The primary objective of the Maine Rose Society is to grow better roses in Maine and have fun doing it. To reach that objective, we take the following steps.
Once a year, usually the last Sunday in June, the Maine Rose Society sponsors a Rose Show. The rules of the show must follow certain guidelines set by the America Rose Society, (ARS). By following these guidelines, the exhibitors are eligible for certain benefits awarded by the ARS. The rose show is open to anyone to exhibit his or her roses or several hundred. There is no cost to enter roses in the show and there are special classes for exhibitors who have never won a blue ribbon in the rose show.

Members grow all types of roses including hybrid teas, old garden roses, miniroses and many of the new shrub roses that are hardy, even in Maine. The MRS supports growing better roses of all kinds. There is a class for every rose in the annual rose show providing the variety is known.
MRS publishes a newsletter named The Rosebowl quarterly. It keeps members informed to what is going on in the rose world. It also gives helpful tips on how to grow better roses. It gives members the opportunity to ask questions and volunteer happenings in their gardens.

The Society has an annual rose bush and plant sale. It helps cover the cost of local operating expenses including the annual rose show.

MAINE ROSE SOCIETY

Affiliated with the American Rose Society

CONSTITUTION and BYLAWS

As Revised December, 1997

ARTICLE I

Section 1.

This Society shall be known as the Maine Rose Society and it shall be affiliated with the American Rose Society.

ARTICLE II

Objective

Section 1.

The object of this Society is to study, foster, and encourage the culture of better roses in every practical way.

ARTICLE III

Membership

Section 1.	All persons interested in roses shall be eligible to apply for membership.
Section 2.	Application for membership shall be submitted through the treasurer.
Section 3.	A single payment of dues shall entitle both husband and wife or other “double membership” to be listed as members if they so desire. (See Article XIII, Section 1).
Section 4.	Members who fail to pay dues by April 1 of any year shall be considered as having dropped their membership.

ARTICLE IV

Honorary Membership

Section 1.

A person may be elected as an Honorary member by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting, or by all the members of the Board Of Directors at a Directors Meeting. Such elections shall specify the duration and any special conditions of such membership.

ARTICLE V

Voting

Section 1.	Only members shall vote, it being understood that husband-wife or other “double membership” participating on a single membership shall have one vote. On a family membership they shall have two votes (See Article XIII).
Section 2.	Voting shall be by ballot when there is any contest for an office or when any voting member requests such ballot.

ARTICLE VI

Officers

Section 1.	The officers of this Society shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Section 2.	Elections shall be held at the Annual meeting and installed at that time and shall hold office for twelve months, beginning January 1, or in emergency, until successors are chosen.

ARTICLE VII

Duties of Officers

Section 1.	The President shall preside at all meetings of the Society and of the Board of Directors. The President may call meetings of the Board of Directors at any time or meetings of the Society with the approval of the Board of Directors and shall be a member of all committees. The President shall appoint all committees not otherwise provided for in the Bylaws.
Section 2.	The Vice President shall preside when the President is absent or otherwise unable to act and perform such other functions as agreed upon.
Section 3.	The Secretary shall keep records of all meetings of the Society, record all votes, and maintain necessary contacts with the ARS and other rose societies as are necessary.
Section 4.	The Treasurer shall receive and account for all funds of this Society. Paying all bills by check and keeping funds on deposit in a bank approved by the Board of Directors or as they may direct.

ARTICLE VIII

Boards

Section 1.	The Board of Directors shall consist of the Executive Committee (the current Officers) and the members of the Advisory Board (See Section 2).
Section 2.	There shall be an Advisory Board Consisting of three elected members and the two previous Presidents of the Society, if still active in the Society.
Section 3.	The 3 elected members of the board shall serve for 3 years, one director being elected each year

ARTICLE IX

Duties of Boards

Section 1.	The Board of Directors shall plan the affairs of the Society and shall be empowered to transact any business not specifically described elsewhere in these Bylaws or not involving change of policy of this Society as described in these Bylaws.
Section 2.	The Board of Directors shall also coordinate the affairs of this Society with those of the American Rose Society in all ways that are appropriate.
Section 3.	In the event of a vacancy in the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors shall elect another member of the society to fill the vacancy until the next annual election. It will be an important function of the Board of Directors to encourage as many members as possible to take part in governing this society by electing different members to various positions whenever possible.

