ARTICLE I. Name

The name of this organization shall be “North Hills Garden Club.”

ARTICLE II. Object

The object of this club shall be to promote the beautification of the North Hills Community and to create a community spirit through participation in civic, educational and social activities.

ARTICLE III. Membership and Dues

Section 1: A resident of the North Hills community may become a member upon invitation of the membership committee and the payment of dues.

Section 2: Honorary membership may be conferred for outstanding service to the club upon recommendation of the Executive Board and a two-thirds vote of the members present. Such members shall be exempt from the payment of dues and the performance of duties.

Section 3: The fiscal year of the club begins June 1st. Annual dues shall be $20.00, payable April 1 through July 31. A member whose dues are not paid as of July 31 will be in arrears. If dues are not paid by July 31, the member’s name shall be dropped from the roll. New members joining after January shall pay $10.00 in dues for membership through May of the current year.

Section 4: Members shall not be paid for any services rendered to the club.

ARTICLE IV. Officers, Committees & Election

Section 1: The officers of the club shall be President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian, and Historian.

Section 2: The standing committees shall be Boulevards and Parks, Civic, Hostess, Membership and Concerns, Plant Sale, Programs, Publicity, Scrapbook, Social, Special Fund Raiser/Events, Telephone/Email, and Ways and Means. Temporary chairpersons shall be appointed by the President as the need arises.

Section 3: The officers and standing committee chairpersons shall constitute the Executive Board. The immediate former president shall serve as exofficio member of the Board.

Section 4: Officers shall be elected annually at the April meeting, installed in May, and shall take office at the beginning of the fiscal year.

Section 5: Officers, with the exception of the Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer, may not serve for more than two years consecutively. The Treasurer may serve for three years consecutively.

Section 6: A Nominating Committee of three shall be appointed by the President at the March meeting. This committee’s report shall be submitted at the April meeting. Nominations may be made from the floor.

Section 7: Election shall be via voice, except when there is more than one candidate for the office; then the election is by ballot, with the majority electing.

ARTICLE V. Meetings

Section 1: Regular meetings of the club shall be held on the third Thursday of the month beginning in September and ending in May, except when otherwise deemed expedient. The President may call a meeting in an emergency.

Section 2: The Executive Board shall meet upon the call of the President.

Section 3: Twelve members shall constitute a quorum for a regular meeting, and five members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VI. Duties of Officers

Section 1: The President shall preside at all meetings, shall appoint committee chairperson(s), and shall serve exofficio as member of all committees except the Nomination Committee, and shall see that flowers or a memorial are sent to a bereaved family in case of the death of a member or a member’s spous,e and shall approve all bills for the club.

Section 2: The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in her/his absence, shall compile or cause to be compiled a membership directory which will be delivered to the Membership Committee for distribution, and shall enforce the guidelines of the logo usage and branding guidebook.

Section 3: Duties of all other officers shall be those usual to their office.

Section 4: The Executive Board shall fill all vacancies in offices and shall act for the club in emergencies.

ARTICLE VII. Parliamentary Authority

These by-laws may be amended at any meeting of the Club by a two-thirds vote of those present, notice having been given at a previous meeting.

Addendum, 2001

ARTICLE VIII. Duties of Committees

Section 1: All chairperson duties begin at the beginning of the fiscal year and continue until the end of the fiscal year.

Section 2: Boulevards and Parks - Assess boulevard landscaping needs. Contact the City for any maintenance that needs to be done in the boulevards or park. Organize committees to plant throughout the neighborhood. Plan and lead workdays. Coordinate special projects.

Section 3: Civic - Act as liaison between Dogwood Arts Festival committee and the Garden Club.

Section 4: Hostess - Find hosts with meeting places and co-hosts for refreshments; call to remind the host prior to the meeting. The information shall be given to the Vice President by August 10th.

Section 5: Membership - Meet new families in the neighborhood and inform them of the Garden Club. Any member may invite a prospective member to a meeting, introduce the person to other members, and submit directory information (name, address, telephone number, email address, birthday, and spouse’s name) to the Membership Committee and the Treasurer. Work with the Treasurer to ensure payment of dues. Distribute directories to the Membership once they are produced. 

Section 6: Plant Sale - Organize the Plant Sale, including recruiting a committee to find the best plants to sell at the most reasonable price, display plants, organize deliveries/pick-ups, set-up, sale staff, Bake Sale manager, and cleanup, put up signs for the sale, and assign an individual to send ‘thank you’ notes to businesses who helped in the sale.

Section 7: Programs - Find programs /speakers for monthly meetings. Call to remind the speaker prior to the meeting and to provide directions if needed. Program/speakers information shall be given to the Vice President by August 15th. Introduce or find someone to introduce the speaker at the beginning of the meeting. Inform the Treasurer if the speaker has a charge or should be given a donation.

Section 8: Publicity - Coordinate with the Vice President to make fliers for Plant Sale, Neighborhood Picnic, and any other special event open to the neighborhood. Organize delivery of the fliers by members to neighbors. Call newspapers to advertise fundraisers and other events.

Section 9: Scrapbook - Collect North Hills Garden Club commemorative pictures and publications.

Section 10: Social - All social activities of the club, including September Social, Holiday Party, Neighborhood Picnic, and more, shall be organized and planned by the chairperson. Each event shall have its own subcommittee as needed. Planning includes selecting and purchasing food, beverages, and paper products; organizing games and entertainment; arranging tables and chairs, as appropriate; and organizing setup, breakdown, and cleanup of all activities.

Section 11: Special Fundraiser/ Event- Event varies (Tour of Homes, Calendar). Locate homes for the event. Assist homeowners in preparing for the event. Organize committees for transportation, entertainment, hosts, food, and paper products. Post signs and put up decorations around the neighborhood, as required or requested. Arrange for writing and delivering of ‘thank you’ notes.

Section 12: Telephone/ Email – The Committee Chair will contact other members for Club activities. Ensure all members are contacted. Assist in contacting members for other special events. Devise a plan for contacting a bereaved family; then notify Club members within 24 hours. Make transportation arrangements to functions for members requesting it. Chairperson shall notify Treasurer/President of members leaving the neighborhood.

Section 13: Ways and Means - Cultivate ideas for fundraising opportunities. Write letters/grants to solicit funds.