Peconic Bay Zonta: Club Business: Bylaws

Friday, August 26, 2022

Club Business: Bylaws

Zonta Club of Peconic Bay

Bylaws

Adopted by two-thirds of the members present and voting on July 7, 2022

Article I

Name

The name of this organization shall be the Zonta Club of Peconic Bay. It shall exist only as a chartered club of Zonta International, under District 3.

Article II

Goals

The goals of this club and of Zonta International are:

To improve the legal, political, economic, educational, health and social status of women at the global and local levels through service and advocacy.
To work for the advancement of understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of members.
To promote justice and universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
To be united internationally to foster high ethical standards, to implement service programs, and to provide mutual support and fellowship for members who serve their communities, their nations, and the world.

Article III

Principles

Section 1. Nonpartisan and Nonsectarian. This club shall be nonpartisan and nonsectarian.

Section 2. Principles and Public Issues. This club may express itself about and become involved in public issues having a bearing on its goals following the policies of Zonta International.

Article IV

Membership

Section I. Categories. The club membership shall be limited to the following:

Classified Members shall be drawn from women and men with experience in business (commercial, industrial, or professional sectors), government or non-profit organizations who are willing to actively support and implement the goals of Zonta International. Members will be classified based on the Marian de Forest Membership Manual.
Past International Presidents
Honorary Members shall be individuals who have distinguished themselves in some unique service to Zonta.

Section II. Election to Membership.

Peconic Bay Zonta welcomes to its membership women and men who support the goals of Zonta International and who are interested in making positive changes in local and global communities through service and advocacy.
A candidate for membership is invited to attend a business meeting to talk about her/his interest in improving the lives of women and girls. After open discussion with the candidate, the club can approve membership by majority vote.

Section III. Transfer Privileges. A member of another Zonta club who moves to the geographical location of Peconic Bay may transfer membership provided dues have been paid. Similarly, Peconic Bay members may live outside the geographical location of the club.

Section IV. Membership Duration. Classified members shall be eligible for life.

Article V

Meetings

Section 1. Regular Meetings. The club shall hold regular monthly meetings, in person or electronically.

Section 2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting is in May. The club president and the committee chairs shall give activity reports. The club officers shall be elected for the following year.

Section 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called by 1) the president and 2) upon the written request of five club members. At least 10 days written notice of a special meeting shall be given.

Section 4. A simple majority of members shall constitute a quorum.

Article VI

Officers

Section 1. Officers. The club officers shall be a president, vice-president, and treasurer. The task of record keeping shall rotate among the members.

Section 2. Election. The officers shall be elected by ballot unless there is one nominee for the office, in which case a voice vote may be taken. A majority vote of club members shall be required to elect.

Section 3. Terms of Office. The officers shall take office June 1. Officers shall hold office for two years or until their successors are elected.

Section 4. Resignations/Vacancies. If an officer resigns, the president shall nominate a replacement. In the case of vacancy in the office of president, the vice-president shall become president. Vacancies in other offices shall be filled by the president.

Section 5. Removal from office. Club officers may be removed by club members for cause on grounds permitted for removal at the Zonta International level.

Section 6. Duties of Officers.

President. The president will preside at all club meetings. The president will appoint all chairs of the standing committees.
Vice-president. In the absence of the president, the vice-president shall perform the duties of the president.
Treasurer. The treasurer shall be responsible for club funds. The treasurer shall disperse funds by check as directed by resolutions of the members in accordance with the club’s budget. The treasurer shall make periodic reports to the club. At the start of every Zonta year, the treasurer shall give members a recap of the club’s expenditures for the past year and a budget forecast for the new year.

Article VII

Committees

Section 1. Committees

Committees shall be authorized by the club. Peconic Bay has the following standing committees:

Advocacy

Membership

Public Relations

Service

United Nations

Section 2. Appointment of chairs

The club president shall appoint committee chairs.

Section 3. Reports

Committees shall report regularly to the club.

Section 4. Nominating Committee

The club may elect a nominating committee prior to the May annual meeting to recruit members for club officers.

Article VIII

Fees and Dues

Section 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the club shall be 1 June to 31 May.

Section 2. Initiation and Reinstatement Fees.

A new member fee shall be paid to Zonta International as a new member joins. A former member of Peconic Bay or another Zonta club who rejoins is subject to a reinstatement fee as established by Zonta International.

Section 3. Annual Dues.

The annual dues shall be established by the club. Any change in the annual dues shall be approved by a two-thirds majority of club members voting. The dues are payable on or before 1 April. The club shall pay the annual dues and fees to Zonta International and to District 3.

