Guild By-Laws

BY-LAWS OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY HANDSPINNERS – as of 2024

ARTICLE I: MEMBERSHIP

Section One: Active Membership and Dues

  1. The membership of this guild shall be open to those persons who spin or are interested in other fiber arts upon payment of annual dues.
  2. The annual dues are payable to the Treasurer at the January meeting. Members who fail to pay annual dues for two consecutive years will be dropped from the membership list. New members pay the full amount of annual dues at the time they join the guild.
  3. Dues for student members 17 years of age and under are waived if the student is accompanied by a paid adult sponsor.
  4. Guests are always welcome at monthly meetings.

Section Two: Privileges of Membership

  1. An active member may participate in monthly meetings, vote, hold office, and serve on committees.
  2. An active member receives the monthly newsletter.
  3. An active member may check out library resources and guild-owned equipment, according to the procedures established by the guild.
  4. An active member may have their information listed in the website directory.
  5. Only active members have permission from the guild to advertise or sell fiber arts related materials at meetings, in the newsletter, or on the website, according to guild policy.

ARTICLE II: MEETINGS

Section One: Regular Monthly Meetings

  1. The guild ordinarily meets on the first Saturday of every month at the time and place established by the membership. Meetings may be changed because of holidays as determined by the membership.
  2. A quorum shall be 20% of the members of record present at the time of the vote.

Section Two: Annual Business Meeting

The January monthly meeting will be designated as an annual business meeting if necessary to affirm officers and consider any matters related to the financial or organizational needs of the guild.

ARTICLE III: LEADERSHIP

Section One: Officers

  1. The officers shall be the President, Vice-President, and Secretary, and Treasurer. Terms of office will be determined by the officer and the Executive Committee. Officers are nominated by the Executive Committee and affirmed by vote of the membership.
  2. The President and Vice-President may serve up to two consecutive terms.
  3. The President shall preside at all meetings, make appointments to customary leadership roles, coordinate the work of officers and leaders, and provide the newsletter editor with agenda items and information of interest to the guild. The President shall serve on the Executive Committee at least one year following her or his term.
  4. The Vice-President shall act in place of the absent President, assist the President in her or his duties, and shall succeed the President at the end of her or his term.
  5. The Secretary shall keep minutes of monthly meetings.
  6. The Treasurer shall receive and record dues, deposit, record and manage finances, and maintain the membership list.

Section Two: Executive Committee

  1. The Executive Committee consists of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, immediate past President, and those in customary leadership roles.
  2. The Executive Committee nominates officers for the guild, who therefore serve subject to the affirmation of the membership.
  3. The Executive Committee serves as an advisory board to the President.

Section Three: Customary Leadership Roles

The following leadership roles have been established by the guild and are appointed by the President in consultation with the Executive Committee:

  1. Equipment Manager: manages the equipment owned by the guild.
  2. Historian: maintains records of interest to the history, purpose, work, and minutes of the guild.
  3. Librarian: manages the library resources of the guild.
  4. Meeting Facilitator: oversees the setup of the meeting room.
  5. Newsletter Editor: oversees the publication of the monthly newsletter.
  6. Webmaster: maintains the guild website.

ARTICLE IV: FINANCES

Section One: Revenues

Dues constitute the only source of revenue for the guild.

Section Two: Disbursements

Disbursement of revenue consists of:

  1. Monthly meeting expenses.
  2. Incidental expenses related to promotion of the guild’s work.
  3. Equipment and library resources for membership use.

ARTICLE V: RULES OF ORDER

The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the guild in all cases to which they are acceptable and in which they are not inconsistent with these by-laws.

ARTICLE VI: AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS

These by-laws may be amended at any regular meeting of the year by a quorum vote of the members present and voting, provided notice of the proposed amendment has been given at the previous meeting.

ARTICLE VII: DISSOLUTION

In the event of dissolution, the residual assets of the organization will be donated to one or more non-profit groups to be determined by nomination and vote by the membership.