BY-LAWS of the 
Revised May 2008
ARTICLE I – NAME
The name of the organization shall be the Woodstock Weavers Guild (hereafter “the Guild”).
ARTICLE II – PURPOSES OF THE GUILD
A.
To
encourage the development of artistic and technical skills in handweaving.
B. To promote public knowledge and appreciation of handweaving as both a craft and an art with tangible market value.
C. To provide artist/weavers opportunities to explore the historical development of handweaving as well as the many forms and techniques of handweaving employed throughout the world.
D. To provide opportunity for the general public to view the work of local, national and international handweavers.
ARTICLE III – EXECUTIVE BOARD
A. Authority and Composition
The general management of the Guild shall be vested in the Executive Board (hereafter “the Board”), the membership of which shall consist of the then-current officers of the Guild.
B. Powers of the Board
The Board, without limitation as to such other powers as may be inherent in the power to manage, shall have the following specific powers:
1. From time to time to establish the amount of
annual dues to be paid by members. The
amount of such dues may be modified at any general membership meeting upon
motion made and seconded by members and approved by two-thirds 2/3 of the members
present and voting.
2. To establish such rules, regulations, policies and requirements governing shows, etc., that the Guild may sponsor, including entry requirements for work to be shown, and any other activity of the Guild that the Board deems necessary. The Board shall promptly make known such rules, etc., to the membership at the regular meeting immediately following their adoption. Upon motion of any active member at such a meeting and approval of a simple majority of those attending and voting, such rule, etc., may be rejected or modified.
3. To plan and implement such activities and programs as the Board deems appropriate to carry forward the purposes and objectives of the Guild.
4.
To make, and modify from time to time as needed, a budget for
the activities of the Guild, provided that no such budget shall include any
expenditures in excess of anticipated revenue. Such budgets shall be submitted to the members at the next
meeting after making or modifying. The
active members present and voting at any meeting may by two-thirds 2/3 majority vote
require modification of any such budget.
5. To expend or commit to expend the funds of the Guild in accordance with the budget(s) for the activities of the Guild; to spend or commit to spend such funds for unbudgeted items when required to maintain Guild activities. The Board may not borrow or lend Guild funds nor commit to spend funds in excess of current or reasonably anticipated revenues.
6. To appoint committees of members and to delegate to such committees the power to plan and execute such specific duties as the Board designates.
C. Board Meetings
The Board shall meet at least once a month from August to and including June of each year. The Board shall set the dates and times of such meetings. Special Board meetings may be called at any time on oral agreement of all Board members or by a majority of the Board upon giving all members of the Board four days prior written notice of the date, time and place of such meeting. A simple majority of Board members shall constitute a quorum for its meetings.
ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1
Upon application and payment of annual dues, membership shall be extended to all those who support the objectives of the Guild.
Section 2
Membership shall be of three classes: Active, Honorary and Life.
A. Any one interested in weaving and supporting the objectives of the Guild, although not necessarily a weaver, is eligible to become an Active Member of the Guild. Such a member shall be expected to assist with Guild activities, projects and obligations and shall therefore enjoy all the rights and privileges of membership.
B.
Honorary Membership may be conferred on any non-member living outside
of the Woodstock, Illinois area, who has performed a special
service for the Guild. These members
shall not pay dues nor be permitted to make motions, vote or hold office. Nominations for the classification may be
made by any Active Member and must be approved by a two-thirds or greater vote
of the Board at its next regular meeting.
C.
Life Membership may be conferred on any person who has been an
Active Member for a minimum of 20 years and has
performed outstanding service for the Guild.
These members shall not pay dues but shall be entitled to all benefits
of Active Membership. Nominations for
the classification may be made by any Active Member and must be approved by a
2/3rds or greater vote of the Board at its next regular meeting.
ARTICLE V – OFFICERS
Section 1
The Officers of the Guild shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. Nominations for these offices shall be made each year at the May meeting.
The Officers shall be elected by ballot at the June meeting and shall serve for one year. They shall continue in office until their successors are duly elected. An Officer may succeed himself or herself for two additional years but not exceed three successive years in the same office. No Officer shall hold more than one office at a time. An Officer may be removed from office at any General Meeting of the Guild upon recommendation of the Board and the vote of two-thirds of the Guild members present and voting. In this case the President, or Vice President if the President is so removed, shall appoint a replacement to occupy the vacated office until the next Annual Meeting.
Section 2
Duties of the Officers:
A.
The President shall preside at all General and Executive Board
meetings, shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except Nominating and Standards,
shall approve disbursements of funds, may sign checks in the absence of the
Treasurer, shall appoint a replacement for any officer unable to complete
his/her term. Shall set an agenda for General and Executive Board
meetings.
B.
The Vice-President shall act in the President’s absence, and shall be the
chairperson of the Program Committee,. and shall act as publicity chairperson.
C. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the General and Executive Board meetings and shall carry on general Guild correspondence.
D. The Treasurer shall act as custodian of all funds, shall receive and disburse funds as authorized by the Board, shall present an accounting at all meetings, and shall maintain a record of receipts and disbursements available for review at any time by the Board or its designated representatives.
ARTICLE VI –MEETINGS
General Meetings shall be held September through June on the first Wednesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. Annual meeting is the June General Meeting, at which time elections shall be held. Quorum for transaction of business at General Meetings shall be 20% of the total voting membership on the roll at the time of such a meeting.
Special
Meetings for any purpose may be called by the President at the request of the
Board or of the members. Ten days’ written notice of such a Special Meeting shall be mailed shall be attempted by written
correspondence, telephone and/or email to each Member.
ARTICLE VII – DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS
The sole authority for the disbursement of funds shall be the Executive Board.
ARTICLE VIII – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The rules
contained in Robert’s Rules of Order Revised, shall govern assemblies of this organization.
ARTICLE IX – POLICIES OF OPERATIONS
Policies of Operations govern various Guild operations and operating decisions as adopted by the Board.
Policies can be added or amended as needed by a two-thirds majority vote of the Board.
ARTICLE IX – AMENDMENTS
These By-laws may be amended by two-thirds vote of the Active Members present and voting at a general membership meeting, after having been presented in writing prior to the meeting.
ARTICLE XI – DISSOLUTION OF ORGANIZATION
A. The Woodstock Weavers Guild is organized for educational purposes, including for such purposes the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Revenue Law).
B. No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of or be distributable to its members, officers or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article II hereof. No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence, participate or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding, any other provisions, authorized activities are permitted to be carried on (a.) by an organization exempt from Federal Income Tax under Section 501©(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) or (b.) by an organization’s contributions to which are deductible under section 170©(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).
C. Upon dissolution of the Guild, the Board shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all liabilities of the organization, dispose of all of the assets of the Guild to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501© of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).