BYLAWS OF THE
NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY OF TEXAS, LINDHEIMER CHAPTER (revision approved May 19, 2026)
Article I – Name
The name of the Society shall be the Native Plant Society of Texas, Lindheimer Chapter.
Article II – Purpose of the Chapter
The purpose of the Lindheimer Chapter shall be to promote conservation, appreciation and utilization of the native plants and plant habitats of Texas through education, outreach and example.
Article III – Membership
Section 1. Any person, family, or group who is a member of the Native Plant Society of Texas is eligible for membership in the Lindheimer Chapter.
Section 2. Each member is entitled to one vote on any question requiring a vote of the general membership. Only members are eligible to hold committee or officer positions.
Section 3. Membership dues are determined by the State Society and are payable to the State Society on the anniversary of the membership.
Article IV – Chapter Officers
The Chapter Board of Directors of the Lindheimer Chapter shall consist of the President, President-Elect/Parliamentarian, Secretary, Treasurer, eight standing Committee Chairs and the (Immediate) Past President/Nominating Committee Chair. These officers shall be known as the Chapter Board and shall be elected for a one-year term. Officers may be re-elected for unlimited consecutive terms in the same office with the exception of the President and the President-Elect who may only serve two consecutive years. These thirteen (13) officers will constitute the Chapter Board with voting responsibilities.
Article V – Chapter Meetings
The Chapter Board shall decide the date, time, and place of Chapter meetings and notify the membership of its decision.
Article VI – Duties of Officers
Section 1. President
A. The President shall represent the Chapter to the general public; shall preside at the Chapter Meetings and Board Meetings; with approval of the Executive Board shall appoint all Committee Chairs not otherwise provided for in these Bylaws; shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee; shall be a voting member of the State Board or shall appoint a voting member for the Chapter; shall approve, with written evidence, all expenditures made by the Treasurer not previously approved by the Executive Board, and shall have supervision of the affairs of the Chapter.
B. The President shall appoint a Financial Review Committee of two or more members approved by the Executive Board to review the financial records and operations for the year.
Section 2. President-Elect/Parliamentarian
A The President-Elect/Parliamentarian shall become President upon expiration of the term of office of the President.
B. The President-Elect/Parliamentarian is expected to advise on meeting procedures during organized meetings. This role is purely advisory. The President- Elect/Parliamentarian shall perform other pertinent duties as directed by the President.
Section 3. Secretary
A. The Secretary shall record the proceedings of all Board/Chapter Meetings.
B. The Secretary shall be responsible for necessary correspondence as requested and shall perform other pertinent duties as directed by the President.
Section 4. Treasurer
A. The Treasurer shall keep an accurate account of receipts and disbursements and render a financial statement to the State Society quarterly, to the Executive Board when it meets, and to the membership at each Chapter Meeting. Special reports shall be prepared as requested by the Executive Board, the President, or the State Society. The Treasurer, in conjunction with the President, shall be co-signers of all bank accounts in the Chapter’s name. All Chapter money shall be kept in these accounts.
B. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the safe and orderly storage of past and current financial records. Licensing documents and year-end financial statements shall be retained indefinitely; other financial records shall be saved for seven (7) years. Electronic records are acceptable.
C. The Treasurer shall present an Annual Budget for the upcoming year to the Executive Board for approval in December and shall be ex-officio Chair of the Budget Committee.
D. The Treasurer’s signature as well as the President’s written approval or prior authorization by the Executive Board are required to disperse funds.
E. The Treasurer shall present the annual financial records to the Financial Review Committee for inspection after the end of each year and shall perform other pertinent duties as directed by the President. The review should be complete by the end of April.
Section 5. Standing Committees
A. Formal Education Committee
The Director of Formal Education shall serve as the facilitator of all education programs sponsored by the state Native Plant Society of Texas.
B. Community Outreach Committee
The Community Outreach Committee shall be responsible for coordinating outreach support of the purpose and mission of the Chapter as outlined in Article II.
C. Communications Committee
Communications Committee shall oversee all communications, publicity, and publications of the Chapter.
D. Plant Sales Committee
The Plant Sales Committee shall be responsible for the Chapter’s participation in the semi-annual Plant Sales events. The Chairperson shall ask for Chapter volunteers to help with this important event.
E. Membership Committee
The Membership Committee is responsible for overseeing and maintaining the Chapter’s membership list. This includes keeping records up-to-date and ensuring accuracy. In addition, the Committee is responsible for recruiting new members to support and grow the organization’s membership base.
F. Hospitality Committee
The Hospitality Committee will be in charge of setting up and providing refreshments at Chapter meetings and events. The Chairperson will seek volunteers to help with events as needed.
G. Program Committee
The Program Committee will be in charge of recruiting educational speakers for the monthly meetings and for such other programs the Board may authorize.
