The Newcomers Club of Bellingham Area is a non-profit organization dedicated to ease the transition of new residents by providing a forum for finding new friends and learning about the community.

1. To provide a monthly social gathering for members, guests and visitors to the Bellingham area that encourages getting acquainted, making connections with people of like interests, and exchanging information about the area.
2. To seek interest profiles of members and encourage the assimilation of new ideas and leadership and the formation of interest groups led by volunteer members.
3. To provide regular communication to members through a monthly newsletter that serves as a calendar of activities and opportunities.
4. To provide community information in a non-commercial way that assists members in becoming integrated into the greater Bellingham area.

1. There shall be two classes of membership in the organization. Each class of membership shall have full privilege and voting rights. The classes are:
1. Individual: one member, one vote,
2. Individual and spouse/partner: two members, two votes.
2. Membership shall be granted to any person who attends a regular luncheon membership meeting and/or requests membership by payment of dues.
3. All memberships are for a duration of one (1) year beginning January 1 and ending December 31.
4. The amount of annual dues and method of payment shall be determined by Board of Directors. Dues may be prorated for members joining later in year.
5. Members shall not be personally liable for any debts, liabilities, or obligations of the organization. Creditors shall look only to the assets of the organization for payment.

1. The Executive Board of Directors shall consist of no less than eight (8) and no more than sixteen (16) members elected by the membership. The board of directors shall consist of the elected officers and four (4) elected directors who hold office for a term of one (1) year beginning in January. Each of the positions may be shared by two (2) persons acting as co-officers sharing a single vote.
2. The Board of Directors is the governing body of Newcomers and has the authority to determine the direction of the organization. Responsibilities include:

1. Compliance with the by-laws and image of the organization,
2. Policy determinations;
3. Approval of the budget;
4. Attendance at the board and regular membership meetings,
5. Overseeing a smooth transition of leadership following election.

The officers of the organization shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Each officer shall hold office for a term of one (1) year or until a successor is duly elected.

The President shall represent Newcomers Club with a positive attitude, serving as a facilitator and delegator of duties in carrying out the business of the organization. Specific duties shall include:

1. Conduct a regularly scheduled board of directors meeting with a planned agenda, hear reports, and lead discussion toward a consensus in planning the calendar of activities.
2. Appoints a Nominating Committee in ample time to meet the election time table, including at least one current officer or chairperson.
3. Orients each new officer to his/her duties.
4. Maintain a Newcomers Club notebook or portable file with monthly Treasurer reports, Secretary minutes, by-laws, membership roster and newsletter issues, bringing the notebook/files to meetings.
5. Review the contents of the newsletter draft prior to publishing, ensuring a consistency with the goals of the Newcomers Club.
6. Conduct a brief business meeting at the monthly luncheon that includes: welcome members, introduces guests and/or visitors, calls on group coordinators as appropriate, calls for new business, calls attention to Community Resource Table and closes meeting.

The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President in case of inability of the President to act for any reason. Is responsible for securing the location for monthly group luncheon meeting, working with the restaurant management and membership wishes to find an agreeable arrangement.:

1. Review and recommend to the board the luncheon site, table arrangements, menu choices, price with gratuity, deadline for reservations and space for community resource table, and/or banner.
2. Submit information to newsletter for agreed upon arrangements.
3. Call restaurant with total reservations received through Telephone Committee.

1. Collect and deposit all donations/dues in the established Newcomers account, recording source, amount and date, prorating new members at one-twelfth of the approved annual dues for each remaining month.
2. Reimburse officers for approved expenses, paying from receipts or invoices.
3. Pay in a timely fashion any other approved club expenses.
4. Submit a written, monthly financial statement to President.
5. Submit balance in account to newsletter editor each month.

1. Record minutes of board of directors and regular monthly meetings where business is conducted., submitting in a timely manner a written record to President .
2. Record and submit for distribution the Nominating Committee’s slate of nominees for election.
3. Handle all correspondence for the organization.

Section 1. Categories:

The elected President of the board shall assign by mutual agreement directors to the following positions for the purpose of carrying out the Newcomers mission. Function may be combined based on available leadership. Duties of these positions shall be outlined in an Operations Procedural Manual. It shall be the responsibility of the Board of Directors to create this manual and to modify as needed. The elected President of the board shall appoint individuals to the following positions for the purpose of carrying out the Newcomers mission. Functions may be combined based on available leadership. Leaders are appointed for a one (1) year term or until a successor is duly appointed.

1. Hospitality/Community Affairs
2. Membership
3. Coordinator of Interest Groups
4. Publicity/Communication

The following procedure shall be used in the Nomination Process. The Board of Directors shall appoint the Nominating Committee with Board of Directors approval. The number of committee members shall exceed the number of vacancies by at least one (1).

The nominating committee shall present to the Board of Directors their proposed slate of officers. The proposed slate of nominees shall be published in the monthly newsletter prior to the regular meeting at which the election is held. Ballots shall be distributed to all current and present members. A three member Tally task force appointed by the president shall count the votes.

The nominees for the positions who receive the greatest plurality of votes shall be elected. If there is a tie vote between nominees and neither chooses to withdraw, then the Board of Directors shall choose the winner.