BYLAWS

ARTICLE I
Name and Purpose:   The name of the club is the Erie Cage Bird Club.   the purpose of the club is to unite the keepers and breeders of the avian community to promote advances in aviculture, better avian husbandry, and promote a greater interest in cage birds by educating all who breed, exhibit, or keep birds as pets.

ARTICLE II
Membership:   will be open to anyone with an interest in pet birds or aviculture.

Individual Membership:  any person who shares an interest in pet birds or aviculture.  Each member shall receive a membership card good for one year from their acceptance for membership.

Application:  for membership will be made to the officers.

Annual dues:  covering all forms of membership are until otherwise noted, $12.00 per person; $17.00 dual (two people at same address); $9.00 junior/senior (18 years and younger and 65 years and older); and $27.00 for families.   Dues are to be paid on or before the expiration of one (1) year's time from acceptance.   Note:  each member has one vote.  A dual membership has two votes.  A family membership has three votes.

Honorary Membership:   any individual recommended by one member, seconded by another member, and a majority of members present at a meeting decide is eligible.   An honorary membershp shall have none of the obligations of the club, but shall be entitled to all of the privileges except those of making motions, of voting, and of holding office.  Honorary membership is good for one calendar year.  Our founder, William Wandel, is a lifetime honorary member.

Membership List:  the Erie Cage Bird Club officers shall keep a list of the names and addresses of all members, and such list shall be conclusive, subject to correction for verifiable error only, as to whether a person is or is not a member.   Every member shall receive a list, and listings are not to be given to any organization without the consent of the membership, nor are they to be given to individuals without the permission of the membership.  Membership lists are to be distributed in March.

ARTICLE III   ELECTED OFFICERS
Number and Qualifications:  the elected officers of the Erie Cage Bird Club shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Corresponding Secretary (if needed).   All elected officers must be 18 years or older and be a member in good standing for at least three (3) months prior to the month of nominations.  If an officer is not present at a meeting, the President may temporarily appoint a person to fill the vacancy.

Nominations:  for club officers will be made in October and voted on at the November meeting.  The person named on the said list must have already accepted the nomination and be seconded.  Such names shall be deemed and placed iin nomination.

Election:  in order to vote, one must be a paid-up member in good standing and must be present to vote.

Marking and Validation of Ballots:  All ballots shall be clearly marked ini order to be counted.  All ballots not clearly marked will not be counted for the office fo which the voter's choice shall be iin doubt. No write-in votes will be counted.   the President will read the new officers' names and office held.  Ballots must be counted by two unnominated members at the meeting.  Ballots are to be kept for one year by the club's Treasurer.

Tenure:  all officers will serve a term of one year.  An officer may run for the same office he/she currently holds.  the term of the office shall commence at the end of the November meeting.

President:  shall be official spokesperson of the Erie Cage Bird Club.  He/she shall supervise the daily business and functioning of the club, shall carry out the decisions of the members concerning club policy or administrative procedures.   The president shall preside over the meetings and be responsible for the meeting's agenda.   The president shall perform whatever other duties that may develop upon this office.

Vice President:  shall assist the president in the discharge of his/her official duties, preside at meetings in his/her absence, and fill his/her place in the event of death, removal or resignation until a new president can be elected.   The vice president, or a delegated authority, is responsible for programs.

Secretary:  shall maintain and preserve all records and documents of the Erie Cage Bird Club, subject to the order of the club.  The secretary shall keep a record of all of the club meetings' minutes in a book or series of books, and said books shall be open at all reasonable times for inspection of any member of the club.   The secretary, or delegated authority, is responsible for putting together and sending out a monthly newsletter for the club.   Also in the club book shall be a copy of the club's By-Laws.

Corresponding Secretary:  shall receive and correspond about activities outside of the local workings of the club and to report at meetings on correspondence received.  The corresponding secretary shall also deal with condolences and get-well wishes upon the illness or death of a member, and is also responsible for thank-yous.  This office works closely with the secretary on all matters.  The corresponding secretary's address will be the club's official address for their term.

Treasurer:  shall receive, give receipts for, and deposit all monies belonging to the Erie Cage Bird Club.   The vice president, secretary, and treasurer's names are to be registered on the club''s account.   the treasurer shall disperse all funds in accordance with the budgets approved by the members.   All records shall be kept by a standardized method in full and accurate in a book, and said book shall be open at reasonable times for inspection of any member of the club.  The treasurer shall report all financial affairs of the club at every monthly meeting.  Financial institution shall be agreed upon by the club's officers.   A projected budget is due at the first of the year.  The treasurer is responsible for memberships, roster, and full account of the club funds.  All spending should be approved if not part of general expenses, and costs higher than $50.00 shall be approved by a majority of members present at a monthly meeting.

Resignation:  an officer may resign by delivering their written resignation to the President.  Replacement will be voted on at the next meeting.  Resignations shall be effective upon notification.

Vacancies:  in any office may be filled by a majority vote, voted on at the next monthly meeting.

ARTICLE IV
Order of Business:  Order of business of the club shall be taken as follows, unless otherwise directed by the President:   (1) Meeting called to order; (2) Approval of the Minutes; (3) Approval of the Treasurer's Report; (4) Old business; (5) New business; (6) Disposing of such other business as may lawfully come before the club; (7) Adjournment of the business meeting; (8) Introduction of the speaker.

ARTICLE V
Committees:  the President, fromtime to time, shall establish committees, at their discretion, or at the request of the club members, to carry out tasks which are in the best interest and welfare of the Erie Cage Bird Club.  The President shall select members of the Committee.  All committees shall be accountable to and shall report to the President.  Discontinuation: any committee may be discontinued by a majority vote of the club.  Upon discontinuation, all committee property and records shall be forthwith delivered to the President and/or Secretary.

ARTICLE VI
Audit of Books:  two persons shall be appointed by the President whose duty shall be to audit the books of the Treasurer annually and make a full written report to the club.  The persons chosen may be an officer other than the Treasurer and any member in good standing.

ARTICLE VII
Personal Liability:  the members, officers and duly authorized representatives of the club shall not be personally liable for any debt, liability or obligation of the club.   All persons, corporations or other entities extending credit to, contracting with, or having any claim against the club may look only to funds and property of the club for payment or any such contract or claim for the payment of any debt, damages, judgment or decree, or of any money that may otherwise become due or payable to them from the club.

ARTICLE VIII
Use of club name and logo:  the club shall not be responsible for the unauthorized use of its name or log, unauthorized statements made on its behalf, or unauthorized actions taken on its behalf.  Anyone using the club's name or logo without permission of the club officers shall be subject to disciplinary action which could result in immediate dismissal from the club and the membership card revoked.

ARTICLE IX
Amendments:  to these by-Laws may be proposed, in writing, upon petition.  Such petition shall be addressed directly to the President.  The President shall forward the petition to the Secretary to be printed ini the next newsletter.  At the next meeting the amendment(s) shall be voted upon, two-thirds affirmative vote of those members present shall be required for passage.  Absentee ballots from those unable to attend will not be counted.

ARTICLE X
Dissolution:  This club may be dissolved at any time by the consent of not less than two-thirds of the membership.  In the event of dissolution of the club, whether voluntary or involuntary, or in operation of law, none of the property of the club, nor any proceeds thereof, nor any assets of the club, shall be distributed to any members of the club.  Its property and assets will be divided equally between the Erie Zoological Society (for avian care) and the Erie County Library System (for the purchase of bird-related books).  All members will be notified of the dissolution by certified mail.