Article IX

Suspension or Expulsion

Any member of the club who has acted in a way to injure the name of Zonta or to hamper its work may be expelled by the club members. A written complaint including specific evidence against a member may be made at a meeting or emailed to the club membership. The president shall convene a special committee to investigate the charges and available evidence. The committee shall allow a 30-day notice to hold a hearing involving the complainant, the member and any witnesses. The committee shall make a recommendation to the club’s members. A written vote by two-thirds of the membership is required for expulsion.

If the expulsion vote is appealed, the matter moves to the District 3 Board. If the district’s decision is appealed, the matter moves to the Zonta International Board for final resolution. If the club fails to act on a complaint to suspend or expel a member, the complainant may go directly to District 3, which shall initiate disciplinary proceedings with a maximum of 30 days written notice of a hearing. If the district decision is appealed, the matter moves to the Zonta International Board for final resolution.

Article X

Seal, Colors, Name, Emblem

Section 1. Seal. Peconic Bay’s seal shall consist of the corporate seal of Zonta International plus the club’s name.

Section 2. Colors and Emblem. The official colors and emblem of Peconic Bay Zonta shall be those of Zonta International.

Article XI

Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern this club in all cases in which they are not governed with the club’s bylaws and the Zonta International bylaws or the bylaws of District 3.

Article XII

Amendments to the Bylaws

These bylaws may be amended by two-thirds vote of the club members voting at a meeting. Notice of a proposed amendment shall be sent to each member at least 10 days prior to the meeting.

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Welcome to Peconic Bay

Welcome to Peconic Bay Zonta, which is affiliated with Zonta International. The members of Peconic Bay Zonta work to empower women and girls through service and advocacy. We are always looking for new members who share our passion for thinking globally and acting locally. Get involved!

Peconic Bay Zonta encompasses the eastern end of Long Island, New York. We are based in Riverhead, situated at the mouth of the Peconic River, where it empties into the Peconic Bay. East of Riverhead are the North and South Forks of Long Island, jutting like fingers into the Atlantic Ocean.

Eastern Long Island boasts spectacular ocean beaches, lovely bays and picturesque country roads dotted with farm stands. Indeed, the Hamptons is a well-known playground for the rich and famous.

But based on the collective knowledge of our Peconic Bay Zonta members, we know that our eastern end of the island is unique in another way: We lack affordable housing and public transportation. We see deep poverty amidst great wealth. We hear about feelings of isolation from those who live out here doing the service jobs that support the wealthy.

Peconic Bay Zonta can help.

Interested in more information?
Send an email to peconicbayzonta@gmail.com

Club History

The Zonta Club of Peconic Bay is named for the large bay that splits eastern Long Island into the north and south forks, jutting like arms into the Atlantic Ocean.

Peconic Bay Zonta was originally chartered in 1989 under the name Zonta Club of Eastern Suffolk Area. In 2005, the members decided to relocate the club’s base further west to be inclusive of a broader region. For that rebirth, Zonta District 3 and the Zonta Club of Suffolk County helped by sponsoring and mentoring us. We are now based in Riverhead, NY, where the mouth of the Peconic River meets Peconic Bay.

In the club’s history, we have engaged in numerous and varied activities in support of women and girls.

Highlights:
* Fund ESL scholarships at Suffolk County Community College for returning adult women students at the eastern campus in Riverhead, a sustained effort since 2013, awarding the scholarship twice a year starting in 2014
* Support Butterfly Effect Project, a Riverhead-based nonprofit community group that works to empower girls
* Fund music scholarship for Margarita Basurto at East End Arts in Riverhead, supporting her with year-round violin lessons
* Network and collaborate with Brookhaven Women in Science at Brookhaven National Laboratory and Women in Science and Engineering at Stony Brook University
* Partner with other Area 1 clubs: in recent years, for Equal Pay Day; on the horizon, LUNAFEST
* Collaborate with Mayan Hands, a fair-trade organization that supports Mayan women artisans in Guatemala
* Sponsored a children’s room at The Retreat, a shelter for victims of domestic violence
* Awarded scholarships for students invited to participate in the Dowling College Summer Aviation Scholarship Program for Young Women
* Prepared turkey dinners for Maureen’s Haven Homeless Outreach Program

In the 2018-2020 Zonta International biennial, we honored Tijuana Fulford, Founder/Executive Director of the Butterfly Effect Project. The Butterfly Effect Project helps girls develop self-confidence and academic skills. “You are the author of your own book,” says Fulford, “so let’s make sure it’s something you’re proud to read aloud.”

Peconic Bay has sponsored several activities for the Butterfly girls. As part of a series of fun and educational workshops, members Betsy Kaplan, Liala Strotman, Vivian Daddino and Diane Greenberg organized an evening with younger girls to demonstrate specialized exercises to develop better concentration, relaxation, learning skills and emotional well-being.