H. Field Trip Committee
The Field Trip Committee will be in charge of organizing field trips for the membership.
Committee Chairpersons
Each Committee shall have a chairperson nominated and elected in the same manner as the officers of the Chapter and shall be a member of the Board of Directors.
Section 6. Past President
The (Immediate) Past President shall exercise the function of the President during any temporary or permanent absence of the President. The (Immediate) Past President shall assist and advise the Chapter Board as appropriate and shall perform other pertinent duties as directed by the President.
Section 7. Chapter Board
A. The Chapter Board shall implement the purposes and policies of the Chapter and the State Society, develop short- and long-range plans in support of that effort, and approve an annual Chapter Budget for the upcoming year.
B. The Chapter Board may create Special Committees as needed. Special Committees shall perform other pertinent duties as directed by the President and shall approve assignment of Chairpersons for any of these committees.
C. The Chapter Board shall approve any re-assignment of Board Member duties made by the President.
D. The Chapter Board shall meet monthly.
E. A quorum shall consist of seven members of the Chapter Board. No business requiring a decision by the Chapter Board may be conducted without a quorum.
F. Any Chapter Board member may be removed from office with cause by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Board Members then in office, at a regularly scheduled Chapter Board Meeting.
G. Any resignation of a Chapter Board member shall be submitted in writing to the President or Secretary.
H. Any vacancy on the Chapter Board, other than the President, shall be filled by a majority vote of the Chapter Board as soon as practical. Preferably the membership should be notified of any vacancies and requested to contact a board member about anyone they know of who would be interested in the position.
I. A vacancy of the President shall be filled by a majority vote of the Chapter Board as soon as practical and shall be filled in the following order of preference: Immediate Past President, President-Elect, other current Chapter Board Member, a Past President of the Chapter.
Article VII – Nominations and Elections
Section 1. Nominations
A. The Nominating Committee shall present a slate of officers at the November Chapter meeting. This slate may contain one or more names for each office.
B. At that same Chapter meeting, the President shall ask for further nominations from the floor, after which the nominations shall be closed.
Section 2. Elections
A. Elections will be held at the November meeting, and shall be by ballot if there is more than one nominee for any office.
B. The elected officers shall take office in January.
Article VIII – Standing and Special Committees
A. Membership/Hospitality Committee
The Membership Committee shall be responsible for providing a sign-in for members and guests at chapter events; the Hospitality Committee, shall be responsible for welcoming all attendees and seeing that refreshments are available if appropriate.
B. Program Committee
The Program Committee shall be responsible for engaging speakers and planning special meeting activities as requested/agreed upon by the Chapter Board of Directors.
C. N.I.C.E. Committee
The N.I.C.E. (Natives Improve and Conserve Environments) Committee will work with local nurseries in support of our chapter purpose as stated in Section II of these bylaws. Meetings will be held at the discretion of the Chapter Board with the concurrence of the N.I.C.E. chairperson.
Section 1. Special Committees
- Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee shall be chaired by the (Immediate) Past President and be composed of no fewer than three members appointed by the President, with approval of the Chapter Board. The Committee shall be responsible for seeking out qualified, willing candidates for the Chapter Officer positions for the upcoming Chapter election. The Committee will present a slate of officers at the November Chapter Meeting.
Financial Review Committee
The Financial Review Committee shall be appointed by the President, with approval of the Chapter Board, and shall be composed of at least two qualified individuals who are not current Executive Board Members. The Committee shall provide an inspection of the annual financial records, operations, and reports after the end of the year, and provide a written report of its findings to the Chapter Board.
Article IX – Parliamentary Authority
The parliamentary authority for these Bylaws is the latest version of Robert’s Rules of Order as modified for chapter use.
Article X – Amendments to Bylaws
These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of members present and voting at a Chapter Meeting after notice of the proposed changes have been presented to the membership at least thirty days in advance.
Article XI – Compliance with State Bylaws
The Lindheimer Chapter shall work in accord with the Native Plant Society of Texas and comply with the State Society Bylaws.
Article XII – Dissolution of the Chapter
In order to dissolve the Lindheimer Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas, a resolution should be prepared, such as: “Resolved, that the Lindheimer Chapter be dissolved as of (insert date).” This resolution may be preceded by a preamble setting forth the reasons for the dissolution. It is, in effect, a motion to rescind the Bylaws, and therefore requires the same notice and vote to amend them. The required notice should be sent by mail to all members thirty (30) days before a vote is taken. In the event that the Chapter is dissolved, the Treasurer shall pay all outstanding bills and any other expenses of the Chapter and turn all remaining money over to the Treasurer of the Native Plant Society of Texas. The Chapter Treasurer shall place a receipt for this money in his/her files and place a copy of the receipt in the Secretary’s minutes that shall with all other files be sent to the State Society’s office.