Guild By Laws

ARTICLE I: NAME & MISSION

The name of this organization will be Boston Modern Quilt Guild (hereafter referred to as the Guild). The Guild exists for social and educational purposes, and it is open to the public. It is not organized for the private gain of any individual or group. The Guild is an affiliate member of the Modern Quilt Guild Inc.

 

The Guild was founded in 2010 under the name "New England Modern Quilt Guild," welcoming members from all over New England.    In 2011, as additional guilds were founded in the area, the Guild's name was changed to the "Boston Modern Quilt Guild" in order to better represent the geographic scope of its membership, which is concentrated in, but not limited to, the greater Boston metropolitan area and eastern Massachusetts.

 

Through a group exemption with the Modern Quilt Guild Inc., the Guild is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

 

The mission of the Guild is to provide a community in which people interested in modern quilting, patchwork, and sewing can share skills and knowledge of the aforementioned, in a non-competitive and collaborative spirit. 

 

The Guild will:

  1. Encourage quilting, patchwork, and sewing
  2. Provide educational activities, including (but not limited to):
    1. Demonstrations
    2. Speakers
    3. Workshops
    4. Lectures
  3. Participate in charitable activities involving quilting
  4. Support programming for members with a range of sewing skills
  5. Support quilting activities in the community, such as quilt shows, which provide members with the opportunity to share and learn more about quilting techniques and history.
  6. Enlighten the public about the history of quilting and patchwork and the continuation of such crafts.

 

 

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1

Membership will be open to any person interested in modern quilting, patchwork, and sewing.

 

Section 2: Active Members

  1. New members may join at any time.
  2. Membership will be recognized upon payment of annual dues.
  3. Visitors may attend one meeting free of charge. At the second meeting, the Guild will charge the visitor $5 for attendance. At the third meeting, the visitor must become a member by paying the prorated annual dues.
  4. Active members may participate in and support projects and activities of the Guild; they may vote, hold office, and serve on special committees.  Paid members:
    1. Are entitled to preferential placement in Guild-sponsored events
    2. Have access to minutes of the meetings and treasurer’s reports
    3. May place items on the agenda
    4. May nominate candidates for open board positions

 

ARTICLE III: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 1:  The Board

 

             1.  The Board of Directors shall, in the usual course, comprise a President, Vice President, and Treasurer.  From time to time, should the needs of the Guild so require, an incoming President may choose to establish a position for a Secretary, and shall hold elections for the position in accordance with the procedure set forth in Article VII.

 

Section 2: President

The president will:

  1. Preside at all official meetings and special events
  2. Designate committee chairs for special Guild events, projects, and social media responsibilities
  3. Attend committee meetings as necessary
  4. Coordinate monthly meetings in cooperation with other officers
  5. Coordinate sew-ins in cooperation with member hosts
  6. Approve expenses undertaken by the Guild
  7. Perform any and all duties required as the official spokesperson for the Guild
  8. Conduct annual review of bylaws if necessary

 

Section 3: Vice President

The vice president will:

  1. Coordinate monthly meetings in cooperation with president
  2. Assume responsibilities of president if president cannot complete term of elected office
  3. Conduct meetings in absence of president
  4. Assume responsibility of other officers if they cannot complete term of elected office
  5. Assist in overseeing annual review of bylaws if necessary
  6. Assist other board members and committee chairs with coordination of Guild programming, including but not limited to: charity projects, swaps/Guild-centered exchanges, retreats, etc.

 

Section 4: Treasurer

The treasurer will:

  1. Receive and bank all Guild monies
  2. Maintain bookkeeping record of all funds
  3. Disburse funds as authorized by president and officers
  4. Submit quarterly financial statements to president
  5. Make financial statements available to members
  6. Submit biannual financial statement to officers at officer meeting
  7. Collect dues and fees from members, as well as meeting charges for visitors; monitor and police dues collection
  8. In cooperation with president, generate an annual budget and financial review prior to new officer and existing officer meeting at the close of the fiscal year
  9. Assist officers and committee chairs in planning meetings if necessary

 

Section 5: Secretary

The secretary, if appointed, will:

  1. Keep minutes of the general meetings or arrange a substitute
  2. Post minutes of meetings on the website/blog
  3. Maintain a record of all meeting minutes for term of office
  4. Conduct correspondence for the Guild
  5. Assist the president, vice president, and treasurer in planning meetings if necessary
  6. Assume responsibility of treasurer if they cannot complete term of elected office

