ABOUT FOSPL

MISSION

Friends of the Salinas Public Library (FOSPL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public-benefit corporation of volunteers which provides financial contributions to the City of Salinas Library system.  FOSPL funds programs and purchases not within the Library budget.  FOSPL also works to create public awareness of and community support for the Library system and its literacy programs.

HISTORY

FOSPL was founded in 1978.  The organization began its fund-raising Annual Book Sales in 1996 on the lawn of the El Gabilan Library.  Books were divided into ‘fiction’ and ‘nonfiction’ and left in boxes on the ground.  That first sale raised about $300.  The Annual Sale has grown enormously and moved to the Salinas Recreation Center.  Over 20,000 books in 36 categories are sold in the 2-day sale, which usually raises over $10,000.

In Fall 2000, FOSPL nearly disbanded; a number of key officers and active members had either died or moved out of the area.  Dave Nordstrand, a member and columnist for The Californian, wrote a feature article on the impending demise and called for new members.  FOSPL was revived and began its current phase of activity.

FOSPL was a leading supporter in the fight to defeat Measure O, a November 2002 ballot measure that would have repealed the City’s utility users tax, thus cutting the Library’s budget by a third.  The organization sponsored a local seminar on “Nonprofits and Elections” which was attended by many local nonprofit groups.  After the session, FOSPL voted for the 501(h) election, which will allow it to lobby on behalf of the Library without losing its nonprofit status.

FOSPL also helped lead Measure V, a half-cent sales tax, to passage in November 2005. A citizens' oversight committee, the Measure V Oversight Committee, is actively making sure that the funds collected are spent on libraries and other vital services for Salinas.

OFFICERS

BYLAWS
The Friends of the Salinas Public Library
Amended July 21, 2007

Article 1
Name and Object

Section 1.   This organization shall be known as the Friends of the Salinas Public Library, Salinas, California.

Section 2.   The objectives of this organization shall be to:

a.  support the operations of the Salinas Public Library System of the City of Salinas in providing library related services to the community.
b.  raise funds and accept gifts on behalf and for the use of the Salinas Library.
c.  assist the Salinas Public Library in obtaining grants and other related services.

Section 3.   This organization shall support and participate in advocacy activities as benefits the Salinas Public Library wherever library issues arise.

Section 3.   This organization shall support and participate in advocacy activities as benefits the Salinas Public Library wherever library issues arise.

Article II
Nonprofit Status

Section 1.   This organization is not organized for profit.

Article III
Membership and Dues

Section 1.   Any person who subscribes to the objectives and purposes of the organization, as stated in Article I, shall be eligible for membership.

Section 2.   The Library director, or a designated representative, shall be deemed to be an ex-officio member with no voting privileges. If the library member is a paying member, they are entitled to one vote.

Section 3.   The membership year shall be one year from payment of dues.

Section 4.   Membership dues shall be agreed upon by the general membership, changes to be made as deemed necessary.

Section 5.   Each member is entitled to one vote.

Article IV
Officers and their Duties

Section 1.   The officers shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

Section 2.   The election shall take place at the January meeting. Elections for vacancies may be held as required. No one shall be nominated without his or her consent.

Section 3.   The terms of office shall be for two years or until successors are elected. The terms of office shall begin February 1.

Section 4.   The President, or an alternate designated by the President, shall preside at all meetings and perform all duties incident to the office. The President shall appoint standing committees deemed necessary, subject to approval of the membership.

Section 5.   The Vice President, or an alternate designated by the President, shall perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President, and shall be the President-elect.

Section 6.   The Secretary, or an alternate designated by the President, shall keep minutes of the meetings, shall be prepared to refer to the minutes of the previous meeting, shall send out mailings, and shall keep the membership list current.

Section 7.   The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all Monies and disburse all funds of the organization. The funds shall be kept in a bank approved by the membership. The Treasurer shall keep an itemized account of all the receipts and expenditures. The Treasurer shall submit a statement at the general meetings. The Treasurer shall collect all membership dues. Each authorized purchase for the Library shall be identified to allow periodic review of the status of purchases.

Article V
General Meetings

Section 1.   Meetings of members shall be held bimonthly and as designated from time to time by the President.

Section 2.   Notice of all meetings shall be given in writing at least five days in advance of the meeting.

Section 3.   A quorum shall consist of five members with at least one member being an officer. The members present at a duly called and held meeting at which a quorum is initially called may continue to do business not withstanding the loss of a quorum at the meeting due to withdrawal from the meeting.

Article VI
Executive Committee

Section 1.   The Executive Committee shall perform the duties of the general membership in the interim between the general membership meetings.

Section 2.    The Executive Committee shall consist of seven (7) members: the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and three (3) members appointed by the President and subject to approval by the general members present.

Section 3.   Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the President or upon the request of two members of the Executive Committee.

Section 4.   A quorum shall consist of four members.

Section 5.   Actions may be taken by the Executive Committee via meetings by email or written consent of the Quorum. Such written consent of the proceedings of the committee shall be filed with the minutes of the general meeting.

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Article VII
Expenditures and Indebtedness

Section 1.   No indebtedness shall be incurred by any member, or officer except as authorized by the membership.

Section 2.   In the event of an emergency, the President shall be empowered to spend a sum not to exceed $100 which sum may be changed by a vote of the general membership.

Section 3.   The signature of the President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be on record at the bank where the organization has an account. Two signatures shall be required on all checks for expenditures over $500.

Article VIII
Amendments

Section 1.   The membership must be notified that a reading of proposed amendments or changes to these bylaws will occur at the next meeting.

Section 2.   The proposed amendments are to be read at the next immediate meeting.

Section 3.   Any changes of amendments are to be voted upon at the following meeting and must be adopted by 60% vote of the general members present and shall immediately become part of the bylaws.

Article IX
Dissolution

Section 1.   In the event of dissolution of the organization, all assets will be transferred to the Salinas Public Library.

FUNDED  PROGRAMS

Since 1998, FOSPL has funded over $54,000 in Library requests, with approximately $30,000 of that within the past three fiscal years:

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2001

2000

1999

1998

NEWS

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