Perennial Planters By-Laws
BY-LAWS REVISED 2012
Article I - NAME
The name of this Club shall be The Perennial Planters
Article II – OBJECTIVES
This Club is organized and operated for educational and charitable purposes as defined by section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as amended (the “Code”). The object of this Club shall be to stimulate the knowledge of horticulture and flower arranging and to encourage and maintain the highest standards of excellence in conservation, civic projects, and all branches of horticulture by exhibits, lectures, and activities which inform educate, and enrich the community.
Article III – MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall consist of four classes: Active, Sustaining, Affiliate and Honorary. Active and Sustaining Members, only, shall have a vote and together in number shall not exceed fifty as conforms with the Garden Club of America quota. All active and sustaining members shall be members of the Garden Club of America and the Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs. Affiliate Membership is a Garden Club of America Classification and those members are not included in the Club quota. Any member wishing to change her membership classification must notify the Membership Chairman in writing.
Section 1.Active membership shall be limited to forty members. These members shall participate actively in the Club program. It shall be the only classification of membership entitled to hold office. They may propose and second new members.
a) If an active member has had excessive absences from meetings in a given year without proper notification to the Secretary, she will be notified by the Membership Chairman who will inquire as to her intentions towards (1) retaining active membership, (2) submitting a letter or resignation.
b) If a member is unable to attend a meeting, she must notify the Secretary.
c) Any question arising from unexcused absences will be taken up with the Executive Committee.
Section2. Sustaining Members are former active members of a minimum ten years standing who no longer wish to participate fully in the Club program. Sustaining Membership shall be limited to ten persons. They are expected to attend meetings during the year and to participate in Club projects. They may serve on committees and shall have the privilege of voting. They may not hold office within the Club. They may propose and second candidates for membership. They shall be members of both the Garden Club of America and the Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs with full privileges in both organizations. They may serve on Garden Club of America Zone and National Committees, hold office and represent their Club at Zone and Annual Meetings.
a) To be eligible for Sustaining Membership a member must have taken continuous active part in the Garden Club: 1) held an office. 2) been a chairman of a special event. 3) contributed substantially to the Garden Club activities in the community or the State. Approval of the qualifications for change of membership will be entirely at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
b) A member wishing to become a Sustaining Member must request membership change in writing from the Executive Committee. The request must be unanimously approved and will become effective at the first regular Club meeting thereafter. She will be expected to pay the difference in dues.
c) Sustaining Members will be advised when there is and opening on the Active Membership list in the event they wish to change their status.
d) Sustaining Members wishing to return to Active Membership shall make the request to the Executive Committee. If unanimously approved, they shall take precedence over new members on the waiting list.
Section 3. The affiliate Membership classification refers to those members who are no longer active or sustaining members, but who wish to retain affiliation with the Garden Club of America. (See GCA Handbook – Affiliate Membership.)
a) To be eligible they must have completed ten years satisfactory service with the Club. They may no longer wish to participate fully in the Club or have become a nonresident. They shall not vote or hold office within the Club.
b) They will pay dues to the Garden Club of America. They shall be counted in the Club’s GCA quota. They shall not hold office nor serve on a National or Zone Committee, nor may they represent their Club at Zone or Annual Meetings.
c) A member may become an Affiliate Member upon written request to the Executive Committee which must approve it unanimously. Such approval shall become effective immediately.
Section 4. Honorary Membership may be granted any individual who, in the opinion of the Executive Committee and two-thirds majority vote of the membership, has attained unusual honors in gardening or has given unusual service to this Club, the Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. or the Garden Club of America, Inc.
Section 5. A member wishing to resign must notify the Secretary in writing.
Secton 6. A member in good standing who resigns must refile an application as a new member if she wishes reinstatement as a member.
Article IV – MEMBERSHIP PROPOSAL
Section 1. Anyone desiring to submit the name of a candidate for Club membership shall first obtain an application from the Membership Chairman and return same after the application has been signed and endorsed to the Membership Chairman.
a) Club members may sponsor only one candidate for membership and endorse one other during the program year. Officers and members of the Membership Committee may not propose candidates for membership. They may second a proposal.
b) A candidate’s application must be sponsored by one member and endorsed by one other, all of whom shall have been members for at least one year, and to each of whom the candidate is personally known.
c) Sponsors of proposed new members shall see that the Membership Committee personally meets the candidates before the membership application goes before the Executive Committee for action.
