Bylaws of the Rocky Mountain Society of Botanical Artists

1.The Rocky Mountain Society of Botanical Artists (RMSBA) is a nonprofit organization, as a chapter of the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA) establisheded exclusively to operate for charitable and educational purposes, including but not limited to, the following:
Promote public awareness of and appreciation for botanical art, historical and contemporary, in our community.
Educate the public on plant diversity, regional plant ecology, and the rationale for preservation of plant species, through botanical art that is relevant to the region.
Introduce the public to the beauty and usefulness of historical and contemporary botanical art through exhibition and other forms of educational opportunities.
Provide a forum for botanical artists to meet, talk, discuss the issues, and have fun within a peer group.

2. The Executive Committee will provide leadership for the RMSBA. Members include but are not limited to the president, vice-presidentsecretary and treasurer. Other members may include president-elect, newsletter editor, education chairperson, marketing chairperson, exhibits chairperson, refreshments chairperson, and website chairperson. Officers are elected by the membership. Annual elections will be held at the annual holiday meeting in December of each year. If, after calls for nominations, only one person has been nominated or volunteered for an Executive Committee position, the officers currently seated may appoint that individual to the position available and elections will not be held. Officers may be removed at the discretion of the Committee. All positions report to the president.Duties and terms are as follows:
President: Ordinarily a two-year term, which may be amended to one year as needed. The president will provide leadership to the members, organizing member meetings, Executive Committee meetings and special events. Represents the membership to other organizations and in social functions.

Vice President:  Ordinarily a two-year term, which may be amended to one year as needed, followed by position as president.  Supports the president in providing leadership to the members, organizing member meetings, Executive Committee meetings, and special events. Represents the membership to other organizations and in social functions.
Secretary: A two-year term. Responsible for taking minutes at Executive Committee meetings and general meetings. Maintains the records of the organization, including, minutes, copies of newsletters, and correspondence.
Treasurer: A two-year term. Generates annual statement for inclusion in the RMSBA newsletter, and to the ASBA Board of Directors. Collects dues. Distributes ASBA dues to ASBA in a timely fashion. Disburses funds to cover RMSBA expenses. Maintains current member lists.
Newsletter Editor: A one-year term, which may be extended. Provides for the publication of the RMSBA Newsletter on a quarterly basis, including organizing contributors, arranging printing, and organizing distribution.
Programs Chair: A one-year term. Plans and organizes meetings, including topics, locations, and dates.  Makes necessary arrangements.
Marketing Chair: A two-year term.Prepares marketing materials such as postcards, posters, articles, advertisements, and other materials for exhibits and promotion of RMSBA.
Exhibits Chair: A two-year term. Organizes at least two exhibit venues per year, in which members may display their work. Defines rules for exhibits, including framing guidelines and selection of jurors for juried events. Finds and schedules space and submits applications for exhibits.  Arranges committees to support specific shows.

3. Membership is open to all persons who participate in botanical art or support the tradition of botanical art and its contemporary growth and renewal.
Membership is annual, by calendar year.
All RMSBA members will be members of the ASBA.
Dues are due and payable in January of the calendar year. The Executive Committee determines dues amounts. Dues will include chapter dues and annual membership to the ASBA. Dues are non-refundable.
Members must maintain their membership through timely payment of dues in order to participate in any RMSBA activities, vote for officers or in regards to issues, or exhibit works in RMSBA/ASBA exhibits.
Members will receive a quarterly RMSBA newsletter and all ASBA member publications.
Members may participate in all general meetings, and may attend Executive Committee meetings as desired.
No member may act for the RMSBA without prior written authorization of the President or an appropriate Executive Committee member. No member may act for the ASBA without the prior written authorization of the President or Board of Directors of the ASBA. Each use of the name or logo of the RMSBA or ASBA for display or endorsement must obtain prior written authorization from the Executive Committee RMSBA, or President or the Board of Directors ASBA.

4. Meetings: The RMSBA will hold regular meetings for the benefit of the members, and regular Executive Committee meetings at appropriate intervals.
General membership meetings will be held at least three times a year. Meetings will provide educational opportunities and/or peer interaction opportunities.
The Executive Committee will meet at least three times per year.
Minutes of all meetings will be taken and maintained by the secretary.

5. Indemnification: RMSBA officers are indemnified as per Article VII of the ASBA Restated Bylaws, Restated October 21, 1999, as these articles apply to chapter officers.

6. The principal office of the RMSBA is the residence of the president, and as such will change on a biannual basis.

7. All funds or articles of value that are the property of the RMSBA will, upon disbanding of the organization or upon withdrawal of recognition from the ASBA for cause, be first used to defray any outstanding expenses of the RMSBA. Funds or articles of value remaining after all obligations have been met will become the property of the ASBA.

Bylaws revised by Executive Committee, 3 December 2006.