Forum Club of the Palm Beaches By-Laws

ARTICLE I – NAME

This organization shall be known as the FORUM CLUB OF THE PALM BEACHES, INC.

ARTICLE II – OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this club shall be to provide the following benefits for its members and the community in the context of a not for profit organization of the type described in Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3):

  • To afford to its members and the community the opportunity to meet to hear speakers of interest and to discuss public affairs, business, civic and political matters at the local, state, national and international levels in a non-partisan setting.
  • To encourage good fellowship and civic pride in its members and the community as a whole.
  • To provide the opportunity for its members to meet in friendly and convivial surroundings.

ARTICLE III – PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES

The following shall be prohibited activities in which the club may not engage:

  • Lobbying or otherwise attempting to influence legislation or participate or intervene in any political campaign. The club may, however, provide a forum for the expression of political views and presentation of candidates in a non-partisan atmosphere.
  • Any other activities that are not permitted to be carried on by a corporation exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or the corresponding provisions of any future laws or rules applicable to the conduct of the affairs of the club.
  • No benefit shall inure to any member of the club in violation of applicable federal or state laws.

ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP

There shall be two types of membership in the club, active and honorary.

  • Active members shall be those persons admitted to membership who have been found to be of good character and standing within the community. Active members shall be comprised of a cross-section of persons in the community with a commitment to promoting the objectives of the club. Active members shall pay an initial membership fee and annual dues and shall be entitled to all of the privileges of the club. No applicant or member shall be subject to discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age or any other basis which is prohibited by local, state or federal law.
  • Honorary members shall be those persons selected by the Board of Directors of the club for honorary membership based on their distinguished public service or contributions to the club. Honorary members shall hold membership for the period designated by the Board of Directors upon their selection. They shall be entitled to all privileges of the club except being an officer or director.

ARTICLE V – ADMISSION TO MEMBERSHIP

Prospective members shall be considered for membership after submitting an application to the club endorsed by at least two members in good standing, and must be of good character and standing within the community. The application shall contain such biographical information as the Board of Directors shall deem appropriate. If approved for membership by a majority vote of the Board of Directors, the applicant shall pay the initial membership fee and the annual dues for the first year, whereupon the applicant shall become an active member of the club. Failure to make payment within a reasonable period of time shall terminate the membership of the applicant. Resignations from the club shall be made in writing and shall not entitle the member to a refund of any portion of dues paid.

ARTICLE VI – DISCIPLINE

Failure of any active member to pay dues or other charges within a reasonable period of time after demand is made as set by the Board of Directors shall result in that member’s expulsion. The Board of Directors is required to meet to consider the removal of any member who is convicted of, or enters a plea of either guilty or no contest, to a felony. Upon a majority vote, such member will be removed from the organization without the return of any dues charged or payments made. A member may also be expelled for any of the following reasons: (a) conduct causing undue harm or undue embarrassment to the club, (b) failure to maintain good character and standing within the community, or (c) conduct that demonstrates a lack of civility. For the purposes of *clause (c)* of the immediately foregoing sentence, (x) conduct that demonstrates a lack of civility may include, without limitation, disrespectful words or actions directed toward club staff, board members, volunteers, guests, or speakers but (y) no member shall be deemed to have engaged in conduct that demonstrates a lack of civility solely by expressing an unpopular opinion. Upon a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors, such member will be removed from the organization without the return of any dues charges or payments made.

ARTICLE VII – OFFICERS

The officers of the club shall consist of a President, President-Elect, Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer. Each officer shall be a member in good standing and all officers shall be members of the Board of Directors. Officers shall assume office on July 1 of each year and shall serve for a period of one year or until their successor is elected.

The duties of the officers shall be as follows:

  • The President shall preside over all meetings of the club and the Board of Directors, appoint all committee chairs and members, be an ex officio member of all committees and shall perform all duties that usually pertain to the office of the president.
  • In the absence of the President, the President-Elect shall preside over all meetings of the club and the Board of Directors and otherwise perform all duties as usually pertain to the office of president-elect.
  • The Vice President shall perform all duties as usually pertain to the office of vice president and such other duties as the Board of Directors or the President may from time to time assign.
  • The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep the records of the meetings of the club, Board of Directors, and committees and shall perform all duties as usually pertain to the office of the secretary. The Secretary/Treasurer shall also serve as Board Liaison to the staff C.P.A., accountant or financial consultant, and shall keep the Board of Directors informed of the financial status of the club. The Executive Committee shall, with the approval of the Board of Directors, select the staff C.P.A, accountant or financial consultant, establish the depositories for club funds and designate those persons authorized to sign checks on behalf of the club.

