OZARK WOODTURNERS CLUB

A chapter of the American Association of Woodturners, Inc.

Revised 11/09/19

 

ARTICLE I – NAME AND OFFICE

 

Section 1.01 Name

The name of this organization will be the Ozark Woodturners Club.  The Ozark Woodturners Club is a chapter of the American Association of Woodturners, Inc., and hereinafter called “AAW”.  The Ozark Woodturners Club, hereinafter called “The Club”, was formed on October 25, 1995.  The Club is identified by the Internal Revenue Service by the assigned EIN number 41-2164301.

 

Section 1.02 Office Location

The principal office of this organization will be variously located at the official location of the current President of the Board of Directors.  The registered office may, but need not be, changed from time to time by the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors will consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Librarian who are elected annually.

 

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE AND ACTIVITIES

 

Section 2.01 Purpose

The Club is organized as a forum for individuals interested in woodturning.  It is the purpose of The Club to provide a meeting location for woodturners and to promote woodturning as an art form and craft.  The primary purposes of The Club are consistent with the fundamental purposes of AAW, “to provide information, education and organization to those interested in turning wood.”

 

Section 2.02 Activities

More specifically, members of The Club propose principally to offer such services as monthly newsletters, demonstrations, an audio/video library, craft shows, exhibits of turned products, guidance and instruction to members interested in further developing their woodturning skills, Show and Tells among members and guests, and the exchange of project woods and other woodturning related materials.  Additionally, The Club will offer its members the opportunity to share ideas and information regarding woodturning lathes, tools, turning materials, turning techniques and design of turned objects and generally all subjects relating to woodturning.

 

ARTICLE III – RELATION OF THE OZARK WOODTURNERS CLUB TO THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF WOODTURNERS, INC.

 

Section 3.01 Relation to AAW

All members of The Club are encouraged to be members of AAW.  All Board Members of The Club are required to be members of AAW.  It is understood that a Board Member, upon request, will be reimbursed by The Club for membership fees paid to AAW for an “Internet” level membership.  While it is understood that AAW will provide advice and counsel, as requested, the nature and extent of the activities of The Club are determined solely by The Club members.

 

Section 3.02 Demonstrations

Demonstrations (by members, non-member professionals and other experts), while part of the normal activities of The Club are to be conducted at the discretion of the Board of Directors and the designated demonstrations coordinator of The Club and all safety and instructions are to be under the explicit direction and control of the Board of Directors.  As recommended by AAW, notice will be given to participants during any demonstration where woodturning equipment is used, that personal protection equipment, preferably including a full-face shield, fine dust filter mask and hearing protection should be worn and that woodturning is potentially dangerous to the health and safety of both the turner and observers.

 

ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS, CATEGORIES AND DUES

 

Section 4.01 Benefits of Members

It is the intention of The Club:

 

a)      To offer fabricators and collectors of lathe-turned objects, education and information about woodturning, woodturners, woodturning styles, and an opportunity to communicate directly with other woodturners.

b)      To offer beginners, part-time, or student woodturners, technical information about woods, woodturning tools, machinery, safety tips, and a vehicle for establishing and maintaining communication among others with similar interests.

c)      To offer master woodturning craftsmen an avenue through which they can meet other highly skilled craftsmen, share their techniques and theories with their peers and with others interested in fine woodturning, and to help promote public interest in fabricating and collecting fine lathe-turned objects.

d)      To offer a vehicle for notifying woodturners and the interested public of shows and displays featuring lathe-turned objects and providing opportunities for discussions on topics of interest to woodturners.

e)      To offer information to members who purchase woodturning goods and services regarding retail sellers of woods, tools, machinery, finishes, and other supplies and details (including, but not limited to, merchant catalogs and electronic sourcing information) specific to accessing useful information.

 

Section 4.02 Membership Categories

The membership categories within the organization of The Club are as follows:

 

General Members – General Members are members in good standing with both The Club and AAW.  Only General Members may be elected to Board Member/Officer positions.

 

Associate Members – Associate Members are members in good standing with The Club, but not members of AAW.

 

Student Members A member under the age of 18 or not older than the age of 24 while actively pursuing post-secondary training at or through a recognized institute of higher learning is considered a Student Member. Student Members under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all Club activities the Student Member attends.  There will be no dues for Student Membership.  Student Members will be non-voting members. 

 

Honorary Members –Honorary members are General or Associate Members, who have served The Club in an outstanding manner over several years, may be voted to honorary status by the General and Associate Membership and are exempt from payment of membership dues to The Club.

 

Section 4.03 Membership Dues, Qualifications and Transfer of Membership

The dues for membership in The Club will be periodically reviewed and determined by the Board of Directors and submitted to the general membership for a vote to approve.  Dues will be payable by or before the beginning of each calendar year and will be delinquent after March 1st of that year.  Any interested party may become a member of The Club.  Payment of one year’s dues are payable upon joining.  Dues will not be prorated; however, dues paid by new members after November 1st of any year will be applied to the following calendar year.  The new Member is encouraged, but not required, to join AAW.  Membership in The Club is not transferable or assignable.

