CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS of the Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators

Formation date:
January 2004
based on conforming document below
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Constitution

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of the society shall be the Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators, an association under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The association is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The society shall exist to fill the need for an organization with which all Pittsburgh area illustrators and other persons interested in the aims of the society can affiliate to achieve the following principal purposes:
A. To achieve a closer social and professional contact among illustrators in the Pittsburgh area.
B. To cultivate and strengthen the profile of the illustration art form in the Pittsburgh region by exhibiting and promoting work of the highest aesthetic caliber of our membership.
C. To acquaint Pittsburgh art and illustration patrons with the work of our membership and high standards of work throughout the world.
D. To play host to visiting illustrators, lecturers, and teachers.
E. To fundraise and dispense charitable money (including but not limited to scholarships) to worthy and needful college age art and design students pursuing the illustration craft. In order to achieve the foregoing general aims, the society shall undertake activities such as:
A. Social gatherings: reception and entertainment of visitors; lectures and discussions; fund-raisers; exhibitions; meeting of professional and related groups, and similar activities.
B. Organize workshops, field trips, instruction materials, etc. to raise professional, student, and patron awareness of the illustration art form which are consistent with the general purposes of the society.

OPERATIONAL LIMITATIONS:

Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles, the association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an association exempt from Federal Income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Revenue Law) or (b) by a corporation, contributions, to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

By-Laws

ARTICLE I - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Any person interested in the aims of the Society is eligible to be a member.

Section 2. Memberships shall consist of the following:
A. Active Members
B. Life Members
C. Honorary Members

Section 3.
A. All candidates for active membership are to be proposed by at least two members and presented to the Board of Directors who must have an affirmative vote of 75% of the Board members present.
B. Any active member may become a Lifetime Benefactor by contributing a minimum of $500.00 which excludes him/her from any further payment of dues.
C. Any person of recognized special merit in relation to the purposes of the Society may be elected to honorary membership by unanimous vote of the Board of Directors, having all rights and privileges of the active membership with exemption from payment of dues. Section 4. Membership in any class expires through death, or suspension due to conduct prejudicial to the interest of the Society or non-payment of dues. Resignation should be presented to the Membership Secretary in writing. Suspension shall become effective by an affirmative vote of 75% of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE II - ADMINISTRATION
Section 1. The General Assembly consists of all members. It is the duty of the General Assembly to elect the Directors of the Society and shall vote on proposals relating to basic policy of the Society, including such matters as setting of dues and amendment of the By-Laws.

Section 2. The Board of Directors consists of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and four Committee Chairs. The President shall be elected bi-annually and shall not succeed himself after two terms. Other officers shall be elected bi-annually and can succeed themselves.

Section 3. One auditor shall be elected by the General Assembly and shall not be members of the Board of Directors.

Section 4. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for establishing and maintaining all Society operating policies and procedures. The Board of Directors shall consider and report upon all business to be acted upon by the Society, shall be the custodian of all its property, shall authorize all contracts and expenditures, but shall not incur liabilities exceeding the amounts of the unappropriated funds in the hands of the Treasurer.

Section 5. The President shall maintain effective liaison with the Board of Directors, shall call meetings of the Society, shall preside at these meetings, shall, except as otherwise provided, create and discharge general committees, and shall perform such other duties as are customary to the office. The Vice President shall act in the absence or incapacity of the President. He shall serve as ex-officio member of all general committees. He shall carry out other duties as may be delegated to him by the President, especially web site publicity and maintenance. The Secretary shall maintain a roster of the Society membership, shall maintain Society records and archives, shall conduct Society correspondence, shall inform membership of all Society activities through appropriate means of communication, shall act as Secretary for all Board of Directors meetings, and shall perform such other duties as are customary to the office.

INUREMENT OF INCOME:

No part of the net earnings of the association shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, trustees, officers or other private persons except that the corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered.

ARTICLE III - DISSOLUTION

Section 1. A majority vote of 75% 0f the members present at the General Assembly is required to pass on the question of dissolution of the Society. Dissolution Clause: Upon the dissolution of the association, the Board of trustees shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all liabilities of the association, dispose of all the assets of the association exclusively for the purposes of the association in such manner, or to such organization or organzations organised and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Board of Trustees shall determine. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Competent Jurisdiction of the county in which the principal office of the corporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes. The original Constitution and these By-Laws approved October 1, 1999 by vote of the membership. Final Constitution document conforming to 501(c)(3) language revised January 24, 2004.

ARTICLE IV - TAX EXEMPT STATUS

Section 1. Conforming revised Constitution supplied to IRS review January 2004.

Section 2. PSI received final approval on our 501(c)(3) status February 13, 2004.

Section 3. To interested parties who require our EIN/FEN number and/or DLN numbers, they are available upon legitimate request by calling Fred Carlson at 412.856.0982 or emailing fred@carlsonstudio.com.

OFFICERS JANUARY 2008

President - Rick Antolic
Vice President - David Biber
Secretary - James Mellett
Treasurer - Gina Scanlon
Corporate Sponsorship - John Manders
Scholarship Chair - Kathy Rooney
Exhibitions/Gallery Chairs - Wayno, Vince Dorse, Lynne Cannoy
New Member Contact - Frederick H. Carlson
Auditor - Rotating assignment
Public Relations - Vince Dorse
Pittsburgh Center for the Arts Rep - Rick Antolic
PCA Exhibition Rep - Alicia Diaz

Written declaration: We, the undersigned, members of the Board of the Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators, state that this document is a complete and accurate copy of our revised organizational association constitution and by-laws conforming to IRS 501(c)(3) guidelines, and that these documents were adopted by a vote of the membership.Frederick H. Carlson/President Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators,David Biber/VP Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators , Debby Giancola/Treasurer, James Mellett/Secretary Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators. - January 2004

Appendix to By-Laws/Non-Discrimination Policy

The Board of PSI unanimously approved at its January 16, 2007 business meeting the following statement for placement as an appendix into the by-laws, on the website, and in all future sanctioned publication material:

EEOC Non-Discrimination Policy Statement adopted by the Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators

The Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators invites members, sponsors, scholarship applicants, volunteers, Board membership, exhibitors, guest lecturers and visitors, and audiences without regard to age, color, creed, or national origin; and, expressly prohibits conduct by its Board, members, or strategic partners in acts of discrimination against anyone due to age, color, creed, or national origin.