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CONSTITUTION and BY-LAWS Article I - Name The name of this organization shall be "The Princeton Folk Music Society". The Society shall be organized as an incorporated association in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey. Article II - Purpose The purpose of the Society shall be to promote folk music in Princeton by providing a regular time and place for people interested in folk music to get together, and by sponsoring concerts, workshops, and other such activities as desired by the members to further this end. The Princeton Folk Music Society is not organized for profit, and no part of its income shall inure to the benefit of any member or officer, and no member or officer of this society shall receive or be lawfully entitled to receive any income of any kind there from except reasonable compensation for services in effecting one or more of its purposes. It is not political. No part of the funds or facilities of the Society may be employed in the support of or against any candidate for public office. Article II - Membership Membership in the Society shall be open to any person upon payment of such dues as may be determined by the Executive Board and approved by the Membership. Article IV - Meetings Meetings shall be held at least twice yearly: once in the fall and once in the spring. Additional meetings may be called at any time by the President, the Executive Board, or upon petition of twelve members of the Society. Elections may not be held nor may the by-laws be revised or amended at any meeting unless all members have received due notice of the meeting location, date, time and agenda. The Membership shall elect the Executive Board, pass on all matters of general policy, and have the right to revise and amend the by-laws. Non-members may attend meetings under such conditions as shall be determined by the Executive Board and approved by the members. Article V - Executive Board The Executive Board shall consist of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and several members at large. It shall be responsible for the proper conduct of the business of the Society and shall carry out the policy decisions of the membership. Term of office of the members of the Executive Board shall be two years. The President and Vice President shall not serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office. Executive Board meetings may be called by the President, or by petition of three members of the Board. A quorum for the transaction of business by the executive Board shall be four members. Any member of the Executive Board who shall be absent from three consecutive meetings of the Board without sufficient explanation may be considered to have resigned, and the vacancy may be filled by the Board. Article VI - Duties of Officers The President shall be in charge of Executive Board and Membership meetings. He/she shall appoint all committee chairmen, with the approval of the Board. He/she shall be, ex-officio, a member with vote on all committees. He/she shall be able to delegate all or any part of his powers to the Vice President or any other officer. The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President in the event of the latter's absence or incapacity. He/she shall perform such other duties as authorized or prescribed for him/her by the President or the Executive Board. The Treasurer shall have custody of the funds of the Society, and shall deposit or disburse all such funds in the name of the Society as designated by the Executive Board. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the Executive Board and Membership, and carry on the correspondence of the Society. Any officer, elected or appointed, shall be subject, at any time with or without cause, to removal from office by the membership, provided that proposal of such removal has been included in the notifications of the meeting. In case of the absence of any officer or for any other reason that may be determined sufficient by the membership, the members may, without his/her removal, delegate his/her powers and duties to any other officer for such period as may be deemed proper. Article VII - Committees The Nominating Committee shall consist of three persons, only one of whom may be a member of the Executive Board. Members of the Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Board. Other committees may be appointed by the President with the approval of the Board. The President shall be considered a member of any committees of his/her choosing. Article VIII - Nominations and Elections The Nominating Committee shall prepare a ballot, which shall consist of one name for each office, including from three to six Members-at-Large, to be presented at an April or May meeting, at which time nominations from the floor shall be accepted. Final nominations may be offered at the May meeting. Election of Executive Board members shall be shall be conducted by closed ballot at the June Meeting. Members-at-Large shall be limited in number to six, with the exception that should there be a tie vote for the sixth Member-at-Large position, all tied candidates shall be deemed elected. Installation of Executive Board members shall take place at the June meeting. Article IX - Fiscal and Financial Affairs The fiscal year for the financial operations of the Society shall be from the first of October until the end of the next succeeding September. At each October meeting, the Treasurer shall present a complete summary of the prior year's operation to the membership. No contract or other obligation of the funds, facilities or reputation of the Society shall be undertaken for the Society except with the approval of the Executive Board. No monies of the Society shall be disbursed except on the signatures of two of the officers of the Society, one of who must be either the President or the Treasurer. In the event of the dissolution of the Society, none of the remaining assets of the Society will be distributed for the benefit of any member. Funds remaining to the Society's credit shall be distributed to the Princeton Public Library for purchase of records or books concerning folk music, or to another educational or philanthropic organization as shall be designated by the membership upon the recommendation of the Executive Board. Article X - Amendments Amendments to these by-laws shall be adopted at a membership meeting by a vote of two-thirds of the members present. Article XI - Special Provision These by-laws shall be adopted by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of those present. |