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Bylaws of the Riggs LaSalle Friends of the Recreation Center (FORLR)

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of this organization shall be the FRIENDS OF RIGGS-LASALLE RECREATION CENTER “aka Riggs-LaSalle Friends or FORLR”. The Riggs-LaSalle Friends was founded in May 17, 2019 for the purpose of bringing quality programming, activities, culture, and learning to the community recreation center.

ARTICLE II: MISSION

The mission of the Riggs-LaSalle Friends is to encourage learning, fun, and activities in the area of Riggs Park in NE Washington, DC, to unite the community, and to encourage participation of all residents, young and old.

 

ARTICLE III: ELIGIBLITY

Persons chosen by the President must have a vested interest in the FORLR center’s growth and have proven to have been actively participating in its daily activities. Such individuals must pledge and commit themselves to support the recreation center’s staff, residents, and programs in order to be board members.

 

ARTICLE IV: MEETINGS

Section 1. Regular Meetings.
Regular meetings of the FORLR shall take place quarterly (or as needed) and at such time and place as the President designates.

Section 2. Special Meetings.

  • (a) The President may call a special meeting upon oral, written, or electronic notice to all members in good standing within forty-eight (48) hours. The notice shall state the purpose for the special meeting and the time and place of the meeting.
  • (b) One-third (1/3) of the Executive Board members in good standing may sign a petition to call a special meeting. The Executive Board members in good standing shall present the petition to the President. The President shall direct the Corresponding Secretary to send oral, written or electronic notices to all Executive Board members in good standing of the time and place of the special meeting within fifteen (15) days after the presentment of the petition.

Section 3. Teleconference Meetings.

Executive Board members may participate in a Regular, Special, or Executive Meeting by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment that allows all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence at a meeting.

Section 4. Notice.
The President or her designee shall provide written notice of the place, date, and hour of any meeting which shall be delivered by facsimile, snail mail, or electronic mail to each member entitled to vote at such meeting. The notice shall include a statement indicating whether the meeting is a regular meeting or special meeting. The notice shall indicate whether the meeting will be conducted at a specific site, by teleconference or other means.

Section 5. Quorum.
One third (1/3) of the Executive Board members in good standing on the membership roll of the FORLR shall constitute a quorum for any all meetings.

Section 6. Members in Good Standing.
Executive Board members in good standing shall attend a minimum of half (50%) of all regularly scheduled general meetings during each year.

 

ARTICLE V: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Application and Induction.
Any eligible person (chosen by the President) may submit a completed membership form provided by the FORLR for Executive Board membership.

Section 2. Financial Obligations.
Donations will be received and spent 100% on programming, programming support, and administrative costs.

Section 3. Termination and Reinstatement of Executive Board Members.
An Executive Board Member shall be dropped from the Executive Board membership if the President and two thirds of the Executive Board determines that the Executive Board member is non-participatory. The President shall give such Executive Board member written notice and shall transmit a copy of that notice to the Corresponding Secretary, and the Financial Secretary. Any Executive Board member who has been removed can be reinstated by the President on a case-by-case basis. Executive Board Member reinstatement occurs after receipt of a notice of reinstatement from the Financial Secretary that has been authorized by the President.

 

ARTICLE VI: SPECIAL MEMBERSHIPS

Honorary Membership.
Two-thirds (2/3) of the Executive Board members in good standing may elect any person as an Honorary Member if that person has a record of distinguished service to the community, or the center. Honorary Members shall NOT have the privileges to hold Executive Board office or to vote at meetings. This position is ceremonial and holds no official title.

 

ARTICLE VII: OFFICERS

Section 1. Eligibility.
Only a chosen candidate per the President of FORLR in good standing during the current year and/or who has demonstrated outstanding leadership abilities and qualities, may become an Executive Officer.

Section 2. Duties and Offices of Executive Board Members.

  • (a) The President shall perform the following duties:
    • (i) preside at all general and executive board meetings;
    • (ii) sign all official documents;
    • (iii) appoint all chairpersons of Standing Committees and Subsidiary Committees;
    • (iv) serve as an ex-officio Member of all Committees;
    • (v) be responsible for the implementation of the functions and purposes of the group; and
    • (vi) prepares a 2-year budget for the term and presents it to the Executive Board for consideration at the first Executive Board Meeting with review by the Treasurer.
  • (b) The First Vice President shall perform the following duties:
    • (i) preside over meetings in the absence of or at the request of the President;
    • (ii) coordinate the functions and operations of Standing Committees; preside over meetings of the Executive Committee; and
    • (iii) perform other duties as the President may assign.
  • (c) The Second Vice President shall perform the following duties:
    • (i) preside over meetings in the absence of the President and First Vice President; and
    • (ii) perform other duties as the President may assign.
  • (d) The Recording Secretary shall perform the following duties:
    • (i) take, maintain and preserve the typed minutes of all the regular and special meetings of the FORLR and the Executive Board;
    • (ii) maintain the minutes in such a form that they are available for review by Executive Board members at all meetings;
    • (iii) may assist the President in notifying Executive Board members of a special meeting, also responsible for the FORLR records retention policy, implementation, and maintenance;
    • (iv) submit the minutes to the Executive Board for review one week (7-days) prior to the Executive Board meeting; and
    • (v) after the Executive Board’s review and approval, submit the minutes to the Corresponding Secretary for distribution to the Executive Board members one week (7-days) prior to the regularly scheduled meeting.
  • (e) The Corresponding Secretary shall perform the following duties:
    • (i) send all notices of regular and special meetings to all Executive Board members in good standing at least one week (7-days) before the meeting;
    • (ii) be responsible for other mailings and correspondence of the FORLR and for the reading of correspondence at the FORLR meetings;
    • (iii) work with the Chair of the Membership Committee to compile and distribute Membership Directories to all Members in good standing; and
    • (iv) maintain the database and mailing labels.
  • (f) The Treasurer shall perform the following duties:
    • (i) be responsible for the finances of the FORLR (except as otherwise provided in these By-Laws);
    • (ii) be the custodian of the treasury of the FORLR, file tax statements with the proper authorities if and when required (in cooperation with the Financial Secretary); and
    • (iii) present financial statements, including bank balances at the appropriate membership meetings.
  • (g) The Financial Secretary shall perform the following duties:
    • (i) receive all dues and monies of the FORLR and promptly transmit such dues and monies to the Treasurer;
    • (ii) record all financial transactions;
    • (iii) file tax statements with the proper authorities if and when required (in cooperation with the Treasurer); and
    • (iv) certify a list of Members in Good Standing when the President so requires.
  • (h) The Parliamentarian shall perform the following duties:
    • (i) guide the meetings of the FORLR according to the By-Laws and parliamentary procedures stated in Robert’s Rules of Order; and
    • (ii) offer opinions on all parliamentary questions directed to or posed by the President.

