Policies

Established in 1976

Joining Bromeliad Lovers in the Space City…

BSH/BY-LAWS

BY-LAWS OF BROMELIAD SOCIETY/HOUSTON, INC.
BY-LAW I

(NAME)

The name of this organization shall be:

Bromeliad Society/Houston, Inc., hereinafter sometimes called the Society.

BY-LAW II

(OBJECTIVES)

This organization shall be a non-profit educational, scientific, literary and charitable association and its objectives shall be:

  1. to extend recognition of Bromeliads as tropical plants that may be grown and propagated in environments outside their natural habitat.
  2. to increase the knowledge of Bromeliads through interchange and dissemination of information.
  3. to provide forums and media through which experiences in propagation, care, feeding and other treatment of Bromeliads may be reported, discussed and published for the common good.
  4. to encourage study and research of Bromeliads.
  5. to utilize such funds as may become available for the purpose of research, for purchase of educational aids for use in institutions, private or governmental, and/or for the purchase of scientific equipment for use in institutions of higher learning.
BY-LAW III

(MEMBERSHIP)

SECTION 1. 

Membership in this Society shall be of two categories: Member and Commercial Member. Admission to either category shall require the approval of an application duly made, and in accordance with a procedure which shall be established by the Board of Directors of the Society.

SECTION 2. A Member of this Society shall be an individual who is concerned with education, research, study, charitable activities and training related to the methods, tools and equipment used in the care and propagation of Bromeliads.

SECTION 3. Commercial Memberships will be issued to those individuals who buy, grow, or collect Bromeliads in quantity for resale, or who are closely associated with a commercial outlet for Bromeliads. Commercial status will be determined by the Board.

SECTION 4. All members shall have equal voting power in elections, in determining the adoption or rejection of amendments to the BY-LAWS and in other procedures conducted by vote of Members.

For cause, duly set forth in writing signed by ten Members and forwarded to the Secretary, a Member of any category may be expelled from membership in the Society by an affirmative vote by letter ballot of not fewer than three quarters of the voting membership of the Board of Directors: providing, however, that if such action is taken by the Board of Directors it shall be only after affording the Member an opportunity for a hearing before it in person. Upon receipt by the Secretary in writing setting forth cause, he shall transmit it, without delay, to the President, who shall promptly notify the Board of Directors, by letter of the circumstances and obtain a letter ballot on whether the Board agrees to proceed with a hearing on the expulsion.

If so, the President shall direct the Secretary to notify the Member that he has 30 days in which to prepare a statement giving his reasons for opposing the expulsion, after which he shall be directed to appear before the next meeting of the Board, in person or by his representative. The Board shall discuss the proposed expulsion at this meeting, whether the Member or his representative appears before the Board, to be followed by a letter ballot as directed.

SECTION 6. Any member who has been dropped for non-payment of dues may be reinstated, up to the close of the regular May meeting, by the Secretary, upon payment of dues payable for the current year.

BY-LAW IV

(DUES)

Annual dues for the Society shall be $20.00 for individual membership and $30.00 for family membership. All dues are due and payable on January 1 of each year. Any Member who has not paid his dues by the close of the regular meeting in February will be dropped from membership.

Dues will be prorated for NEW Members whose applications for membership are approved after the March meeting of the Board of Directors.

BY-LAW V

(FISCAL YEAR)

The fiscal year of this Society shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31.

BY-LAW VI

(OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS)

The direction and management of the affairs of this Society and the control and disposition of its properties and funds shall be vested in a Board of Directors, hereinafter sometimes called the Board, composed of such number of persons as provided for in these BY-LAWS.

The Board of Directors shall be the legal representative of the Society. It shall have the power to expend the funds of the Society or to invest the same, but shall not incur indebtedness beyond the assets of the Society. It shall establish policies for the Society and its officers and for the several committees of the Board and of the Society.

The Board of Directors shall establish and from time to time amend, as needed, Rules of Operation which shall govern the orderly affairs of the Board.

SECTION 2. The Officers of the Society shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, and they shall be elected by Members of the Society, from Members of the Society.

SECTION 3. The policies of the Society shall be set by the Board. The Board shall also direct the business and affairs of the Society.

SECTION 4. The Board of Directors shall consist of voting Members and Members ex-officio without vote.

