SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF HOMESTEAD

SOUTHERN REGION

SOROPTIMIST OF THE AMERICAS

 

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I

NAME OF CLUB

1.01    The name of this club shall be Soroptimist International of Homestead, Florida.

 

ARTICLE II

 

MISSION 

2.01      The Mission of this club shall be to promote the advancement of women and girls through volunteer service to the community, and to serve as a global voice on issues of importance to women and girls; and to engage in any other lawful activities that further the exempt purpose of the Club.

ARTICLE III

TERRITORIAL LIMITS

3.01      .  The member must live or work within the territorial limits of the club as defined in the Southern Region. 

ARTICLE IV

ADMISSION TO MEMBERSHIP

4.01      Any member of this club may propose for membership any individual considered eligible.  A member may discuss membership with a prospect, but only after a determination of eligibility has been made by the Growth and Development Committee.

4.02      A proposal for membership shall be submitted to the Growth and Development Committee, which committee shall verify eligibility and determine classification and submit its’ report to the President.

4.03     The President shall submit the name of a proposed member to the Board of Directors within 15 fifteen (15) days after notification to her by the Growth and Development Committee.  A two-thirds (2/3) vote by the Board of Directors is needed for approval or disapproval of the proposed member.  If the proposed member is approved by the Board of Directors, the President shall notify the Chairman of the Growth and Development Committee of the Board’s decision.  Within seven (7) days, the President, or a designated committee member, shall arrange for written notification of the name, classification and position of the proposed member to each member of the club.

4.04    If no objection to the admission of the proposed member is received by the President within ten (10) days of the notice to club members, the President shall be directed to extend the invitation to membership in writing to the proposed member.  The invitation shall remain open for thirty (30) days unless, at the expiration of that time, an extension is granted by the Board of Directors.

4.05   If within the time allotted, a member objects to the admission of the proposed member, in writing, the Board of Directors shall meet within five (5) days after the expiration of the time for objection to consider such objection and vote on the question of admission.  A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors shall be required to approve admission if such objection has been filed.  The objector may appear in person before the Board of Directors to state the objection.

4.06  The new member shall be installed upon receipt of the acceptance of the invitation to membership and payment of all required fees and dues.

4.07A  person may be invited to Honorary membership after approval by the Board of Directors and a quorum vote of the general membership (55%) at a regular business meeting, or a specially called meeting for this purpose.

4.08      The club shall maintain a classified membership that is representative of the diversity of occupations and classifications in its community.

 

ARTICLE V

PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP

5.01    Honorary members may attend meetings of the club, may speak, but shall not make motions or vote.  All other members, including Life and   members whose participation meets the requirements set by the Club, may speak, make motions and vote.

 

ARTICLE VI

CLUB OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

6.01     The Officers of this club shall be:

            President

            Vice President

            Treasurer

            Recording Secretary

            Corresponding Secretary

            Two Board Members (one to include the Past President)

 

ARTICLE VII

TERMS OF OFFICE

7.01   All officers and directors of this Club shall hold office for (two (2) years, commencing July 1, or until their successors are elected.

 

ARTICLE VIII

VACANCY IN OFFICE

8.01   In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice President shall become President.

8.02     If the Vice President cannot serve as the President or in the event of any other vacancy in office, the vacancy shall be filled in the following manner.  The Board of Directors shall act as the nominating committee and shall report at the next business meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose.  Nominations may then be made from the floor and the Club shall elect by a quorum (55%) vote of the General Membership.

ARTICLE IX

NOTICE OF SPECIAL BOARD MEETINGS

9.01     Special board meetings may be called by the President when required.  Twenty-four (24) hours notice, personal, written (e-mail) or telephone shall be given to each Board member for any special meeting.

9.02   A special board meeting may be called by the President without the above twenty-four (24) hours notice only if all Board members have been contacted and give their verbal consent of waiver of the twenty-four (24) hours notice.

9.03      Two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Board shall constitute a quorum.

 

ARTICLE X

NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

10.01  The Nominating Committee shall be formed in March and shall consist of three (3) members.  The President shall appoint the Chairman of the committee.  The Board shall elect one member of the committee and the General Membership shall elect one member of the committee.  Only one member of the present Board may serve on the Nominating Committee.

10.02  The nominating committee shall nominate one or more candidates for each board office, and two (2) Directors.

10.03  The nominating committee shall meet 60 days prior to the conference/meeting to nominate the Regional and District Delegates.  In the year of the Federation Convention, the Federation Delegate and alternates will be elected 60 days prior.  The club will not budget and pay any expenses for a delegate to attend the Federation Convention.

