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DEPARTMENT 56 COLLECTORS'
CLUB OF
Article I - Name
The name of the Club shall be The Pyramid 56ers, a Department 56
Collectors' Club of Memphis.
Article II - Object
A. The objectives of the Club shall be to:
1. Enhance, perpetuate and expand an interest in the Department 56 cottage collections and their related accessories.
2. Provide an opportunity for fun and fellowship among those who enjoy and appreciate these
collectibles.
3. Protect and advance the cause of the common collector.
B. The Club shall not be conducted or operated for the financial profit of the Club or any of its individual members. Therefore, the Club's name may not be used by anyone in any form of advertising except with written permission of the Executive Board.
Article III - Members
A. There shall be three types of membership.
1. Regular/Individual which carries one (1) vote and is open to all persons eighteen (18) years of age and older.
2. Regular/Dual which carries one vote for each of two persons eighteen (18) years of age and older residing in the same household.
3, Junior which carries no (0) votes and is open only to persons under eighteen (18)years of of age
B. Annual membership dues shall be:
1. Regular/individual $20.00
2. Regular Dual $25.00
3. Junior $5.00
C. Annual dues become payable at the February meeting and delinquent after the April meeting. Dues for new members will be prorated based on the date their application is accepted: If accepted February 1 - July 31, full amount; if accepted August I-January 31, half amount. All dues shall be paid to the Treasurer.
D. Acceptance to membership may be obtained by completion of the Club's application and payment of dues to the Treasurer.
E. Membership may be terminated by:
1. Written resignation submitted to the secretary.
2. Failure to maintain current dues.
Article IV - Officers/Directors/Executive Board
A. The officers of the Club shall be:
1. President - The president shall preside over meetings, publish a bi-monthly newsletter, schedule meetings.
2. Vice-president - The vice-president shall preside at meetings in the absence of the President, develop an agenda for the club.
3. Secretary - The Secretary shall take minutes of all meetings and handle all correspondence.
4. Treasurer - The Treasurer shall maintain bank accounts and be in charge of memberships.
One person may serve as both Secretary and Treasurer. In such cases, the Secretary treasurer shall have but one (1) vote on the Executive Board. Officers shall be elected for a one year term annually at the Annual Meeting.
The officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws, by direction of the Executive Board and by the parliamentary authority of Roberts Rules of Order (latest edition).
B. The Executive Board shall be comprised of the duly elected officers of the Club. The Executive Board shall be chaired by the President and shall have responsibility for conducting the business of the Club. Any vacancy on the Executive Board shall be filled until the next annual election year's Annual Meeting by a majority vote of the Executive Board. Should the office of President be vacated during a term of office, the vice-president shall become president and the Executive Board shall appoint a new vice-president.
C. Any check exceeding one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) must have prior approval of the president of the club.
Article V - Meetings, Elections and Committees
A. The Club will hold bi-monthly meetings in April, June, August, October, December and February at a time and place to be designated by the Executive Board.
B. Special meetings may be called by the Executive Board in which case members must be notified at least seven (7) days prior to the date of the special meeting.
C. A quorum for a regular or special meeting of the Executive Board shall be 3 active members.
D. The Executive Board shall meet at least one (1) time annually as directed by the President.
A special meeting may be called by the President or by petition of the other three members of the Executive Board.
E. At the February meeting, nominations for officers will be made from the floor. Nominees must consent to being nominated and must be an active member of the club.
F. The elected officers and directors shall take office immediately upon the conclusion of the Annual Meeting and each retiring officer shall turn over to his/her successor in office all properties and records relating to that office at that time or within thirty (30) days if not present at the meeting.
G. Only persons whose dues are current are entitled to vote. Voting by proxy shall not be permitted. Votes on officers at the February meeting shall be by counted show of hands.
Article VI - Amendments and Parliamentary Authority
A. The Constitution and Bylaws may be amended 'at any regular or special meeting by a 2/3 vote of Active members present and voting provided the proposed amendments have been submitted to the President and have been read at the previous regular meeting.
B. The Club adopts the following Code of Ethics to guide the behavior of its members in any matters pertaining to selling and swapping of cottages:
1. No member shall join the Club or function as a member primarily to advance his or her business profits.
2. No use of the Club's name or membership lists shall be used to promote sales of Department 56 cottages or their related accessories.
3. Members who choose to swap, trade or sell cottages or accessories to other members shall do everything in their power to assure one another that the cottage or accessory is fairly priced, free of defects, unbroken and unmended unless the receiving member is expressly made aware of the defect and that all items are authentic Department 56 pieces.
Article VII - Dissolution
The Club may be dissolved at any time by the consent of not less than 3/4 of its Active members. Upon dissolution, all debts shall be paid and any remaining funds and assets shall be divided equally among active members of the Club.
NOTE: "DEPARTMENT 56" AND THE TITLES "THE ORIGINAL SNOW VILLAGE", "DICKENS VILLAGE", "CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY", "NEW ENGLAND VILLAGE", "ALPINE VILLAGE", "SNOWBABIES", "LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM", AND. "NORTH POLE VILLAGE" AND THEIR RESPECTIVE DESIGNS AND ACCESSORIES ARE THE COPYRIGHTS/TRADEMARKS OF ENESCO LLC., ITASCA, IL