Focus Bulacan By-Laws
Constitution
ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of this organization shall be Focus Bulacan, hereinafter referred to as the "Club".
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE
The Club’s purpose shall be to bring together persons actively interested in any of the branches of photography and generally to promote any activity for the mutual assistance of members and improvements of the standard of photography, both artistically and technically.
This shall be done by:
(a) Providing regular activities and opportunities for practicing photography
(b) Sponsoring and holding photo contests and competition
(c) Promoting social activities, especially those pertinent to the club's programs
(d) Providing contacts with other photographic organizations and outstanding photographers
ARTICLE III – OFFICERS AND LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE
Section 1 - A Leadership Committee will be composed of officers from sub-committees, which are to be elected or appointed by club members or other members of the Leadership Committee. The subcommittees are : Finance (1 officer), Membership (1 officer), Logistics (minimum of 3 officers), External Affairs (1 or 2 officer/s), Competition (1 or 2 officer/s), and Auxiliary (optional committee).
Section 2 - The term of office for appointed officers shall be one year. Officers can be re-appointed for another two terms, but cannot hold the same position for more than three years. In effect, there is a term limit of three years. An officer, however, can be appointed in a different position after the term limit.
Section 3 - Officers shall be nominated and appointed in December of a calendar year, with their term officially starting on January 1st of the succeeding year.
Section 4 - If the conduct of any officer is such as to warrant removal from position, the position may be declared vacant by the unanimous vote of the other members of the Leadership Committee. Such action is to be taken only after a thorough deliberation has been made and the officer given an opportunity to defend his/her actions.
ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 - The membership of the Club shall consist of official members and membership applicants.
Section 2 – Official members are to be given full access to all Club activities and privileges. Membership applicants are limited to attendance of monthly PhotoMeets, contests, and activities open to non-members.
Section 3 - Any person whose contributions to the Club have been significant and distinguished, but who is not otherwise eligible for membership, may be made an honorary member of the Club by a majority vote of the Leadership Committee.
ARTICLE V - MEMBERSHIP PRIVILEGES
Section 1 - The privileges of membership shall include the right to vote, to hold position, to participate in all club activities, and to enjoy all other privileges in accordance with rules and regulations pertaining thereto.
Section 2 – Dependents of Club members plus other guests can participate in Club activities at the discretion of the Leadership Committee.
ARTICLE VI -DUES
Section 1 – Official Club members shall pay regular dues, which shall be collected in the amounts and manner prescribed in the by-laws.
ARTICLE VII - MANAGEMENT
Section 1 - The management shall be vested in the Leadership Committee as defined in article III. The Leadership Committee shall have control of the Club affairs with full power to act for it in all organizational matters.
Section 2 - The Leadership Committee will hold meetings as required to make such rules and regulations for the guidance of the members of the Club as are deemed necessary and are not herein determined. These additions or changes must be presented to members before implementation.
ARTICLE VIII - QUORUM
A simple majority of the voting members of the Leadership Committee shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE IX - ACTIVITIES AND AWARDS
Section 1 - All activities of the Club shall be conducted under the direction and with the permission of the Leadership Committee.
Section 2 – Leadership Committee meetings shall be held throughout the year in accordance with the policies and purposes of the club.
Section 3 – For club activities involving an outside speaker, reasonable travel expenses and/or an honorarium may be paid for a non-member speaker by the Club, upon approval by the Leadership Committee.
ARTICLE X - RESIGNATIONS
Resignations of officers shall be tendered in writing to all the other members of the Leadership Committee.
ARTICLE XI - REMOVAL OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS, DENIAL OF MEMBERSHIP TO APPLICANTS
Section 1 - The Leadership Committee by unanimous vote shall have power to deny membership privileges to any officers, members, or applicant for conduct detrimental to the interest of the Club.
