By Laws
ARTICLE I
Henceforth as of January 2000 the name of the society shall be the GREATER AKRON ORCHID SOCIETY (GAOS).
NOTE: As of January 2000, the executive board voted to changed the name of the society from the Stan Hywet Orchid Society to the Greater Akron Orchid Society to reflect the departure of the society from the Stan Hywet Hall Foundation. Disassociation with Stan Hywet Hall Foundation mandated that the use of the Stan Hywet name be dropped. The name was legally changed and the membership agreed at the February 2000 membership meeting. All references to Stan Hywet shall be stricken from the bylaws.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
Section A; The society shall be non-profit with the purpose to maintain, develop and study the growing of orchids.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
Section A; Membership shall be open to all persons whose objectives are in accordance with Article II, Section A. of the By Laws.
Section B; Regular members are those persons whose dues are paid in accordance with these By Laws.
Section C; A member in good standing may transfer from another orchid society upon presentation of a current membership card.
ARTICLE IV
DUES
Section A; The annual dues of the society shall be based on the calendar year. Each member will pay annually such dues as said in the By Laws.
Section B; Membership dues will be assessed on an individual or family basis. The assessment will be established by the treasurer and approved by the Board of officers for each calendar year.
Section C; Dues are payable on or before February 28 of the coming year. Any member in arrears after February 28 shall automatically be dropped from the society and its mailing list.
ARTICLE V
ELECTED OFFICERS
Section A; Officers of the board shall be;
1. President
2. Vice President
3. Secretary
4. Treasurer
5. Trustee
6. Editor
who shall hold office for 1 year or until their successors are elected.
Section B; President. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at all meetings of the society and of the executive committee; to see that the By Laws are enforced, to have general supervision over the affairs of the society. The president and either the secretary or treasurer shall sign all written contracts or agreements. The president shall have the authority to appoint special committees or chairpersons of such committees to perform special tasks or functions that may arise.
Vice President. In the absence or disability of the president, the vice president shall preside at all meetings and shall have all the powers presiding as the president. The vice president shall be responsible for the planning of the programs for the regular meetings of the society.
Secretary. The secretary shall keep a true record of all meetings of the society and the executive committee meetings and shall be responsible for the safe keeping of all official records of the society. The secretary is also responsible for making all necessary arrangements for meetings. If the president and vice president are absent at a meeting, the secretary shall preside at the meeting.
Treasurer. The treasurer shall collect all dues, and has custody of society funds with the president as co-signer of the society account. The treasurer shall submit a statement monthly of all receipts and disbursements to the society. The treasurer shall submit the books for audit by the trustee at the close of the business year, which begins on January 1 and ends on December 31
It shall be the duty of the treasurer to maintain an up to date membership roster and to issue membership cards to paid members.
Trustee. The trustee shall audit the treasurer's books and report the findings the May meeting.
The trustee shall be responsible for ensuring that Parliamentary procedures are followed at both Executive and Regular membership meetings in accordance with the guidelines set forth in Robert’s Rules of Order.
Editor. The editor shall send notices of all meetings to the members and is responsible for the monthly bulletin and the contents thereof. All announcements, notices, articles, etc. entered into the bulletin must go to the editor.
ARTICLE VI
COMMITTEES
Section A; Executive Committee; There shall be an executive committee consisting of all the elected officers and the retiring president. It shall be the duty of this committee to conduct the affairs of the society, have charge of the finances and all executive work between meetings and to report its actions to the regular meeting of the society.
Section B; Nominating Committee; The nominating committee shall consist of one member elected at the September meeting and the two immediate past presidents. The nominating committee shall secure candidates of all offices of the society and report its slate of officers at the November meeting of the society.
Section C; Cultural Program Chairperson; The executive committee may appoint a chairperson to plan all cultural meetings of the society.
ARTICLE VII
ELECTIONS:
Election of officers shall be held at the last regular membership meeting of the year. The newly elected officers shall begin their term of office immediately upon completion of the last membership meeting of the year.
ARTICLE VIII
MEETINGS
Regular meetings of the society shall be held each month when practical. The time and place of regular meetings shall be determined by the board and due notification will be given to the membership. Special meetings of the society may be held at the call of the president.
ARTICLE IX
QUORUM
A quorum shall consist of 25% (twenty five percent) of the paid membership present at the regular meeting.
ARTICLE X
CHANGE OF THE BY LAWS
These By Laws may be changed or amended at any regular meeting of the society by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the regular members present. Amendments shall be proposed at least one meeting before voting.
ARTICLE XI
PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the society in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these By Laws.