2013 Florida Watercolor Society

Annual Directory

OFFICERS
PRESIDENT 
Carol Frye
5173 Cambry Lane
Lakeland, FL  33805
863-688-7323 (H)
863-688-7323 (C)
cfrye4art@msn.com


RECORDING SECRETARY
Nina Allen Freeman
3220 Yorktown Drive
Tallahassee Fl 32312
850-556-8342 (C)
 ninafreemanfws@yahoo.com
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT 
Membership Chair
Marilyn Johansen
1900 S. Ocean Blvd. #9E
Lauderdale By The Sea, FL 33062
954-943-5492 (H)
954-646-8698 (M)
marilynjohansen@gmail.com

TREASURER
Pat Shaer
1951 Michelle Lane
Lakeland, FL 33813
863-646-8264 (H)
407-234-7942 (M)
shaerfws@yahoo.com


SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
Awards Chair
Libit Jones
3500 12th Avenue North
St Petersburg, FL 33713
727-667-4108 (H)
libit4fws@gmail.com

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Newsletter and Website
Donna Morrison
4407 W. Watrous Ave., Tampa 33629
813-286-0373 (H)
813-230-5676 (M)
bayou@tampabay.rr.com
THIRD VICE PRESIDENT
Kim Shields
4161 S. William Ave. 
Inverness, FL 34452-7550
352-637-4634
kimshields4fws@gmail.com
DIRECTOR TRADE SHOW
Sharon Davie
1506 Water Oak Way S.
Bradenton, FL 34209
941-792-9580 (H)
941-518-9622 (M)
FWSTradeShow@tampabay.rr.com (FWS)
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Kathy Durdin
1820 W. Richardson Place
Tampa, FL  33606
813-254-7667 (H)
813-220-5800 (M - Preferred)
kdurdin1@tampabay.rr.com
DIGITAL CHAIR
Terry Denson
6300 20th Street South St.
Petersburg, FL 33712
727-698-2285
terrydenson100@gmail.com

CONVENTION FACILITATOR
Ruby Schwarzschild
8067 Darlington Circle
Lakeland FL 33809
863-858-7890 (H)
757-287-7737 (C)
kterers@aol.com

 

 

 

2013 DIRECTORS


Mary Alice Harley - St. Petersburg

Mary Louise Ringers - Bradenton

 

 

 

FLORIDA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY
BY-LAWS 

 

ARTICLE I: NAME AND PURPOSE 

A. This document, updated in 2012, replaces all previous by- 

laws and amendments of the Florida Watercolor Society. 

B. NAME:  The name of the organization is The Florida 

Watercolor Society (FWS). 

C. PURPOSE:  The purpose of this society shall be to: 

a. Educate the public as to the importance of watercolor 

as a creative and permanent painting medium. 

b. Contribute to the cultural atmosphere and standards 

of the State of Florida. 

c. Support and educate members of FWS and other 

watercolor organizations in their worthwhile endeavors 

in watercolor painting. 

D. LOCATION:  FWS is a non-profit, tax-exempt, Florida 

Corporation with headquarters located at the address of the 

Treasurer. 

E. DEFINITION:  Watercolor painting is defined as painting in 

water-soluble media on all surfaces created for watermedia, 

framed and placed under suitable glazing material (Plexiglas). 

For example: paper, clay coated surfaces (Clayboard, 

Aquabord), synthetic surfaces, (Yupo, Tiger Rag), illustration 

board, paper mounted board and flat watercolor canvas would 

be allowed. 

  

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP 

A. CATEGORIES.  There shall be three (3) basic classes of 

membership:  Associate, Participating and Signature.  All 

Members (Associates, Participating and Signature) may vote in 

all elections.  In addition, there are membership sub- 

categories of Life, Charter, Non-Resident, Corporate and 

Honorary.  Any member who moves out of the state may 

retain membership subject to payment of membership 

categories. 

