Constitution and By-Laws

Constitution of the Arundel Camera Club

Article 1: Name

  • This organization shall be known as the Arundel Camera Club

Article 2: Headquarters

  • This club shall meet within Anne Arundel County, Maryland

Article 3: Objectives

  • The objectives of the club shall be: The promotion of the art and sciences of photography in all of its branches through the association of its members for study and education in matters relating to photography; for photographic exhibitions and contests; and for any purpose which will promote greater interest and betterment in the knowledge and practice of photography

Article 4: Membership

  • Any person may apply for membership in the club as provided for in the By-Laws

Article 5: Officers

  • The officers of the club shall be the President, two Vice-Presidents, and a Secretary/Treasurer

Article 6: Board of Directors

  • The Board of Directors shall be composed of the officers, the immediate past-president, and two members of the club and shall function in accordance with the By-Laws

Article 7: Election

  • The officers and directors shall be elected annually in May and take office the following July 1st. The officers shall hold office for a term of one year. At the initial election the director receiving the most votes shall serve on the Board for a term of two years. The director receiving the second highest total shall serve on the board for a term of one year. After the initial election the directors shall be elected to the Board for a term of two years.

Article 8: Vacancies

  • In the event of the absence, resignation, in-capacitation, or death of an officer or director, the Board of Directors shall, by majority vote, fill the vacancy. Officers or directors elected in this manner shall serve for the unexpired term only.

Article 9: Meetings, program year, fiscal year

  • Meetings of the club shall be held weekly during the program year as provided for in the By-Laws. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held as required at the discretion of the President.
  • The program year shall be from September 1st to May 31st of the following year.
  • The fiscal year shall be from July 1st to June 30th of the following year.

Article 10: Committees

  • The President shall appoint or grant a Vice-President the authority to appoint committees as called for in the By-Laws and as may be necessary to conduct the affairs of the club.

Article 11: Amendments

  • Proposed amendments to this Constitution and By-Laws must be presented in writing at any regular meeting of the club provided it is signed by ten members in good standing. The proposed amendment shall be read and opened for discussion. A copy of the proposed amendment with any changes shall be sent to each member in good standing within ten days of its introduction. The final vote shall be held twenty-eight days after the introduction of the proposed amendment. No discussion will be held at this time. A two-thirds vote of the members present at the meeting shall be necessary to adopt the amendment. If a proposed amendment is rejected, it may not be proposed again for a period of one year.

Article 12: Quorum

  • One-third of the membership in good standing shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Article 13: Adoption

  • Adoption of the Constitution and By-Laws shall be by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any regular club meeting and shall take effect immediately.

By-Laws of the Arundel Camera Club

Chapter 1: Membership

  1. There shall be four classes of  membership: Active, Family, Student, and Honorary Life
    1. Active – Any person may apply in writing for active membership in the club. All applications shall be referred to the Board of Directors for consideration. A majority of negative votes of the Board members shall be sufficient to disqualify any applicant from membership. Active membership shall carry with it all the rights and privileges of the club.
    2. Family- Any active member of the club shall be privileged to nominate in writing any member of his or her family living at the same residence to Family membership. If accepted, they shall have all the rights and privileges of the club.
    3. Student – Any person attending school or college as a full-time student may apply in writing for Student membership in the club. Student membership shall carry with it all the rights and privileges of the club.
    4. Honorary Life – Any active member who has rendered outstanding service to the club may be nominated to an Honorary Life membership by the Board of Directors and elected by a majority vote of the members in good standing of the club. Honorary Life membership shall carry with it all the rights and privileges of the club without paying dues.
  2. Membership may be revoked. Charges against any member of the club must be presented in writing to the Board of Directors and investigated by a committee of three members of the club appointed by the President. Findings shall be presented to the club at any regular meeting. A three-quarters vote of the members present shall be required to expel a member. A member expelled shall not again be eligible for membership in the club.