10.04 The consent of the nominee must be obtained before the name is placed in nomination.

10.05 The report of the Nominating Committee shall be read to the club at the business meeting preceding the meeting of the election.

10.06The election shall be held at the first business meeting in May.  The report of the Nominating Committee shall be read again at this meeting and additional nominations may be made from the floor.

 

10.07Election shall be by written ballot for any office for which there is more than one nominee.

 

ARTICLE XI

REGULAR CLUB MEETINGS

 

11.0     The regular meetings of this club shall be held on Tuesdays at 12:00 noon. The club will have one evening meeting per quarter and the meeting will be scheduled at the President’s discretion.  Evening meetings will take the place of the 12:00 noon for that week.   The General Membership may vote on the dates for temporary disbandment of meetings.

 

ARTICLE XII

 NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETINGS

12.01    Special meetings may be called by the President when required.  Twenty-four hours (24) notice, personal, written (e-mail), or telephone shall be given each member for any special meeting.

12.02     A special meeting may be called by the President without the above twenty-four (24) notice only if all members have been contacted and given their consent of waiver of the twenty-four hours notice.

ARTICLE XIII

PLACE OF MEETINGS

13.01   The place of the regular meetings of this club shall be determined by the vote of the General Membership.  The evening meeting locations will be determined by the Board of Directors or the Social Committee.

 

ARTICLE XIV

QUORUM

 

14.01   Fifty-five (55) percent of the General Membership shall constitute a quorum.  Honorary and Active Service members are excluded.

 

ARTICLE XV

ADDITIONAL COMMITTEES

15.01   The club may provide for sub-committees upon a quorum vote (55%) of the General Membership.

15.02   The club may wish to provide for special committees for certain ongoing Ways and Means projects, other projects or for programs under Federation’s support.

15.03   Special committees must be approved by a quorum vote (55%) of the General Membership.

 

ARTICLE XVI

 ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS

16.01   To be in good standing, hold office or be a delegate, a member must attend at least seventy-five (75) percent of the monthly club meetings.  The 75% attendance includes “excused” absences.  In order to vote, members must attend at least one meeting each quarter and participate in one quarterly event (if applicable).

16.02     This requirement is not applicable to Life or Honorary members.

 

ARTICLE XVII

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

17.01   A leave of absence may be granted by the Board of Directors for a period of not more than six (6) months.  Upon expiration of the six (6) month period, the leave of absence should again come before the Board of Directors for action, and the matter be resolved in compliance with the Policy Code of the Club.

 

ARTICLE XVIII

AUDIT

18.01   The Treasurer’s books shall be audited within forty-five (45) days of the close of the fiscal year by a committee of three club members appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE XIX

BONDING OF THE TREASURER

 

19.01   The Treasurer shall not be bonded unless special provision is made in the Policy Code of this club.

 

ARTICLE XX

CLUB DUES AND FEES

20.01    Annual dues become due on June 1^st of each year based upon the current (approved) annual budget.  The categories are as follows:

 

Regular Member

Life Member

Retired/Unemployed Member

Embarking Member

 

20.02   In addition to the required annual dues, each new member of this club shall pay a new member fee.

 

ARTICLE XXI

AMENDMENTS OF CLUB BY-LAWS

 

21.01     The By-Laws may be amended at any regular business meeting of the club by a quorum vote (55%) of the membership, provided that notice of the amendment has been given at the preceding business meeting or via e-mail forty eight (48) hours in advance.  All voting members must have been advised of the proposed amendment.

 

ARTICLE XXII

PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

 

22.01   The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters not specifically covered in these By-Laws, Southern Region By-Laws and Standing Rules, SIA By-Laws and Procedures, or Soroptimist International Constitution.

 

ARTICLE XXIII

DISSOLUTION

 

23.01      Upon the dissolution of Soroptimist International of Homestead, its governing body shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all of the liabilities of the Club, dispose of all the assets of the Club exclusively for the exempt purposes of the Club in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes which at the time qualify as exempt organization or organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code, as the Club’s governing body shall determine. Any assets not so distributed shall be distributed by a court of competent jurisdiction of the county in which the Club’s principal office is then located exclusively for the Club’s exempt purposes. The use of any surplus funds for private inurnment to any person in the event of a sale of the assets or dissolution of the corporation is expressly prohibited.