CFS By-Laws

Bylaws of the Corvallis Folklore Society

Adopted 2013-05-19

(see CFS Policies below)

Article I. NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1. Name

The name of this organization shall be the Corvallis Folklore Society hereafter referred to as CFS.

Section 2. Purpose

This corporation shall be organized and operated exclusively for charitable, artistic, and educational purposes. Subject to the limitations stated in the Articles of Incorporation, the purposes of this corporation shall be to engage in any lawful activities, none of which is for profit, for which corporations may be organized under Chapter 65 of the Oregon Revised Statutes (or its corresponding future provisions).

This corporation’s primary purposes shall be:

  1. To preserve, teach, promote, and encourage the performance of contemporary and traditional music, dance, arts, song and other forms of folk expression, broadly construed.
  2. To cooperate with other organizations, agencies, and individuals in the community who have similar interests.

 

Article II. MEMBERS

Section 1. Classes and voting.

There shall be one class of members in this corporation. Each member shall be entitled to one vote on all matters for which a membership vote is permitted by law, the Articles of Incorporation, or the Bylaws of this corporation.

Section 2. Qualifications.

Membership shall be available to any individual. Conditions of membership:

  1. Membership shall be granted upon payment of fees, the amount of which shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
  2. Membership runs for a period which shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Renewal fees must be paid on time, as defined by Board policy, for the member to remain in good standing.

Section 3. Termination of membership.

Membership may be terminated by the Board of Directors after giving the member at least 15 days written notice by first-class or certified mail of the termination and the reasons for the termination, and an opportunity for the member to be heard by the Board, orally or in writing, not less than five days before the effective date of the termination. The decision of the Board shall be final and shall not be reviewable by any court.

Section 4. Annual Meeting

  1. The annual members’ meeting shall be held in the spring of each year, the exact time and place to be set by the Board, as described in Section II.6.
  2. Mandatory business at the annual meeting shall include:
    1. Election of Directors
    2. Review of budget, including profit-loss statement from the treasurer.
    3. Amendments, if any, to Bylaws
    4. Open floor time for members’ input.

Section 5. Special meetings

Special meetings of the members shall be held at the call of the Board of Directors, or by the call of the holders of at least 5 percent of the voting power of the corporation by a demand signed, dated, and delivered to the corporation’s Secretary. Such demand by the members shall describe the purpose of the meeting, and only matters relating to this purpose may be conducted at this special meeting. All CFS members must receive proper legal notice of the special meeting.

Section 6. Notice of Meeting

Notice of all meetings of the members shall be given to each member at the last address of record, by first-class mail at least seven days before the meeting, or by means other than first-class mail at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the meeting. The notice shall include the date, time, place, and purposes of the meeting.

Section 7. Quorum and voting

A quorum shall be constituted by those voting members present, but not less than 5 members.

The majority vote of the members represented and voting is the act of the members, unless these Bylaws or the law provide differently.

There shall be no voting by ballot.

There shall be no voting by proxy.

Article III. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. Duties

The affairs of the corporation shall be managed by the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Number and Qualifications of Directors

The number of Directors may vary between a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 12. Any member of CFS who is a member in good standing, and who has been a member for no less than 6 months shall be eligible for election to the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Terms of Office and Election of Directors

The term of office for directors shall be one year. A director may be reelected without limitation on the number of terms. The Board, including Officers and Directors-at-large, shall be elected annually by the members at the annual meeting.

Section 4. Removal of Directors

Any Director may be removed, with or without cause, by the members at a meeting called for that purpose or at the annual meeting of the membership, by a majority vote of the members present and voting on the removal.

Section 5. Vacancies

Vacancies resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall be filled by election by the members at the annual meeting. Other vacancies on the Board (including Officers) shall be filled by a two-thirds vote of the directors present, provided a quorum is in attendance. These Board-appointed directors or Officers shall serve for the remainder of the current term (i.e. until the next annual members’ meeting).

Section 6. Quorum and Action

A quorum at a Board meeting shall be three Directors, or one-third of the number of all Directors in office immediately before the meeting begins, whichever is greater. If a quorum is present, action is taken by a majority vote of Directors present. Where the law requires a majority vote of Directors in office (such as: to establish committees that exercise Board functions, to amend the articles of incorporation, to sell assets not in the regular course of business, to merge, to dissolve) such action is taken by that majority as required by law.

