BY-LAWS OF THE
HEART OF ILLINOIS BEEKEEPERS' ASSOCIATION

ARTICLE I
Membership

Section 1. Membership shall run on an annual calendar basis from January 1 through December 31.

Section 2. The Executive Board shall set the rate of the annual dues. These dues may also include the dues for the Illinois State Beekeepers' Association.

Section 3. Annual dues shall be considered a family-type membership to include the spouse of a member as well as any minor children; however, there shall be only one vote per paid membership.

Section 4. Any person may, by a unanimous vote of the Executive Board and a majority vote of the membership attending a regular meeting, become an Honorary Member of the Association. Once officially designated, such a member shall enjoy Honorary Membership in the Association with full privileges and without dues payment for the annual calendar year.

Section 5. Non-Illinois residents may become Association members by payment of regular annual dues and shall have all the privileges of membership except to serve as Officers or Board members.

Section 6. Privileges of a member include the right to vote, to hold office if elected or appointed, to receive regular mailings of the Association, and to receive reduced subscription rates to beekeeping publications, supplies, and equipment as available.

Section 7. Any member who has not paid his current dues by April 30 of a calendar year shall be dropped from the current Association membership list.

ARTICLE II
Quorum

Section 1. Twenty percent (20%) of the Association membership present at any meeting shall constitute a quorum.

Section 2. A quorum must be present at any meeting at which business is transacted or a vote taken committing the Association to any proposal or action.

ARTICLE III
Election Of Officers

Section 1. Officers shall be elected at the last regular Association meeting of each calendar year. Candidates may be selected by a nominating committee or through nominations from the floor. The newly elected officers shall then preside at the first regular Association meeting of the new calendar year. After being elected, and prior to presiding at this first meeting, the elected President shall appoint four (4) members in good standing to serve on the Executive Board.

Section 2. Candidates nominated from the floor must be present at the time. If not present, the candidate must have publicly indicated willingness to serve the Association and assume the responsibilities of the office to which he or she is being nominated.

Section 3. To have the privilege of voting, or being nominated for office, or appointed to the Executive Board, a member shall have his dues paid and otherwise be in good standing in the Association.

Section 4. No proxy vote shall be counted as valid.

Section 5. Candidates shall be elected by a majority vote of the membership present at the election. If no nominee receives a majority vote, a second vote shall be taken on the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes.

Section 6. Retiring officers shall acquaint the incoming officers with their duties and assist where possible to insure a smooth transition.

Section 7. Vacancies in office by death, resignation, or otherwise, with the exception of the office of President, shall be filled by appointment by the President with the appointee holding the office until the next election.

ARTICLE IV
Duties Of Officers

Section 1. The PRESIDENT of the Association shall:

a. Preside and preserve order at all meeting of the Association;
b. Appoint four (4) members to serve on the Executive Board;
c. Appoint committees as he sees fit;
d. See that the Constitution and By-Laws are adhered to;
e. Lead the Association toward the fulfillment of its objectives;
f. Represent the Association on special occasions;
g. Call regular and special meetings and direct the Secretary to notify the general membership of the time and location of said meetings;
h. Preside as Chairman of Executive Board meetings;
i. Perform any other duties traditionally associated with the position of President or as specified by the Executive Board;
j. Not have voting power at any meeting except at times when he may be required to vote to break a tie;
k. Upon retiring, shall automatically become a member of the Executive Board for a period of one (1) year to guide, assist, and counsel the Executive Board.

Section 2. The VICE PRESIDENT of the Association shall:

a. Act with full power of the President in his absence or in his inability to act;
b. Be a member of the Executive Board;
c. Pursue such duties and responsibilities as the President shall direct;
d. Succeed the President for the remainder of an unexpired period in the event that the office is vacated for any reason;
e. Perform any other duties traditionally associated with the position of Vice President or as specified by the Executive Board.