Other notables:
* Former member Kay Jones, now living in North Carolina, served as Area 1 Director. She also was in charge of registration for the Zonta International Convention in New York City, 2004.
* Isabella Sorgi, Peconic Bay Zonta’s nominee for the Young Woman in Public Affairs Award, won the YWPA Award at the Zonta District 3 level

At its peak, during the years as Eastern Suffolk, club membership was in the 20s. We have been stable since 2005 at eight to 10 members, with each member an active participant in club affairs. Our goal is 12 members (see membership plan below). This number is ideal since a group of that size can fit around a table and hear each other.

Peconic Bay Zonta has a collective knowledge of our community, and we support activities that address social justice for women and girls. While the eastern end of Long Island is noted for spectacular scenery and wealthy communities, not everyone participates. The members of Peconic Bay embrace Zonta’s mission to empower women and girls through advocacy, service and community activities.

Peconic Bay Zonta is in District 3, Area 1. The club number is 1261. For more information about District 3, go to: www.zontadistrict3.org

Zonta International

Zonta International is a worldwide service organization of executives in business and the professions dedicated to improving the legal, political, economic, educational, health and professional status of women. Over 30,000 members belong to more than 1,200 Zonta Clubs in 66 countries all over the world. Individual Zonta clubs extend membership invitations to local leaders in business and the professions. Zonta takes its name from the Lakota Sioux Indian word meaning “honest and trustworthy.” Zontians volunteer their time, talents and energy to local and international service projects that are designed to advance the status of women.

Marian de Forest (1864-1935), of Buffalo, New York, founded Zonta in 1919. She was inducted to the National Women’s Hall of Fame on 2002. She was a strong proponent of the arts. De Forest became one of the first female reporters in Western New York and rose to become a drama critic and department editor.

Visit the Zonta International website to see what the organization offers: www.zonta.org.

Membership Plan
2019 - 2024

Overview
Peconic Bay Zonta’s goal is to attain twelve members. We would like to maintain our current members and bring in new ones who meet our criteria. Twelve is an ideal number since a group of that size can fit around a table and hear each other.

Peconic Bay Zonta is located in a relatively rural region, and our geographical area is large, covering the entire East End of Long Island, both north and south forks. This five-year membership plan will be revisited annually.

Recruitment
* Continue to emphasize the importance of members being actively involved in recruitment.
* Issue news releases about our local service projects with a brief description of Peconic Bay Zonta and a link to our website.
* Coordinate service events with local groups and businesses to attract new members.
* Ensure that potential recruits understand the financial and time commitment required for members.
* Continually update Peconic Bay Zonta’s website.
* Create an email list of all supporters. During activities, take attendees’ contact information in order to keep them apprised of upcoming projects and functions.

Retention / Rejuvenation
Non-active and Former Members
* Ask non-active members if there is any activity that they would like to include in the club’s agenda that would precipitate their participation.
* If they are interested, invite former members to club functions.

Active and New Members
* Membership chair will mentor all new members.
* Provide information about the club to new members through our website and materials generated by our club and Zonta International.
* All active members will be kept abreast of the club’s information through emailed minutes of monthly minutes.
* Conduct a membership discussion at least once yearly to assess areas of effectiveness and areas that need improvement.
* Share and appreciate the efforts of each member.
* Ensure that everyone recognizes that the entire group must participate by having everyone in an office or in charge of a function or event.
* Encourage feedback and suggestions, and incorporate as many member ideas as possible.
* Cultivate a culture of service, mutual support, friendship and fun.
* Keep meetings short, engaging, productive, and reflective of the passions of the membership.
* Create a rhythm to the year by repeating activities and working with the same partners. Terminate any project that no longer serves the group’s mission.

Dues
In 2019, Peconic Bay Zonta voted to set our annual dues at $130. We had been assessing members $120 since 2005.

Here is the breakdown:
$91 to Zonta International
$20 to Zonta District 3
$19 to Peconic Bay Zonta

Zonta International uses club dues to support administrative functions of the Zonta Foundation, ZI’s charitable arm. We are well pleased with the decisions and actions of the Zonta International Foundation and are happy to contribute in that way.

NOTE: A sampling of club dues across the U.S. showed a wide range, from a low of $125 to a high of $465. The higher dues are assessed by clubs that no longer do fundraising.

by Diane Greenberg, Betsy Kaplan and Liala Strotman

Peconic Bay Zonta

Friday, August 26, 2022

Club Business: Bylaws

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Welcome to Peconic Bay

Club History

Members

Friends of Peconic Bay

Followers

Zonta International

Membership Plan
2019 - 2024

Peconic Bay Zonta

Friday, August 26, 2022

Club Business: Bylaws

No comments:

Search

Welcome to Peconic Bay

Club History

Members

Friends of Peconic Bay

Followers

Zonta International

Membership Plan 2019 - 2024

Membership Plan
2019 - 2024