GAW Bylaws
Georgia Association of Woodturners, Inc. (GAW)
BYLAWS
ARTICLE I - LOCATION
ARTICLE II - AFFILATION
The GAW is a Chapter affiliate of the corporation, American Association of Woodturners (AAW), Inc. GAW members are encouraged to belong to the AAW. Refer to Article XI for AAW DISCLAIMERS, FISCAL AND LEGAL.
ARTICLE III - PURPOSESn
ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP
Membership is open to anyone with an interest in Lathe-turning without regard to age, race, creed, color, gender or national origin. This interest may include hobbyists, students, amateur or part-time turners, professional turners, master craftsmen turners, collectors, galleries, dealers, and retail sales. Annual membership dues and other fees are set by the Board of Directors. The annual membership dues are required to initiate and maintain membership. Membership renewal dues are due December 15th and delinquent after the February membership meeting.
ARTICLE V - MEETINGSn
The GAW will meet the third Thursday of each month. The Board of Directors will determine a permanent monthly meeting location. The President may designate alternate dates and sites within the Atlanta Metro area as conditions may require. A meeting notice will be placed in the newsletter. All officer or otherwise business related meetings are open to general membership with locations and time provided.
ARTICLE VI- OFFICERS
A. NUMBER AND ELECTION :
The officers of GAW shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. These officers shall be elected annually at the November meeting by a majority vote of members attending that meeting. Such other officers and assistant officers as deemed necessary may be elected by Chapter members or appointed by the Board of Directors.
B. TERM OF EACH OFFICE:
Each officer shall be an active member of the GAW for the past two years and a current member of the AAW. Each Officer will normally hold office for one year, but can be elected for one additional sequential term. After a two-year vacancy from a given office the previously elected officer may again hold the office. However, due to the technical nature and knowledge requirements of the position, the Treasurer may be elected for additional one year terms if first approved by a 2/3’s majority of the Board of Directors.
C. REMOVAL:
Any officer elected or appointed may be removed when deemed in the best interest of GAW. This would be accomplished by a majority vote of the members who are present at a regularly scheduled meeting. The meeting should not be held for a period of at least thirty-days starting with membership notification.
D. VACANCIES:
The Board of Directors may fill a vacancy in any Office for the unexpired portion of the term.
E. PRESIDENT:
The president will be the principal executive officer of the GAW, providing supervision and control of all business and affairs of the GAW. This includes approving all such GAW expenditures and approving all checks written by the Treasurer. The President will conduct monthly meetings.
F. VICE PRESIDENT:
In the absence of the President or refusal to act, the Vice President will perform the duties of President, and when so acting, will have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President. The Vice President will from time to time check the status of the Secretary’s records; Treasureru’s funding accounts and the progress of official committee actions and report to the President. The Vice President will perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President.
G. SECRETARY:
The Secretary will keep and maintain minutes of the GAW’s meetings, ensure all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these by-laws or otherwise required. The Secretary will notify the AAW, other chapters, and appropriate parties of the name and address when a new president is elected. When requested by the President, the Secretary will provide a summary of the minutes of selected meetings in the newsletter. The Secretary shall perform other duties as may be assigned by the President.’
H. TREASURER:
The Treasurer will collect all membership fees and all other funds generated by the GAW and will be responsible for keeping current and accurate banking and financial records. The Treasurer will provide monthly reports to the Board of Directors and quarterly reports to the membership. Other reports will be provided the President as requested. The Treasurer will be responsible for ensuring the preparation and filing of all tax returns required of the GAW. The Treasurer will perform other duties as may be assigned by the President.
I. FINANCIAL REVIEW:
A review of the organization’s financial records will be conducted on an annual basis. The review will be conducted by not less than two GAW members in good standing selected by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer may not be included in those performing the review.
ARTICLE VII- BOARD MEMBERS AND ADVISOR
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
The nine member Board of Directors shall consist of the current officers, the immediate past President, the Program Chairperson, the Symposium Chairperson and two additional at large members appointed by the outgoing Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will assist the 0fficers in conducting chapter affairs and shall head committees as appointed by the President. The five non-officer members will be subject to the same requirements and term limits as that of the Officers, except, however, the Program Chairperson and the Symposium Chairperson shall not be subject to the term limits.
ADVISOR:
The Advisor shall be selected yearly by the Board of Directors. A long-standing member of the GAW and AAW should hold this position. When possible the advisor should have served as an officer in the GAW, president preferred. The Advisor will not be an active officer or board member.
