Bylaws of Region 17 Article I.                       Name The name of this organization shall be Region 17 of the American Iris Society. Article II.                  Purpose           The purpose of this organization shall be: 1.    To further the aims and purpose of the American Iris Society. 2.    To encourage the growing of garden irises in the Region. 3.    To foster the appreciation of newer irises. 4.    To encourage the development of new varieties better adapted to the Region’s conditions. 5.    To promote good friendships and fellowships and mutual understanding among all members of this organization. Article III.                Membership All members of the American Iris Society in good standing residing within Region 17 shall automatically become members of the Region.  AIS membership is the only qualification and no further requirements or dues may be imposed.  Only individual members of AIS are entitled to hold regional office or to vote in a regional election. Honorary membership may be conferred by vote of the Region membership at any annual metting. Honorary membership is automatically extended to members of the AIS who are commissioned Honorary Texans. Article IV.                       Executive Committee Section 1.  The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers, the immediate past RVP and all standing Committee chairmen. Section 2.  Any American Iris Society officer residing within the Region will automatically be a member of the Executive Committee without a vote. Article V.                       Officers and Duties Section 1.  The officers of this organization shall be:  Regional Vice President (RVP), Assistant RVP, Secretary and Treasurer. Section 2.  The Regional Vice President nominee shall be recommended to the Board of Directors of the American Iris Society for approval and appointment.  The Assistant RVP, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected by the membership of the Region. Section 3.  All officers shall assume their duties immediately on confirmation of the RVP and their terms shall run concurrently with that of the RVP. Section 4.   (a) The RVP shall perform all duties assigned by the Constitution and By-Laws of the AIS.  The RVP shall preside at all meetings of the Region and the Executive Committee.  The RVP shall appoint standing chairpersons.  The RVP may appoint special chairpersons as needed.  The RVP shall serve as an Ex-officio member of all committees except the nominaton committee.  The RVP shall appoint garden judges annually with the approval of the AIS Board of Directors and shall perform any other duties necessary for the good of the Region. (b) The Assistant RVP shall perform the duties of the RVP in the absence of the RVP and perform additional duties as designated by the RVP.  The Assistant RVP shall promote goodwill for the Region. (c) The Secretary shall keep a permanent record of the minutes of all Regional and Executive Committee meetings.  The Secretary shall take care of all correspondence designated by the RVP and keep a record of same.  The Secretary shall maintain a roster of all Honorary Memberships, listing the date the honor was conferred.  The Secretary shall perform any other duties assigned by the RVP. (d) The Treasurer shall receive and keep account of all monies of the organization, shall deposit and disperse same in the name of the organization and as directed by the RVP and/or the Executive Committee.  The Treasurer shall serve as Chairperson of the Finance Committee. Article VI.                       Committees and Duties Section 1.  The Immediate Past Regional Vice President shall serve in an advisory capacity to the RVP and tehe Executive Committee.  The Immediate Past RVP shall serve as chairperson of the nomination committee. Section 2.  There shall be the following standing committee chairpersons: Historian, Judges Training, Legal Adviser, Membership, Newsletter Editor and others that may be appointed by the RVP.  The RVP may appoint any special committee needed. Section 3.  All Chairpersons shall assume their duties immediately on conformation immediately upon appointment.           The RVP may assign additional duties to chairpersons other than those designated in these By-Laws. Section 4.   (a) Historian:  The Historian shall secure and maintain a file of published articles, publications (including the Newsletter), pictures, etc. of historical value to the Region. (b) Judges Training Chairperson:  The Judges Training Chairperson in cooperation with the RVP shall coordinate the Judges Training Schools and perform other duties pertinent to the Judges Training Chairpersonship as designated by the RVP. (c) Legal Adviser:  The Legal Adviser shall serve as a consultant. (d) Membership Chairperson:  The membership Chairperson shall maintain a current roster of AIS members.  