| Bylaws of the Reblooming Iris Society |
Bylaws in
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| ARTICLE I Name
And Affiliation |
| Section 1 |
Name: This non-profit organization shall be known as
the Reblooming Iris Society (RIS) |
| Section 2 |
Affiliation: The RIS is a section of the American Iris
Society (AIS). |
Section 1
|
The purposes of the RIS shall be to develop the science of
horticulture and activities related to the study, propagation,
and culture of reblooming irises; to stimulate and foster
interest in botanical and horticultural pursuits; to cooperate
with other organizations, public and private, in the scientific
and horticultural education of all those interested in learning
any phase of reblooming irises, by any means consistent with
these Bylaws. These shall include, but are not limited to
: |
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(a)
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To support scientific research, including the culture and
improvement of reblooming irises, and to encourage garden
visiting by the general public;
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(b)
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To collect and disseminate information on the history,
classification, hybridization, climatic range, and culture of
reblooming irises;
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(c)
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To promote fall shows and exhibitions for the purpose of
educating the general public and fellow irisarians;
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(d)
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To educate the public through public display gardens,
published standards for judging, and local, area, regional and
national meetings open to the public, and;
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(e)
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To encourage membership in, and cooperation with, the
AIS and its regional and local societies.
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| Section 2 |
Organization and Operation. The RIS shall be organized
and operated exclusively for educational and scientific purposes
within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code.;
|
| Section 3 |
Prohibited Activities.; |
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(a) |
Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Bylaws, the
RIS will 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 (b) by
an organization, contributions to which are deductible under
Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code.;
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(b) |
No substantial part of the activities of the RIS shall
consist of carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to
influence legislation, and the RIS shall not participate or
intervene in any political campaign, including publication or
distribution of statements on behalf of any candidate for public
office.
|
| ARTICLE III
Membership and Dues |
| Section 1 |
All voting members shall be members of AIS. |
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(a)
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There shall be the following classes of member:
Single, Dual, Annual, or Triennial.
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(b) |
Only members in good standing of RIS shall have voting
privileges.
|
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(c) |
Dual membership shall be limited to any two members residing
at the same address with each having voting privileges; however,
only one copy of the RIR shall be sent.
|
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(d) |
Life membership shall be non-transferable, carry full
membership privileges, and shall be limited to members of the
AIS.
|
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(e) |
A non-member of AIS may join at the regular rate but will
have no voting privileges.
|
| Section 2 |
Dues for all classes of members shall be established by the
Board of Directors.
|
| Section 3 |
Honorary Life Membership may be granted by the Board to a
member in recognition of distinguished service in RIS. An
Honorary Life Member shall have full membership privileges, but
shall no longer be required to pay RIS dues.
|
| Section 4 |
Individuals or organizations may subscribe to the periodical
publications of RIS by paying an amount equal to the annual or
triennial membership dues. If such individuals or
organizations do not fulfill all requirements for membershp,
they shall be designated "subscribers" and shall not have voting
or other membership privileges.
|
| Section 5 |
Incurement of income: No part of the net earnings of
the RIS shall be distributable to its members, directors,
officers, or other private person, except that the organization
is authorized to pay reasonable compensation for goods and/or
services rendered in furtherance of the objectives of the RIS.
|
| ARTICLE IV RIS
Officers and Board |
| Section 1 |
The Board shall consist of elected and appointed officers.
|
| Section 2 |
The elected officers shall be President, Vice-President,
Secretary, Treasurer, and five Area Directors. The
President shall appoint a Membership Director, Publicity
Director, and the RIR Editor.
|
| Section 3 |
There shall be five Area Directors to represent the
geographical areas, which will be comprised of the AIS Regions
as follows:
EASTERN AREA: Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, & 19
SOUTHERN AREA: Regions 5, 10, 17, 22, 23, & 24
MIDWESTERN AREA: Regions: 6, 8, 9, 18, 21, &
overseas
NORTHWESTERN AREA: Regions 11, 12, 13, & 20
SOUTHWESTERN AREA: Regions 14, 15, & 22
|
| Section 4 |
The Board shall have control and management of the affairs,
policies, and business of RIS.
|
| Section 5 |
(a) |
The President, the Vice-President, the Secretary, and the
Treasurer shall be elected for a three (3) year term or until
their successors are elected.
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(b) |
No member shall be eligible to serve consecutive terms in
the same office except in the case of the Secretary and
Treasurer, who may each serve two terms consecutively.
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(c) |
All officers who are duly elected at the annual meeting
shall assume office at the close of that meeting.
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(d) |
The Area Directors shall be elected, one each year, for a
four year term, or until their successors are elected. |
| Section 6 |
Business of the Board may be conducted by mail, telegraph,
telephone, fax, conference call, email, or other communication
systems. All members shall confirm by written vote.