Section 2. The sponsor and the endorsers of a candidate for membership shall submit accompanying letters when presenting membership application. Additional letters on behalf of the candidate from other Club members of any membership classification will be welcomed by the Membership Chairman.
Section 3. The Membership Chairman will then propose the name of the new candidate at the next Executive Committee meeting.
Section 4. The candidate’s application must be unanimously approved by written ballot by the Executive Committee. If approved, it will then be presented to the Club at the next regular meeting by the Membership Chairman. The application will not be voted upon until the meeting following the one at which it was first presented to the Club. The affirmative written vote of two-thirds of the members present or responding is necessary to elect a new member.
Section 5. If there are no openings, the candidate’s name will be placed on the waiting list. All names on the waiting list will be accepted in order of date of application. A new member shall be received into the Club from the waiting list when there is a vacancy.
Section 6. After being elected to membership, the candidate will be sent a letter by the Membership Chairman informing her that her application has been accepted.
Section 7. The proposed new member shall not belong to any other active winter garden club at the time of her acceptance to active membership in Perennial Planters.
Article V – MEETINGS
Section 1. There shall be not less than eight regular meetings of the Club between September and June inclusive, the dates and times of these meetings to be determined by the Executive Committee.
a) To conduct the general business of the Club, a majority vote shall be two-thirds of the members present.
b) Special meetings shall be called by the President upon consent of the Executive Committee.
Section 2. The Annual Meeting shall be one of the required number of regular meetings. At this meeting standing committee chairmen and officers must submit written reports to be placed on file. The new officers shall be installed and all records and necessary papers pertaining to their officers will be received.
Section 3. All meetings shall be conducted according to the rules of parliamentary law, “Roberts Rules of Order Revised” being the authority.
Article VI – OFFICERS
Section 1. The Officers of the Club shall be the President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary-Treasurer.
Section 2. The officers shall be elected at the Annual Meeting for a two-year term of office by a two-thirds vote of the members present.
a) The officers of the Club shall constitute the Executive Committee.
b) The immediate past President shall, at the end of her two year term of office, become a member of the Executive Committee ex-officio.
c) All vacancies on the Executive Committee shall be filled by the Nominating Committee.
Article VII – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club and shall perform all duties as pertaining to that office. She shall be an ex-officio member of all standing committees except the Nominating Committee. She shall appoint ad hoc committees to expedite special events and tasks as agreed upon by the Board and memberships. She shall attend all board meetings of the Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. or appoint an alternate. She shall also attend the Annual Meeting and Zone Meetings of the Garden Club of America or appoint an alternate.
Section 2. The First Vice President shall perform all duties of the President and Second Vice President in their absence and shall attend one board meeting of the Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc., each year with the President, in order to acquaint her with the Federation affairs. She shall be Membership Chairman.
Section 3. The Second Vice President shall be the Program Chairman, and in the absence of the President or First Vice President, perform all duties of their executive offices.
Section 4. The Secretary shall keep separate records of all meetings of the Club and shall present an annual report. She shall call the roll at meetings and attend to all business correspondence.
Section 5. The Treasurer shall have charge of the Club funds and will pay only those bills approved by the Executive Committee. She shall collect dues, file receipts of all disbursements and keep a balanced account of all transactions. She shall submit a statement at each Annual Meeting and shall pay the Club dues annually required by the Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. and the Garden Club of America, Inc. She shall send out bills for dues during the first week in May.
Section 6. The Assistant Secretary-Treasurer shall assist the President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer in such ways as they require. She shall have the power to sign checks on any and all Club bank accounts in the absence or disability of the Treasurer.
Section 7. No officer shall be eligible to hold the same office on the Executive Committee for more than three consecutive terms.
Article VIII – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. This Executive Committee shall consist of the officers of the Club and the immediate past president.
Section 2. Committee meetings shall be held at the discretion of the President.
Section 3. The Committee shall have control and management of the affairs of the Club, shall approve plans by the Standing Committees, and shall approve bills to be paid by the Treasurer.
Section 4. Four members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.
Article IX – THE BOARD
The Board shall consist of the Executive Committee and the Standing Committee Chairmen. This Board shall be a policy making body concerned with the general direction of Club Affairs. It shall provide the officers and standing committee chairmen a regular forum for communications and information. It shall meet at the discretion of the President but not less than three times a year. Two-thirds of the Board shall constitute a quorum.
Article X – DUES
Section 1. The fiscal year shall be from April 1 to March 30.
Section 2. The annual dues of each classification of membership shall be determined by the Executive Committee with the approval of the membership.
