By-Laws

1. The name of the organization shall be the Garden Club of Evergreen Park.
2. Our mission is to provide education, resources, and networking opportunities for its members to promote the love of gardening, environmental responsibility, and civic beautification.
3. Membership is open to any person who is interested in the mission statement of this club and pays annual dues withing the first two months of the fiscal year.
4. The officers of the Garden Club of Evergreen Park will be President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. They will serve a one year term. In the ninth month of the fiscal year, a nominating committee will propose names of potential officer candidates. In the tenth month, an election for the new executive board will be held at the club's regular meeting. The newly elected executive board will assume their duties at the first month's meeting of the new fiscal year.
5. There will be TEN monthly meetings in the fiscal year unless otherwise announced. When a vote is required, the members in attendence at that particular meeting shall vote and the majority vote will rule,.
6. The Executive Board and Club Committees shall be addressed and described in the Club Guidelines.
7. The Garden Club shall use Roberts Rules of Order: Newly Revised to govern the proceedings in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistant with these By-Laws and Guidelines.
8. The By-Laws will be amended by majority vote with previous notice.
9. Procedures for disolving will be based on the rules of the State Garden Club and / or state law.

Club Guidelines
After the organization has been established, there will be a need to adopt guidelines which may be adopted by a majority vote at any meeting, amended by a majority vote with notice or vote without notice, and can be suspended for the duration of any meeting.

The time of the meeting shall be a guideline and not a by-law. Guidelines are related to the details of the administration of a society rather than a parliamentary procedure.


Guidelines

Officers:
There will be four officers: President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer.
The duties of each officer will be:
President: Calls the meeting to order and appoints committees throughout the year.
Vice President: Facilitates programming by working with the Program Committee to arrange presentations and other events.
Secretary: Records the minutes at each meeting and files them.
Treasurer: Collects member dues, maintains the checking account and pays honoraria / travel costs for speakers. The Treasurer will report the expenses and Club balance at each meeting.

Agenda:
Each meeting shall consist of the following agenda:
•  Call meeting to order (President)
•  Old business (President and other members)
•  New Business (President and other members, i.e., "Notes from the Master Gardener", presented by one of the Club's Master Gardeners)
•  Treasury report (Treasurer)
•  Motion to adjourn the meeting (President)
•  Presenter / Program introduction (Vice President)
•  Program

Membership:
There will be an annual fee of $20 payable at the August or September meeting or upon joining the group. Non-members may attend up to two meetings by making a small donation ($5 for most meetings). If they would like to attend additional programs, they must become a Garden Club member and pay the balance of the annual dues.


Committees
The Garden Club will consist of the following Committees:

The Membership Committee shall have each member complete an application which will include the following: contact information, committee membership preference, special interests / talents, and future program suggestions. This Committee is also repsonsible for meeting and greeting new members and guests, and for distributing name tags.
(2 members)

The Program Committee shall consist of the Garden Club Officers for the year. This Committee will determine programming and speakers for the year.
(4 members)

The Nominating Committee shall form in June to assemble the list of the following years officers and present the nominees for general election at the July meeting.
(3-5 members)

The Hospitality Committee shall contact the host / hostesses the week before each meeting to remind them to prepare the refreshments and table decorations.
(1-2 members)

The Publicity Committee shall notify the Library, Village of Evergreen Park, newspapers, and other appropriate outlets about the Garden Clubs upcoming events.
(1 member)

The Web Design Committee shall create and maintain an online resource that details all aspects of the Garden Club.
(1 member)

The Fundraising Committee shall coordinate annual fundraising events.
(3-5 members)

The Beautification Committee shall coordinate community projects on an "as needed" basis.
(2-5 members)

The Historical Committee shall maintain records for the Garden Club from year to year.
(1-2 members)

The Master Gardeners Notes Committee shall provide gardening advice during the "New Business" portion of the meetings.
(2-5 members)

The Sunshine Committee shall send out condolence / congratulations cards as appropriate.
(1-2 members)

The Resource Committee shall offer information about garden-related and / or environmental books and events during the "New Business" portion of the meeting.
(2-3 members)