The original By-Laws of the ALEX BEALER BLACKSMITH ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA, INC. hereinafter referred to as The Association, are hereby restated and amended by way of resolution of the Members of The Association and all former By-Laws are hereby rescinded in their entirety.

Article 1
Name
The name of this association shall be the ALEX BEALER BLACKSMITH ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA, INC. The Association is a non-profit voluntary association of individuals interested in the Ancient and Noble Art of Blacksmithing.

Article 2
Object and Purpose
The object of The Association is to increase the knowledge and appreciation of the Craft of Blacksmithing, to promote the study of its many technologies, and to continue it as an active craft. The Association is organized exclusively for educational purposes (within the meaning of the term “educational” as used in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code) including for such purposes the following: to encourage and facilitate the establishment of training programs for blacksmiths; to disseminate information about sources of materials and equipment; to serve as a source of information among blacksmiths; to maintain and improve communications among blacksmiths of professional, amateur, teacher, and student status; to encourage higher standards of craftsmanship and design among smiths; to conduct workshops and provide instruction by knowledgeable and experienced smiths; and to foster friendly relations among practitioners of the art by means of periodic meetings and other modes of communications.

Article 3
Meeting Place
The official meeting place of the association shall be determined by the Membership and the location published at least two months in advance of meetings, if possible.

Article 4
Officers
The Association Officers shall be three in number, namely: President, Vice President, and Secretary/ Treasurer. The term of office for each shall be one year. Each Officer may succeed himself and the responsibilities of the Secretary/Treasurer may be shared between two persons if the Association so elects at the annual meeting/election of Officers. For the sake of continuity Officers are encouraged to stand for election for more than one term. In the event of the death or resignation of an Officer, the remaining Officers shall appoint a successor to fill the unexpired term. Should the remaining Officers fail to agree upon a successor a special meeting of the Membership shall be called to elect a successor.

Article 5
Board of Directors
The Association Directors shall be four in number and shall be elected by the general Membership for two year terms. The posts shall be numbered one through four. Odd numbered posts shall be elected on odd numbered years and even numbered posts shall be elected on even numbered years.

Article 6
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, the Vice President, the Secretary/ Treasurer and the Directors. It shall be the duty of this Committee to confer with the officers and directors and assist in the decision making process regarding the activities of the Association. Approval of proposals by this Committee require a majority vote of no less than four of it’s members. The immediate past president and the newsletter editor shall be ex-officio members of this committee and shall have no vote.

Article 7
Duties of the Officers, Board of Directors and Executive Committee
The President shall preside at meetings and serve on committees as hereinafter defined. The President may appoint committees for special purposes other than the committees named by these By- Laws and shall be an ex-officio member of all such committees. The Vice President shall preside at meetings to which the President is unable to attend. He shall serve on committees as hereinafter defined. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all regularly scheduled association meetings, committee meetings and the annual business meeting. The Secretary shall keep the membership roll and report that status to the Executive Committee as required. The Treasurer shall receive and disburse funds of The Association and deposit same to the proper checking or savings account of The Association. The Treasurer shall use good accounting practices to keep financial records in such a way as to provide for a complete audit if deemed necessary. The Treasurer shall have the authority, upon his own motion, to disburse funds in the usual and normal course of business. The Treasurer shall further have the authority, on his own motion, to disburse funds not in the usual and normal course of business up to Three Hundred ($300.00) dollars. Disbursals not in the usual and normal course of business between Three Hundred One ($301.00) dollars to Five Hundred ($500.00) dollars shall require the oral approval of at least two other members of the Executive Committee (written approval is recommended). All disbursements not in the usual and normal course of business and in excess of the above mentioned amounts must be approved by a vote of the membership at the next regular meeting. The Directors shall serve on the Executive Committee along with the Association Officers and shall provide assistance and guidance to the Association Officers.

Article 8
Membership Eligibility
To be eligible for membership in the Association the applicant shall be eighteen (18) years of age, of good character and shall express his or her interest in Blacksmithing and in supporting the objectives of the Association. Persons under the age of eighteen (18) years of age may become a member of the Association when sponsored by an active member. Membership eligibility shall be maintained only if annual dues are paid in a timely fashion.

Article 9
Annual Dues
Annual membership dues shall be set annually by a vote of the General Membership at the Annual Business Meeting. The full amount will be payable in advance at the start of the dues year. The dues year shall start on January 1, and shall end on December 31. Dues will be pro-rated as one half of the total dues amount if an individual joins the Association after June 30.

Article 10
Unacceptable Conduct
In the event the conduct of a Member becomes obnoxious to the extent that his or her further presence is undesirable, it shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to inform the member of the conduct objected to, and to notify him or her that he or she stands to be expelled from the Association. Obnoxious conduct shall not be charged on mere whim or on personal taste or bias; but on conduct which by common standards of courtesy and decency can be considered outrageous. The decision to expel a member under this article shall require unanimous agreement of all members of the Executive Committee.

Article 11
Amendments
Amendments to the Constitution and By-laws may be made at any regular meeting, or at a special meeting duly called for that purpose. Any amendment proposed shall first be approved and recommended by the Executive Committee.

Article 12
Order of Business at Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting shall be held the third (3rd) Saturday of June each year. The meeting shall be conducted in the following manner:
• Treasurer shall give a financial report
• Secretary shall give a report of the minutes
• Election of President
• Election of Vice-President
• Election of Secretary/Treasurer
• Election of Directors

The newly elected officers shall take office immediately following the elections.

Article 13
Meetings
The regular monthly meeting shall be held on the third (3rd) Saturday of each month. The Annual Business Meeting of the Association shall be held in conjunction with the regularly scheduled June Meeting for the purpose of covering the items listed in Article 12 above. At any regularly called meeting the members then in attendance shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business.

Article 14
Interpretation of Constitution and By-Laws
The interpretation of the Association’s Constitution and By-Laws together with any rules of the Association shall rest in the Executive Committee.

Article 15
Parliamentary Procedure
Except as they may conflict with these By- Laws, ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER shall govern the conduct of all meetings.

Article 16
Dissolution
Upon dissolution of the Association assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by a court of competent jurisdiction of the county in which the principal office of the corporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

Article 17
Disbursement
No part of the net earnings of the Association shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the Association shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the object and purpose clause hereof. No substantial part of the activities of the Association shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Association shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign or behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of this document, the Association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempted from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code