A) Dues notices will be sent out the first week of May to be paid by May 30.
B) It is the duty of each member to meet her obligation promptly.
Article XI – STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1. The new President shall appoint the following standing committee chairmen to serve on the Board for a two year period. The chairmen shall be responsible for their committees as outlined below and for keeping their notebooks current.
1. Membership - the Membership Committee shall consist of three members, the Chairman of which shall be the First Vice President. They shall consider all membership proposals, visit candidate’s gardens and make recommendations to the Executive Committee.
2. Nominating - The Nominating Committee shall consist of three members, the Chairman of which shall be the immediate past president. Members of the Executive Committee may not serve on the Nominating Committee. The Committee shall present the new slate of officers to the membership and shall fill any vacancies on the Executive Committee.
3. Archives - The Chairman is the Club’s representative for the Archives of American Gardens at the Smithsonian Institution and encourages members to nominate local gardens to the archives.
4. Bulletin- The Chairman submits articles and photographs to the GCA Bulletin for publication.
5. Awards - The Chairman receives literature from the Garden Club of America and Federation concerning awards available. She encourages members to apply for awards and handles all necessary paperwork in an awards application.
6. Horticulture - This committee consists of a Chairman and a Vice Chairman. The Chairman oversees all Club horticultural projects and encourages members to enter horticultural classes in Flower Shows. She shall appoint her Vice Chairman. She receives literature from the Garden Club of American and the Federation and is responsible for apprising the Club of its’ content. She is responsible for entries in the Garden Club of America Zone II Gavel Competition and Plant Exchange.
7. Conservation - This committee shall consist of a Chairman and a Vice Chairman. The Conservation Chairman shall oversee all conservation activities and projects of the Club. She shall receive literature from the Garden Club of America and the Federation and relay its contents to the Club. She shall appoint a Vice Chairman to assist her.
8. Flower Show – This committee shall consist of a Chairman and a Vice Chairman. The Chairman shall oversee all matters relating to Flower Shows and shall encourage members to enter Flower Show artistic classes. She shall receive literature from the Garden Club of America and the Federation and shall relay its contents to the Club. She shall appoint her Vice Chairman.
9. Scrapbook – The Chairman maintains the Club scrapbook, arranges for publicity of Club functions as appropriate and maintains a file of any Club press clippings. She shall send copies of all clippings to the Garden Club of America Zone II Publicity Chairman.
10. Visiting Gardens – The Chairman is the liaison for any Garden Club of America clubs or members who wish to visit local gardens. She receives information from the Garden Club of America Visiting Gardens Committee.
11. Hospitality – The Chairman is responsible for the arrangements pertaining to Club meetings. She shall arrange for meeting locations, hostesses as needed and any appropriate refreshments. She shall work in concert with any Standing or ad hoc committee chairmen to make Club events as attractive as possible.
12. Community Project – This Chairman shall be appointed to oversee special Club projects as needed such as donations of plants to charitable institutions.
Section 2. The duties of the Standing Committee Chairman shall include the following:
A) Each Chairman shall attend such Federation sponsored or other meetings or workshops pertinent to her Committee.
B) Each Chairman shall be prepared to report briefly at regular meetings if called upon.
Article XII – AMENDMENTS
These BY-LAWS may be amended by a written vote of two-thirds of the members present. The proposed amendment must have been approved by the Executive Committee and have been submitted in writing to the membership at least two weeks prior to voting.
Article XIII – MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1. No. Private Benefit: No part of the assets or the net earnings of the Club shall be divided among or inure to the benefit of its members or any other private person or be appropriated for any purpose other than the purposes of the Club as set forth in Article II. The Club is authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the objectives of the Club.
Section 2. No Political Intervention: No substantial part of the activities of the Club shall consist of the carrying on of propaganda or of otherwise attempting to influence legislation, except to the extent that the Club makes expenditures for purposes of influencing legislation in conformity with the requirements of Section 501 (h) of the Code, and the Club shall not participate or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
Article XIV – DISSOLUTION
This Club may be dissolved at any meeting of the Club held pursuant to Article V provided, however, that notice of such a motion for dissolution shall be sent to all members at least two weeks prior to such a meeting. The affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present at such a meeting shall be required to approve the motion for dissolution. Upon dissolution, and after payment of all liabilities of the Club or due provision therefore, the Executive Committee shall dispose of all the remaining assets of the Club to such organization or organizations created exclusively for charitable or educational purposes that qualify as exempt under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Code.
