LYME ART ASSOCIATION BYLAWS Adopted October 22, 1995; Revised September 26, 1999

8 Pages·1999·0.5 MB·English

by  Lyme Art Association

LYMEARTASSOCIATIONBYLAWS
AdoptedOctober22,1995;RevisedSeptember26,1999
ArticleI:Name.ObjectandGovernance
The name shall be The Lyme Art Association. It is a non-stock, non-profit, tax-exempt
SECTION 501(3)(c) corporation, having its principal office in the Town of Old Lyme,
Connecticut.
ThemissionoftheAssociationistomaintainanArtGallery,toholdexhibitions,toadvancethe
causeofFineArt,andtoeducatethepublic.
The Association shall be governed by these Bylaws which supercede prior bylaws and
constitutions.
ArticleII:Membership
1. The membership ofthe Association shallconsist ofthe following classes: Active Artist
Members(referredtoosimplyas“ArtistMembers”inthesebylaws),AssociateMembers,
Non-ResidentArtistMembers,andLifeMembers.
2. ArtistMembersshallbepersonselectedpursuanttotheseBylaws. Theyshallbepersons
whoactivelyfollowtheirartisticendeavors,arelullorpart-timeresidentsofthe Stateof
Connecticutatthetimeoftheirelection,andshallactinconformancewiththeseBylawsand
compatiblywiththegeneralcharacterandreputationoftheAssociationanditsmembers.
2.1 ArtistMembersshallexclusivelyhavetherighttocontroltheAssociationthrough
vote.
3. AssociateMembersshallbepersonswhosupporttheobjectsoftheAssociationandwhohave
paidtheprescribeddues.
4. LifeMembersshallbepersons,previouslyArtistMembers,whoarechosenbytwothirds
voteofArtistMemberspresentatanAnnualorSpecialMeeting,basedontheMember’s
accomplishmentandcontributionasaMember. LifeMembersmayexhibitinshowsand
attendArtistMembermeetingsbutshallhavenovote. Theyarenotexpectedtoparticipatein
AssociationactivitiestotheextentArtistMembersdo. Noduesshallberequired.
5. Non-ResidentArtist Membersshallbepersonswho formerlywereArtist Members, who
resideinastateotherthanConnecticut,andwhoactivelyfollowtheirartisticendeavors.
6. Any Member shall receive the following honorary designation, upon acceptance by the
ExecutiveCommitteeofcertainmoneyorin-kindgifts:
Benefactor-foragiftofatleast$2,500
Patron-foragiftofatleast$1,000
SupportingMember-foroneyear,forgiftofatleast$250
ContributingMember-foroneyear,foragiftofatleast$100
7. NomemberofOfficermayreceiveanypecuniaryprofitfromtheAssociation. Reasonable
compensationforserviceswhicheffectuatesthepurposesoftheAssociationispermitted,as
determinedbytheExecutiveCommittee(SeeArticleVI,SectionI.)
8. NothinghereinshallbeconstruedasgivinganypersonarighttobeaMember. Acceptance
asamember,orterminationofmembership,iswithinthefulldiscretionofArtistMembers.
ArticleIII:Directors
TherosteroftheArtistMembersasawholeshallcomprisetheboardofdirectors. Theyshall
managetheaffairsofthecorporationassetforthherein;and,shallservewithoutcompensation.
ArticleIV:Officers
1. Theofficersshallbe:President,VicePresident, Secretary, andTreasurer. Theyshallbe
electedattheFallMeetingandshallserveoneyear,oruntilreplaced.
2. AnofficershallbeanArtistMemberunlessnonearesowillingtoserve;inwhichcase,an
officershallbeanAssociateMember.
3. ThePresidentshallactasthechiefexecutiveofficer,subjecttodecisionsoftheexecutive
committee,andshallpresideoverallmeetingsoftheAssociationandExecutiveCommittee.
ThePresidentshallbeex-officiomemberofallcommittees.
