1.4 BYLAWS OF THE AFRICAN LOVE BIRD SOCIETY
(Revised and Adopted November, 2019)
1.4.1 ARTICLE I - GENERAL MATTERS
1.4.1.1 NAME
A. The Name of the Organization is the African Love Bird Society, hereinafter referred to as, "ALBS".
1.4.1.2 PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES
A. The ALBS is formed exclusively for the Purpose stated below and not for profit or financial gain. No part of the assets, income, or profit of the ALBS will be distributable to, or be altered to the benefit of its members, Board of Directors, or Officers except to the extent permitted within the bylaws. The ALBS will not take steps which will serve to facilitate the transaction of specific business by its members or promote the private interest of any member or engage in any activities which would constitute a regular business of a kind ordinarily carried on for profit.
B. The Objectives of the ALBS are to unite into a common organization those individuals who are engaged in keeping, breeding, exhibiting, or promoting interest in any of the several species of Love Birds; to provide education/services designed to meet the needs and interests of the membership.
1.4.1.3 PRINCIPAL OFFICE/HOME OFFICE/AGENT
A. The ALBS Home Office is the ALBS Treasurer’s choice of business/home address.
B. The ALBS Principal Office is P.O. Box 372, Washingtonville, NY, 10992
C. The Resident Agent is the ALBS Treasurer.
1.4.2 ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP
1.4.2.1 ELIGIBILITY
A. Individual membership is open to any person not suspended or expelled from the ALBS under the terms of these Bylaws. All eligible individuals, groups, or organizations interested in actively contributing to the objectives/purpose of ALBS and who submits remittance and properly completed application shall be considered a member in good standing. Upon receipt of dues and processing of membership application, a membership card shall be issued by the Secretary and/or Treasurer.
1.4.2.2 CLASSIFICATION
A. A regular membership may be issued in the name of one person. Two individuals living in the same household may become members under a Joint/Dual Membership.
B. Any groups, organizations, or ready-formed avian clubs or education foundations may affiliate with ALBS upon payment of annual dues as prescribed by the Board of Directors. Each of the Affiliated Clubs shall choose and determine the manner and method of selecting its ALBS representative
1.4.2.3 MEMBERSHIP FEES/DUES
A. Individual/Dual membership
All Individual/Dual membership, excluding Lifetime Members, shall pay dues. Individual/Dual Membership begins on January 1 and expires on December 31 of each year. Members who join after October 1st will not expire until December 31 of the following year.
B. Club Affiliation
All Club Affiliations shall pay dues annually.
Club Affiliation dues become due on January 1 of each year.
C. Dues
The Board of Directors may, by a majority (over 50%) vote, establish or revise Individual/Dual membership and Affiliation fees/dues.
1.4.2.4 RESIGNATION/EXPULSION
A. Any member may withdraw from membership by submitting a written notice of resignation to the ALBS Secretary.
B. Membership shall be terminated for any member convicted of stealing, smuggling, or any other illegal act against the Aviculture community.
1.4.2.5 MEETINGS OF MEMBERS
A. The annual meeting of ALBS Members shall be held in conjunction with the National Bird Show (NBS), at the time and place prescribed by the Chairman of the Board. Members shall discuss issues and general business matters shall be conducted at the meeting.
B. The usual parliamentary rules as prescribed in "Robert's Rules of Order," or its equivalent will govern all deliberations, provided there is no conflict with these Bylaws.
C. Special meetings may be called by a majority vote of the Board of Directors, or upon written request submitted to the Board of Directors by not less than fifteen (15) members of the ALBS. The Chairman of the Board shall schedule the special meeting within sixty (60) days of receipt of the request. Notice of special meetings will be sent to each member not less than ten (10) days prior to the meeting.
D. Regional meetings may be conducted in conjunction with a Regional Show; however, no policy affecting the ALBS shall be adopted at Regional meetings.
1.4.2.6 VOTING PRIVILEGES
A. All matters carry by a simple majority (over 50%) of the votes cast by the members present at the annual meeting.
B. Each Individual member and designated Affiliated Club member has one vote per act proposed for adoption.
C. Dual membership has one vote per individual, per act proposed for adoption.
D. All Board matters carry by a simple majority of the votes cast by the Board of Directors.
E. Proxy votes will only be accepted in writing and submitted to the Secretary, prior to the General meeting or any Board meeting.
1.4.3 ARTICLE III - OFFICERS/DIRECTORS
1.4.3.1 GENERAL POWERS
A. The management of all the affairs, property, and business of the ALBS shall be vested in the Officers and Board of Directors.
1.4.3.2 ELIGIBILITY & NOMINATIONS FOR OFFICE
A. Any member in good standing for at least one year prior to elections shall be qualified to serve as an Officer or Board of Directors. It shall be the duty of the Chairman to appoint a three (3) member nominating committee at least one hundred-twenty (120) days prior to the annual meeting of the members. This committee shall propose a slate of nominations for any board position of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Directors at Large, and other Directors not less than one hundred-twenty (120) days prior to the General Membership annual meeting.
