Pacific
Southwest District
of the American Rose Society
Southern California,
Southern Nevada,
Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas
Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas
Bylaws
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Pacific
Southwest District
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Adopted
April 19, 1992, Phoenix, AZ
Approved by ARS Board May 3,1992, Shreveport, LA
Approved by ARS Board, Philadelphia, September 13, 2002
Amended April 24, 2005, Monrovia, CA
Approved by ARS Board, September 30, 2005, Memphis, TN
Section 1.
The name of the organization shall be the "Pacific Southwest District of
the American Rose Society". (herein referred to as the 'District'). The
principal office of the District shall be the address of the current District
Director.
Section 2.
The District shall be a division of the American Rose Society (herein referred
to as ARS) a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Louisiana
on July 1, 1975.
The objectives of the District are to encourage amateur and professional rose culture; to increase the general understanding of and interest in all aspects of roses, including growing, hybridizing, exhibiting, judging and history; and to thereby improve the standard of excellence of the national floral emblem of the United States of America.
Section 1.
The membership shall consist of all members
of the ARS residing within the geographical boundaries of the District, as
prescribed by the ARS board of directors.
Section 2.
Rose societies, clubs and other horticultural
groups within the geographical boundaries of the District that hold an affiliated
or chapter membership in the ARS shall also be non-voting members of the District.
Section 1.
The elected officers of the District shall be a district director, a vice
director, a secretary, a treasurer and a district member of the national nominating
committee.
Section 2.
The appointed officers of the District shall consist of the chairman of horticultural
judges, chairman of arrangement judges, chairman of consulting rosarians, Roses
in Review coordinator, parliamentarian, district bulletin editor, webmaster,
chairman of the district nominating committee, parliamentarian, historian, public
rose gardens coordinator and district member of the national membership committee.
Section 3.
All appointed officers shall serve a term concurrent with the term of the
district director.
Section 1.
The management of the affairs of the District shall be vested in the district
director. The executive committee shall consist of the elected officers
of the District, and shall provide counsel to the district director and discharge
such other duties as may be specified in these bylaws.
Section 2.
The district director shall manage the affairs of the District; preside at
all meetings of the District, the executive Committee and the presidents’ council;
appoint the appointed officers; appoint such additional chairmen or committees
as may be necessary to carry out the objectives of the District; be an ex-officio
member of all committees except the nominating and auditing committees, with
a right to vote; and determine the order of procedure at all meetings.
Section 3.
Subject to Article VII, the vice director shall perform the duties of the district
director in his or her absence, or whenever the district director shall by reason
of temporary disability be unable to perform the duties of the office.
Section 4.
The secretary shall keep the minutes of all District business meetings, send
the district director a copy of the minutes within thirty days after a meeting,
and record the names of member societies represented at each district business
meeting.
Section 5.
The treasurer shall maintain a bank account in the name of the “American
Rose Society, Pacific Southwest District;” directly deposit into that
account all funds received; draw upon such funds by his or her single signature,
unless otherwise provided for by the executive committee; provide on demand
to the treasurer of the ARS such financial information as may be requested;
close the books at year's end; and make the books available to an audit committee
of two members appointed by the district director.
Section 6.
The district member of the national nominating committee shall preside as
chairman of the District awards committee for the purpose of awarding the ARS
District silver honor medal; preside at the annual District awards ceremony
held during the District annual convention; and, together with the district
director and chairman of the applicable committee, select annually the recipients
of the District outstanding consulting rosarian and District outstanding judge
awards.
Section 1.
The district awards committee shall be composed of a chairman, who shall be the
district member of the national nominating committee, and one representative
appointed by the president of each member society. The term of office for each
member shall be concurrent with the term of the district director. Membership
on the district awards committee is limited to two consecutive terms, and only
one member per family may be appointed to serve concurrently. The district awards
committee shall annually select the recipient(s) of the ARS District silver honor
medal in accordance with the then current ARS silver honor medal rules and regulations.
Section 2.
