A.L.A. Bylaws

Operating Procedures

1. The League will hold its regularly scheduled Board Meeting at 5:45 p.m. on the last Tuesday of each month at the North Little Rock Community Center, 2700 North Willow Street or other available location. The July board meeting will be for the purpose of preparing for the transfer of responsibilities effective September 1. Members are welcome and may express their views, but shall not have voting privileges.

2. The Arkansas League of Artists shall meet at 7:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday of each month at the North Little Rock Community Center, 2700 North Willow Street, North Little Rock, Arkansas or other available location. There will be no general membership meeting in December.

3. The bank accounts of this organization shall bear the signature of the treasurer or president, and shall not be moved without approval of the Board of Directors; one signature being sufficient for withdrawals.

4. The financial year of this organization shall be from September 1 through August 31.

5. Guidelines by which fund-raisers, workshops, paint-outs and other League events are conducted will be established by the Board, assisted by committee chairmen.

6. The League will pay the demonstrating non-member artists an honorarium of $75.00. Should the artist be traveling of a distance of 50 miles or more, the Program Chairman may request the Board to issue an additional $25.00 for mileage.

7. The Operating Procedures of the ALA may be reviewed and/or amended on the recommendation of the president subject to approval by the majority of active members of the Board.

By-laws

Article I Name:

The name of this organization shall be the Arkansas League of Artists.

Article II Objectives and Goals:

The Arkansas League of Artists is organized as a non-profit society to encourage individual artists and their right for free expression, and shall be operating for the charitable and educational purposes of establishing, maintaining, exhibiting, promoting and/or operating programs which will further the development and advancement of original works.

Article III Membership and Dues:

Membership in this group shall be open to any person paying dues as follows:

Active Member $30.00

Membership renewal will be the January meeting each year.

Article III Section 2 Dues:

Dues are payable during the month of January each year. Members who are delinquent in payment of dues forfeit membership privileges until such dues are paid.

Article IV Section 1 Government:

The government of the League shall be vested in a Board of Directors which shall be ten (10) in number. The directors shall be four (4) executive officers: president, president-elect, secretary and treasurer, and six (6) regular members. The Board of Director shall be responsible for the control and management of all property, effects and assets of the League; exercise general superintendence of the League affairs; make all necessary contracts on behalf of the League; and shall have full authority for the transaction of all League business.

Article IV Section 2 Nominations and Elections:

Candidates for the Board shall be selected by the current Board, which shall present the nominees to the general membership at the April meeting and shall, at the time, receive additional nominations from the general membership. Positions on the board shall be filled by the vote of the general membership at the May meeting.

(a) Although elections will be held at the May general meeting, terms will commence September 1.

(b) Three non-executive board members will be appointed by the Board to serve as alternates.

Article IV Section 3 Terms of Office:

Executive officers will serve for a minimum term of one (1) year.

Other board members shall serve for a minimum term of two (2) years.

Executive officers and board members may succeed themselves at the Board’s discretion.

Excessive absenteeism by a board member can result in expulsion from the Board by a majority vote of the Board.

Article IV Section 4 Alternate

Non-executive Board Members:

Three (3) alternate non-executive board members will be appointed by the Board. When a regular board member is unable to attend a board meeting, he/she is responsible for contacting an alternate to attend in his/her place so League business may be conducted.

Article IV Section 5 Duties of Officers:

The PRESIDENT shall preside over all meetings; appoint all committee chairmen as needed, with the consent of the Board of Directors; serve as ex-officio member of all committees; serve as coordinator of all committee work.

The VICE-PRESIDENT shall become acquainted with the activities of the League and Board in preparation for taking office as president in the coming year; shall conduct meetings in absence of the president; and shall assume the office of president should that post be vacated before the elected president’s term expires.

The SECRETARY shall keep written minutes of all meetings of the board and general membership. Copies of such minutes shall be provided to the president, Board of Directors and newsletter editor. The secretary shall also handle League correspondence as required. Copies of correspondence and minutes shall be maintained in a permanent file, which will be passed on to the succeeding secretary.

