Highlands & Islands Association of Celtic Gatherings, Inc.
Bylaws
article I
The name of this Organization shall be Highlands and Islands Association of Celtic Gatherings, Inc., hereinafter referred to as “Association”.
article ii
The objectives of this Association shall be:
A. To put on the annual Scottish Highland Games & Celtic Festival as an educational publicevent on the Mississippi Gulf Coast
and promote other Celtic Festivals and Highland games throughout the country.
B. To promote community knowledge of Celtic Culture and participate in other community events.
C. To promote the Celtic Culture through education.
article iii
The structure of the Association is two-fold: Administrative and Games. It shall be built on the relationship of Members and Executive Board.
article iv
The POWERS of the Association shall be to:
Incorporate as an Association for benevolent, educational, fraternal., or beneficial non-profit purposes
To adopt insignias, seals and ritual
To publish bulletins or magazines
To acquire and maintain headquarters,
To employ legal counsel, and other assistance
To change the name, as necessary
To establish fees and dues
And to do all things necessary to further the purpose and objective of the Association in an ef-
ficient, economical manner as decided upon and approved by the Executive Board and the Gen-
eral Membership.
article v
A. Classification of Members
Membership in the Association shall consist of active and honorary members.
1. Active members shall consist of all current dues paid members.
2. Honorary membership may be bestowed by the Association , to non members who have given outstanding service to the Association or to honor an individual, as chosen and voted upon by the active membership .
B. Admission to Membership
1. Active membership shall be open to all persons interested in the aims and objectives of the Association, upon invitation, by an active member and approved by a majority vote of the Executive Board. Renewal of membership can remain open unless denied by a majority vote of the Executive Board if that member’s presence is not in the best interest of the Association .
2. Honorary membership may be may be extended after nomination by an active member and vote of the Active Membership present at a regular meeting.
article vi
Dues:
Due will be reviewed annually at any General Membership Meeting. Any changes will voted upon at the next General Membership Meeting. Changes in dues must be adopted by a majority vote of the Active Membership present, will become effective 60 days following adoption. Annual dues become due on the member’s anniversary date.
article vii
Elections:
Voting is limited to those active members on the date of the election. Voting eligibility will be verified by the Treasurer. All nominees must also be active members at time of nomination and maintain their active status for the duration of their term, if elected. Only active members may make a nomination.
General Elections:
1. Nominations will be made from the floor at the August General Membership Meeting and again at the September General Membership Meeting, after which they shall be closed, and the election held, by paper ballot. A show of hands vote may be substituted with the consent of all active members present.
2. Terms of office shall be from January 1 through December 31 of any given year.
Special Elections:
Nominations will be made from the floor and the election held by a show of hands.
article viii
Elected Officers:
The elected officers shall be: President, Games Chief, President-elect, Games Chief-elect, Treasurer, Trustee, and Recording Secretary. All terms are for one year. During this one year the President-elect will act as Vice-President and the Games Chief-elect will act as Assistant Games
Chief. At the conclusion of that one year term the President-elect assumes the office of President, and the Games Chief-elect becomes the Games Chief.
Trustees:
Three trustees will be elected to staggered three year terms. One position will be filled at each annual election of officers.
If for any reason, an officer cannot complete the term of office, the office will be filled through a special election. A position filled by special election will be for the balance of the term of that office.
article ix
Executive Board
The Executive Board shall consist of all current elected officers and trustees. The Past President and Past Games Chief will serve as non-voting members for one year. The presiding officer may vote only when required to break a tie vote.
article x
Meetings and Attendance
Monthly general membership meetings will be held. A quorum will consist of the active members present.
Executive Board Meetings are to be made by the President. A quorum will consist of the executive board members present.
Games meetings shall be the Games Chief and the Games Chief is to make a report at the General Membership Meeting.
All meetings shall include minutes of the previous meeting and current financial statements.
Attendance
Absence from (3) consecutive Monthly General Membership meetings, without excuse deemed valid by the President, shall be construed as a resignation from any elected office or other position held in the Association.
The Association has the right to conduct and maintain orderly meetings without disruption in accordance to Robert’s Rules of Order. The Association has the right to decide who may be present during its meetings. When the Association, either by a rule or by a vote, decides that a person is disruptive and shall not remain in the room, it is the duty of the President to enforce the rule of order, informing the person to leave for the remainder of the meeting.
All meetings shall be governed by “Robert’s Rules of Order”, when not in conflict with the By-
laws of the Association.
article xi
The Right to Dismiss a Member from the Association:
The Association has the inherent right to enforce order of its members, whether it be at regularly scheduled General Membership Meetings, any Executive Board Meetings or at any sanctioned function, and to discipline the offender, the extreme penalty being expulsion from the Association. When expelled it has the right, for its own protection, to give public notice that the person has
ceased to be a member of the Association.