ARTICLE VIII - STANDING COMMITTEES
Standing Committees are to work under the supervision and control of the President. Committee members will be selected yearly by the Board of Directors.
Newsletter
The Committee will collect articles, compose and distribute the newsletter to members and selected non-members. The newsletter will be published monthly except on special occasions approved by the President.
Programs
The committee will be responsible for planning monthly programs and demonstrations that are within the purpose of GAW. They will also organize periodic demonstrations for the membership, which may be, free or subject to a
fee. The committee will publish a yearly calendar of events that is updated monthly in the newsletter.
Scholarships and Grants
The Committee shall consist of five members selected yearly by the Board of Directors. This Committee will be responsible for approving and issuing scholarships and grants within funding limits provided by the Board of Directors. The Scholarship and Grant Committee will select a chairperson that will report to the Board of Directors.
Turning Southern Style Symposium
The Committee will plan, organize and execute symposiums as requested by the Board of Directors. The Symposium Committee will work closely with the Program Committee to prevent conflicts and duplications of demonstrations. They will prepare articles for the newsletter giving information on date, location, cost, and scheduled events followed by a final article summarizing the event.
ARTICLE IX - FISCAL ASSETS
GAW’s fiscal assets shall be the responsibility of the President and Treasurer. Expenditure of funds shall be by check only. Both the President and Treasurer will ensure that all expenditures will not exceed funds on hand.
ARTICLE X - CODE OF ETHICS
GAW members shall support the goals of this chapter without verbal or physical malice to any member, the chapter as a whole or to other associated organizations or individuals. Officers, Board Members and Advisor will hold themselves to the very highest standards, avoiding conflicts of interest while giving their full support for the best interests of the GAW.
ARTICLE XI u2013 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF WOODTURNERS
A. The corporation, American Association of Woodturners, , specifically disassociates itself from any debt obligations of the GAW. The Corporate Board of Directors of AAW is not responsible for the debts nor shares in the profits of the GAW. AAW’s national office must be notified in writing prior to and respond in writing before incurring any indebtedness for GAW.
B. The corporation, American Association of Woodturners, , specifically disassociates itself from any other obligations or encumbrances of the GAW. While the AAW parent organization will provide advice and counsel, as requested, the GAW is advised that the nature and extent of their activities are left to their discretion. The Corporate Organization does not shoulder any legal liability for accidents that occur during events of any kind sponsored or unsponsored by the GAW. Demonstrations are to be conducted solely at the discretion of the GAW and all safety and instruction is to be under their explicit direction and control.
ARTICLE XII - AMENDMENTS
These By-laws may be altered, amended or repealed and new These By-laws may be altered, amended or repealed and new by-laws may be adopted by a vote of a simple majority of the qualified voting members of GAW then casting ballots at a regularly scheduled meeting. The GAW Secretary MUST file copies of all modifications to these by-laws with the AAW.
ACCEPTANCE OF BY-LAWS:
The Georgia Association of Woodturners, Inc.(GAW) Bylaws have been agreed upon and adopted by the following elected officers on March 6, 1999:
President: ________(Pat Davis)_____________________________________
Vice President: __(Clark McMullen)____________________________________
Secretary: _______(Terry Jacobs)____________________________________
Treasurer: ______(Sonny Newman)___________________________________
AMENDMENTS: (Approved by the membership)
November 15, 2001
Amendment to remove term limits on the GAW Advisor.
May 16, 2002
Article VI-B amended to require that all elected officers shall be current
members of the AAW.
Secretary: __(signed Wesley W. Jones 6/5/2002)___
April 21, 2005
Article IV amended to waive membership fees for youth aged 10-17. Article VIII, Scholarships and Grants rewritten in its entirety.
Secretary: __(signed Lon Fitch 5/10/2005)___
March 20, 2014
Article III Purposes, amended to provide for the GAW to support turning related charitable and benevolent purposes with prior Board approval. Article IV Membership, amended to remove specific dues amounts and other minor changes.
Article VII Board Members, amended to enlarge the Board from seven to nine members by adding the Program Chairperson and the Symposium Chairperson, but exempting these members from the term limits otherwise in effect. Article VIII Scholarship and Grants, amended to delete the term limits for members of the Scholarship and Grant Committee and to delete the maximum scholarship amount that can be awarded.
Secretary: ________(signed _Bob Black 3/20/2014)_______
March 19, 2015
Various Articles were revised to update terminology, streamline procedures, correct inconsistencies and otherwise bring the Bylaws up to date. A red-lined copy showing the changes is included in the GAW records.