BYLAWS OF THE SOCIETY OF
AMERICAN PERIOD FURNITURE MAKERS
SECTION 1. - Membership
A. Membership in SAPFM is available to all individuals satisfying the following:
1. Have paid dues for the current period.
2. Signifiy a willingness to adhere to all rules and regulations of SAPFM as they may from time to time be established pursuant to the Constitution and Bylaws.
B. Members shall be classified as follows:
1. Individual membership will be conferred upon anindividual eligible for membership who pays a specified amount of dues, annually, as directed by the Executive Council and approved by the General Membership.
2. Student membership (i.e. under age 21 and attending an accredited institution).
3. Joint membership (i.e. husband and wife/significant other or members of the same household).
4. Institutional memmbership (i.e. non-profit org., museums, & schools)
5. Business (For-profit organizations).
6. Benefactor (Classification for large donors as determined by the Executive Council).
7. Honorary membership is open to distinguished persons. Honorary memberships shall be voted on and conferred by the Executive Council for life.
C. Termination in SAPFM membership maybe accomplished in the following ways:
1. Voluntarily, by resignation, either verbal or written, to the Executive Council.
2. Involuntarily, due toto non-apyment of dues, or at the direction of the Executive Council for flagrant or contiued violation of SAPFM Rules and Regulations, or of SAPFM principles to the detriment of SAPFM and/or the craft of period furniture making and conservation.
D. Reinstatement of terminated members may be accomplished in the following ways:
1. Members who resign in good standing may be reinstated if they pay the requisite dues for the current dues period.
2. Persons dropped from the active membership roster at the direction of the Executive Council will not be considered for reinstatement without the approval of the Executive Council.
E. Exceptional cases of application for or termination of membership will be clarified by the Executive Council.
SECTION 2. - Classification of Executive Council Members
A. Executive Council Members shall be classified as follows:
1. President
2. Vice President
3. Secretary/Treasurer
4. Editor of American Period Furniture Journal
5. Webmaster
6. Six members at large
B. All Executive Council Members shall have voting privileges except the President, who may only vote in the case of a tie vote, in order to break the tie vote.
C. It shall be the responsibility of the Executive Council Memebrs to keep abreast of the opinions and ideas of the General Membership in order that SAPFM activities and direction are in the best interest of SAPFM.
SECTION 3. - Duties and Authority of the Executive Council Members
A. The President shall:
1. Preside at all Executive Council and General Meetings.
2. Act as spokesperson for SAPFM.
3. Appoint or remove Committee Chairpersons subject to ratification by the Executive Council
4. As Chairperson of the Executive Council, assure a quorum of voting members of the Executive Council for any requisite vote and be responsible for proxies.
5. Authorize emergency or special expenditures not to exceed $500 in any one instance.
6. Replace Executive Council Members who are unable to fulfill theri required duties due to excessive absences, reasons of health and so on. Replacements will finish out the unexpired term of the replaced Executive Council Member. All replacements must be approved by the Executive Council.
7. Cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie.
8. In the event of the Secretary/Treasurer is unable or unavailable to sign checks for debts incurred by SAPFM, the President shall serve in this capacity.
B. The Vice President shall act for the President when he/she is unable or unavailable to serve.
C. The Secretary/Treasurer shall:
1. Keep the minutes of all Executive Council and General meetings of SAPFM.
2. Cause to be carried out all the official corresondence of SAPFM.
3. Maintain a file of all SAPFM correspondence, insurance record, Coprorate Charter and so on.
4. Collect all monies due, disbuse same and keep accurate of all financial transactions.
5. Present a report of all financial transactions to Executive Council members and be prepared, as required to report on financial matters at general meetings of members.
6. Provide an annual financial statement to the General Membership within sixty (60) days next following the end of each calendar year or at the annual business meeting, whichever comes first.
7. Keep all SAPFM funds in a SAPFM checking/savings account(s) as approved by the Executive Council.
8. Sign all checks for debts incurred by SAPFM that have been approved by the Executive Council.
9. Keep a record of all Members in good standing.
10. Authorize emergency or special expenditures not to exceed $500 in any one instance.
D. The Editor of the American Period Furniture journal, Webmaster, and six Members at Large shall have duties that are customary for such poistions and such other functions as may be prescribed by the Constitution and ByLaws of SAPFM and the Executive Council.
E. The Journal Editor and Webmaster shall serve on the Executive Council as long as they hold their respective positions.
SECTION 4.- Nomination and Election of Executive Council Members
A. All Executive Council members shall be nominated and elected to a consecutive three year term. Members wishing to serve on the Executive Council will be informed of the nominating process via the SAPFM newsletter and SAPFM website. The nominating committee may also solicit members to present themselves to the membership for election.
