ARTICLE I. NAME. The name of this organization shall be "Friends of the Buchanan-Haralson Public Library."

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE. The purposes shall be to foster closer relations between the Buchanan-Haralson Public Library and citizens of Buchanan and Haralson County; to promote knowledge of the Library�s functions, resources, services, and needs; to aid in the development of a program for the extension and improvement of the Library services and resources; and raising funds to supplement the library�s ongoing budget.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP.

Section 1. Membership in this organization shall be open to all individuals and organizations in sympathy with its purposes.

Section 2. Each individual/family and corporate member and patron shall be entitled to one vote and one subscription of the newsletter published by this organization.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS.

Section 1. The governing body of this organization shall be an Executive Committee comprised of the Buchanan-Haralson Public Library Branch Manager or his/her designee, President, Vice-President/Membership Chair, Secretary/Newsletter Editor, Treasurer, and one Member-at-Large/Fund Raising Manager. All officers will serve one-year terms.

Section 2. The terms of the Executive Committee members and the officers shall commence on May 1 of each year, with the first year commencing on May 1, 2005.

Section 3. The first Executive Committee members and the first officers shall be elected by the Steering Committee created to form this organization, and said committee may elect any citizens of the Buchanan and Haralson County area they deem interested in the purposes of this organization. All successive elections to the Executive Committee shall be made by the membership of this organization at the annual meeting to be held on a date determined by the Executive Committee.

Section 4. Each year, the President will appoint a Nominating Committee to submit a slate of officers at the annual meeting to be held during the month of April. The slate of officers will be sent out to the membership at least two weeks prior to the Annual Meeting. Members may mail in their vote if they will not be attending the Annual Meeting.

Section 5. Officers are elected by a majority vote of those present at the Annual Meeting and those that have submitted a vote by mail before the Annual Meeting.

Section 6. Any vacancies on the Executive Committee or among the officers due to an unexpired term shall be filled by the Executive Committee, and such appointment shall be for the length of the term vacated.

ARTICLE VI. DUTIES OF OFFICERS. The officers shall have the usual duties and authority exercised by officers of a non-profit corporation.

ARTICLE VII. COMMITTEES.

Section 1. Standing Committees of this organization shall be a Nominating Committee, a Membership Committee, a Publicity Committee, and a Fund Raising and Budget Committee. The terms of these committees shall be one year, concurrent with the officers� terms. All committee chairs will be appointed by the President.

Section 2. The Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the president, and it shall submit a slate of officers to the membership for approval.

Section 3. The Executive Committee may appoint other committees as they deem advisable with necessary powers and authorities.

Section 4. Each Standing Committee shall have at least one Executive Committee member serving on it. The other persons serving on the committees may be either Executive Committee members or other members of the organization.

ARTICLE VIII. MEETINGS.

Section 1. The Executive Committee shall hold at least four meetings per year.

Section 2. This organization shall hold its annual meeting on a date to be determined by the Executive Committee for handling of organization business and elections. Members shall be notified in writing at least two weeks prior to the date of the meeting.

Section 3. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the President or upon the request of any three members of the Executive Committee. The President or the members of the Executive Committee desiring to call a special meeting shall make application to the Secretary, and the Secretary shall give at least one week�s notice of said meeting in writing to the members of the Executive Committee.

Section 4. A special meeting of the organization may be called at any time by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE IX. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year shall run from May 1 to April 30. All funds shall be deposited to the account of the Friends of the Buchanan-Haralson Public Library and shall be disbursed by the treasurer as authorized by the Executive officers.

ARTICLE X. DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS UPON DISSOLUTION. Upon the dissolution of the corporation, the entire net assets remaining after the payment or satisfaction of any and all liabilities and obligations of the corporation shall be distributed to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) or to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose, as the Executive Committee of Directors shall determine.

ARTICLE XI. AMENDMENTS. Amendments to this Constitution and Bylaws may be made at any meeting of the general membership by a two-thirds vote of those present and by those that have mailed in their vote before the meeting, provided that written notice of the proposed amendment has been given to all members at least two weeks before the meeting.

ARTICLE XII. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. Roberts Rules of Order, Revised, when not in conflict with the Constitution and Bylaws, shall govern the proceedings of this organization and the Board.

Provenance: Text is as presented by West Georgia Regional Library assistant director Roni Tewksbury to Ron Feigenblatt in e-mail dated Mon, 21 Mar 2005 11:53:37. Converted from .doc to .html format by the latter.