1.  Associate Membership 

a.  Only Florida residents are eligible to become 

 associate members.  Since many people do not 

spend the entire year in the state, residency 

requirements including a Florida mortgage or 

lease or a Florida drivers license.  This is offered 

as a guide only and will be subject to review by 

the Membership Chair and the Board of 

Directors. 

b. Associate Membership shall be extended to any 

individual meeting the residency requirements 

and paying the annual dues.  A person who does 

not fulfill the requirements for membership in 

the Society may become a “Non-Resident 

Associate Member”.  Under this category the 

NRA member will have all membership privileges 

as an Associate Member except that he/she may 

not enter the FWS juried exhibit, vote in the 

affairs of the society, or become an officer in 

FWS. 

c. Honorary Associate Membership is given as an 

honor only, without the usual monetary 

requirements.  No membership privileges are 

granted, nor is entry into the Annual Exhibition 

allowed.  Honorary Membership is granted only 

upon unanimous approval of the Board. 

d. Associate Members, comprising over half of the 

FWS total membership, represent a broad array 

of skills.  The Nominating Committee may, in the 

interest of the Society, select an Associate 

Member to run for any office except for the 

Presidency or any Vice President position.  If 

elected, that member would have all the rights 

and privileges of fellow Officers and Directors 

during the term of office only. 

 

2.  Participating Membership 

a.  In order to become a Participating Member, one 

must: 

i. Be a paid-up Associate Member, not in 

arrears. 

ii. Enter a watermedia eligible painting and 

 have such painting exhibited at one (1) 

FWS Annual Exhibition.  It is noted that an 

individual may enjoy Associate 

Membership, by payment of dues, until 

such time as he/she qualifies for 

Participating Membership. 

b.  Having once qualified for Participating 

Membership in accordance with subparagraph 

(1) and (2) above, only regular payment of dues 

is required to maintain status.  After an 

individual has qualified for Participating 

Membership he/she shall be so informed by a 

member of the Board. 

c. Participating Members are permitted to vote and 

are authorized to hold office with all powers and 

authority of the Society invested, except as 

noted below. 

d. In exceptional cases, a membership may be 

terminated for cause by the Board of Directors, a 

majority of members present and concurring. 

e. Reinstatement of a Participating Membership 

which has lapsed because of non-payment of 

dues may be effected by the payment of dues for 

the current year and those years in arrears. 

 

3.  Signature Membership 

a. In order to become a Signature Member one 

must: 

i. Be a paid-up Participating Member no 

annual payments in arrears.. 

ii. Enter watermedia eligible paintings and 

have such paintings exhibited in three (3) 

FWS Annual Exhibitions.  This includes 

qualifying for Participating Membership and 

acceptance and participation in two (2) 

additional Annual FWS Exhibitions.  Each 

accepted entry must be different. 

b. Having once qualified for Signature Membership 

in accordance with subparagraphs (1) and (2) 

above, paragraphs b, c, d and e under 

Participating Membership will apply. 

c. Signature Members are authorized to use “FWS” 

in their painting signatures.  No other 

    category is so authorized. 

4.  Life Membership 

a. Life Membership is granted to all past Presidents. 

Board Members, other than past Presidents, who 

have served five or more years, are eligible for Life 

Membership by approval of the full board.  Life 

Membership cannot be purchased.  All Life 

Memberships purchased prior to January 2004 

will maintain that status. 

 

5. Charter Membership 

a. Charter Members of the Society are those who 

have paid dues prior to January 1, 1973. Their 

names are in the permanent records of FWS. 

 

B. Dues 

1.  Annual dues shall be paid by each member except 

those in the Life Membership category. 

2. An annual dues notice will be sent to each member, 

such notice, stating that dues shall be paid between 

January 1st and March 31st of each year and that on 

April 1st, dues will become delinquent.  All dues paid 

at any time during the current year are for the current 

year only with one exception:  new members joining 

at the convention or within the remaining year after 

the convention will be members for the following 

year.  On April 1st of each year, all unpaid members 

shall be immediately dropped from the membership 

rolls, losing all status and privileges thereof.  A former 

member may regain his/her status by paying all back 

dues.  He/she will only be eligible for the current 

year’s exhibition if the current and former years’ dues 

are paid by March 31st. 

 

ARTICLE III: ORGANIZATIONAL AND BY-LAWS 

 

A. BY-LAWS 

1. The provisions of adopted by-laws and amendments 

thereto shall govern membership, organization and 

activities of the Florida Watercolor Society. 

2. Proposed amendments to the by-laws may be 

submitted by any interested member to the Director 

appointed as Parlimentarian by the President. .  This 

Committee will report to the Board at least annually 

on the status of the By-Laws and any proposed 

changes. 

3. All proposed amendments to by-laws shall be 

considered and voted upon by the board of Directors 

at the next Board Meeting called by the President.   

4. All votes at Board Meetings will be decided by a simple 

majority of those present.  To hold a meeting where 

votes can be taken, there must be a quorum of a 

simple majority of all board members.  Action of the 

Board is final. 

5. All bylaw changes must be published in the newsletter 

and voted upon by the membership to be ratified.  