B. The nominees will present a brief biographical sketch for publication on the website and in the newsletter which shall be mailed to the membership no later than November 15 each year. That edition of the newsletter shall contain an official mail return ballot, and members must return the ballots postmarked by December 15 of that year. There may be more nominees than vacant seats to be voted upon.
C. The nominees with the greatest number of votes, in descending order, will be elected to fill the vacant seats. The results of the election will be announced at the annual business meeting.
D. The President, Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer shall be nominated and elected from the and by the current members of the Executive Council during the annual business meeting.
SECTION 5. -Meetings
A. There shall be an annual business meeting of SAPFM that shall be conducted at a place, date and time as determined by the Executive Council.
B. The Executive Council shall announce the place, date, and time of the annual business meeting to the General Membership not later than three months prior to the scheduled annual meeting date.
C. In the event of a natural or national emergency, the Executive Council shall have the authority to cancel or postpone tha annual business meeting.
D. The Executive Council shall meet on a quarterly basis or as deemed necessary by the President.
E. The conduct of all meetings shall be in accordance with regular Parliamentary Procedure per "Roberts Rules of Order."
SECTION 6. - Dues and Fees
A. The membership dues and fees schedule shall be presented annually by the Executive Council at the annual business meeting. The schedule of dues and fees shall also be published in one issue of the SAPFM newsletter prior to the next scheduled annual business meeting. The dues and feees schedule is then approved by a majority vote of those members in good standing present at the annual business meeting.
B. The membership dues and fees schedule shall become effective on the first day of the next month following the annual business meeting. If the schedule is not revised or presented, the current schedule shall be considered approved until the following calendar year and to be considered again at the next annual business meeting.
C. The membership dues and fees schedule shall include, but not limited to, new member initiation fees, renewal dues, and late-payment fees. Special membership fees and partial year dues may also be included.
D. No special assessments shall be levied except upon the recommendation of the Executive Council and approval of thw-thirds of the Members in good standing present at the annual business meeting.
SECTION 7.- Special Funds
A. The Secretary/Treasurer is authorized by ratification of the Executive Council to receive contributions or specially obtained funds from individuals, groups, organizations or institutions to be applied to the general treasury of SAPFM.
SECTION 8. - Dissolution of Process
A. In the event that the General Membership believes the the Executive Council is not working toward the best interests of SAPFM, the Executive Council can be dissolved by a vote in which two-thirds (2/3) of the General Membership in good standing affirm the action. The dissolution vote of the Executive Council shall exclude the current President and Secretary/Treasurer to ensure continued guidance during the period of change. A parliamentary form of government shall be instituted until such time as a new Executive Council is elected or SAPFM members choose to change this Constitution and ByLaws and institute a new form of governement.
CONSTITUTION OF THE SOCIETY OF
AMERICAN PERIOD FURNITURE MAKERS
KNOW ALL PEOPLE BY THESE PRESENTS that this is the Constitution of the Society of American Period Furniture Makers, Incorporated.
CONSTITUTION
Article I - NAME
The name of the organization shall be the Society of American Period Furniture Makers, hereafter referred to as "SAPFM."
ARTICLE II - OPERATION
SECTION 1. - SAPFM shall operate as a not-for-profit organization.
SECTION 2. - SAPFM shall operate on a calendar year basis.
ARTICLE III - PURPOSE
SECTION 1. - SAPFM's primary mission is to promote and provide a forum for the advancement of understanding, education, and appreciation of the craft of period furniture making.
SECTION 2. - SAPFM shall provide and maintain a venue for communications among individuals and groups that share a common interest in the making and preserving of period furniture.
SECTION 3. - SAPFM shall assist members with the identification and location of resources (i.e. materials, training, etc.) and other people or organizations having specialized expertise in the field of period furniture making.
SECTION 4. - SAPFM will encourage the use of standards and ethical practices within the professional community as they pertain to the reproduction and conservation of period furniture.
SECTION 5. - SAPFM will help sponsor and conduct exhibitions and workshops to help members achieve recognition for their work.
ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1. - All persons shall be eligible for membership in SAPFM, especially those having an interest in makinf and reproducing period furniture and who meet the qualifications prescribed and enumerated in the Bylaws.
SECTION 2. - To be recognized as an active member, the person must be in good standing and current in the membership dues.
ARTICLE V - GOVERNING BODY
SECTION 1. - The Executive Council shall be the governing body of SAPFM. It shall be responsible for the management of the affairs of SAPFM. The duties and responsibilities of the Executive Council are outlined in the Bylaws.
SECTION 2. The Executive Council shall consist of no more than eleven members made up of the following:
a. President
b. Vice-President
c. Secretary/Treasurer
d. Editor of the American Period Furniture Journal
e. Webmaster
f. Six Members at Large