By Laws

PENNSYLVANIA ORGANIZATION MOTHERS OF TWINS CLUBS

ARTICLE I: Name

Section 1 - The name of the organization shall be the "Pennsylvania Organization Mothers of Twins Club" (POMOTC)

Section 2 - This club was founded in May, 1971 in Lebanon, PA

Section 3 - The motto is "God's Chosen Ones" : adopted in May 1973

ARTICLE II: Purpose and Policy

Section 1 - Purpose: The purpose of the Pennsylvania Organization Mothers of Twins Club is to:

A. Broaden the understanding of those aspects of child development and rearing which relate to multiple births

B. Exchange information between parents, educators, doctors, and others with a direct interest and appropriate experience,

C. Exchange information relating to the rearing of single children in a multiple birth family as well as the problems of multiple birth children.

D. Cooperate with, and actively participate in, research.

E. Focus attention on solutions to those problems specifically relating to multiple births.

F. Increase awareness of the individually of each child.

G. Award scholarships according to the guidelines of the Lonnie Whitcomb Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Section 2 - Policy: The Pennsylvania Organization Mother of Twins Clubs is to be non-commercial, non-sectarian and non-profit. In keeping with its purpose, the POMOTC shall develop policies:

A. To implement its educational work by making available to the public information about multiple births.

B. To cooperate with the National Organization.

C. To assist in establishing new clubs and further developing established clubs.

ARTICLE I: NAME

Section 1 - The name of the organization shall be the "Pennsylvania Organization Mothers Of

Twins Club" (POMOTC)

Section 2 - This club was founded in May, 1971 in Lebanon, PA.

Section 3 - The official Seal was adopted in 1973

Section 4 - The motto is "God's Chosen Ones": adopted in May, 1973

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE AND POLICY

Section 1 - Purpose: The purpose of the Pennsylvania Organization Mothers Of Twins Club is to:

A. Broaden the understanding of those aspects of child development and rearing which

relate to multiple births.

B. Exchange information between parents, educators, doctors, and others with a direct interest and appropriate experience.

C. Exchange information relating to the rearing of single children in a multiple birth

family as well as the problems of multiple birth children.

D. Cooperate with, and actively participate in research.

E. Focus attention on solutions to those problems specifically relating to multiple births.

F. Increase awareness of the individuality of each child.

G. Award scholarships according to the guidelines of the Lonnie Whitcomb Memorial

Scholarship Fund.

Section 2 - Policy: The Pennsylvania Organization Mothers Of Twins Clubs is to be non-commercial,

non-sectarian and non-profit. In keeping with its purpose, the POMOTC shall develop

policies:

A. To implement its educational work by making available to the public information about

multiple births.

B. To cooperate with the National Organization.

C. To assist in establishing new local clubs and further developing established clubs.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 - Classification

A. Membership in this organization shall consist of local Pennsylvania clubs and other

recognized clubs.

B. The POMOTC is obligated to admit membership, upon application, any club which

meets the membership requirements.

Section 2 - Requirements: Member Clubs shall:

A. Accept the By-Laws of the State Organization.

B. Schedule at least eight (8) club meetings per year.

C. Submit annual dues which are due and payable September 1st and delinquent November

1st.

Section 3 - Dues

A. The annual dues shall be fifty cents (.50) per capita, based upon the number of members

at the end of the previous club year.

B. New clubs joining on or after January 1 will pay twenty-five cents (.25) per capita based

upon present number of members.

C. These dues shall be paid to the State Treasurer.

D. New member clubs in any given year shall be allowed voting privileges at the Annual

Convention if dues were paid on or before March 1st of the same year.

Section 4 - Delinquency and Withdrawal

A. Delinquency - Member clubs which fail to pay their annual dues by November 1st will

be delinquent and will be removed from active membership.

B. Reinstatement - Clubs removed from membership in this organization may be reinstated

by paying this years annual dues and an additional five dollars ($5.00) late fee.

Section 5 - Fiscal Year

A. The fiscal year of the POMOTC shall be from June 1 through May 31.

B. The Treasurer's book shall be audited at the end of the fiscal year.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

Section 1 - Officers: Officers of POMOTC shall consist of the President, 1st Vice President,

2nd Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Section 2 - Term: The term of the office shall be one (1) year or until successors are elected. Officers

may be elected to serve one (1) additional consecutive term in the same office. Officers

shall assume authority following adjournment of the convention at which they were elected.

