BURLINGTON ARTISTS LEAGUE
BY-LAWS
(Revised December 2011)
ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of this organization will be “Burlington Artists League”.
Section 1- The Burlington Artists League and it’s extensions are mutual Non-Profit organizations, in which all monies earned or accumulated will be liable for discharge of financial obligations of the League and extensions.
ARTICLE II – PURPOSE & MISSION STATEMENT
The Burlington Artists League’s express purpose will be to promote and elevate the area artists and their works and the fine art spirit in the Burlington and surrounding area. It will establish exhibits and shows in public areas, thereby creating outlets for the artists and encouraging their continuing efforts to improve and create more artwork. Exposing the wealth of local talent to the public will benefit the artist as well as the collectors and appreciators of art.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 – Supporting Members: A person eighteen (18) years and older interested in art and the promotion of art appreciation.
Section 2 – Exhibiting Members: Any person who actively participates in the Fine Arts: Fine Art as defined for the purposes and intent of the Burlington Artists League will be as follows: This definition will exclude the fine arts of writing, music, dance, and all other fine art except that of visual art and sculptures
A. Sculpture shall be limited to one of a kind work, and will not be reproduced from a mold or mechanical method other than to aid in creating the final one-of-a-kind piece of sculpture. The sculpture will be an original creation by the hands of the artist.
B. Visual art will be rendered in the media most acceptable to the artist. Calligraphy is acceptable in combination with pictorial expression in the artist’s chosen media. There will be no restrictions of subject matter, but the art must be on a surface of any material suitable for framing. Visual art rendered in any media shall be presented as one-of-a-kind work, or properly identified as a print or reproduction.
C. Etchings, Lithographs, Serigraphs or other mechanical works of art are acceptable when presented as original art and are produced as limited editions, numbered and signed by the artist, and the plate, stone or screen destroyed after the first run.
D. Only Fine Art will be eligible for inclusion in any regular authorized BAL competition. Out of town or non-member participants must be made aware of this before their applications to show are accepted.
E. Any work of art, painting, sculpture and graphic art may be refused, rejected or not exhibited when the gallery or business establishment donating the space finds a work of art objectionable, vulgar or in any form in bad taste for exhibit in its establishment.
F. To exhibit in League shows as a member of the Burlington Artists League, you must have joined the League by payment of dues thirty days prior to the show date. Non-members must pay the higher show fee to exhibit in a BAL sponsored show.
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
Section 1 – The officers of the Burlington Artists League will be President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. All such officers must be members of the League and will be elected by ballot. Nomination will be by slate from a nominating committee, appointed by the President and from the floor. Whenever a replacement is required, the President will appoint any member whom he or she thinks qualified to fill the existing vacancy until the next election.
Section 2 –The terms of office of all officers will be one year, effective from July 1 to June 30. There will be a limit of 2 consecutive terms for the Office of President. However, there will be no limit to the number of offices any person may hold if he or she is the choice of the membership. The outgoing President will remain as advisor to the Board.
Section 3 – Any officer may be removed from office by two-thirds of the voting membership present at a regular scheduled meeting, such voting to be by ballot and a vote must be cast either for or against removal. If the officer so desires, he or she must be given an opportunity to defend his or her action before the membership at an open meeting, prior to any balloting for his or her removal from office.
Section 4 - The President will preside at all meetings of the League and will appoint chairpersons of the standing committees, and will be a member ex-officio of all committees. He or she will be involved in all operations of the League and will be jointly accountable to the members for all official business of the League.
The Vice-President will assist the President in all of his or her duties. He or she will assume all such duties any time the president is unable to perform them. In the event of the permanent absence of the President for any cause whatsoever, the Vice-President will become President, and the new president will at his or her earliest convenience appoint another Vice-President. Furthermore, the Vice-President will be Chair-person of the Fine Art Competition Show, Senior Artists Show, and Members-Only Small Art Show.
(Members-Only Small Art Show: The Members-Only Small Art Show is open only to members of The Burlington Artists League.)
The Secretary will keep the minutes of all meetings of the League, as well as minutes and reports of the Board of Directors and minutes of the Gallery Committee meetings. He or she will maintain for the President a list of all incomplete business, and will keep on file all reports from Committees. It will also be his or her duty to take a roll call of all members at any regular or special meeting at the request of the President. He or she will conduct all correspondence and will maintain a file of all such correspondence for use by the President.
The Treasurer shall collect all monies and dues paid to the League. He or she will maintain a roster of current members for the use of all officers and committees. He or she will notify all members when dues are payable and will acknowledge receipt of all monies and will report to the President any membership which expires as a result of non-payment of dues. The Treasurer will make disbursements from the treasury as instructed by the President, and will render a financial report to the membership at each regular or special meeting of the League. The financial books of the league will be ready for audit on July 30th of each year.
