Constitution of the Russ O'Harra Hosta Society

Adopted March 7, 1993; Revisions February 26, 1998; October 4, 1998; September 25,1999; September 14, 2002; October 15, 2006; October 2011; April 2012

[For publication in the "Hosta Horizons", Vol. 15 - No..1, Spring 2007
Previously published Vol. 11 - No.1, Spring 2003]

Article I - TITLE

The name of the organization shall be "Russ O'Harra Hosta Society", herein referred to as "Society".

Article II - PURPOSE

We shall be a not-for-profit educational society open to all those interested in the genus Hosta. We shall promote the growing and enjoyment of hostas including their usefulness in landscape design and the cultivation and development of new varieties. The goals of the Society shall be in keeping with those of the American Hosta Society.

Article III - MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

Section A. Membership shall be open to any interested individual or family upon receipt of annual dues. The annual dues shall be set by the elected officers with membership approval and shall be sufficient to cover operating expenses for the year. Dues shall be paid by January 1 of each year. Dues from new members received after October 1 shall be applied to the following year.

Section B. All members who join during 1993 shall be considered charter members.

Section C. An honorary membership may be granted to any person residing in the area whose association with hostas and service to any recognized hosta organization has been of particular merit. Honorary members shall not be required to pay dues.

Article IV - MEETINGS

Section A. Regular Meetings shall be scheduled for spring, summer and fall. The Spring and Fall meetings shall be business meetings with a guest speaker. The Summer Meeting shall consist of a garden tour and plant auction. Income from the plant auction may be used for meeting educational expenses, support for the American Hosta Society, donations to public gardens that feature Hostas, donations to special non-profit gardens, and donations to arboretums and botanic gardens that have Hosta display gardens. Requests for donations by gardens shall be submitted to the Executive Committee or committee appointed by the President for presentation to the membership at a business meeting for approval, modification or declination. Contribution amounts shall be determined on a case-by-case basis not to exceed $500 per request per year. The membership shall determine amounts to support the American Hosta Society and for special distribution. Educational expenses for Society meetings shall be approved by the Executive Committee.

Section B. Meetings may be called by the Executive Committee with at least three weeks prior notification given to members of such meeting.

Section C. A majority vote of members present at a meeting shall be required to approve a motion.

Section D. Executive Committee meetings may be called by the President.

Section E. Sales of plants by owners of commercial or private gardens shall be permitted during garden tours.

Article V - OFFICERS

Section A. The officers of the Society shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer/Membership Chair, Newsletter Chair and Historian/Librarian. These officers shall make up the Executive Committee.

Section B. The term of office will be two (2) years. The outgoing President shall be an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee in an advisory capacity only.

Section C. The President shall form a Nominating Committee ninety (90) days prior to the Fall Meeting in the year new officers are to be elected. The Nominating Committee will present their slate of officers at this Fall Meeting. New officers assume duties the following January 1.

Section D. Additional nominations may be made from the floor at the time of the election. Should there be more than one nominee for any office the election of that office shall be by ballot.

Section E. President: The President shall preside at the Spring and Fall Meetings of the Society, shall call meetings of the Executive Committee and act as an ex-officio member of committees. In the event of an elected officer vacating their office, the President shall appoint a replacement officer to fill out the remaining term.

Section F. Vice-President: The Vice-President shall assist the President in establishing the programs for the Spring and Fall meetings and shall organize plant raffles and the Summer Garden Tour and Plant Auction. The Vice-President shall, upon the event of the President not being able to fulfill the presidential duties, step up to the Presidential role until such time as the President can resume the duties. If this would become a permanent replacement, a new Vice President would then be appointed by the serving President.

Section G. Secretary: The Secretary shall record minutes of both business and executive meetings and the mailing of special announcements required by such meetings. The Secretary shall also be responsible for name tags and attendance sheets at Spring and Fall Meetings and Summer Garden Tour.

Section H. Treasurer/Membership Chair: The Treasurer shall receive and acknowledge all dues, keep accounts and maintain a record of monies received and monies paid out. The function of the Membership Chair is to maintain a list of 1. current members, 2. complimentary names and 3. AHS National Newsletter Exchange Editors (NLE). Mailing labels for these three (3) lists shall be printed and given or mailed to the Newsletter Editor(s) for mailing purposes.

Section I. Newsletter Editor: The Newsletter Editor(s) shall be responsible for editing, compiling, printing and mailing the newsletter, "Hosta Horizons"; also the complimentary copies of the newsletter as designated including the AHS National Newsletter Exchange editors. The newsletter shall be published no less than three times per year and up to four times at the discretion of the editor, no less than two (2) weeks before the Spring and Fall Meetings and the Summer Garden Tour. The duties of this position maybe split between two (2) individuals. (This office is also referred to as Newsletter Chair, Article V. Section A.)

Section J. Hospitality Chair: The Hospitality Chair shall make arrangements for members to bring refreshments to meetings and be responsible for set-up for meetings. The duties of this position may be split between two (2) or more individuals.

Section K. Historian-Librarian: The Historian-Librarian shall be responsible for circulation of reference materials and preparation of a notebook recording activities of the Society.

Article VII - ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The immediate past President shall be available to advise the Executive Committee on matters pertaining to the best interests of the Society.

Article VIII - ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION

The Constitution shall be declared and adopted when approved by a majority vote of the members present at the Spring Meeting.

Article IX - AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION

The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the membership at a regular meeting.