BY-LAWS OF THE
MID-SOUTH HOSTA SOCIETY
ARTICLE 1 - NAME
This organization's name shall be "Mid-South Hosta Society."
ARTICLE 2 - PURPOSE
This society is a nonprofit educational organization, formed exclusively to promote knowledge and interest in hostas, to foster development of new and improved hosta varieties, and to encourage cultivation and usefulness of hostas in the landscape.
ARTICLE 3 - MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
Section A: Membership is open to any person who wishes to support the purpose of the society and pays annual or lifetime dues. Membership shall be regular, family or commercial with member classifications determined by the board of directors.
Section B: Dues for active membership shall be set by the board of directors, subject to approval of a majority of members at the annual meeting, and shall be an amount sufficient to cover the expense of all society mailings for one year.
Section C: Dues shall be payable October 1 for the following calendar year. Dues unpaid after January 1 shall be considered delinquent. If dues remain unpaid after April 1 and notification of delinquency, membership shall be terminated.
Section D: All members who joined by January 1, 1999, shall be considered charter members.
ARTICLE 4 - MEETINGS
Section A: The annual meeting shall be held on the second Thursday or second Saturday in September. Members must receive notification 20 days prior to the meeting. As at all scheduled meetings, a quorum of 10 members is required to conduct society business.
Section B: Regular meetings shall be held on the second Thursday or second Saturday in February, March, April, May, June and October. Any deviation from this schedule must be approved by the board of directors and announced to the membership 20 days prior to the rescheduled meeting.
Section C: Meetings of the board of directors shall be held in January and July. A majority of officers is required to conduct society business.
Section D: Special meetings may be called at any time by a majority of officers or 10 members.
Section E: A majority of the members present at a meeting is required to approve a motion.
Section F: Parliamentary authority at all business meetings is Robert's Rules of Order, Revised.
ARTICLE 5 - OFFICERS
Section A: The elected officers shall be president, vice president/programs, vice president/membership, secretary, treasurer and director-at-large.
Section B: Officers shall be elected to a term of one year with the privilege of one re-election.
Section C: A Nominating Committee shall present a slate of officers with the membership being notified 20 days prior to the annual meeting. Additional nominations may be made at the annual meeting.
Section D: Nominations shall be presented and officers elected at the annual meeting prior to their term of office.
Section E: Any vacancy in elected office arising from death or resignation shall be filled by presidential appointment. If the office of president becomes vacant, the vice president/programs shall assume the presidency.
ARTICLE 6 - DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section A: The president shall preside at all meetings of the society and board of directors and shall report on the state of the society to the membership at the annual meeting. The president shall appoint heads of standing and special committees and be an ex-officio member of all but the Nominating Committee. The president shall also appoint a newsletter editor to communicate with the membership as often as he deems necessary.
Section B: The vice president/programs shall assume the duties of president in the absence of the president. The vice president/programs shall be in charge of programs for all general meetings of the membership and supervise all standing committees.
Section C: The vice president/membership shall assume the duties of president in the absence of the president and the vice president/programs. The vice president/membership shall supervise all membership drives and outreach activities.
Section D: The secretary shall record activities of the meetings and send copies of the minutes to members of the board of directors. The secretary shall maintain a list of active members and send each new member a welcoming note, newsletter and copy of the bylaws.
Section E: The treasurer shall receive and bank membership dues, maintain all society funds and pay all accounts. The treasurer shall keep a record of receipts and expenditures and shall present an annual report to the board of directors. Upon approval by the board, the treasurer shall present this report at the annual meeting and give a copy to the newsletter editor for publication.
Section F: The director-at-large shall represent the society in duties deemed necessary by the president. In the absence of the secretary or treasurer, the director-at-large shall perform those duties.
Section G: The board of directors shall be composed of all elected officers. The board shall manage all affairs, policies and business of the society.
ARTICLE 7 - COMMITTEES
Section A: The standing committees shall be Hospitality, Shows & Sales, Projects and Nominating.
Section B: The heads of committees shall appoint members as they deem necessary.
ARTICLE 8 - ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
Section A: The bylaws shall be adopted when approved by a majority vote at the society's first official meeting.
Section B: Amendment of the bylaws may be initiated by any member and must be submitted in writing to the board of directors. If approved by the board, the amendment must be approved by two-thirds vote at the society's next annual meeting. The membership must be given 20 days' notice of any amendments to the bylaws.