This voting will be conducted by written ballot by mail 

or email or other electronic means.  A simple majority 

of those voting is required for a vote to pass. 

 

B. OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS 

1. Positions 

a. President 

b. Director of Operations 

c. First Vice-President (Membership Chairman) 

d. Second Vice-President (Awards and Nominating 

Chairperson) 

e. Third Vice-President 

f. Recording and Corresponding Secretary 

g. Treasurer 

h. Director of Communications  

i. Four (4) Directors, who shall be the four (4) 

most recent Past Presidents, with the most 

senior Director retiring each year.  The Board 

may propose to the membership the election of 

more than four (4) Directors if necessary to 

improve functioning of the Board and to achieve 

representation from all regions of the state.  

j. Standing Committee Chairpersons, when 

appointed by the President, with the approval of 

the Board, will serve as Board Members with full 

voting privileges for their term. Standing 

Committee Chairpersons may include, but not be 

limited to, the Convention Facilities Director, the 

Tradeshow Director and the Digital Entry 

Director.  

 

 

2. Election, Appointment and Terms of Office 

a. The following Officers will be chosen by a signed 

ballot submitted to the membership by mail or 

email or other electronic means – President, First 

Vice-President, Second Vice-President, 

Treasurer, Recording and Corresponding 

Secretary, Director of Communications and 

Director of Operations. 

b. All other Board of Directors members will be 

appointed by the President and approved by the 

elected members of the Board of Directors. 

c. Both elected and appointed Officers and 

Directors will be announced at the Annual General 

Meeting, and start a one (1) year term on the 

following January 1st.   

d. Officers and Directors appointed after the Annual 

General Meeting will be announced in the next 

newsletter after their appointment and will serve 

the remainder of the one (1) year term starting 

on January 1 after the Annual General Meeting. 

 

C. Duties 

1. President 

a. Shall be chief executive officer of the Society and 

shall preside at all meetings of the member and 

the Board of Directors. 

b. Shall appoint the membership of all standing 

 7 

committees except as provided herein. 

c. Shall be ex-officio (nonvoting) member of all 

committees. 

d. Shall appoint a nominating committee. 

e. Shall sign all written contracts and obligations of 

the Society, provided he/she is able to do so. In 

his/her absence, the First Vice-President, the 

Director of Operations or the Second Vice- 

President may sign in his/her place. 

f. Shall perform such other duties as may be 

appropriate or assigned by the Board of 

Directors. 

 

2. Director of Operations 

a. Shall appoint an auditor to perform an annual 

review of financial accounts as required by the 

Internal Revenue Service.    Copies of the audit 

and year-to-date financial statements shall be 

distributed to the Board at the September 

Meeting by the Treasurer and Director of 

Operations.      

b. Shall provide the Treasurer and Board of 

Directors with recommendations as to proper 

investments of the Society’s assets and shall 

have signature authority on all bank and 

investment accounts. 

c. Shall supervise the preparation of the Budget by 

the Treasurer in cooperation with the President 

and President-elect. 

d. Shall negotiate contracts and agreements with 

museums for exhibitions and with hotels for 

convention accommodations. 

e. Will create a slate of Officers in conjunction with 

the Board, and with input from the Nominating 

Committee. 

f. Will create a slate of Directors in conjunction 

with the Board, and with input from the 

Nominating Committee, to be to be presented to 

the President for consideration for appointment 

in the subsequent year. 

 

3. First Vice-President - (Membership Chairman) 

a. Shall perform all duties of the President when 

the President is not available. 

b. Shall serve as Membership Chair and be 

available to inform and assist new members as 

they enter the Society. 

c. Shall send out annual membership dues 

statements. 

d. Shall ensure that the Membership Directory and 

bylaws are kept current on the website. 

e. Shall perform such other duties as assigned by 

the President. 

 

4. Second Vice-President - (Awards and 

Nominating Chairperson) 

a. Shall perform all duties of the presiding officer in 

the absence of both the President and First Vice- 

President. 

b. Shall serve as Chair of both the Nominating 

Committee and Awards Committee. 

c. Prepares, records and received ballots. 

d. Ballots will be verified by the President. 

e. Shall perform such other duties as assigned by 

the President. 

5. Third Vice President 

a. Shall perform all duties of the presiding officer in the 

absence of the President, First Vice-President and 

Second Vice-President. 

b. Shall act as the assistant to the Convention 

Facilitator and the Digital Chair as needed. 

c. Shall perform such other duties as assigned by the 

President.  

