Membership

JOINING THE GUILD 2023 membership

WHAT MEMBERSHIP ENTITLES YOU TO:

Membership entitles you to:

Attend the monthly meetings held every second Saturday
Borrow books, magazines, stencils, and DVD'S from the library (small cost applies)
Receive an email copy of the monthly newsletter
Subsidised quilting classes and activities
Sewing days at Gordonton hall
Free entry for your quilts into Calling All Quilts Exhibition and Wai Quilts Exhibition.

To join: come to our next meeting and ask at the greetings & raffle table. We accept cash, cheque or direct credit to our account.

2023 Membership is $40 per year ( if paid before AGM otherwise $45)

HISTORY OF THE GUILD

The First meeting of the Waikato Patchworkers and Quilters Guild was held in Cambridge in 1978.
As the Hamilton membership grew it was agreed to move the meetings to Hamilton in 1981.
By March of 1989 the guild were regularly meeting once a month at St Albans Church Hall where we still meet today. Now known as Chartwell Cooperating Parish.
In 1990 the guild became an incorporated society.
In 2017 we celebrated our Pearl Anniversary (30 years)

CONSTITUTION

THE WAIKATO PATCHWORKERS AND QUILTERS GUILD INCORPORATED

1. NAME
The name of the organisation shall be "The Waikato Patchworkers and Quilters Guild Incorporated".
2. INTERPRETATION
"The Guild" means "The Patchworkers and Quilters Guild Incorporated".
"Committee" means the duly elected Committee of "The Patchworkers and Quilters Guild Incorporated".
"Waikato" means that part of New Zealand defined geographically as the Waikato.
3. OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Guild shall be:
(a) to promote the art and craft of patchwork and quilting.
(b) to bring quilters together regularly and encourage the establishment of patchwork and quilting groups.
(c) to encourage and maintain high standards of craftsmanship and design in both traditional and contemporary patchwork and quilting.
(d) to organise exhibitions and regional days.
(e) to publish a regular newsletter.
(f) to provide workshops, lectures, seminars and encourage the exchange of information, expertise and ideas on subjects of concern or interest to members.
(g) to provide a library of books, magazines, quilting stencils and videos available for hire to members only.
(h) to raise funds by means of any scheme, appeal, raffle, exhibition, demonstration or other method, in order to provide equipment, tutors, facilities, or other needs, for any or all of these objectives.
(i) to acquire, purchase, lease, hold in trust or sell, land and buildings, plant, equipment, facilities and amenities relating to any of these objects for the members of the Guild.
(j) to lend, invest, borrow, raise, or secure money in such manner as the Guild shall think fit upon such terms and conditions as shall be deemed expedient.
(k) to open and operate trading and savings bank accounts.
(l) to associate and/or affiliate with other societies and interest groups, providing that such association is in the interest of members and would promote the general aims and objectives of the Guild.
(m) to cater for such other activities of the Guild members as may from time to time be determined.
4. MEMBERSHIP AND MEMBERSHIP FEES
(a) Membership is open to all individuals who accept the Constitution of the Guild who live in the Waikato region and also those who may be admitted from outside the Waikato region by the Committee.
(b)All applications for membership must be in writing and approved by the Committee.
(c) The Committee shall set membership fees and may charge such fees.
(d) Membership shall cease upon resignation in writing to the Secretary. Members who fail to pay outstanding membership fees within two months of the due date shall be deemed to have resigned.
(e) Membership fees shall fall due on the first day of each financial year of the Guild.
(f) Membership is open to all patchwork and quilting groups at the discretion of the Committee.
(g) Nothing shall prevent the organisation from making reimbursements, paying remuneration or other benefits or advantages of whatever nature to a member. It must be reasonable and not exceed what would be normal in the circumstances provided that the member is not able by virtue of his or her capacity as such a member to influence in any way the amount of that remuneration or the nature or the amount of that benefit.
(h) The Committee may at any time request a member's resignation in writing, on the grounds that the member has acted in such a manner as to bring discredit to the Guild or its members or if the member is in breach of the Constitution or rules of the Guild. The member shall either tender their resignation within the time set in the letter, or submit an appeal to continue membership in writing to be considered at a specially convened meeting of the Committee to be held within three months of the letter. At this meeting, if two thirds of the Committee then present vote to expel the member, then the member shall forthwith cease to be a member of the Guild (without however being released from any liability to the Guild in respect of subscriptions, fees or any other monies owing).
5. OFFICERS
The officers of the Guild shall consist of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer hereinafter called "The Executive" and shall hold office for no longer than three years maximum.
(a) The President (or in the President's absence one other member of the Executive in order as listed above), shall chair each meeting of the Guild and the Committee.
(b) The Secretary shall attend to all correspondence and keep records of the business of the Guild and Committee meetings.
(c) The Treasurer shall keep accounts of the funds and assets of the Guild, and shall prepare a duly reviewed statement of accounts for the preceding year for submission to the Annual General Meeting.
6. THE COMMITTEE
