CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA CONSTITUTION

ABOUT CASA | CASA CONSTITUTION | CASA BY-LAWS

Adopted September 5, 1997; Revised May 2008; Revised November, 2009; revised February, 2012

ARTICLE I – NAME AND PURPOSE

Section One - Name:
1. This association shall be known as the Contemporary Artists of Southern Arizona (hereinafter referred to as CASA), with headquarters in Tucson, Arizona.

Section Two - Purpose:
1. CASA is organized and shall be operated exclusively for the purpose of providing education and creative opportunities for artists working with mixed media within the meaning of I.R.C. Section 501(c)(7).
2. These purposes shall include, but are not limited to, promoting mixed media as a fine art medium, encouraging fellowship and mutual support among mixed media artists, providing a variety of educational opportunities to expand skills and enabling public exhibitions of members’ art work. In this document, the term “I.R.C.” means the Internal Revenue Code and references to provisions thereof are to such provisions as they are from time to time amended and to corresponding provisions of any future United States Revenue Law.
3. CASA has as its primary purpose the advancement and development of mixed media as an important art medium. To achieve that objective CASA shall provide for its members and supporters as many educational and cultural benefits as are deemed practical. CASA shall provide carefully planned programs that include activities such as workshops, study programs, demonstrations, and meetings designed to stimulate its members in the art of mixed media.
4. Mixed media shall be defined as using more than one medium in a work of art.

Section Three - Dissolution:
1. Upon the dissolution of CASA, after paying or adequately providing for the debts and obligations of the association, all remaining assets shall be distributed to a non-profit fund, foundation, organization, or corporation which is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, or religious and/or scientific purposes and which has established its tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(7) or 501(c)(3)of the Internal Revenue Code.


ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP

Section One – Membership Classifications:
There shall be four classes of membership: (1) Active, (2) Signature, (3) Patron, and (4) Honorary. The acceptance of future members shall conform to the standards established by the Board of Directors (hereinafter called the Board).

Section Two – Description of Member Classifications:
1. ACTIVE: Active members shall be any person who has paid dues and is current with all assessments and fees.
2. SIGNATURE: Signature members are Active members who have had paintings accepted for three juried shows and whose current dues and assessments have been paid. Signature members will be identified in the alphabetical listing of members with an “S” after their name.
3. PATRON: Patron membership is limited to invitation only by the President of CASA subject to approval by the Board. Patrons should have an active interest in the arts and in furthering the cultural and educational objectives of CASA. They shall have made a significant monetary or other contribution toward the activities of CASA. Patron members shall pay NO dues or assessments. Patron members will be identified in the alphabetical listing of members with a “P” after their name.
4. HONORARY: Honorary membership is limited to invitation only by the President of CASA subject to approval by the Board. Honorary members must be recognized in the art medium of collage and have made an exceptionally significant contribution to CASA and/or the community in the advancement of collage. Honorary members shall pay NO dues or assessments. Honorary members will be identified in the alphabetical listing of members with an “H” after their name.

Section Three – Annual Dues:
Annual dues for Active and Signature members are $35.00 and shall be due and payable by March 30th of each year. Patron and/or Honorary members pay no annual dues. Dues will be pro-rated for persons joining between September 1 and February 28 as follows: a fee of $4.00 (four dollars) for each month of membership prior to March 1 will be assessed. Regular dues schedule will commence on March 1.

Section Four – Jury Fees:
1. Active and Signature members shall pay a submission fee to be announced each and every time they submit collages to be juried into exhibits.

Section Five — Assessments:
Assessments may be levied upon action of the Board and approval of two-thirds (2/3) of the membership at any scheduled meeting, provided that notice has been given to the membership at least two (2) weeks prior to the meeting. Assessments shall be levied only in the event that dues prove to be inadequate to sustain the quality of the programs desired by CASA members. In addition to and/or in place of assessments, door charges may be made upon approval of the Board in order to meet expenses of special programs; and in such cases, the approval of the membership is not required.

Section Six — Reinstatement of Membership:
Members who have been inactive for any amount of time may renew membership by paying current dues.

Section Seven — Fiscal Year:
The fiscal year of CASA shall commence on June 1 and run through May 31.


ARTICLE III — OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section One - Officers and Terms of Office:
1. The officers of CASA shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer; all of whom shall be elected by the membership.
2. The President and Vice-President shall NOT serve more than three (3) consecutive FULL one (1) year terms.
3. If the office of President becomes vacant for any reason, the office shall be filled for the remainder of the vacated term by the Vice-President.
4. If the office of Vice-President becomes vacant for any reason, the office shall be filled for the remainder of the vacated term by the Board and approved by the membership at the next general meeting.
5. The Secretary and the Treasurer may serve for an unlimited number of successive one (1) year terms.
6. If the office of Secretary or Treasurer becomes vacant for any reason, the office shall be filled for the remainder of the vacated term by the Board and approved by the membership at the next general meeting.

Section Two - Board of Directors:
1. The Board shall have responsibility for, and the power to act with respect to all CASA activities.
2. The Board shall consist of the elected officers, the immediate Past-President, and the Chairs of the Standing Committees designated in Section Three below.
3. A simple majority of the total board membership shall constitute the quorum required to conduct board business.

Section Three - Standing Committees:
1. The Standing Committees shall consist of the following:

Program (voting)
Membership (voting)
Nominating (non-voting)
Workshops (voting)
Mini-workshops (voting)
Publicity and Public Relations (voting
Exhibits (voting)
Newsletter (voting)
Property (non-voting)

Committee Chairs will be voting members of the Board as indicated.
2. The Chairs of the standing committees shall be appointed annually by the President with the approval of the Board.


ARTICLE IV — AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

The constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of CASA by two-thirds (2/3) majority of the total membership present and voting, provided notice of the content of such amendment has been given by mail to the membership of CASA at least two (2) weeks prior to the meeting and a quorum (1/4 (one-fourth) of the total membership) is present.