Chapter 2: Fees and Dues

  1. Dues for Active membership shall be set by the Board of Directors. Any increase in dues shall require approval of a majority of the club members present at any meeting of the club
  2. Dues for Student membership shall be one-half that of Active membership
  3. Dues for Family membership shall be as follows: The first household member shall pay the amount equal to Active membership. Every subsequent member of the household shall pay one-half that of Active membership.
  4. Dues are due not later than the third regular meeting of the club in September. After this meeting a member shall be considered in arrears and shall be denied the rights and privileges of the club until his/her dues are paid. If he/she is more than ninety days in arrears, he/she is dropped from club membership and can only be reinstated by the Board of Directors.

Chapter 3: Nominations and Elections

  1. At the first meeting in March the President shall appoint a nominating committee of at least three members whose duty it shall be to submit to the club at the first meeting in April the names of members it feels are qualified to hold and fill the various officer positions elected in May. Their report, however, shall not be final. Any member in good standing is eligible for nomination from the floor before the election takes place. The consent of the nominee must be obtained before placing his/her name into nomination. The President shall appoint at the annual business meeting three members to act as judges and tellers of the election. They shall tabulate the votes cast and report the results of the meeting. Voting shall be by secret ballot.
  2. Names not nominated cannot be voted. No member shall hold more than one elective office at a time. A majority of votes cast shall elect. Officers and Directors shall take office on July 1st following the election.

Chapter 4: Duties of the Officers

  1. President – It shall be the duties of the President to preside at all meetings of the club and Board of Directors. He/she shall administer the affairs of the club. He/she shall appoint committees as provided for in the Constitution. He/she shall endeavor to assume active leadership of the club at all times. He/she shall assume the duties of the First and/or Second Vice-President in the event of either/or both of their absence until they return or their successors are elected.
  2. First Vice-President – The First Vice-President shall also be known as the Program Chairman. It shall be his/her duty to arrange for speakers, demonstrations, or exhibitions at appropriate meetings of the club. He/she shall cooperate and work with the Second Vice-President. He/she shall assume the duties of the President in the event of the President’s absence until the President returns or a successor is elected.
  3. Second Vice-President – The Second Vice President shall also be known as the Contest Chairman. It shall be his/her duty to supervise and be responsible for all competitions at the club. He/she shall be responsible for obtaining qualified judges for the competitions. He/she shall be responsible for keeping the records of the competitions and notifying members of their advancement to a higher class as provided for in the contest rules. He/she shall make arrangements for the annual banquet. He/she shall assume the duties of the President and the First Vice-President in the absence of the President and First Vice-President until one of them returns or a successor is elected.
  4. Secretary-Treasurer – The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep an accurate recorded and minutes of all Board meetings and annual business meetings. He/she shall maintain an up-t0-date list of all members and twice in a program year distribute this list to the membership. He/she shall keep a complete file of all club correspondence. He/she shall be responsible for all monies of the club in a bank account subject to the signature of the President or Secretary-Treasurer. He/she shall pay all bills and expenditures. He/she shall keep an accurate record of all receipts and disbursements and periodically report to the Board the financial condition of the club. At each annual business meeting the Treasurer’s report shall be given to the membership of the club.

Chapter 5: Duties of the Board

  1. The Board of Directors shall be the administrative body of the club and as such its legal representative. They shall be responsible for and administer all properties and monies of the club. They shall make such rules and regulations as is necessary to administer the affairs of the club. They shall meet in accordance with Article 10 of the Constitution.
  2. A quorum of the Board shall consist of four members to legally represent the club.

Chapter 6: Right of Petition

  1. To override a decision of the Board, a petition must be signed by 10 members in good standing and brought to a vote of the membership at the next regular meeting. A two-thirds vote of the members present is required to override a Board decision.

Chapter 7: Meetings

  1. The club shall meet weekly on Wednesdays for the purpose of lectures, demonstrations, contests, or business.
  2. The first meeting in May shall be the annual business meeting, at which time the annual reports of the officers shall be made to the club and the election of officers for the coming year shall be held.

Chapter 8: Auditing Committee

  1. Not less than thirty days before the annual business meeting the President shall appoint an auditing committee of three members whose duty it shall be to audit the account of the club and report their findings at the annual business meeting of the club.