PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THE SCRIBBLERS

A CLUB OF BREVARD COUNTY

APPROVED:  11 MAY 91

REVISION 7:  25 AUG 07

NAME AND PURPOSE

The name of the club shall be the Scribblers. It will be a non-profit, unincorporated, non-political, and non-sectarian club of Brevard County, Florida. Its purpose is to encourage and promote the written word in prose and poetry. Its primary vehicle will be an annual prose and poetry anthology known as DRIFTWOOD. Hereafter, the term “the Club” will be used synonymously to mean “The Scribblers.” The Club may in any given year choose to sponsor literary contests and/or to conduct seminars.

MEETINGS AND TIME

With the exception of November and December, scheduled meetings are held on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. During November and December there will be only one meeting each month, held on the second Saturday. Meetings are presently held in the Eau Gallie Public Library commencing at 9:30A.M., with the first thirty minutes used as a social get-to-gether.

MEMBERSHIP

Any resident of Brevard County is eligible for membership provided he/she adheres to the purpose of the Club.  Membership can be renewed by any member even though that person’s residency no longer is in Brevard County. The membership year commences on 1. January and ends on 31 December.

ELECTED OFFICERS

The elected officers of the Club shall be president; vice-president; secretary: treasurer: publicity chairman, hospitality chairman; historian, nominating committee chairman; and DRIFTWOOD Managing Editor, Literary Editor, Art Editor, and Publishing Editor. The officers will be elected by a majority of members present and voting at the first meeting in November. The newly elected officers will take office at the first meeting in January of the following year.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors will consist of the elected officers. The president will be chairman of the board.

APPOINTED OFFICERS

The president has the authority to appoint committee chairmen and additional officers deemed necessary to the successful operation of the Club.

DUTIES OF ELECTED OFFICERS

The President shall:

a.       Call the meeting to order.

b.      Preside at all meetings.

c.       Establish additional committees necessary to the proper function of the Club and appoint chairpersons of those committees.

d.      Assist in production of the annual DRIFTWOOD edition.

e.       Receive and disburse all funds belonging to the Club in the absence of the treasurer.

The Vice-President shall:

a.       Preside in the absence of the president.

b.      Arrange for and conduct the program section of the meeting by accepting volunteer member speakers or by securing a guest speaker.

c.       Ensure that all readers are members of the Club unless they are invited guest speakers or visitors who have been authorized to read manuscripts on a one-time basis without benefit of Club membership.

The Secretary shall:

a.       Maintain the Minutes.

b.      Compose letters at the direction of the president.

The Treasurer shall:

a.       Change bank signature cards as applicable to the authorized check signers. Checks must be signed by the current Club treasurer and the current Club president.

b.      Receive and disburse all funds belonging to the Club and maintain records of these transactions.

c.       Provide the Club members with the latest financial status and membership status at each meeting.

d.      Provide the President with a minimum of two lists of the club membership. These lists will be reproduced on a semiannual basis and distributed to the membership.

e.       Confer with DRIFTWOOD editors to determine appropriate submission fees and sales prices for current edition.

f.        Discuss with DRIFTWOOD editors the amount of money available for publication.

The Hospitality Chairman shall:

a.       Prepare the meeting room and ensure that refreshments are provided for the social segment of each meeting.

b.      Coordinate the obtaining and disbursing of refreshments at any function by the Club.

The Historian shall:

a.       Maintain an album of Club members’ publications.

b.      Maintain a cumulative log of noteworthy activities of the Club.

c.       Bring album and log to a club meeting twice each year to show the membership.

The Publicity Chairman shall:

a.       Bring to public notice the activities of the Club.

b.      Announce the forthcoming publication of DRIFTWOOD.
 

The Managing Editor shall:

a.       Coordinate with publicity chairman in publicizing forthcoming publication of DRIFTWOOD.

b.      Coordinate with president and Driftwood Staff to select a printer for the current edition of DRIFTWOOD.

c.       Confer with the treasurer to determine the sale price for the current edition of DRIFTWOOD and the number of books to be printed.

d.      Arrange for DRIFTWOOD copies to be picked up from the printer and distributed where necessary.

The Literary Editor shall:

a.       Coordinate with the DRIFTWOOD staff to determine fees and rules for submission of prose and poetry to DRIFTWOOD.

b.      Receive submissions and fees from authors and forward money received to the treasurer.

c.       Secure three poetry judges and three prose judges.

d.      Deliver eligible literary works to judges.

e.       Receive literary works from the judges and tabulate the ratings.

f.        Use literary works based on predetermined passing scores in the DRIFTWOOD.

g.       Appoint a proofreader.       

h.       Notify authors of the status of their submissions.

i.         Distribute complimentary copies to judges and local libraries. 

The Art Editor shall:

a.       Collect art submissions and decide how they will be used in the book.

b.      Announce, in a timely manner, the Cover Art contest.  Officiate at display, numbering and voting on submitted photos or original artwork.

c.       Notify artists which selections will be included in DRIFTWOOD.

d.      Deliver completed lay out to Publishing Editor.

The Publishing Editor shall:

a.       Acquire the finished lay-out from Art Editor.

b.      Prepare the current DRIFTWOOD edition in camera-ready or computerized form for printing.

c.       Discuss with treasurer the amount of money available fur publication.

d.      Coordinate with the president and managing editor to choose a printer and deliver camera-ready book or computerized form to selected printer.
 

The Nominating Committee Chairman shall:

a.       Select two other members to constitute the nominating committee.

b.      Meet with the nominating committee to develop a slate of candidates for officers of the Club.

c.       Provide the Slate at two meetings in October.

SOCIAL FUNCTION

One Club-funded annual social function is authorized per year.

RULES OF CONDUCT

Members guilty of improper behavior or disruptive conduct shall be asked to leave the meeting. 

Their membership will then be refunded on a prorated basis.

AMENDMENT OF PRINCIPLES

The principles can be amended by presenting the proposed changes to all members at least two meetings before a vote is called.

A majority of members present and voting shall be necessary to pass any amendment to these principles.