Constitution

As adopted on May 19, 1982 and amended on December 14, 1982. Amended further on March 13, 1985. Amended further on November 12, 1986. Amended further on February 13, 1989. Amended further on May 13, 1992.  Amended further on February 10, 1999.
 

ARTICLE I. Name and Purpose
This organization shall be known as The Planned Giving Group of New England (hereinafter referred to as the Group). Its purpose is to provide a forum for the education and professional development of fund raising officers of non-profit organizations and allied professionals in all aspects of charitable gift planning, and also to engage in activities that encourage philanthropy.

ARTICLE II. Composition and Membership

Section 1. Composition.
The group shall be composed of Non-profit Members, Allied Profession Members and Honorary Members (collectively, "Members") and Non-profit Associates and Allied Profession Associates (collectively, "Associates").

Section 2. Non-profit Member.
Any person who has successfully completed a basic course in planned giving and is actively engaged in fund raising for a non-profit organization is eligible to become a Non-profit Member. Non-profit Members are entitled to vote on all matters coming before the Group.

Section 3. Allied Profession Member.
Any person representing a for-profit institution or organization engaged in activities related to planned giving is eligible for Allied Profession Membership. Allied Profession Members are entitled to vote on all matters coming before the Group.

Section 4. Non-profit Associate.
Any person eligible for membership, but who elects not to become a Member, may be a Non-profit Associate. Any person ineligible for membership may apply as a Non-profit Associate, if sponsored by a current Member. The candidate is admitted to membership upon approval of the Executive Board. Non-profit Associates shall have no vote on matters coming before the Group.

Section 5. Allied Profession Associate.
Any person eligible for Allied Profession membership, but who elects not to become an Allied Profession member, may be an Allied Profession Associate. Allied Profession Associates shall have no vote on matters coming before the Group.

Section 6. Honorary Members.
The Executive Board of the Group may nominate and approve an individual for honorary membership. Honorary Members shall pay no dues and are entitled to all the benefits of a Member.

Section 7. Benefits.
The benefits of each class of Members and Associates shall be determined by the Executive Board and published annually.

ARTICLE III. OFFICERS

Section 1. Executive Board.
The Officers shall be President, President-Elect, Vice President, Communications Director, Recording Secretary, Membership Secretary, Treasurer and three to five Officers-at-Large. These Officers shall constitute the Executive Board of the Group. The Executive Board shall have the authority to transact all business of the Group between Group meetings.

Section 2. Term of Office. 
To be eligible to hold office, an individual shall have been a Member for at least two years prior to assuming office. To be eligible to serve as President or President-Elect, an individual must also be a Non-profit Member. All Officers other than the president shall be elected at the Annual Meeting. Officers shall serve for one year and shall assume office on the July 1 following their election.

a. President: The President shall assume the office of President at the conclusion of his or her term as President-Elect. The President shall call and preside over the Annual Meeting of the Group, other meetings called by the Executive Board, and Executive Board meetings and shall perform other duties pertaining to that office. In consultation with the Executive Board, the president shall appoint the Group's representatives to the National Council on Planned Giving and the chair of each committee and shall fill any vacancies on the Executive Board with individuals who would be qualified to be elected as an Officer. The President shall serve ex officio on all committees and chair the Nominating Committee. If the President-Elect does not assume the presidency, the President shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee from among current or past officers of the Group. The President shall not serve two consecutive terms.

b. President-Elect: In the event of the absence, disability or resignation of the President, the President-Elect shall perform the duties of the President. The President-Elect shall be responsible for all duties assigned by the President.

c. Vice President/Programs: The Vice President shall arrange for guest speakers as required, in accordance with the stated professional objective of the Group, and any other duties assigned by the President.

d. Communications Director: The Communications Director shall be responsible for writing, producing and distributing the newsletter, and any other duties assigned by the President.

e. Recording Secretary: The Recording Secretary shall preserve all minutes of the Group's Annual Meeting, other business meetings of the Group, notify members and Associates of all meetings and shall keep copies of publications and documents of importance to the Group and perform other duties pertaining to that office, and any other duties assigned by the President.