Article I - NAME
The name of this Club shall be The Perennial Planters
Article II – OBJECTIVES
This Club is organized and operated for educational and charitable purposes as defined by section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as amended (the “Code”). The object of this Club shall be to stimulate the knowledge of horticulture and flower arranging and to encourage and maintain the highest standards of excellence in conservation, civic projects, and all branches of horticulture by exhibits, lectures, and activities which inform educate, and enrich the community.
Article III – MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall consist of four classes: Active, Sustaining, Affiliate and Honorary. Active and Sustaining Members, only, shall have a vote and together in number shall not exceed fifty as conforms with the Garden Club of America quota. All active and sustaining members shall be members of the Garden Club of America and the Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs. Affiliate Membership is a Garden Club of America Classification and those members are not included in the Club quota. Any member wishing to change her membership classification must notify the Membership Chairman in writing.
Section 1.Active membership shall be limited to forty members. These members shall participate actively in the Club program. It shall be the only classification of membership entitled to hold office. They may propose and second new members.
a) If an active member has had excessive absences from meetings in a given year without proper notification to the Secretary, she will be notified by the Membership Chairman who will inquire as to her intentions towards (1) retaining active membership, (2) submitting a letter or resignation.
b) If a member is unable to attend a meeting, she must notify the Secretary.
c) Any question arising from unexcused absences will be taken up with the Executive Committee.
Section2. Sustaining Members are former active members of a minimum ten years standing who no longer wish to participate fully in the Club program. Sustaining Membership shall be limited to ten persons. They are expected to attend meetings during the year and to participate in Club projects. They may serve on committees and shall have the privilege of voting. They may not hold office within the Club. They may propose and second candidates for membership. They shall be members of both the Garden Club of America and the Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs with full privileges in both organizations. They may serve on Garden Club of America Zone and National Committees, hold office and represent their Club at Zone and Annual Meetings.
a) To be eligible for Sustaining Membership a member must have taken continuous active part in the Garden Club: 1) held an office. 2) been a chairman of a special event. 3) contributed substantially to the Garden Club activities in the community or the State. Approval of the qualifications for change of membership will be entirely at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
b) A member wishing to become a Sustaining Member must request membership change in writing from the Executive Committee. The request must be unanimously approved and will become effective at the first regular Club meeting thereafter. She will be expected to pay the difference in dues.
c) Sustaining Members will be advised when there is and opening on the Active Membership list in the event they wish to change their status.
d) Sustaining Members wishing to return to Active Membership shall make the request to the Executive Committee. If unanimously approved, they shall take precedence over new members on the waiting list.
Section 3. The affiliate Membership classification refers to those members who are no longer active or sustaining members, but who wish to retain affiliation with the Garden Club of America. (See GCA Handbook – Affiliate Membership.)
a) To be eligible they must have completed ten years satisfactory service with the Club. They may no longer wish to participate fully in the Club or have become a nonresident. They shall not vote or hold office within the Club.
b) They will pay dues to the Garden Club of America. They shall be counted in the Club’s GCA quota. They shall not hold office nor serve on a National or Zone Committee, nor may they represent their Club at Zone or Annual Meetings.
c) A member may become an Affiliate Member upon written request to the Executive Committee which must approve it unanimously. Such approval shall become effective immediately.
Section 4. Honorary Membership may be granted any individual who, in the opinion of the Executive Committee and two-thirds majority vote of the membership, has attained unusual honors in gardening or has given unusual service to this Club, the Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. or the Garden Club of America, Inc.
Section 5. A member wishing to resign must notify the Secretary in writing.
Secton 6. A member in good standing who resigns must refile an application as a new member if she wishes reinstatement as a member.
Article IV – MEMBERSHIP PROPOSAL
Section 1. Anyone desiring to submit the name of a candidate for Club membership shall first obtain an application from the Membership Chairman and return same after the application has been signed and endorsed to the Membership Chairman.
a) Club members may sponsor only one candidate for membership and endorse one other during the program year. Officers and members of the Membership Committee may not propose candidates for membership. They may second a proposal.
b) A candidate’s application must be sponsored by one member and endorsed by one other, all of whom shall have been members for at least one year, and to each of whom the candidate is personally known.
c) Sponsors of proposed new members shall see that the Membership Committee personally meets the candidates before the membership application goes before the Executive Committee for action.