4. The Vice President shall perform such duties as the President orExecutive Committee
assigns,andshallactinplaceofthePresidentwhenthePresidentwhenthePresidentis
absent,incapacitatedordeclinestoact.
5. TheSecretaryshallkeeptrueandcompleteminutesandotherrecordsoftheproceedingsof
allmeetingsoftheAssociationandoftheExecutiveCommittee.
5.1 TheSecretaryshallmaintainacorrectrollofMembersandtheiraddresses. Theminutes
and roll ofMembers shall be open for inspection and copying by Members at all
reasonabletimes.
5.2 The SecretaryshallpreserveandmaintaintheAssociation’srecords, keepingorderly
files ofdocuments and informationrelatedto actions ofthe officers and Executive
Committee.
5.3 The Secretary shall send notices ofmeetings and notices ofchanges in status to
Members,includingprovidingeachnewArtistMemberwithacopyoftheseBylaws.
5.4 TheSecretaryshallcarryoutsuchotherclericalorsecretarialdutiesasthePresidentor
Executive Committee may assign. The Secretarymay delegate recordkeeping and
clericalduties.
6. TheTreasurershallreceiveandholdasafiduciaryanymoniesoftheAssociation,payingall
properbillsforauthorizedexpenditures. TheTreasurershallkeepfull,currentandaccurate
accounts inamanneraccessible for inspectionatanyreasonable time bythe Executive
Committeeoritsdesignee. WhenrequestedbytheExecutiveCommittee,theTreasurershall
makeafinancialreportofreceipts anddisbursements, balance onhand, andoutstanding
obligations. TheTreasurershallmakeafoilfinancialreportattheFallMeeting.
6.1 TheTreasurer, withadvice fromtheExecutiveCommittee, mayestablishafinancial
advisorycommitteecomprisedofoneormoremembersornon-members, toprovide
adviceregardingtheAssociation’sfinancesandinvestments.
7. Any officer vacancy shall be filled by the Executive Committee; and, any officer so
appointedshallserveouttheremainderoftheterm,untilthenextFallMeeting,withfoil
powersanddutiesoftheoffice.
8. The Executive Committee may from time to time designate an Assistant Secretary or
AssistantTreasurertoassisttheSecretaryorTreasurer.
9. Onlythe President withthe Secretary shall have the authorityto execute contracts and
agreementsonbehalfoftheAssociation.
ArticleV:Meetings
1. TheAssociationshallhold(a)AnnualMeetings,thoserequiredbytheseBylaws;(b)Regular
Meetings,thosesetaccordingtoascheduleattheFallMeeting;and(c)SpecialMeetings,
thosespeciallycalledpursuanttotheseBylaws.
2. TwoAnnualMeetingsshallbeheldeachyear,inthevicinityofOldLyme:
a) TheFallMeetingshallbeheldonthethirdSundayinSeptember
b) TheSpringMeetingshallbeheldonthethirdSundayinMay
3. RegularMeetingsshallbeheld,onascheduledecidedattheFallMeeting,forthepurposeof
enablinginterestedMemberstobeinformedof,andtoparticipatein,theactivitiesofthe
Association.
4. SpecialMeetingmaybecalledbythePresident. ThePresidentshallcallaSpecialMeeting
onwrittenrequestofatleastfiveArtistMembers,foranystatedpurpose,settingthedatefor
suchMeetingwithin 15 daysoftherequestunlessthe requestorsagreeotherwise. The
Secretary shall call such meeting ifthe President fails to do so. Ifwithin 8 days of
presentationofthewrittenrequesttothePresident,neitherthePresidentnorSecretaryhas
calledthemeeting,therequestingMembersmaycalltheSpecialMeeting.
5. NoticeofMeetingsshallbedelivereddirectlytoanArtistMemberorhisorherresidence,or
maybymailedtotheMember’saddressasshownintheAssociationrecords,nolessthan7
daysnormorethan50dayspriortothemeeting. Anynoticeshallstatethedate,timeand
placeofmeetingandthegeneralpurposeofthemeeting.
