BYLAWS

PACIFIC NORTHWEST DISTRICT

AMERICAN ROSE SOCIETY

ARTICLE I – Organization  

Section 1.        The name of the organization shall be the Pacific Northwest District of the American Rose Society.

Section 2.        The District shall be a division of the American Rose Society, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Louisiana on July 1, 1975.

Section 3.        Funds and assets of the District are the property of the American Rose Society, a corporation qualified as a non-profit charitable corporation under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and are subject to administration as provided for in these bylaws. In the event of consolidation, subdivision or change in boundaries of the District, assets and funds of the District shall be transferred as directed by the Board of Directors of the American Rose Society, provided, however, that all such assets and property shall remain the property of the American Rose Society, or a division, or an incorporation charitable affiliate thereof.

Section 4.        The operations of the District shall be governed according to the provisions contained in these bylaws.

ARTICLE II – Objectives

Section 1.        The objectives of the Pacific Northwest District shall be the following; to

a.                   encourage membership in the American Rose Society.

b.                  assist in the formation and organization of new rose societies affiliated with the American Rose Society.

c.                   provide for annual conventions and/or educational  meetings that will further the objectives of the Pacific Northwest District.

d.                  facilitate the incorporation of district classes within a local society show annually.

e.                   conduct educational sessions for current and new Consulting Rosarians and Judges.

f.                   publish a District bulletin.

g.                  compile an annual District Directory .

h.                  coordinate the Roses In Review program.

ARTICLE III – Membership

Section 1.        Membership shall consist of all members of the American Rose Society residing within the geographical boundaries prescribed by the Board of Directors of the American Rose Society for the Pacific Northwest District.

ARTICLE IV – Officers

Section 1.        District Director. The chief executive officer of the District shall be the District Director duly elected under the bylaws of the American Rose Society.

Section 2.        Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall be the governing body in all matters pertaining to District business. The Board of Directors shall be composed of the following elected officers:

a.         District Director

b.                  Assistant District Director

c.                   Secretary

d.                  Treasurer

e.                   Chair of the Prizes and Awards Committee (and District member of the American Rose Society National Nominations Committee)

Section 3.        The terms of all Board of Directors shall be limited to two consecutive terms.

Section 4.        The duties of the District Officers shall be the following:

a.       District Director: The District Director shall call and preside at meetings of the Board of Directors and the general membership, shall enforce the bylaws, and shall appoint such ad hoc committees as required. In the temporary absence of the Director, the Assistant District Director shall serve as Interim Director.

b.      Assistant District Director: The Assistant District Director shall assist the District Director, and in the temporary absence of the District Director shall have all the powers and prerogatives of that office; shall ascend to the office of District Director on an interim basis in the event a vacancy occurs in that office during an unexpired term, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the District Director.

c.       Secretary: The Secretary shall record and publish the minutes of the Board of Directors meetings as well as the general membership meetings, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the District Director.

d.      Treasurer: The Treasurer shall receive all funds of the District, deposit funds in designated financial institutions, and keep an accurate and legible account of all financial transactions. District funds may not be expended except on order of the District Director or approved by the Board of Directors. Funds to be expended will be limited to the funds on-hand, and available. The Treasurer shall render an accounting of all funds received and expended at the annual meeting, shall prepare an annual budget to be approved the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the District Director.

e.       Chair, Prizes and Awards Committee: The Chair of the Prizes and Awards Committee shall be the District member of the National Nominating Committee. The Chair will supervise and coordinate all honors and awards given by the District, in concert with the Prizes and Awards Committee, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the District Director. 

ARTICLE V - Vacancies 

Section 1.        In the event an elected officer (other than the District Director or the District Member of the National Nominating Committee) cannot serve due to death, incapacitation or resignation, which would result in a vacancy, the Board of Directors shall have the power to fill such vacancy for the remaining term. 

Section 2.        In the event of death, incapacitation, or resignation of the District Director or District Member of National Nominating Committee, current American Rose Society bylaws stipulate that the District will choose the successor for either position in accord with the following:

a.       In order to maintain continuity should such an emergency arise, the Assistant Director shall assume the position of Interim Director until the next scheduled annual member meeting.

b.      In the event the position of District Member of the National Nominating Committee is unexpectedly vacated, the District Director (or the Interim Director) shall appoint a qualified individual to serve in that capacity until the next scheduled general member meeting.

c.       The Interim Director (or the District Director) shall call for an election and appoint a Nominations Committee (in accord with Article VII, Section 1. of the Bylaws) for the purpose of selecting a list of candidates needed to fill vacancies. Candidates will be presented to the general membership for election at the next scheduled annual member meeting.

