FRIENDS OF THE

COLLEGE OF THE DESERT LIBRARY, INC.

BYLAWS

Article 1 - NAME

Section 1.           The name of this organization Shall be THE FRIENDS OF THE COLLEGE OF THE DESERT LIBRARY, INC., hereafter designated as Friends.

Section 2.            Its mission shall be to maintain an organization based at the College of the Desert, to promote literacy with the Coachella Valley communities, and to raise funds to support the College Library.

Article II - PURPOSES

Section 1.            The purposes of Friends shall be as follows:

 a.        To serve as an organization through which members of Friends share their enthusiasm for books with the Valley communities.

b.     To solicit bequests and gifts for the benefit of the College Library.

c.     To raise and contribute funds annually for the benefit of the College Library.

Article Ill – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.            Membership shall be open to all individuals who share our stated purpose.

Section 2.            Each member shall be entitled to one (1) vote.

Section 3.            The membership year shall be the calendar year.

Section 4.               There shall be the following classes of membership: Student of COD, Individual, Family, Patron, Silver Patron and Gold Patron

Article IV - BOARD OF DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, MEETINGS

Section 1.            The Board of Directors shall be composed of the Officers and appointed Chairpersons of committees.

Section 2.            Officers of the Board of Directors shall serve for a term of two (2) years and may accept additional terms upon nomination by the Nominating Committee and subsequent election by the Membership at the next Annual Meeting.

Section 3.            Appointed members of the Board of Directors shall serve a term of two (2) years and may accept additional terms upon appointment by the President.

Section 4.            The Executive Committee shall be composed of the elected Officers.

Article V - OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

Section 1.            The elected Officers shall be President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 2.            The President shall appoint Chairpersons of all committees and of any necessary Ad Hoc committees, subject to approval of the Executive Committee.

Section 3.            There shall be the following standing committees: Special Events, Book Sales, Book Review, Mail, Membership, Publicity.

Section 4.            The Executive Committee shall fill vacancies of Officers that occur during the term of office for the unexpired term.

Article VI - DUTIES OF OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1.            The President shall preside over all meetings, appoint all committees, serve as an Ex-officio member of all committees, except the Nominating Committee, and shall carry out all presidential duties.

Section 2.            The Vice President shall assist the President and, in case of absence of the President, shall carry out the presidential duties.

Section 3.            The Recording Secretary shall record the attendance at all Board meetings and the Minutes of the proceedings of all meetings. Minutes shall be posted on the website. The Secretary shall also maintain a Board membership list, with address and telephone number of each Board Member, and shall present a copy of the Minutes of the previous meeting to each Board Member.

Section 4.            The Corresponding Secretary shall handle all correspondence and courtesy communications of the Board of Directors, at the request of the President or the Executive Committee.

Section 5.            The Treasurer shall administer all funds as directed by Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall present a year-end report. The Treasurer shall prepare a financial report for each Board meeting and submit copies to the President and the Recording Secretary.

Section 6.            The Board of Directors shall transact the business between Annual Meetings of the Membership, direct the disbursement of the funds of Friends, and approve the Minutes of the Annual Meeting.

Section 7.            The Executive Committee shall be authorized to transact emergency business in the interim between monthly meetings of the Board of Directors.

Article VIl - MEETINGS AND QUORUMS

Section 1.            An annual meeting of the Membership shall be held every odd year for the purpose of the election and installation of officers, and the transaction of other business.

Section 2.            Upon ten (10) days' notice, a Special Meeting of this organization may be called by the Board of Directors or at the written request of one-third of the Members.

Section 3.            A Special Meeting of the Board of Directors may be called at the request of three (3) of the Directors.

Section 4.            A schedule of regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be adopted by the Board.

Section 5.            A quorum at the Annual Meeting shall be those members in attendance at the meeting.   

Article VIII - ELECTIONS, NOMINATIONS, BYLAWS

Section 1.            Elections of Officers shall take place on odd-numbered years.

Section 2.            The Nominating Committee shall consist of three (3) members as follows: a Chairperson (not a Board member), appointed by the President, one Board member elected by the Board of Directors, and one member from the general membership.

Section 3.            The Board of Directors shall fill any vacancy occurring on the Nominating Committee.

Section 4.            The Nominating Committee shall prepare a slate of nominees, one for each office, to be presented at the Annual Meeting held during odd-numbered years. Nominations from the floor shall be in order.

a.         In the event there are no nominations from the floor, the nominated slate shall be elected.

b.         In the event there are nominations from the floor, the voting shall be by ballot.

Section 5.            Officers shall assume office following election.

Section 6.            An ad hoc Bylaws Committee appointed by the President shall propose any changes in the Bylaws.

Section 7.            Upon approval of the changes by the Board of Directors, the amendments or revised Bylaws shall be posted to the Friends website.

Article IX- PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, when not in conflict with these Bylaws, govern the proceedings of this organization.

Dated:                  Adopted (year) 1970

Amended (year) 1971

Revised (year) 1975

Revised (year) 1977

Revised (year) 1980

Revised (year) 1985

Revised (year) 1989

Revised (year) 1992

Revised (year) 1994

Revised (year) 1997

Revised (year)2002

Revised (year)2011

Revised (year) 2023

Two copies are required for the files, one for the President and one for the Recording Secretary.