Section 7. Regular Meetings

Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at the time and place to be determined by the Board of Directors. No notice of the date, time, place, or purpose of these meetings is required. All regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be open to the general membership, but voting shall be restricted to members of the Board.

Section 8 Special Meetings

Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at the time and place to be determined by the Board of Directors. The presiding officer, the President, or 20 percent of the Directors then in office may call and give notice of the meeting of the Board. Notice of such meetings, describing the date, time place, and purpose of the meeting, shall be delivered to each Director personally or by telephone, email or mail not less than two days prior to the special meeting.

Section 9 Meeting by Telecommunication

Any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors may be conducted through use of any means of communication by which all Directors participating may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting. A Director participating in such a meeting is deemed present for the purposes of a quorum.

Section 10 Compensation

Directors shall not receive salaries or monetary compensation for their Board services, but may be reimbursed for expenses related to Board service.

Section 11 Action without Meeting

Any action required by law to be taken at a meeting of the Board, or any action which may be taken at a Board meeting, may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action to be taken or so taken, shall be signed by all the Directors then in office.

ARTICLE IV. COMMITTEES

Section 1 Executive Committee

The Board of Directors may elect an Executive Committee, consisting of two or more Directors, from among the Directors currently in office. The Executive committee shall have the authority to make ongoing decisions between Board meetings and shall have the authority to make financial and budgetary decisions.

Section 2 Other Committees

The Board of Directors may establish such other committees as it deems necessary and desirable. Such Committees may exercise the authority of the Board of Directors (subject to Section IV 3) or may be advisory committees.

Section 3 Composition of Committees Exercising Board Functions

Any committee that exercises any authority of the Board of Directors shall be composed of two or more Directors, elected by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of all Directors in office at that time, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Board.

Section 4 Quorum and Actions

A quorum at a Committee meeting exercising Board functions shall be a majority of all Committee members in office immediately before the meeting begins. If a quorum is present, action is taken by a majority vote of Directors present.

Section 5 Limitations on Powers

No committee may authorize payment of a dividend or any part of the income or profit of the corporation to its Directors or officers. No committee may approve dissolution, merger, or the sale, pledge, or transfer of all or substantially all of the corporation’s assets. No committee may fill vacancies on the Board or on any of its committees. No committee may adopt, amend, or repeal the Articles, bylaws, or any resolution by the Board of Directors. The Board may set additional limits on the powers of any committee or committees as a matter of policy.

ARTICLE V. OFFICERS

Section 1 Titles

The officers of this corporation shall, at a minimum, be the President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 2 Election of Officers

The members shall elect the officers to serve one year terms. An officer may be reelected without limitation on the number of terms the officer may serve. Only members of the Board of Directors can be officers of this corporation.

Section 3 Vacancies

A vacancy of any office shall be filled, as described in III.5., not later than the second regular meeting of the Board of Directors following the vacancy.

Section 4 Other Officers

The Board of Directors may elect or appoint other officers or agents as it shall deem necessary and desirable. They shall hold their offices for such terms and have such authority and perform such duties as shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 5 President

The President shall be chief officer of the corporation and shall act as the Chair of the Board. The President shall have any other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

Section 6 Secretary

The Secretary shall have overall responsibility for keeping all records. The Secretary shall perform, or cause to be performed, the following duties: (a) official recording of the minutes of all proceedings of the Board of Directors and members’ meetings and actions; (b) provision for notice of all meetings of the Board of Directors and members; (c) maintaining accurate membership lists; and (d) any other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

Section 7 Treasurer

The Treasurer shall have overall responsibility for all corporate funds. The Treasurer shall perform, or cause to be performed, the following duties: (a) keeping of full and accurate accounts of all financial records of the corporation; (b) deposit of all monies and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors; (c) disbursement of all funds when proper to do so; (d) making financial reports as to the financial condition of the corporation to the Board of Directors; (e) authentication of the records of the corporation; and (f) any other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VI. AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS

Both the Board of Directors and the members must vote to amend or repeal these bylaws or to adopt new ones. Changes to the bylaws must be approved by a majority vote of a quorum of the Directors. Prior to the adoption of the amendment, each Director shall be given at least two days notice of the date, time and place of the meeting at which the proposed amendment is to be considered, and the notice shall state that one of the purposes of the meeting is to consider a proposed amendment to the Bylaws and shall contain a copy of the proposed amendment. The members must vote to amend or repeal these Bylaws or to adopt new ones by a 2/3 majority vote of the members present and voting. Prior to the adoption of the amendment, each member shall be given the notice of meeting as required by the Bylaws and the notice shall state that one of the purposes of the meeting is to consider a proposed amendment to the Bylaws and shall contain a copy of the proposed amendment.

