BYLAWS

FRIENDS OF THE HANNIBAL FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY

 

ARTICLE I: NAME

 

Section 1: Name. The name of this organization shall be FRIENDS OF THE HANNIBAL FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

 

Section 1: Purpose. The purposes for which the corpora­tion is organized are: to maintain an association of persons and groups interested in libraries; to focus public attention on Hannibal Free Public Library; to support quality library service in Hannibal through fund-raising, volunteerism, and serving as advocates for the Library’s program; to conduct fund-raising that complements the Library’s mission and provides funding for special library projects; to serve as advocates for local, state, and national library issues; and to support the freedom to read as expressed in the American Library Association Bill of Rights.

 

Section 2: Inurement of Income. No part of the net earnings of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, directors, trus­tees, officers, or other private persons, except that the corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered.

 

Section 3: Legislative or Political Activities. No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempt­ing to influence legislation and the corporation shall not participate in or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

 

Section 4: Operational Limitations. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles, the corporation shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be car­ried on (a) by a corporation exempt from Federal income tax as a Private Foundation under Sections 508 and 509 of the Internal Revenue Code and Tax Reform Act of 1969.

 

Section 5: Dissolution Clause.   Upon the dissolution of the corporation, the Board of Trustees shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all of the liabili­ties of the corporation, dispose of all of the assets of the corporation exclusively for the purposes of the corporation in such manner, or to Hannibal Free Public Library or its successor political subdivision.

 

Section 6: Objectives. Said corporation is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes within the meaning of Sections 508 and 509 of the Internal Revenue Code and Tax Reform Act of 1969.

 

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

 

Section 1: Membership. Membership in this organization shall be open to all individuals in sympathy with its pur­poses, and to organizations and clubs when such representa­tion is desired.

 

Section 2: Voting. Each membership in good standing shall be entitled to one vote. 

 

ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS

 

Section 1: Officers. The officers of this organization shall be Friends President, Friends Vice President, Friends Secretary, and Friends Treasurer.  The positions of Friends Secretary and Friends Treasurer may be combined into one position, Friends Secretary/Treasurer.

 

Section 2: Election. Officers shall be nominated by the Executive Board at least two months before the annual mem­bership meeting. The nominations shall be submitted in writing to the membership with the consent of the nominee at least two weeks prior to the annual meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor with the consent of the nominee.

 

Section 3: Term of Office. Officers shall be elected by majority vote of those memberships present at the annual meeting for the term of one year, but not more than two successive terms.

 

Section 4: Vacancies. Vacancies shall be filled through appointment by the president.

 

ARTICLE V: DUTIES OF OFFICERS

 

Section 1: President. The Friends President shall be the chief executive and in general do all the things customarily provided by said office.  It shall be the duty of the Friends President to preside at all meetings of the Friends and the Friends Board, to appoint all committees, to serve as ex-officio member on all committees, and to perform all duties provided by law. When the Friends President’s signature is required, another officer of the Friends Board may provide the signature in the President’s absence. 

 

Section 2: Vice-President.  In case of the absence of or the inability or refusal to act by the Friends President, then the duties of that office, as above provided, shall devolve upon the Friends Vice-President.  In case a vacancy occurs in the office of the Friends President, then, in such event, the Friends Vice-President shall perform all functions of the Friends President until a successor for the unexpired term is elected.  In the event of absence of both the President and the Vice-President, the Friends Secretary shall act as President pro tem. 

   

Section 3: Treasurer. To keep and maintain the financial records of the organization; to file required tax and other paperwork with Federal, state, and local governmental units.

 

Section 4: Secretary. To record attendance at all meetings; to take the minutes of all meetings; to keep a list of the membership, together with their addresses; to notify the members of the time and place of meetings; and to conduct the correspondence of the organization.

 

Section 5.  Library Director.  The Library Director facilitates Friends activities.  Permanent records of the Friends are kept on file at the Library.  The Library Director may designate staff to provide clerical assistance on a one-time or routine basis.  Additionally, the Library Director receives and relays mail for the Friends.

 

ARTICLE VI: DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE BOARD

 

Section 1: Friends Board. The Directors shall also be known as the Friends Board and shall consist of the officers of the organization. The Library Director shall serve as ex-officio member of the Friends Board.

 

Section 2: Appointment of Committees. The Friends Board shall have the authority to appoint committees consistent with the purposes of this organization.  The Friends President may also appoint ad hoc committees between Friends Board meetings, as needed.

 

Section 3: Meetings. Meetings of the Friends Board shall be held quarterly. Special meetings may be called by the Friends President.

 

Section 4: Quorum. A majority of the Friends Board shall constitute a quorum.

 

Section 5:  Participation by Phone.  In the event that a quorum cannot be obtained at a meeting of the Friends Board, and there are immediate matters at hand that cannot wait, one of the Friends Officers may participate in the meeting by means of a conference telephone call.  

 

Section 6:  e-Mail Voting in Lieu of Meeting of the Friends Board.  When no quorum can be obtained for a meeting of the Friends Board, and there are immediate matters at hand that cannot wait, then email may be used to obtain a majority positive or negative vote.

 

ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS OF THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP

 

Section 1: Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of the full membership shall be held in a month to be determined by the Friends Board. Members should be notified in writing at least two weeks prior to the date of the meeting.

 

Section 2: Special Meetings. A special meeting of the full membership may be called at any time by the Friends Board, or by written request of at least ten members, or a majority of members, (whichever is the lesser number) in good standing.

 

Section 3:  e-Mail Voting in Lieu of Meeting of the General Membership.  When no quorum can be obtained for a meeting of the general membership of the  Friends, and there are immediate matters at hand that cannot wait, then email may be used to obtain a majority positive or negative vote.

 

ARTICLE VIII: DUES

 

Section 1: Payment of Dues. Dues shall be payable annually and shall become due on the day of the annual membership meeting.  Payment of Dues establishes membership in good standing for the year.

 

Dues:

 

                                Individual                                                                                                     $10.00

                                Family                                                                                                          $17.00

                                Business/Organization                                                                                  $25.00

                                Life Members                                                                                               $100.00

 

ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS

 

Section 1: Amendments. Amendments to these by-laws may be made at any meeting of the general membership by a two-thirds vote of those memberships present, after notification in writing to each member at least two weeks before the meeting at which the voting is to take place.

 

ARTICLE X: PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

 

Section 1: Parliamentary Procedure. Robert's Rules of Order Revised, when not in conflict with these by-laws, shall govern the proceedings of this organization.

 

 

These By-Laws were adopted by the Friends at its meeting of October 17, 2013.

 

Attest:

 

___________________________________________________

                Katie Wright, Friends President

 

 

___________________________________________________

                Virginia Mulhern , Friends Vice-President

 

 

___________________________________________________

                Hallie Yundt Silver, Friends Secretary/Treasurer