The chairman of horticultural judges shall administer a program for the continuing
education of ARS rose horticultural judges residing within the District; conduct
schools for qualified members who may be interested in becoming ARS rose horticultural
judges; and, together with the district director and district member of the
national nominating committee, select annually the recipient(s) of the district
outstanding horticultural judge award.
Section 3.
The chairman of arrangement judges shall administer a program for the continuing
education of ARS rose arrangement judges residing within the District; conduct
schools for qualified members who may be interested in becoming ARS rose arrangement
judges; and, together with the district director and district member of the national
nominating committee, select annually the recipient(s) of the District outstanding
arrangement judge award.
Section 4.
The chairman of consulting rosarians shall administer a program for the continuing
education of ARS consulting rosarians residing within the District; conduct
schools for qualified members who may be interested in becoming ARS consulting
rosarians; assist each member society in the appointment of a consulting rosarian
coordinator for that society; maintain a current list of consulting rosarians
in the District; and, together with the district director and district member
of the national nominating committee, select annually the recipient(s) of the
ARS outstanding consulting rosarian award.
Section 5.
The Roses in Review coordinator shall compile the data submitted under the
ARS Roses in Review program, transmit such data in the required official format
to the national coordinator, and prepare a special report of the District results
for publication in the District bulletin and on the District website.
Section 6.
The district bulletin editor shall edit, publish and distribute a quarterly District
bulletin to subscribers containing relevant news items relating to ARS, District
and local rose society activities.
Section 7.
The webmaster shall establish and maintain a District website for the publication
of information and news items related to ARS, District and local society activities.
Section 8.
The chairman of the district nominating committee shall, in consultation
with such committee members as he or she may appoint, nominate one or more
candidates for secretary, treasurer, and district member of the national nominating
committee for election at the District annual business meeting occurring in
the year of the ARS national triennial elections.
Section 9.
The parliamentarian shall advise the district director or other presiding
officer on matters of parliamentary procedure at all District business meetings.
Section 10.
The historian shall administer the storage of the archives of the District and
provide educational information on District history at the District annual convention.
Section 11.
The public rose gardens coordinator shall collect and maintain a master listing
of all public gardens within the District.
Section 12.
The district member of the national membership committee shall represent the
District on the national membership committee, contact prospective ARS members
and those whose ARS membership have lapsed, and undertake all desirable activities
to foster membership in the ARS.
ARTICLE VII
Vacancies
Section 1.
In the event of the death, permanent incapacity, or resignation of an elected
officer (other than the district director or the district member of the national
nominating committee), the executive committee shall fill such vacancy for
the remaining term.
Section 2.
In the event of the death, permanent incapacity, or resignation of the district
director, the vice director shall assume the position of interim district director
until a successor district director is elected.
Section 3.
In the event of the death, permanent incapacity, or resignation of the district
member of the national nominating committee, the district director shall appoint
a member to serve in that capacity until a successor district member of the
national nominating committee is elected.
Section 4.
In the event of a vacancy in the office of the district director or district
member of national nominating committee, the chairman of the district nominating
committee shall select one or more candidates to fill such a vacancy to be
presented for election at the next scheduled District business meeting, provided,
however, that if the next scheduled District business meeting is the District
annual meeting occurring in the same year as the ARS national triennial elections,
then the district director shall be elected under the bylaws of the ARS.
Section 1.
The district director shall be elected under the bylaws of the ARS for the three-year
term as specified therein.
Section 2.
The secretary, treasurer, and district member of the national nominating committee
shall be elected at the District annual meeting occurring in the same year as
the ARS national triennial election for a term concurrent with that of the district
director.
Section 3.
The candidates for election to the offices of secretary, treasurer, and district
member of the national nominating committee shall be posted on the District website
at least twenty days prior to the District annual meeting at which the election
shall be held under Section 2.
Section 4.
The district director shall call for additional nominations for election to the
offices of secretary, treasurer, and district member of the national nominating
committee from the floor at the District annual meeting at which the election
shall be held under Section 2, which nominations must have the consent of the
nominee.
Section 5.
