The Ouachita Hosta & Shade Plant Society

BY-LAWS OF THE  
OUACHITA HOSTA AND SHADE PLANT SOCIETY

 
ARTICLE 1 - NAME
 
This organization's name shall be “Ouachita Hosta and Shade Plant Society.”

ARTICLE 2 - PURPOSE
 
This society is a nonprofit educational organization, formed exclusively to promote knowledge and interest in hostas and shade plants, to foster development of new and improved hosta and shade plant varieties, and to encourage cultivation and usefulness of hostas and shade plants 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.

Section C: Dues shall be payable November 1 for the following calendar year.  Dues unpaid after March 1 shall be considered delinquent and membership terminated.  (Amended Oct. 6, 2007)

Section D: All members who joined by January 1, 2007, shall be considered charter members.

ARTICLE 4 - MEETINGS

Section A: The annual meeting shall be held on the first Saturday in November. 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 first 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/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 C: The vice-president/programs shall assume the duties of president in the absence of the president and the vice-president/programs shall be in charge of programs for all general meetings of the membership and supervise all standing committees. 

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 by-laws.

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 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 by-laws 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 amendment to the by-laws.

Adopted November 4, 2006
Amended October 6, 2007

OHSPS\By-Laws OHSPS
11/18/2007