 

ARTICLE V – MEETINGS

 

Section 5.01 Meetings

The Club will normally meet every month on the second (2nd) Saturday of the month at 1:00 P.M.  The meeting locations are to be determined by the Board of Directors.  Pre-meetings and/or meetings on different days of the month may be authorized and scheduled by the Board of Directors.  Notice of scheduled meeting date(s), location(s) and content will be announced in a monthly newsletter.  Short notice, unscheduled or special purpose meetings may be called at the discretion of the President using email and/or other expedited communications means.  General Club business requiring a Quorum will not be conducted at short notice, unscheduled or special purpose meetings.  

 

ARTICLE VI – OFFICERS

 

Section 6.01 Number

The Board of Directors will consist of five members, a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and a Librarian, each of whom will be elected annually at a scheduled meeting by a simple majority vote of the General and Associate members in attendance.  The same person may hold no more than one office at any one time.

 

Section 6.02 Election and Term of Office

Elections take place in November and will have been announced at a preceding general meeting not less than 30 days prior to the election and included in the newsletter in advance of the election.  Each year the membership will elect from among themselves all officers for a term of one (1) year.  The term will begin on January 1 of the following year, with unbroken tenure not to exceed a maximum of three (3) consecutive years in the same position.

 

Section 6.03 Removal of an Elected Officer

An elected officer may be removed from office for any reason following a recommendation of two-thirds (2/3) of the sitting Board of Directors and a majority vote of members attending a general meeting.

 

Section 6.04 Vacancies

In the event of a vacant office or the absence of a letter of resignation, an election will be held at a regularly scheduled meeting and the vacancy will be decided by a majority vote of General and Associate Members in attendance.  The Board of Directors may designate an interim member to temporarily fill and elected office.

 

Section 6.05 Non-Elected Positions

The President, with the advice and consent of the majority of the remaining officers of the Board of Directors may appoint a member to a temporary position for a term to be determined by the President as necessary to benefit The Club. 

 

Section 6.06 President

The President will be the principal executive officer.  The duties of President include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

a)      Supervise and control the business and affairs of The Club.

b)      Call Board Meetings.

c)      Preside, or in the absence of the Vice President or in the event of his/her inability or refusal to act, designate a temporary presider at all meetings except committee meetings presided over by the respective chairpersons.

d)      Appoint committees with the approval of the majority of the other Club officers.

e)      Participate as an ex-officio member of all committees but may appoint another officer as a stand-in.  The President, as necessary, will cast tie breaking votes.

f)       Select and appoint a Club photographer, a Newsletter Editor, a Social Media Director and a Web Master.  Either or all of these positions may be held by a single person.

g)      Serve as the second signature authority for The Club’s bank account.

 

Section 6.07 Vice President 

In the absence of the President or in the event of his/her inability or refusal to act, the Vice President will perform the duties of the President, and when so acting, the Vice President will have all the responsibilities, duties and powers of the President and will be subject to all the restrictions upon the President.  The Vice President will perform such other duties as are from time to time assigned by the President.

 

Section 6.08 Secretary

The Secretary will keep minutes of Board of Directors meetings and will distribute to Board members. The Secretary will also keep minutes of those portions of regular general meetings during which official business is conducted and will distribute to Board members and the newsletter Editor to be included in the monthly newsletter. The Secretary will assure that notices are duly given to members as required by these Bylaws.  The Secretary will be custodian of three years (including the current year) of The Club’s most current official records to include; copies of the current and historical Bylaws, the current Membership Roster, historical copies of newsletters, Membership Applications, pictures and any other forms, documents and materials considered permanent records.  In general, the Secretary will perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as are from time to time assigned by the President.  In the absence of a separate Newsletter Editor, the Secretary will publish and distribute a newsletter during months when general meetings are held and at such other times as directed by the President.  Distribution will include all members in good standing and such others as the President directs.

 

Section 6.09 Treasurer

The Treasurer will collect all membership dues and other monies paid and due and payable to The Club.  The Treasurer is responsible for maintaining current and accurate records of all monies received and expended by The Club and assets, including tools, machines, and real and investment properties (if any).  The Treasurer will maintain the official Membership Roster which includes, but is not limited to, names, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses of all members in good standing.  At such time a roster is revised, the Treasurer will provide an updated roster to board members and the Newsletter Editor for the purpose of updating the distribution list for distribution of newsletters and all other communications employed by The Club.  In general, the Treasurer will perform all the duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as may from time to time be assigned by the President.  The Treasurer will maintain current and historical financial records of The Club for seven years (including the current year).

