By-Laws

Article I – Name

The name of this organization shall be the Wakefield Garden Club.

Article II – Objective

The object of this club shall be to further the advancement of gardening, to develop home grounds and to cooperate in civic betterment.

Article III – Membership

Section 1. Active The qualifications for membership shall be an active interest in gardening and the object of this organization (see Article II) at the time of application. Members must be willing to serve on the Tea Committee once a year and help in some way toward any fundraiser. A. A candidate for admission must be proposed in writing. The application is sent to the Membership Chair who shall present the name at the next meeting of the Executive Board. B. Non-members may attend two regular meetings during a club year as a guest.

Section 2. Honorary Life A. An honorary life membership may be granted to a club member who has contributed outstanding service to the club during their years as an active member. B. Nominations shall be made by the Executive Board and the election shall be by a two-thirds vote at a regular meeting of the club. C. Honorary life privileges are unrestricted.

Section 3. Resignation Resignations must be made verbally or in writing and sent to the corresponding secretary who will present them at the next meeting of the Executive Board. Nonpayment of dues is considered voluntary withdrawal (see Article VIII, Sect. 3)

Article IV – Officers

Section 1. The officers shall be a President, a First Vice-President, a Hospitality Chair, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary and a Treasurer.

Section 2. The President shall preside at all meetings of the club, and the Executive Board, and shall be ex-officio a member of all committees. Upon election, the President shall appoint: Chairs of the Standing Committees, except Program and Hospitality.

Section 3. The First Vice-President shall assume all duties of the President in the absence or disability of the President, and a Past President shall assume the duties of the First Vice-President in the absence or disability. The First Vice-President shall be Chair of the Standing Committee for Programs.

Section 4. The Recording Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the club and of the business transacted by the Executive Board, issue notices of meetings and shall make a written report at the Annual Meeting. Appointed person shall issue notices of meetings.

Section 5. The Corresponding Secretary shall conduct all correspondence of the club.

Section 6. The Treasurer shall maintain Bank Account(s), collect the money and pay the bills, keep the "Books", prepare Financial Statements, prepare the budget, obtain/maintain Tax Exempt status (501© (3) organization, Public Charity), file required Tax/Information Returns, keep required records and numbers, make a monthly report to the Executive Board; and render at the Annual Meeting the accounts in writing, properly attested by the Auditor.

Section 7. The Auditor shall audit the accounts of the Treasurer and report in writing at the Annual Meeting.

Article V – Executive Board

Section 1. The affairs of this club shall be managed by an Executive Board consisting of the elected officers together with a Director and the Chairs of all Standing Committees.

Section 2. The meeting of the Executive Board shall be held each month preceding the regular meeting of the club.

Section 3. A meeting of the Executive Board may be omitted by vote of the Officers.

Section 4. There will be the following Standing Committees: Programs, Hospitality, Civic Betterment, Horticulture, Yearbook, Publicity, Membership, Remembrance, and Nominating.

Section 5. Six members shall constitute a quorum of the Executive Board.

Article VI – Nominations and Elections

Section 1. A committee of three, who have been members of the club at least one year, will serve as a Nominating Committee. They will present a slate of officers for nomination including President, First Vice-President, Hospitality Chair, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor, Directors and Nominating Committee.

Section 2. No one shall be eligible to hold office until they have been a member of the club for at least one year.

Section 3. The Nominating Committee shall present its report at the March meeting. The election of Officers and the Nominating Committee shall be held at the Annual Meeting. A majority vote is required.

Section 4. If there is only one nominee for each office, by vote of the club, the Recording Secretary shall cast one ballot for the entire list, or for as many as are the sole nominees for an office.

Section 5. The tenure of any elected or appointed office is two years and no officer except the Secretaries and Treasurer, shall be eligible for the same office for more than two years consecutively.

Article VII – Meetings

Section 1. Regular meetings shall be held on the second Tuesday of each month. There shall be no fewer than seven regular meetings in the Club year.

Section 2. The Annual Meeting shall be held on the second Tuesday in June, following the regular meeting.

Section 3. The Executive Board may, at its discretion, change the date of, or omit a scheduled meeting.

Section 4. One third of the active membership shall constitute a quorum of the club.

Article VIII – Dues

Section 1. The annual dues of active members sustaining members will be set by the Board of Directors and reviewed annually. Dues for members joining after December 31 will be prorated. Honorary members are exempt from payment of dues.

Section 2. All dues shall be payable in advance at the Annual Meeting.

Section 3. Any member failing to pay annual dues at or before the June meeting shall, after being notified, be dropped from the roll, having voluntarily withdrawn from the club.

Section 4. The fiscal year shall be from July 1 to June 30, inclusive.

Article IX – Nondiscrimination Clause

The Wakefield Garden Club shall not permit in their conduct of club affairs any restriction or limitation whatsoever based upon race, color, creed, gender, and national origin or employment status.

Article X – Amendments

Section 1. These by-laws may be amended at any regular meeting by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting.

Section 2. Notice of the proposed amendment shall have been presented to each member at least two weeks prior to such meeting.

Article XI – Dissolution Clause

Section 1. In the event of dissolution, all the remaining assets and property of the organization shall, after payment of necessary expenses, be distributed to such organizations as shall qualify under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or corresponding provisions of any Government, a State or Local government for public purposes, subject to the approval of a court of competent jurisdiction with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.