ARTICLE X

Meetings

Section 1.	Meetings shall be held monthly at a specified time, date, and location as published.. Summer meetings shall be arranged in the form of garden tours whenever practical.
Section 2.	The Board of Directors shall meet at a time and place to be determined by the President
Section 3.	A Fall meeting combining the Annual Banquet and the Founders Day shall be held as determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.	An Annual Business Meeting shall be held as determined by the Board of Directors. Officers for the following year shall be elected and installed at said meeting. The term of the newly elected officers shall be from January 1 to December 31 unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws.

ARTICLE XI

Quorum

Section 1.	A quorum for transacting business at any regular meeting shall consist of ten percent of the enrolled members of this Society.
Section 2.	A quorum for any meeting of the Board of Directors shall consist of five members.

ARTICLE XII

Committees

Section 1.

There shall be no standing committees in this Society other than described in ARTICLE VIII, Section 1. Committees shall be appointed by the President subject to the approval of the Board of Directors. The committees shall be for the purpose and duration specified at the time of appointment. The size of the committee shall be such as to most efficiently perform the duties assigned.

ARTICLE XIII

Dues

Section 1.	Each individual member shall pay annual dues. Any family group (under one household) may pay family-rate annual dues which allows two members of the family group full membership status in this Society. (Other family members are welcome to attend all Society functions regardless of the method of dues payment.) The Board of Directors shall establish the rate for individuals and family dues and adjust the amount whenever it s in the best interests of the Society.
Section 2.	Dues for new members of the Maine Rose Society shall be pro-rated on a semi-annual basis.
Section 3.	Dues shall be payable as of January 1 and not later than April 1,or in case of new members at the time of joining the Society. (See Section 2).

ARTICLE XIV

Publication

Section 1.	There shall be an informative publication to be known as THE ROSEBOWL whose editor shall be appointed by the President subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, and who shall serve for as long as is mutually agreeable to both parties.
Section 2.	THE ROSEBOWL shall be issued as a matter of policy, but the editor may combine issues for certain months or publish extra issues at his/her discretion.

ARTICLE XV

Shows and Exhibits

Section 1.	A rose show shall be held each year, the time, date, and location to be decided by the Board of Directors, no later than February 1. No later than February 1, the Board of Directors shall appoint a Rose Show Chairman. The show Chairman will have the authority to select as many members of this Society as is desirable to assist him in putting on the show. The Show Chairman will be responsible for all phases of the show but may delegate to other committee members as much or as little as is mutually agreeable to the parties.
Section 2.	All shows shall be open to the general public.
Section 3.	To encourage active participation in the show, “Challenge” classes may be established with any specifications deemed desirable to meet the objectives of the show.
Section 4.	It will be the responsibility of the Show Chairman, or a designated representative, to insure any requirements established for the show by the American Rose Society have been met.
Section 5.	Informal shows may be held at the discretion of the Board Of Directors.

ARTICLE XVI

Parliamentary Authority

Section 1.	“Robert’s Rule of Order, Revised”, shall govern the Society in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Bylaws of this Society.
Section 2.	In any case where these Bylaws conflict with the Bylaws of the American Rose Society, the latter shall prevail.
Section 3.	The Rules of Order may be waved at any meeting by unanimous vote of members present.

ARTICLE XVII

Amendments

Section 1.

These Bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Society by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting, provided written notice of the changes has been given the membership at least 20 and not more than 60 days in advance of the proposed changes.

Passed by the membership December 14, 1997, Elaine W. Law, Secretary