ADCMW | About | Bylaws: Membership

ADCMW Bylaws

ARTICLE I Membership

Section 1. Categories The membership categories of the Art Directors Club of Metropolitan Washington ("ADCMW") are as follows:

A. Art Director Any individual who is responsible for, or who directly supervises others in, the creation, design, and production of visual communications that incorporate graphic design, art, photography and/or illustration.
B. Designer Any individual who creates or designs visual communications that incorporate graphic design, art, photography and/or illustration.
C. AssociateAny individual who participates, but does not directly supervise others, in the creation, design, and production of visual communications that incorporate graphic design, art, photography and/or illustration. Examples: Design educators, production artists, photographers, illustrators, writers and communication professionals.
D. Allied Any individual who supplies services, materials or equipment to Art Directors, Designers or Associates. Examples: Representatives for printers, photographers, illustrators, typesetters and paper suppliers.
E. Corporate A company or corporation that purchases five or more individual transferable memberships.
F. Honorary Members Any individual with outstanding service to the profession or ADCMW shall be admitted to membership upon nomination by the President and approval by the Board of Directors.
G. National Affiliate A single membership for members residing outside a 150-mile radius from Baltimore, Richmond and Washington, D.C. This category includes no voting rights or benefits other than eligibility to the club's health care plan.
Section 2: Applications
     A. With the endorsement of two members, any individual may apply for membership to ADCMW by submitting an application under the procedures established, and submitting such information as required, by the Membership Committee.
     B. An applicant for membership shall be conditionally admitted upon submission of an application form and payment of the required membership dues, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors as described in paragraph C of this Section 2, and is entitled to all the rights and privileges of a member unless and until the membership is revoked or terminated under these Bylaws.
     C. The Membership Committee will evaluate the qualifications of membership applications and recommend to the Board either approval of the application (with a designation of the appropriate membership category) or denial of the application. Upon approval by the Board, the applicant's name and membership category will be distributed to the membership. If no member objects to the application within 30 days after publication, the conditions to membership shall be deemed satisfied and the member shall have all rights and privileges of membership. Any member who objects must submit in writing the factual basis for the objection and response and may, upon two-thirds vote, approve the membership. If approval is denied by the Board of Directors, the Membership Committee will not consider another application by the applicant for one year.
     D. The Membership Committee will determine the composition of the members from time to time. Except in the event that the number of Art Directors and Designers who are members declines, Allied and Associate members shall together not exceed 50% of the membership, of which Allied members shall not exceed 14%. No additional Allied or Associate members shall be admitted at any time that Art Directors and Designers together comprise less that 50% of the membership. No additional Allied members shall be admitted at any time that Allied members comprise more than 14% of the membership. Upon determining that the percentages of membership have been exceeded, the Membership Committee will (l) notify any conditional Associate or Allied member that their conditional membership is being revoked; (2) return the amount of dues submitted by the applicant; (3) and defer consideration of any Associate or Allied application until the applicant's admission does not violate the membership percentage restrictions outlined above.

Section 3. Rights of Membership
A. Voting Rights Each member, except students, is entitled to one vote on the following matters at any membership meeting:

1. Officers;
2. Directors;
3. Amendments to the Articles of Incorporation of the Bylaws; or
4. Any proposal submitted to the membership by the Board.
B. Participation Rights
1. Each member is entitled to participate in any event sponsored by ADCMW, subject to payment of any fee as determined reasonably necessary by the Board;
2. Each member who is not a student may become an Officer or a Director if he or she meets the qualification requirements (if any) provided in Article III, Section 1; and
3. Each member may attend and, subject to recognition by the presiding officer, participate at any Board meeting.
Section 4. Dues After notice to the membership of proposed changes, annual dues for members and the due date shall be as determined by the Board from time to time.* The Fiscal Year of the Club, Membership Year and Board Terms are currently defined as beginning September 1 and ending August 30 of any given year.

Section 5. Termination/Discipline
A. The membership of any member who fails to pay membership dues within 90 days after the due date will be automatically terminated; provided, that the member will be reinstated upon receipt of full payment within an additional 30 days.
B. The Board may terminate the membership of any member who the Board finds, upon a vote of two-thirds of all Directors, materially violated the ADCMW Code of Fair Practice. The President shall call a meeting, providing at least 10 days notice to the member and membership, for such purpose. Allegations, charges and any response thereto shall be in writing. The President, at his or her discretion, may permit verbal presentations.

Section 6. Annual Membership Meeting An annual meeting of the membership shall be held no later than the expiration of the fiscal year. Other meetings of the membership may be held from time to time as called by the President with the approval of the Board.

Introduction
ARTICLE I Membership
ARTICLE II Board of Directors
ARTICLE III Officers
ARTICLE IV Committees
ARTICLE V Elections
ARTICLE VI Amendments