the Organization will select names to present to the general membership assembly for consideration and election of officers.

Section 3.  Special Committees

Special Committees shall be appointed by the President with approval of the Executive Board as need arises. The President shall designate chairmen of special committees.

Article VI

MEETINGS

The membership of the Organization shall meet monthly, September through May, unless designated by the Executive Board. Annual elections will be held at the April meeting. A quorum at any meeting shall be 1/5 of the members.

Special meetings of the general membership may be called by the President as the need arises.

Article VII

AMENDMENTS

Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws shall be made in the following manner: 

1. Members shall be given at least two weeks notice of the proposed changes.
2. Quorum for such changes shall be one-third of the current general membership.
3. Amendments must be approved by two-thirds of members present at the meeting.

Article VIII

FISCAL YEAR

The Fiscal Year of the Organization shall begin on the first day of June and end on the last day of May in each year.

Article IX

LIFETIME & HONORARY MEMBERSHIPS

Lifetime and Honorary Memberships are awarded by one-half vote of the membership. Individual members may nominate a current member for their outstanding dedication to the organization for a period of several years of service in writing (please include the rationale for this nomination) to the President. The elected officers will recommend this member to be voted on by the membership.

1. Lifetime Memberships will have all voting privileges.
2. Honorary Memberships will have NO voting privileges.

Article X

PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised shall govern the Organization in all cases to which they are not consistent with these Bylaws or special rules of order that the Organization may adopt.