Current By-Laws of the Friends of the Anacortes Public Library
These are the current by-laws of the Friends of the Anacortes Public Library. Proposed new by-laws will be presented for adoption at the November 12, 2019 Annual Meeting of the Friends. The proposed new by-laws and a comparison of the existing and proposed by-laws are presented on other pages of this website.
FRIENDS OF THE ANACORTES PUBLIC LIBRARY BY-LAWS
EFFECTIVE January 1, 2014
Article I NAME
The name of the organization shall be FRIENDS OF THE ANACORTES PUBLIC LIBRARY, hereafter referred to as the “FRIENDS”. The FRIENDS is a not for profit organization organized under the statutes of the State of Washington and provisions as stated herein.
Article II PURPOSE
Section 1: As an association of persons interested in the use and improvement of libraries, the FRIENDS will cooperate with and support the Anacortes Public Library (hereinafter referred to as the Library, or the Library Director or the Library Staff as appropriate) in developing library services and facilities in the community.
Section 2: The FRIENDS shall provide a forum for discussion of the Library’s programs and needs and may give educational support as needed. The FRIENDS shall support the freedom to read as expressed in the American Library Association Bill of Rights.
Section 3: The FRIENDS will raise funds; receive and encourage gifts, endowments and bequests; and disburse funds in accordance with Article VII.
Article III MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Membership in the FRIENDS shall be open to all individuals who are in sympathy with the FRIENDS’ purposes.
Section 2: The membership year shall be the calendar year regardless of when annual dues are paid. Dues shall be a minimum of $10.00 per year per person. Each active member shall have one vote.
Article IV MEETINGS
Section 1: The Executive Board shall meet as needed from September through June to transact business, and to adopt the agenda for the FRIENDS’ monthly membership meetings held September through June.
Section 2: The time and place of each monthly membership meeting shall be posted in the Friendshop. All members are entitled to attend the monthly meetings and to vote on all matters considered. Three officers shall constitute a quorum for the Executive Board.
Section 3: An annual meeting of the members shall be held during the last quarter of the year for the election of officers, to vote on the following year’s budget and any proposed changes to the bylaws.
Members shall be informed in writing of the agenda and time and place of the annual meeting at least two weeks before the date of the annual meeting.
Article V OFFICERS
Section 1: The officers shall be President, Vice President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Cooresponding Secretary, and FriendShop Manager.
Section 2: The officers, augmented by the immediate Past President, shall constitute the Executive Board. The Library Director shall be an ex officio member.
Section 3: The Executive Board shall establish the annual budget, determine the agenda for monthly and annual meetings and maintain financial controls. They may, as required, appoint new officers to fill vacated positions.
The duties of the officers shall include:
PRESIDENT: Preside over and conduct all meetings, conduct the business of the FRIENDS, and appoint committees..
VICE PRESIDENT: Perform the duties of the President when the President is absent. Keep a current membership list.
TRESURER: Keep and maintain the financial records; conduct financial transactions within the budget .
RECORDING SECRETARY: Record the minutes and attendance at all meetings, and keep a file of business records.
CORRESPONDENT SECRETARY: Conduct the routine correspondence of the FRIENDS.
FRIENDSHOP MANAGER : Arranges placement of books and sets prices, chooses volunteers, and maintains the volunteer schedule
Full job descriptions of the above officer are available in the file.
Article VI ELECTIONS
Section 1: A slate of officers shall be prepared by a nominating committee and their names submitted in writing to the members with the consent of the nominees, at least two weeks before the date of the annual meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor.
Section 2: Officers shall be elected by a majority of those attending the Annual Meeting, for a term of one year, commencing on the next January first.
Article VII BUDGET
Section 1: The Executive Board shall establish the annual budget based upon estimated income and expenditures from all sources, with consideration given to the recommendations of the Library Director and Library Staff. The budget may be revised as required.
Section 2: The fiscal year shall be the calendar year.
Section 3: Budget expenditures shall provide for goods and/or services that are directly benefical to the library patrons and for the operation of the FRIENDS.
Requests for expenditures not previously budgeted shall be presented for consideration to the Executive Board during the monthly membership meeting for consideration. If approved by the Board, a vote of present members shall be taken.
Section 4: Gifts, endowments or bequests in excess of the total annual budget of the year in which the gift, endowment or bequest was received, and for which there was no specified distribution, shall be sequestered in an interest bearing account. The interest from such funds may be distributed through the budget.
Section 5: Sequestered funds, per Section 4, required for supplemental projects in dollar amounts that exceed the total annual budget, may be authorized and/or disbursed by the following:
- Proposal by the Executive Board, or petition of 25 members, and
- A mail ballot of those members whose dues are current on either the date of the proposal or the receipt of the petition, and approval of the allocation by two-thirds of those members voting.
No member of the FRIENDS shall have any financial interest in the FRIENDS assets. Upon dissolution of the FRIENDS, any net assets remaining shall be donated to augment the book budget of the Anacortes Public Library.
Article IX AMENDMENT TO BYLAWS
These bylaws may be amended at the annual meeting by two-thirds of those present, provided that notice of the proposed amendment has been sent to each member at least two weeks before the date of said meeting.
Unless otherwise stated above, the FRIENDS shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order, latest revision.
These Bylaws were approved at the Annual Meeting, December 12, 3013.
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