B e l t o n I r i s S o c i e t y
B e l t o n I r i s S o c i e t y
BELTON IRIS SOCIETY
BYLAWS AND STANDING RULES
Revised September 9, 2019
BYLAWS
Article I
The name of this organization is Belton Iris Society.
Article II
This organization is a nonprofit public benefit and is not organized for the private gain of any person.
Article III
The specific purpose of this organization shall be to develop the science of horticulture and any activities related to the study, propagation, and culture of the genus Iris; to stimulate and foster interest in horticulture pursuits, conservation and protection of these plants; to cooperate with other organizations, public and private, in education in the science and horticulture of all those interested in learning any phase of the genus Iris, by any and all means which may be determined from time to time by the membership of this organization. These shall include, but are not limited to:
(a) Encouragement and support of scientific research, including that pertaining to the solution of diseases related to, but not necessarily exclusive to the genus Iris, and investigation and conservation of the genus Iris in the wild;
(b) Collection, compilation, and publication of data concerning the history, classification, breeding, hybridizing, and culture of irises; and
(c) Education of the public through exhibitions, public display gardens, published standards for judging, and local, area, regional, and national meetings open to the public.
Article IV
Belton Iris Society shall be organized and operated exclusively for public purposes described in Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code or by an organization’s contributions which are deductible under Section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Article V
Notwithstanding any other provisions of these bylaws, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on \
(a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or
(b) by an organization contributions which are deductible under Section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Article VI
No substantial part of the activities of this organization shall consist of carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate or intervene in any political campaign (including the publishing or distribution of statements) on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office.
Article VII
The property of this organization is irrevocably dedicated to public purposes, and no part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, officers, or other private persons, except that this organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in these articles.
Article VIII
Upon dissolution of the organization, its assets remaining after payment, or provisions for payment, of all debts or liabilities of this organization shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation, or organization that is organized and operated exclusively for educational and/or scientific purposes, and which has established and maintains its tax exempt status under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, such as the American Iris Society and/or American Iris Society Foundation.
Article IX
Membership shall be granted to any person upon payment of dues.
Article X
The officers of this organization shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
(a) The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Belton Iris Society and preside at meetings and special meetings and shall appoint all Committee Chairperson(s) (Co-Chairpersons are acceptable). The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee and shall cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie. The President shall also be able to make deposits or disbursements of Society funds.
(b) The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President in his/her absence and shall arrange programs for meetings.
(c) The Secretary shall keep accurate records of meetings, attendance, minutes, reports, correspondence, and files.
(d) The Treasurer shall be responsible for all funds and perform deposits and make disbursements. The Treasurer shall make financial reports at meetings and shall complete all records required to maintain the Society’s tax exempt status for both federal and state entities.
(e) In the event of officer vacancies, the President shall appoint a member to serve for the remainder of the term.
Article XI
(a) The meeting place of Belton Iris Society shall be established by the officers and/or membership.
(b) Special meetings may be called by the President as he/she deems necessary or if petitioned by five or more members of the Society, including one officer. The call for such special meetings shall state the purpose of the meeting and no other business shall be transacted at such meetings.
(c) A quorum shall consist of one-third of the membership at any meeting. At no time shall lack of a quorum prevent proceeding with the program of the day.
(d) Members shall be encouraged to attend all meetings, functions, and activities and shall be entitled to vote at meetings.
(e) The current edition of Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall be used in all meetings to cover questions not provided for in these bylaws.
(f) The order of business at meetings shall include announcements, program, approval of the previous meeting’s minutes, correspondence, Treasurer’s report, unfinished and new business, committee reports, and adjournment. The order shall be decided by the President.
Article XII
(a) Belton Iris Society’s committees shall be Show, Rhizome/Potted Iris, Nominating, and Audit.
(b) All committees shall consist of a minimum of two members, one being the previous year’s Chairperson(s). All committee members shall be elected on the basis of a simple majority vote of the membership present during the September meeting.
