FRIENDS OF URBANA REGIONAL LIBRARY, INC.
FREDERICK, MARYLAND
BYLAWS
Article I: Name
The name of this organization shall be the Friends of the Urbana Regional Library, Inc. (FURL).
Article II: Mission Statement
Section 1.
The purpose of this organization shall be to support the Urbana Regional Library and promote its use to the end that public use of the Library increases.
Section 2.
Disbursement of financial and other assets of FURL shall be only with Board of Directors’ approval.
Section 3.
In the event that this organization should cease to exist, the corporate property shall, after paying or making provision for payment of all the liabilities of FURL, become the property of the Frederick County Library System and be administered by the County Library Director to benefit the Urbana Regional Library.
Article III: Membership
Section 1.
Membership shall be open to anyone who subscribes to the mission of FURL. Members in good standing requires completion of the membership form and the payment of the membership fee. Each member shall be entitled to one vote.
Section 2.
Membership shall be individual.
Section 3.
The amount of the membership fee shall be recommended by the Board of Directors and approved by the membership at the annual meeting. Changes in the membership fee shall be submitted to the membership in writing not less than one week prior to the annual meeting.
Section 4.
The membership list of FURL is for the convenience of the members and is not to be sold, given or used by other individuals without the consent of FURL Board of Directors.
Article IV: Board of Directors
Rev. 2014-11-02
Section 1.
The Board of Directors shall consist of four officers and up to seven directors. The librarian shall be an ex officio member.
Section 2.
The Board shall create and designate such special committees as it deems necessary.
Section 3.
The Board shall hold at least six (6) regular meetings annually. The President may call special meetings of the Board and shall call a special meeting upon the written request of a majority of the members of the Board.
Section 4.
A majority of members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum. Absentee or proxy voting shall not be permitted.
Section 5.
Three consecutive unexcused absences from a regular Board meeting may be deemed a resignation.
Section 6.
Any vacancy may be filled for the duration of the unexpired term by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Board.
Article V: Officers and Directors
Section 1.
The officers of FURL shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Section 2.
Board of Directors shall serve for a two-year term. Officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors.
Section 3.
A. The President shall:
1) Have such powers of supervision and management as customarily pertain to the office which shall include serving as chair of Board and annual membership meetings; 2) Appoint committees with the approval of the Board;
3) Be an ex officio member of all committees except the nominating committee; 4) Or his/her appointee shall serve as liaison with the Frederick County Public Library system and the County Friends of the Library;
5) Perform other duties as may be determined by the Board.
B. The Vice-President shall:
1) Assume the office of the President in the absence of the President.
2) Perform other duties as may be designated by the President and the Board. Rev. 2014-11-02
C. The Secretary shall:
1) Record minutes of all meetings and make them available to the Board in a timely fashion;
2) Handle correspondence for the organization;
3) Perform other duties incident to the office as may be determined by the President and the Board.
4) Working with the Treasurer, maintain a list of members in good standing.
D. The Treasurer shall:
1) Perform such duties as customarily pertain to the office including a financial report at regularly scheduled meetings.
2) Arrange for an annual written review of the books or audit as directed by the Board; 3) At the direction of the Board, maintain deposits in authorized financial institutions. 4) File taxes as required by taxing authorities.
5) Present the previous year’s expenditures for members present at the annual meeting. 6) Perform other duties incident to the office as may be determined by the President and the Board.
Section 4.
There may be directors for the following functions: membership, finance, public relations, special events, and such other areas of activity as the Board shall determine.
Article VI: Elections
Section 1.
A Nominating Committee consisting of three (3) members of FURL shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Board no later than sixty days before the annual membership meeting. At least two (2) members of the Nominating Committee shall be members of the Board of Directors. Nominations shall be submitted in writing to the membership at least one week prior to the annual membership meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor with the consent of the nominee.
Section 2.
Election shall be by plurality vote of members in good standing present at the annual membership meeting.
Section 3.
Directors shall assume their duties at the close of the annual membership meeting.
Article VII: Fiscal Administration
Section 1.
The fiscal year of FURL shall begin on the first day of January of each year and end on the last of the same year.
Rev. 2014-11-02
Section 2.
Book sale customer purchasing for re-sale will pay a onetime membership fee plus will be charged a surcharge for their books in addition to their purchase cost. After the first year they shall only pay their purchase cost plus the surcharge. The surcharge shall be recommended by the Board of Directors and approved by the membership at the annual meeting.
Article VIII: Annual Membership Meeting
Section 1.
The annual meeting shall be held during the first quarter of each year on a date to be determined by the Board. Notice of the meeting shall be submitted to the members in writing at least one week prior to the meeting date.
Section 2.
The members present shall constitute a quorum.
Article IX: 501(c)3 Tax Exempt Status
No part of the earnings of FURL shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to, its members, governors, or officers, or other private persons, except that FURL shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the charitable and educational purposes of FURL. No substantial part of the activities of FURL shall be the carrying out of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and FURL shall not participate or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these bylaws, FURL shall not carry on any activity not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provisions of any future United States internal revenue law) or by an organization contributions to which are deductible under section 170 (c )(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provisions of any future United States internal revenue law).
Article X: Parliamentary Authority
The most recent edition of Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern the proceedings of this organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not in conflict with these bylaws.
Article XI: Amendments
Amendments to these bylaws may be made at a regularly scheduled meeting by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting, provided that the proposed amendment has been submitted to the
Rev. 2014-11-02
Board and in turn submitted to the membership in writing at least two weeks prior to a regular Membership Meeting.
Signed:
President: ____________________________________________ Date: _____________________ Vice President: ________________________________________ Date: _____________________ Treasurer: ____________________________________________ Date: _____________________ Secretary: ____________________________________________ Date: _____________________
Rev. 2014-11-02