The voting Members shall consist of the Officers, the most recent living Past President, and the elected Directors. Every Member of the Board, including the Officers, shall be a Member in good standing of this Society and the Bromeliad Society International.

SECTION 5. The Officers of the Society shall be the Officers of the Board.

SECTION 6. The elected Directors shall be six (6) in number and shall be elected by Members of the Society, from Members of the Society.

SECTION 7. Directors ex-officio and without voting power shall consist of the Chairmen of each Standing Committee, and any Member of this Society while serving as an Officer or Director of Bromeliad Society International and any Member of this Society who shall, by vote of the full membership, be appointed to honorary Board membership.

SECTION 8. The Standing Committees shall be:

  • Publication Committee
  • Plant Sales Committee
  • Program Committee

SECTION 9. The terms of the Directors and Officers shall commence at midnight on December 31 of the year elected and terminate at midnight on December 31 of the year of expiration of their term of office.

The term of all Officers shall be for one year, but shall continue until a successor is chosen.

The term of all elected Directors shall be for three years, but shall continue until a successor has been chosen.

SECTION 10. In case of vacancy in the office of President, the Vice-President shall act in his place for the unexpired term. In case the Vice-President cannot act, the latest living Past-President shall do so. In the case of a vacancy in the office of the Secretary or Treasurer, the Board . will appoint a Member to fill the office for the unexpired term. If a Director shall retire for any reason before his term is completed, the Board shall designate his successor who shall serve for the unexpired portion of the term.

SECTION 11. A Director, as defined in SECTION 6 of the BY-LAW, shall not be eligible to a succeeding term as an elected Director until one year shall have elapsed following the completion of his term of service as an elected Director. A Director who has been designated to fill an unexpired portion of a term of office shall not be subject to this limitation.

SECTION 12. The President shall be eligible to one succeeding term as President. The President shall not be eligible to an elected position with voting power, until two years shall have elapsed following the completion of his full term(s) as President, except as provided in SECTION 4 of this BY-LAW. The Vice-President shall be eligible to one succeeding term as Vice-President, or to a term(s) as the next President. The Vice-President shall not be eligible to a term in any other elected position until one year shall have elapsed following the completion of his full term(s) as Vice-President, except as provided in SECTION 4 of this BY-LAW. In observing the limitations placed in SECTIONS 10 and 11 of this BY-LAW with respect to the intervals of time between occupancies by a single individual of the same or different offices and membership upon the Board of Directors, each year of the interval shall be understood to mean the then current term of office of an elected Officer of the Society (Amended November 15, 1994) (Amended October 20, 1998)

BY-LAW VII

(RESTRICTIONS)

This is a non-profit Society organized solely for the charitable, literary, scientific and educational purposes as stated herein and is without stock, and no part of its property, whether income or principal, shall ever inure to the benefit of any Officer, Director, Member or employee of the Society, or of any individual having a personal or private interest in the activities of the Society, nor shall any such Officer, Director, Member, employee or individual receive or be lawfully entitled to receive any pecuniary profits from the operation of this Society, except reasonable compensation for services rendered in carrying out one of more of its purposes.

BY-LAW VIII

(DISSOLUTION)

In the event of dissolution of the Society by termination of its existence, lapse of time or otherwise, when it has the ownership of, or is entitled to ownership of, any funds or property of any sort, real, personal or mixed, such property or right thereto shall not be transferred to private ownership, but shall be transferred and set over unto an organization which is exempt from federal income taxation under SECTION 501 (c )(3) of the IRS Code or corresponding provisions hereafter in effect, and which is engaged in activities substantially similar to those of the Society carried out in furtherance of the purposes specified in BY-LAW II, and, if none be then in existence, then such funds or property or rights thereto shall be charged with a charitable public trust and shall be thereafter administered and applied to public charitable purposes by a trustee or trustees to be appointed pursuant to law by a court of competent jurisdiction.

BY-LAW IX

(USE OF FUNDS)

The Society may take and hold any donations, dues or other property received in support of its purposes. All funds of the Society, except for expenditures necessary for the proper administration thereof or reasonable compensation for services rendered in carrying out one or more of the purposes outlined, shall be used exclusively for carrying on the work for which the Society is formed as herein set forth.