f. Membership Secretary: The Membership Secretary shall be responsible for obtaining new and renewal memberships and shall coordinate and oversee membership application procedures. The Membership Secretary shall also maintain the official roll of Members and Associates, produce and distribute the membership directory, and coordinate the logistical support of all events, and any other duties assigned by the President.

g. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall receive and be custodian of all funds of the Group, shall keep the financial records of the Group and shall be responsible for the preparation of all reports (including tax returns) of the Group, and any other duties assigned by the President. The Treasurer shall submit an annual report, reviewed by a certified professional accountant, to the Group at its Annual Meeting and shall report regularly to the Executive Board.

h. Officers-at-Large: The Officers-at-Large shall perform such duties as shall be assigned by the President according to the needs of the Board, which may include assisting the other Officers.

Section 3. Elections.
The vote shall be by voice, unless there is more than one candidate for any office, in which case the elections shall be by ballot. Candidates receiving a plurality of all votes cast shall be declared elected.

ARTICLE IV. COMMITTEES
a. Nominating Committee. The President shall serve as chair of the Nominating Committee, and in consultation with the Executive Board, shall appoint not fewer than four Members or Associates. In the event that the President is unable to serve as chair (i.e., disability, resignation) the President-Elect shall perform the President's duties (No member of the Executive Board, other than the President (or the president-Elect when performing the President's duties), shall serve as a member of the Nominating Committee.) No member of the Nominating Committee may serve during the subsequent year on the Executive Board.

b. Other Committees. The President, after consultation with the Executive Board, may appoint committees and designate their purpose and term.

ARTICLE V. MEETINGS OF THE GROUP
The Annual Meeting of the Group shall be held on the second Wednesday in May, unless the Executive Board shall specify a different date for any particular year by written notice to the Members. The Executive Board may call meetings of the Group, which may be held whenever and wherever it designates, or may submit particular resolutions to the Members by mail instead of calling such a meeting. In either case, the Recording Secretary shall mail a notice of the business to be transacted to the Members at the latest address shown on the Group records.

a. In the case of a meeting of the Group, the notice shall state its time, place and purpose. The notice must be mailed to the Members at least thirty days before the date of the meeting. One-tenth of the Members of the Group shall constitute a quorum.

b. In the case of a mail ballot, the notice shall be accompanied by a ballot sent to all Members at least thirty days before the date by which ballots must be received in order to be counted. The response to the resolution which receives a plurality of all votes cast shall be recognized as the decision of the Group.

ARTICLE VI. ACTIVITIES
No substantial part of the activities of the Group shall be carrying on lobbying, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Group shall not participate in, or intervene in (including publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. The Group shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States internal revenue law) (the "Code") or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170 (c)(2) of the Code.

ARTICLE VII. DUTIES AND OTHER FINANCIAL MATTERS

Section 1. Annual Dues. 
The Executive Board shall determine the amount and the due date for the dues payable by Members and Associates.

Section 2. Bank Account. 
All bank accounts shall stand in the name of the Group. The President and the Treasurer shall be authorized for all such accounts. However, only one signature shall be required on a check.

Section 3. Earnings. 
No part of the net earnings of the Group shall inure to the benefit of any private individual.

Section 4. Disposition of Assets. 
If the Group is dissolved, all of its Assets shall be distributed to such organizations qualified at that time as exempt organizations under Sections 501(c)(3) of the Code as may be selected by the Executive Board.

Section 5. Salaries and Fees. 
No officer is to receive compensation for services.

Section 6. Reimbursement of Officers' Expenses. 
Officers shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with performance of the duties of their office provided such expenses are duly documented and approved by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS
This Constitution may be amended by a written ballot of the Members, such ballots to be presented and counted at a meeting of the Group; provided:

1. Notice of the proposed amendment shall be mailed to all Members at least thirty days prior to the meeting at which the ballots are to be counted, and

2. That two-thirds of all ballots presented at the meeting favor the amendment.

A Member need not be present to cast a ballot provided that any ballot mailed or otherwise delivered to the Recording Secretary shall be sufficiently identified by the Member casting it so as to avoid any duplication.

Membership

Officers

Past Presidents