Constitution and By-Laws of the Willamette Valley Puppeteers Constitution
Article I – NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Willamette Valley Puppeteers, a chartered Guild of Puppeteers of America, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as WVP).
Article II - PURPOSE
The purpose of this Guild is to bring together all persons interested in puppetry to share experiences, skills and resources, to promote excellence in puppetry; and to enhance its public image as a performing art and an educational tool.
Article III – MEMBERSHIP
Membership in WVP shall be open to any person or group interested in promoting WVP purposes.
Regular Membership
Persons may apply for membership regardless of race, religion, creed or ethnic origin. They may vote on WVP business matters, attend all meetings, receive all WVP publications, and are encouraged to participate in all regular and special events of the WVP calendar.
Article IV – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
The President and all other officers of the Guild must be members-in good-standing of the Puppeteers of America
President
The president shall advise and oversee WVP activities, preside at meetings, decide on points of order, and appoint all committees (except the Nomination Committee). In the event of an office vacancy, the President shall appoint a new officer to fill the unexpired term, with the approval of the Executive Committee
Vice President
This person shall assume all presidential duties in the absence of the President, and shall supervise the hospitable reception of guests and members (old and new) at WVP meetings.
Secretary/Treasurer
As secretary, he/she shall keep proper records of all WVP proceedings, keep a current member roster, attend to correspondence, and maintain a correspondence file. He/she shall submit an annual report from the Executive Committee to the Puppeteers of America, Inc. and shall submit the minutes of the previous meeting at all WVP meetings, as well as produce a newsletter to be distributed to the membership and interested parties after every regular meeting. report on important communications.
As treasurer, he/she shall collect dues and all other monies of WVP and may reimburse legitimate expenses incurred by WVP. However, any reimbursements over $25.00 must be first approved by the Executive Committee. He/she shall present an accurate treasury account at each regular meeting, and present a comprehensive written breakdown once a year.
At each annual election, the office of secretary/treasurer may be split into two or recombined into one position.
Article V – TERMS OF OF FICE
Term of office is one year. Officers will be installed at the first regular meeting of the Guild following the election and will be prepared to serve the Guild until new officers are installed. Each elected officer may be re-elected for one additional consecutive term in the same office. After two consecutive terms in the same office, an officer may serve in another position and return to the original office after one year’s absence.
Article VI – ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The nominating Committee shall present a slate of officers for candidacy at the last regular meeting of the WVG year. At this meeting, nominations may be made from the floor if the nominated persons are present, or have submitted written permission for their nomination and are members in good standing of the Guild. If more than one nomination is made per office, the vote shall be by secret ballot. Absentee ballots will be accepted.
Article VII – AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
The proposed changes shall be read at the regular meeting preceding the regular meeting at which the vote occurs, and must be distributed to all members at least 14 days before the voting date. The amendment must be passed by two-thirds of the members present.
BY-LAWS
Article I – DUES
Organizational dues may be set by the Executive Committee, and adopted by the approval of two-thirds of the members present at the next regular meeting.
Article II – QUORUM
A quorum shall be one-fourth of the dues-paying membership including at least two officers.
Article III – MEETINGS
The WVP year will run May through April. Regular meetings will normally be held monthly (to include reports from officers, discussion of important business, and a program/workshop/seminar whenever possible). A minimum of six regular meetings of the Guild shall take place annually. Special meetings may be held at the request of the Executive Committee if notification of members is timely.
Article lV – COMMITTEES
The guild may have such standing committees and ad hoc committees as may be determined from time to time by the executive board to be necessary to the operation of the Guild. The President shall serve as an ex-officio member of all committees.
ARTICLE V-AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS
The by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of members present at any regular meeting of the Guild. Any amendment will then be announced in the Guild newsletter.
Article I – NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Willamette Valley Puppeteers, a chartered Guild of Puppeteers of America, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as WVP).
Article II - PURPOSE
The purpose of this Guild is to bring together all persons interested in puppetry to share experiences, skills and resources, to promote excellence in puppetry; and to enhance its public image as a performing art and an educational tool.
Article III – MEMBERSHIP
Membership in WVP shall be open to any person or group interested in promoting WVP purposes.
Regular Membership
Persons may apply for membership regardless of race, religion, creed or ethnic origin. They may vote on WVP business matters, attend all meetings, receive all WVP publications, and are encouraged to participate in all regular and special events of the WVP calendar.
Article IV – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
The President and all other officers of the Guild must be members-in good-standing of the Puppeteers of America
President
The president shall advise and oversee WVP activities, preside at meetings, decide on points of order, and appoint all committees (except the Nomination Committee). In the event of an office vacancy, the President shall appoint a new officer to fill the unexpired term, with the approval of the Executive Committee
Vice President
This person shall assume all presidential duties in the absence of the President, and shall supervise the hospitable reception of guests and members (old and new) at WVP meetings.
Secretary/Treasurer
As secretary, he/she shall keep proper records of all WVP proceedings, keep a current member roster, attend to correspondence, and maintain a correspondence file. He/she shall submit an annual report from the Executive Committee to the Puppeteers of America, Inc. and shall submit the minutes of the previous meeting at all WVP meetings, as well as produce a newsletter to be distributed to the membership and interested parties after every regular meeting. report on important communications.
As treasurer, he/she shall collect dues and all other monies of WVP and may reimburse legitimate expenses incurred by WVP. However, any reimbursements over $25.00 must be first approved by the Executive Committee. He/she shall present an accurate treasury account at each regular meeting, and present a comprehensive written breakdown once a year.
At each annual election, the office of secretary/treasurer may be split into two or recombined into one position.
Article V – TERMS OF OF FICE
Term of office is one year. Officers will be installed at the first regular meeting of the Guild following the election and will be prepared to serve the Guild until new officers are installed. Each elected officer may be re-elected for one additional consecutive term in the same office. After two consecutive terms in the same office, an officer may serve in another position and return to the original office after one year’s absence.
Article VI – ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The nominating Committee shall present a slate of officers for candidacy at the last regular meeting of the WVG year. At this meeting, nominations may be made from the floor if the nominated persons are present, or have submitted written permission for their nomination and are members in good standing of the Guild. If more than one nomination is made per office, the vote shall be by secret ballot. Absentee ballots will be accepted.
Article VII – AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
The proposed changes shall be read at the regular meeting preceding the regular meeting at which the vote occurs, and must be distributed to all members at least 14 days before the voting date. The amendment must be passed by two-thirds of the members present.
BY-LAWS
Article I – DUES
Organizational dues may be set by the Executive Committee, and adopted by the approval of two-thirds of the members present at the next regular meeting.
Article II – QUORUM
A quorum shall be one-fourth of the dues-paying membership including at least two officers.
Article III – MEETINGS
The WVP year will run May through April. Regular meetings will normally be held monthly (to include reports from officers, discussion of important business, and a program/workshop/seminar whenever possible). A minimum of six regular meetings of the Guild shall take place annually. Special meetings may be held at the request of the Executive Committee if notification of members is timely.
Article lV – COMMITTEES
The guild may have such standing committees and ad hoc committees as may be determined from time to time by the executive board to be necessary to the operation of the Guild. The President shall serve as an ex-officio member of all committees.
ARTICLE V-AMENDMENTS TO THE BY-LAWS
The by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of members present at any regular meeting of the Guild. Any amendment will then be announced in the Guild newsletter.
