Friends of the New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped
PO Box 434, Woodbridge NJ 07095
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2007 Winter Newsletter Friends of the New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped PO Box 434, Woodbridge NJ 07095 |
This is the first newsletter from the Board of the Friends of the New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped who are not New Jersey State employees. We look forward to providing you with information concerning the Friends of the New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped.
Save the Date: We are in the process of transition to change
the bylaws for ethical reasons. The Friends of the New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped have set up a special meeting on March 31, 2007 at 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, lunch to follow. The purpose of this meeting is solely to ratify the bylaws. The attorney we have retained has already approved these bylaws and he will officially rename the Friends to Friends of
the New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped. At this meeting we will vote on ratifying the revised bylaws with approval from its members.
Review the bylaws attached to this newsletter in order to be prepared to vote on passing the revised bylaws. Some of the changes involved are additional board members, dues will be paid on a fiscal year instead of a calendar year, and the Vice-President no longer will be Vice-President Elect.
Since the bylaws have not been ratified, we have decided 2007 dues will be paid in January covering the period from January1-December 31, 2007. For 2008 and 2009, dues will be explained in more detail in the next newsletter.
Attached to this newsletter is a membership form. Be aware that our Post Office address has changed to Friends of the NJLBH, PO Box 434, Woodbridge, NJ 07095. All checks must be made out to Friends of the NJLBH. If the check is made out in another name, we will have to return the check for the correction, and we know you do not want to delay your support.
Several ways to show your appreciation and support for the Library for the Blind and Handicapped are to be a member of the Friends of the NJLBH, give personal donations, and remembering our loved ones by donating in their memory.
Hope to see you all at the next meeting so that we can shape and support the NJLBH. Keep the NJLBH in your mind and hearts.
The name of this organization shall be The Friends of the New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped, Inc. ("Friends").
The mission of the Friends shall be to support and promote the services and programs of the New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped.
SECTION 1. Any person who is interested in the New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped 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 in 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 1 to June 30th.
d. Dues shall be payable on or before June 30 for the next fiscal year.
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 shall preside at all meetings, appoint two (2) Executive Board members-at-Large, appoint committees and serve as an ex officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.
The President shall be eligible for services from the New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped.
The Vice President shall direct the Friends' fund raising activities, preside in the absence of the President. The Vice President must be eligible for New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped services.
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 and must be eligible for New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped services. These Members-at-Large shall participate in and vote on all matters brought before the Executive Board.
An officer may resign from their 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.
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.
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 its meetings, shall fix the hour 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 the Library shall serve as liaison between the Library 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.
SECTION 1. The Finance Committee shall be composed of the President, the Treasurer, and another member of the Friends organization. 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.
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.
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.
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 New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped. If the New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped is no longer in existence, then the assets shall be distributed for one or more 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.
Name:________________________________________________________
Street Address: _________________________________________________
City, State, Zip: _________________________________________________
Telephone: (with area code): ______________________________________
E-mail Address: ________________________________________________
Preferred Media Format:
Braille_______, LP_________, Tape________ or E-mail_______
I am eligible for NJLBH Services: Yes ______ No ______
Individual Member $10.00 ________
Family Membership $25.00 ________
Donation $ ________
Donation in Memory of: Name: ____________________________________
Send acknowledgment for memorial gift to:
Name:________________________________________________________
Street Address: _________________________________________________
City, State, Zip: _________________________________________________
I have made a bequest in my will _______
Please return this form together with your membership check payable to:
Friends of the NJLBH
PO Box 434
Woodbridge, NJ 07095