BYLAWS

ALASKA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY

OCTOBER 1, 2008

There shall be Four Classes of Membership in the Alaska Watercolor Society (AKWS).  Members designated as Full members as of Dec. 31, 2004, shall retain their status and shall be known as Signature members.

A.   Associate Membership in AKWS will be unlimited and open to anyone interested in watermedia. This position of membership may not vote and may not participate in exhibitions designed for Signature members only.

B.   Juried Membership in AKWS is open to any artist who has had a painting exhibited in at least one AKWS juried show.  This position of membership may not vote and may not participate in exhibitions for Signature members only.  Juried membership is revoked if dues are not current and the application process must be repeated.

C.  Signature Membership in AKWS is open to any artist who has had a painting exhibited in two AKWS juried shows and one other juried watermedia exhibition.  This position of membership may vote, participate in Signature member exhibitions, and use the initials AKWS when signing their name.  Signature membership is revoked if dues are not current and the application process must be repeated.

D.   Student Membership in AKWS enjoys the same status as Associate members.  Student is defined as attending college fulltime, i.e. course load of a minimum of 12 hours.

E.   Written verification shall be required as proof of acceptance into juried shows.  Juried shows from January 2000 to present shall be accepted.

F.    Membership Chairperson shall maintain all records pertaining to membership.

ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP FEES

A.   All members shall pay annual membership dues as set by the AKWS Board of Directors.

1.    Dues shall be payable on or before May 1st of each year.  Dues shall be deemed past due if not paid by the following September AKWS meeting.

2.    All new members of the Society shall be required to pay annual dues without a proration for the first year of membership.

3.    Membership cards will be issued to individual members when they attain Signature member status.

4.    Delinquent dues will breach membership status and membership shall be dropped upon notification.  Notification will be done via the September Brush Strokes Newsletter, which members receive prior to the September AKWS meeting.

5.    Membership for Associate and Student members may be reinstated upon payment of current year’s dues.  Signature and Juried memberships are revoked if dues do not remain current and the application process must be repeated.  Reinstatement will be at the Associate level.

B.   The amount set for annual dues may only be changed by an affirmative vote of three-fourths of the AKWS Board of Directors.

ARTICLE III  - MEETING OF MEMBERS

A.   The Annual General Meeting of Members shall be in May of each year on such date, time, and place as specified in a notice to all members.

B.    Monthly Program Meetings of AKWS shall be held on such date, time, and place as specified in a notice to all members.

C.    Special Meetings may be called by the President, or in his/her absence by the Vice President, or upon written request of at least three members of the AKWS Board of Directors or at least 10 Signature members.

D.   At any meeting of AKWS, a simple majority of those Signature members attending shall constitute a quorum with not less than five Signature members present.

 ARTICLE IV – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A.    Meetings of the Board of Directors

1.    The Board of Directors shall consist of no less than five (5) members and will consist of the following officers:  President, Vice President, Recording and Corresponding Secretaries, and Treasurer.  The President and the Vice President shall serve an additional year on the Board.  There shall be additional directors including:  Newsletter Editor, Membership, Scholarship, Workshop, and Exhibit Committee Chairs.  Additional directors may be appointed by the President as needed.

2.   Openings on the Board of Directors will be filled at the discretion of the Board.

3.    Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be called by the President or, in his/her absence, the Vice President.  Notice of meeting time and place shall be given to each Director not less than two days prior to the date of such meeting.

4.  A simple majority of the standing members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.

5.    All Board members may vote regardless of membership level i.e. Associate, Juried, Signature.

B.    Functions of the Board of Directors

1.    The Board of Directors shall have full power and control of the affairs, funds, and property of AKWS and shall carry out proceedings according to AKWS Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.

(a)  The Board of Directors must approve expenditures of AKWS funds in excess of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).  Two signatures will be required on all checks. One signature must be that of a President or a Vice President. The other signature must be that of a Treasurer. 