Nominations may be submitted by any member attending the annual meeting or by proxy through the Secretary, Board at Large or the Regional Director representing the member.
Nominations for the Judges’ Panel Chairman shall be submitted by any member of the Judges Panel to the Judges Panel Secretary not less than ninety days prior to the annual meeting. The Judge’s Panel Chairman must also be an ALBS sanctioned judge.
B. No member shall be a candidate or serve in more than one officer position or Board of Directors position.
1.4.3.3 ELECTION OF OFFICERS/BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A. The Secretary shall receive all nominations for office at the annual meeting and will provide the names of the nominees to the Agapornis World Editor.
B. The Agapornis World Editor shall publish the slate of nominees and ballot for election in the December Agapornis World.
C. The Secretary shall receive all ballots for election until the 15th of March following the December Agapornis World. The Secretary shall tally the votes and provide the Board of Directors with the results of the election.
1.4.3.4 TERMS OF OFFICE
A. The Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected for a four-year term. These officers shall have full voting privileges.
B. The Judge’s Panel Chairman shall be elected for a two-year term. He/She shall be elected by the Judge’s Panel and will have voting privileges.
C. Annually, the Advisor and Editor shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Board and each shall have full voting privileges.
D. The Board at Large shall be elected every four years, beginning in the second year of the term of the Chair. The Board at Large shall have full voting privileges.
E. The Regional Directors shall be elected every four years, beginning in the second year of the term of the Chairman. The Regional Directors shall have full voting privileges.
1.4.3.5 DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS
A. The CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD shall be the Executive Officer of the ALBS, shall preside at all membership meetings of the ALBS, appoint and/or remove all committees and committee chairpersons, perform administrative duties as are normal for such office.
In the event of vacancy for any Board position, the Chairman shall appoint a temporary Director until the following annual meeting.
The Chairman will annually make a report to the general membership by means of the Agapornis World.
The Chairman, or his designated Member of the Board, shall serve as the National Bird Show Liaison.
B. The Judges’ Panel Chair Person shall be responsible for all activities related to selecting, assisting, coordinating, and supervising ALBS members who have qualified, or intend to qualify as ALBS sanctioned judges. He/she shall be responsible for supervising the Ethics committee, and reporting committee activities to the Chairman.
He/she shall be responsible for ensuring the Points Registrar can prepare and maintain effective show reports.
He/she shall be responsible for administrative and disciplinary actions taken on behalf of the ALBS sanctioned Judges.
C. The VICE CHAIRMAN shall be known as the Membership Director. He/she shall be responsible for conducting an active campaign for obtaining members, shall report membership campaigns/activities or recommendations to the Board of Director and general membership.
He/she shall be responsible for processing all membership applications and maintaining a record of all members and their last known address.
He/she shall furnish the Regional Directors with an up-to-date list of the members and delinquent members in their respective regions.
He/she shall supervise the Regional Directors and Board at Large in obtaining members, providing education on breeding, raising, exhibiting Love Birds.
D. The TREASURER shall be responsible for preparing and monitoring the budget, making recommendations to the Board of Directors on financial matters, monitoring and auditing all funds collected and disbursed by the ALBS.
He/she shall keep correct and complete books and records of account and shall allow all books and records of the ALBS to be inspected by any member in good standing, or by his agent for any purpose at any reasonable time.
He/she shall, for the annual meeting, make a Summary Report of the financial position to the general membership.
He/she shall ensure the ALBS Editor will publish the annual Summary Report in the Agapornis World at the end of the fiscal year.
E. The SECRETARY shall be responsible for the recording of the Minutes at annual and special meetings, and shall ensure the ALBS Editor will published the Minutes in the Agapornis World.
He/she shall maintain an archive of all correspondence related to the ALBS business.
1.4.3.6 DUTIES OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A. The ADVISOR shall be responsible for assisting the Chairman in matters concerning the historical perspective on issues which have influenced evolution of the ALBS.
B. The AGAPORNIS WORLD EDITOR shall provide a medium for the distribution of information which is useful and beneficial to the general membership.
He/she shall ensure the Agapornis World is a forum for the expression of member's ideas, opinions, and thoughts related the objectives and purposes for which the ALBS exists.
He/she shall ensure the Agapornis World will convey official announcements, election results, and information related to the functioning of the ALBS as prescribed in the Bylaws. All notification required will be deemed served by announcement in the ALBS Agapornis World which is distributed to the last known address of each member.
C. The BOARD AT LARGE shall be responsible for developing, implementing, and improving on any ALBS education program as well as any other duties the Chairman so designates.