ARTICLE VII. POLITICAL ACTIVITY

CFS will not participate in activity that supports or opposes the election of a candidate for public office. CFS may engage in neutral election-related activities such as issue advocacy, subject to the lobbying limitations prescribed by statute for non-profit organizations.

ARTICLE VIII. MERGER OR DISSOLUTION

Section 1 Adoption of Merger Plan

Both the Board of Directors and the members must vote to adopt a plan of merger. The Board of Directors must approve the plan by a majority vote of Directors in office. Prior to the adoption of the plan, each director shall be given at least two days notice of the date, time and place of the meeting at which the proposed plan is to be considered, and the notice shall state that one of the purposes of the meeting is to consider a proposed merger and shall contain a copy or summary of the proposed merger plan. The members must vote to approve the proposed merger by a 2/3 majority vote of the members present and voting. Prior to the adoption of the plan, each member shall be given the notice of meeting as required by the Bylaws and the notice shall state that one of the purposes of the meeting is to consider a proposed merger and shall contain a copy or summary of the proposed merger plan including certain information specified by law.

Section 2 Approval of Dissolution

Both the Board of Directors and the members must vote to approve the dissolution of the corporation. The Board of Directors must approve dissolution by a majority vote of Directors in office. Prior to the vote, each director shall be given at least two days notice of the date, time and place of the meeting at which the proposed dissolution is to be considered, and the notice shall state that one of the purposes of the meeting is to consider dissolution of the corporation and shall contain a copy or summary of the plan of dissolution. The members must vote to approve dissolution of the corporation by a 2/3 majority vote of the members present and voting at a meeting with that purpose. Prior to the adoption of the dissolution plan, each member shall be given the notice of meeting as required by the Bylaws and the notice shall state that one of the purposes of the meeting is to consider a dissolution and shall contain a copy or summary of the proposed dissolution plan.

Section 3 Distribution of assets

In the event of dissolution, none of the remaining assets may be distributed to, or be used for the direct benefit of, any member or members. Records of the CFS may be offered to The Archive of Folk Culture of The Library of Congress or to the Oregon Collection of the University of Oregon Libraries. Further remaining assets shall be distributed to a non-profit organization or organizations dedicated to purposes similar to those of the CFS, for use in continuing the support of traditional folk arts. The Board shall attempt to carry out the will of the membership in executing its responsibilities for distribution of assets in the event of dissolution of the corporation.

 

Policies for CFS events

Adopted by Board May 2015

Corvallis Folklore Society (CFS) produces a variety of events (dances, concerts, and others) for participation and enjoyment by its members and the community.  This is our policy about acceptable behavior at our events.

  • CFS events are smoke-free.
  • In accordance with our insurance coverage, alcohol is permitted at a CFS event only if the alcohol is supplied, sold and served by another (non-CFS) entity that possesses and operates under the appropriate liquor license.   Some of our venues prohibit alcohol on their premises; no alcohol is permitted at those venues under any circumstances.
  • As a private organization, CFS does not permit weapons at our events.  Events should have the “no weapons” sign visible, e.g. at the entry table.
  • A copy of the CFS policy and procedures statements shall be available for reference at each event.
  • Adults are responsible for any children they bring to a CFS event.
  • CFS events are open to anyone, member or non-member, who acts in a respectful and peaceful manner.  We reserve the right to expel anyone who does not behave in accordance with the policies.
  • Because dancing is a vigorous contact activity, participants at CFS dances must act in a way that maintains safety: Treating others roughly, lifting another dancer off the floor, inappropriate touching or the appearance of insobriety are not acceptable. Having fun and feeling safe are the goals.