(b)  Books shall be audited annually by the Board of Directors or designee by the end of each fiscal year.

(c)   All matters concerning the general policy and government of AKWS not stated herein shall be decided by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

(d)  The Board of Directors shall keep a record of all its official acts.

 ARTICLE V – OFFICERS  

Officers shall be elected annually at the May General Meeting of AKWS. Co-officers may be elected at that time to share the responsibilities of the office to which they are elected. In the event an officer resigns or cannot perform his or her duties, the President shall appoint a replacement for the remainder of the term with approval of the Board of Directors.

A.    President:

1.     Shall preside at all Board Meetings and Meetings of the Membership.

2.     Is authorized to appoint all committees to carry out approved functions of the Society.

3.     Shall represent the Alaska Watercolor Society at all necessary functions.

B.     Vice President:

1.     In the absence of the President, shall preside at all Board meetings and the Annual General Meeting of the Membership and shall officiate all other presidential duties as required.

2.     Shall assist the President in all matters designated to the Vice President by the President.

3.    Shall be the Program Chairperson.

C.     Recording Secretary: 

1.    Shall take the minutes at all meetings of the AKWS Board of Directors and provide copies of said minutes to all Board members for approval.

2.    Shall provide signed copies of the approved minutes to the AKWS Board of Directors

3.    Shall take the minutes at all General membership meetings.

4.    Shall post the minutes of the General membership meetings at the monthly membership meetings.

D.    Corresponding Secretary:

1.    Shall conduct all correspondence as directed by the President.

E.    Treasurer:  

1.    Shall collect, hold and deposit all monies, and disburse all monies with the Board’s approval.

2.    Shall keep the books of all accounts.

3.   Shall provide a Treasurer’s report at each Board Meeting and at the Annual General Meeting of the Membership.

4.    Shall submit books annually for audit, as the Board of Directors shall designate. 

 ARTICLE VI – COMMITTEES

A.   The President may designate Standing or Ad Hoc Committees as needed.

B.   The President shall appoint a Newsletter Editor who shall attend all meetings of the Board, all Monthly Program Meetings, and the Annual General Meeting of the Membership.

1.   The Newsletter Editor will record all news each month and will send a copy to each member.

2.   The Newsletter Editor shall include a current membership roster in the October issue of Brush Strokes.

C.   Charitable Gaming.  Upon dissolution of the Alaska Watercolor Society, the disposition of net proceeds derived from charitable gaming conducted under AS 05.15 will go to a charitable organization as defined at AS 05.15.690 or another qualified organization that is authorized to conduct an activity under AS 05.15.

ARTICLE VII – COMPENSATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

No Directors or Officers of AKWS shall receive any compensation for services, directly or indirectly

ARTICLE VIII – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

A.   A Nominating Committee appointed by the Board of Directors shall seek qualified candidates for the offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Corresponding Secretary.

B.   Additionally, the Nominating Committee shall seek volunteers for the remaining Directors:  Newsletter Editor, Membership, Scholarship, Workshop, and Exhibition Committee Chairs. The President will appoint such Directors and may appoint additional Directors as needed.

C.   Election of Officers will take place at the Annual General Meeting.

D.   Officers will be elected upon receiving a simple majority vote from those Signature members present, proxy votes, and ballots received by mail on, or before, day of election.

ARTICLE IX – FISCAL YEAR

The fiscal year of AKWS shall begin May 1 and end April 30. 

ARTICLE X – BYLAW AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws, or any part thereof, may be amended or modified by three-fourths (3/4ths) vote of the Board of Directors then serving in office.  Any proposal to amend these Bylaws shall be included with the notice of the meeting at which the amendment is proposed. 

ARTICLE XI - ADOPTION OF THE BYLAWS

These Bylaws were duly adopted at a meeting of the Board of

Directors of the Alaska Watercolor Society on the first day of October, 2008, by Jean Watson, AKWS President.