Bylaws
Classic City Woodturners
(hereinafter called CCW)
A chapter of the American Association of Woodturners, Inc. (hereinafter called AAW)
ARTICLE I – ORGANIZATION AND PURPOSE
CCW is organized as a forum for individuals interested in woodturning. The membership is drawn primarily from, but not limited to the Athens, Georgia, and surrounding community area. CCW was chartered as a local chapter of the AAW on October 1, 2005. The primary purposes of CCW are consistent with the fundamental purposes of the AAW, “to provide Information, Education and Organization to those interested in turning wood.”
ARTICLE II – OFFICE
The principle office of this organization will be located with the current President of the CCW. The official point of contact listed with the AAW will be the current Secretary of the CCW.
ARTICLE III – RELATION OF CCW TO AAW
The officers of the CCW are to be members in good standing of the AAW. While it is understood that the AAW will provide advice and counsel as requested, the nature and extent of the activities of CCW are determined by CCW. As recommended by the AAW, notice will be given to participants during any demonstration where woodturning equipment is used, that safety eye protection should be worn and that woodturning equipment is potentially dangerous.
ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP AND FEES
Members in good standing of the CCW will be those individuals who seek to become a part of CCW and have paid their membership dues. Membership must be renewed annually. To encourage family membership, an individual member will be permitted to include one additional significant other person in his or her life as a member through payment of a reduced supplemental membership fee. Membership will result in the privilege to participate in all activities of the CCW including voting in elections, holding office, receiving newsletters and other notices, accessing library resources and enjoying discounts arranged by the CCW.
The fees for membership in CCW will be reviewed annually by the officers and any proposed changes voted on by the members. The fee structure will be set to meet annual CCW operating expenses and to encourage membership. Fees will be reported to the membership in the January edition of the newsletter. Fees will be payable at the beginning of each calendar year. Fees for new members are payable upon joining. Members joining after July 1 but before December 1 will be charged one half the established annual fee. Fractional membership fees will not be collected during December.
ARTICLE V – MEETINGS
CCW will meet a minimum of ten times per year. The regular meeting date will be the last Monday of every month unless this day coincides with a holiday in which case an alternate date will be selected. Notice of meeting date, location and content will be announced to the members in the newsletter or via an electronic mail message prior to each meeting. Any permanent change in the regular meeting date will be proposed by the officers for endorsement by the members.
Minutes will be transcribed and reported for only the business portion of each regular meeting. This portion will normally consist of the first segment of the meeting, but at the discretion of the President, and will typically involve introductions, announcements, officer and committee reports and member voting actions.
A quorum for the business portion of a scheduled meeting shall consist of those members present and a majority of the officers. Meetings shall be conducted following the usual rules of parliamentary procedure, the use of which is to facilitate proceedings. The principles are: the majority rules, the minority has the right to be heard, and courtesy shall be extended to all. In the event of a dispute, Roberts Rules of Order shall be consulted.
ARTICLE VI – OFFICERS
A. Officers: Officers of the CCW shall consist of elected and appointed positions. The elected positions will be the President, Vice President and Program Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. The appointed positions will include, but not be limited to, Librarian, Newsletter Editor, Raffle Master, Photographer, Web Master and Videographer. Appointment to these positions will be in accordance with the procedures described in section D of this Article below.
Collectively these individuals will comprise the Executive Committee of the CCW which will be chaired by the President in regularly scheduled meetings and in called meetings of the group.
Only the elected officers will be permitted to vote on motions raised during Executive Committee meetings. For a motion to prevail, it must receive a super majority, i.e., three or more affirmative votes. A quorum for voting purposes in Executive Committee meetings will consist of three or more of the elected officers being present.
B. Nomination of Officers: Prior to the holding of elections for the elected officers, the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee from the membership which shall select a slate of candidates for each vacancy to be filled and present the slate of candidates to the members. Any currently serving officers who offer themselves for re-election will not be eligible to serve on the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee will assure, to the extent possible, the qualifications of each candidate and the willingness of the candidate to serve if elected. Members in good standing may propose members for consideration by the Nominating Committee except that members of the same immediate family may not be nominated to serve concurrently as officers.
C. Election of Officers: The officers will be elected by a majority vote of the members present at a regular meeting no later than the November meeting in a calendar year. The slate of candidates standing for election identified by the Nominating Committee will be communicated to the membership at least one month in advance of the election. At the time of the election, nominations from the floor can be entertained if the member making the nomination has determined the willingness of the nominee to serve, as witnessed by at least one other member if the nominee is absent, and his/her qualifications for the position. Unless elected to fill a vacancy as described below, their term of office shall be for one year coinciding with the calendar year. Officers may serve multiple terms in the same or different positions if elected to do so by the members. A secret ballot will used for elections in the case of opposed races.
D. Non-elected Positions: The President, with the advice and consent of the other members of the Executive Committee, may appoint members to temporary positions for a term mutually agreeable to the President and the appointee. Appointees will serve solely at the pleasure of the President. The President shall also establish the duties and responsibilities for each non-elected position.