ARTICLE VI – Meetings 

Section 1.        The District membership shall hold at least one annual meeting each year, at an appropriate time and place, with at least a thirty (30) day notice to all of the members of the District prior to the designated date. During this time, there shall be a meeting of the Board of Directors and of the general membership. The purposes of the annual District meeting are:

a.         To provide educational opportunities for the membership, consulting rosarians, judges, and exhibitors.

b.                  To address current and future business matters.

                        At the annual meeting, each member of the Board of Directors shall present a summary of ongoing and planned activities within their respective area of responsibility. Special emphasis shall be placed on providing any information of significance regarding changes from the National and District levels.

Section 2.        Each year the District Challenge Classes may be incorporated into one of the societies offering a judged show; participation will be on a rotating basis.

Section 3.        The society offering the District Challenge Classes in their judged show may host a District Convention in conjunction with the show.

ARTICLE VII – Committees 

Section 1.        The Board of Directors shall appoint a Nominating Committee of at least three (3) PNW District members for the purpose of constructing a slate of nominees for the positions of Assistant District Director, Secretary and Treasurer. This slate shall be presented to the District membership at least thirty (30) days prior to the regularly scheduled annual meeting that precedes the expiration of the terms of the officers. 

                        Any affiliated society, by action of its Board of Directors, may submit written nominations for any or all offices. Such written nominations must be submitted to the Nominating Committee at least forty-five (45) days prior to the election.

                        All officers shall be elected at the regularly scheduled annual meeting that precedes the expiration of the terms of the officers.

                        All officers shall be elected for a three-year term that coincides with the term of the District Director. 

Section 2.        Members of the Pacific Northwest District Prizes and Awards Committee must be members of the American Rose Society and shall be appointed or elected by each affiliated club or society in the District. All members shall serve for three (3) years to coincide with the District Director and District member of the National Nominations Committee term of office. The District member of the National Nominating Committee shall be Chair of the Prizes and Awards Committee.  In the event of resignation or inability of an affiliated club appointee to serve, the affiliated club shall appoint a successor.

                        The Prizes and Awards Committee may select the following honorees annually:

a.       A member of the District to receive the ARS Silver Honor Medal.

b.      A member of the District to receive the Outstanding Consulting Rosarian.

c.       A member of the District to be the Outstanding Judge.

d.      A member of the District to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Section 3.        The District Director may appoint such additional committees as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the objectives of the District.

ARTICLE VIII – Appointments  

Section 1.        At their initial meeting, the Board of Directors shall appoint a District Chair of Consulting Rosarians who shall be responsible for administration of a consulting rosarians’ program for the District under the direction of the District Director. The Chair will be responsible for screening and proposing candidates for appointment as consulting rosarians, for establishing a consulting rosarian coordinator program in each local society, for maintaining an up to date list of consulting rosarians in their district, for organizing consulting rosarian seminars within the District, and for carrying out such other tasks relating to consulting rosarians as may be directed by the District Director. The term of appointment shall coincide with the terms of the District Director.

Section 2.        At their initial meeting, the Board of Directors shall appoint a District Chair of Horticultural Judges who shall be responsible for the administration of a program for the continuing education of judges within the District, under the direction of the District Director. The term of the appointment shall coincide with the term of the District Director.

Section 3.        At their initial meeting, the Board of Directors shall appoint a District Chair of Rose Arrangements Judges who shall be responsible for the administration of a program for the continuing education of rose arrangements judges within the District, under the direction of the District Director. The term of appointment shall coincide with the term of the District Director.

Section 4.        At their initial meeting, the Board of Directors shall appoint the editor of the Northwest Rosarian who shall be responsible for the timely publishing of the District’s quarterly publication. The term of appointment shall coincide with the term of the District Director.   

Section 5.        At their initial meeting, the Board of Directors shall also appoint the Coordinator of Roses in Review, the Coordinator of district entry tags, the Webmaster, the Chair of Programs and Education, the Membership Chair, and the District Bylaws Chair. The term of appointments shall coincide with the term of the District Director.

ARTICLE IX – Funds  

Section 1.        The District shall not collect dues or require special assessments from members in the District.

Section 2.        Funds for District operating expenses may come from the following:

a.                   Voluntary contributions from local societies or individuals.

b.                  Fees for consulting rosarian and judges’ schools.

c.                   Patron program contributions by individuals or family donations.

d.                  Special fund-raising events.

ARTICLE X – Amendments to Bylaws 

Section 1.        The Bylaws of the Pacific Northwest District may be amended at an annual meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members present, provided the amendments shall have been sent to each member of the District at least thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting.

Section 2.        A copy of these Bylaws shall be filed with the Office of the Executive Director of the American Rose Society promptly after adoption. The Executive Director shall be notified promptly of any subsequent amendments, changes, or alterations that are subject to approval by the appropriate American Rose Society Committee and the Board of Directors of the American Rose Society.

                           Approval Certification:

_____________________                              ______________________

                                (District Director)                                                 (Date)