MIAMI VALLEY ART QUILT NETWORK BYLAWS
(Revised 09/21/23)
Article I
Name and Office:
This Organization will be known as Miami Valley Art Quilt Network and will be referred to in these Bylaws as MVAQN.
Article II
Mission Statement:
The goals of MVAQN will be to inspire and support the creative efforts of individual members; to provide opportunities for fiber artists to exhibit their work; to create and take advantage of education opportunities for the members and the community.
Article III
Members:
Section 1. Membership will be open to all fiber artists. Membership is accomplished with the payment of dues.
Section 2. A member will have the following:
A. Eligibility: Interest in the purposes as stated in the Mission Statement of MVAQN.
B. Privileges: May attend meetings and social functions of MVAQN; may participate in exhibitions; may vote; may serve on the Board of Directors
C. Responsibilities: Payment of annual dues; attendance at and participation in MVAQN activities
Article IV
Officers:
Section 1. The officers of MVAQN will be Three Co-Chairs, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Board of Directors will be composed of these officers.
The Co-Chairs will be responsible for:
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- presenting an agenda to the membership prior to a meeting and conducting the meeting
- recruiting a slate of candidates for officers each year
- scheduling exhibitions and recruiting a chair for each exhibit
- scheduling meetings and events with the approval of membership
The responsibilities of the Secretary are:
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- taking the minutes at the meetings
- distributing them to the members
The responsibilities of the Treasurer are fiscal matters pertaining to MVAQN. These are further defined in Article VII. The Treasurer is also responsible for keeping a current membership list and distributing it regularly to the members.
Section 2. In addition to the officers, there may be other positions to be filled as needed such as:
Newsletter, Historian, Programs, Website, Publicity and Public Relations.
Section 3. The terms of office for Secretary and Treasurer will be for two (2) years, and will commence with the election at a June meeting, and terminate at the election in June two years hence, but may be renewed on a yearly basis with no limit.
Co-Chairs will serve a one-year term with an option of renewing yearly for a total of three years, and will be elected each June. All Chair positions will have equal responsibilities even if reelected for a second or third year. After a one year break, Chairs can reapply for a Chair position.
Section 4. In the event of a resignation by an officer, the Board reserves the right to appoint a member to that position. In such circumstances, the term restrictions outlined in the Bylaws may be suspended so that a member who has recently served may be appointed.
Article V
Nominations and Elections:
Section 1. Elections for all Co-Chairs, Secretary and Treasurer are held at a June meeting. The newly elected officers will assume responsibility of the office at the end of that June meeting.
Section 2. Candidates for offices may volunteer, rather than be nominated. Voting for an
uncontested position may occur by a show of hands. A majority of members present, voting in the affirmative, will constitute an election to the Board. An absent member must have consented to nomination.
Article VI
General Meetings:
Section 1. All meetings, which may be organized, will be structured for the purposes of
MVAQN.
Section 2. General Meetings will be held monthly, generally, but at least four (4) times a year. The schedule of meetings will be set by the Co-Chairs and approved by the membership. The schedule will be announced at a General Meeting and the secretary will notify the membership in the newsletter.
Section 3. At General Meetings, a quorum will consist of all members present, a majority vote prevailing.
Section 4. Each member present will have one vote; there will be no proxy voting.
Section 5. Minutes will be taken at all General Meetings when business is conducted and will become part of the permanent MVAQN record.
Board Meetings:
Section 1. All Board Meetings, which may be organized, will be structured for the purposes of MVAQN.
Section 2. Board Meetings will be held monthly, generally, but at least four (4) times a year. The schedule of Board Meetings will be set by the Co-Chairs. The Board will notify the membership in a timely manner of the date and location of a Board Meeting.
Section 3. At Board Meetings, a quorum will consist of all Board members present, a majority vote prevailing.
Section 4. Each member present will have one vote; there will be no proxy voting.
Section 5. Minutes will be taken at all Board Meetings when business is conducted and will become part of the permanent MVAQN record.
Article VII
Finance, Dues and Fees:
Section 1. Any funds generated by MVAQN will be the responsibility of the Treasurer of
MVAQN to deposit in the MVAQN account(s) only. The Treasurer and an appointed member-at-large will be the signators on all MVAQN accounts.
Section 2. All funds generated by MVAQN will be available for future disbursements in the interest of MVAQN as deemed necessary by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. The Treasurer will be responsible for the oversight of any funds.
Section 4. The MVAQN Fiscal Year will be June 1 through May 31.
Section 5. The final date for collection of annual dues will be June 30 for the following year. The Board of Directors will have the authority to determine dues and fees for membership subject to the approval of the membership at a General Meeting. Dues may be pro-rated for NEW members as follows:
June 1 to November- full annual dues
January to March- one half annual dues
April to May- one third annual dues.
Section 6. An audit of the treasurer’s books will be conducted every year.
Section 7. On the dissolution of MVAQN the funds in the treasury and any property will be distributed to area art group(s) as the membership determines.
Section 8. Funds generated by any property, either by auction, sale, licensing or any other means, must go directly to an area art group(s) as determined by the membership.
Article VIII
Parliamentary Authority:
The MVAQN Board of Directors will conduct its meetings (loosely) according to Robert’s Rules of Order.
Article IX
Amendments:
Changes to these Bylaws will be adopted by a majority affirmative vote of the entire Board of Directors at a scheduled Board meeting followed by a two-thirds affirmative vote of members present at a general membership meeting. The membership will be notified of the proposed amendment(s) or revision at least one week in advance of the voting date. All members’ votes will be recorded and counted by the Board of Directors.
These Bylaws have been rewritten on 9/21/23 with the approval of the Board of Directors to reflect the current wording as of this date. Multiple bylaw changes are not notated here but are kept by the current Secretary with dates and changes noted.