Constitution

Article I

The name of the organization shall be The Mid-Day Study Club.

Article II

The object shall be to study and discuss cultural subjects and time events as expressed by the will of the members.

Article Ill

Meetings shall be held at 11:00 A.M. on the second Friday of each month, September through May, with the exception of January.

Article IV

Membership shall be limited to twenty-five.

A. When a vacancy in the membership occurs, names of prospective new members shall be placed in nomination in open meeting in February, two months before voting takes place in April, or submitted in writing at the same time so as to be eligible for April voting. If the February meeting should be canceled for any reason, the nomination meeting will be held in March.

B. If a former member wishes to rejoin the club, she shall be considered a candidate for readmission at the first vacancy, provided she resigned in good standing. In order to so resign, a member must have fulfilled hostess and program responsibilities for that year.

C. At the time of voting for new members, two members appointed by the President shall count the ballots. The candidate receiving the most votes shall be invited into membership. If said candidate declines, another election shall be held as soon as possible.

D. In the event a member is absent from three meetings without good excuse during the club year, she forfeits her membership and is so advised by the Secretary. If, however, a member shall become unable to fulfill the three obligations of membership - hostess, attendance, and presenting a paper - she shall be named a sustaining Member and placed on the inactive list. A new active member shall be elected to take her place. If a Sustaining Member is able to resume her obligations of membership at some future time, she shall be given the first available space.

E. If an Active Member anticipates to become a Sustaining Member, she 1) shall have been an active member for ten years, and 2) should make the membership aware of her intention by the February meeting, thereby allowing time for a new member to be proposed and voted upon.

Sustaining members are invited and encouraged to attend all eetings. Sustainers who attend meetings shall pay regular dues to the club.

F. All speakers shall be limited to 30 minutes. The timekeeper will indicate at 25 minutes that only five minutes remain until the conclusion of the speech. At the end of 30 minutes, the timekeeper will inform the speaker that her time is up. The speaker should submit a précis of her report to the Secretary for inclusion in the minutes of the next meeting. A longer version may be submitted for inclusion in the Memphis Room at the library.

Article V

Officers shall be elected in March to take office in May for a one-year term, with a new slate of officers to be elected each year as follows:

President, 1st Vice-President/President-Elect (Programs), 2nd Vice-President (Hospitality), Secretary, Treasurer, The immediate past President will serve as Timekeeper. The yearbook will be compiled by a volunteer.

Article VI

Dues shall be fifteen dollars annually, due at the September meeting.

Article VII

In voting, the majority rules. All amendments to this Constitution and all By-laws shall be submitted in meeting one month before balloting shall take place. In the event that a member is unable to attend the meeting, she may vote by proxy, placing her written vote in the hands of any officer who shall cast it for her.

Article VIII

The 1st Vice-President Elect and the eight members assigned programs for the following year shall comprise the Program Committee and select the topic for study. The Committee shall report its decision to the May meeting.