Greater Portland Iris Society
Organized January 24, 1952
By-Laws
(Revised 2002)
ARTICLE I - NAME AND AFFILIATION
Section 1
This organization shall be known as "Greater Portland Iris Society
(hereafter "GPIS").
Section 2
GPIS shall be an affiliate of the American Iris Society (hereafter
"AIS") operating within the AIS.
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE
Section 1
GPIS is organized exclusively for educational and scientific
purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code.
Section 2
The purpose of GPIS shall be to develop the science of
horticulture and activities related to the study, propagation, and culture
of the genus iris; to stimulate and foster interest in horticultural
pursuits; conservation and protection of these plants; to cooperate with
other organizations, public and private, in the scientific and
horticultural education of all those interested in learning any phase of
the genus iris; by any and all means consistent with these bylaws which may
be determined by the Executive Committee of GPIS. These shall include, but
are not limited to:
a. Encouragement and support of scientific research, including those
pertaining to the solution of disease related to but not necessarily
exclusive of the genus iris, and investigation and conservation of the
genus in the wild;
b. Collection, compilation and publication of data concerning the
history, classification, breeding and culture of irises, and
c. Education of the public through exhibitions, public display
gardens, ,published standards for judging, and local, area, regional
and national meetings open to the public. Section 3
Notwithstanding any other provisions of these bylaws, GPIS shall
not
carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an
organization exempt from Federal Income Tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code, or (b) by an organization contributions to which are
deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Section 4
No substantial part of the activities of GPIS shall consist of
carrying on
propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and GPIS
shall not
participate or intervene in any political campaign, including publication
or
distribution of statements on behalf of any candidate for public office.
Section 5
Inurement of income. No part of the net earnings of GPIS shall
inure to
the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, directors, officers,
or private
persons except that GPIS shall be authorized to pay reasonable compensation
for service rendered.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1
Any interested party may become a member, active or associate,
upon
application for membership and payment of annual fees as established by the
active members of GPIS. These fees shall entitle all members, active and
associate, to receive the same communication privileges (ie, Yearbook,
bulletins, newsletters, invitations to meeting, etc).
Section 2
All members, active and associate, shall enjoy full voting
privileges on
the internal operations of GPIS.
Section 3
Member annual fees shall be paid no later than the October
meeting in
order for member's name to be printed in the GPIS Member's Yearbook.
Section 4
Member joining after September 1 shall be given the courtesy of
membership until the beginning of the calendar year.
Section 5
Annual fee shall entitle member to receive the AIS Region 13
Newsletter at no additional cost. The GPIS Treasurer shall make payment
January 1 of each year to the Region 13 Treasurer for the Region 13
Newsletter
fee for all members in good standing.
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS AND DUTIES
Section 1
The officers of GPIS shall be the President, Vice President,
Secretary,
and Treasurer and six (6) Directors.
Section 2
The President shall perform all duties assigned by the bylaws and
carry
out requests, as possible, from Region 13 and AIS officers and chairmen.
The
President shall:
a. preside at GPIS meetings and Executive Committee meetings
b. have general superintendence of the affairs of the Society
c. appoint chairmen and committees as needed, with the provision
that all appointments are made with prior approval of appointees
and the Executive Committee
d. act as ex-officio member of committees except the Nominating
Committee
e. perform any other duties necessary. Section 3
The Vice President shall function for the President in his
absence
and shall act as Program Chairman.
Section 4
The Secretary shall record and maintain minutes of the GPIS
general
Membership and the Executive Committee meetings and shall perform such
other communication functions as requested by the President. Correspondence
for the Society shall be signed by the Secretary.
