Friends of the New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped - By-Laws

BY-LAWS OF THE
FRIENDS OF THE NEW JERSEY LIBRARY
FOR THE BLIND AND HANDICAPPED, INC.

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of this organization shall be The Friends of the New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped, Inc. ("Friends").

ARTICLE II. MISSION

The mission of the Friends shall be to support and promote the services and programs of the New Jersey State Library Talking Book and Braille Center (NJSLTBBC), formerly known as The) New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped NJLBH).

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1. Any person 18 years of age or older who is interested in the (NJSLTBBC) shall be eligible for membership in the Friends. The two types of membership are Individual Membership and Family Membership.

SECTION 2. A person shall be a member of the Friends upon completion of the application form and payment of dues.

SECTION 3. Members shall receive newsletters and special mailings. These shall be available in accessible formats.

SECTION 4. Dues.

a. Annual dues shall be determined by the Executive Board at its discretion.

b. Anyone who desires to support the Friends may contribute any amount. If an individual's contribution is less than the annual membership dues, that individual shall receive newsletters but not have a voice or a vote.

c. The fiscal year of the Friends shall be from July 1st to June 30th of each year.

d. Dues shall be payable on or before June 30th for the next fiscal year.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS

SECTION 1. The officers shall consist of a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. These officers shall perform the duties set forth in these By-Laws and by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Friends. The president must be eligible for services from the (NJSLTBBC).

The President shall preside at all meetings, appoint two (2) Executive Board members-at-Large with Board approval, appoint committees and serve as an ex officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee. The President shall have served at least one term as an officer or board member of the Friends.

The Vice President shall preside in the absence of the President. The vice-President must be eligible for services from the (NJSLTBBC).

The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings, coordinate correspondence and maintain custody of all non-financial corporate records.

The Treasurer shall keep the financial records, maintain responsibility over all receipts and disbursements and prepare periodic financial reports.

Two Executive Board Members-at-Large shall be appointed by the President. These Members-at-Large shall participate in and vote on all matters brought before the Executive Board. Board members must be eligible for services from the (NJSLTBBC).

An officer may resign from his/her position upon reasonable notice to the President. The vacancy created by the resignation shall be filled through selection by the President with the advice of the Vice President and Executive Committee.

SECTION 2. The Friends shall meet at least twice a year. At the Fall meeting in odd-numbered years, a Nominating Committee of three (3) members shall be appointed to present a slate of officers for election at the following even-numbered year's meeting. It shall be the duty of the Nominating Committee to nominate candidates for the offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Nominating Committee shall report said candidates in a newsletter, before the election at the biannual spring meeting. Additional nominations from the floor shall be permitted.

SECTION 3. The officers shall be elected to serve for two (2) years, and their term of office shall commence at the beginning of the fiscal year for which they are elected. A majority of those present and voting shall be necessary to elect.

SECTION 4. No member shall hold more than one (1) office at a time, and the President and Vice President shall not serve more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same office.

ARTICLE V. MEETINGS

SECTION 1. The Annual Meeting of the Friends shall be held in the spring for the purpose of receiving reports of officers and committees, presenting the budget, planning the year's activities, and for any other business that may arise.

SECTION 2. Special Meetings of the Friends may be called by the President, a majority of the Executive Board, or by five (5) members of the Friends. A request from the members of the Friends shall be submitted in writing. The purpose of the Special Meeting shall be stated in the call for that meeting, which shall be sent by mail to the membership at least fifteen (15) days in advance, except in cases of emergency. No item of business shall be discussed in the Special Meeting other than that set forth in the call for the Special Meeting.

SECTION 3. A majority of the Executive Board and ten (10) voting members of the Friends shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business for the Friends.

ARTICLE VI. EXECUTIVE BOARD

SECTION 1. The officers of the Friends and the two (2) Executive Board Members-at-Large shall constitute the Executive Board.

SECTION 2. The Executive Board shall have general oversight of the work of the Friends between meetings, shall fix the time and place of meetings, shall make recommendations to the Friends, and shall perform such other duties as are specified in these By-Laws. Special Meetings of the Executive Board may be called by the President or by two (2) other members of the Executive Board.

SECTION 3. The designated representative of (NJSLTBBC) shall serve as liaison between the (NJSLTBBC) and the Friends. This liaison may provide input to the budget process, may provide assistance with special projects and discretionary purchases or expenditures as necessary.

ARTICLE VII. COMMITTEES

SECTION 1. The Finance Committee shall be composed of the Executive Board and another member (or members) of the Friends organization (appointed by the Executive Board). It shall be the duty of the Finance Committee to prepare and submit a budget to the Friends organization at the Annual Meeting.

SECTION 2. The Nominating Committee is addressed in Article IV, Section 2 of these By-Laws.

SECTION 3. Such other committees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the President as the Friends organization or Executive Board shall from time to time deem necessary to carry on the work of the Friends organization. The President shall be an ex officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.

ARTICLE VIII. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The meetings of the Friends and its committees shall be governed by these By-Laws. Robert's Rules of Order, Revised shall govern any issue not addressed in these By-Laws.

ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS

These By-Laws may be amended at any Annual Meeting, regular meeting or Special Meeting called for the purpose of said amendment by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting, provided that the amendment has been submitted at the previous meeting or appeared in one or more mailings to the membership.

ARTICLE X. DISSOLUTION

In the event that the Friends are dissolved, an attorney shall be consulted with respect to said dissolution. New Jersey law and applicable parliamentary authority shall be complied with. Notification shall be the same as for By-Law amendments. Upon dissolution, all assets and records of the Friends shall be given to the (NJSLTBBC or an organization with similar purposes and goals that complies with) exempt purposes within meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code with respect to charitable purposes or corresponding to any future Federal tax code or shall be distributed to the Federal, State or local government for a public purpose.