Section 2. The sponsor and the endorsers of a candidate for membership shall submit accompanying letters when presenting membership application. Additional letters on behalf of the candidate from other Club members of any membership classification will be welcomed by the Membership Chairman.
Section 3. The Membership Chairman will then propose the name of the new candidate at the next Executive Committee meeting.
Section 4. The candidate’s application must be unanimously approved by written ballot by the Executive Committee. If approved, it will then be presented to the Club at the next regular meeting by the Membership Chairman. The application will not be voted upon until the meeting following the one at which it was first presented to the Club. The affirmative written vote of two-thirds of the members present or responding is necessary to elect a new member.
Section 5. If there are no openings, the candidate’s name will be placed on the waiting list. All names on the waiting list will be accepted in order of date of application. A new member shall be received into the Club from the waiting list when there is a vacancy.
Section 6. After being elected to membership, the candidate will be sent a letter by the Membership Chairman informing her that her application has been accepted.
Section 7. The proposed new member shall not belong to any other active winter garden club at the time of her acceptance to active membership in Perennial Planters.
Article V – MEETINGS
Section 1. There shall be not less than eight regular meetings of the Club between September and June inclusive, the dates and times of these meetings to be determined by the Executive Committee.
a) To conduct the general business of the Club, a majority vote shall be two-thirds of the members present.
b) Special meetings shall be called by the President upon consent of the Executive Committee.
Section 2. The Annual Meeting shall be one of the required number of regular meetings. At this meeting standing committee chairmen and officers must submit written reports to be placed on file. The new officers shall be installed and all records and necessary papers pertaining to their officers will be received.
Section 3. All meetings shall be conducted according to the rules of parliamentary law, “Roberts Rules of Order Revised” being the authority.
Article VI – OFFICERS
Section 1. The Officers of the Club shall be the President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary-Treasurer.
Section 2. The officers shall be elected at the Annual Meeting for a two-year term of office by a two-thirds vote of the members present.
a) The officers of the Club shall constitute the Executive Committee.
b) The immediate past President shall, at the end of her two year term of office, become a member of the Executive Committee ex-officio.
c) All vacancies on the Executive Committee shall be filled by the Nominating Committee.
Article VII – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club and shall perform all duties as pertaining to that office. She shall be an ex-officio member of all standing committees except the Nominating Committee. She shall appoint ad hoc committees to expedite special events and tasks as agreed upon by the Board and memberships. She shall attend all board meetings of the Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. or appoint an alternate. She shall also attend the Annual Meeting and Zone Meetings of the Garden Club of America or appoint an alternate.
Section 2. The First Vice President shall perform all duties of the President and Second Vice President in their absence and shall attend one board meeting of the Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc., each year with the President, in order to acquaint her with the Federation affairs. She shall be Membership Chairman.
Section 3. The Second Vice President shall be the Program Chairman, and in the absence of the President or First Vice President, perform all duties of their executive offices.
Section 4. The Secretary shall keep separate records of all meetings of the Club and shall present an annual report. She shall call the roll at meetings and attend to all business correspondence.
Section 5. The Treasurer shall have charge of the Club funds and will pay only those bills approved by the Executive Committee. She shall collect dues, file receipts of all disbursements and keep a balanced account of all transactions. She shall submit a statement at each Annual Meeting and shall pay the Club dues annually required by the Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. and the Garden Club of America, Inc. She shall send out bills for dues during the first week in May.
Section 6. The Assistant Secretary-Treasurer shall assist the President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer in such ways as they require. She shall have the power to sign checks on any and all Club bank accounts in the absence or disability of the Treasurer.
Section 7. No officer shall be eligible to hold the same office on the Executive Committee for more than three consecutive terms.
Article VIII – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. This Executive Committee shall consist of the officers of the Club and the immediate past president.
Section 2. Committee meetings shall be held at the discretion of the President.
Section 3. The Committee shall have control and management of the affairs of the Club, shall approve plans by the Standing Committees, and shall approve bills to be paid by the Treasurer.
Section 4. Four members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.
Article IX – THE BOARD
The Board shall consist of the Executive Committee and the Standing Committee Chairmen. This Board shall be a policy making body concerned with the general direction of Club Affairs. It shall provide the officers and standing committee chairmen a regular forum for communications and information. It shall meet at the discretion of the President but not less than three times a year. Two-thirds of the Board shall constitute a quorum.
Article X – DUES
Section 1. The fiscal year shall be from April 1 to March 30.
Section 2. The annual dues of each classification of membership shall be determined by the Executive Committee with the approval of the membership.
