By-Laws for

FRIENDS OF THE ROELIFF JANSEN COMMUNITY LIBRARY

Article I.  Name

   Section 1.  The name of this organization shall be FRIENDS
OF THE ROELIFF JANSEN COMMUNITY LIBRARY.

Article II.  Purpose

   Section 1.  The purpose of this organization shall be to maintain an association of persons interested in libraries; to focus public attention on the Library; to stimulate the use of the Library's resources and services; to receive and encourage gifts, endowments and bequests to the Library; to support and cooperate with the Library in developing library services and facilities for the community; to lend legislative support where needed; and to support the freedom to read as expressed in the American Library Association Bill of Rights.
     Section 2.  In the event of dissolution, all of the remaining assets and property of the Friends shall, after necessary expenses thereof, be distributed to the Roeliff Jansen Community Library Association, Inc., or its successors for continued support of library services in this area.
     Section 3.  No part of the net earnings of the Friends shall inure to the benefit of any member, trustee, director, officer of the Friends, or any private individual (except that reasonable compensation may be paid for services rendered to or for the Friends), and no member, trustee, officer of the Friends or any private individual shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any of the assets upon dissolution of the Friends.
     Section 4.  No substantial part of the activities of the Friends shall be carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation (except as otherwise provided by Section 501 (h) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended), nor shall the Friends participate in, or intervene in (including the publication or distribution or statements), any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.
     Section 5.  Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the Friends is organized exclusively for one or more of the following purposes: charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary or educational purposes, as specified in section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from Federal income tax under section 501 (c) (3) or corresponding provisions of any subsequent Federal tax laws.

Article III.  Membership

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

   Section 2.  Each membership shall be entitled to one vote.  Each family membership shall be entitled to two votes.

Article IV.  Officers

    Section 1.  The officers of this organization shall be a president, vice-president, treasurer, recording secretary, and corresponding secretary.

    Section 2.  Officers shall be nominated by a nominating committee at least one month before the annual membership meeting.  The nominations, with the consent of the nominees, shall be posted in the library 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.  Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of those present at the annual meeting for the term of one year.

Section 4.  Whenever an officer of the Friends is elected to the Library Board of Trustees his or her office shall immediately become vacant.

   Section 5.  Any vacancy occurring among the elected officers shall be filled by the vote of the members of the executive committee.  Such officers shall serve for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor.

Article V.  Duties of Officers

   Section 1.  President:  To preside over and conduct meetings and to appoint the chairpersons of all committees and be an ex-officio member thereof, except the nominating committee.

   Section 2.  Vice-president:  To perform the duties of the president in the absence of the president.

   Section 3.  Treasurer:  To keep and maintain the financial records of the organization.

   Section 4.  Recording secretary: To take minutes of all meetings.

   Section 5.  Corresponding secretary:  To keep a list of the membership. together with their addresses; to notify members of the time and place of meetings; and to conduct the correspondence of the organization.

Article VI.  Executive Committee

   Section 1.  The executive committee shall consist of the officers of the organization.  The librarian and the chairperson of the Library's Board of Trustees shall serve as ex-officio members of the executive committee.

   Section 2.  The executive committee shall have the authority to act on all matters on behalf of the Board of Directors between meetings of the Board.

Article VII.  Board of Directors

   Section 1.  The Board of Directors shall consist of the executive committee and the chairpersons of all committees.

   Section 2.  The president shall have the authority to call meetings of the Board.

   Section 3.  Any two members of the executive committee may request the President to call a meeting of the Board.

   Section 4.  The nominating committee shall consist of three members, appointed by the President: a new chairperson, the previous year's chairperson and one member from either the general membership or the Board of Directors.

   Section 5.  A  majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.

Section VIII.  Meetings

        Section 1.  An annual meeting shall be held on a date in the month of June or July to be determined by the Board at which time election of officers will take place.  Notice of the time and place of the annual meeting shall be posted in the library and published in the local papers at least two weeks prior to the date of the meeting.

   Section 2.  Any ten members may petition the President to call an additional general meeting of the membership.

Article IX.  Dues

   Section 1.  Dues shall be payable annually and shall become due on the day of the annual membership meeting.  There shall be three classes of dues:

            1.  Individual - $5.00    2.  Family - $10.00    3.  Life Member - $50.00

   Section 2.  Failure to pay dues for two successive years shall constitute withdrawal of membership.

   Article X.  Amendments

   Section 1.  Amendments to these by-laws may be made at any meeting of the general membership by a two-thirds vote of those present.  Notice that by-law changes are to be voted on shall be posted in the Library and published in the local newspapers.

Article XI.  Funds

   Section 1.  Fund-raising activities shall be determined by the Board of Directors and shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Roeliff Jansen Community Library.

   Section 2.  Expenditures of monies shall be determined by the Board of Directors and, with the exception of administrative expenses, shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees of the Hillsdale Library.

Article XII.  Parliamentary Procedure

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

                        Amended and adopted February 13, 1997
Amended and adopted July 11, 2002
Amended and adopted July 7, 2005

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