But the Association has no right to go beyond what is necessary for self-protection and publish the charges against the member.
The recorded minutes will note that the person is no longer a member without inclusion of said charges. Whereas the welfare of the Association is depended upon the Executive Board to maintain the overall policy and direction of the Association; it is therefore necessary for the Executive Board to enforce the following procedures to discipline and/or dismiss a member:
1. A special Executive Board meeting will be called by the President or President-Elect to discuss and investigate the charges brought against a member, and to vote on discipline or dismissal. A decision will be made by a majority vote of the Executive Board.
2. A second special Executive Board meeting will be called by the President or President-Elect to include the offending member to hear the charges and decision voted on. The member will be informed by Registered letter with a return receipt at least 7 days before the meeting. Discussion of charges will not be permitted before the scheduled meeting. Immediate expulsion from the Association will result if the member is not present at the meeting.
3. Depending on the charges, a light disciplinary action will result in a written or verbal apol-
ogy from the member to the general membership at the next scheduled General Membership meeting. The apology will be entered into the minutes. Thereafter no further discussion of the discipline will be made at the meeting. If the member decides to resign
from the Association then a written letter of resignation will be accepted by the Executive Board and entered into the minutes
of the meeting.
4. The second offense will result in a warning sent by Registered letter with a return receipt to the member by the Executive Board. The member will be barred from holding office or accepting an appointed position and the member will need special permission from the Executive Board to participate in the membership meetings.
5. The third offense will result in the Executive Board expelling the member from the Association. A Registered Letter with returned receipt will be sent to inform the member of the decision of the Executive Board. Expulsion will include being barred from future membership meetings and denied future membership. An announcement will be made and recorded at the next scheduled General Membership Meeting that the member is no longer affiliated with the Association. All decisions made by the Executive Board on this procedure is final and can not be rescinded.
article xii
Dissolution of the Association:
If, for any reason, the Association is dissolved, all liquid assets will be donated to an organization which promotes Celtic Culture.
article xiii
These Bylaws supersede all previous bylaws of the Association. These bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the active membership present at a regularly scheduled general meeting. All proposed amendments must be made available to the membership, in writing, no less than 10 days prior to a vote being taken.
Amendment submitted December 28, 2010, revised January 4, 2011, adopted February 14, 2011 at the regular general membership meeting by an unanimous vote and recorded March 12, 2011.
Bylaws
article I
The name of this Organization shall be Highlands and Islands Association of Celtic Gatherings, Inc., hereinafter referred to as “Association”.
article ii
The objectives of this Association shall be:
A. To put on the annual Scottish Highland Games & Celtic Festival as an educational publicevent on the Mississippi Gulf Coast
and promote other Celtic Festivals and Highland games throughout the country.
B. To promote community knowledge of Celtic Culture and participate in other community events.
C. To promote the Celtic Culture through education.
article iii
The structure of the Association is two-fold: Administrative and Games. It shall be built on the relationship of Members and Executive Board.
article iv
The POWERS of the Association shall be to:
Incorporate as an Association for benevolent, educational, fraternal., or beneficial non-profit purposes
To adopt insignias, seals and ritual
To publish bulletins or magazines
To acquire and maintain headquarters,
To employ legal counsel, and other assistance
To change the name, as necessary
To establish fees and dues
And to do all things necessary to further the purpose and objective of the Association in an ef-
ficient, economical manner as decided upon and approved by the Executive Board and the Gen-
eral Membership.
article v
A. Classification of Members
Membership in the Association shall consist of active and honorary members.
1. Active members shall consist of all current dues paid members.
2. Honorary membership may be bestowed by the Association , to non members who have given outstanding service to the Association or to honor an individual, as chosen and voted upon by the active membership .
B. Admission to Membership
1. Active membership shall be open to all persons interested in the aims and objectives of the Association, upon invitation, by an active member and approved by a majority vote of the Executive Board. Renewal of membership can remain open unless denied by a majority vote of the Executive Board if that member’s presence is not in the best interest of the Association .
2. Honorary membership may be may be extended after nomination by an active member and vote of the Active Membership present at a regular meeting.
article vi
Dues:
Due will be reviewed annually at any General Membership Meeting. Any changes will voted upon at the next General Membership Meeting. Changes in dues must be adopted by a majority vote of the Active Membership present, will become effective 60 days following adoption. Annual dues become due on the member’s anniversary date.
article vii
Elections:
Voting is limited to those active members on the date of the election. Voting eligibility will be verified by the Treasurer. All nominees must also be active members at time of nomination and maintain their active status for the duration of their term, if elected. Only active members may make a nomination.
