SOUTHWEST ARTIST BLACKSMITHS ASSOCIATION

(A NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION)

BY-LAWS

 

ARTICLE I

Name

The name of this not-for-profit corporation shall be SOUTHWEST ARTIST BLACKSMITHS ASSOCIATION. The official abbreviation of this name shall be SWABA

 

ARTICLE II

Purposes and Objectives

The Corporation is organized exclusively for educational purposes, including such purposes as follows: to encourage and facilitate the establishment of training programs for aspiring smiths; to disseminate information about sources of material and equipment; to expose the art of blacksmithing to the public;

to serve as a center of information about blacksmithing for architects, interior designers, other interested groups and the general public; to promote friendship. social activities, and sharing of knowledge among the smiths.

ARTICLE III

Membership

Section 1 - Qualifications: Any person, firm, school, museum, etc.  engaged in blacksmithing or activities allied thereto may become a member.

Section 2 - Categories of Membership: There shall be the following categories of membership in the  Association:

      (a)         A regular individual member is one who practices blacksmithing as

     a profession or avocation, or has interest in the art.

      (b)         A household membership is a single membership for a family unit.

      (c)         A student member is one who is a full time student in a recognized

     educational institution, with adequate proof to attest such status.

     (d)         A senior citizen member is one who has attained the age of 65.

     (e)         A contributory member is one who elects to pay $50.00 or more for

     an annual membership.

     (f)          A subscription is for non-members to receive the newsletter only.

Section 3 -Membership Qualifications: A person, firm or corporation may become a member by written application of forms provided by SWABA, accompanied by one year's dues, to the President or Secretary.

Section 4 - Honorary Members:The Board of Directors may elect Honorary Members by unanimous vote of the Board members present. Honorary Members shall be exempt from payment of any fees whatsoever and shall be entitled to all the privileges of regular members.

 

ARTICLE IV

Fiscal Year

 

The fiscal year shall coincide with the calendar year, beginning on the first day of January and ending on the last day of December.

 

ARTICLE V

Dues

 

Section 1 - Annual Dues: The Board of Directors may determine from time to

    time the amount of annual dues payable to the Association by members.

Section 2 - Payment of Dues: Dues shall be payable in advance of the first day of each fiscal year. Dues shall be pro-rated by quarters of the year.

Section 3 - Default and Termination of Membership: When any member shall

   be in default in the payment of dues for a period of three months from the beginning of the fiscal year or period for which such dues become payable, his membership may thereupon be terminated by the Secretary.

ARTICLE VI

Meetings

 

Section 1 - Membership Meetings: The regular meetings of the Association will normally be held on the second Saturday of the month indicated by the newsletter. In case of a change in the meeting schedule, the members shall be notified in advance of the earliest meeting time.

Section 2 - Special Meetings: Special meetings may be called by the Board of Directors. Upon written request of 20% of the members, the Board of Directors shall call a special meeting to consider a specific subject. Notice of a special meeting shall be mailed to the last recorded address of each member at least ten days before the date of the special meeting.

Section 3 - Quorum : At any regular Association function, the voting members present shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, providing there are at least ten voting members present.

Section 4 - Voting: Only members with currently paid dues are entitled to vote.

    A majority vote of the members present determines the question. Proxies shall not be accepted in lieu of a member's presence.

Section 5 - Order of Business: The order of business will be called by the Chairman of the meeting, so that business may be handled in an expedient manner.  

 

ARTICLE VII

Directors

 

Section 1 - The property, affairs, activities and concerns of the Association shall be vested in a Board of Directors consisting of not more than seven Directors in addition to the President, Vice President, Secre­tary and Treasurer. The members of the Board shall, upon election, immediately enter into the performance of their duties and shall continue in office until their successors shall be duly elected.

Section 2 - Election of Directors: Directors shall be elected by members of the Association. Directors shall be elected for a one year term.

Section 3 - Duties of Directors: The Board of Directors may:

1.       Hold meetings at such times and places as it chooses,

2.       Print and circulate documents and publish articles,

3.       Communicate with other organizations interested in blacksmithing,

4.       Employ agents, and

5.       Devise and execute such other measures as it deems proper to promote the objectives of the Association, and to best protect the interest and welfare of the members.

Section 4 - Meetings of the Board: Frequency, times, and places of Board of Directors meetings will be determined by the members of the Board to accomplish the tasks deemed necessary by the Board. Members of the Board shall be notified in advance of forthcoming Board meetings.

Section 5 - Quorum: 50% of the members of the Board of Directors shall consti­tute a quorum. In the absence of the President and Vice President, the quorum present may choose a chairman. If a quorum is not present, a lesser number may adjourn the meeting to a later date.

Section 6 - Inactive Members: Any Board member ceasing to be active may be removed and replaced by a majority vote of members of the Association.

 

ARTICLE VIII

Officers

 

Section 1 - Number: The officers of this Association shall consist of a President, Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

Section 2 - Method of Election: Election of Officers. Officers will be elected to 2-year terms by a simple majority of members present.  President and Secretary will be elected on even years at the Christmas meeting; Vice President and Treasurer on odd years, same meeting.

 

Section 3 - Duties of Officers: The duties and powers of the officers of the Association shall be as those usually ascribed to such officers of a not-for-profit organization.

Section 4 - In the event of death or vacancy of a duly elected officer's position, the Board of Directors shall appoint a replacement to fill the remainder of the term.

 

Section 5 - Any Officer may be removed from office by a simple majority of the members present at any meeting after the request was raised in the prior meeting and notice of such published in the SW ABA Newsletter.

ARTICLE IX

Committees

 

Committees may be formed by the Board of Directors to study and report on problems or projects thought by the Board to be of value to the Association, and to execute proper action to accomplish those deemed valuable by the Board.

 

ARTICLE X

Amendments

 

These By-Laws may be amended, repealed, or altered in all or in part by a member majority vote at any duly organized meeting of the Association. The proposed change shall be mailed to the last recorded address of each member at least 10 days before the time of the meeting in which the change is to be considered.

 

ARTICLE XI

Courtesy and Violence

 

The meetings of this Association shall be conducted in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order.

 

ARTICLE XII

Dissolution Clause

 

In the event of SWABA's dissolution, all assets will be donated to the Artist Blacksmith Association of North America. This donation will be made without restrictions on the end use of said funds, to be received by the President of the afore mentioned Association. The executor of these assets shall be the current Treasurer of SWABA.