Section 3. Executive Board.
The Executive Board shall consist of all the FORLR President’s chosen officers. Only the Executive Board members shall have the right to vote and Chair committees.

 

ARTICLE VIII: STANDING COMMITTEES

Section 1. Executive Committee.
The chairpersons of standing committees shall be Executive Board members. The Executive Committee shall meet, as needed, under the guidance of the First Vice President to report activities of the committee. All reports of Standing Committees shall be submitted to the Executive Board one week (7-days) prior to the Executive Board Meeting. Committee chairs will appoint their committee members. Committee member’s responsibilities are limited to supporting their committee’s roles only. They shall have no further obligations or undertakings. The Chairpersons of Standing Committees are appointed by the President and serve for two years.

Audit/Auditor Committee – audits the books and records of FORLR each fiscal year and reports the findings to the Executive Board and to the Membership as a whole. The Treasurer of Friends of shall submit the books and records to the Audit Committee within sixty (60) days of the close of the fiscal year under audit. The findings of the audit results shall be given to the Executive Board by the beginning of the fiscal year and to the Membership.
By-Laws Committee – receives proposed amendments from the Executive Board members in good standing and presents them to the Executive Board for review, approval, and submission to Executive Board membership to vote; reviews existing Bylaws and whenever necessary, draws up proposed revisions for presentation to the Executive Board for review, approval, and submission to the Executive Board membership for vote; and files amendments.

Communication Committee – disseminates information on events and activities sponsored by FORLR, and other organizations with similar interests.

Fundraising Committee – develops and implements activities and events to raise funds to support approved programs and responsibilities. The Committee shall plan and execute all fundraising with approval of the Executive Board. At least one (1) Vice President shall serve on this Committee. The Finance Committee shall perform the following duties: (i) assist in fundraising, (ii) record keeping and (iii) auditing activities.

Program Committee – plans, organizes, and presents special programs.

 

Section 2. Reporting of Committees
Chairs of Standing and Special Committees shall be required to regularly provide written progress reports as requested by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE IX: TERMS OF OFFICE

Section 1. Duration.
Officers shall be appointed to serve the FORLR unless otherwise stated. All terms of office shall terminate only if requested or removed.

Section 2. Limitation.
As long as possible; unless otherwise requested.

Section 3. Vacancy.
(a) With the advice and consent of the Executive Board, the President shall appoint an Executive Board Member in good standing to fill any vacancy in any office (except that of President) when such vacancy occurs. Any Executive Board Member in good standing, which the President so appoints, shall serve.
(b) If the office of President becomes vacant, the First Vice President shall become the President; the Second Vice President shall become the First Vice President; the Recording Secretary shall become the Second Vice President; and the Executive Board shall appoint a Member in good standing to serve as the Recording Secretary, etc.
(c) Whenever the Members in good standing determine that an officer or chairperson has failed to perform the duties of his/her office, the Executive Board Members in good standing may, at any regular meeting, declare the office of that officer vacant by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of all Executive Board Members in good standing on the Membership roll of the FORLR.

 

ARTICLE X: FINANCIAL DISBURSEMENTS

Section 1. Authorization
The Executive Board shall be the sole authority for authorizing any member of FORLR to incur financial obligations on the behalf of FORLR.

Section 2. Receipts
All receipts for FORLR of expenditures shall be submitted to the Treasurer for reimbursement following the activity and a voucher or bill must be submitted before reimbursements can be made. The Treasurer will preserve these receipts for presentation and review by the Audit Committee for five (5) years.

Section 3. Disbursements
Upon proper authorization, all disbursements from the treasury shall be made by check and signed by at least two (2) of the following three (3) Officers: President, Treasurer, or Financial Secretary.

 

ARTICLE XI: HISTORIAN

The President shall appoint a Historian to record and to maintain a record of all major activities of the organization and to keep all records of the previous administrations.

 

These By-Laws were approved by the President of FORLR in May 17, 2019.