General Elections:
1. Nominations will be made from the floor at the August General Membership Meeting and again at the September General Membership Meeting, after which they shall be closed, and the election held, by paper ballot. A show of hands vote may be substituted with the consent of all active members present.
2. Terms of office shall be from January 1 through December 31 of any given year.
Special Elections:
Nominations will be made from the floor and the election held by a show of hands.
article viii
Elected Officers:
The elected officers shall be: President, Games Chief, President-elect, Games Chief-elect, Treasurer, Trustee, and Recording Secretary. All terms are for one year. During this one year the President-elect will act as Vice-President and the Games Chief-elect will act as Assistant Games
Chief. At the conclusion of that one year term the President-elect assumes the office of President, and the Games Chief-elect becomes the Games Chief.
Trustees:
Three trustees will be elected to staggered three year terms. One position will be filled at each annual election of officers.
If for any reason, an officer cannot complete the term of office, the office will be filled through a special election. A position filled by special election will be for the balance of the term of that office.
article ix
Executive Board
The Executive Board shall consist of all current elected officers and trustees. The Past President and Past Games Chief will serve as non-voting members for one year. The presiding officer may vote only when required to break a tie vote.
article x
Meetings and Attendance
Monthly general membership meetings will be held. A quorum will consist of the active members present.
Executive Board Meetings are to be made by the President. A quorum will consist of the executive board members present.
Games meetings shall be the Games Chief and the Games Chief is to make a report at the General Membership Meeting.
All meetings shall include minutes of the previous meeting and current financial statements.
Attendance
Absence from (3) consecutive Monthly General Membership meetings, without excuse deemed valid by the President, shall be construed as a resignation from any elected office or other position held in the Association.
The Association has the right to conduct and maintain orderly meetings without disruption in accordance to Robert’s Rules of Order. The Association has the right to decide who may be present during its meetings. When the Association, either by a rule or by a vote, decides that a person is disruptive and shall not remain in the room, it is the duty of the President to enforce the rule of order, informing the person to leave for the remainder of the meeting.
All meetings shall be governed by “Robert’s Rules of Order”, when not in conflict with the By-
laws of the Association.
article xi
The Right to Dismiss a Member from the Association:
The Association has the inherent right to enforce order of its members, whether it be at regularly scheduled General Membership Meetings, any Executive Board Meetings or at any sanctioned function, and to discipline the offender, the extreme penalty being expulsion from the Association. When expelled it has the right, for its own protection, to give public notice that the person has
ceased to be a member of the Association.
But the Association has no right to go beyond what is necessary for self-protection and publish the charges against the member.
The recorded minutes will note that the person is no longer a member without inclusion of said charges. Whereas the welfare of the Association is depended upon the Executive Board to maintain the overall policy and direction of the Association; it is therefore necessary for the Executive Board to enforce the following procedures to discipline and/or dismiss a member:
1. A special Executive Board meeting will be called by the President or President-Elect to discuss and investigate the charges brought against a member, and to vote on discipline or dismissal. A decision will be made by a majority vote of the Executive Board.
2. A second special Executive Board meeting will be called by the President or President-Elect to include the offending member to hear the charges and decision voted on. The member will be informed by Registered letter with a return receipt at least 7 days before the meeting. Discussion of charges will not be permitted before the scheduled meeting. Immediate expulsion from the Association will result if the member is not present at the meeting.
3. Depending on the charges, a light disciplinary action will result in a written or verbal apol-
ogy from the member to the general membership at the next scheduled General Membership meeting. The apology will be entered into the minutes. Thereafter no further discussion of the discipline will be made at the meeting. If the member decides to resign
from the Association then a written letter of resignation will be accepted by the Executive Board and entered into the minutes
of the meeting.
4. The second offense will result in a warning sent by Registered letter with a return receipt to the member by the Executive Board. The member will be barred from holding office or accepting an appointed position and the member will need special permission from the Executive Board to participate in the membership meetings.
5. The third offense will result in the Executive Board expelling the member from the Association. A Registered Letter with returned receipt will be sent to inform the member of the decision of the Executive Board. Expulsion will include being barred from future membership meetings and denied future membership. An announcement will be made and recorded at the next scheduled General Membership Meeting that the member is no longer affiliated with the Association. All decisions made by the Executive Board on this procedure is final and can not be rescinded.
article xii
Dissolution of the Association:
If, for any reason, the Association is dissolved, all liquid assets will be donated to an organization which promotes Celtic Culture.
article xiii
These Bylaws supersede all previous bylaws of the Association. These bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the active membership present at a regularly scheduled general meeting. All proposed amendments must be made available to the membership, in writing, no less than 10 days prior to a vote being taken.
Amendment submitted December 28, 2010, revised January 4, 2011, adopted February 14, 2011 at the regular general membership meeting by an unanimous vote and recorded March 12, 2011.