PENINSULA CAGED BIRD SOCIETY
PCBS CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS -Amended as of July 23, 2022
ARTICLE I – NAME AND TAX STATUS
The name shall be Peninsula Caged Bird Society (PCBS), founded by Dick Ivy and Bernie Van Arsdale of York
County in July, 1983.
The PCBS is an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. The PCBS obtained the
not-for-profit status on September 17, 2015. As an IRS 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, the PCBS must
use all of its revenues, less expenses, for the purpose outlined in ARTICLE II.
ARTICLE II – PURPOSE
The purpose of the Society is to:
Promote interest and appreciation of the growth, culture, and the enjoyment of birds;
Promote aviculture education;
Help bird owners in bird care;
Promote friendship between bird lovers;
Promote aviculture in rare birds;
Cooperate with area bird clubs in matters of mutual importance; and
Participate in national and international bird programs.
ARTICLE III – EXCLUSION
None of the assets of PCBS shall be diverted to any private individual except for services required as
authorized. PCBS will not participate in any activities resulting in income or gain to any member. Permitted
sales, auctions, raffles, and fundraising activities of the PCBS are described in Article XII.
ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be open to anyone interested in aviculture education and the growth, culture, and enjoyment
of birds. Ownership of birds is not a requirement for membership. There shall be one type of membership.
Members may vote and may hold office.
ARTICLE V – DUES
There shall be no dues for membership at this time. The Board of Directors may approve reinstatement of
membership dues if deemed necessary for the financial integrity of the PCBS.
ARTICLE VI – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The administration, management, and general conduct of the PCBS shall be by eleven (11) positions. The
Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson, the Director of Raffle Table, the Director of Public Education Programs, the
Treasurer, the Secretary, the Membership Chair, the Perch Editor and three (3) Board Members without titles.
Also recognized is an Emerita Member, Lily Ivy. Each Director is entitled to one vote. Committees and
functions required for Society activity shall be headed by appointees or volunteers approved by the majority of
the Board of Directors. Attendance is required at all Board meetings. More than two (2) unexcused absences in
a twelve-month period may result in replacement.
ARTICLE VII – DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Chairperson, or any Director in his/her absence, shall preside at meetings. The address of the Society shall
be the address of the Chairperson, or any appointee of the Board of Directors, or a Society post office box. A
newsletter with meeting dates shall be published electronically monthly. The electronic method in which the
newsletters are published is at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
The Chairperson and Treasurer shall be the only Board Members with the right to open and close financial
accounts at Financial Institution(s). Both of them should be present to do this, but in an emergency situation,
either one is allowed. The Chairperson and the Treasurer are the only persons allowed to make withdraws and
sign checks. A letter stating the duties of the Chairperson and Treasurer in this regard shall be signed by all
members of the Board of Directors. This letter must be kept updated with each member change to the Board of
Directors. This letter must be kept current and a copy must be maintained on file with the Financial
Institution(s) used by the PCBS.
The Treasury report shall be reported monthly. Treasury records shall be audited every two (2) years or at the
change of the person serving as Treasurer.
ARTICLE VIII – EXPENDITURES BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND BY PCBS MEMBERS
The Chairperson is allowed to expend up to $200.00 of PCBS funds at any one time on items or business of
immediate concern to the PCBS. The Chairperson shall report the dollar amount of each such expenditure and
provide a description of the item or service purchased to the Board of Directors at the board meeting following
the expenditure. Expenditures requiring more than $200.00 by the Chairperson shall be voted upon by the
Board of Directors as outlined in ARTICLE X.
No PCBS member, including members who are on the Board of Directors, except the Chairperson as allowed in
the paragraph immediately above, shall obligate Club expenditures of any amount without passage by vote by
the Board of Directors as outlined in ARTICLE X.
The Board of Directors shall be allowed to approve contracts by vote by the Board of Directors as outlined in
ARTICLE X.
ARTICLE IX – COMMITTEES, FUNCTIONS AND INTEREST GROUPS
Committees and functions shall be approved as required by the Board of Directors from the following list, with
others created as needed. Committees must abide by PCBS By-Laws.