6. Recording and Corresponding Secretary 

a. Shall be available to the President and shall keep 

and record all of the Society’s business.  Such 

records shall be available to all Officers and 

Board Members within thirty (30) days after any 

policy-making meeting is held. 

b. In the absence of the President, the First- Vice 

President and the Second Vice-President shall 

preside until a member of the Board of Directors 

is elected to perform all duties of the presiding 

officer. 

c. Shall keep the Roll of the Society as a historic 

record. 

d. Shall perform such other duties as assigned by 

the President 

e. Shall be responsible for receiving the registration 

fees of all convention activities. 

 

7. Treasurer 

a. Shall receive all monies of the Society. 

b. Shall pay, upon approval of the Board of 

Directors, all legitimate financial obligations of 

the Society. 

c. Shall keep accurate accounts, in normally 

accepted formats, of all financial transactions of 

the Society, and make such accounts available to 

the Board of Directors at all times.  Shall 

prepare, in cooperation with the President, the 

President-elect, and the Director of Operations, a 

budget of estimated income and expenses for 

the ensuing year.  This budget to be reviewed 

and approved by the Board at the mid-winter 

meeting.  Also shall provide to the President, 

First and Second Vice-President and other 

interested members of the Board, monthly 

statements of the Society’s Net Worth and Profit 

and Loss statements for the year-to-date. 

d. Shall make a complete financial report to the 

membership at each annual meeting. 

e. Within ten (10) days of the end of his/her term, 

or upon the receipt of the December bank 

statement, shall transfer all records of accounts 

to the new Treasurer.  Any delay beyond this 

shall be with the prior approval of the incoming 

President. 

8. Director of Communications 

a. Shall prepare newsletters and arrange for their 

printing and mailing. 

b. Shall function as the website liaison and coordinator. 

9. Tradeshow Director– Shall be responsible for all 

Trade Show activities. 

10. Convention Facilities Director – Shall be 

responsible for convention operations. 

11. Digital Entry Director – Shall be responsible 

for entries to the annual and online exhibitions. 

 

D. BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

1. Composition.   The above listed elected Officers, 

together with the four (4) most recent Presidents 

(who serve as Directors for four (4) years) and the 

appointed Directors, shall constitute a Board of 

Directors with voting privileges. The duties of the 

Directors who are Past Presidents will be assigned by 

the President in January, including but not restricted 

to advising the President and the Director of 

Operations, being responsible for storage and 

archives, Parliamentarian and By Laws Chairperson, 

and running the FWS booth at the Trade Show. The 

outgoing President will be the advisor to the current 

President and the Director of Operations. 

2. Authority, Duties and Responsibilities.  The Board 

of Directors is granted general authority, as a policy- 

making body, to take all legitimate actions appropriate 

to the proper functioning of the Society and the 

advancement of its interests. 

 

a. The Board shall meet in person for the conduct 

of business not less than twice  per year, 

preferably at the following times: 

i. At the beginning of each year. 

ii. At the annual meeting for the organization 

of the Board, appointment of committees, 

etc. 

b. Society business shall be conducted at official 

Board Meetings, with full attendance by 

Directors. The President will set meeting dates. 

Directors will submit requests for placement of 

items on the meeting agenda at least 30 days in 

advance. The President will furnish a copy of the 

final meeting agenda to each Director at least 

two (2) weeks before the meeting date. 

c. Telephone, email and mail voting can be used 

only in emergencies.  This type of vote will be 

conducted by the Corresponding Secretary, with 

responses to him/her. The full results of such 

votes will then be reported to the President and 

each Board Member. 

 

3. Interim Directors.  In the event a member of the 

Board is unable to complete his/her term, the 

President, with the approval of the Board, may 

appoint a replacement to serve until the next annual 

election.  If the vacancy is due to a Past President 

being unable to serve his/her four (4) years on the 

Board, the President, with the approval of the Board, 

shall appoint a replacement to serve until the next 

annual election.   For the remaining years of the four 

(4) year term, a replacement shall be elected 

annually. 

E. COMMITTEES 

1. Standing Committee.  Standing committees may be 

appointed by the President.  

2. Ad Hoc Committees.  Ad Hoc Committees may be 

appointed by the President or the presiding officer. 

3. Subcommittees.  Committee Chair’s may appoint 

such subcommittees as they deem appropriate. 