 

Section 5

All officers will:

  1. Make an effort to attend every meeting
  2. Promote the Guild through posting on the blog and maintaining an active presence on the website
  3. Assist in recruiting new members

 

ARTICLE IV: DUES AND FEES

 

Section 1: Dues

  1. Annual dues will be determined by resolution of the Guild officers.  Members will be given at least thirty (30) days’ notice of changes in dues.
  2. Annual dues are payable on January 1 and become delinquent on February 1. Members joining after the midpoint of the fiscal year will pay a prorated amount upon submission of the membership form.
  3. Dues are non-refundable.
  4. The treasurer will collect dues and deposit them in the Guild bank account.

 

Section 2: Fees

  1. Fees will be charged for special classes, presentations, and/or events, as established by the officers.
  2. The treasurer will collect fees and hold them in the Guild’s checking account. The treasurer will account for all fees in the monthly treasurer’s report.
  3. Fees will be published on the website and announced in advance of the event at the monthly meeting.
  4. Fees are non-refundable.

 

 

ARTICLE V: MEETINGS

 

Section 1: General Membership Meetings

  1. Meetings will be held the 3rd Saturday of the month, or otherwise as the needs of the Guild require.  Meeting dates and programming will be determined by the Board.
  2. Meeting content and venue will be announced on the Guild website as far in advance as possible.

 

Section 2: Sew-Ins

  1. Sew-ins may be organized by individual members in cooperation with officers.
  2. Sew-ins will be open to all paid members.
  3. Host members will be compensated for expenses incurred for hosting sew-ins with prior consent of president.

 

Section 3: Officer Meetings

  1. Officer meetings can be called by any of the officers for the purpose of a single item matter.
  2. Officer meetings will be held at least twice annually, as the needs of the Guild require.

 

 

ARTICLE VI: FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION

 

  1.  The fiscal year will run from January 1 to December 31.
  2. The officers will set and maintain policies to control financial records consistent with generally recognized accounting principles.
  3. Funds, including dues and fees, collected for a specific event, activity, presentation, or class will be reported and audited with the general financial reports.
  4. The treasurer will prepare a biannual report for the officers, once in June and once in December, or otherwise as agreed by the treasurer and president.

 

 

ARTICLE VIII: OFFICER APPOINTMENTS

 

Section 1

  1. The President shall serve a one-year term.  Upon expiration of that term, the Vice-President shall assume the office of President and shall serve for one year.  Should the Vice-President decline the office of President, a new president shall be appointed pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 4 below.
  2. The Treasurer shall serve for a one-year term subject to renewal at the end of each term by mutual agreement of the current office-holder and the President. 
  3. The Secretary, if appointed, shall serve for a one-year term.
  4. Elections for Vice-President and, if necessary, Treasurer and Secretary shall be held in October pursuant to the procedure set forth below: 
    1. Candidates for each position may be nominated by any active member.  Candidates for office must be active paid members of the Guild at the time of their nominations.  Members may nominate themselves. 
    2. The current Board shall select officers for the following year from the nominations submitted by members of the Guild.  The selections should, to the extent possible, be unanimous.  The board shall consider, among other factors, the nominees' attendance at meetings, participation in Guild meetings and events, leadership role in Guild activities and programs, and demonstrated commitment to Guild activities.
    3. Nominations will be accepted beginning at the September meeting and extending for two weeks following the meeting.
    4. The selection of officers will be made, and the candidates informed, by November 15.
    5. New officers will assume full officer responsibility on January 1.

 

Section 2

  1. Officers will officially assume office in January.
  2. In the event of a position vacancy during the pendency of a fiscal year, the remaining officers shall appoint at least one member to fill the vacancy. The nomination must be unanimous. The member must willingly accept the responsibility. 
  3. The vice president will assume the responsibilities of any vacant officer position until that position has been filled in accordance with (2).

 

 

ARTICLE IX: OPERATIONS

 

Section 1.

The organization is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, or scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

Section 2.

No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in section 1 hereof and in article I of this constitution.

Section 3.

No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.

Section 4.

Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

Section 5.

Upon the dissolution of the organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by a Court of Competent Jurisdiction of the county in which the principal office of the organization is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

 

                                                                                           By-Laws first enacted in 2010

                                                                                           Last update:  December, 2014

 

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