BY-LAW X

(FUNDS, ASSETS – RESTRICTIONS ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS)

Anything to the contrary herein not withstanding, Directors shall not:

  1. lend any part of the Society assets to;
  2. pay any compensation, other than set forth in BY-LAWS VII and IX to;
  3. make any services, benefits, or facilities of the Society available on a preferential basis to;
  4. engage in any other transaction which diverts any part of the Society’s assets to;

any person, association or corporation who has contributed property or money to the Society, nor shall the Directors engage, participate, or intervene in any activity or transaction which would cause the Society to lose its status as an exempt organization under the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code; and the use, directly or indirectly, of any part of the Society’s funds or transaction is hereby expressly prohibited.

BY-LAW XI

(INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, MEMBERS)

The Society shall reimburse and indemnify each present and future Director, Officer and employee of the Society, for and against all amounts paid (other than amounts paid to the Society itself) and all costs and expenses, including attorney’s fees, imposed on or reasonably incurred by him in connection with any claim, action, suit or proceeding for, in connection with any appeal therein, thereafter made or instituted in which he may be involved by reasons of his being or having been a Director, Officer or employee of the Society, whether or not he continues to be a Director, Officer or employee at the time of such payments or the imposition of such costs or the incurring of such expenses. The Society shall not, however, reimburse or indemnify such Director, Officer or employee with respect to matters as to which he shall be finally adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction in any such action, suit or proceeding to be liable because of dereliction in the performance of his duties as such Director, Officer or employee. In case any such action, suit or proceeding shall be settled, in whole or in part, any such Director, Officer or employee shall be reimbursed and indemnified by the Society for, or against all amounts paid and all cost and expenses; including attorney’s fees imposed on, or reasonably incurred by him in connection with the matter settled (other than amounts paid to the Society itself) and if, in the judgment of any disinterested committee or group of persons to whom the question may be referred by the Board, any such Director, Officer or employee was not guilty of dereliction in the performance of his duties in relation to the matter settled. Any persons appointed by the Board to membership of a committee of the Society shall be considered to be in the service of the Society and shall be included within the class of persons entitled to reimbursement and indemnification hereunder. The foregoing rights of indemnification shall not be exclusive of other rights to which any person concerned may be entitled as a matter of law, and shall inure to the benefits of heirs, executors, and administrators of any such person.

BY-LAW XII

(AMENDMENTS)

SECTION 1. Proposals to amend these BY-LAWS may be made by the Membership and/or the Board of Directors in accordance with the following procedure:

(1) Proposal by Membership:

Proposals to amend signed by at least ten (10) Members of the Society shall be received in writing by the Secretary not later than seven (7) days prior to any regularly scheduled Board meeting. The Board shall consider the proposals and the Proposers (Petitioners) shall be notified of the Board’s opinion no later than ten (10) days following the Board meeting.

The Proposers may then (a) withdraw their proposal, (b) accept any change suggested by the Board, (c) insist on the original form, and they shall send their decision to the Board no later than seven (7) days prior to the next Board meeting. The proposal, as reviewed by the Board and accepted by the Proposers, shall be published in the official bulletin of the Society following said regularly scheduled Board meeting.

(2) Proposals by the Board of Directors:

Proposals to amend these BY-LAWS, made by the Board, shall be published in the official bulletin following the meeting at which proposal of the amendment was made.

SECTION 2. Publication of the proposed amendment in the official bulletin shall constitute notice to the Membership.

All proposals to amend the BY-LAWS, whether initiated by the Board or by the Membership, shall be submitted to the entire Membership for a vote. Vote shall be taken at the second regular meeting of the Society following published notice of the proposed amendment in the official bulletin, at which meeting the Secretary shall issue paper ballots to all attending Members in good standing. A vote shall be taken on the amendment as proposed. Three Tellers, appointed by the President, shall forthwith count the ballots and report the results to the President. An affirmative two-thirds vote of Members present and voting shall be necessary for the amendment or repeal of these BY-LAWS.

Each amendment to be voted on shall carry an effective date stated in the amendment, except that change affecting the tenure of office for an Officer of the Society shall not take effect until the beginning of the next fiscal year following.

(As revised October 18, 1988)

Rules of Operation

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RULE I

(OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS)

SECTION 1. The Board may exercise the functions as provided for in BY-LAW VI, either in session as stated at a duly called meeting, or by ballot.