ARTICLE IV: ACTIVITIES 

A. MEETINGS 

1. Annual Meeting.  There shall be an annual meeting 

of the membership to receive reports of officers and 

standing committee chairs and conduct such other 

business as is brought before it. 

a. This meeting shall be held at the time and place 

of the Annual Exhibition and Convention of the 

FWS. 

b. General preparations and an agenda for this 

meeting shall be the responsibility of the Board 

of Directors. 

c. Provisions shall be made by the Board of 

Directors for members to propose, nominate and 

vote by mail or email or other electronic means 

in order that members unable to attend 

meetings shall have an opportunity to participate 

in important decisions. 

2. Board Meetings.  Boards of Director Meetings are 

provided for elsewhere herein. 

B.   EXHIBITIONS 

1.  Annual Exhibition of FWS.  As the primary purpose 

of the Society, an annual exhibition shall be planned 

and conducted by the Exhibition Committee in 

accordance with the following general rules: 

a. The objective shall be to produce the best annual 

watercolor exhibition in the state. 

b. The Annual Exhibition shall be open only to 

members in good standing. 

c. A new member’s application must be received by 

March 31 to be eligible for the Annual Exhibition. 

d. The predetermined, non-refundable entrance fee 

shall be paid by all members entering the Annual 

Exhibition. 

e. Because of the demands of the President’s job 

and the inevitable loss of painting time, the 

President of the Society may, if he/she so 

desires, exhibit one work at the Annual 

Exhibition, and be included in the Catalog, 

without going through the jurying process.  The 

displayed work will be labeled as the work of the 

President and such label will also state that the 

work did not go through the juried competition.  

This procedure is entirely optional to the 

President. 

2.  Juror of Selection and Awards 

a.  The juror of selection shall be one highly 

competent in the medium and a nationally 

recognized painter.  The juror should be 

preferably a signature member of a national 

watercolor association, and should not be a 

member of the FWS. 

b. No individual shall serve as juror of the Annual 

Exhibition any two (2) years in succession. 

3. Compliance Committee 

a. The Compliance Committee shall consist of the 

President and two (2) Signature Members, 

chosen by the President.  This committee solves 

all compliance problems for the Exhibition and 

insures that the paintings chosen by the Juror 

are in compliance with the Prospectus which is 

the governing rules of the Exhibition.

C. Newsletter. For the purpose of keeping the membership 

informed and for stimulation interest, a newsletter shall be 

published whenever practicable. 

 


ARTICLE V: MISCELLANEOUS RULES AND PROCEDURES 

 

A. Auditor.  A Certified Public Accountant, appointed by the 

President or Director of Operations shall provide an auditor’s 

review to the Board at the time of transfer of financial records 

to an incoming Treasurer. 

B. Treasurer Bond.  The Treasurer shall not be required to 

furnish bond. 

C. Rules of Order.  “Roberts Rules of Order, Revised”, shall 

apply to all appropriate cases. 

D. Signatory Authority.  The President, Treasurer and Director 

of Operations will have signing authority on the organization’s 

bank account.   

E. Election of Officers and Directors.  

1. The following Officers shall be elected by the 

Membership -- President, First Vice-President, Second 

Vice-President, Treasurer, Recording and 

Corresponding Secretary, Newsletter Editor.. 

2. The Nominating Committee, chaired by the Second 

Vice-President, shall provide nominations for elected 

and appointed Directors and Officers.  Any 

Participating or Signature Member of the FWS may 

also submit recommendations to the committee.  The 

committee must nominate at least one (1) and not 

more than three (3) individuals for each office.  

Nominations for office other than those made by the 

Nominating Committee should be made by mail. 

3. Elected Officers and Directors shall be elected by a 

signed ballot submitted to the membership by mail or 

email or other electronic means , sent by the Second 

Vice-President to the membership.  The Nominations

Chairperson will provide a written report to the President and the 

results will be published in the next newsletter. 

4. All Officers are elected annually for the term of one 

(1) calendar year.  There is no limit to the number of 

terms that can be held. 

D.  RULES OF COMPENSATION. 

1. Those on FWS official business may receive 

reimbursement for their documented travel expenses 

in amounts as approved by the Board. 

2. Officers, Board Members and others, who have been 

granted spending privileges by the Society, may 

spend up to one-hundred dollars ($100.00) per 

transaction without prior approval.  In no case, 

however, can a person’s quarterly reimbursable 

expense exceed $300.00 without prior approval of the 

President.  Expense vouchers will be submitted to the 

Treasurer monthly and must include receipts for all 

expenses.  On occasion, the President may grant prior 

approval to exceed the stipulated limits if the situation 

so warrants. 

 

 
 
 
 FWS Bylaws Revised 2012