Hospitality Committee – refreshments, picnics, parties;
Audit Committee – treasury audit, to serve as needed;
Special Event Committee – shows, fairs, speakers, etc.
ARTICLE X – MEETINGS
Board meetings shall be held at 1:00 PM and the general membership meetings shall be held at 2:30 PM on the
third Sunday of each month at a location to be announced. Passage of business shall be by simple majority of
those members present when the Board of Directors have deemed it necessary that the general membership
should vote on an article of PCBS business. Any business for which the Board of Directors has authority shall
be passed by simple majority of the Board of Directors or by six (6) votes of the eleven (11) Directors. Society
activities and meetings shall be run in an orderly fashion. Any person present, member or non-member, invited
or uninvited, who demonstrates disruptive behavior, will be asked to leave the premises by direction of two (2)
or a majority of the Directors present at the meeting or activity.
A registered letter signed by the Secretary and countersigned by the Chairperson or one filling that office
temporarily, will be sent to any dismissed member explaining the circumstances forcing the expulsion, provided
a majority vote of the Board of Directors is achieved.
ARTICLE XI – ELECTIONS
No PCBS member antagonistic to a bird club in Virginia may be presented as a nominee for office or
appointment on a committee of the PCBS. The current Board of Directors must review all nominations one (1)
month prior to elections. Only persons who have been members for at least six (6) months shall be eligible to
chair any activity or function of the PCBS. Any vacancy of an office or on a committee shall be filled by the
Board of Directors for the remainder of the term.
General elections will be in October to elect the Treasurer, the Secretary, the Director of Education, the
Membership Chair, the Director of Raffle Table, the Perch Editor, and three other Directors. At the November
Board of Directors Meeting, the elected Directors will elect the Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson as is
necessary for the smooth functioning of the Society. Those elected or appointed to a position will begin to serve
on the following month’s board meeting.
ARTICLE XII – SALES, AUCTIONS, RAFFLES, AND FUNDRAISING
Sales, auctions, and raffles for the financial benefit of the Society will be allowed if they are consistent with
ARTICLE II and after having received approval by vote by the Board of Directors per ARTICLE X. One
hundred percent (100%) of any sales, auctions, or raffles proceeds minus the cost of the items shall go to the
Society.
Other fundraising activities by PCBS members, including members who are on the Board of Directors, will be
allowed at PCBS events if they have received prior approval by vote of the Board of Directors per ARTICLE X.
Only fundraising activities for bird related programs covered in ARTICLE II will be allowed. For example,
bird related programs may include but not be limited to individuals or organizations who are involved in avian
conservation, research, education, or veterinary medicine. One hundred percent (100%) of any fundraising
proceeds minus approved costs, if any, shall go to the individuals or organizations involved in the bird related
programs for which the fundraising activities had been authorized by prior vote by the Board of Directors.
Fundraising activities of any kind for personal, non-avian related causes not covered in ARTICLE II, by PCBS
members, including members who are on the Board of Directors, are not allowed at PCBS events.
ARTICLE XIII – DISSOLUTION
If the society is dissolved, the Board of Directors shall donate any assets to any worthy avian organizations that
Peninsula Caged Bird Society is a member of, or other worthwhile avian causes.
HISTORY OF THE BY-LAWS:
By-Laws approved May 19, 1985. By-Laws amended: Article XI on February 16, 1986; Articles I, VI, and XI
on May 17, 1987; Articles V and VI on August 19, 1990; Article XII on November 17, 1991; Articles II, V, VI,
IX, and X on February 21, 1993; Articles IX and X on December 10, 2003; Articles V and VI on July 18, 2004;
Articles III, IV, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, and XII on August 22, 2004; Articles II, III, V, VI, VIII, IX, X and XII on
April 18, 2010; Articles IV, V, VII, X and XII on January 21, 2018. Articles I, II, IV, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI,
XII, XIII on August 18, 2019, and II, IV, VI, VII, X, XI, XIII on July 23, 2022.
PCBS CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS - amended as of July 23, 2022.