Friends of the Library Board

The Friends of the Sterling Heights Public Library, organized in 1976, is a volunteer non-profit group dedicated to enhancing and improving library services for our community. Friends contributions, fund-raising activities, and volunteer efforts support adult and youth programs, maintain and improve collections, and provide new technologies and capital improvements.

Officers

The Friends of the Library Board meets quarterly in January, April, July, and October at the Sterling Heights Public Library.

The Friends Board was elected for a 2-year term in June 2021. Officers are:

• Kathy Mohnach, President
• Mary Pawlowski, Vice President
• Karen Hoerauf, Treasurer
• Vacant Seat, Secretary
• Kayla McDonell, Membership
• Vacant Seat, Bookstore

Bylaws

Article I

The name of the organization shall be the Friends of the Sterling Heights Public Library.

Article II - Purpose

The purpose of this organization shall be to stimulate the use of the Library’s resources and services; to cooperate with the Library in developing library resources for the entire community; to work for legislation which would enable the library to better serve the community; to encourage gifts, endowments, and memorials for the library from individuals and/or groups; to sponsor library-related programs and activities that contribute to the cultural opportunities in the community.

Article III - Membership

Sec. 1 Any individual, organization, business, or industry interested in the purposes of this organization may become a member upon payment of annual dues in one of the following categories which constitute the types of membership:

• Individual Membership $ 10.00
• Family Membership $ 20.00
• Business and Organizations $ 100.00
• Lifetime Membership (Individual or Family of 2) $ 300.00

Sec. 2: Family Memberships are available for two or more people. Membership entitles the family to designate two representatives, each of whom is entitled to one vote each. All family members are entitled to all the privileges of membership.

Sec. 3: Business and organization memberships are for civic and fraternal groups and industrial organizations. Membership entitles the organization or firm to designate 2 representatives, each of whom is entitled to one vote each and all the privileges of membership.

Sec. 4: Membership shall run for 1 year from payment of applicable dues.

Sec. 5: Honorary Membership in the Friends of the Sterling Heights Public Library may be conferred upon persons upon special action of the Executive Board.

Article IV - Officers

The officers of the Friends of the Sterling Heights Public Library shall be:

• President
• Vice President
• Secretary
• Treasurer

Sec. 1: The President shall hold office for two years. He/she shall preside at all meetings of the organization, appoint all committees, and be ex-officio thereof.

Sec. 2: The Vice President shall hold office for two years. He/she shall, in the absence or incapacity of the President, perform the duties of the President.

Sec. 3: The Secretary shall hold office for two years. He/she shall keep a record of the minutes of all meetings of the organization, and shall conduct the correspondence of the organization.

Sec. 4: The Treasurer shall hold office for two years. He/she shall keep the official financial records of the organization and shall issue payments upon the direction of the Executive Board. An annual audit of the financial records shall be made by either a committee or a Certified Public Accountant appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Board within 30 days of the close of the fiscal year.

Sec. 5: All officers shall be members in good standing.

Sec. 6: The officers shall have the authority to appoint, for a two year term, the membership chairperson and the program chairperson.

• a. The Membership Chairperson shall advise the Executive Board with respect to all aspects of membership and in general promote the increase of such membership.
• b. The Program Chairperson shall plan speaker and special programs as determined by the Executive Board.

Article V - Executive Board

Sec. 1 The Executive Board shall consist of the officers of the organization, the membership chairperson, the program chairperson, and the Director of the Sterling Heights Public Library or his/her alternate.

Sec. 2 The duties of the Executive Board shall be:

• a. To transact business of the organization.
• b. To hold quarterly meetings.
• c. To create such special and standing committees as the Board shall determine to be of advantage to the organization and appointments thereto made by the President with the approval of the Executive Board.
• d. No committee or member thereof shall have any authority to make any contract, or to incur any indebtedness, obligation, or liability in the name of, or in behalf of the organization without the authority and approval of the Executive Board.
• e. Vacancies to an officer position will be appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Board. The newly appointed officer shall then serve until the coming election.
• f. For voting purposes, a quorum of the Executive Board will consist of a majority of the Board members present at the meeting.

Article VI

• Sec. 1: The Annual Meeting shall be held during the fourth quarter of the calendar year to conduct appropriate business with the election of officers held every second year by membership vote.
• Sec. 2: A special meeting of the organization may be called at any time by the President, by two members of the Executive Board, or by 5 members of the organization.
• Sec. 3: 5 members shall constitute a quorum at any Annual or Special Meeting of the organization.
• Sec. 4 Notice of the time and place of each Annual or Special Meeting of the organization shall be published in the membership newsletter and shall be mailed not less than 30 days before the meeting to the recorded address of every member of the organization.

Article VII - Parliamentary Procedure

The current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, when not in conflict with this Constitution, shall govern the proceedings of the organization.

Article VIII - Amendments

These by-laws may be amended at any meeting of the membership by a majority of the membership present and voting, provided that notice of proposed amendments shall have been mailed to all members at least 2 weeks before said meeting, and a quorum is present.