(a) The Committee shall consist of a minimum of twelve and a maximum of fifteen members including the Executive, to be elected at each Annual General Meeting.
(b) All nominations for the Committee shall be taken verbally from the floor or in writing at the Annual General Meeting.
(c) The Executive shall be appointed from within the elected committee.
(d) The Guild shall have its affairs controlled and managed by the Committee, who shall meet as often as necessary to conduct the business of the Guild not less than eight times of any financial year.
(e) The quorum for meetings of the Committee shall be not less than half of the total number of Committee members.
(f) The Committee shall have power to appoint sub-committees to exercise specific functions to be nominated by and under the control and direction of the Committee.
(g) In the event of Committee members resigning during their elected term, the Committee shall have the power to co-opt members, and such co-opted members shall hold office until the next Annual General Meeting.
(h) All committee decisions will be carried by the majority vote of those committee members present being no less than 50% (i.e. the quorum) of the 12 to 15 elected committee members. A re-vote may be called until there is a majority.”
(i) All committee members may hold the same role within the committee for no longer than 3 years consecutively.
7. THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
(a) The Annual General Meeting shall be held not later than the 30th of April in each financial year at such time and place as shall be fixed by the Committee for the following purposes:
(i) to confirm the minutes of the last Annual General Meeting;
(ii) to receive from the Committee a report of the proceedings, and a statement of accounts, of the preceding year;
(iii) to elect the Committee for the ensuing year.
(b) The quorum for an Annual General Meeting of the Guild shall be 25% of financial members.
(c) Any member intending to move a resolution bearing upon management of the Guild during the past financial year or regarding any other matter must give notice of their motion by handing it to the Secretary 21 clear days before the meeting and such notice of motion must be posted publicly 7 days prior to the Annual General Meeting.
(d) If no quorum is reached, the Annual General Meeting may be adjourned to any time not exceeding thirty days thereafter, the new date to be fixed by the Committee.
(e)Five days notice must be given in writing for the Annual General Meeting to all financial members.
8. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
(a) A Special General Meeting may be convened by the Committee whenever it thinks fit or upon a requisition in writing by 25% of financial members at that time.
(b) The same conditions for the calling of the Annual General Meeting shall apply for the calling of a Special General Meeting.
(c) The quorum for a Special General Meeting shall be 25% of financial members.
(d) Five days notice must be given in writing for a Special General Meeting to all financial members.
9. FINANCIAL
(a) The financial year of the Guild shall run from 1 March to the last day in February or other such period as is determined by the Committee.
(b) All cheques, promissory notes and bills of exchange drawn shall be signed by the Treasurer and one other member of the Executive after approval for payment by the Committee; or by the Treasurer and one other member of the Executive of any sub-committee established by the Committee after approval for payment by the sub-committee.
(c)The accounts of the Guild shall be reviewed by a suitably qualified person,independent of the Guild Membership and Committee, to be appointed each year at the Annual General Meeting.
(d) The Treasurer shall be responsible for issuing of receipts for all money received and for all banking of the Guild's funds.
10. DISSOLUTION OF THE GUILD
(a) The Guild may be dissolved by resolution by a majority of the members entitled to vote at a Special General Meeting duly convened for that purpose and the resolution is confirmed at a Guild meeting held not earlier than thirty days after the date on which the resolution so to be confirmed was passed.
(b) The disposal of the property of the Guild shall be decided by such Special General Meeting provided that no member of the Guild shall in any way benefit from any surplus upon dissolution.
11. THE SEAL
The seal of the Guild shall be in the custody of the Secretary. The seal shall only be used with the authority of a resolution by the Executive. The Secretary and one other member of the Executive must sign their names alongside the Guild's seal whenever it is used.
12. GENERAL
(a) The registered office of the Guild shall be at such a place as the Committee may decide.
(b) Voting at an Annual General Meeting, Special General Meeting, General meeting or Committee meeting shall be done by either voice, show of hands or ballot; whichever the Executive finds appropriate. Only full financial members may vote.
(c) This Constitution shall be available for inspection by any financial member of the Guild at any General Meeting.
(d) The Constitution of the Guild maybe altered, added to, or rescinded by a majority of the financial members and Executive of the Guild present at an Annual General Meeting.
(e) No addition or alterations of the Constitution shall be made to the dissolution clause (10) or the payment of remuneration to members clause (4g).
(f) No retiring member shall have any claim upon the Committee or the Guild collectively or individually or to any property of the Guild.
(g) Every dispute between a member under this constitution and the Guild or its officers shall be decided by the Committee and the decision shall be binding.
(h) In the interpretation of the Constitution the decision of the Committee shall be final and binding.
Date: 9/4/2016