Riverside Knitting Guild

Riverside, CA

To contact us: E-mail: knitters@riversideknittingguild.com

Bylaws

BYLAWS

THE RIVERSIDE KNITTING GUILD, A CHAPTER OF THE

KNITTING GUILD ASSOCIATION

 

                                                         ARTICLE I · NAME AND PURPOSE

 

1. This organization shall be known as The Riverside Knitting Guild, hereinafter referred to as RKG, affiliated and recognized by the Knitting Guild Association, a nonprofit organization, hereinafter referred to as TKGA.

2. The purpose of the RKG shall be essentially the same as that of the TKGA: To bring together a group of people with a common interest in knitting, and to provide a forum for the advancement of the quality of the workmanship and creativity in their knitting endeavors through education, communication and community service.

3. All revenues acquired by the RKG shall be used solely to accomplish the educational and community service goals of the group.

 

ARTICLE II · MEMBERSHIP

 

1.    Any person who is interested in the purpose of this organization may become a member by application and payment of dues, regardless of race, color, creed, sex or national origin.

2.    The RKG may not form a cooperative in order to obtain a business license or tax number for the purpose of buying knitting supplies at a wholesale price.  No individual members will benefit financially from revenues of the RKG.

3.  All members of RKG are invited to maintain membership in TKGA.  RKG will support and promote TKGA and its educational programs and other services to Guild members.

 

ARTICLE III · OFFICERS

 

1.    The local management of the affairs of this organization shall be vested in a Board of Directors composed of five (5) elected officers provided for herein. The local chapter’s Board of Directors shall set local policy in support of the common goals and missions of RKG and TKGA. 

2.    The newsletter Editor shall serve as an ex officio (non-voting) member of the Board of Directors.

3.    The Board shall meet monthly. Time and place of said meetings shall be held, (a) at the discretion of the President, or (b) at the call of any two (2) other members of the Board of Directors, or (c) by written request of five (5) members.

4.    A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business at any meeting.

5.    Vacancies on the Board shall be filled by appointment of the President with approval of the remaining Directors of the Board.

6.    In the event of dissolution of RKG, all of its assets and funds shall be distributed to tax-exempt organizations as determined by the Board of Directors.

7.  All officers of RKG shall maintain membership in TKGA.

 

ARTICLE IV · OFFICERS AND DUTIES

 

1.    The elected officers of the RKG shall consist of a President, a Vice President, a Membership Chair, a Secretary and a Treasurer. Terms of office for each officer shall be for one (1) year; which shall begin January first of each year. Only RKG members in good standing shall be officers.

2.    The president shall perform the following duties:

             A. Preside at all meetings of the membership and the Board of Directors.

             B. Appoint the chairs of all committees and other project coordinators.

             C. Communicate with TKGA.

             D. Upon completion of the elected term, the President shall serve as an advisor to the incoming Board of        Directors, as Immediate Past President, in a non-voting capacity.  After the term, upon the election of a        new Board, the position will transfer to the subsequent Past President.

3.    The Vice President shall perform the following duties:

             A. Serve as program chair.

             B. Assist the President and serve in the absence of the President.

              C. If a vacancy in the office of President occurs, the Vice President shall automatically become        President.  All other vacancies in office shall be filled by election by the Board of Directors.

4.    The Membership Chair shall perform the following duties:

              A. Assist the President, the Vice President and serve in the absence of the President and     Vice President.

             B. Keep accurate and continually updated lists of members in good standing, together with their current        addresses, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses and dues payments.

5.    The Secretary shall perform the following duties:

             A. Record and keep in her custody the minutes of all meetings of the membership and the Board of        Directors.

              B. Have minutes and a copy of the Bylaws and Standing Rules available for reference at all meetings.

             C. Have charge of such correspondence of the RKG as delegated to her by the President    or by the Board        of Directors.

             D. Keep copies of all communications received and of all letters sent.

              E. Chair the bylaws revision committee as necessary.

6.    The Treasurer shall perform the following duties:

                          A. Receive all moneys due the RKG.

             B. Pay all bills verified by the Board of Directors.

             C. Keep a proper set of books.

             D. Present a statement of the current financial condition at all meetings of the Board.

              E.  Present books for audit in November of each year.

 

ARTICLE V · COMMITTEES

 

1.    The RKG shall have Chairs/Coordinators for the afghan project, library, Precious Pals and a newsletter Editor. These positions shall be appointed by the President at a business meeting or upon the advice and consent of the Board of Directors. Any ad hoc Chairs/Coordinators deemed necessary by the membership or the Board of Directors, shall be appointed by the President at a business meeting or with the approval of the Board of Directors.

