This Organization Shall Be Known As the Saint Bernard of Clairvaux Women S Guild. (Guild)

ARTICLE I – Name

This organization shall be known as the Saint Bernard of Clairvaux Women’s Guild. (Guild)

ARTICLE II – Objectives

To serve the Church and promote the personal growth in holiness and Christian fellowship of its Members, under the patronage of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux.
To help form a more Christian community through its General Membership and smaller groups known as Circles.
To care for the needs of the parish pertaining to the care and supplies of the altar and sacristy within the means of the Guild.
To give the women of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux Parish the opportunity for social and spiritual fellowship.
To cooperate with the recommendations of the Pastor of the parish.

ARTICLE III – Membership

1. The membership of this organization shall include all Catholic women of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux Parish and all non-Catholic women who are affiliated with the parish and desire membership. Active membership shall consist of Circle members and non-Circle members.

Circle members shall be those Guild members belonging to small groups, called Circles, which operate according to the following requirements:
Every woman of the parish shall be eligible for membership in a Circle.
Every Circle shall have a patron saint.
Every Circle shall elect a Leader. Leaders shall be elected annually in March and shall take leadership in May.
Every Circle shall meet once a month or at the discretion of its members.
Every Circle shall have a fourfold purpose: spiritual, service, social and study.
Every Circle shall operate under the direction of the Vice-President and shall be at the disposal of the President for the needs of the parish and its activities.
Every Circle shall present its membership roster to the Vice-President yearly, no later than October 15.

ARTICLE IV – Government

The Women’s Guild shall be governed by the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee.

1. Board of Directors

Composed of the Executive Committee, the immediate Past President, the Circle Leaders and the Spiritual Director.
Duties of the Board of Directors shall be

1) To supervise the activities of the Women’s Guild

2) To meet before each general meeting to set the meting agenda, or at the discretion of the President.

3) To review requests for all expenditures other than those pertaining to normal expenses for altar care.

4) Voting at Board meetings shall be confined to Board members present.

2. Executive Committee

a. Composed of the Guild’s elected officers and its Spiritual Director.

1) Elected officers are the President, 1st Vice-President, 2nd

Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer

2) The Spiritual Director shall be the Pastor of the parish or

his assistant.

b. Duties of the Executive Committee shall be

1) To oversee the enforcement of the Bylaws.

2) To act for the Board of Directors between its meetings if

the need arises.

3) To appoint any vacancies in any office of the Executive

Committee.

ARTICLE V – Nomination and Election of Officers

1. Election of officers shall be held every two years, at the May general meeting in odd numbered years.

2. A Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the President during the

January general meeting.

3. The Spiritual Director shall be a non-voting member of the Nominating

Committee.

4. The Nominating Committee shall provide the opportunity for Circle

Leaders to present nominations proposed by their Circle members.

5. The Nominating Committee shall present a slate of nominees to the members at the April general meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor of the written consent of the nominee is presented to the President with the nomination.

6. All nominees for the office of President shall be practicing Catholics.

7. The President shall conduct the election. A Judge and two tellers shall be appointed by the President if needed.

8. A plurality vote of the membership in attendance elects.

ARTICLE VI- Term of Office

Officers shall be installed at a special Mass during the month of May and shall assume their duties immediately thereafter.
The term of office for Elected Officers shall be two years or until their successor is elected.
Any Elected Officer absent for more than three consecutive meetings without a valid reason shall be removed from office.
Appointment of any member to fill a vacancy for a partial term shall not disqualify her from eligibility to seek the same or another office in the next election of officers.

ARTICLE VII- Duties of Officers

The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer. With the assistance of the Spiritual Director, she shall:
Have responsibility for the general direction of the affairs of the Guild.
Preside over all general meetings, Board of Directors meetings, and Executive Committee meetings.
Enforce the rules and regulations and the bylaws of the Guild.
Appoint a committee to perform an annual audit of the financial reports during the month of March.
Co-sign with another officer all checks or withdrawals for monies in any and all Guild accounts.
Obtain approval from the Executive Committee for all expenditures pertaining to normal expenses for altar care such as hosts, wine, oils, and other needs for the altar.
Obtain approval of the Membership for payment of any extraordinary expenditure.
Be ex-officio member of all Committees except the Nominating Committee.
The 1st Vice-President shall
Have responsibility for development of the Circle system
Assume the duties of the President in her absence or inability to act.
Assist the President when requested and perform such duties as may be assigned.
The Secretary shall
Keep an accurate record of all Guild, Board and Committee meetings.
Carry on general correspondence as necessary.
Perform such duties as may be assigned by the President.
The 2nd Vice-President shall be in charge of programs
Set up speakers or entertainment for meetings.
Perform any other duties as directed by the President.
The Treasurer shall
Make bank deposits and keep an accurate record of all income and expenditures.
Prepare all checks and present them to the President for signatures.
Submit a written monthly financial report all meetings
Render each May a yearly financial report, as certified by the Audit Committee.

ARTICLE VIII – Guild Commissions

Commissions are areas of service within the Women’s Guild. Each has the general purpose of promoting the deepening of faith and a sense of Christian community within the membership and the Parish. Through outreach programs, the Commissions also offer service and Christian fellowship to the community at large.

All Commission Chairpersons shall be appointed by the President. Each Commission Chairperson, with the assistance of the President, shall choose members and develop and implement a commission program.
The suggested Commissions and their responsibilities shall be, but not limited to
Guild Services Commission

1) Publicize all general meetings.

2) Set up room for all general meetings, provide refreshments, welcome attendees.

3) Communicate with membership by phone and email as necessary.

4) Recommend and implement fund raisers for the Guild.

5) Promote participation in the parish carnival.

6) Keep the history of the Guild.

Church Communities Commission

1) Coordinate with the Church sacristan to facilitate times of service for Guild members wishing to assist with altar care.

2) Assist with the hospitality ministry in the parish.

Community Affairs Commission

1) Have responsibility for the blood drive and breast screening.

2) Facilitate respite care, Meals on Wheels, and other services as needed.

3) Provide representation of the Guild at Deanery and Diocesan Councils of Catholic Women functions.

Family Affairs Commission

1) Assist with adult and family Christian education in the parish.

2) Help provide funeral meals.

3) Request Masses for members

4) Support Pro-Life endeavors.

5) Write Sunshine notes.

ARTICLE IX – Meetings

1) There shall be at least six general meetings and/or programs per year. Meetings to be held during the odd numbered months on either the first or the second Wednesday. General meetings can be called at any time by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee at their discretion.

2) Voting at general meetings shall be confined to members present.

ARTICLE X – Dues

The yearly dues of the Guild shall be set by majority vote of the membership at the first General Meeting following the installation of the new officers in May. The dues for the year 2011 shall be $10.00.

ARTICLE XI – Benefits

The benefits of Guild membership shall be:

1) The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass shall be offered every First Friday of the month for the spiritual and temporal welfare of the members of the organization, that is, all the women of the parish.

2) On the death of any active member, a Mass will be said for the repose of the soul for the deceased.

ARTICLE XII – Amendments

Amendments to the Guild Bylaws must be submitted in writing, first to the Board of Directors, then for approval at a future General meeting of the Guild, as designated by the President. A plurality vote of the membership in attendance amends.

ARTICLE XIII – Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order (newly revised) shall govern this Guild in all cases in which they art applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Guild Bylaws.

These Bylaws shall replace any and all previous constitutions or Bylaws voted by the General Membership.

Revised June 6, 2012