Bylaws

Article I: Identity

Section 1. This organization shall be known as the Gold Coast Bonsai Society, Inc., and shall operate on a not-for-profit basis.

Article II: Objectives

Section 1. The objectives of the Society are:

a) To promote the appreciation of the art of bonsai to the members of the organization and to the general public;

b) To advance the education of its members and the general public in all phases of the art of bonsai;

c) To hold meetings and workshops in the furtherance of these objectives;

d) To hold an annual exhibit for the general public;

e) To hold an annual auction.

Article III: Basic Policies

Section 1. The basic policies of the Society are:

a) The Society shall be non-commercial, non-sectarian and non-partisan;

b) The name of the Society or the names of any members in their official capacities shall not be used in any connection with a commercial concern, or with any partisan interest or for any purpose not appropriately related to the promotion of the objectives of the Society;

c) The Society may cooperate with other organizations and agencies related to the horticultural sciences, but persons representing the Society in such matters shall make no commitments that bind the Society, nor shall any commercial ventures take advantage of the Society.

Article IV: Membership and Dues

Section 1. All persons interests in bonsai shall be eligible to membership in the Society upon payment of dues.

Section 2. Each member shall pay annual dues in an amount recommended by the Board of

Directors and approved by a majority vote of the membership. Dues must be paid by the

December meeting.

Section 3. Honorary Members:

a) As a manifestation of respect and esteem, the Board of Directors may confer Honorary  

Membership. Honorary Members shall not be required to pay dues, shall not be eligible to vote, and shall not hold office. John Naka has been an Honorary Member for many years.

Article V: Meetings

Section 1. Meetings shall be held monthly on the second Saturday of each month, or as prescribed

by the Board of Directors and at a time and place designated by the Directors and members shall

be so notified.

Section 2. The annual meeting shall be held in November for the presentation of Annual

Reports, Financial Statements and for the election of new officers.

Section 3. A nominating committee shall be appointed at the June meeting and shall select

suitable candidates for office. The slate shall be presented at the September meeting. At this time,

any member may nominate candidates from the floor, with the consent of the proposed nominee.

a) The election of a new board shall be postponed for one year in the event of a conflict with Gold Coast Bonsai Society hosting a state, national or international convention. At that time a vote will be taken of the membership to keep the existing board members in position for the next year to maintain the momentum of said convention committee.

Section 4. Special meetings, i.e., Board Meetings or special programs, may be called by the

President. Notice of any special meeting shall be communicated to all members by the Secretary  

(Corresponding) by mail, telephone, or verbally and shall be received by the members before such

meeting.

Section 5. All paid members in good standing shall be entitled to one vote per person.

Section 6. Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised, shall be the parliamentary authority for this club.

Article VI: Officers

Section 1. The Officers of the Society shall consist of President, First Vice President, Second Vice

President, Treasurer, and Secretary.

Section 2. All Officers shall be elected at the November meeting of the Society in even-numbered years by a majority vote of the members present and in good standing. Their duties of office shall begin at the January meeting and shall continue for two years or until successor officers are duly elected.

Section 3. The Board of Directors shall consist of five (5) newly elected officers and three (3) at-

large members, two appointed for two years by the new President. The Editor of the Newsletter

will automatically hold an at-large position. The immediate past President shall be an advisory

member of the Board (with no vote). The President shall vote in case of a tie.

Section 4. A Board member who misses (3) consecutive meetings, unexcused shall automatically

be eliminated from the Board. The Board shall, by majority vote, determine whether or not an

absence is excused.

Article VII: Duties of Officers

Section 1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club and shall be a member ex-officio

of all committees except the Nominating Committee. The President may call special meetings when necessary and shall appoint such chairmen as are required to carry out Club activities and projects.

Section 2. The First Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in his/her absence and

shall succeed to the Presidency if that office becomes vacant. The First Vice President shall be

Program Chairman.

Section 3. The Second Vice President shall perform duties of Membership Chairman, maintain

an up-to-date membership list, act of host(ess) at meetings.

Section 4. The Secretary shall keep accurate minutes of all Board, monthly or special

meetings. If unable to attend he/she shall find a substitute to take minutes.

Section 5. The Secretary shall prepare such correspondence and notices as the President and/or Board may authorize. The Corresponding Secretary shall be the Publicity Chairman and also chair the Sunshine Committee.

Section 6. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the receipts of all monies, and shall pay out by

check only such amounts as authorized, including any and all tax reports. A majority of the

members of the Board shall approve disbursements over fifty dollars ($50.00) including

speakers. All checks shall be signed by the Treasurer or another duly authorized officer of

the Club. The Treasurer shall keep a book record of all monies of the Club that are received and

disbursed and shall render a financial report as the Board may require. The Treasurer shall cooperate with the Membership Chairman, who will maintain and up-to-date list of members in good standing. The Treasurer shall provide the President with petty cash fund of twenty five dollars ($25.00) for incidental expenses incurred in the performance of his/her duties, whenever

needed.

Section 7. Outgoing officers shall meet with their successors within 15 days “after” the December

meeting to deliver all materials pertinent to their office.

Article VIII: Committees

Section 1. The following regular committees shall be appointed by each newly elected President:

Education, Raffle, Refreshments, Nominating, Newsletter, Annual Auction and Parliamentarian.

Section 2. Additional committees may be appointed at the discretion of the President. Committee chairmen shall serve until the appointment of their successors.

Section 3. All monies collected by the chairmen or committees shall be turned over to the

Treasurer at the conclusion of each meeting or function, and duly recorded.

Article IX: Quorum

Section 1. A quorum of the Board of Directors shall be five (5) members.

Section 2. A quorum of the membership at a regular or special meeting shall be one-third (1/3) of

the members in attendance.

Article X: By-Laws

Section 1. These By-Laws may be amended or repealed at any meeting of the Club by an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present and entitled to vote, provided notice of

the meeting and a copy of each amendment shall have been given the members at a previous meeting or mailed to them at least two (2) weeks prior to the meeting.

Article XI: Dissolution

Section 1. Should the Club be dissolved at any time, its assets shall be distributed to the Bonsai

Societies of Florida, or such other suitable non-profit bonsai organization as the membership

may choose.

These bylaws were amended, voted and passed during the 6/99 Club meeting by a majority vote of the members. These bylaws were amended during the 10/24 Club meeting by a majority of the members.