(c) The Show Committee shall be responsible for the preparation and general administration of the annual Iris Show.
(d) The Rhizome/Potted Iris Committee is responsible for the order, purchase, potting, sale and distribution of rhizomes and potted iris. They are also responsible for the order, purchase, and distribution of the annual free rhizome for members.
(e) The Nominating Committee shall present a slate of officers to the membership at the May meeting. After the committee has presented its report, nominations may be made from the floor. If candidates are presented from the floor, a written ballot shall be required for contested positions with elections declared on the basis of a simple majority vote of the membership present during the May meeting. Otherwise, the slate presented by the Nominating Committee may be accepted by acclamation.
(f) The Audit Committee shall be responsible for an annual audit of all records of the Treasurer (financial and tax exempt).
(g) Note: See President section of Article X.
Article XIII
Bylaws and/or Standing Rules may be adopted, amended, or repealed at a meeting by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present, providing:
(a) A proposal is made at the previous meeting.
(b) A quorum, as defined in the bylaws, is present to vote.
STANDING RULES
1. Meetings shall be held on the second Monday of each month of September, October, November, February, March, April, and May at 6:00 p.m. A social is held the second Monday in January at a local restaurant, Dutch treat, and is open to members, friends, and family.
2. Dues for membership shall be $10.00 per year payable at the September meeting.
3. The Belton Iris Society year shall be from September 1st to August 31st.
4. Dues paid by new members at the annual Show shall be credited to the following year. (i.e. Payment at Show of 2019, which is in year 2018-2019, is credited towards year 2019-2020 dues.)
5. A one-hundred dollar donation shall be made to the American Iris Society Foundation’s AIS Encyclopedia (Wiki) fund in memory of a recently deceased member. A condolence card shall also be sent to the family.
Declaration
These bylaws and standing rules were approved by the Belton Iris Society membership
On September 09, 2019.
___________________________________
Signature of President
Date: September 13, 2019.
___________________________________
Signature of Secretary
Date: September 13, 2019.
BYLAWS AND STANDING RULES
Revised September 9, 2019
BYLAWS
Article I
The name of this organization is Belton Iris Society.
Article II
This organization is a nonprofit public benefit and is not organized for the private gain of any person.
Article III
The specific purpose of this organization shall be to develop the science of horticulture and any activities related to the study, propagation, and culture of the genus Iris; to stimulate and foster interest in horticulture pursuits, conservation and protection of these plants; to cooperate with other organizations, public and private, in education in the science and horticulture of all those interested in learning any phase of the genus Iris, by any and all means which may be determined from time to time by the membership of this organization. These shall include, but are not limited to:
(a) Encouragement and support of scientific research, including that pertaining to the solution of diseases related to, but not necessarily exclusive to the genus Iris, and investigation and conservation of the genus Iris in the wild;
(b) Collection, compilation, and publication of data concerning the history, classification, breeding, hybridizing, and culture of irises; and
(c) Education of the public through exhibitions, public display gardens, published standards for judging, and local, area, regional, and national meetings open to the public.
Article IV
Belton Iris Society shall be organized and operated exclusively for public purposes described in Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code or by an organization’s contributions which are deductible under Section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Article V
Notwithstanding any other provisions of these bylaws, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on \
(a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or
(b) by an organization contributions which are deductible under Section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Article VI
No substantial part of the activities of this organization shall consist of carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate or intervene in any political campaign (including the publishing or distribution of statements) on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office.
Article VII
The property of this organization is irrevocably dedicated to public purposes, and no part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, officers, or other private persons, except that this organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in these articles.
Article VIII
Upon dissolution of the organization, its assets remaining after payment, or provisions for payment, of all debts or liabilities of this organization shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation, or organization that is organized and operated exclusively for educational and/or scientific purposes, and which has established and maintains its tax exempt status under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, such as the American Iris Society and/or American Iris Society Foundation.