The Chairperson shall perform other duties necessary in the promotion of AIS membership. (e) Newsletter Editor:  The Newsletter Editor shall edit the official publication, namely, “Newsletter of Region 17 of the American Iris Society: and any other publication that may be designated by the Executive Committee.  The Newsletter shall be published semi-annually (Spring and Fall). Section 5.  The duties of all other standing chairpersons and all special chairpersons shall be designated by the RVP when they are appointed. Article VII.       Meetings Section 1.  A Regional meeting shall be held at all locations designated by the Executive Committee.  The date will be determined by the Executive Committee upon recommendation of the host group.           The Host Area and/or Host Society shall be respionsible for planning and conducting the meeting under the direction of the RVP.           Special meetings may be called by the RVP in conformity with the By-Laws of the AIS. Section 2.  The Executive Committe shall meet at the time of the annual meeting of the Region, and for special meetings at the call of the RVP. Six (6) members shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Executive Committee. Official Business of the Executive Committee may be conducted by meeting or by mail, and / or telephone at the instigation of the RVP at any time other than at annual meeting.  Between annual meetings the Executive Committee may transact all necessary business of the region. Article VIII.   Nomination and Elections Section 1.  The Nominating Committee shal be composed of five (5) members.  The Immediate Past RVP shall serve as chairman.  Two (2) Region 17 members shall be elected by the Executive Committee and the other two (2) appointed by the RVP.  No more than two (2) members of the committee may come from the same area.  Section 2.  The nominee to be recommended for the office of RVP to the AIS Board of Directors shall be made during the third year of each incumbent RVP’s term of office.  In the event a vacancy occurs in the office of the RVP, the Assistant RVP shall assume the duties of the RVP, subject to the approval of the AIS Board of Directors. Section 3.  Additional nominations may be made by petition of the general AIS membership.  Any forty (40) AIS members of whom not more than fifteen (15)  may be located in any one area, may submit a  petition nominating one or more consenting candidates whose names with those submitted by the nominating committee shall be included in a ballot.  These petitions must be received by the RVP on or before July 1 preceding the election.  Officers shall be elected after the names submitted by the nominating committee and by petition have been submitted to the Regional AIS Membership.  Ballots shall be published in the Fall Newsletter or otherwise distributed to the membership during August.  Ballots must be returned as directed on or before September 15.  If only one nominee is received for each office, no election shall be held, and the nominees will be declared duly elected.  In the case of the RVP, the selected nominee will be recommended to the AIS Board of Directors for approval and appointment.  Section 4.  In the event a vacancy for any reason occurs in the office of Assistant RVP, Secretary or Treasureer, the RVP shall appoint a successor for the remainder of the term subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. Article IX.   Areas Section 1.  Within Texas, geographical areas of interest in irises and iris culture shall be established, to be known as Areas of Region 17 of the American Iris Society.           The boundaries of such areas shall be fixed by the Executive Committee.  Such boundaries shall be determined to permit the establishment of additional areas when growth in memebership merits and upon petition from local groups desiring area organizations.  Section 2.  Each area shall have an area chairman, who, under the general direction of the RVP, shall direct the affairs of the Area, promote membership, represent the area at the executive Committee meeting that is held in conjunction with the Annual Regional Meeting. Article X.   Parliamentary Authority Section 1. These By-Laws and the actives of the officers, chairpersons and members of this organization shall conform to the By-Laws of the American Iris Society. Section 2. The Regulation of these By-Laws shall govern this organization when not in conflict with the By-Laws of the American Iris Society. Section 3. Roberts Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern this organization in matters not covered by the By-Laws of the American Iris Society or these By-Laws. Article VI.    Amendments These By-Laws may be amended at any regular or special meeting of this organization, or by mail as designated by the Executive Committee, provided notice of the proposed amendment or amendments has been printed in the Newsletter or otherwise distributed to the membership at least thirty (30) days prior to the vote on the amendment or amendments. A two/thirds (2/3) majority vote of those voting shall be necessary to pass any amendment of amendments.