Bylaws

ARTICLE I

Name

 The name of this organization shall be the Landscape Design Council of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, Inc. (GCFM).

ARTICLE II

Purpose

Section 1. 

The purpose of the Council is to encourage and support the application of sound landscape design practices in individual and community projects; to offer informative programs on Landscape Design; and to provide assistance and promotion of attendance at Landscape Design Schools and Refreshers.

ARTICLE III

Membership

Section 1. 

Membership in this Council shall be open to any National Garden Club member who is an accredited Landscape Design Consultant.

Section 2. Procedure of Application:

a. Invitation to membership shall be sent to eligible Consultants by the Membership Chair, who obtains the list from the Chair of the Landscape Design School. 

b. Other persons qualified for membership will apply directly to the Membership Chair.

Section 3. There shall be four classes of membership: Active, Provisional, Emeritus and Honorary.

a. Active Membership.  Any person who is an active member of a National Garden Club, and who holds a Landscape Design Consultant certificate shall be eligible for Active membership upon payment of dues. Active Members shall have all privileges, including the right to make motions, vote and hold office.

b. Provisional Membership.  Any person who is an Active Member of a National Garden Club, shall be eligible for Provisional membership upon successfully completing two courses of the Landscape Design School. Upon payment of dues Provisional Members shall have all privileges except the right to make motions, vote and hold office. Provisional membership automatically terminates at the end of seven years.

c. Emeritus Membership. Any person granted Emeritus Consultant status by National Garden Clubs is eligible for Emeritus membership in the Council upon the payment of dues and shall have all privileges of membership except the right to make motions, vote and hold office.

d. Honorary Membership.  Honorary membership shall be granted by the approval of the Executive Board and by majority vote at the annual meeting. Honorary membership may be conferred upon any person who has rendered distinguished service to the Landscape Design School Council or whose achievements have been outstanding.  Honorary members are exempt from payment of dues and have all privileges of membership, except the right to make motions, vote and hold office.

ARTICLE IV

Fiscal Year

The fiscal year shall be the same as that of GCFM, July 1 to June 30, inclusive.

ARTICLE V

Dues

Council dues are determined by the Executive Board and approved by the membership at the Annual Meeting.  If dues are not paid by June 30, membership is automatically terminated.

ARTICLE VI

Officers

Section 1. The officers of this Council shall be Chair, Vice Chair, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer. All officers shall report as required at Executive Board and membership meetings.

Section 2.  Duties of Officers:

The Chair shall preside at all meetings, perform all duties pertaining to the office and be a member ex-officio of all standing and special committees.

The Vice Chair shall serve as Program Chair and shall preside at meetings in the absence of the Chair. 

The Recording Secretary shall record and keep the minutes at all Executive Board and Council meetings.

The Corresponding Secretary shall send meeting notices and announcements to the membership, and handle all business correspondence.

The Treasurer shall collect dues and other monies, keep records of receipts and disbursements and inform the Membership Chair of those whose dues are not paid and who are no longer members.

Section 3. Nominations and Elections: 

The nominating committee shall present a slate of officers and a member-at-large to the Council membership at a regular meeting preceding the annual meeting, and/or in writing no later than ten days prior to the annual meeting. Nominations may also be accepted from the floor. The officers and member-at-large shall be elected at the annual meeting by a majority of votes cast. In the event there is only one candidate for each office, by vote of the Council, the secretary shall cast one vote for the entire slate. The term of office shall be two years, except the Treasurer, who may serve six years.

ARTICLE VII

Executive Board

Section 1. The Executive Board consists of the officers and the chairs of the standing committees. The Chair of the Landscape Design School is an ex-officio members of the Executive Board. Past Chairs of the Council are Advisors to the Board and may participate in discussion but may not make motions or vote.

Section 2. The Executive Board shall exercise general supervision of the business of the Council between regular meetings and authorize the payment of all bills.  The Board shall fill vacancies arising between elections in the offices of the Council and. may establish additional standing committees as needed.

ARTICLE VIII

Standing Committees

Section 1. There shall be the following standing committees: Membership, Program, Hospitality, Nominating, Yearbook, Publicity, Greeter, Newsletter, Advisory and any standing committee created pursuant to Article VII, Section 2.

 Section 2. Chairs of standing committees, with the exception of the nominating committee, shall be appointed by the Chair of the Council and shall be members of the Executive Board.

 Section 3. The nominating committee, composed of three members, shall include the immediate past or present Chair, a member of the Executive Board, and a member-at-large, whose name shall be included on the ballot for election at the annual meeting.  This elected member-at-large shall be the Chair of the nominating committee.

ARTICLE IX

Meetings

Section 1. There shall be a minimum of two meetings in addition to the annual meeting each fiscal year.

Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the Chair, with the approval of the Executive Board, for the transaction of business and/or special programs.

ARTICLE X

Quorum

Fifteen (15) members shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Council.

ARTICLE XI

Nondiscrimination

The Landscape Design Council of the GCFM shall not permit in its conduct of the Council’s affairs, any restrictions or limitations whatsoever based upon age, race, color, creed, gender, national origin, or employment status.

ARTICLE XII

Parliamentary Authority

Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern all proceedings of the Council to which they are applicable and not inconsistent with these bylaws or the bylaws of GCFM. 

ARTICLE XIII

Amendments

These bylaws may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the Council by a two-thirds vote of those present and eligible to vote, provided that notice of the proposed amendment was submitted at a previous meeting or in writing ten days before the proposed meeting.

ARTICLE XIV

Dissolution

In the event of dissolution, all of the remaining assets and property of the Council shall, after payment of necessary expenses, be distributed to such organization as shall qualify under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, subject to the provisions of any federal or state law.

Submitted by: Mrs. Alfred D. Cole (Evelyn R. Cole), Chairman pro tem Adopted: Oct 14, 1964. Revised: May 15, 1973; Oct 16, 1975; Apr 23, 1979; Sep 26, 1980; Sep 17, 1984; Apr 26, 2000, Apr 18, 2001, Apr 25, 2002; Spring 2003 (by NGC and GCFM directive), May 29, 2014, May 26, 2016.