Any matter that requires action by the Board of Directors at a time not conveniently related to a regular or called meeting, may be submitted to it for approval by ballot.

Certain actions by the Board, which are specified below, that can materially affect the finances of the Society or its reputation as a literary, educational, charitable or scientific organization shall require a two-thirds majority of all Members of the Board who possess voting rights. If an action of the kind specified below receives a simple majority vote at a meeting of the Board, but not the required two-thirds majority of all the Board Members with voting rights, a letter ballot shall be conducted within one month of the Board meeting. This summary shall be prepared by the President.

Board actions which require this special voting procedure shall be:

1) Changes in policy concerning the investment of Society funds.

2) Changes in policy which will involve the expenditure of Society funds in excess of $1,000.00 in any calendar year for any item not specifically covered by the Budget for that year which has already been approved by the Board, or which will increase any budgeted item by more than $1,000.00.

3) Changes in policy concerning the operation of any standing committee of the Board.

Amendments to these Rules.

Other than the foregoing special procedure for voting on the above-cited changes in policy by the Board, the Board may, by resolution, designate the classes and types of Society business which may be submitted to it for approval by letter ballot.

SECTION 2. A quorum of the Board shall consist of a six voting members and, except as otherwise provided in these Rules, all questions before the Board shall be decided by a majority vote of those Members constituting a duly established quorum.

SECTION 3. Regular meetings of the Board shall be held in January, March, July and November on the third Thursday or on such days as may be decided by the Board. Other meetings will be held at the direction of the President, or at the request, in writing, of five (5) Members of the Board.

  1. A Board member, who has two unexcused absences, as determined by the President, will be dropped from the Board and replaced.
  2. With prior approval by the President, a Board Member citing just causes (medical, religious, etc.) may participate via phone in a Board meeting as a voting member of the quorum.

.SECTION 4. No Board Member may be represented in any action required of him as a Board Member by any other person; nor may he vote by letter upon any matter scheduled for consideration at a duly called meeting of the Board.

SECTION 5. The President shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Society and shall preside at all meetings of the Board, and shall preside at the annual meeting of the Society.

SECTION 6. The Vice-President shall assist the President in the performance of the latter’s duties. In the event of the absence of the President, or his inability to serve, the Vice-President shall act in his stead.

SECTION 7. The Treasurer shall have charge of the funds of the Society and shall disburse the funds of the Society as authorized by the Board of Directors. He shall be bonded at the expense of the Society, and to an amount to be determined by the Board. He shall have charge of all financial information including tax records.

SECTION 8. The Secretary shall have charge of the records and correspondence of the Society under the direction of the President, and shall be custodian of the seal. He shall give notice of, and attend all meetings of the Board. He shall take and keep true minutes of all actions and shall discharge such other duties as may be assigned to him by the President or the Board. The Secretary shall provide an electronic version of the minutes of all meetings to the Historian to ensure information will not be lost as Members transition onto and off of the Board of Directors and into and out of officer positions. In case of the absence or disability of the Secretary, the Board may appoint an Assistant Secretary to perform the duties of the Secretary during such absence or disability.

SECTION 9. The Treasurer shall have the responsibility of submitting all required documents, on or before due date, to Internal Revenue Service for his/her term of duty. The Board of Directors, through the current President, shall have the responsibility of verifying this action.

RULE II

(NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS)

SECTION 1. The Nominating Committee is responsible for the selection of nominees for each of the offices of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, and for each elected Director’s position that is to be filled in the next administrative year. A person to be considered for nomination as President, Vice-President, Secretary or Treasurer shall be a Member or Commercial Member of the Society in good standing and shall have served, or be serving on the Board of Directors in either an elected or ex-officio position.

Nominees shall be selected on merit and proven capabilities based on prior experience in the broad activities of the Society. One nominee shall be selected for each office and at least one nominee for each position of Director that must be filled. Selection of nominees will be by a majority vote of the Committee, with the Chairman voting only in the case of a tie vote. (Amended October 20, 1998)

The President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected for a one-year term. The elected Directors shall be elected for a three-year term, except that for the first Board; one-third shall be elected for a one-year term, one-third shall be elected for a two-year term and one-third shall be elected for a three-year term.

