Bylaws
BYLAWS
ST. CROIX DISTRICT
GARDEN CLUB FEDERATION OF MAINE
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of this organization shall be the St. Croix District of the GCFM.
ARTICLE II: OBJECT
The object of the St. Croix District shall be to operate on a non-profit basis exclusively for the charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of the Sec. 501C (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 conducive to the well being of the public; to cooperate with other organizations, agencies, and instrumentalities in furthering interest of horticulture and conservation; to coordinate the interests of member clubs; to further horticultural education, conservation, and landscape design through student scholarships and to adhere to the objective of National Garden Clubs, Inc.
The purpose of the District is to foster work of the GCFM and to encourage closer cooperation between local Clubs.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall consist of clubs intent on promoting the object of the St. Croix District. Individual garden club members hold concurrent membership in five organizations: 1) the Club to which he/she belongs, 2) the District in which the Club is situated; 3) the GCFM; 4) New England Region, and 5) National Garden Clubs, Inc.
The fiscal year shall be June 1 – May 31.
ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS
The elected officers of the St. Croix District shall be a District Director, Assistant Director, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer. The District may appoint a Corresponding Secretary, if needed. These officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these Bylaws and the parliamentary authority. The officers shall be elected at the biennial meeting (in odd years) by a majority vote and shall hold office for two years or until their successors are elected or appointed. No elected officer, with the exception of the Treasurer, may serve more than one term consecutively in the same capacity. The Treasurer may serve no more than three consecutive terms. Any officer who has served less than one term may be eligible for a succeeding term. All vacancies among elected officers shall be filled for the unexpired term by vote of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE V: BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors of the St. Croix District shall consist of the Executive Committee, Presidents of the Clubs of the District and Chairmen of Standing Committees.
The Board of Directors shall be empowered to transact any and all business of the St. Croix District and shall control its affairs and funds.
The District Director can call special meetings of the Board of Directors.
A quorum of the Board of Directors shall be half of all its members, two of whom shall be elected officers, plus one.
ARTICLE VI: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee of the St Croix District shall consist of the elected officers and the Immediate Appointed Past District Director.
The executive Committee shall meet at the discretion of the District Director, or upon written request of one-third of its members, to formulate policies and recommendations to be submitted to the Board of Directors for action.
A quorum of the Executive Committee shall be three.
ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS
The Annual meeting of the St. Croix District shall be in May, the date approved by the GCFM President. The place and program shall be determined by the Board of Directors. The Annual Meeting shall be for the purpose of electing officers, receiving reports of officers, the annual reports of the standing committees and for any other business that may arise.
The Annual meetings are hosted by the Clubs of the St. Croix District on a rotating basis in alphabetical order.
The Board of Directors shall meet six weeks preceding the Annual District meetings.
ARTICLE VIII: NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The Nominating Committee shall consist of the Vice Presidents from each of the Clubs of the District, or an appointed alternate delegate. They shall meet in the even year to start the process of preparing a slate of officers. A chairman shall be chosen. The slate of officers shall be presented at the St. Croix District Board meeting the following spring. The slate of officers shall be elected at the St. Croix District Annual Meeting.
A quorum of the Nominating Committee shall consist of one half of the Clubs in the St. Croix District.
ARTICLE IX: STANDING COMMITTEES
The incoming District Director shall appoint standing Committee Chairmen for two years. It shall be the duty of the Standing Committees to endeavor to carry out the plans submitted by the Committees of the National Garden Clubs, Inc. and to develop further plans to meet for the special needs of the GCFM.
ARTICLE X: REPRESENTATION
Each Club shall be entitled to be represented by the President or alternate at open business meetings of the St. Croix District.
ARTICLE XI: DISSOLUTION CLAUSE
In the event of the dissolution of the St. Croix District, after all debts are paid, any remaining assets will be distributed only to non-profit organizations which are at that time qualified for exemption from Federal Income Taxes as an organization described in Sec. 501 C (3) of the current Internal Revenue Code.
ARTICLE XII: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the St. Croix District in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws.
ARTICLE XIII: AMENDMENTS
The Bylaws may be amended at the Annual Meeting or at a special meeting by a two-thirds vote of the delegates present and voting provided that a copy of the proposed amendment has been sent to each member of the Board of Directors, and to each member Club at least 6 weeks prior to the meeting.
Without such notice, the Bylaws may be amended at the Annual Meeting by a unanimous vote.
ARTICLE XIV: NONDISCRIMINATION CLAUSE
Nothing contained in these Bylaws shall operate against eligibility in this organization on the grounds of sex, color, race, religion, national origin, or political affiliation. All references in these Bylaws to gender shall mean he or she, him or her.
Amended February 5, 2024