Sample Chapter By-Laws (Evergreen Chapter specific)

BY-LAWS OF THE EVERGREEN CHAPTER
OF
THE BELLEEK COLLECTORS' INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY

PREAMBLE

Throughout these by-laws, THE BELLEEK COLLECTORS' INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY shall be referred to as the Society and the Evergreen Chapter of the Society shall be referred to as the Chapter.

ARTICLE I
NAME

The name of the organization shall be the Evergreen Chapter of the Belleek Collectors' International Society.

ARTICLE II
OBJECTIVE

This Chapter of the Society has been created to offer a local opportunity for Belleek collectors to meet together and, through the resulting acquaintanceship's, permit their commonality of interest to, individually and collectively, give them enhanced enjoyment of their Belleek Collections.

ARTICLE III
LIMITATIONS

Section 1.  The Chapter of the Society shall, in all its activities, be nonpartisan, nonpolitical and nonsectarian.

Section 2.  No Officer, Director or Member of the Chapter shall presume to endorse in the name of or on the behalf of the Chapter or the Society, or both, any person, activity or matter without the written authority of the Officers of the Chapter and of the U.S. Headquarters of the Society.

Section 3.  Material concerning Belleek, or Belleek products, to be published or circulated as a publication of the Chapter, including the official publication of the Society, Belleek, Ireland, Inc., and the Belleek Pottery, Ltd., in whole or in part, must be submitted to and approved in writing prior to the publication, printing or circulation thereof, by the U.S. Headquarters of the Society.

Section 4.  The name "The Belleek Collectors International Society" is a registered collective membership mark of Belleek Ireland, Inc. The Chapter of the Society is entitled to use such name to show membership in the organization as long as the Chapter remains a chapter in good standing.

Section 5.  The Belleek trademark, which depicts a dog, a tower and a harp, is a registered trademark of the Belleek Pottery, Ltd., the use of which has been licensed to Belleek Ireland, Inc.  The Chapter is not entitled to use the trademark unless it has signed a sublicense agreement with Belleek Ireland, Inc. and then only upon the terms and conditions stated in the license.

Section 6.  Affiliation of the Chapter with any organization, firm or entity other than the Society is subject to the written approval of the U.S. Headquarters of the Society.

ARTICLE IV
MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.  ELIGIBILITY.  Any individual who is a member in good standing of the Society who desires to further the objectives of the Chapter shall be eligible for Active Chapter membership.  Any individual, who has an interest in Belleek and desires to further the objectives of the Chapter, shall be eligible for Affiliate membership.

Section 2.  APPLICATION.  Application for membership in the Chapter shall be submitted to the designated Officer of the Chapter and shall constitute an agreement on the part of the applicant to adhere to the bylaws, policies and procedures of the Chapter.

Section 3.  ADMISSION.  The admission of an applicant to Active membership in the Chapter shall be granted after it has been determined by the Chapter that the applicant is a member in good standing of the Society or the applicant has joined the Society at the time of application to membership in the Chapter.  The admission of an applicant for Affiliate membership in the Chapter shall be granted after the applicant has demonstrated an interest in Belleek.

Section 4.  DELINQUENCIES.  Any member who fails to continue membership in the Chapter and the Society on a current basis for a period exceeding ninety (90) days shall forfeit said membership.

ARTICLE V
MEMBERSHIP DUES AND VOTING PRIVILEGES

Section 1.  MEMBERSHIP DUES.  Annual membership dues, to cover basic operating expenses, may be established by the Chapter.  Active membership dues may vary depending upon the need of the Chapter, but shall not exceed $15.00 annually.  Affiliate membership dues may vary depending upon the need of the Chapter, but shall not exceed $10.00 annually.

Section 2.  OTHER EXPENSES.  Chapter approved expenses of a unique or one-time nature shall be levied on the basis of the particular event.