ARTICLE VIII – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors shall consist of the officers and up to eighteen elected Directors, each of whom shall be an active member in good standing. All Directors shall assume office on July 1 of the year in which they are elected and shall serve for a period of three (3) years. One third of the Directors shall be elected each year and no Director shall serve more than three (3) consecutive years unless the years in excess of three (3) were held by virtue of being an officer. Once an officer has served as President, he or she will remain on the board for a period of one (1) year. Previous Directors may be re-elected to the Board after a period of one (1) year.

The Board of Directors shall determine the policies and activities of the club, approve new members, elect the officers and directors, supervise the financial affairs of the club and perform such other duties as are usual to their office.

ARTICLE IX – COMMITTEES

The standing committees of the club shall be Membership, Nominating, Honors, Budget and Compensation and such others as from time to time may be established by the Board of Directors. Each committee shall be composed of at least three (3) members who shall serve for a period of one (1) year beginning July 1 of each year. Special committees may be appointed by the President from time to time to perform such duties as may be assigned by the President and Board of Directors. The duties of the standing committees shall be as follows:

  • The Membership Committee shall be responsible for seeking out qualified new members for the club.
  • The Nominating Committee shall be responsible for making recommendations for officers and directors to the Board of Directors and for such other duties as may be assigned to it by the President or Board of Directors.

C. The Honors Committee shall be responsible for making recommendations to the Board of Directors for persons to be placed on the club’s Roll of Honor and for such other duties as may be assigned to it by the President or Board of Directors. The Honors Committee may recommend one person per year for inclusion on the Roll of Honor although the Board of Directors shall be under no obligation to select one person per year. Persons nominated for the Roll of Honor shall have a distinguished career in public service and shall not be contemplating holding public office in the future.

D. The Budget and Compensation Committee shall be responsible for preparing the annual budget for approval by the Board of Directors and for recommending to the Board of Directors the compensation and benefits to be provided to staff members. The Treasurer shall be a member of the Budget and Compensation Committee.

ARTICLE X – STAFF

The Board of Directors is authorized and empowered to engage the services of such staff members as it shall from time to time deem necessary or beneficial to promote the activities of the club under such terms, conditions and compensation as may be established by the Board.

ARTICLE XI – MEETINGS

The club shall hold as many meetings throughout the year as it deems necessary or beneficial to allow it to carry out the purposes and intent of the club. The annual meeting shall be the first meeting held after July 1 in each year unless otherwise designated by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE XII – NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors shall receive the nominations for officers and directors from the Nominating Committee at a meeting to be held prior to July 1 of each year. Additional nominations may be made at that meeting and a vote shall be taken with those officers and directors receiving the most number of votes deemed elected.

In the case of a vacancy during the year in the office of the President, the
President-Elect shall succeed to President. In the case of a vacancy in the office of the President-Elect, the Vice President shall succeed to President-Elect. In the case of a vacancy in any other office or on the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors shall fill the vacancy.

ARTICLE XIII – INITIAL MEMBERSHIP FEES AND DUES

The initial membership fee and the annual dues shall be as established by the Board of Directors from time to time.

ARTICLE XIV – AMENDMENT

These By-Laws may be amended from time to time by the Board of Directors by a two-thirds vote of those present at the meeting at which amendments are considered held after two weeks’ written notice of the proposed amendments. The two weeks’ written notice may be waived by a two-thirds vote of those present at the meeting at which any amendments are considered.

Last Revised December 2019

What began as a 200-member organization that met at Christopher’s Restaurant and the old Helen Wilkes Hotel, both in West Palm Beach, the Forum Club is now capped at 800 members with a waiting list. As a nonprofit organization, the Forum Club’s purpose is to inform and educate the community’s social, business and political interest and to promote a more active participation by all citizens in the democratic process.

Stimulate thought. Promote dialogue.

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