MVAQN Bylaws

MIAMI VALLEY ART QUILT NETWORK BYLAWS
(Revised 06/12/2021)

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 First Chair, Second Chair, Third Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Board of Directors will be composed of these officers.

The First Chair, Second Chair, and Third Chair will be responsible for:

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 membership

The responsibilities of the Secretary are:

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 officers (other than the First Chair, Second Chair, and Third Chair) 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. There is no limit to the number of consecutive terms for officers other than the First Chair, Second Chair and Third Chair. (See Article V, Section 2)

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 Third Chair, 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. The progression of officers will be as follows: the Second Chair will become the First Chair; the Third Chair will become Second Chair.

The First Chair may be reelected as Third Chair after a minimum of two years from the end of term as First Chair.

Section 3. 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 First Chair, Second Chair, and Third Chair 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 First Chair, Second Chair, and Third Chair. 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 the Secretary 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.

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 gourp(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.

Amendment 1
Article IV, Section 3

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. Approved May 16, 2010.

Amendment 2
Article VII, Section 1
Any funds generated by MVAQN will be the responsibility of the Treasurer of MVAQN [and all funds will deposited] to deposit in the MVAQN account(s) only. The Treasurer and the Secretary will be the signators on all MVAQN accounts. [deleted material] Approved November 16, 2013

Amendment 3
Article VII, Section 7
On the dissolution of MVAQN the funds in the treasury [will be donated to a local art fund with the approval of the membership] and any property will be distributed to area art group(s) as the membership determines. [deleted material]Approved November 16, 2013

Amendment 4
Article VII, 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. Approved November 16, 2013

Amendment 5
Article VII, Section 5
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.
Approved May 21, 2016

Amendment 6
Article IV, Section 1 and Section 3

Section 1. The officers of MVAQN will be President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, First Chair, Second Chair, Third Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Board of Directors will be composed of these officers.

The President, First Vice-President and Second Vice-President First Chair, Second Chair and Third Chair will be responsible for:

- - 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 membership

The responsibilities of the Secretary are:

- - keeping a current membership list and distributing it regularly to the members
  - taking the minutes at the meetings
  - distributing them to the member

Section 3. The terms of office for officers (other than First Chair, Second Chair and Third Chair the President and Vice-Presidents) 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. There is no limit to the number of consecutive terms for officers other than the President and Vice-Presidents First Chair, Second Chair and Third Chair. (See Article V, Section 2) Approved June 12, 2021

Amendment 7
Article V, Section 1 and Section 2

Section 1. Elections for Second Vice-President Third Chair, 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. The progression of officers will be as follows: the First Vice-President will become President; the Second Vice-President will become First Vice-President. The Second Chair will become First Chair, the Third Chair will become the Second Chair.

A President may be reelected as Second Vice-President after a minimum of two years from the end of term as President. A First Chair may be reelected as Third Chair after a minimum of two years from the end of the term as First Chair. Approved June 12, 2021

Amendment 8
Article VI, Board Meetings, Section 2