Ceres Garden Club of California

Ceres Garden Club Bylaws

Article I - Name

This Organization shall be known as the Ceres Garden Club.

Article II - Objectives

The objectives of this Club shall be (a) to promote an interest in gardening; (b) to stimulate the knowledge of gardening among amateurs; (c) to aid in the protection of native trees and wildlife; (d ) to encourage civic planting; (e) to socialize with fellow gardeners.

Article III - Membership and Dues

Anyone interested in the objective of the Club may become an active member upon payment of annual membership dues. Dues are payable by May 31st, and delinquent June 30th.

Article IV - Officers

Section 1. The elected officers of the Club shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. These officers shall perform duties prescribed by these bylaws and by the parliamentary authority adopted by this Club.

Section 2. The President shall (a) be the chief executive officer and official representative of the Club; (b) preside at all board meetings and general meetings of the Club; (c) represent the Club at district meetings and the state convention. If the president is unable to attend the district meeting a representative, appointed by the President, may attend the district meeting to give the Club report. Should this not be applicable, a Club report may be mailed to the District Director; (d) perform all duties pertaining to the office.

Section 3. The Vice President shall (a) perform the duties of the President in absence of the President; (b) accept a chairmanship.

Section 4. The Secretary shall (a) keep minutes of all meetings of the Club and executive board to be read or printed for approval at the next meeting; (b) be in charge of the correspondence of the Club under the direction of the President.

Section 5. The Treasurer shall (a) receive all monies collected in the name of the Ceres Garden Club; (b) deposit all monies in the name of the Ceres Garden Club with a bank authorized by the executive board in designated general and specific accounts; (c) administer the Ceres Garden Club funds as authorized by the executive board; (d) make a report at each board meeting and an annual summary at the June Club meeting; (e) give a detailed report of receipts and disbursements to the President at the end of the fiscal year; (f) submit books for audit within thirty (30) days following the end of the fiscal year.

Section 6. The President at the general meeting held in March in the odd numbered years should appoint a nominating committee of three members. I will be the duty of this committee to nominate candidates for the offices to be filled at the general meeting in June. This committee shall submit its slate to the Club at the April meeting. Further nominations from the floor shall be permitted.

Section 7. Election of officers shall be by ballot whenever there is more than one candidate for office. Officers to serve two years or until their successors are elected and their term of office shall begin at the close of the general meeting in June following their installation. There shall be no voting by proxy. All officers shall be elected in the odd number year. (As is district and state officers.)

Section 8. No member shall hold more than on elected office at a time and no member shall be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office.

Section 9. Vacancies in the elected offices shall be filled by election if three-quarters of the term remains. If less than three-quarters remains, those vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the board. Said appointment to be ratified by the Club at the next general meeting.

Article V - Meetings

Section 1. The general meetings of the Club shall be held on the third Thursday of each month from September to June, inclusive, unless otherwise ordered by the Club.

Section 2. The general meeting in April shall be known as the annual meeting and shall be for the purpose of electing officers, receiving reports officers and committees, and for any other business that may arise.

Section 3. One-fourth of the membership shall constitute a quorum.

Article VI - The Executive Board

Section 1. The elected officers and the past President shall constitute the executive board.

Section 2. The executive board shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Club between its business meetings, fix the hour and place of meetings, make recommendations to the Club, and shall perform such duties as are specified in the bylaws. All necessary expenses of the Club shall be under the control of the executive board.

Section 3. Unless otherwise ordered by the board, regular meetings of the executive board shall be held on the 2nd Thursday of each month from September to June, inclusive. Special meetings of the board may be called by the President.

Section 4. Tow member of the board shall constitute a quorum.

Article VII - Committees

Section 1. The Vice President and one other member appointed by the President after the annual meeting shall plan the monthly programs, luncheons, and/or teas for the Club. These plans must be completed by June 30th.

Section 2. Such committees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the President of the Club. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the nominating committee. The President, with board approval, may add or delete committees, as the needs of the Club warrant.

Article VIII - Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the most current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the club in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the Club may adopt.

Article IX - Amendment of Bylaws

These bylaws my be amended at any general meeting of the Club by two-thirds vote, provided the amendment has been submitted in writing at the previous general Club meeting.

Ceres Garden Club - Standing Rules

  1. Meeting time may be governed and changed by the President or Board of Directors due to unknown factors. Currently social time will begin at 11:30 a.m., meetings promptly at 12 noon, with programs at 12:30.
  2. Each officer and standing and special committee chairman shall keep a "procedure book" of the duties and achievements of that office during the term of service. This file shall be passed on the successor.
  3. The Vice President shall serve as chairman of the program committee.
  4. New members shall pay full dues of $15.00 upon joining. Anyone joining the Club after February 1st will pay $7.50 for dues for the remainder of the year. Anyone joining after March 31st will have their dues count for the next Club year. Dues are payable by May 31st, delinquent June 30th for each successive year.
  5. The membership list of names, addresses, and phone numbers should be used only for the purposes of the Ceres Garden Club.

(These standing rules can be rescinded or amended at any general Club meeting, without previous notice, by majority vote.)

Bylaw Addition - December 1997

$50.oo or less expenditure for supplies or stated expenses need not be brought before the general membership for apporval.