Bylaws

GREATER BIRMINGHAM FIBER GUILD

BY-LAWS

Ratified 01/14/2023

ARTICLE I. NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1. NAME: The name of this organization shall be: The Greater Birmingham Fiber Guild.

Section 2. PURPOSE: The purpose of this Guild shall be to provide education for its members that will stimulate an interest in the fiber arts as well as encourage all fiber craft people to strive for the highest standards of excellence, to create fellowship among its members, and to promote public awareness through exhibition, demonstration, and education.

ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

Section 1. MEMBERSHIP: Membership shall be open to any person interested in the fiber arts. There shall be two forms of membership: Individual (one vote); Family (two votes).

All members must be current in dues to vote on business brought before the Guild. The membership year shall be January 1 through December 31.

Section 2. DUES:

• Individual (1 vote) $25/year  Family (2 votes) $30/year

• New member joining after June 1: Individual $12.50, Family $15.00.

Dues shall be payable January 1 and delinquent February 28. Any member failing to pay current dues before a delinquent date shall forfeit all rights of membership.

Section 3. MEMBERSHIP PRIVILEGES: Members in good standing shall be able to hold a board position if elected, vote on all Guild business, attend board meetings (may not vote on board issues unless an elected member of the board), participate on committees, have access to all equipment owned by the Guild, and share their talents through teaching programs and demonstrating for local events.

ARTICLE III. OFFICES AND BOARD

Section 1. OFFICERS: The officers of this Guild shall be: President, Vice President - Programs Coordinator, Secretary, Treasurer, Workshop Coordinator, Audio/Visual Support, Blog Administrator, Facebook/Instagram Lead Administrator, and Ravelry Lead Administrator.

Section 2. TERM OF OFFICE: The term of office for the President shall be for one year, and may be held no more than two consecutive years. Other board positions may be renewed indefinitely. Terms of office shall begin January 1 and end December 31.

Section 3. VACANCIES: If an office is vacated before the expiration of the designated term it may be filled by the Executive Board.

Section 4. EXECUTIVE BOARD: The Executive Board shall consist of the elected officers and the immediate past president and shall be empowered to allocate funds to transact Guild business and manage Guild affairs between meetings.

ARTICLE IV. DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

Section 1. PRESIDENT: The President shall preside at all general and board meetings, shall be a member ex-officio of all committees except the nominating committee and shall appoint all committee chairpersons.

Section 2. VICE PRESIDENT - PROGRAMS COORDINATOR: The Vice President shall act for the President in case of absence or inability to serve until such time as the President is able to resume responsibility and shall serve as a program coordinator. As Programs Coordinator, this member shall plan and/or delegate planning of programs for the entire year in office, make arrangements for fees charged, materials needed, location, transportation, accommodations of any special speakers and submit appropriate information to Secretary for the meeting notice in a timely manner regarding programs, as well as attend all general and board meetings or send a representative.

Section 3. SECRETARY: The Secretary shall record the proceedings of all board meetings and send minutes to board members, send monthly meeting announcements to Guild members a week in advance of the meeting, and attend all general and board meetings.

Section 4. TREASURER: The Treasurer shall receive and keep accounts of all money received and expended, keep membership records and roster up to date, and attend all general and board meetings.

Section 5. WORKSHOP COORDINATOR: The Workshop Coordinator shall be responsible for organizing and promoting Guild workshops throughout the year, and attend all general meetings and board meetings.

Section 6.  AUDIO/VISUAL SUPPORT: The Audio/Visual Support person shall support the Guild's use of Zoom and YouTube.

Section 7. BLOG ADMINISTRATOR: The Blog Administrator shall maintain the Guild blog at www.GreaterBirminghamFiberGuild.blogspot.com. This includes posting all meeting notices and other pertinent information in particular to provide for members who do not use other social media outlets.

Section 8. FACEBOOK/INSTAGRAM LEAD ADMINISTRATOR: The Facebook/Instagram Lead Administrator shall maintain and manage the Guild Facebook Page, Facebook Group, and Instagram Account, by promoting Guild programs and events; sharing Guild members fiber art projects and related activities; encouraging member engagement between monthly meetings; posting Guild meeting notices a few days prior to the program or event; and mitigating any conflicts that may arise in the community with assistance from the Facebook moderator team or other board members as needed.

