BONSAI SOCIETY OF GREATER NEW HAVEN






By-laws

ARTICLE I
This organization shall be known as Bonsai Society of Greater New Haven, a non-profit educational organization, with no paid officers. Its Japanese name shall be Kaigan Mori Bonsai Kyokai (Kaigan = seashore, Mori = grove).
ARTICLE II
The objectives of this Society shall be: (1) exchange knowledge of bonsai with each other, and (2) share bonsai culture with the community through meetings, workshops, demonstrations, and exhibits.
ARTICLE III
Anyone interested in furthering the objectives of the Society may become a member upon payment of the required dues. Honorary membership may be conferred at the discretion of the membership upon recommendation of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IV
The Officers and Directors of the Society shall be as follows:
  1. President
  2. Vice President
  3. Recording Secretary
  4. Treasurer
  5. Corresponding Secretary
  6. A Board of Directors composed of the above officers, three elected directors, and the immediate past President.

At the March meeting of the Society, the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of three members. The Nominating Committee shall present a slate of Officers and Directors to the membership by mail at least five days prior to the June meeting. Nominations for Officers and Directors may also be made from the floor.

The Officers and Directors shall be elected at the June meeting by a majority vote of members present, and they shall assume office July 1. Officers shall be elected for one year, and one Director shall be elected each year for a term of three years. The President's term of office shall be limited to four consecutive one-year terms. A Director's term of office shall be limited to two consecutive three-year terms.

The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President in his/her absence and shall also chair the Program Committee.

In the absence of the President and Vice-President, the following shall preside, in the order listed: Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary.

The Recording Secretary shall keep the minutes of the Society.

The Treasurer shall collect dues, maintain the books, render bills, and make disbursements as authorized by the Board of Directors.

The Corresponding Secretary shall handle correspondence and issue notices of meetings.

The Board of Directors shall hold a minimum of four meeting per year. Additional meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at the discretion of the President.

The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors. All matters shall be decided by a majority vote of a quorum. A quorum shall be two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors.

A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled for the remainder of the term by the Vice President. A vacancy in any of the other elected offices, or among elected directors, shall be filled for the remainder of the term by appointment by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE V
The President shall appoint the Historian, the Librarian, and all committee chairs, except Program Committee, necessary to carry out the work of the Society, including but not limited to, the following standing committees:
Nominating Committee
Publicity Committee
Exhibit Committee

The Program Committee Chair shall prepare and announce proposed programs. The Exhibit Committee Chair shall arrange and execute all exhibits. The Publicity Committee Chair shall arrange for publicity of the Society's activities in the press and elsewhere.

The Historian shall maintain the archives of the Society. Copies of the minutes of all meetings, treasurer's reports, newsletters, and any other documents issued by or for the Society shall be given to the Historian for the archive.

The Librarian shall maintain the books, periodicals, audio-visual materials, and other items in the Society's collection, make them available to members at the meetings, and circulate items to members for the agreed upon length of time.

The Chairs of the Exhibit Committee and Publicity Committee shall be ex-officio members of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VI
Meetings of the Society shall be held at the discretion, time, and place established by the Board of Directors. An Annual Meeting shall be held between May first and June thirtieth to review the activity of the expiring year and to elect Officers and Directors for the ensuing year.
ARTICLE VII
Dues for membership in the Society shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Payment of dues shall entitle an individual to membership for the period prescribed.
ARTICLE VIII
The Board of Directors shall oversee and be responsible for all expenses required to conduct the business of the organization.

Dues paying members shall not receive financial compensation in excess of actual expenses from this organization for purposes stated in Article II.

Upon dissolution of this organization, any and all assets shall be distributed to the National Arboretum, Washington, D.C. for use in bonsai programs.

ARTICLE IX
All matters brought to a vote shall be decided by a majority vote of members present. Robert's Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary authority for procedure not covered by these Bylaws.
ARTICLE X
The Bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the members by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present, provided that the proposed amendment shall have been stated in writing and submitted to the membership not less than thirty days prior to such meeting.
  • Original Bylaws approved by the Membership September 9, 1975.,
  • Amendments approved at Annual Meeting May 8,1978.
  • Amendments approved February 9, 1983.
  • Amendments approved March 10, 1987.
  • Amendments approved October 10, 1989.
  • Amendments approved January 8, 2002.

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Copyright © 2001- The Bonsai Society of Greater New Haven.
All Rights Reserved. Last revised August 2008.