2.    The duties of the Chairs/Coordinators shall be defined by the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE VI · DUES

 

       Annual dues are payable on January 1st of each year and the deadline for payment is January 31st.  Members with delinquent dues will be reminded in the March newsletter.  Members who fail to pay dues by March 31st will no longer be in good standing.  They will not receive further newsletters, will not be eligible to vote in business meetings and must pay non-member fees for classes.  

 

ARTICLE VII · MEETINGS

 

1.    Membership Meetings: the Board of Directors shall have the authority to set a membership meeting schedule on approximately a monthly basis.

2.  Quorum: Thirty percent (30%) of the RKG members currently in good standing shall constitute a quorum for a regular meeting of the members.

3.    Special Meetings: Special meetings of the Board of Directors of the RKG may be called from time to time by any two (2) members of the Board of Directors. Notice of any special meeting shall be mailed or e-mailed to each member of the Board of Directors at that member’s last recorded address at least ten (10) days in advance of such special meeting.  

 

ARTICLE VIII · ELECTIONS

 

1.    At the October business meeting, the president shall appoint a nominating committee consisting of three RKG members in good standing. Membership on the nominating committee does not preclude a person from being a nominee. The nominating committee shall present a slate of consenting candidates to the membership at the November business meeting.

2.    An annual election of officers shall occur at the December business meeting of the RKG membership. Voting shall be by ballot and a majority of the votes cast shall be necessary for election. If but one candidate is nominated for an office, the vote may be taken by voice.

3.    The newly elected officers shall take office during the January membership meeting.

 

ARTICLE IX · AMENDMENTS

 

      These bylaws may be updated, amended, repealed or altered in part, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those members in good standing present at a scheduled meeting that has a quorum.  The President will appoint a bylaw revision committee, which will consist of the Secretary (as chair) and two other RKG members in good standing.  The bylaw committee shall review minutes of all meetings at which issues of substance pertaining to the bylaws were adopted, consult with officers and chairs/coordinators and with the membership at large.  After consultation, the committee will submit a report of recommended changes to the bylaws and standing rules to the RKG Board.  Proposed amendments to these bylaws must be submitted in writing to the general membership thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled meeting.  The Secretary will present the changes orally at a scheduled meeting, answer questions and lead a discussion of said changes before the vote is taken.  

 

ARTICLE X · PROCEDURES

 

        Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern all procedures and parliamentary matters of the RKG meetings.

 

Current version of the Bylaws was approved by members on 1/7/2006.

 

 

STANDING RULES

AS OF 8/27/2006

 

1.    The RKG shall hold two meetings a month: on the first Saturday and on a weekday in the third week of each month. Twelve (12) business meetings will be held during the year, alternating between weekday and Saturday meetings or as appropriate to accommodate workshops.

       The January meeting shall be considered to be the Planning Meeting for the upcoming year.  The annual budget will be presented to the membership by the Treasurer during the February meeting.

2.    Prior to presenting the slate of officers to the membership, the nominating committee will certify that the majority of the Officers/Board of Directors will have been members of RKG for a period of one year from the date upon which they will assume their respective offices. The remainder of Board members must have held membership in the RKG for a minimum of six months from the date upon which they will assume office. A member will be eligible to hold a major chair/coordinator position after six months of membership.

3.    Application to become a member of RKG shall be made to the Membership Chair.

4.    Chapter membership dues shall be $12.00 per year.  Upon joining RKG, each member shall be charged for the current price of a nametag.

5.    The Membership Chair shall provide each new member with a copy of the Bylaws, Standing Rules, membership list and any other information necessary for that member to participate fully in the Guilds’ activities.

6.    The Chairs/Coordinators shall keep a written record of their activities. This record must be presented to the new Chairs/Coordinators.

7.    A “member in good standing” is defined as a member whose dues have been paid.

8.  An annual budget prepared by the treasurer, with the advice and consent of the Board, shall be submitted to the members for approval no later than the February business meeting.  This budget will include all anticipated operating expenditures for that fiscal year, and the amounts allocated for each of the Board members and standing committees.  This budget is approved by a majority vote of those members in good standing present at a scheduled business meeting during which a quorum is present.

         Requests for additional funding (beyond the approved budgeted amounts or for expenditures not included in the annual budget) require separate approval.  Such requests must be submitted in writing to the Board at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to a scheduled Board meeting.  Approvals by both the Board and the membership at the next scheduled business meeting are required.  Approval is by simple majority vote.

10. Both the Treasurer and the President will review the bank statements monthly.

11. All regularly scheduled meetings shall be held at a neutral site.

12. These Standing Rules may be amended, repealed or altered in part, by a majority vote of those members in good standing present at a scheduled meeting at which a quorum is present.