A) Dues notices will be sent out the first week of May to be paid by May 30.
B) It is the duty of each member to meet her obligation promptly.
Article XI – STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1. The new President shall appoint the following standing committee chairmen to serve on the Board for a two year period. The chairmen shall be responsible for their committees as outlined below and for keeping their notebooks current.
1. Membership - the Membership Committee shall consist of three members, the Chairman of which shall be the First Vice President. They shall consider all membership proposals, visit candidate’s gardens and make recommendations to the Executive Committee.
2. Nominating - The Nominating Committee shall consist of three members, the Chairman of which shall be the immediate past president. Members of the Executive Committee may not serve on the Nominating Committee. The Committee shall present the new slate of officers to the membership and shall fill any vacancies on the Executive Committee.
3. Archives - The Chairman is the Club’s representative for the Archives of American Gardens at the Smithsonian Institution and encourages members to nominate local gardens to the archives.
4. Bulletin- The Chairman submits articles and photographs to the GCA Bulletin for publication.
5. Awards - The Chairman receives literature from the Garden Club of America and Federation concerning awards available. She encourages members to apply for awards and handles all necessary paperwork in an awards application.
6. Horticulture - This committee consists of a Chairman and a Vice Chairman. The Chairman oversees all Club horticultural projects and encourages members to enter horticultural classes in Flower Shows. She shall appoint her Vice Chairman. She receives literature from the Garden Club of American and the Federation and is responsible for apprising the Club of its’ content. She is responsible for entries in the Garden Club of America Zone II Gavel Competition and Plant Exchange.
7. Conservation - This committee shall consist of a Chairman and a Vice Chairman. The Conservation Chairman shall oversee all conservation activities and projects of the Club. She shall receive literature from the Garden Club of America and the Federation and relay its contents to the Club. She shall appoint a Vice Chairman to assist her.
8. Flower Show – This committee shall consist of a Chairman and a Vice Chairman. The Chairman shall oversee all matters relating to Flower Shows and shall encourage members to enter Flower Show artistic classes. She shall receive literature from the Garden Club of America and the Federation and shall relay its contents to the Club. She shall appoint her Vice Chairman.
9. Scrapbook – The Chairman maintains the Club scrapbook, arranges for publicity of Club functions as appropriate and maintains a file of any Club press clippings. She shall send copies of all clippings to the Garden Club of America Zone II Publicity Chairman.
10. Visiting Gardens – The Chairman is the liaison for any Garden Club of America clubs or members who wish to visit local gardens. She receives information from the Garden Club of America Visiting Gardens Committee.
11. Hospitality – The Chairman is responsible for the arrangements pertaining to Club meetings. She shall arrange for meeting locations, hostesses as needed and any appropriate refreshments. She shall work in concert with any Standing or ad hoc committee chairmen to make Club events as attractive as possible.
12. Community Project – This Chairman shall be appointed to oversee special Club projects as needed such as donations of plants to charitable institutions.
Section 2. The duties of the Standing Committee Chairman shall include the following:
A) Each Chairman shall attend such Federation sponsored or other meetings or workshops pertinent to her Committee.
B) Each Chairman shall be prepared to report briefly at regular meetings if called upon.
Article XII – AMENDMENTS
These BY-LAWS may be amended by a written vote of two-thirds of the members present. The proposed amendment must have been approved by the Executive Committee and have been submitted in writing to the membership at least two weeks prior to voting.
Article XIII – MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1. No. Private Benefit: No part of the assets or the net earnings of the Club shall be divided among or inure to the benefit of its members or any other private person or be appropriated for any purpose other than the purposes of the Club as set forth in Article II. The Club is authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the objectives of the Club.
Section 2. No Political Intervention: No substantial part of the activities of the Club shall consist of the carrying on of propaganda or of otherwise attempting to influence legislation, except to the extent that the Club makes expenditures for purposes of influencing legislation in conformity with the requirements of Section 501 (h) of the Code, and the Club shall not participate or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
Article XIV – DISSOLUTION
This Club may be dissolved at any meeting of the Club held pursuant to Article V provided, however, that notice of such a motion for dissolution shall be sent to all members at least two weeks prior to such a meeting. The affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present at such a meeting shall be required to approve the motion for dissolution. Upon dissolution, and after payment of all liabilities of the Club or due provision therefore, the Executive Committee shall dispose of all the remaining assets of the Club to such organization or organizations created exclusively for charitable or educational purposes that qualify as exempt under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Code.