Constitution and By-Laws of The Writers – February 2025
Constitution
Article 1 - Name
The organization shall be known as The Writers.
Article 11 - Object
The purpose of The Writers shall be to provide a medium for writers to give and receive professional and peer critiques in the various fields of writing.
Article 111 - Organization
The officers of the Writers shall be two or three Co-presidents, Vice President, Secretary, Webmaster and Treasurer. Any position may be shared by two people. The Board shall select a Manuscript Committee consisting of a Chairperson and at least two full members for an odd number if a tie-breaker is needed. All officers shall serve for one-year terms but may remain in the position longer. The Board shall meet a minimum of twice a year.
Article 1V - Membership
Writers seeking membership must apply by submitting a current bio/resume along with a manuscript of no more than 20 pages of prose or 8 pages of poetry to the Webmaster, which will be forwarded to the Manuscript Committee to be read and approved for acceptance or not. They must also attend at least one meeting with the group in which they may observe but not speak during the critique process.
Once accepted, new members will be granted a preliminary membership for the length of three sessions in which they will participate in the critique process enabling both the candidate and the current membership to become familiar with each other. If the candidate’s critique style is consistent with the Writers critiquing guidelines, then the candidate will be offered full membership and reading slots.
The Writers memberships shall consist of two categories of participation. Full memberships require the payment of full fees for all services which include two moderator slots and additional peer-led slots if desired. Limited memberships require the payment of half dues which enables the limited member to attend all meetings, including business meetings, and to participate in manuscript critiques. However, limited members will NOT have either moderator or peer-led reading turns.
Limited members may return to full membership at any time.
Full or limited members in good standing who leave the group for a period of time will be accepted back in either tier without having to reapply.
Article V - Amendments
This Constitution and the By-Laws may be amended at any regular business meeting by a two- thirds vote of the members present. Two weeks’ notice of such meetings shall be given to the membership.
By-Laws
Article1- Meetings
Meetings are held on Wednesdays from 10:00 AM until noon via Zoom, initiated by the webmaster.
Article 11 - Fees
Fees for all members shall be determined by the Board with the consent of the membership. New members may pay on a pro-rated basis if joining after the middle of the season. Moderator reading slots will not be assigned until dues are paid in full or as pro-rated for a late season admission.
Article 111 - Duties of the Officers
Section 1. The Presidents shall preside at all business meetings and reading sessions. They are responsible for planning and implementing the moderator’s schedule and seeing that those contracts are sent and signed in a timely manner. Presidents are responsible for updating moderators on The Writers policies and practices.
Section 2. The Vice President(s) shall preside over meetings in the Presidents’ absence. They shall manage the moderators’ schedule and wait list.
Section 3. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all board and business meetings, and manage all records of the organization, including financial reports, which shall be incorporated into the minutes. The Secretary shall also maintain the membership directory and circulate it to the membership.
Section 4. The Treasurer shall collect all fees, keep an account of all financial transactions and write checks as necessary for the business of the organization. The Treasurer and current president shall be signatories on file with any bank account. The Treasurer shall provide an accounting of the treasury at all business meetings.
The books of the organization shall be audited by the Presidents and Vice Presidents with the Treasurer annually.
Article V - Rules and Code of Conduct
Roberts Rules of Order shall be the authority in parliamentary law.
One third of the active membership shall constitute a quorum for conducting business. Members shall not discuss the contents of manuscripts presented at The Writers meetings with anyone other than other members or the moderators critiquing those manuscripts.
Guests may attend sessions at the discretion of the membership, and permission of the writers whose manuscripts will be critiqued. Guests will not speak during the critique process. Guests must also observe the rule that there is no discussion of the manuscripts presented at the meetings with anyone outside the membership.
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