our By laws

As of January 7, 2019

Article I

Name:

The name of this organization shall be the Main Street Arts Council.

Article II

Purpose:

The Main Street Arts Council is an organization dedicated to promoting the arts, encouraging creativity, serving the Arts community and acting as an advocate for the Arts.

Mission:

We believe the arts are essential to the life of the community. The Main Street Arts Council strives to be a model organization for the Northwest Kansas region; ensuring access to the arts for all ages, encouraging a community passion for the arts and successfully supporting, partnering and collaborating with others committed to the arts.

Article III

Supervision:

Sec. 1: The Main Street Arts Council shall be under the supervision of the board of directors and/or Arts Council Executive Director.

Sec. 2: The board shall consist of up to 9 members: Board President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and up to 5 board members. The positions of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined into one position when necessary or appropriate. The Main Street Arts Director shall be an associate member of the board of directors.

Sec. 3: All appointments to the Main Street Arts Council board of directors shall be by vote of the board of directors. All appointments shall be for a 2 year term. On completion of the two year term, members may remain on the board of directors on request and approval of the board of directors.

Sec. 4: Board members are asked to make a good-faith effort to participate in activities of the Main Street Arts Council and to be active members of Main Street Arts Council committees.

Sec. 5: Board members may be considered for release if: Members have missed three consecutive board meetings, failed to be an active member of the Main Street Arts Council events and/or Main Street Arts Council committees; and/or requests to leave the board of directors.

Sec. 6: The initial term of office for a Council Member is (1) year for one-half (1/2) of the Council Members, and two (2) years for the remaining one-half (1/2) of the Council Members. The determination of which Council Members shall serve an initial term of one (1) year shall be determined by drawing lots, or some other method acceptable to the Main Street Arts Council. Thereafter, the term of office for a Council Member is two (2) years.

Article IV

Officers:

Sec. 1: The officers of the Main Street Arts Council board of directors shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. These officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws and by the parliamentary authority as so stated in article V.

Sec. 2: Nominations for officers and the election of officers will be conducted each January at the annual meeting.

Sec. 3: The term of office shall be for two years beginning each February. By decision/vote of board of directors, any or all officer/s may serve consecutive terms.

Sec. 4: A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by the Vice President. Office of the Vice President shall be filled by election, and the person elected shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Article V

Duties of Officers:

Sec. 1: The President shall preside and exercise general supervision over the meetings of the Main Street Arts Council.

Sec. 2: The Vice President shall perform all the duties and assume all the responsibilities of the President in his/her absence.

Sec. 3: The Secretary shall keep accurate records of board meetings of the Main Street Arts Council Board of Directors. Minutes of all Main Street Arts Council meetings shall be promptly recorded and maintained. The Secretary may be assisted in the execution of these duties by a member of the board of directors.

Sec. 4: The Treasurer, upon review and approval of check requests, will sign checks as prepared by staff. The Treasurer will also review financial reports prepared by staff as needed for meetings and other requirements.

Article VI

Duties and Responsibilities:

Sec. 1: The Main Street Arts Council board of directors shall have the following duties:

a) Hold regular meetings and to keep a written record of its proceedings;

b) Review the financial needs of the Main Street Arts Council for the development and

production of visual and performing arts activities, events and scholarship

opportunities;

c) Review scholarship programs and disseminate scholarship funds as deemed appropriate.

d) Solicit grants, gifts and donations of money, property or personal services from individuals, groups, organizations;

e) Sponsor, and/or work in cooperation with other public or private agencies and programs to further the development of visual and performing arts;

f) Make recommendations on performing and visual arts programming;

g) Assist in carrying out programs and projects of the Main Street Arts Council.

h) Determine the positions to be held within the staff of the Main Street Arts Council and/or the release of a Main Street Arts Council staff member.

i) The Main Street Arts Council board of directors shall act as a body in making its decisions and announcing them. No board member shall speak or act for the Main Street Arts Council without prior authorization.

Article VII

Meetings:

Sec. 1: The regular meetings of the Main Street Arts Council shall be held quarterly with meetings schedule in January, April, July and October at Bottle KAP Studios unless otherwise announced.

Sec. 2: Special meetings of the Main Street Arts Council board of directors may be called by the President, or in the absence of the President, by the Vice President; upon request of board member/s and/or Main Street Arts Council Director.

Sec. 3: An agenda for each regularly scheduled meeting will be developed by the Director. The agenda and the minutes of the last meeting shall be sent to each Main Street Arts Council board member no later than the day preceding each meeting.

Sec. 4: A quorum shall consist of one half of the Main Street Arts Council Board of Directors members. A meeting may be held without a quorum, however, no final decisions can be completed without a quorum.

Sec. 5: Council members may participate in a meeting of the Main Street Arts Council by means of telephonic conference or similar communications equipment by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Such participation shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

Article VIII

Staff, Department of Arts:

Sec. 1: Executive Director of the Main Street Arts Council:

a) The Main Street Arts Council shall appoint an Executive Director of the Main Street Arts Council.

b) The Executive Director of the Main Street Arts Council shall be the chief staff advisor and shall be responsible for organizing and directing the work of the Main Street Arts Council, including recommendation, preparation and initiation of Main Street Art Council projects.

c) The Executive Director of the Main Street Arts Council may represent the Main Street Arts Council within the bounds of the determined policies and decisions of the Main Street Arts Council board of directors, before public officials and the general public, and is authorized to maintain liaison with other departments of the state, county, city and public bodies generally, as necessary to carry out planning objectives of the Main Street Arts Council.

d) The Executive Director shall be an associated member of the board of directors and responsible to attend board meetings as advisory. As an associated member, the Executive Director will not hold a vote within final decision of the Board of Directors.

Section 2: Artistic Director of the Main Street Arts Council:

a) The Artistic Director of the Main Street Arts Council is responsible for defining and implementing the overall artistic vision of the organization, including the development and oversight of cultural programming, direction of theatrical and musical productions, and further growth and outreach of the organization.

b) The Artistic Director of the Main Street Arts Council may represent the Main Street Arts Council within the bounds of the determined policies and decisions of the Main Street Arts Council board of directors, before public officials and the general public, and is authorized to maintain liaison with other departments of the state, county, city and public bodies generally, as necessary to carry out planning objectives of the Main Street Arts Council.

c) The Artistic Director shall be an associated member of the board of directors and responsible to attend board meetings as advisory. As an associated member, the Artistic Director will not hold a vote within final decision of the Board of Directors.

d) The Artistic Directors will work in conjunction with the Executive Director and other staff.

Article IX

Amendment to Bylaws:

Sec. 1: These bylaws may be amended at any regular business meeting of the Main Street Arts Council board of directors by a vote; provided the amendment has been submitted at the previous regular business meeting.

Sec. 2: These bylaws shall replace all previous bylaws of the Main Street Arts Council.