Election to the offices of secretary, treasurer, and district member of the
national nominating committee shall be by ballot for each office. A majority
vote shall elect. In the event there shall be more than two candidates and
a majority not obtained on the first ballot, the two candidates with the highest
number of votes shall be placed on a second ballot and a majority vote thereon
shall elect.
Section 1.
The presidents’ council shall consist of the presidents of each member
society and the members of the executive committee.
Section 2.
The presidents’ council shall meet at the District annual convention
prior to the District annual meeting to offer advisory recommendations to
the district director and, on the vote of a majority, may add items to the
agenda of the District annual meeting.
Section 1.
A District annual convention consisting of two to three days shall be held over
a suitable weekend selected by the host society and approved by the district
director. The dates selected shall in no event conflict with an ARS national
convention.
Section 2.
The District annual convention shall include a District rose show; a meeting
of district consulting rosarians; meetings of district horticulture and arrangement
judges; the meeting of the president's council, an awards banquet and the District
annual business meeting.
Section 3.
The selection of a host society for future District annual conventions shall
be decided by a majority vote at the District annual meeting.
Section 4.
The host society shall submit registration and complete program details for
the District annual convention to the webmaster for posting on the District
website at least 60 days prior to the District annual convention.
Section 5.
A District special business meeting may be called at any time by the executive
committee, but not more than one such special meeting shall be called or held
In any calendar year.
Section 6.
Each member present in person at any District business meeting shall be entitled
to vote. Fifty members in attendance at any District business meeting shall constitute
a quorum. The members present at a duly called or convened District business
meeting, at which a quorum is present, may continue to transact business until
adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough members to leave less than
a quorum. Except as otherwise provided by these bylaws, all action taken by the
holders of a majority of the voting power represented at any District business
meeting at which a quorum is present shall be valid and binding.
Section 7.
Items for inclusion on the agenda of a District business meeting may be submitted
by any member to the district director at least ten days prior to the meeting,
or, in the case of the district annual meeting, may be proposed at the meeting
of the presidents’ council. The agenda of a district business meeting
shall be provided to members at the commencement of the meeting and items not
set forth thereon shall not be considered at the meeting.
Section 1.
The District is not authorized to collect membership dues. Each member society
is requested to remit a financial contribution to the treasurer on an annual
basis to assist in the operation of the District, with the actual amount to
be recommended by the executive committee from time to time.
Section 2.
A member society that serves as host to a District annual convention (other than
a convention held in conjunction with an ARS national convention) shall open
and maintain a separate bank account, in the name of the “Local Society,
Pacific Southwest District”. All funds deposited into that account shall
be restricted to use for that convention. Within a reasonable time, not to exceed
ninety days after the District annual convention, this separate bank account
shall be closed, audited and a report thereof submitted to the treasurer and
district director. The net profits from a District annual convention shall be
divided equally between the District and the host society.
Section 3.
All funds and other property of the District are the property of the ARS,
a corporation recognized as a non‑profit charitable organization under
Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and are subject to administration
as provided for in these bylaws, the ARS articles of incorporation and the
ARS bylaws. In the event of a conflict between these bylaws and either the
ARS articles of incorporation or the ARS bylaws, the ARS articles of incorporation
or the ARS bylaws shall control.
Section 4.
All District expenditures, other than those for payment of District mailings,
publications, or awards, shall be subject to approval of the executive committee.
Section 5.
In the event of consolidation, subdivision or change in boundaries of the
District, funds and other property of the District shall be transferred as
directed by the ARS board of directors, provided, however, that all such funds
and other property shall remain the property of the ARS, or a division, or
an incorporated charitable affiliate thereof.
Unless otherwise provided in these bylaws, the rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the conduct of District business meetings.
Section 1.
These bylaws may be amended or repealed by the membership by an affirmative
vote of two-thirds of all votes cast at a District annual business meeting,
provided such proposed amendments have been previously posted on the District
website at least 30 days prior to that meeting.
Section 2.
These bylaws are subject to approval of the ARS board of directors. A copy
of these bylaws shall be filed with the ARS executive director. Any subsequent
changes or amendments shall also be subject to approval of the ARS board of
directors.