• ACC Constitution and Bylaws
  
  
  Article I Name
  The name shall be the American Ceramic Circle.  It shall be chartered in the State of Maine as a non-profit 501 (c) (3) Corporation.
  
  
  Article II Purpose
  The Circle’s purpose will be:
  a. To conduct meetings for the mutual exchange of knowledge among members by means of lectures, symposia, and visits to important collections. 
  b. To serve as an organization in North America for education and research in ceramic history and to provide support for those working in ceramic history. 
  c. To promote scholarship and research in history, use and preservation of ceramics of all kinds, periods, and origins. 
  d. To publish books, journals, and papers on ceramic history and related subjects.
  
  
  Article III Membership
  
  Section 1
  Membership shall be open to institutions and individuals who have demonstrated a serious interest in preservation and advancement of knowledge of ceramics. 
  
  Section 2
  New members shall be nominated in writing by two members except as provided in Sections 3b, c,    and d.  After approval by the Board of Trustees, new members shall then be elected by a vote of    the majority of members present in person or by written proxy at any regular or special meeting.
  
  Section 3
  There shall be (4) categories of membership:
  a. Active.  Upon election and payment of annual dues, an active member shall enjoy the full rights and privileges of membership. 
  b. Dealer.  Members in good standing may nominate and second, in writing, dealers who are engaged in the business of selling and trading in ceramics as art or historical matter.  Only the Trustees may, by majority vote, approve a limited number of dealers per year as
  members.  For purposes of this limitation an application from a husband and wife may be counted as one dealer.  Dealer members shall be selected based on their contribution to scholarship in the field of ceramics.  Dealer members shall pay the same dues and receive the same privileges as active members. 
  c. Institutional.  Upon election and payment of annual dues, as established by the Trustees, museums, historic houses, historical societies, professional societies, foundation, libraries, and universities may be accepted by a majority vote of the Trustees as institutional members.  Institutional members will have no voting rights, but will have and enjoy other rights and privileges as authorized by the Trustees from time to time. 
  d. Honorary.  Honorary members may be elected by the Trustees in recognition of outstanding contributions to Ceramic history and shall enjoy all membership privileges but be exempt from payment of dues or assessments.
  
  Section 4
  Membership may be terminated by the Trustees for non-payment of dues or for failure to abide by any of the following conditions of membership. Dues shall be assessed at the beginning of the fiscal year and shall be deemed in default if not paid within 90 days after the beginning of said fiscal year. Members shall not use their memberships in the American Ceramic Circle for any commercial purpose; however the Trustees may authorize commercial advertisements from members and others in publications under such conditions as it may adopt. Members shall refrain from engaging in business activity while attending American Ceramic Circle meetings or social functions. Members shall not conduct themselves in a manner to cause embarrassment or discredit to the American Ceramic Circle or its members or the museums, institutions, homes, apartments, hotels, restaurants, and galleries which may host its functions and social events. Trustees reserve the right and have the power in their sole discretion to revoke membership or not offer renewal of membership for noncompliance with any of these conditions without setting forth the specific rationale for such action. 
  
  
  Article IV Government
  The government of the American Ceramic Circle shall be invested in the Board of Trustees and in the duly elected officers. 
  
  Section 1
  a.The Board of Trustees shall be composed of the Chair and no fewer than 20 and no more than 25 members. 
  b. Except as provided hereafter, trustees will be elected for a four-year term and can be re-elected once.  A break of at least one year after the second term must occur before a retiring Trustee can be re-elected to the Board.  To insure continuity, any person serving as an officer at the expiration of his or her second term may be elected for one additional term as Trustee. 
  c. At the loss or resignation of a Trustee at a non-election time, a Trustee may be elected by a majority of the Board. 
  d. A former Trustee may be elected by the Board as a Trustee Emeritus receiving all the benefits of an active Trustee except for the vote.  Trustees Emeritus will not be counted among the active Trustees. 
  e. The Chair of the Board of Trustees shall be elected by the Board of Trustees.  He or she shall serve a two-year term and may be re-elected at the pleasure of the Trustees for an indefinite term.  The Chair shall assume charge of matters relating to the Board of Trustees.  The Chair shall draw up and distribute agenda for the Trustees’ meetings.  In the absence of the Chair of the Board, the President shall assume the duties and responsibilities of the Chair.
  
  Section 2
  a. Officers shall be nominated by the Board of Trustees from Members of the Board and elected by the general membership. 
  b. The President shall serve a term of two years and may be re-elected for an additional term of two years.  Only after a lapse of four years shall he or she again be eligible for re-election as President.  The President shall assume charge of all programs.  He or she may appoint a representative to assume the complete charge of any meeting in his or her stead.  The President shall appoint from among the members of the Board committee chairs.  Committee members need not be members of the Board. 
  c. The Vice-President shall serve a term of two years and may be re-elected for an additional term of two years.  He or she will act in the absence of the President. 
  d. The Secretary shall serve a term of two years and may be re-elected for successive terms.  He or she shall keep a record of each meeting, keep minutes for the Board of Trustees’ meetings and the Annual Meeting of the membership, circulate the minutes to the Board, and maintain the Circle’s minutes book which shall be deposited in the archives. 
  e. The Treasurer shall serve a term of two years and may be re-elected for successive terms.  He or she shall keep a record of the financial affairs of the Circle.  The Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection of the dues and the depositing of all monies in a convenient bank in an account under the name of the American Ceramic Circle.  The Treasurer is authorized to pay any bill of the American Ceramic Circle up to the value of five hundred dollars ($500.) and other bills after approval of the President or Executive Committee.  He or she shall cause the necessary tax returns to be prepared.  The Treasurer shall submit a financial report at each Trustees’ meeting and an annual financial report to the Board of Trustees. 
  f. The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the Chair and Officers: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.  The Committee is empowered to act in lieu of the Board whenever necessary. 
  
  
  Article V Committees
  For the administration of the business of the Circle, the President may appoint any necessary committees.
  
  
  Article VI Finances
  The amount of the annual dues shall be established by the Trustees.  This amount may be changed only at the time of the annual meeting after prior notice to the members.  The annual dues shall be used for the operating and regular expenses of the circle.
  
  
  Article VII Meetings
  There shall be at least one (1) annual meeting at which the business of the Circle shall be reviewed, reports received from the officers and the committees, new members elected, the budget approved, and no other pertinent business transacted.  An additional meeting may be held at the discretion of the board of Trustees.  All questions shall be decided by a majority vote of those present in person or by written proxy, except amendments which shall be passed pursuant to Article IX.  The date and site of each annual meeting shall be determined by the Board of Trustees.  A notice of each meeting shall be forwarded to each member at least three weeks in advance of the meeting.
  The Board of Trustees shall meet at least two (2) times a year.  A Trustee who is unable to attend may submit a signed proxy for his vote to be cast by the President or Vice-President.  A quorum shall consist of two-thirds (2/3) of the Trustees present in person or in proxy.
  
  
  Article VIII
  Upon termination or dissolution of the American Ceramic Circle, the title to all its assets shall be transferred to an institution or organization to be voted upon by the Board at that time.
  
  
  Article IX Amendments
  The Constitution and By-laws may be amended only by a majority vote of the members present in person or by written proxy at an annual meeting.  Any amendment must be proposed by the board of Trustees or by one or more members with the approval of the Board.  A proposed amendment submitted by one or more members must be submitted in writing to the President or Vice-President at least six (6) months before the annual meeting.  All amendments proposed by the Board or by a member with Board approval shall be submitted to the members for consideration.  A description of the proposed amendment or amendments shall accompany the notice of the annual meeting.

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