Section 3 - Eligibility

A. President - Must have served as a member of the Executive Committee of POMOTC

during the current year.

B. Officers - Must have served as a member of the Executive Committee of the current year

or any past year.

C. A nominee must be in attendance and registered at the Convention to be elected to office.

Section 4 - Duties

A. President shall:

1. Preside and preserve order at all meetings.

2. Appoint committee chairmen with the exception of the convention chairman and the

Nominating Committee.

3. Be a member ex-officio at all meetings except the Nominating Committee.

4. Approve disbursements of funds during the year for basic expenses of the Organization.

5. Call a meeting of the Executive Committee immediately prior to and another following

the Convention.

6. Appoint all Standing and Special Committees as needed.

7. Appoint a committee to audit the Treasury and Scholarship books at the end of the

fiscal year.

B. First Vice President shall:

1. Assist the President in all her work and carry out the duties assigned to her by the

President.

2. Assume duties and have authority of President in her absence or inability to serve.

3. Prepare folders for each State Rep to be given to them at the Convention. Each

folder shall contain information about POMOTC, the officers and committee chairmen

in order to assist the State Rep with her job.

C. Second Vice President shall:

1. Keep accurate records of membership - past, present or prospective.

2. Assist in establishing new local clubs.

3. Encourage local clubs to join POMOTC.

D. Secretary shall:

1. Keep minutes of all meetings - present copies of Convention Business Meeting to

President and Newsletter Editor.

2. Keep club By-Laws, Roster and Committee list in the Minute Book.

3. Call roll when necessary.

4. Send out any mid-year changes of officers and State Representatives of the local

clubs to the other State Officers and Committee Chairmen.

E. Treasurer shall:

1. Be custodial of the funds.

2. Keep financial statement up-to-date at all times and make it available upon request

for audit.

3. Send out dues notices.

4. Present financial statement to Editor or Newsletter for publication.

5. Keep list of all club's members.

Section 5 - Vacancies

A. In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the 1st Vice President shall become

the President for the completion of that term of office.

B. Vacancies, except that of President, occurring during a term shall be filled by the Executive

Board.

ARTICLE V: EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1 - Membership: The Executive Board shall consist of the elected officers and the immediate

Past President.

Section 2 - Duties

A. To manage the affairs and funds of POMOTC subject to the policies voted on by

the delegates at the State Convention.

B. To cooperate with and assist member clubs.

C. To appoint a Parliamentarian.

D. To make a full report of the activities of the organization to member clubs.

Section 3 - Meetings: Meetings of the Executive Board and Executive Committee shall be held:

A. On the call of the President.

B. Immediately following the Convention at which they are elected.

C. Prior to the meeting of the next Convention.

Section 4 - Quorum: The quorum shall be constituted by a majority.

ARTICLE VI: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1 - Membership

A. The POMOTC Executive Committee shall consist of the POMOTC Executive

Board, Standing Committee persons, Nominating Committee, Convention Chairmen

and State Reps.

B. All Committee Chairmen will be appointed by the incoming President, with the

exception of the Nominating Chairman and Convention Chairman.

Section 2 - Standing Committee Chairmen

A. District Reporters

1. Four shall be appointed; each representing different areas of the State.

2. Report area Club activities to Newsletter Editor.

B. Research - Prepare and send out material to member clubs for Research projects.

C. Newsletter Editor

1. Shall prepare and mail state Newsletter three (3) times a year.

2. Shall keep a mailing list with the names and addresses of:

a. Present officers and committee persons

b. Local Clubs

c. Past Presidents

d. Individual subscriptions

e. Complimentary exchanges

D. Historian

1. Keep accurate history of POMOTC through pictures, articles and newspapers.

2. Write a history each year, including activities and listing of POMOTC officers

and committees.

E. Nominating (See ARTICLE VII, Section 1)

F. Public Relations

1. Shall maintain a current list of each local club.

2. Shall be responsible for and conduct memorial service at state function.

3. Shall send appropriate correspondence in case of death or serious illness.

G. By-Laws - Shall update By-laws every five (5) years or sooner if the need should arise.

H. Lonnie Whitcomb Memorial Scholarship Fund

1. Shall be responsible for facilitating and awarding of the Scholarships mentioned in

ARTICLE II, Section 1, Part G.

