GFWC ILLINOIS

METAMORA-GERMANTOWN HILLS JUNIOR WOMAN’S CLUB’S

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

 

ARTICLE I

Name

 

The name of the organization shall be the GFWC ILLINOIS METAMORA-GERMANTOWN HILLS JUNIOR WOMAN’S CLUB.

 

ARTICLE II

Object

 

The purpose of this non-profit club shall be to promote civic betterment, to provide social and educational entertainment of its members.

 

ARTICLE III

Membership

 

Section 1.  This club shall hold active membership in the 17th District, Illinois Federation of Women’s Clubs and shall participate in the regular programs of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs.

 

Section 2.  Any woman eighteen years and older, and in sympathy with the object of this club, is eligible as an applicant for membership.

 

Section 3.  Application for membership shall be given to the Membership Chairman and Executive Board for registration.  New members will be presented to the club by the Membership Chairman.

 

Section 4.  A member in good standing with all dues paid must relinquish her membership by giving written notice to the Secretary.

 

Section 5.  All members are expected to attend the monthly meetings. Members who are unable to attend are encouraged to review the newsletter and meeting minutes for participation opportunities.

 

Section 6.  A member may apply for associate membership.

                  1.  To qualify, an applicant must have been an active member for at least four years.

                  2.  Associate Membership Types available are:

                       a.  Legacy Member – Five (5) hours of volunteering within club activities and

                              attending two general meetings OR 10 hours of volunteering within club

                              activities.

b.      In Name Only – Receive email notification of Newsletter posted on website.  Will

       not be emailed or called to volunteer at club activities.  If interested in                 

      volunteering at a club activity, the ‘In Name Only’ associate member will contact    

      the member responsible for the activity.

                   3.  All associate members will be notified when projects request monetary donations.

 4.  An associate member is welcome to attend all club events.

 

Section 7.  Annual dues for regular members shall be forty-five dollars. ($45.00)

 

 

Section 8.  Annual dues for associate members shall be as follows:

                  Legacy Member – sixty dollars. ($60.00)

                  In Name Only – eighty dollars. ($80.00)

 

Section 9.  Dues should be paid to the Treasurer by the September General meeting.  If a returning member does not pay by October 1, there will be a $5.00 late charge assessed.  The club membership year begins September 1st and ends August 31st.

 

ARTICLE IV

Officers

Section 1.  The officers shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Parliamentary Advisor.

 

Section 2. The duties of the officers shall be such as are implied by their respective titles, and such as are specified in the bylaws and specific descriptions provided in the officer handbooks.

 

Section 3.  The President shall:

1. Preside at all Executive Board meetings as well as all regular business meetings of the club.

2. Appoint all chairmen of the standing committees, the departments, and be an ex-officio member of them.

3. Serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the 17th District and the 17th Junior District of the Illinois Federation of Women’s Club.

 

Section 4.  The Vice-President shall:

1. In order of rank, perform the duties of the President in her absence.

2. The Vice-President shall act as Membership Chairman.  Her duties shall consist of securing new members for the club, accepting the applications for membership and entering the names in the membership file.  She shall personally contact any member who has not attended two consecutive meetings to encourage their further attendance.  The Vice-President will ensure that absent members receive highlights of the meeting.

3. The Vice-President shall serve as Nominating Committee Chairman, announcing nominating committee of five members selected by her, at the January meeting.

 

Section 5. The Secretary shall keep full and accurate minutes of all meetings and an attendance roll of all members.  The Secretary shall conduct all correspondence for the club, compile the yearbook, and act as chairman of the Bylaws and Sunshine Fund.

 

Section 6.  The Treasurer shall:

1. The Treasurer has the authority to write checks up to the amount allocated in Budget.

2. Receive all money due to the club, giving receipt for such sums, keeping an itemized

    account of all receipts and disbursements, and contact members who are delinquent in  paying

    dues.

3. Pay all bills, properly verified.

4. Present detailed reports at each regular business meeting.  Her report shall be audited annually with the annual audit report presented at the September General meeting.

