BYLAWS

Plymouth County Cranberry Quilters BYLAWS

PLYMOUTH COUNTY CRANBERRY QUILTERS BYLAWS

Article I. Name

The name of this organization shall be the Plymouth Country Cranberry Quilters, here after referred to as PCCQ, a non-profit domestic organization.

Article II. Purpose

The purpose of PCCQ shall be to preserve the tradition, culture and history of quilting, and to promote the knowledge and understanding of the art of quilting through continuing education services for members and public education activities.

Article III. Membership

A. Membership Classification Membership shall be open to anyone with an interest in the art of quilting. An individual shall become a member upon payment of annual dues.

B. Rights and Privileges of Members

1. Members shall be entitled to vote for officers of PCCQ, for ratification of Bylaws and Bylaw changes, for approval of the annual budget and for such other matters as come before PCCQ’s monthly business meetings.
2. Members may serve on committees and hold office in PCCQ.
3. Members may attend Executive Board meetings as non-voting participants.
4. All members shall receive PCCQ Newsletters.

C. Dues and Good Standing

1. The amount of PCCQ’s annual dues shall be prescribed by the Executive Board, Here after referred to as the EB, and approved by the general membership. Dues for the current year shall be payable on the first membership meeting in September and shall be delinquent on the first meeting in October.
2. A member shall be in good standing upon timely payment of dues. Membership shall automatically be re-instated by payment of dues in arrears.
Article IV. Meeting of Membership

A. Regular meetings of PCCQ shall be held on the first and third Thursday of each month, September through June. Meeting day and frequency of meetings may be changed by recommendation of the EB and affirmative vote of the membership.

B. Annual Business Meeting. One regular meeting of the PCCQ in the spring shall be designated as the Annual Business Meeting and shall be for the purpose of electing new officers and for any other business that may arise. The EB shall notify members of the date of the Annual Business Meeting at least one month prior to the meeting.

C. Notice of Annual Meeting starting time, place and purpose of the meeting shall be provided to members at least fourteen days prior to the meeting.

D. Quorum. One-third of the current membership present at any PCCQ business meeting shall constitute a quorum.

E. Special Meetings. Special meetings may be held at the call of the president upon written request of fifteen members. Members shall be notified of the time, place and purpose of the meeting at least two weeks in advance.

Article V. Officers

A. Officers of the PCCQ shall be: President, Vice-president, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Corresponding Secretary and Directors (which shall be three in number).

B. Election and Terms of Office. Election of officers shall be by majority vote of members present at PCCQ's Annual Business Meeting. All officers shall serve a two year term. No officer shall be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office.

C. Unfulfilled Terms of Office. If any elected officer is unable to complete their term in office, the President will appoint a replacement for the remainder of the year. At the next Annual Business Meeting, a slate will be presented to fill the remainder of the officer's unexpired term. If an EB Director is unable to fulfill their term of office, the President will appoint a replacement for the remainder of the year. At the next Annual Business Meeting, a new Director will be elected to complete the remainder of the three year term.

D. Duties

1. President
a. Shall preside at all general meetings and at all EB meetings.

b. Shall appoint Committee Chairpersons.
c. Shall appoint three persons to serve as Nominating Committee and shall designate one of these persons to chair the Committee.
d. Shall be an ex-officio member of all Committees except the Nominating Committee.
e. Shall appoint a member to fill an unexpired term of office, when a duly elected Officer or Director is unable to complete their term.

2. Vice- President
Shall assist the President and fulfill the presidential duties in the absence of the President.
3. Secretary
a. Shall keep a complete record of all membership meetings and EB meetings.
b. Shall maintain PCCQ's official records (Bylaws, Standing Rules and Minutes).
4. Treasurer
a. Shall handle all funds and maintain the financial records of PCCQ.
b. Shall report on the financial status of PCCQ at the Annual Business Meeting.
c. Shall present to E's proposed budget to the membership for approval the the Annual Business Meeting.
d. Shall submit financial reports at each meeting of the EB.
e. Shall maintain a roster of members.
5. Corresponding Secretary
a. Shall attend all necessary correspondence authorized by the President and the EB.
b. Shall place "Notices to Members" in the Newsletter as directed in the Bylaws or by the President and the EB.
c. Shall publicize special events sponsored by the PCCQ to the general public and to other quilt groups as appropriate.
6. Directors. Directors serve as members of the EB.

Article VI. Executive Board

A. Purpose: The EB shall manage the affairs of PCCQ in accordance with the Bylaws.

B. Composition:

1. The EB shall be composed of the Officers of PCCQ, standing Committee Chairs and three Directors elected from the membership at large. All members shall have a vote; however the President will vote only in the event of a tie.
2. Directors shall be elected to a three year term of office, the terms shall be set on a rotating basis so the one Director completes their term of office each year.

C. Functions:

1. Shall develop a proposed budget annually for approval by the membership and shall authorize all non-budgeted expenditures over $75.00.
2. Shall have general purview of the affairs of PCCQ and will make recommendations to the membership to further the organizations's programs and purpose.
3. Shall authorize publication of a Newsletter at least three times a year, which shall be distributed to all members. The Notice of Annual Meeting may constitute on such publication.
4. Shall have authority to establish committees as necessary to conduct the affairs of the PCCQ.