Article IX
Membership shall be granted to any person upon payment of dues.
Article X
The officers of this organization shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
(a) The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Belton Iris Society and preside at meetings and special meetings and shall appoint all Committee Chairperson(s) (Co-Chairpersons are acceptable). The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee and shall cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie. The President shall also be able to make deposits or disbursements of Society funds.
(b) The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President in his/her absence and shall arrange programs for meetings.
(c) The Secretary shall keep accurate records of meetings, attendance, minutes, reports, correspondence, and files.
(d) The Treasurer shall be responsible for all funds and perform deposits and make disbursements. The Treasurer shall make financial reports at meetings and shall complete all records required to maintain the Society’s tax exempt status for both federal and state entities.
(e) In the event of officer vacancies, the President shall appoint a member to serve for the remainder of the term.
Article XI
(a) The meeting place of Belton Iris Society shall be established by the officers and/or membership.
(b) Special meetings may be called by the President as he/she deems necessary or if petitioned by five or more members of the Society, including one officer. The call for such special meetings shall state the purpose of the meeting and no other business shall be transacted at such meetings.
(c) A quorum shall consist of one-third of the membership at any meeting. At no time shall lack of a quorum prevent proceeding with the program of the day.
(d) Members shall be encouraged to attend all meetings, functions, and activities and shall be entitled to vote at meetings.
(e) The current edition of Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall be used in all meetings to cover questions not provided for in these bylaws.
(f) The order of business at meetings shall include announcements, program, approval of the previous meeting’s minutes, correspondence, Treasurer’s report, unfinished and new business, committee reports, and adjournment. The order shall be decided by the President.
Article XII
(a) Belton Iris Society’s committees shall be Show, Rhizome/Potted Iris, Nominating, and Audit.
(b) All committees shall consist of a minimum of two members, one being the previous year’s Chairperson(s). All committee members shall be elected on the basis of a simple majority vote of the membership present during the September meeting.
(c) The Show Committee shall be responsible for the preparation and general administration of the annual Iris Show.
(d) The Rhizome/Potted Iris Committee is responsible for the order, purchase, potting, sale and distribution of rhizomes and potted iris. They are also responsible for the order, purchase, and distribution of the annual free rhizome for members.
(e) The Nominating Committee shall present a slate of officers to the membership at the May meeting. After the committee has presented its report, nominations may be made from the floor. If candidates are presented from the floor, a written ballot shall be required for contested positions with elections declared on the basis of a simple majority vote of the membership present during the May meeting. Otherwise, the slate presented by the Nominating Committee may be accepted by acclamation.
(f) The Audit Committee shall be responsible for an annual audit of all records of the Treasurer (financial and tax exempt).
(g) Note: See President section of Article X.
Article XIII
Bylaws and/or Standing Rules may be adopted, amended, or repealed at a meeting by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present, providing:
(a) A proposal is made at the previous meeting.
(b) A quorum, as defined in the bylaws, is present to vote.
STANDING RULES
1. Meetings shall be held on the second Monday of each month of September, October, November, February, March, April, and May at 6:00 p.m. A social is held the second Monday in January at a local restaurant, Dutch treat, and is open to members, friends, and family.
2. Dues for membership shall be $10.00 per year payable at the September meeting.
3. The Belton Iris Society year shall be from September 1st to August 31st.
4. Dues paid by new members at the annual Show shall be credited to the following year. (i.e. Payment at Show of 2019, which is in year 2018-2019, is credited towards year 2019-2020 dues.)
5. A one-hundred dollar donation shall be made to the American Iris Society Foundation’s AIS Encyclopedia (Wiki) fund in memory of a recently deceased member. A condolence card shall also be sent to the family.
Declaration
These bylaws and standing rules were approved by the Belton Iris Society membership
On September 09, 2019.
___________________________________
Signature of President
Date: September 13, 2019.
___________________________________
Signature of Secretary
Date: September 13, 2019.