ARTICLE V – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors will be composed of all the officers of the League, The Gallery Chair-person, and two elected voting members. The President will serve, as Chair-person and it will convene at his or her call. The duties of this committee will be to act as an advisory body for the benefit of the President, and to make decisions and render recommendations to him or her and to the membership. This committee will be empowered to act for the League as a whole in any business, which time and expedience prohibits being discussed at a regular business meeting or special meeting of the Membership. The proceedings shall be reported to the Membership at the next scheduled League meeting.
Five members of the Board of Directors will constitute a quorum for the conduct of committee business. There will be no less than two board meetings annually to be determined by the President.
ARTICLE VI – PROGRAMS AND MEETINGS
Section 1 – The regular meetings and or programs of the League will commence on the third Thursday of each designated month. In the event of hazardous weather on the date of a regular scheduled meeting, the meeting will be postponed until an appropriate time.
Section 2 – Special meetings may be called by the President at any time he or she deems it necessary or advisable.
Section 3 – The Annual Meeting will be held on the third Thursday of May, and it will be at this meeting that officers will be elected to take office effective July 1.
Section 4 – Order of Business
- Call to Order
- Reading of Minutes
- Treasurers Report
- Officers Report
- Gallery Report
- Arts Council Report
- Committee Reports
- Unfinished Business
- New Business
- Adjournment
- Program
ARTICLE VII – COMMITTEES
Section 1 –The Gallery Committee, consisting of a chair-person and four other committee persons of his or her choosing will, only after due consideration and agreement by the majority of all committee members, develop and establish the Gallery’s operational guidelines and procedures, to then be approved by the Leagues’ Board of Directors. The Gallery Chair-person shall be elected at the regular schedule annual election of the League’s Officers and Directors. The Chairperson shall serve the same length and term of Office as the President of the Burlington Artists League. Should both the BAL President and Gallery Chairman’s terms end in the same year, either the President or Gallery Chairman may at the choice of the membership serve an additional term in office. This is intended to prevent a lost of continuity in the joint organizations.
Section 2 – Exhibit and Show Committees: The Vice-President shall chair the Annual Fine Art Competition Show, The Annual Senior Artists Show, and The Annual Members Only Small Art Show. Subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, the Committee (s) will formulate rules and procedures, in accordance with the facility being used, for the placement and hanging of works for all exhibits and shows excluding regular Gallery exhibits. The Show Chairman of our exhibits will not be obliged to hang any artwork not properly protected by matting, backing and covering, or wrapped, or in frames not wired for hanging, (no saw-tooth hangers).
Section 3 – Hospitality Committee: The Chair-person shall be appointed by the President. The Committee will preside over and direct all receptions of the League except Feature Artist Reception, which shall be the responsibility of the featured artist.
Section 4 – Building and Grounds Committee: Will consist of as many members deemed necessary by the President and will be responsible and accountable for the proper safekeeping of any acquired exhibition site managed by the League and render a report of any and all business accomplished, at the request of the President. The President will be Chair-person. Due to insurance liability; alcoholic beverages will not be served during any event, on or off the premises.
Section 5 – The Program Committee: Will be responsible for the proper preparation and presentation of all programs at the regular meetings of the League, as well as at any social meeting, or special program that may be requested by the League. This Committee will be appointed by the President and will consist of as many persons as he or she may deem necessary.
Membership of this committee may be rotated as frequently as may be required for efficient operation.
Section 6 – The Alamance County Arts Council Representative: shall be appointed by the President.
Section 7 – Membership and Special Committees: From time to time the President may appoint any special committees which seem indicated in order to expedite the program of the League.
ARTICLE VIII – DUES
Section 1 – Dues will be established and voted upon prior to July of each year, as the League year begins July 1st. The agreed upon dues will be effective for one year beginning July 1st of each year. New members that join the Artists League May 1 through June 30 will be entitled to membership through June 30 of the following year. If membership is not renewed between July 1 and July 31, their names will be removed from the roster and all benefits stopped.
ARTICLE IX – QUORUM
Section 1 – Meetings: In order to transact business:
- A quorum consisting of two (2) officers and five (5) voting members must be present to open a meeting.
- For purposes of voting on any proposal, a quorum will be defined as having present, the President or Vice-President and eight (8) other voting members, which can include any other officers other than the presiding officer, (President or Vice-President).
ARTICLE X – EXHIBITIONS
The Burlington Artists League will hold a minimum of three competitive exhibits a year, the essential ones to be as follows:
Members Only Small Art Show – Judged
Senior Citizens Show – Judged
Fine Art Competition – Judged
The League will not be responsible for the loss or damage of any exhibited works, displays or personal property of its members or exhibitors.
ARTICLE XI – DISSOLUTION
Under dissolution of the League, its assets will be distributed to the Alamance County Arts Council to be used for Fine Art Scholarships.
ARTICLE XII – AMMENDMENTS
The By-Laws may not be amended by less than two-thirds vote of the members present, providing a legally constituted quorum is established and without previous written notice of the amendment (s) being given, after one reading at a regular scheduled meeting.
