BYLAWS
TRIANGLE
CHAPTER
AMERICAN
WINE SOCIETY
ARTICLE
I
NAME OF
ORGANIZATION
Section l. The name of the organization is TRIANGLE CHAPTER, AMERICAN WINE SOCIETY, hereinafter referred to as
"Triangle Chapter."
ARTICLE
II
PURPOSE
Section 1. The purpose of the Triangle Chapter is
to foster wine education and to promote the appreciation and responsible
enjoyment of wine.
ARTICLE
III
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1.
Eligibility. Membership in the Triangle Chapter shall be open to all members of the
American Wine Society, who are genuinely interested in supporting the purpose
of the Triangle Chapter.
Section 2.
Member of Record. A member who has attended at least one event in the
previous six months shall be considered a member of record of the Triangle
Chapter.
Section 3.
Member Voting Rights. Each member of record shall be entitled to personally vote on
each matter submitted to a vote of the members.
A.
Individual American Wine Society membership: entitled to one vote.
B.
Couple American Wine Society membership: each person entitled to one vote.
ARTICLE
IV
OFFICERS
Section 1.
Designation. The
principal officers of the Triangle Chapter shall be the Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. Together with the Immediate Past Chair, the
Program Chair, and up to two at-large members, these officers shall comprise
the chapter Board. If the Immediate Past
Chair is unable to serve, the Board will operate with one less member during
that term of office. No two offices may
be held by the same person.
Section 2. Officer Voting Rights. Each Board position, whether filled by an
individual or a couple, shall have a single vote in all matters brought before
the Board.
Section 3. Chair. The Chair shall have charge of all Triangle Chapter activities. He/she
shall preside at meetings of the membership, promote chapter membership,
appoint committees as needed, and see that chapter activities are reported to
the Executive Director for potential national publication.
Section 4. Secretary. The Secretary shall perform the duties and functions
customarily performed by the secretary of an organization, including recording
minutes of Triangle Chapter business meetings, keeping attendance of Triangle
Chapter events, and maintaining the Triangle Chapter membership roster. In the absence or disability of the Chair,
the Secretary shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chair.
Section 5. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have custody of all funds, shall
keep full and accurate account of all receipts and disbursements in boo
Section 6. Committee Chairpersons. A Program Chair shall have responsibility for
planning and coordinating all sanctioned chapter activities, and other
committee chairs may be appointed by the Triangle Chapter Chair for a term
coextensive with that of the Chair, subject to the approval of the other
officers.
ARTICLE V
BUSINESS MEETINGS
of MEMBERS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1. Frequency of Meetings. Meetings of the membership shall be held at least
quarterly at suitable places as may be designated by the Triangle Chapter
officers.
Section 2. Notice of Meetings. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to send a notice
of each meeting, stating the purpose of the meeting as well as the time and
place where it is to be held, to each member of record no less than one week
prior to such meeting.
Section 3. Quorum. The members of record in attendance at any meeting shall constitute a
quorum.
Section 4. Matters Subject to Vote. The Board may bring for a vote before the membership
any matter related to the business of the Chapter. Any member may also propose
to the Board in writing any matter about which it is desired to obtain
consideration of the Board for a vote of the membership.
Section 5. Voting. At every meeting of the membership, each member of record present shall
have the right to vote in accordance with the provisions of Article III,
Section 3 on each question. The vote of the majority of those present shall
decide any question brought before such meeting.
Section 6. Elections. Elections shall be held in the Fall of each year, and
those members selected as Chapter Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Program Chair, and
at-large members shall hold their respective offices from January 1 through
December 31 of the following year. Each elected officer may directly succeed
himself/herself.
Section
7. Office Vacancies. At any regularly scheduled or special meeting of the
membership duly called, any elected officer may be removed with cause by a vote
of the majority of the membership in attendance. A successor may then and there
be elected to fill the vacancy thus created. Such will also be the case for any
office vacated by resignation or inability to continue to serve.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1. Paid Chapter Events. For each paid tasting event of the Triangle Chapter,
registration fees shall be set based upon the nature of the tasting, and shall
be due no less than one week prior to the event. If a payee cancels during the
final week preceding the event, the fee shall be forfeited. Forfeiture dates
for special events shall be established in advance by the Program Chair.
Section 2. Guests. Anyone eligible for membership in the American Wine Society may attend
up to three tasting events of the Triangle Chapter, subject to the payment of
all fees in advance and the forfeiture provisions of Article VI, Section
1. After that, he/she must officially
join the American Wine Society in order to continue participation in such
events.
Section 3. Event Hosting. Volunteer hosts shall provide a location for convening
Chapter events, and be compensated one dollar ($1.00) from each registration
fee to offset the cost of any consumables provided (bread, tableware, etc.).
Section 4. Event Facilitating. Volunteer facilitators shall organize the event
programs, including procuring wines with the registration fees collected for
the events, preparing educational materials, and leading the events.
Section 5. Event Format. At least half of the tasting events each year shall be
organized to score wines using the AWS system.
ARTICLE VII
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Balloting. These Bylaws and the provisions herein may be altered,
amended, or repealed ("changed") by a majority of those members
voting in a ballot of the entire membership in which at least 20% of the
eligible votes are cast. If less than 20% of the total active membership of the
Triangle Chapter responds to a ballot, this shall be considered a technical
defeat of the amendment.
ARTICLE VIII
DISSOLUTION OF THE
CHAPTER
Section 1. Distribution of Assets. Upon dissolution of the Chapter, none of its assets
shall be distributed to any officer or member, but shall be disposed of in
accordance with the applicable regulations of the Internal Revenue Service and
provisions of the Internal Revenue Service Code then in force.
These bylaws
were voted upon by the membership in May, 2005, and were declared as accepted
and effective on June 2, 2005, by president