The TREASURER shall pay all authorized expenses of the League by check, maintaining accurate records of the League’s assets, and shall make a report at every meeting of the Board of Directors and at any time when directed to do so by the president. The treasurer shall maintain copies of such reports and receipts documenting expenses in a permanent file, which will be passed on to the succeeding treasurer.

Article IV Section 6 Vacancies:

(a) Vacancies in the executive positions of the board, for reasons other than expiration of terms of office, excluding president, shall be filled as stated in Article IV, Section 2. The position of president shall be filled by the vice-president.

(b) Vacancies in the six (6) regular board positions for reasons other than expiration of terms of office, shall be filled by appointment of the Board of Directors, by a majority vote, at any regular meeting of the Board. If a regular board member becomes an executive officer, his/her vacancy shall be filled as appointed by the Board.

Article IV Section 7 IRS Rulings Regarding Tax Exempt Status

No part of the net earnings of the League shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to members, trustees, officers, or other private persons except that the League shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payment and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article II hereof. No substantial part of the activities of the League shall be the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the League shall not participate in or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) and political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Not withstanding any other provision of those bylaws, the League shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an association exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

Article IV Section 8 Dissolution:

Upon the dissolution of the League, the Board of Directors shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all liabilities of the League, dispose of all assets of the League exclusively for the purpose of the League in such manner, or to such organization or organizations operated exclusively for art education or the furtherance of the visual arts in Arkansas as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any further United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Board of Directors shall determine. Any such assets not so disposed of, shall be disposed of by the Circuit Court of Pulaski County, Arkansas, exclusively to such purposes or to such organization(s) as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

Article VI Meetings:

The regular Board of Directors meeting shall be held on the last Tuesday of each month. The general membership meeting shall be held on the last Tuesday of each month. The president may call special meetings of the Board of Directors as deemed necessary to conduct League business.

(a) Sixty percent (60%) of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting any business, provided all board members have been notified of the meeting.

(b) One-tenth (1/10 ratio) of all League members, but not less than 10 persons shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of the general membership provided members were notified by the League Newsletter.

(c) General meetings shall be held upon application of 10 percent (10%) of League members to the president, at such time as may be deemed wise by the Board.

Article VII Amendments and Rules of Order:

Amendments must be proposed to the Board at the meeting prior to the one at which they will be voted upon. A quorum of the Board must be present and the proposed amendment(s) must receive approval by sixty (60%) of the Board of Directors.

Article VII Section 2 Parliamentary Procedure:

Parliamentary Procedure as set out in Roberts Rules of Order will be followed at all League meetings.

Article VIII Fellowship Grants:

A committee of no less than two (2) members shall conduct annual searches for deserving art students to receive fellowship grants from the League.

The Board must approve all such awards and the amounts thereof. All checks for the grant must be made payable to the institution offering the class and must designate the student(s) who are grant recipients.

ALA Monthly Competition

At Each monthly meeting, members are encouraged to bring a single piece of art to be displayed and voted on by the other members. The name of the artist is covered during the voting process so members are voting on the work and not the artist, and a number is placed beside the work. Members vote by dropping a piece of paper with the number of the work in the vessel provided. The chairperson(s) then count the votes and determine the top five.

At the end of the meeting, winners are announced and photos are taken.

The works receiving the top five numbers of votes will be displayed for one month at various banks. A ribbon award is given, on the back of which is the information as to where the artist must take the piece for display. The work must be picked up the day of the next meeting, so the new winner in that category may place his/her work the day after the meeting. If an artist lives out of town, a member who lives locally will deliver the work to the appropriate bank, but the artist will be responsible for picking up the work the day of the next meeting.

For every ribbon-winning work the artist receives he/she is entitled to place that work (or a similar substitute) in the Winners’ Show at the Laman Library during the month of December.

The December Winners’ Show at Laman Library

This show is a great opportunity to have your work on display and gets a lot of media attention. The show will be judged.

Each artist is responsible for bringing and picking up his/her works to the Library at the appointed time.

Arkansas League of Artist Annual Membership Show in June

This show is held yearly and is an open show for members only. There is one entry per member for a fee. First through fourth place ribbons are awarded, with cash prizes in the following categories:

Abstract

Animal

Figure

Floral/ Still Life

Landscape

Galaxy Office Furniture

304 Main

North Little Rock

375-3375

All members may display their work at this location at any time. The store does take a commission, of course, but it is a good venue. To participate, simply take your work to the store, sign in and hang your work. Make sure each piece is identified with your name, number, medium, price, etc.