6. AssociatemembersmayattendanyAnnua!MeetingandRegularMeeting;and,anySpecial
Meeting,unlessstatedotherwisehereinorunlessamajorityoftheArtistMemberspresentat
theMeetingdecidetothecontrary.
7. TenArtistMembersshallconstituteaquorumatanAnnualMeetingorSpecialMeeting. No
ArtistMembermayattendoractataMeetingthroughproxyorbyabsenteeballot,unlesstwo
thirdsoftheArtistMembersinphysicalattendanceattheMeetingagreetosuch.
8. Only the vote ofArtist Members shall be effective for any decision or action ofthe
AssociationataMeeting. However,anadvisoryvoteoftheotherMembersmaybetakenat
anyMeeting.
9. TheorderofbusinessateachAnnualMeetingshallconsistof:
a) MinutesofthepreviousMeeting
b) Treasurer’sreport
c) Committeereports
d) Otherbusiness,oldandnew
10.InAdditiontoitemsinSection9,attheFallMeeting,aclosedpartoftheMeetingassetforth
inSection10.1,priortoanyotherbusinessattheMeeting;and,thereshallbeaddedtothe
orderofbusiness:
a) Electionofofficers,effectiveaftertheMeeting
b) ScheduleofRegularMeetingsfortheyear
c) Settingofduesandfees
d) AnnouncementoftheelectionofnewArtistMembers,tobeeffectiveafterthemeeting;
afterreportbytheScreeningCommittee
e) Selectionofcommitteechairsandmembersforthecomingyear,forthe:
ProgramCommittee
PrintingCommittee
GalleryandGroundsCommittee
PublicityCommittee
EntertainmentCommittee
f) ElectiontotheExecutiveCommitteeoftwomembersatlarge
g) Selectionofcommitteechairsfortheforthcoming:
AssociatesShow
SpringShow
Otherplannedactivitieswherethechairsofsuchcommitteesshallselecttheirown
committeemembersunlessotherwisedecidedattheMeeting.
h) ThefirstpartoftheFallMeetingshallcompriseameetingoftheArtistMembersonly. It
shallstartatleastonehourpriortothestartofremainderoftheMeetingwhichothersmay
attend. NotwithstandingSection7,ArtistMembersmaycastballotsinperson,orthrough
awrittenproxydesignatinganotherArtistMember,providedtheMembergrantingthe
proxyrepresentsthatheorsheisfamiliarwiththeworkofthecandidateforwhomthe
voteiscastfororagainst.
11.InadditiontotheitemsinSection9,attheSpringMeeting,thereshallbeaddedtotheorder
ofbusiness:
a) Selectionofcommitteechairsandmembersforthecomingyear,forthe:
ScreeningCommittee
NominatingCommittee
AuditCommittee
b) AnychangeinRulesofExhibitionandexhibitionfees.
c) Selection of committee chairs for forthcoming Exhibitions, where chairs of the
committeesshallselecttheirowncommitteemembers,unlessotherwisedecidedatthe
Meeting.
ArticleVI. Committees
1. TheExecutiveCommitteeshall,pursuanttoanydirectionfromtheArtistMembersactingas
boardofdirectors,managetheaffairs,fundsandpropertyoftheAssociationandoverseeall
executivefunctions,infulfillmentoftheobjectsandpurposesoftheAssociation. Itmay
exerciseallpowersoftheAssociation,subjecttothecorporationcharter,theseBylaws,and
actionsofArtistMembersatMeetings. Itshallfillanyofficerorcommitteevacancyinthe
eventofincapacityorresignation.
1.1. TheExecutiveCommitteeshallbecomprisedofthePresident,VicePresident,Secretary
andTreasurer;thechairsoftheGalleryandGroundsCommittee,PublicityCommittee,
andEntertainment Committee; and, two Artist Members chosenat large atthe Fall
Meeting.