D. The REGIONAL DIRECTOR shall visit clubs within the region which he/she represents and serve as liaison for ALBS and members/affiliate(s) having questions or expressing concerns regarding the ALBS. Annually,
He/she shall solicit and coordinate a Regional Show within the region he/she represents.
1.4.4 ARTICLE IV - FISCAL MATTERS
1.4.4.1 GENERAL
A. The ALBS may use its funds only to accomplish the objectives and the purposes specified by the Bylaws.
1.4.4.2 FISCAL YEAR
A. The fiscal year will commence on the first day of January and will end on the last day of December.
1.4.4.3 EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY
A. No member of the ALBS shall be authorized to make purchases in the name of the ALBS except as provided by the ALBS rules governing such matters, or by majority approval of the Officers and Board of Directors.
B. No Officer or Board of Director of the ALBS shall be authorized to obligate the credit of the ALBS beyond its current free credit balance in the ALBS bank account.
C. Expenditures for and by any ALBS member in excess of $200.00 must have prior approval of the Board of Directors. All of checks, drafts, or other orders for payment of money, notes, or evidence of indebtedness issued in the name of ALBS in excess of $200.00 shall require written authorization of the Board of Directors, except that the treasurer shall be permitted to pay for routine, regularly occurring expenses.
1.4.4.4 COMPENSATION
A. Officers shall not receive any compensation for their services, but the Officers and Board of Directors may, by resolution, authorize reimbursement of expenses incurred in the direct performance of their duties.
1.4.4.5 MATERIAL PROPERTY
A. Material property obtained by and for the ALBS will be controlled by, and be the responsibility of the ALBS Chairman or other person(s) so designated by the Officers and Board of Directors.
B. In the event of change of Chairman, such property shall be passed from the outgoing Chairman to the incoming Chairman.
1.4.4.6 DISSOLUTION
A. Voluntarily or involuntarily, in the event of liquidation or dissolution of the ALBS, the Advisor will be entitled to any distribution or division of its remaining property. All remaining proceeds shall be distributed to any non-profit organization to be chosen by the Board of Directors.
1.4.5 ARTICLE V - AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS
1.4.5.1 REVISIONS
A. The Bylaws may be amended, repealed or altered in whole or in part by a majority (over 50%) vote of all members of ALBS present at the annual meeting.
B. Submission of Bylaw revisions will be presented at the annual meeting by any attending member, or by proxy through the Board at Large or the Regional Director representing the member.
C. The Secretary shall receive all proposed revisions at the annual meeting and will provide the revisions Agapornis World Editor.
D. The Agapornis World Editor shall publish the proposed revisions and ballot in the January Agapornis World.
E. The Secretary shall receive all ballots for election until the 15th of April following the January Agapornis World. The Secretary shall tally the votes and provide the Officers and Board of Directors with the results of the election.
1.4.6 ARTICLE VI - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
1.4.6.1 CONTRACTS
A. The Officers and Board of Directors may authorize any Officer(s) of the ALBS, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and for the ALBS.
1.4.6.2 AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS
A. The ALBS may designate certain organizations as "Affiliated Organization(s)" or "Affiliates." Requirements and responsibilities for Affiliates shall be drawn up and published by the Officers and/or Board of Directors or assigned committee. The Officers and/or Board or designated committee shall draw up and publish the services which will be provided to the Affiliates.
1.5 Board of Directors
1.5.1 Elected Officers
1.5.1.1 CHAIRMAN
1.5.1.2 VICE CHAIRMAN
1.5.1.3 JUDGE’S PANEL CHAIRMAN
A. Elected by the Panel Judges only.
1.5.1.4 SECRETARY
1.5.1.5 TREASURER
1.5.1.6 BOARD MEMBERS AT LARGE
A. Quantity of two (2) positions
1.5.1.7 REGIONAL DIRECTORS
A. Territories consist of:
North East – New England, NY, NJ, PA, & DE
Mid-Atlantic- NC, SC, WV, VA, MD, KY, D.C., & TN
South East- FL, GA, AL, MS, & LA
South West- TX, NM, OK, AK, AZ
Great Lakes- OH, IN, IL, MI, & WI
Mid-West- MT, WY, CO, ND, SD, NE, KS, MO, IA & MN
West Coast- CA, OR, WA, & NV
Puerto Rico- Island of Puerto Rico
1.5.2 Appointed Positions (may include but not limited to)
1.5.2.1 Editor
1.5.2.2 Advisor
1.5.2.3 Advertising Chairman
1.5.2.4 AFA Delegates
1.5.2.5 Affiliations Chairman
1.5.2.6 Awards Chairman
1.5.2.7 Band Secretary
1.5.2.8 Fundraising Chairman
1.5.2.9 Internet (Website) Editor
1.5.2.10 Points Registrar
1.5.2.11 Raffle Chairman
1.5.2.12 Bylaws/Handbook Committee
1.5.2.13 Sponsorship Committee
1.5.2.14 Research Committee
1.5.2.15 Articles Committee