WRAL Bylaws

The Wheat Ridge Art League Bylaws

Preamble:

The League was organized in January of 1974 under the sponsorship of the Wheat Ridge Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Wheat Ridge.

Article I.

The name of this club shall be: 'Wheat Ridge Art League.'

Article II.

The purpose of the League is to pursue the study of the fine arts, to encourage each member in his creative work, and to provide League members the opportunity to obtain public recognition.

Article III.

Membership is open to any person residing within a reasonable distance of Wheat Ridge. Enrollment may be either as an active or associate member. Active members are those who actively pursue recognition in the Art community and by displaying their work in the Leagues' regularly maintained exhibits and special shows. Associate members are those who do not wish to display their work, but do support the League through their interest and designated responsibilities and who enjoy the same privileges as active members.

Article IV.

The annual dues shall be $25.00 for both classes of membership, payable on or before the last day of January for the ensuing year. The fiscal year shall be from January 1 through December 31 of each year.

Article V.

Meetings:
Section 1. The regular meetings shall be held on the last Tuesday of each month except December. The time and place shall be designated in the standing rules.
Section 2. Should a meeting day fall on a holiday, or should an emergency occur, the President and one officer may change the day or cancel the meeting.
Section 3. The officers shall be elected and installed at the November meeting. A brief written annual report will be submitted at the January meeting by the preceding years officers.
Section 4. Special meetings may be held on call of the President and one officer, and may be called on written request of members.
Section 5. Members at meetings shall constitute a quorum.

Article VI.

Officers and Duties
Section 1. The officers shall be a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary and Newsletter Secretary.
Section 2. The President shall preside at the meetings of the League and the Executive Board, appoint all committees and perform the duties that usually involve the Presidency.
Section 3. The Vice President shall serve as Membership Chairman, and as consultant to the Exhibition Chairmen and may form a committee to maintain the League’s Art standards. The Vice President shall preside at meetings and board meetings in the absence of the President, or at the request of the President.
Section 4. The Recording Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings and of the Executive Board in a permanent minute book, file all Reports, preserve all papers and properties of the League, and maintain an up-to-date roster of the membership. The President and the Parks and Recreation Department shall be furnished one copy each of the minutes.
Section 5. The Treasurer shall receive all moneys due the League and issue receipts therefore. He shall make disbursements from the funds only on approval of two officers. He shall keep accurate records of receipts and disbursements and submit a written report each month to the Executive Board and the League. He shall submit the books and receipts for audit prior to the January meeting. The auditor will be appointed by the President from the membership.

Article VII.

Elections, Terms and Vacancies
Section 1. At the regular meeting in October a Nominating Committee shall be appointed. This committee shall present at least one nominee for each office at the November meeting.
Section 2. Following the report of the nominating committee, nominations shall be invited from the floor. Voting shall be by ballot except when there is only one nominee for an office when voting may be by voice.
Section 3. Only members shall be entitled to vote.
Section 4. Officers shall be elected at the November meeting and shall serve for a term of one year. The officers shall assume their duties on the January following the election and installation.
Section 5. Should a vacancy occur in any office, including that of the Presidency, the office shall be filled by vote of the League at the following meeting. Nominations shall be from the floor.

Article VIII.

Executive Board
Section 1. The Executive Board shall be composed of the elected officers of the League.
Section 2. The Executive board shall manage the general business of the League, develop an operational budget. approve the arrangements for exhibits, ways and means projects and such other duties as may be referred to it by the League.
Section 3. Four members shall constitute a quorum at all Board meetings. Board meetings shall be held as needed. Time and place to be determined in the standing rules.

Article IX.

Discipline
Section 1. Members whose dues are not paid by the close of the January meeting shall be dropped from membership and can be reinstated only by payment of the annual dues.
Section 2. To participate in League shows, an artist must be a paid-up member and must have the approval of submitted work by the chairman of the show. Any new member shall be allowed to participate in a League show at the discretion of the chairman of the show. Members must attend at least one meeting of the League within three months of joining or within three months of the beginning of the fiscal year (Jan., Feb., March) or, in lieu of the above, within three months prior to a membership show to be allowed to exhibit. Dispensation from this rule may be granted by the Exhibit Chairman for sufficient cause.

Article X.

Committees
The President shall appoint such committees and/or chairmen as the work of the League shall require.

Article XI.

Workshops
Section 1. Since the League may choose to conduct workshops as part of fulfilling its purpose of pursuing the study of fine arts, the league shall establish policies to provide direction for administering workshops.
Section 2. The Treasurer shall maintain a separate accounting of workshop income and expenses and shall post such income and expenses to the regular accounting books.
Section 3. Workshop Administration Policies:

Attendance Fees Fees to be charged to workshop attendees will be set by vote of the membership of the League. Fees are to be paid at the time of sign-up or registration.
Cost of Workshop The maximum amount to be paid to any workshop artist will be set by vote of the membership of the League.
Attendance by Nonmembers Nonmembers will be invited to participate on a space-available basis in a workshop. Nonmembers will be charged $5 more than the fee charged to members.
Refunds There will be no refunds for fees paid to workshops.
Self-sustaining Workshops In general, workshops are to be self-sustaining and not subsidized by member dues. Funds from workshop fees may carry over from one workshop to another; and from year to year.
If there are positive funds in the workshop account, those funds may be used to: 1) defray costs of a workshop that does not have sufficient fees from attendees to cover the costs; 2) reduce or eliminate the fees to members for a workshop; or 3) to help fund additional workshops in the following year. Nonmembers continue to pay the established nonmember fees.
If there are no funds in the workshop account, and fees collected for a workshop are not sufficient to pay the costs for a workshop, the League may fulfill $50 of the shortfall from its general account. If there are insufficient funds to cover the costs of a workshop, even with the League supplemental $50, then the workshop will be cancelled.
Workshop Cancellation Cancellation conditions for a workshop will be negotiated with the workshop artist. If cancellation is necessary due to lack of funds to pay the cost of a particular workshop, compensation to the workshop artist will be provided, as negotiated with the workshop artist.

Article XII.

Authority:
Robert’s Rules of Order in all cases not otherwise provided for in these bylaws.

Article XIII.

Amendments
The bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting by a two thirds (2/3) vote of members present provided notice is given at the preceding meeting.