1.2 AtleasttwothirdsofthepersonsontheExecutiveCommitteeshallbeArtistMembers,
andfivepersonspresentshallconstituteaquorum.
2. ThePublicityCommitteeshallhavegeneralchargeofallnewspaper,magazine,andother
publicitypertainingtoexhibitions.
3. The Entertainment Committee shall be in charge ofrefreshments and entertainment at
receptionsandotherfunctions.
4. TheGalleryandGroundsCommitteeshallbeinchargeofthecareandmaintenanceofthe
Association’srealproperty,andshallmakeallminorrepairsandreplacements,
5. ThePrintingCommitteeshallhavechargeofallcataloguesandallotherprintingforthe
Association.
6. TheScreeningCommitteeshallreviewtheapplicationsofprospectiveArtistMembers. It
shallconsistoffiveArtistMembers,andtwoArtistMemberalternates,toactinabsenceofa
fallmember,allelectedforoneyearattheSpringMeeting. Atleast5/7thsofthemembers
shallbepersonswhodidnotserveonthecommitteeduringtheprioryear.
7. TheProgramCommittee shallrecommend art-related activities, suchas demonstrations,
lectures, community affairs, and art workshops; and, it shall promote such interests as
decidedbytheArtistMembers.
8. TheAuditCommitteeshallperiodically,andnolessthanannually,inspectfinancialrecords
andgeneralrecordkeepingtoensuretheyareingoodandproperorder. Itshallatleast
makeareporttotheExecutiveCommitteewithinthreemonthsofappointment. TheAudit
Committeeshallbecomprisedofoneormorequalifiedpersons.
9. TheNominatingCommitteeshallnominateaslateofelectionattheFallMeeting,andcarry
outanyothernominatingdutiesassignedbytheExecutiveCommittee.
10. Chairs andcommittee members may be ArtistMembers orAssociate Members, unless
expresslystatedotherwise,subjecttolimitationsofSection1.2ofthisArticleVI.
ArticleVII. DuesandFees
1. Membersshallpayannualdues,inamountsdeterminedattheFallMeeting,astheymaybe
changedfromtimetotime. MembersawardedhonorarydesignationsunderArticleII,and
LifeMembers,shallnotberequiredtopaydues.
2. Uponelection,anArtistMembershallpayaninitiationfeeintheamountlastdeterminedata
FallMeeting.
3. Memberswhofailtotimelypayduesandfeesshallnothavetherightsandprivilegesof
Members,exceptasotherwiseallowedherein.
ArticleVIII. NewMembers
1. ElectionofanynewArtistMembersshallbeonlybythree-quartersmajorityvoteofArtist
MembersvotinginpersonorbyproxyattheFallMeeting. Thenamesofthecandidatesshall
besentbytheScreeningCommitteetotheSecretaryatleastfourweekspriortothedateof
theFallMeeting. TheSecretaryshallsendsuchlist,withanyotherappropriateinformation
fromthe Screening Committee,to all Artist Members at least 10 dayspriorto the Fall
Meeting.
2. TobeconsideredforArtistMembershipbytheAssociation,apersonmust:
a) beanAssociateMember,
b) beafullorpart-timeresidentoftheStateofConnecticut,
c) haveexhibitedaminimumoftenpaintingsandparticipatedinatleastfiveAssociation
exhibitswithinafiveyearperiod,ifapainter,orhaveexhibitedtwopiecesinAssociation
exhibitswithinathreeyearperiod,ifasculptor,and
d) becommittedtoworkingactivelyattheAssociation. TheScreening Committeemay
waivetherequirement(a)and(c)forgoodreasonstated.
3. AnyapplicantforartistmembershipmustsubmittotheScreeningCommittee,byAugust1of
theyearofapplication,acompletedAssociationapplication,acurrentresume,and
a) ifa non-sculptor: six original pictures, whichworks have not been exhibited at an
Associationexhibition,andwhichworksareneitherclassworknordoneundertutelage,
or
b) ifasculptor: fourmostrecentsculptures,whichworkshavenotbeenexhibitedatan
Associationexhibition,andwhichworksareneitherclassworknordoneundertutelage.