D. Meetings:

1. Regular Meetings. The EB shall meet at least three times a year, at regularly scheduled intervals. Time and location to be published in the PCCQ's Newsletter. Six members will constitute a quorum.
2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the EB may be called by the President or by the requet of six members of the EB. The purpose, time and location of the meeting must be stated in the call with notice given fourteen days ahead of the meeting.

Article VII. Standing Committees

A. PCCQ shall have the following Standing Committees:

1. Membership: Shall distribute information to new members and shall maintain a roster of the names, addresses and phone numbers of current members and provide up-dated rosters to the President, Treasurer and Newsletter Chair as necessary.
2. Newsletter: Shall be responsible for keeping members informed of PCCQ's activities and other quilting related events through the medium of the Newsletter.
3. Program: Shall be responsible for planning programs and workshops, for submitting the proposed program to EB for their approval and for arranging all operational aspects of monthly programs and workshops.
Article VIII. Special Committees

PCCQ may have any member of Special Committees necessary to carry out programs and activities. Special Committees may include: Block-of-the-Month, Community Service, Hospitality, Library and Quilt Show. Functions of Special Committees are set forth in PCCQ's Standing Rules.

Article IX. Nominations and Election of Officers

A. Nominations:

1. The Nominating Committee shall prepare a slate of a least one candidate for each elective position to be filled and shall publish this slate to the membership at least fourteen days prior to PCCQ's Annual Business Meeting.
2. Additional, nominations may be made from the floor, provided the candidate has been asked and has agreed to stand for election to the office.

B. Elections:

Voting shall be by ballot with the election determined by a majority of voting members present. If there is only one nominee for an office, the election may be made by voice vote.
Article X. Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern the PCCQ in any situation in which they are not in conflict with these Bylaws and the Standing Rules of the PCCQ.

Article XI. Dissolution

Should the PCCQ be dissolved for any reason, the EB shall dispose of all assets to, or for the use of such charities or educational organizations as shall quality at the time as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Article XII. Amendment to Bylaws

These Bylaws may be amended by a two thirds vote at any regular membership meeting, provided the proposed amendment has been published and distributed to all members at least fourteen days prior to the meeting at which the vote is scheduled.

STANDING RULES

1. Meeting Time and Place: PCCQ meets at the Carver Public Library at 10:00 am on the first and third Thursday of the months of September - June.

2. Dues and Fees:

a. Membership fee is $25.00 annually. This fee will not be prorated for individuals joining during the program year.
b. Workshop fees must be paid at the time of registration. No refunds will be made, unless the workshop is canceled or another member fills the vacated place.

3. Special Committees:

a. Quilt Show: Shall be responsible for coordinating all committee activities pursuant to planning, publicizing and conducting a quilt show.
b. Community Service: Shall be responsible for developing and overseeing PCCQ's charitable activities (e.g. charity quilts, memorials and donations to quilt organizations).
c. Library: Shall have responsibility for maintaining PCCQ's collection, for monitoring circulation and for ensuring that the collection is augmented as funds allow.
d. Hospitality: Shall be responsible for coordinating the provision and clean up of refreshments at membership meetings.
e. Block-of-the-Month: Shall be responsible for presenting a quilt block pattern and instructions to members each month, for overseeing the monthly drawing and for keeping a record of blocks used.

4. Library Loan Policy: Library materials may be checked out for one month and renewed for an additional month if no other member has called for it. Books borrowed in June must be returned at PCCQ's first meeting in September. If an item is lost or damaged, the borrower is responsible for the full replacement value.

5. Smoking: No smoking will be permitted at PCCQ meetings or workshops.

6. Badges: Members are required to make the PCCQ's name badge and to wear it at meetings and other PCCQ functions. A fine of .50 cents is payable to the treasurer if the name badge is not worn.

7. Inclement Weather: In cases of stormy weather or area emergency, PCCQ meetings will follow the Carver School District's schedule. When public schools in Carver are closed or have a delayed opening, the PCCQ will not meet.

8. Executive Board:

a. Meetings: Board meetings are open to any member who wishes to attend.
b. Meeting Times: Executive Board meetings will be held in November, March and July. Date, time and location to be published in PCCQ's August newsletter.

9. PCCQ Members Lecturing/Teaching Workshops: Members who provide a lecture to the PCCQ at a monthly program and/or who teach a PCCQ workshop will be paid $35.00 per lecture and per half-day workshop and $75.00 for a full day workshop.

10. Quilt Raffle: Each PCCQ member is responsible for selling a minimum of $10.00 worth of raffle tickets on the PCCQ Raffle Quilt.

11. Member Privacy: PCCQ's membership list may not be distributed, sold or used for any commercial purpose.

12. Fund raising projects for the PCCQ which are not directly related to quilting must be approved by the EB before being implemented.

13. Standing Rules will be reviewed annually by the EB and recommended changes will be presented to the Membership for action at PCCQ's Annual Meeting.