The vote shall be recorded in the minutes.
|
| Section 7 |
Finance.
|
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(a) |
The Board shall determine the official depository for the
funds of RIS and designate the officers who may sign checks.
|
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(b) |
Debts shall not be incurred by any officer in the name of
RIS unless authorized in writing by the Board.
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| Section 8 |
Duties of Officers.
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(i) |
Preside at all meetings of RIS, the Board; and
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(ii) |
Be an ex-officio member of all committees, except the
Nominating Committee. |
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(b) |
The Vice-President shall: |
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|
(i) |
In the absence of the President, exercise the functions of
the President; and
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(ii) |
Assume the office of the President in cse of a vacancy.
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(i) |
Keep all minutes and records of RIS and the Board;
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(ii) |
Have ballots prepared for use, when needed, for the annual
election; and
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(iii) |
Record, in writing, any additional nominations made from the
floor.
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(i) |
Receive, record, and account for all monies of RIS; and
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(ii) |
Pay all bills approved in writing by the President.
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(e) |
The Publicity Director shall: |
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(i) |
Solicit advertisements from hybridizers and/or commercial
and private gardens; and
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(ii) |
Conduct a program of publicity to promote reblooming irises
and the RIS.
|
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(f) |
The five Area Directors shall: |
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(i) |
Serve on the Board:
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(ii) |
Advise the President and Editor of any items of interest in
their area;
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(iii) |
Encourage reblooming fall shows/exhibitions and garden tours
for rebloomers;
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(iv) |
Support programs to educate the public about rebloomers; and
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(v) |
Report to the Symposium Director, and the President what
cultivars are reported to rebloom in their respective areas.
|
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(g) |
The Editor of RIR shall be appointed by the
President and, under the direction of the President, shall edit
and publish the RECORDER, twice each year prior to March 31st
(Spring issue) and November 30th (Fall issue).
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(h) |
The Membership Secretary shall:
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(i) |
Receive dues and transfer the checks to the Treasurer;
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(ii) |
Keep all records of members and welcome new members in
writing;
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(iii) |
Supply all new members with a list of sources of reblooming
irises based on those growers advertising in the RIR;
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(iv) |
Notify members, in writing 45 days prior to their membership
renewal date. At that time, notify the Director of Area,
giving the names, etc. of those members who, after 60 days shall
be dropped automatically if no response has been received; and
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(v) |
Furnish labels to the Editor when requested.
|
| Section 1 |
An annual meeting shall be held in conjunction with the AIS
National Convention, or at the call of the President.
|
| Section 2 |
Special meetings may be called by the President or by a
majority of the Board when deemed necessary. The Board
shall call special meetings upon the written request of ten (10)
members of RIS. Notice of such meetings shall be mailed to
each voting member at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date
of the meeting, stating the business to be conducted.
|
| Section 3 |
At all meetings, the members present shall constitute a
quorum.
|
| Section 4 |
The RIS shall represent in dealings with third parties that
the AIS is not responsible for Section obligations.
|
There shall be the following standing committees:
Membership, Slides, Historian, Internet, Symposium, Awards, and
Robins. The chairs of these committees shall be appointed
by the President, approved by the Board, but responsible to the
President. The President shall have the authority to create
additional committees with the approval of the Board when the
need arises.
|
| Section 1 |
Nominating Committee.
|
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(a) |
The Nominating Committee shall be composed of three people.
The chairman shall be appointed by the President. The
other two members shall be elected at the Dual meeting.
The names of the Committee shall be reported in the Fall issue
of the RIR.
|
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(b) |
The Committee shall select one nominee for each office to be
filled.
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(c) |
The report of this Committee shall be included in the Spring
issue of RIR. |
ARTICLE VII
Parliamentary Authority
|
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules
of Order Newly Revised shall govern the RIS in all cases to
which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent
with these bylaws and those of AIS.
|
| ARTICLE VIII
Amendments |
These Bylaws may be amended at any annual meeting or special
meeting of the membership by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those in
attendance and voting, provided such amendments have been
submitted in writing to the membership at least fifteen (15)
days in advance.
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| ARTICLE IX
Dissolution |
| Section 1 |
In the event of dissolution of the RIS, after paying or
adequately providing for its debts and obligations, the RIS
President and Treasurer shall distribute all assets of the RIS
to the AIS or to such organizations as areas qualified as tax
exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or
the corresponding provisions of a future Internal Revenue Law.
|
| Section 2 |
Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by a
court having jurisdiction for such purposes in the county in
which the principle office of the organization is then located
for such purpose or to such organization or organizations as
said court shall determine, which are organized exclusively for
such purpose. |
These Bylaws were approved by the Membership at the Annual Meeting in
Madison, WI, on June 2, 2010.
Bylaws in
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