Article 1 - Name This organization shall be known as the LETHBRIDGE NEWCOMERS CLUB

Article 2 - Purpose The purpose of this organization is to welcome newcomers to the City of Lethbridge, Alberta area and to help them make friends and also is organized for charitable, educational and sociological causes, including the making of contributions to charitable organizations and causes and/or community civic and service projects.

Article 3 - Qualifications Of Members & Dues Section 1: To be eligible for active membership a person must: submit dues for the current year have resided in the Lethbridge, Alberta for less than 2 years PRIOR to application for membership; Section 2: Active membership is limited to three years and these members are eligible to hold an office or chair a committee. Upon completion of the three-year active membership the member has the option of becoming an associate member with all privileges of the club except holding office. The associate member pays dues; OR the member may graduate to the Lethbridge Newcomers Alumni Club. The alumni member pays dues to the alumni club Section 3: Dues shall be $20.00 per year and payable at the September meeting. Dues are not refundable. Members who sign up at or after the February Dinner meeting shall pay one-half of the annual dues. Section 4: Newcomer may attend two (2) general meetings as a paying guest before joining. Section 5: All members of activity groups MUST be paid members of the Lethbridge Newcomers Club or the Lethbridge Newcomers Alumni Club Section 6: All members shall be financially responsible for reservations not cancelled within 48 hours in advance of the meeting or activity. Section 7: Any members may be expelled from the membership for any cause which the club may deem reasonable. Upon an unanimous vote of the executive board. Section 8: membership list MUST NOT be used for the purpose of soliciting or selling.

Article 4 - Meetings Section 1: Regular meetings of the club will be held once a month on a date set by the executive board. There shall be a recess during July and August. Section 2: Special meetings may be called by the President or by any two active members. Section 3: Meetings of the executive board shall be on the call of the President. The final executive meeting of the year shall be attended by both the outgoing and incoming board at which time all records shall be turned over to the new board. Section 4: Business may be transacted by a majority of the active members present at any regular meeting.

Article 5 - Executive Officeers The executive officers of the club shall be: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Membership, Newsletter, Phoning, Publicity, Sunshine Girls (3), Past President The Past-President acts only in an advisory capacity and is a non-voting member of the board. The club shall be governed by an executive board which shall be the elected officers and the chairpersons of the standing committees. Elected officers of the club shall be: President: Who shall preside at all meetings of the club and the executive board and who shall appoint chairpersons for the standing committees. Note: The president should come from the past executive. Vice-President: Who shall be responsible for obtaining the meeting place, assist with planning the program, and assume the President’s duties when necessary. Secretary: Who shall keep a record of all regular and called meetings and shall answer all club correspondence. In the absence of the secretary, the duties shall be discharged by such officer as may be appointed. Treasurer: Who shall be the custodial of all monies of the club. Shall collect all dues, pay all bills authorized by the club or executive and make a written report of all receipts and expenditures of the club at each meeting. Shall deposit funds in a bank in the name of the club. Shall establish a budget for approval of the executive board within the first month of their term of office. Membership: Who shall collect membership dues. Shall keep a file of all active, inactive and prospective members and be responsible for maintaining a membership roster. Phoning: Who shall organize a phoning committee to phone members regarding dinner and executive meetings and report numbers and names to co-ordinators of these meetings. Newsletter: Shall attend and report on all executive and dinner meetings. Shall report on all upcoming activity group events and is responsible for publishing and distributing the monthly newsletter. Publicity: Who shall be responsible for preparing publicity items regarding club activities, programs and about members when newsworthy for press, radio and television. Shall give notices of meetings, regular or special to the press. Shall keep a scrapbook for such publicity for the club and maintain a file of copies of any local club bulletins to turn over to succeeding publicity person. Sunshine: Three members hold this position and shall be responsible for greeting all members at meetings and see that new and prospective members are made to feel welcome. Shall be the contact person(s) in advertisements of the club.

Article 6 - Elections Section 1: A nominating committee of three (3) members shall be appointed by the President at the March meeting. They shall present a slate consisting of at least one candidate for each office at the April meeting. Additional candidates may be nominated from the floor with the expressed approval of the nominee. Section 2: In order to cast a ballot, one must be a paid-up member. Section 3: A plurality of those members present and voting shall be sufficient to elect officers at the April meeting. Voting shall be by secret ballot if there is more than one nominee for any office. Section 4: Officers shall be elected for a one year (1 yr.) term and shall take office from June to June. Section 5: Vacancies in elected offices shall be filled for the remainder of the term by appointment by the executive board.

Article 7 - Activities Section 1: Members who are interested may form an activity group upon application to the Vice-President and by Approval of the executive board. Section 2: Each activity group shall be in keeping with the objectives of the club and shall establish guidelines that do not conflict with the by-laws of the club. Section 3: Each group shall have a convenor and shall be self-supporting.

Article 8 - Amendments The Constitution and By-Laws may be amended at any general meeting by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present. Notice of amendment must be given in writing prior to the meeting at which the voting will be done.