 

Section 6.10 Librarian

The Librarian will be responsible for maintaining The Club’s lending library of audio/video materials, books and magazines including a check in/out lending system.  The Librarian will maintain a current inventory of these club owned items and make them available to members, not including visitors, at meetings.  The checkout of said items is for a period of thirty (30) days.  The Librarian will periodically review active check-out records to determine delinquent returns and notify The Club officers of violations.  The Librarian will make suggestions to the Board concerning acquisition of new items and disposal of damaged or outdated Club library holdings.

 

Section 6.11 Past President

The past President will serve in a non-voting advisory capacity to the President and other officers.  Additionally, the past President may perform such other duties as may from time to time be requested by the President.

 

Section 6.12 Authorized Spending

Club Officers are authorized to spend up to $300.00 for club purposes, with the concurrence of two (2) additional officers.  Emailed approvals will be sufficient to provide concurrence.  Reimbursement for routine business expenses of up to and including $75.00 are exempt from this requirement.  Any expenditure over  $300.00 must be approved by a simple majority of voting members at a regular meeting.

 

ARTICLE VII – INDEBTEDNESS; DISSOLUTION

 

Section 7.01 Indebtedness

All functions of The Club will be on a cash only basis.  The Club will not incur any debt through the actions of the officers or its members.

 

Section 7.02 Dissolution

In the event The Ozark Woodturners Club should reach a level of membership or inactivity not warranting continuation as an organization, The Club may (but not necessarily will) be dissolved by a two thirds (2/3) vote of a general meeting, consisting of not less than one half (1/2) of the Club’s current members in good standing.  Should the Ozark Woodturners Club be dissolved, all property of the organization will be transferred to the AAW or sold at public auction and all proceeds transferred to the AAW, (an organization exclusively for charitable, religious, educational and/or scientific purposes under the Internal Revenue code 501(c)(3), Educational Opportunity Grant fund).

 

ARTICLE VIII – DISCLAIMERS; FISCAL AND LEGAL

 

Section 8.01 Disclaimers; Fiscal and Legal

AAW and The Club are legally separate entities and specifically dissociate themselves from any debts, obligations, or encumbrances of the other.  Neither The Club nor AAW shoulders any legal liability for accidents or incidents that occur during events of any kind, sponsored or un-sponsored, by the other organization.  The Club’s Board of Directors and membership do not shoulder any legal liability for accidents or incidents that occur during events of any kind, sponsored or not sponsored, by the Ozark Woodturners Club.

 

ARTICLE IX – INSURANCE

 

Section 9.01 Insurance

As a chapter of AAW, The Club will utilize insurance available through AAW or another bonafide insurance provider of The Club’s choice and meeting the requirements of AAW.  All demonstrations, sponsored by The Club, must be by Members in good standing of The Club or must be members in good standing of AAW.

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE X – QUORUM AND ORDER OF BUSINESS

 

Section 10.01 Quorum and Order of Business

A Quorum will consist of those General and Associate Members (excluding Student Members) present at a scheduled general meeting.  Meetings will be conducted following the usual rules of parliamentary procedure, the use of which is to facilitate proceedings.  The principals are: the majority rules, the minority has the right to be heard, and courtesy will be extended to all.  In the event of a dispute, Roberts Rules of Order, Modern Edition will be consulted.

 

ARTICLE XI – BOOKS AND RECORDS

 

Section 11.01 Books and Records

The books and records of The Club will be made available for public inspection with the consent of a simple majority of the officers.

 

ARTICLE XII – AMENDMENTS AND ACCEPTANCE OF BYLAWS

 

Section 12.01 Amendments

These Bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed and new Bylaws may be adopted by a vote of the simple majority of the qualified, General and Associate Members of The Club at a meeting of the members.  There are no provisions for “proxy votes”.  Proposed changes to these Bylaws will be announced via an advanced mailing and/or electronic means to the membership at least one month in advance of the meeting at which the vote will be taken.  Copies of all modifications to these Bylaws must be signed by all currently sitting and voting members of the Board of Directors of The Club and be filed with the Administrative Office of AAW.

 

Section 12.02 Acceptance of Bylaws

The original Bylaws were drawn by Michael Kornblum, the Chapter organizer, who formed the Ozark Woodturners Club located in Mountain Home, Arkansas on September 23, 1995.  The Bylaws were recommended to the newly elected Board members at the Board’s first meeting, reviewed by all Board members and adopted as presented on September 25, 1995.  The Bylaws were submitted to the Administrative Office of AAW and accepted on October 25, 1995.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The current Bylaws, as revised and amended for the Ozark Woodturners Club, have been agreed upon and adopted on _____/_____/_____ and incorporate amendments through _____/_____/_____ as voted on and adopted by the following elected officers and by the General and Associate members present and in good standing:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                    _____/_____/_____

Darcie A. Didden, President

 

 

 

                                                                                    _____/_____/_____

Red Murr, Vice President

 

 

 

                                                                                    _____/_____/_____

Art Ritter, Secretary

 

 

 

                                                                                    _____/_____/_____

James Pruitt, Treasurer

 

 

 

                                                                                    _____/_____/_____

Bob Shaffer, Librarian