AOSCT By-Laws

Bylaws Revision Adopted 2016

Article 1. - Name

Artists' Open Studios of Northeastern Connecticut

Article 2. - Mission Statement

Our mission is to organize and promote Artists' Open Studio tours in Northeastern Connecticut in order to provide the public with unique opportunities to meet artists and to explore a wide variety of art forms.

Goals:

To promote Northeastern Connecticut as a center of art.
To provide opportunity for artists to exhibit original work to the public.
To develop a sense of shared community and support among artists.
To foster the concept that success for one artist benefits all artists.
To present Artists' Open Studios as a venue for purchasing art.

Article 3.

The group accepts membership of individuals without discrimination.

Exhibitors:

Work must be presented to the public by the artist within the geographical area listed below.
To exhibit as part of the tour one must be a member with the full open studio fee paid.
Work presented must be original and designed by the artist. No kits are allowed.
Artists must be present with their works during the listed hours of the show.  
Membership Year: May 1st to April 30th
Each participating artist agrees to the following obligations to this artist community:

o to distribute their allotment of brochures,

o to properly display event signage

o to help promote the event via their own newsletters, Facebook, Twitter etc.

Group shows are defined as two or more participating artists showing in one site together during any one or all of the five days of the tour only.

o Each artist participating in a group show is expected to pay the full show fee.

Geographical Area: Included towns are: Andover, Ashford, Bolton, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Columbia, Coventry, Eastford, Hampton, Hebron, Killingly, Lebanon, Mansfield, Plainfield, Pomfret, Putnam, Scotland, Stafford, Thompson, Tolland, Union, Willington, Windham, Woodstock, Sterling.

Article 4.

Officers: Officers are elected by a simple majority of those attending the Annual meeting. Terms of office are two years.

President: Presides at meetings and elections. Is the official representative of the organization. Solicits agenda items from general membership. Assures that members concerns are being addressed. Solicits volunteers for committees as needed.

Vice President: Presides in the absence of the chairman and acts at the chairman's request. Assumes the position of Chairman if the Chairman cannot complete their term of office. Acts as timekeeper at meetings, to keep the agenda on schedule.

Treasurer: Manages the financial aspects of the organization. Presents a financial report at least twice a year. Pays all bills incurred by the group. Keeps flyer committee and membership chair informed of status of members.

Communications/Recording Secretary: Records the proceedings of the steering committee meetings and general meetings. Sends notices of meetings, agendas, and minutes to the membership. Holds committee operational files.

Membership Chairman: Provides new members with information about the organization. Maintains communication with members. Utilizes dues payment information from the Treasurer to keep membership list current.

Brochure Chair: works with web graphic designer and the printing company to design the brochure. Sends the pdf of the brochure to the Communications/Recording Secretary to send out to all participants for editing. Is responsible for keeping track of corrections and passing them to web graphic designer.

Signage Chair: In charge of AOS signage. Collects, cleans, changes dates for each year, makes them available to the Region Managers.

Regional Managers (6): Picks up brochures and signs to have them available for the artists within their region. Communicates with participants within their region.

Article 5.

Steering Committee: The Steering Committee is responsible for the details of running Open Studios. The Steering Committee consists of the President, Vice President, Communications/ Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Chairman, the Signage Chair, and the Regional Managers. The Steering Committee is responsible for determining the open studio fee for participants and for web only members, and open studio dates. Committees, which report to the Steering Committee, include but are not limited to: Flyer, Publicity, Public Relations, Website, and Membership

Article 6.

By Law changes are by vote of the entire membership requiring a two-thirds majority. The vote may be a paper ballot or electronic transmission.

Article 7.

Dissolution: If the organization dissolves, any remaining funds will be given to a relief organization for fine artists and for fine craft artists.