This is the proposed constitution for the Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild. We will vote on adopting it at the May or June Guild Meeting.

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Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild Constitution By-Laws

Article I.

The name of this Association organization shall be known as the “Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild”.


Article II.

Located in the historic cradle of American beekeeping, the Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild (the Guild) works to encourage and promote urban beekeeping through fellowship and education, and to raise awareness of the importance of bees to our environment.


Article III. Amendments

The organization shall be governed by the Executive Committee and the officers as chosen, at such time, and in such manner, and for such periods as the By-Laws shall ordain.

Article IV.

The membership shall consist of persons who comply with conditions of membership set forth in the By-Laws.


Article V.

This These Constitution Governing Principles may be amended by a two thirds majority at any regular meeting vote of the current membership of the Guild, provided that a written notice embodying the proposed changes shall have been communicated to each member at least thirty (30) days in advance of such vote.

Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild Bylaws


Article IV. Guild Meetings

Section 4.1 At the minimum, the Guild will hold one annual Executive Committee meeting preceeding one annual business meeting for the membership. Additional meetings for programs and/or business will be called at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

Section 4.2 10% of membership shall constitute a quorum.

Section 4.3 A committee of two members shall be appointed by the President prior to the annual business meeting to audit the books of the Guild.

Article V. Association Guild Membership.

Section 1.015.1 Any beekeeper or anyone interested in beekeeping may become a member. Other persons may participate in Guild activities as friends of the Guild.

Section 1.025.2 The membership year shall be from January 1 through December 31. New members joining after October 31 shall be considered paid up members in good standing (paid-up) for the following calendar year.

Section 1.035.3 Membership shall be on an annual basis as outlined above. Dues become payable on January 1 of each year. The dues are payable to the Treasurer. In order to vote at meetings on Guild business, a member must be a paid-up member in good standing (paid-up). The annual dues for membership shall be set at each annual business meeting.

Section 1.045.3 The membership list shall be reviewed at each annual business meeting and members in arrears may be dropped from membership.

Section 1. 05 The spouse household of any member in good standing shall be entitled to membership status including the right of those over the age of 13 to vote and of those over the age of 18 to hold office. Such membership shall be dues exempt.

Section 1.06 Life members may be awarded by the Executive Committee to a member for faithful service over a period of at least five years and/or meritorious service to the Association. Life members shall have all the privileges of membership including the right to vote and hold office.


Article IIVI. Association Officers.

Section 2.016.1 The officers of the Guild shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary Webmaster and Secretary-Treasurer, all to be elected each year not divisible by two at the annual business meeting, to serve for the
ensuing two calendar years.


Article IIIVII. Executive Committee.

Section 3.017.1 The officers Executive Committee shall be constituted of the elected officers, the immediate past president and up to 5% of the current membership. Executive Committee. Non-officer members of the Executive Committee will be elected during the annual business meeting in which officers of the Guild are elected.

Section 7.2 The Executive Committee shall have the responsibility of conducting the affairs of the Guild. All members of the Executive Committee must be members in good standing.

Section 3.027.3 Actions of the Executive Committee shall be binding on thereported in summary to the Guild membership for acceptance within 30 days. A simple majority vote will determine acceptance of an action. Association, unless disapproved by two-thirds of the members voting at the first meeting following the Executive Committee meeting.

Section 3.037.4 A report of the actions of the Executive Committee shall be presented at the meetings of the Guild.

Section 3.04 Members may request that Full minutes of the Executive Committee meeting be read at the business meetings of the Guild will be available to members of the Guild.

Section 3.057.5 As long as the Guild meets the Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association (PSBA) criteria for participation, tThe Executive Committee shall appoint a delegate to the PSBA’s annual business meeting. Pennsylvania Beekeepers Association. The PSBA delegate must be a member in good standing of both the PSBA and the Guild and shall vote as directed by the Executive Committee. The PSBA delegate shall and report all actions taken at PSBA meetings to the Guild membership within 30 days. at the subsequent Executive Committee meeting.

Section 3.067.6 The Executive Committee shall by a majority vote of its members present at a meeting of the Executive Committee, fill by appointment any vacancy occurring in any elective office. This appointment shall be effective until the next election at an annual business meeting of the AssociationGuild.


Article VIIIIV. Duties of Officers.

Section 4.018.1 It shall be the duty of the President to call and preserve order in all meetings of the Guild and Executive Committee, appoint all committees, call for reports of officers and decide upon all questions of order, according to regular parliamentary usage. The Rules of Order not specifically
provided in these By-Laws shall be Robert’s Rules of Order. The President shall conduct, as single point of contact, correspondences intended to reach all members and friends of the Guild. The President shall conduct such correspondence as the Executive Committee requests.

Section 4.028.2 It shall be the duty of the Vice-President in the absence of or at the direction of the President, to perform some or all of the duties of that office.

Section 4.038.3 The Secretary shall keep ensure that an accurate record of all transactions of the Guild and the Executive Committee are kept and communicated to members of the Guild by way of the Guild’s website. The Secretary shall conduct such correspondence as the President, the Executive Committee, or Guild requests, maintain the Guild’s website in a timely and appropriate manner. The Guild’s website shall be the official publication of the Guild.

Section 4.048.4 The Treasurer shall make disbursements only upon the order of the President or the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall receive all moneys and dues of the Guild and keep a record of same. The Treasurer shall report the condition of the Treasury at the meetings of the Executive Committee and Guild's annual business meetings. The Treasurer shall make disbursements only upon the direction of the President or the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall take minutes at all Executive Committee meetings and business meetings.

Article IX. Amendments.

Section 5.01 The By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote of all the members present at any regular business meeting, or any special business meeting called for that purpose, provided that a written notice embodying the proposed changes shall have been mailed to each member at least thirty (30) days in advance of such meeting.