SECTION 2. The Nominating Committee shall consist of the most recent living Past-President of the Society and four representatives from the Membership appointed by the President in July of each year. Except for the Chairman, no Member of the Nominating Committee may be serving as a voting Member of the Board.

The most recent living Past-President shall be Chairman of the Committee. In the event that the Chairman, or any other Member of the Nominating Committee cannot serve, the President and the Vice-President shall be ex-officio Members of the Committee without vote.

SECTION 3. The Nominating Committee shall present to the Membership at the regular monthly meeting in September, a slate of candidates for each office and for each elected Director’s position, as provided for in SECTION 1, along with a summary of the qualifications of each nominee.

Nominations of qualified candidates may be made from the floor, by any Member in good standing, at the October meeting prior to the election. (Amended October 20, 1998)

SECTION 4. The names and biographies of all candidates shall be published in the October issue of the Society Bulletin. Election shall be held at the regular monthly meeting in October, with only Members in each category in good standing entitled to vote. Voting by proxy or absentee vote shall not be allowed. (Amended October 20, 1998)

RULE III

(MEETINGS OF THE SOCIETY)

SECTION 1. The Society shall hold an open meeting on the third Tuesday of each month at a time and place set by the Board.

SECTION 2. The Society shall hold an annual business meeting in October of each year and shall conduct an election of Officers and Directors at said meeting. The Secretary shall keep minutes of the meeting. No business shall be conducted at this meeting unless there is a quorum of twenty percent (20%) of the Members in good standing present.

Motions, except for amendments to the BY-LAWS, may be made by a Member of the Society and, if seconded by another Member of the Society, shall be discussed and voted upon. A motion shall be carried by a majority of Members present and voting. Motions carried shall be referred to the Board of Directors for consideration. No action shall be binding on the Society until approved by the Board of Directors. The Board shall report the result of their considerations of each motion passed at a meeting of the Membership to the Members in the form of a notice in the Society publication to appear not later than the December issue of the publication in the year following the meeting at which the motion was passed.

SECTION 3. A Member of the Society shall have the right to request an appearance before any meeting of the Board of Directors to present views on any subject concerning the Society, providing this request is made in writing and is received by the President at least ten (10) days before the meeting, and providing the purpose of the appearance is stated. The President shall decide whether, in his view the subject is of sufficient importance to be placed on the agenda of the Board meeting. The Secretary shall advise the Member as to whether his request has been granted.

SECTION 4. A Member shall have the right to request an appearance before any meeting of any Standing Committee of the Society to present views concerning subjects within the jurisdiction of that Committee, providing the request is made in writing, and is received by the Secretary at least 24 hours before the meeting of the Committee, and providing the Committee shall decide whether the subject is of sufficient importance to placed on the agenda of the Committee meeting. The Chairman of the Committee shall advise the Member as to whether his request has been granted.

RULE IV

(STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE SOCIETY)

SECTION 1. The following Standing Committees, or Members thereof, shall be appointed as provided in the paragraphs below of this SECTION 1.

  • Publication Committee
  • Program Committee
  • Plant Sales Committee

PUBLICATION COMMITTEE. This committee shall consist of at least five Members. It shall have control of all publications of the Society. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be appointed, annually, by the President.

The President and Vice-President shall be Members ex-officio.

PROGRAM COMMITTEE. This Committee shall consist of at least five Members. This Committee shall have the responsibility for developing and presenting programs at each of the regular meetings of the Society. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be appointed annually by the President.

The President and Vice-President shall be Members ex-officio.

PLANT SALES COMMITTEE. This Committee shall consist of at least five Members. It shall have the responsibility of all activities involving or related to the sale of plants conducted by the Society. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be appointed, annually, by the President.

The President and Vice-President shall be Members ex-officio.

SECTION 2. The Board shall have the power to appoint such committees, in addition to the Standing Committees, as it shall find necessary or desirable in preserving and advancing the interests of the Society. The Board, after determining the need or desirability of any such committee, may delegate to the President authority to appoint Members and Chairmen of such committee. The duration of membership of any such committees shall be determined by the Board. Where the number of Members of a Standing Committee is prescribed in these RULES OF OPERATION, either definitely or by specifying a minimum number, ex-officio Members shall not be included in meeting the numerical requirements in appointments to membership

SECTION 3. Chairmen of Standing Committees shall have the power to appoint such sub-committees as they find necessary or desirable, and in making such appointments they shall not be limited, in the selection of Members, to the roster of membership of the committee (or to Members of the Association).

