By-laws

ST. LOUIS CARNIVOROUS PLANT SOCIETY


Standing Rules


CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS 

of the

ST. LOUIS CARNIVOROUS PLANT SOCIETY


ARTICLE 1 - NAME


The name of this organization shall be “The St. Louis Carnivorous Plant Society.”


ARTICLE 2 - PURPOSE


The purpose of this society shall be to learn and share information about the natural habitats of carnivorous plants, how to grow and propagate them, and how to help preserve their natural habitats.


ARTICLE 3 - MEMBERSHIP


Section 1: The membership in this society is open to all: beginning and experienced growers, adults and interested children.


Section 2: All new members shall be provided with a copy of the constitution and by-laws and standing rules of the society and shall agree to abide by the conditions as set forth therein.


ARTICLE 4 - DUES


Dues for members shall be set as stated in the standing rules, subject to change annually.


ARTICLE 5 - OFFICERS


The elected officers of this society shall consist of the president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and librarian.


ARTICLE 6 - DUTIES OF OFFICERS


Section 1: The president shall preside at all regular meetings.


Section 2: The vice-president shall preside at the regular meetings in the president’s absence.


Section 3: The secretary shall take the minutes and keep a record of the proceedings at all meetings.  The secretary shall conduct any necessary correspondence unless otherwise designated.  The secretary shall retain minutes of the previous year in addition to the current year, after which they will be filed with the librarian.


Section 4: The treasurer shall receive all dues, donations, etc. and shall give proper credit on the books of the society; shall have charge of all finances and pay all approved bills; make a report at each regular meeting; shall submit his/her accounts to the members for annual auditing at the November meeting and receive written approval signed by the other officers.  The treasurer shall reimburse any officer or member for expenditures incurred in carrying out his/her appointed duties, provided such expenditures have been authorized or approved by the members.  Where possible, receipted bills shall be secured but where this is not practical, an itemized list with costs, signed by the person presenting them, shall be required.  All such receipts and itemized lists shall become a part of the treasurer's permanent records.  Checks may be signed by the treasurer or the president.  A summary of the treasurer’s report from the previous two months shall be provided to the secretary at each meeting.  Obsolete treasurer’s records shall be filed in the library.  The treasurer shall maintain an inventory of all the physical property of the society.


Section 5: The librarian shall be the custodian of all literature owned by the society and shall lend literature to members only.  No literature is to be loaned by mail.  The librarians shall keep a record of all literature so loaned.  Most literature shall be loaned for a period of two months (from one meeting to the next), and a fine of $5 shall be charged for each missed meeting. The librarian shall collect all such fees and turn them over to the treasurer.  Purchases of books and videos for the library shall be approved by a majority of the members at a regular meeting.  Any member borrowing literature from the library shall be responsible for that item and in case of loss while in his or her possession shall be charged for the replacement cost of such literature.


ARTICLE 7 - ELECTION OF OFFICERS


All officers shall be elected for a term of one year.  Elections shall be held at the September meeting.


ARTICLE 8 - MEETINGS


Meetings shall be held every other month: January, March, May, July, September, and November. 


ARTICLE 9 - CONSTITUTION AND BY -LAWS


The constitution and by-laws may be amended or revised by a two-thirds vote of the membership at a regular meeting, provided the amendment or revision has been submitted in writing and read at a previous meeting.


ARTICLE 10 - FINANCES


Section 1: Each year’s budget shall be submitted to the membership for approval at the September meeting.  The budget year runs from January to December.  


ARTICLE 11 - ORDER OF BUSINESS


The order of business at all regular meetings shall be as follows:


Meeting called to order

Minutes of preceding meeting read

Recommendations

Report of the treasurer

Reports of the secretary

Unfinished business

New Business

Program

Discussion