4. AnyapplicantrecommendedformembershipbytheScreeningCommitteemustprovidesix
paintingsorfoursculptures,newtotheAssociation,forviewing,overatimeframespecified
bytheScreeningCommitteepriortoandduringtheFallMeetingatwhichtheapplicant’s
electionistobeconsidered.
ArticleIX. SuspensionandTerminationofMembership
1. TheSecretaryorTreasurermayterminatethemembershipofanyAssociateMemberwho
doesnotpayduesorotherindebtednesstotheAssociationwhenpayable.
2. TheExecutiveCommitteemaywarnortemporarilysuspendaMember’sprivileges,including
therighttovoteandexhibit,if:
a) the Memberhas violatedtheBylaws oractedcontraryto, orincompatibly with, the
objectsandpurposesoftheAssociation.
b) the Member is an Artist Member who, for two years, has not paid dues or other
indebtednesstotheAssociation,and
c) theMemberhasbeennotifiedinwriting.
3. ArtistMembers, bytwothirdsvoteofthosepresentandvotingatanAnnualor Special
Meeting,mayterminatethemembershipofanymemberwho:
a) hasnotpaidduesorindebtednesswhensuchwasdue,providedtheSecretaryorTreasurer
hasgivenreasonablewrittennoticeofthenon-payment,
b) asanArtistMemberorNon-ResidentArtistMember,hasceasedactivelyfollowinghisor
herartisticendeavorsorfailedtoexhibitattheAssociationfortwoconsecutiveyears.
3.1 TheSecretaryshallpresentattheFallMeetingthenamesofArtistMembersandNon-
ResidentArtistMemberswhohavenotexhibitedattheAssociationfortwoconsecutive
years.
4. ArtistMembers,bytwo-thirdssecretballotoftheArtistMembershipatanAnnualorSpecial
Meeting, mayexpelaMember forviolationofBylawsorforacting inawaywhichis
detrimentalto,orincompatiblewith,theAssociationoritspurposes;providedtheMember
hasbeengivenareasonableopportunitytobeheardinanswertothecharges.
5. AnyMemberwhohasbeensuspendedorexpelledmaybereinstatedbytwo-thirdsvoteof
ArtistMembersatanAnnualorSpecialMeeting.
ArticleX. Non-ResidentMember
1. ASencrAerttairsyt;Manedm,btehreMwehmobhearsmraeymorveequdeshtistoorbehedresriegsniadteencdeNofnr-oRmesCiodnneencttAirctuitstshMaellmbienfrorbmytthhee
ExecutiveCommittee,subjecttoanycontraryvoteoftheArtistMemberspresentatthenext
AnnualMeeting.
2. ANon-ResidentArtistMembershallhavenovoteintheaffairsoftheAssociation,butmay
continuetoexhibitattheAssociationtothesameextentasanArtistMember;provided,the
Non-Resident ArtistMember shallpayannualdues asthey have beenlast set at aFall
Meeting.
ArticleXI. Dissolution
IntheeventofdissolutionoftheAssociation,anyassetsremainingafterpaymentofjustdebts
shall be transferredto the MacCurdy-SalisburyEducational Foundation, Inc., ofOld Lyme,
Connecticut,forthegeneralpurposesoftheFoundation.
ArticleXII. Amendments
AmendmentstotheseBylawsshallbemadeonlybytwo-thirdsofArtistMembersinattendance
atanAnnualMeeting,orataSpecialMeetingcalledforsuchpurposewiththepriorwritten
consentoffiveArtistMembers. AtleastsevendaystoanysaidMeeting,theSecretaryshallsend
to each Artist Member a copy ofthe proposed amendment with any explanation by the
proponentsthereof.