TRiangle Italian American Women's Club
Bylaws

​Article I. Name

         The name of the organization shall be the Triangle Italian American Women's Club.

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Article II. Purpose

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Section 1.

The purpose of this organization is social and nonprofit; established to promote friendship and goodwill among members and the community, with emphasis on Italian heritage through discussion of food, language, and topics of ethnic nature.

Section 2.

The Board of Directors (BOD), at the beginning of each member year (September), shall propose a charity for the Club to support through various efforts throughout the year.  Suggestions for specific activities may come from the BOD as well as the general membership.

Section 3. 

The Club has established “The Mary DeBonis Scholarship” in memory of the first President of the Cary Club. The scholarship is for a young woman of Italian descent from one of our local high schools.  A Scholarship Committee is formed at the September meeting each year for the purpose of promoting this scholarship with the local high schools and finding a recipient.  The goal of the scholarship is a $500 award.

Article III. Membership

Membership is open to women of Italian heritage and women married to men of Italian heritage.  New members are given a New Member Information Sheet at their first meeting.  This Information Sheet shall include the following:

1. The list of officers’ names, positions, email addresses.

2. The list of any committees with the team names and emails (i.e., Scholarship committee).

3. The Member List will include the following:  first and last name, maiden name, email, birth month and day, address and phone.  Note: the Member List is not meant to be shared beyond the TRIAWC membership.

4. Copy of the event calendar for the current member year.

5. Website and Facebook information.

Article IV. Dues

Section 1.  

Historically, the dues are $30.  The BOD shall determine dues for the coming year. The Treasurer collects the dues.

Section 2.

Yearly dues for all active members are payable at the September membership meeting.

Section 3.

Members joining part way through the year may have dues prorated at the discretion of the BOD. Members who join after July 1st may have the current year's dues waived at the discretion of the BOD. In this respect, the BOD will take into account the number of meetings the new member had attended.

Article V. Board of Directors and Officers

Section 1.

The BOD shall be composed of at least three members.

Section 2.

The BOD are the Officers of the Club. The BOD shall include a minimum of President, Vice President and Treasurer.  Other positions may be Secretary, Webmaster/Facebook.

Section 3.

The BOD shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Club between business meetings and perform such duties as shall be specified in these bylaws.

Section 4.

Nominations for the BOD will be accepted at the April general meeting.  Elections will be held at the June meeting.

Section 5.

Nominees for the BOD must be members in good standing.

Section 6.

If more than one person is nominated for an office, members shall have the right to vote either in person or by absentee ballot (or email). If only one person is nominated for an office, by a seconded motion, the nomination is considered approved and a vote can be taken.

Section 7.

Installation of the new BOD takes place at the September Member meeting.  The new officers assume duties at the beginning of the meeting.

Section 8.

Members of the BOD must attend a minimum of 7 of the 12 regular meetings and all of the Board Meetings.

Section 9.

The BOD will serve for at least a one-year term.

Article VI. Removal of an Officer

If an Officer does not fulfill her duties required by her office, the Officer will be notified in writing of the meeting at which removal from office will be discussed and voted upon. At that meeting, the member may present statements to the BOD in an effort to retain the position.

Article VII. Bank Account

Section 1. 

The BOD may select a bank for the purpose of opening a bank account for the Club's operating expenses.  Funds in the bank account shall be withdrawn by check or online banking, authorized by any of the signing Officers as designated by the BOD.

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Section 2.

When a new BOD is elected, they must update the signees for the Club bank account.  At least two BOD members shall be signees on the bank account (the Treasurer plus at least one other).

Section 3.  

TRIAWC does not have a tax ID assigned by the IRS.  However, we conduct ourselves as a nonprofit as monies from dues, raffles and donations are not spent for the benefit of individuals of the club.  Also see Article X, Section 1, Tax Status.  

Section 4. 

The Treasurer will be responsible for maintaining an accurate accounting of the bank account debits and credits.

Section 5.

The BOD will not incur debt in the club's name without sufficient funds in the Bank Account to cover the debt.

Section 6. 

At least twice annually, the Treasurer will provide an update of the Club's financial standing to the BOD and the general membership.  One of these updates is recommended for March.  The second update shall be in July/August, prior to the transition to the new BOD in September.

Section 7. 

All Club receipts and supporting accounting documentation will be made available by the Treasurer as needed and when transferring the bank account to a newly elected BOD at the September meeting.

Article VIII. Meetings
 

Section 1.  

At the first regular business meeting in September, the general membership shall develop the proposed calendar of events for the year by signing up to host/make arrangements for a monthly event.

Section 2. 

Regular business meetings shall be held monthly from September through August, at a time and place to be determined by the general membership.

Section 3.

The BOD may call a special meeting periodically as the need arises.

Section 4.

Two permanent meetings on the Club’s calendar shall be May for the Scholarship meeting, and September for the annual membership meeting.

Article IX. Rules of Order

The Club shall be governed by these bylaws.  

Article X. Tax Status

Section 1. 

This Club shall not be organized or operated for profit.  However, it is not an official nonprofit organization according to the laws of North Carolina. 

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Section 2.  

The Club's operating budget is the result of member dues, 50/50 raffles and member donations.  No monies are collected or raised from outside sources for Club purposes.  Therefore, monies can be expended as deemed necessary and approved by the BOD.

Section 3. 

No part of the Club's net income shall fall to the benefit of any officer or member of the Club. 

Section 4. 

In the event of the dissolution of this Club, any assets remaining after satisfaction of all outstanding debts shall be donated to a charity agreed to by the majority of the BOD.  

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SUMMARY OF CHANGES

8/26/2024

• Section 7.3 - Clarification that TRIAWC does not have an IRS assigned tax ID.

• Section 8.2 - The Club meets monthly (removed specific day of the month).

• Section 10.1 - Clarified that TRIAWC is not a nonprofit.

• Revisions approved by BOD.

9/06/2022

• Article VIII Meetings, Section 2.

9/6/2022

• Changed meeting day to 1st Tuesday from 2nd Monday.

8/26/2024

• Changed meeting day to monthly.

1/14/2019

• BOD approved; revision re nonprofit and tax ID use.

1/13/2019

• Revised re nonprofit clarification and tax ID.

9/12/2016

• Revision approved.

9/08/2017

• Reprint.