By-Laws
ARTICLE I - DUTIES AND POWERS OF LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE AND SUB-COMMITTEES
Section 1 – The Leadership Committee shall be the governing body of the Club and shall make any and all decisions. The Leadership Committee submits the Club’s yearly budget, makes recommendations on expenditures, and decides policies of the Club.
Section 2 – The Finance Committee shall safeguard and oversee the Club’s financial resources, with the power to collect membership dues, and to execute purchases and payments deemed in accordance with the Club’s approved activities. The Finance Committee shall also regularly submit an audit report of the Club’s finances.
Section 3 – The Membership Committee shall oversee the Club’s internal affairs regarding members and applicants. This shall include monitoring of members’ compliance with by-laws and Club requirements. The Membership Committee shall also handle disputes and complaints, should any arise.
Section 4 – The Logistics Committee shall oversee the Club’s programs and activities. This includes, but not limited to, planning, organizing, and supervising PhotoMeets, events, and other official activities.
Section 5 – The External Affairs Committee shall be responsible for communication with other organizations and entities that the Club may have to work with for the Club’s interests. This shall include providing an official channel for cooperation with government and non-government organizations, publications, and people groups.
Section 6 – The Competition Committee shall oversee any and all contests or competition that the Club will undertake. This includes, but not limited to, establishing rules and guidelines for contests, organizing entries, recording results, and finding the best ways to determine winners.
Section 7 - The Auxiliary Committee shall provide support for the Club's main events or projects, such as exhibits, annual parties, and other activities that are larger in scale compared to monthly PhotoMeets.
ARTICLE II - MEETINGS
Section 1 - The Club shall meet upon due notice at such times and places as it deems convenient.
Section 2 - The Club shall have special meetings upon the request of a majority of the Leadership Committee or upon the request of at least ten official members. The notice of such meetings shall cite the exact reason for the request.
ARTICLE III- ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Refer to Article III of the Constitution and Article I of the By-Laws.
Section 1 - The appointment of the Club's officers shall be held annually. Notice of the appointment shall be published for club members.
Section 2 - Officers shall assume responsibilities on the first day of January. Please refer to Article III Sections 2 and 3 of the Constitution about officers’ terms.
ARTICLE IV – AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION AND/OR BY-LAWS
An amendment to this Constitution or By-Laws may be initiated by an active club member and presented, in writing, to the Leadership Committee, who shall deliberate it and subject it to voting among the committee. If it passes by a majority vote of the entire committee it must be presented to official Club members for final approval.
Section 1 – The Leadership Committee shall be the governing body of the Club and shall make any and all decisions. The Leadership Committee submits the Club’s yearly budget, makes recommendations on expenditures, and decides policies of the Club.
Section 2 – The Finance Committee shall safeguard and oversee the Club’s financial resources, with the power to collect membership dues, and to execute purchases and payments deemed in accordance with the Club’s approved activities. The Finance Committee shall also regularly submit an audit report of the Club’s finances.
Section 3 – The Membership Committee shall oversee the Club’s internal affairs regarding members and applicants. This shall include monitoring of members’ compliance with by-laws and Club requirements. The Membership Committee shall also handle disputes and complaints, should any arise.
Section 4 – The Logistics Committee shall oversee the Club’s programs and activities. This includes, but not limited to, planning, organizing, and supervising PhotoMeets, events, and other official activities.
Section 5 – The External Affairs Committee shall be responsible for communication with other organizations and entities that the Club may have to work with for the Club’s interests. This shall include providing an official channel for cooperation with government and non-government organizations, publications, and people groups.
Section 6 – The Competition Committee shall oversee any and all contests or competition that the Club will undertake. This includes, but not limited to, establishing rules and guidelines for contests, organizing entries, recording results, and finding the best ways to determine winners.
Section 7 - The Auxiliary Committee shall provide support for the Club's main events or projects, such as exhibits, annual parties, and other activities that are larger in scale compared to monthly PhotoMeets.
ARTICLE II - MEETINGS
Section 1 - The Club shall meet upon due notice at such times and places as it deems convenient.