Section 5
The Treasurer shall
a. be Chairman of the Budget Committee
b. receive and disburse all GPIS monies in conformance with the
approved budget or as directed by the Executive Committee or the
membership
c. keep books showing the source and use of all GPIS monies and
report each meeting, and
d. submit said books at the December meeting for audit by the
Auditing Committee. The Auditing Committee shall report their
findings at the February meeting. ARTICLE V - ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Section 1 - President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer
a. Officers so elected shall be the President, Vice President,
Secretary, and Treasurer. Term of office begins on the following
January 1, normally for a two (2) year period. Officer shall serve
no more than two (2) consecutive years in any one position.
b. A Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the President at the
August meeting and shall report at the September meeting.
c. The election shall take place at the October meeting. Nominations
may be made from the floor by any member of GPIS at the time
elections are held.
d. Any officer being absent three consecutive meetings without a valid
excuse shall automatically be removed from office.
e. Special elections may be called by the Executive Committee should
a vacancy occur. Vacancies may be filled by appointment of the
President with the approval of the Executive Committee. Section 2 - Directors
There shall be six (6) Directors, each elected for a
term
of three (3) years; term to begin January 1 following the election. Terms
shall
be staggered so that two (2) Directors are elected each year. At the
October
meeting candidates shall be nominated from the floor and elected by the
majority of the members present. A Director may not serve successive terms.
ARTICLE VI - COMMITTEES
Section 1 - Executive Committee
a. of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, immediate
past President and six (6) Directors.
b. Meetings of this committee shall be called by the President, or any
two (2) members of the Executive Committee. The Secretary shall
keep minutes of such meetings. The Committee shall act in an
advisory capacity to the President, shall serve as the Budget
Committee and shall be responsible for deciding the location of
GPIS meetings. Section 2 - Budget Committee
a. The Budget Committee shall be the Executive Committee with the
Treasurer acting as Chairman. This committee shall establish an
operating budget for the year, to be presented to the general
membership for approval at the February meeting.
b. Unbudgeted expenses up to one hundred dollars ($100.00) shall
require approval of the majority of the Budget Committee.
Unbudgeted expenses over one hundred dollars ($100.00) shall
require approval of the majority of the voting members attending a
GPIS meeting.
c. GPIS fees shall be established by the Budget Committee with the
approval of the general membership. Any proposed change in fees
shall be published in the GPIS Newsletter prior to be voted on by
the membership. ARTICLE VII - MEETINGS
Section 1
General membership meetings shall be held monthly except
January, June, and July. Time and location shall be published in the GPIS
Yearbook. Section 2
Executive Committee meetings shall be called by the President in
the months of January and August
Section 3 Notification or all general membership, Executive Committee, or
special meetings shall be published in the GPIS Newsletter.
ARTICLE VIII - PROCEDURES AND QUORUMS
Section 1
Procedures of the organization not specifically addressed in
these
bylaws shall conform with Robert's Rules of Order (Revised).
Section 2
A quorum shall consists of thirty (30) per cent of active
members
of the Society. Five (5) members of the Executive Committee shall
constitute a
quorum.
Section 3
A quorum of any special committee shall require participation of
all
appointed members. If agreement is not reached, both majority and minority
reports shall be presented. ARTICLE IX - YEARBOOK
Section 1
The GPIS Yearbook shall be distributed in December. ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS
Section 1
Amendments to these bylaws may be proposed at any regular
membership meeting of the organization. Proposal shall be submitted in
writing to the President, who shall read them at three (3) consecutive
meetings
and shall give notice of the time and place at which they will be voted
upon. At
the time of voting, two-thirds vote of members present shall be necessary
to
institute a change.
Section 2
Nothing is these bylaws is intended to be in conflict with the
objective, constitution or bylaws of AIS. Should a conflict occur, the
amendment process
shall be used to promptly eliminate such conflict.
Section 3
These bylaws shall completely supersede all previous bylaws of
GPIS and any amendments thereto.
ARTICLE XI - DISSOLUTION
Section 1
Upon the dissolution of GPIS, the Executive Committee shall,
after
paying or making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of GPIS,
distribute all of the assets of GPIS to an organization or organizations
that
shall be exclusively organized and qualified as an exempt organization under
Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended (or the
corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).
Any assets not disposed of by the Executive Board shall be distributed by a
court having jurisdiction for such purpose in the county in which the
principal
office of GPIS is then located to similarly qualifying organization or
organizations.
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