E. Vacancies: The President, with the approval of the Executive Committee, may appoint a qualified member to a vacant elective office, or may call for an election. In the case this vacancy is the Presidency, the Vice President will serve in this capacity until the next election. An election will be decided by a majority vote of the members casting ballots at a regularly scheduled meeting.
F. Officer Duties: The following list of responsibilities for CCW elected officers is not intended to be exhaustive but illustrative of the principal duties for each position listed.
1. President
a. Supervise and control the business and other affairs of CCW.
b.Call or cause to be scheduled meetings of the Executive Committee and general membership meetings.
c. Preside at all meetings except committee meetings presided over by the respective chairpersons.
d. Appoint ad hoc committees with the approval of the Executive Committee.
e. Serve as the principal spokesperson to the community at large concerning CCW activities and interests.
2. Vice President and Program Chair
a. Perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President.
b. Provide oversight for the tools, machines and real property owned by CCW in order to keep them in proper condition.
c. Arrange for presentations at each scheduled meeting of CCW.
d. Perform other duties as may be assigned by the President.
3. Secretary
a. Record and distribute minutes of meetings of the membership and of the Executive Committee as stipulated by these bylaws.
b. Insure that official CCW notices are duly distributed to members in a timely manner.
c. Maintain official CCW records including, but not limited to, a current copy of the bylaws, official CCW membership roster, and other correspondence and CCW business forms.
d. Serve as the point of contact for the CCW in correspondence with the AAW relating to local chapter matters.
e. Assist in the preparation of the monthly CCW newsletter as appropriate.
f. Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President.
4. Treasurer
a. Collect all CCW membership fees and other monies such as ticket sales income and benefactor donations.
b. Maintain and report accurate records of all CCW monies, assets and expenditures as required by these bylaws.
c. Issue checks or other disbursements against CCW accounts for duly authorized expenditures.
d. Inform the Secretary of new or dropped members for the purpose of updating the official membership roster and the mailing list.
e. Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President.
ARTICLE VII – STANDING COMMITTEES
Three permanent standing committees of CCW members shall be appointed by the President to assist in the operation of the club. The term of service for members on these committees shall be reviewed annually in January for renewal by the Executive Committee. A member may resign his or her duties by notifying the President. Each committee will consist of at least two members who will be responsible for selecting their own chair or spokesperson unless designated by the President. If willing, elected officers may serve on any of the committees. These committees and their primary responsibilities will be as follows:
A. Facilities Committe
1. Insure that all equipment is ready for and then stored after each meeting including lathe equipment, seating, A/V facilities and other furnishings. This responsibility also includes cleaning the meeting area of wood chips following demonstrations.
2. Evaluate and make recommendations to improve meeting facilities including equipment, furnishings and meeting environment.
3. Assist the Vice President in managing the CCW equipment and property inventory
B. Finance Committee
1. Develop and recommend fund raising strategies to be pursued by the club.
2. Assist in the planning and execution of fund raising initiatives adopted by the club.
C. Promotions Committee
1. Develop and recommend promotional initiatives pursued by the club in order to grow membership.
2. Assist in the planning and execution of promotional initiatives adopted by the club.
3. Assist the Newsletter Editor in developing newsletter and other promotional materials content, format and distribution.
ARTICLE VIII – EXPENDITURES AND INDEBTEDNESS
No monies may be spent, promised or reimbursed without the express written approval of the President. Any expenditure in excess of $250 will require approval of the members by a majority vote. CCW may not incur any debt beyond club financial reserves without the unanimous approval of the Executive Committee and a majority of the members present at the meeting at which such decision is presented.
ARTICLE IX – DISCLAIMERS: FISCAL AND LEGAL
The AAW and CCW are legally separate entities and specifically dissociate themselves from any debts, obligations, or encumbrances of the other. Neither CCW nor the AAW shoulders any legal liability for accidents that occur during events of any kind sponsored or un-sponsored by the other organization.
ARTICLE X – INSURANCE
As a chapter of the AAW, CCW will utilize the liability insurance provided by the AAW which requires that the officers of CCW be members in good standing of the AAW. Other CCW members who wish to be eligible for this coverage must also be members of the AAW and be participating in a chapter sanctioned activity for this protection to be applicable.
ARTICLE XI – AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed and new Bylaws may be adopted by a majority vote of the members at a regular meeting. Any member in good standing may recommend changes to these Bylaws at any regularly scheduled CCW meeting. To be considered as a proposed change, however, the recommended change must be introduced as a motion and endorsed by a majority members present. Proposed changes to these Bylaws shall be announced via an advanced mailing to the membership at least one month prior to the meeting at which the vote will be taken. Copies of all modifications to these Bylaws must be filed with the Administrative Office of the AAW.
ARTICLE XII – MEMBER NOTIFICATIONS
Annually, in the January edition of the newsletter, the membership shall be notified of the following information: (1) the name, address and phone number of each of the elected officers, (2) the primary and correspondence mailing address of CCW, and (3) the membership fee structure. These notifications may be repeated in subsequent issues of the newsletter at the discretion of the newsletter editor.