Section 9. RAVELRY LEAD ADMINISTRATOR: The Ravelry Lead Administrator shall maintain and manage the Guild presence on Ravelry by promoting Guild programs and events; encouraging members to share fiber art projects, activities, and information; fostering general engagement between monthly meetings; posting Guild meeting notices and reminders prior to the program or event; overseeing and updating the Group pages; and mitigating any conflicts that may arise in the community with assistance from the Ravelry moderator team or other board members as needed.

ARTICLE V. MEETINGS

Section 1. MEETINGS: General meetings shall consist of a short business meeting and a program. These meetings shall be held on the second Saturday of each month. Listed below is a tentative/unofficial schedule of annual programs and events for future reference:

• January - Program: Resolutions, Show and Tell

• Special Event: 3rd Saturday in April - Farm Day at the Birmingham Zoo

• May - Event: Picnic

• June - Demos: Worldwide Knit in Public Day with Purl on the Plaza

• September - Event/Demos: Fiber Frenzy

• December - Yarn Ball (Holiday Party)

• Other monthly programs to be coordinated:

1. February

2. March

3. April

4. July

5. August

6. October

7. November

Section 2. BOARD MEETINGS: Board meetings shall be held monthly, approximately 2 weeks prior to the general Guild meeting.

ARTICLE VI. ELECTIONS

Section 1. NOMINATING COMMITTEE: A nominating committee of three members shall be selected at the September meeting. It shall consist of a chairperson appointed by the President and two (2) members in good standing. The committee shall meet and select a proposed slate of officers to be presented in writing to the general membership at the November meeting. A copy of the proposed slate must be given to the Secretary for publication in the December meeting notice.

Section 2. ADDITIONAL NOMINATION: Nominations in addition to those submitted by the committee may be accepted from the floor at the October meeting provided that consent has been obtained from the nominee prior to the meeting.

Section 3. VOTING: Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of members present at the December meeting, and their terms of office will begin January 1.

ARTICLE VII. COMMITTEES

Section 1. STANDING COMMITTEES: 

• Nominating Committee (See ARTICLE VI, Section 1)

Section 2. STANDING COMMITTEES GUIDELINES: 

Standing committees shall operate as a volunteer-based committee.  The chairperson shall be appointed by the president or be a member of the executive board. Each committee shall set guidelines for their particular committee, subject to board approval.

Section 3. SPECIAL COMMITTEES: Special project-based committees shall be appointed by the President in the event of need, to serve for a limited period of time.

ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS

These by-laws may be amended at any regular or called meeting of the Guild by a majority vote of members present, a written notice having been sent of the proposed amendment at least one month in advance of the meeting. Absent members may submit an amendment vote in writing, such vote to be received by meeting time at which amendment votes are counted.

ARTICLE IX. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the current edition of Roberts’ Rules of Order shall govern the Guild in all cases except where they are not consistent with these By-laws and any special rules of order that the Guild may adopt.

ARTICLE X. MONETARY DISSOLUTION

Any monetary assets which this Guild may own or acquire are irrevocably dedicated to educational purposes, and upon dissolution or abandonment of this organization such assets will be turned over to one or more organizations which themselves are exempt as organizations described in sections 501 © <3> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue law or a corporation contributions to which are deductible under section 170 (3) <2> of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or any other corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law. No part of the monetary assets of the Guild shall inure to the benefit of any member thereof, and this Guild shall not devote any substantial portion of said assets for the purpose of carrying on propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation.

ARTICLE XI. USE OF ASSETS

Standing Rules:

1. Equipment belonging to the Guild shall be maintained and inventoried on a regular basis. A fee to be determined by the board shall be charged for the rental of guild equipment and that money shall be used to purchase new (or repair existing) equipment as needed. A deposit to be determined by the board shall also be obtained at the time of the rental that is non-refundable if said equipment is not returned or returned in damaged condition. 

2. The Guild shall try to maintain good standing in statewide as well as national fiber organizations through paid membership as determined by a vote of the general membership. Currently the only membership to be maintained is with the Handweavers Guild of America.