The Bylaws of
The_____________________________Clown Alley
ARTICLE I IDENTIFICATION
Section 1. Name
The name of this clown alley is___________________. It shall be affiliated with Clowns of America International, Incorporated, also known as COAI. All alley members shall be encouraged to be members of COAI. It shall interact with other performing arts organizations as the alley membership dictates.
Section 2. Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the alley shall be ________________ through _______________________.
ARTICLE II PURPOSE
Section 1. Purpose
The purpose of this alley shall be to organize all members desiring to pursue their interest in the performing art of clowning, as well as the supporting arts, for the continuing education of its members and to be of service to the local community.
ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership
Membership shall consist of all those persons with a demonstrated interest in the performing art of clowning who are__________ years of age or older, who have supplied appropriate proof of age, when requested, have completed and submitted to the alley Secretary an application for membership in the_________clown alley.
All required fees and dues must be paid and a receipt attained.
Section 2. Dues
Membership dues in the amount of_____________ will be paid on an annual basis
commencing _____________ and will expire on the last day of _____________ the following year.
Section 3. Termination
Membership shall cease by resignation, non-payment of dues, expulsion or death.
a. A member in good standing may resign by sending a written resignation to the alley Secretary. The resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless otherwise specified.
b. A member shall be dropped for non-payment of dues. Dues shall be received by ____________ or the membership will be terminated.
c. A member may be expelled for cause by the affirmative two-thirds vote of the Board. Before an expulsion, the Board must present charges to the member and give the member a reasonable time to prepare a defence.
Section 4. Reinstatement
Reinstatement of membership shall be made automatically
a. By payment of the delinquent dues and any applicable fees set by the membership.
b. For a person who was expelled and reapplies for membership and the Board approves of the application.
ARTICLE IV OFFICERS
Section 1. Officers
The officers of the____________Clown Alley shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Sergeant at Arms. These officers shall be known as the Board.
Section 2. President
The President shall be the chief executive officer of the alley and shall preside at all meetings of the membership. He or she shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board and the membership are implemented. The President shall appoint, with the approval of the Board, such committees and members of the committees as is determined necessary. The President shall be a member ex officio of all such committees, and shall have the power and authority to perform all other duties incident to such office. The President should be a member in good standing of COAI.
Section 3. Vice President
The Vice President, in the absence of the President or in case of the inability of the President, shall perform the function of the President. The Vice President shall complete those duties assigned by the Board to insure good order and discipline in the alley’s affairs.
The Vice President should be a member in good standing of COAI.
Section 4. Secretary
The Secretary shall attend all alley meetings, act as the clerk of the alley, record all correspondence, votes and minutes of all proceedings in the book to be kept for that purpose. The Secretary shall give or cause to be given notice of all meetings of the alley and of the officers, when required to do so by the President or the Board. The Secretary shall answer all correspondence that comes to the alley or direct the correspondence to the appropriate officers, and shall keep files and records of all meetings.
The Secretary should be a member in good standing of COAI.
Section 5. Treasurer
The Treasurer, subject to the supervision of the Board, shall have custody of the alley funds and shall keep full and accurate account of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the alley. He/She shall monitor the deposit of all monies and other valuable effects in the alley name, and to the credit of the alley in such depositories as may be designated by the Board. The Treasurer shall prepare or cause to be prepared all income reports and filings. The Treasurer shall provide a report of the alley’s dealings at each meeting of the alley.
The Treasurer should be a member in good standing of COAI.
Section 6. Sergeant at Arms
The Sergeant at Arms, under the direction of the presiding officer, will help to maintain order and decorum at the meetings. The Sergeant at Arms will accept and carry out other duties as assigned by the Board.
The Sergeant at Arms should be a member in good standing of COAI.
Section 7. Election and Qualifications
a. All officer candidates, at the time of the announcement of their candidacy, and persons holding office, shall be members in good standing of the alley and should be members in good standing of COAI. All members of the Board shall take office on the first of ___________ following their election.
b. Elections shall be conducted during the regular business meeting scheduled during the month of ___________________________.
c. Any member who has paid his or her alley dues is eligible to vote.
d. Write in votes will not be allowed
e. Any member desiring to be a candidate shall be nominated by the membership at a regular business meeting conducted at least 45 days prior to the meeting in which elections are scheduled.
Section 8. Term of Office
The term of office shall be one year or until their successor or successors are elected. The term will start ____________________ 1 of each year.
Section 9. Removal from Office
The alley membership at a regular or, special meeting called for that purpose, may, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership, remove any officer by declaring that the office is vacant.
ARTICLE V MEETINGS
Section 1. Meetings
a. There shall be a membership meeting conducted each month on a date set in advance and agreed to by the membership.
b. The Board will meet once a month, at the direction of the President and all board meetings shall be open to the membership.
Section 2. Notice of Meetings
The notice of all alley meeting shall be by first class mail or by general announcement agreed to by the membership.
Section 3. Quorum
The quorum at any meeting shall be a majority plus one of all members who have paid their alley dues.
ARTICLE VI BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. Duties
The Board shall administer the concerns of the alley while taking direction from the membership.
a. The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Sergeant at Arms (hereinafter referred to as the Board).
b. Additional duties of the Board shall include, but not be limited to:
1. Approve and/or amend the annual budget.
2. Provide for an annual review of the books.
3. Have spending authority of up to $500.00.
Section 2. Vacancy
In the event there is an interim vacancy, the Board shall have the power to fill that vacancy with the approval of the membership. The vacancy shall be filled by a majority vote of the membership at any regular meeting of the ___________________________alley.
Section 3. Meetings
Regular meetings of the Board shall be scheduled by the President. The majority of the Board must be present at a meeting for the meeting to convene. All meetings of the Board shall be open to the general membership.
Section 4. Notice
Notice of not less than seven (7) days nor more than thirty (30) days shall be given to all officers. The Secretary shall give or cause to be given notice of all Board meetings, when required to do so by the President or the Board.
Section 5. Open Meetings
All meetings of the Board shall be open to members of the alley. The Board may go into executive session (closed) when matters of privacy are concerned.
ARTICLE VII PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
Section 1. Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the alley in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of order that the alley may adopt.
ARTICLE VIII AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Amending the Bylaws
These Bylaws may be amended at any regular membership meeting. Notice of proposed amendment shall be given with the notice of the meeting. In order for the amendment to pass it shall require a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the votes cast by members present and voting. Only members in good standing shall be allowed to vote.
ARTICLE IX GENERAL AUTHORITY
Section 1. Books & Records
Correct and complete books, which include records of accounts and transactions, minutes of the proceedings of membership meetings and Board meetings shall be kept by the____________ alley and reviewed yearly.
ARTICLE X DISSOLUTION
Section 1. Dissolution
In the event that _________ alley shall cease to exist and shall leave no successors, then, the persons who are members of the Board even if less than a quorum, shall be authorized to select another organization dedicated to similar purposes to succeed to the powers and property of the alley. In dissolution, none of the monies or property of the alley shall be distributed to the benefit of any member of record.