2. Scholarships be awarded to eligible children and/or mothers who have been paid

members of POMOTC for the two (2) years immediately preceding application for

scholarship.

3. Term of office is for a minimum of three (3) years.

Section 3 - Special Committees: The President shall appoint Special Committees from time to time to

perform specific duties. These committees shall terminate after completing their

assignment and making a full report to the Executive Board.

ARTICLE VII: NOMINATING AND ELECTIONS

Section 1 - Nominating Committee

A. The Nominating Committee shall consist of four (4) members.

B. The Nominating Committee Chairman shall be elected at the annual convention.

C. The additional three (3) members, each representing a different district, shall be

elected at the convention.

D. This committee shall present at least one nominee and not more than three (3) for

each office to be filled.

E. No member of the Nominating Committee shall be deprived of the right to be

nominated for office.

Section 2 - Nominations from the Floor: Following the report of the committee, nominations

may be made from the floor, providing consent has been previously obtained from

the candidate.

Section 3 - Elections

A. To be eligible for election, a nominee must be in attendance and registered at the

convention and must have the proper qualifications.

(ARTICLE IV, Sections 3, Parts A, B, C)

B. Elections shall be by secret ballot.

C. A majority of the votes cast shall elect.

D. Tied candidates will be allowed a two minute presentation and a second ballot will be

cast. A tie vote following the second ballot will be decided by lot.

Section 4 - Vote

A. Local Clubs

1. Delegates

a. One delegate from each member club of fifteen (15) members or less

b. One additional delegate for each additional fifteen (15) members, or fraction thereof.

c. Elected officers of POMOTC shall each get one vote.

2. Voting Procedures

a. One vote for each delegate

b. Voting delegate must be present to cast her votes.

c. Each member club shall be entitled to their full quota of votes as long as at least

one delegate is in attendance.

d. It is the responsibility of each State Representative to poll their delegations and

report the vote to the chair.

e. New member clubs joining during the year shall be entitled to full privileges at

State Convention if their dues were paid no later than March 1st.

f. A majority is required to pass a vote.

Section 5 - Quorum: The quorum for business sessions of the Convention shall consist of a majority

of the voting delegates registered at the Convention provided there are at least four (4)

State Officers present.

ARTICLE VIII: CONVENTION

Section 1 - Time: The annual convention shall be held the last Friday and Saturday in April.

Section 2 - Call: The official call for convention shall be sent by the Convention Chairman to all

member clubs at least sixty (60) days before the convention.

Section 3 - Convention Chairman

A. Shall be appointed by the hostess club.

B. Shall be considered a member of the Executive Committee until the completion of their

convention.

C. Shall follow the POMOTC By-Laws and the Procedural Manual of the State Organization.

D. Shall submit to POMOTC a written report (2 copies) of their convention within a year and

shall give to the POMOTC Treasurer 10% of their net profit. This amount shall be divided

in half between the Lonnie Whitcomb Memorial Scholarship Fund and the POMOTC

general treasury.

Section 4 - Registration Fee: The Registration Fee shall be set by the Convention Chairman at the

November Mid-Term meeting immediately after acceptance of the club bid. It must

be approved by a majority vote of the Executive Committee (ARTICLE VI, Section 1,

Part A).

Section 5 - Salable Materials: Only POMOTC and the hostess club are permitted to sell items at

the annual convention. If a Club wishes to sell a specific item it must be sold through the

State Ways and Means Committee.

Section 6 - Bids for future conventions

A. Only member clubs may hostess a convention.

B. Bids will not be considered over a two (2) year period.

C. Bids will be presented to the Executive Board for approval.

D. Approved bids will be presented to the delegates for final decision.

ARTICLE IX: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY - Robert's Rules of Order Revised shall be the

authority where they do not conflict with the By-Laws, or Official Procedural Manual

of the POMOTC.

ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS

Section 1 - These By-Laws may be amended at any annual Convention of the POMOTC by a

two-thirds (2/3) vote, providing notice in writing of such amendments has been

sent to all clubs at least thirty (30) days prior to the convention.

Section 2 - Procedural Manuals for officers and chairmen may be amended by a majority

decision of the Executive Board and the written approval of the President.

Section 3 - By-Laws must be revised every five (5) years.

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