5. The Executive Board has oversight authority over all treasurer records throughout the year.

6. The incoming Treasurer serves as the Budget chairman and the outgoing Treasurer shall be a member of the Budget Committee.

 

 

Section 7.  Election of Officers: At the regular business meeting held in January, a nominating committee of five members shall be announced by the Vice-President, who will be the Nominating Committee chairman.  The Nominating Committee will consist of the chairman and another member from the Executive Board and three members from the membership at large.  The nominative slate shall be announced at the February meeting when additional nominations may be made.  The election of officers will be held during the regular March meeting.

 

ARTICLE V

Meetings

Section 1.  The regular business meeting shall be held on the third Monday of each month from September through May inclusive, unless otherwise ordered by the Executive Board.

 

Section 2.  The Executive Board meeting shall meet four times a year, meeting in June, September, January, and March, unless otherwise ordered by the President.

 

Section 3.  State Convention: There shall be two (2) delegates to the State Convention.  They shall be the Immediate Past President and one appointed delegate.  Their expenses shall be allowed as designated in the budget.

 

ARTICLE VI

Committees

 

Section 1. There will be eight (8) standing Committees:  Avenue of Flags, Community Improvement Program (CIP), Junior-Of-The-Year/Outstanding Service, Newsletter, Public Relations, Reporting, Breakfast with Santa, and Ways & Means.  The chairmen will be appointed by the President.

 

Section 2. There will be six (6) departments as interest is expressed:  Arts, Conservation, Education, Home Life, International Affairs, and Public Affairs.  The chairmen will be appointed by the President.

 

Section 3.  Because of the nature of the position of the Community Improvement Program chairperson, it is important that the chairperson have been a member of club for at least one year prior to assuming the position in order to have thorough knowledge of club procedures, projects, and activities.

 

Section 4.  Each committee shall keep a record book in which all duties shall be stated and all yearly activities shall be recorded.  All record books, papers, and property belonging to the club shall be turned over to the incoming committee.  Each committee plans the program for their assigned month.

 

Section 5. The club Media Book will become the property of the club to be donated to the library for public display.  The books will then be the property of the library.

 

ARTICLE VII

Executive Committee

 

Section 1.  The officers and the chairmen of the standing committees shall make up the Executive Board.

 

Section 2.  The officers shall serve one year in office, starting June 1st and ending May 31st of the following year.

 

Section 3. The President and Vice-President positions must be filled only by persons having served two years in club.  Unless no other member steps forward after it has been presented to the membership at large, can a member be eligible after one year of service to serve as Vice-President.

 

Section 4.  Any officer may succeed herself, but cannot serve more than two consecutive terms of office, unless no other member steps forward after it has been presented to the membership at large.

 

ARTICLE VIII

Dissolution

 

Section 1.  Dissolution Clause: In the event of the dissolution of the Metamora-Germantown Hills Junior Woman’s Club of the Illinois Federation of Women’s Clubs, the total assets remaining, after all just debts have been paid, shall be liquidated and allocated to the organizations of like purposes.  A meeting is to be held at a regular meeting of the club, or a special meeting shall be held for that purpose.  Two-thirds vote of the members present (and voting) shall be required for passage.  No funds shall be distributed among individual members.  This is in accordance with government’s regulations.

 

 

Section 2.  The charter shall be returned to IFWC Headquarters.  Club materials, equipment, etc., shall be relinquished to the Junior District.

 

ARTICLE IX

Parliamentary Authority

 

The club shall be governed by the latest edition of “Robert’s Rules of Order”.

 

ARTICLE X

Amendment and Revision

 

The Bylaws Committee can propose amendments to the Executive Board.  The proposed amendments then must be presented to the membership-at-large in written (including email) or verbal form.  The membership-at-large will be notified 14 days prior to the meeting of the general membership which the vote will be taken.  The Bylaws will be amended at the meeting after receiving a majority vote.