Section 3. The SECRETARY of the Association shall:

a. Keep an accurate account of and preserve permanent records of all Association meetings;
b. Carry on the general correspondence of the Association under the direction of the President;
c. Issue notices to the membership of regular and special meetings;
d. Issue membership cards after dues have been paid;
e. Maintain a current membership list;
f. Be a member of the Executive Board;
g. Pursue those duties and responsibilities as the President shall direct;
h. Perform any other duties traditionally associated with the position of Secretary or as specified by the Executive Board.

Section 4. The TREASURER of the Association shall:

a. Be the custodian of the Association funds including annual dues;
b. Issue duplicate receipts for all monies received;
c. Pay by check, as soon as possible, all bills owed by the Association;
d. Report at each regular meeting monies received and disbursed during and since the previous regular meeting;
e. Submit in writing an annual financial report;
f. Provide the necessary financial records for an audit by the Executive Board upon request;
g. Advise the Secretary and President of the names of members who have not paid their dues for the current calendar year by April 30;
h. Be a member of the Executive Board;
i. Pursue such duties and responsibilities as the President shall direct;
j. Perform any other duties traditionally associated with the position of Treasurer or as specified by the Executive Board;
k. Be authorized to purchase supplies and postage without prior Association approval.

Section 5. The EXECUTIVE BOARD of the Association shall:

a. Attend meetings called by the President or any other four (4) Board members;
b. Be responsible for the administration of the Association;
c. Plan the locations and general topics of educational lectures for all regular meetings of the calendar year;
d. Decide by majority vote any matters arising at the Executive Board meetings at which a quorum of five (5) Executive Board members are present. The president shall have no voting power except to break a tie vote;
e. When deemed necessary, or in the best interest of the Association, it shall request an audit of the financial records of the Treasurer; f. Pursue those duties and responsibilities deemed necessary to further the objectives of the Association.

ARTICLE V
Meeting Procedure

Section 1. The regular meetings of the Association shall be, as far as practicable, governed by the following order of business:

1. Call to Order
2. President's Message
3. Reading of Minutes of the Last Meeting
4. Treasurer's Financial Report
5. Report On Correspondence
6. Introduction of New Members & Guests
7. Unfinished Business
8. New Business
9. Election Of Officers (last regular meeting of calendar year)
10. Program
11. Adjournment
12. Refreshments

This order of business may be changed for any meeting at the direction of the President.

Section 2. The regular meetings of the Association shall be, as far as practicable, governed in the following manner:

This order of monthly meetings may be changed at the direction of the Executive Board with the exception that the election of officers shall take place at the last meeting of the calendar year with the newly elected officers presiding at the first meeting of the ensuing calendar year.

Section 3. A special meeting of the Association may be called by the President at any time, or by a petition signed by one-third (1/3) of the current membership.

Section 4. ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER shall be the Association's final authority on all questions of meeting procedure and parliamentary law not covered by the Constitution and By-Laws of the Association.

ARTICLE VI
Amending The By-Laws

Section 1. A proposed revocation, addition, or amendment of these By-Laws may be initiated by any member or members in good standing. It must be presented by said member or members at a regular meeting of the Association at which a quorum is present. It shall be discussed and tabled until the next regular meeting, at which a quorum is present, and at which time it shall be voted upon. Members shall be notified of the referendum date at least one week prior to the date of the meeting at which the vote is to be taken. Such notice, when placed in the United States Mail, shall be official. To be adopted, the proposed revocation, addition, or amendment must be passed by two-thirds (2/3) majority of votes by members present.

ARTICLE VII
Dissolution

Section 1. In the event of dissolutionment of this Association, after all liabilities and obligations have been paid, satisfied, and discharged, any remaining assets shall be contributed to the Illinois State Beekeepers' Association, or if the Illinois State Beekeepers' Association shall not be in existence, it shall be contributed to the American Beekeeping Federation.

(Constitution & By Laws update & revision drafted &

approved by Executive Board 07 October 1982)

(Accepted & ratified by membership at regular meeting

19 November 1982)

(Article I Section 7 & Article IV Section 4g of By-Laws

amended by membership at regular meeting 22 October 1988)