Section 2 - The Club shall have special meetings upon the request of a majority of the Leadership Committee or upon the request of at least ten official members. The notice of such meetings shall cite the exact reason for the request.
ARTICLE III- ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Refer to Article III of the Constitution and Article I of the By-Laws.
Section 1 - The appointment of the Club's officers shall be held annually. Notice of the appointment shall be published for club members.
Section 2 - Officers shall assume responsibilities on the first day of January. Please refer to Article III Sections 2 and 3 of the Constitution about officers’ terms.
ARTICLE IV – AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION AND/OR BY-LAWS
An amendment to this Constitution or By-Laws may be initiated by an active club member and presented, in writing, to the Leadership Committee, who shall deliberate it and subject it to voting among the committee. If it passes by a majority vote of the entire committee it must be presented to official Club members for final approval.
Code of Conduct :
Respect. Support. Communicate. Shoot. Focus.
FOCUS Bulacan requests all members to adhere to a very simple code of conduct. Five verbs that go a long way in maintaining order within the group :
RESPECT. In any organization comprised of many individuals, differences are inevitable. No matter the diversity in opinions, preferences, values, or beliefs, if members respect one another, the differences can be overcome. Sometimes, agreeing to disagree is the best option.
SUPPORT. One of Focus Bulacan’s goals is for every member to improve their photography. A sure way to do this is to offer encouragement, tips, and lessons or other forms of help to fellow-members. A responsive support group would greatly contribute toward collective improvement.
COMMUNICATE. Members are encouraged to speak their minds and let others know about issues and concerns. This way, things can be addressed. Focus Bulacan is a democracy, not a dictatorship. Speak out and let your voice be heard. But in doing so, be respectful and constructive as always as possible. If members are encouraged to speak, they, in turn, should also listen. Communication is a two-way process, if one channel is not functioning, the point of communicating becomes useless. Members are strongly urged to listen and be open-minded to issues, (hopefully constructive) criticism, and other matters. Give and take, speak but also listen.
SHOOT. Focus Bulacan is not a photography group for nothing. The group would not be able to achieve its goal if members do not practice what the group is all about in the first place - photography. Let us all shoot and keep on shooting. Sustain the passion.
FOCUS. Ask not what the group can do for you. Ask what you can do for the group. The success of Focus Bulacan will be determined by the collective effort of its members. If the officers and members work together, there is no reason for the group not to grow and succeed. The group’s success is also every member's success.
RESPECT. In any organization comprised of many individuals, differences are inevitable. No matter the diversity in opinions, preferences, values, or beliefs, if members respect one another, the differences can be overcome. Sometimes, agreeing to disagree is the best option.
SUPPORT. One of Focus Bulacan’s goals is for every member to improve their photography. A sure way to do this is to offer encouragement, tips, and lessons or other forms of help to fellow-members. A responsive support group would greatly contribute toward collective improvement.
COMMUNICATE. Members are encouraged to speak their minds and let others know about issues and concerns. This way, things can be addressed. Focus Bulacan is a democracy, not a dictatorship. Speak out and let your voice be heard. But in doing so, be respectful and constructive as always as possible. If members are encouraged to speak, they, in turn, should also listen. Communication is a two-way process, if one channel is not functioning, the point of communicating becomes useless. Members are strongly urged to listen and be open-minded to issues, (hopefully constructive) criticism, and other matters. Give and take, speak but also listen.
SHOOT. Focus Bulacan is not a photography group for nothing. The group would not be able to achieve its goal if members do not practice what the group is all about in the first place - photography. Let us all shoot and keep on shooting. Sustain the passion.
FOCUS. Ask not what the group can do for you. Ask what you can do for the group. The success of Focus Bulacan will be determined by the collective effort of its members. If the officers and members work together, there is no reason for the group not to grow and succeed. The group’s success is also every member's success.
(Updated January 3, 2016)
