The Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild has grown from what began in 2009 as a small, informal group of local beekeepers. Because of the swift growth of our membership, The Guild quickly established itself as a non-profit organization, and meetings are now held regularly at various sites around the city on the third Thursday of each month. We are still seeking a permanent home that is central to our wide membership. Let us know if you find a place that can accommodate a large group and offers adequate parking as well as a comfortable, safe environment. Thanks for your interest, and we hope to see you at our next meeting!

OFFICERS:

President - Adam Schreiber - president@phillybeekeepers.org
VP - Suzanne Matlock - vicepresident@phillybeekeepers.org
Secretary - Barbara Patrizzi - secretary@phillybeekeepers.org
Treasurer - Anna Herman - treasurer@phillybeekeepers.org
Webmaster - Abby Eckel
Member Representatives -Trey Flemming, Jeff Eckel and Chad Carnahan

If anyone else has a desire to be on the Board, let one of us know : Info@Phillybeekeepers.org

Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild   Constitution

The name of this Association shall be known as the “Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild"

The mission of this Guild shall be:
The Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild works to encourage and promote urban beekeeping through fellowship and education, and to raise awareness of the importance of bees to our environment.

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.

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.

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

Two business meetings of the Guild will be held – one a summer business meeting and the
other the annual business meeting for the election of officers and conduction of general business preferable in the Fall or Winter at a place in Philadelphia.

Special business meetings shall be called by the officers. Special business meetings shall also
be called by the secretary upon the written request of five members.

This Constitution may be amended by a two thirds majority at any regular business meeting or any special meeting called for that purpose provided that a written notice embodying the
proposed changes shall have been presented at a previous business meeting and mailed to each member at least fifteen (15) days in advance of such a meeting.

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Section 1.01    Any beekeeper or anyone interested in beekeeping may become a member.
Section 1.02     The membership year shall be from January 1 through December 31. New members joining after October 31 shall be considered paid up members for the following calendar year.
Section 1.03 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 the Guild meetings a member must be a paid-up member in good standing. The annual dues for membership shall be set at each annual business meeting.
Section 1.04 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 of any member in good standing shall be entitled to membership status including the right to vote and 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.

Section 2.01 The officers of the Association shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary Treasurer, and Information, all to be elected each year not divisible by two at the annual business meeting to serve for the ensuing two calendar years.

Section 3.01 The officers and three members elected from the general membership at the annual business meeting shall constitute the Executive Committee.  The Executive Committee shall have the responsibility of conducting the affairs of the Association. All members of the Executive Committee must be in good standing.
Section 3.02 Actions of the Executive Committee shall be binding on the Association, unless
disapproved by two-thirds of the members voting at the first business meeting following the ExecutiveCommittee meeting.
Section 3.03 A report of the actions of the Executive Committee shall be presented at the business meetings of the Guild.
Section 3.04 Members may request that minutes of the Executive Committee meeting be read at the business meetings of the Guild.
Section 3.05 The Executive Committee shall appoint a delegate to the Pennsylvania Beekeepers Association. The PSBA delegate shall vote as directed by the Executive Committee and report all actions taken at PSBA meetings at the subsequent Executive Committee meeting.
Section 3.06 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 annual business meeting of the Association.

Section 4.01 It shall be the duty of the President to call and preserve order in all meetings of the Association 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.
Section 4.02 It shall be the duty of the Vice-President in the absence of the President to perform the duties of that office.  The Vice-President will also manage all special events.
Section 4.03 The Secretary shall keep an accurate record of all transactions of the Guild and the Executive Committee and shall conduct such correspondence as the President, the Executive Committee, or Association requests.
Section 4.04 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 business meetings. The Treasurer will maintain the membership.
Section 4.05 The information director will manage the Philadelphia Beekeepers Guild website.

Section 5.01 Seven members shall constitute a quorum at any business meeting of the Association.
Section 5.02 The Guild business meetings shall mainly be governed by the following Order of
(a) Roll Call
(b) Introduction of new members (or guests)
(c) Reading of Minutes
(d) Report of the Treasurer
(e) Report of Auditors of the Association books at Annual Business Meeting.
(f) Report of the President
(g) Report of the Program Committee
(h) Report of Standing Committees
(i) Review of membership list at Annual Business Meeting.
(j) Old Business
(k) Election of Officers at Annual Business Meeting
(l) New Business
(m) Adjournment
Section 5.03 A committee of two members shall be appointed by the President prior to the annual business meeting to audit the books of the Association.

Section 6.01 The officers of this Association shall cause the Constitution and By-Laws to be printed in appropriate form, and a copy of the same to be mailed to each member of the Guild upon request of the member.

Section 7.01 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.