President-Elect

Procurement of Demonstrators

1. At the beginning of the year, peruse lists of previous speakers and contact some for repeat performances.

2. Ask the members to provide names and contact information of anyone that might make a good speaker.

3. Contact and set up a speaker for each month, except December, and notify the newsletter editor immediately, and the person who does the directory prior to October, so a list of speakers can be included in the directory.

4. On week before a person is to speak, contact them again to remind them. (We award $75 for a non-member speaker.)

5. At the December meeting, try to have some type of entertainment, if it is only Christmas music on a CD or tape.

Artist of the Month Competition

Chairperson

1. Keep supply of numbers and containers for voting.

2. Intake the works of art each month, covering the artists names and setting the works up for voting.

3. Count the votes and notify the president of the winners.

4. At least every three months check at the various locations to make sure easels are in good condition and ribbons are in place.

5. At the November meeting, select 10 winners instead of five, using the ones receiving the two highest number of votes for first place, the next two highest for second, etc. The highest for first place will be for November, the next highest for December, etc.

Exhibiting Banks

First Place: US Bank

1 Riverfront Pl., NLR

(adjacent to Riverfront Park)

Second: Pulaski Bank

Pierce and “R” Streets

(in the Heights)

Third: US Bank

Capitol & Broadway

in the NE corner of the 37-story former TCBY tower in downtown LR.

Fourth: Regions Bank

on the NE corner of JFK (107) and McCain, NLR.

Fifth: Bank of the Ozarks

6929 JFK (107) NLR

Taking a Chance on Art Chairperson

1. Keep supply of numbers and containers for drawing, and a clipboard for people to sign their names next to a number.

2. Make sure there is a supply of art to be offered to the winner.

3. Draw a number and notify the president of the winner.

4. At least every other month make a plea for new art.

Historian

1. Maintain an up-to-date set of albums.

2. Keep copies of all news clippings, etc. pertaining to the League and its members.

3. Take photos as needed.

Venue Chairman

1. Contact at least one business, gallery or other possible place to exhibit per month, and try to arrange for one-person shows and/or an easel to be placed.

2. Keep careful notes of those contacted and the response and phone number.

3. One-person shows or easels are easier, because then that one person can carry however many paintings the contact feels there is room for, and set up and tear down the exhibit.

4. If the contact has space and wants a variety of works, try to arrange for the exhibit to stay for at least 3 months, so it does not become burdensome to put up and take down.

Newsletter Chairperson

1. Maintain an up-to-date mailing list of members through information provided by the Membership Chairman.

2. Gather information from members via e-mail and passing around a notebook at the meetings for people to note newsworthy events.

3. Prepare layout for newsletter each month on the 11th, and merge it with the mailing list, fold, tape shut, add stamps and mail it. (Takes about 4 hours a month to type in information, fold, tape, stamp, etc.)

4. Send invoice for stamps to Treasurer for reimbursement.

Membership Chairperson

1. Maintain and up-to-date mailing list of members.

2. Prepare name tags, provide new members with a membership card and Handbook.

3. Prepare an Application for Membership to be inserted in the July Newsletter. It should require payment of dues from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31 of the following year.

4. Prepare Membership Handbook each year.

Design and layout of all information including the membership roster
Handling of printing a designated quantity for each member household (suggested delivery date to printer should be on or around Nov. 10)
Delivering said quantity to the Christmas party in November
Include a membership card with each handbook
Mail any remaining handbooks to members unable to attend the November meeting.

6. Make sure there is a supply of Membership Books at each meeting for new members.

Publicity Chairperon

1. Maintain an up-to-date list of contacts at newspapers, magazines, television and radio stations.

2. Send press releases for each meeting and/or event, as is appropriate.

3. Maintain an up-to-date list of other art leagues, colleges and high schools in Central Arkansas.

4. Notify same of upcoming meetings and events.

5. Provide this list to the officers; then we need to try to arrange to speak to the classes in an effort to recruit new and younger members.