Section 3.  VOTING PRIVILEGES.  Each  Active member of the Chapter, in good standing, is entitled to one vote in any election, referendum or membership meeting.   An Active member in good standing is a member who has attended at least one meeting in the twelve months preceding the election, referendum or membership meeting.  Affiliate members are not eligible to vote in elections, referendums or membership meetings.

ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS NOMINATION, ELECTION AND DUTIES

Section 1.  NOMINATION AND ELECTION.  Thirty days prior to the meeting designated as the Chapter's Annual Meeting a list of all Active Chapter members in good standing shall he submitted to all Active members in good standing.  Such notice shall also state the date, hour and location of the Annual Meeting.  Voting will take place at the Annual Meeting to fill the officerships of the Chapter.  Chapter Officers must be Chapter members. Nominations for each position will be made from the floor at said Annual Meeting.  All voting will be by secret ballot.  A tellers committee of three members shall count all ballots and announce the results of each vote.  Affiliate members are not eligible to hold elected office in the Chapter.

Section 2.  TERM.  The Officers so elected shall continue in office for 24 months (two years).  In case of a resignation, the membership shall elect one of their number to be seated for the remainder of the resigned Officer's term.  The procedure to accomplish this election to be in compliance with Article VI, Section 1.

Section 3.  DUTIES.  The duties of each Officer will be specified in the Chapter Policies and Procedures.

ARTICLE VII
NATIONAL DESIGNEES

The Chapter will annually submit, in writing, to the U.S. Headquarters of the Society, the names and addresses of two (2) Chapter members designated as those individuals responsible for the affairs and reports of the Chapter.

ARTICLE VIII
MEETINGS

Section 1.  FREQUENCY.  Meetings of the Chapter will be held no less frequently than semiannually.

Section 2.  ANNUAL MEETING.  The Annual Meeting of the Chapter shall be conducted in the month of March.

Section 3.  SPECIAL MEETING.  Special meetings may be called by the Officers, when deemed desirable, provided adequate and proper notice is given to the membership.

Section 4.  MEETING NOTICE.  Ten (10) days notice specifying the date, time and location of the meeting shall be required in the case of all meetings excluding the Annual Meeting in which case the period of advance notice is thirty (30) days.

Section 5.  OFFICERS MEETINGS.  Meetings of the Officers of the Chapter shall be held as often as necessary to conduct the affairs of the Chapter.

Section 6.  MINUTES.  The minutes of each Chapter meeting will be submitted to the U.S. Headquarters of the Society within thirty (30) days following each meeting.

Section 7.  QUORUM.  Twenty percent of the members in good standing, attending a regular, special or annual meeting shall constitute a quorum.  A majority of those in attendance shall be required to decide issues coming before such meetings. If, when the twenty percent rule is applied, the result is less than three (3) members, it shall be replaced by the requirement that no fewer than three (3) members in good standing constitute the quorum.

ARTICLE IX
DISBURSEMENTS

No disbursements of the funds of the Chapter shall be made unless the same shall have been budgeted and/or approved by the membership.  All disbursements shall be made in a manner agreed upon by the Chapter members.  Annual audit procedures will be designated by the membership.

ARTICLE X
CHAPTER APPROVAL

Approval of the Chapter is granted in the form of a Letter of Recognition from the Society.

Removal of Society approval of the Chapter may be effected by written notice from the U.S. Headquarters of the Society, sent via registered mail to the last two (2) designees of record in the office of the Society. Said notice to detail the reason(s) for removal of Society approval.

ARTICLE XI
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

Chapter meetings shall be governed by and conducted according to Robert's Manual of Parliamentary Rules.

ARTICLE XII
DISSOLUTION

In the event of the dissolution of the Chapter, any funds remaining shall be distributed in accordance with the wishes of the majority of the members attending the Meeting of Dissolution.

Minutes of the Meeting of Dissolution shall be submitted to the U.S. Headquarters of the Society.

ENDE