RULE V

(LETTER BALLOTS)

SECTION 1. In such voting by the Membership as is required by the BY-LAWS to be by letter ballot and to be secret, each ballot shall be placed, unsigned, in a sealed envelope. The sealed envelope shall then be forwarded to the Society in a forwarding envelope which shall be signed by or for, and clearly indicate the name of, the Member voting.

SECTION 2. Before opening the sealed envelopes and counting the ballots, the Secretary and such Tellers as may be required by these BY-LAWS or by resolution of the Board, shall first determine that all the ballots to be counted shall have been cast by persons entitled to vote.

SECTION 3. In all other voting by letter ballot, the Board of Directors shall prescribe such methods as are proper and practicable, such methods to require in any event a determination that all ballots to be counted shall have been cast by persons entitled to vote.

(AMENDMENTS)

SECTION 1. The Board of Directors may amend these RULES OF OPERATION as provided for in BY-LAW VI, SECTION 1.

(Rule 1, Section 5, amended March 21, 1985)

(Rule 1, Section 9, added August 22, 1985)

(References to Secretary/Treasurer changed to conform with revised BY-LAWS April 21, 1987)

(BY-LAW IV (DUES) amended July 20, 1993)

(BY-LAW VI Section 12 amended November 15, 1994)

((Rule 2, Section 4, amended October 20, 1998)

(Rule 3, Section 2, amended October 20, 1998)

(BY-LAW VI Section 12 amended October 20, 1998)

(Rule 1, Section 2 amended August 19, 2003)

(BY-LAW VI Section 6 amended October 21, 2003)

(Rule 1, Section 3 amended March 21, 2019)

(Rule 1, Section 8 amended March 21, 2019)

(Rule 1, Section 3 amended March 17, 2023)

POLICIES

Member Consignment Plant Sale Rules

3/21/2019

The following rules govern the sale of plants by Members at Bromeliad Society/Houston, Inc., sponsored sales. The purpose of these rules is to assure compliance with the objectives of BS/HI and IRS regulations for non-profit organizations.

When selling plants at a BS/HI plant sale, members who sell will be classified as either: Hobbyist, defined as those who sell only the excess plants form their personal collection, or Commercial, defined as those who purchase plants for resale and derive the majority of their income from the sale of plants. Any exceptions to these rules must be approved by the Plant Sales Chair prior to each sale.

  1. Only bromeliads and bromeliad related items may be sold at BS/HI sales.
  2. Plants sold by a Hobbyist must have been grown by the member for a minimum of (6) six months prior to the sale.
  3. No artificial material may be applied to enhance the appearance of the plant or inflorescence. Offending plants may be removed by the Plant Sale Committee.
  4. The Plant Sale Committee will collect sales tax and remit it to the State Treasurer. The Society will pay all fees assessed by the venue. Sale price will be divided as follows:
    30% retained by BS/HI
    70% paid to Member
  5. There is no limit to the number of plants each Member can bring. An overflow of plants may be placed on the floor beneath the tables. Members who plan to bring 50 or more plants to the sale must notify the Plant Sales Chair two months prior to the sale date and assist the Plant Sales Committee at the sale.
  6. The seller shall have two separate plant labels with each plant. One must clearly give correct name of plant, price and seller’s number. The other tag must contain the seller’s number and the price. One of these tags will be removed at Cashier’s desk for control purposes.
  7. All plants must be properly named. Any plants which are obviously misnamed may be removed from the sale area by the Plant Sale Chair. After correction the plant may be replaced in the sale area.
  8. Each Member shall be personally responsible for submitting his plants and picking up unsold plants immediately after the sale. Unclaimed plants shall be disposed of in compliance with rules of the sale venue. All members selling plants are responsible for cleaning the plant sale area after all plants are removed.
  9. The term “plant” is interpreted to mean one pot, one mounting, one bare root pup or plant, or one plant or clump, or multiple plants to be sold as a unit.
  10. Prices must be in increments of $1.00, i.e., $5.00, $6.00, $7.00, etc. Failure to comply will result in reduction of the price to the next lower increment, i.e., $5.98 will sell for $5.00. Minimum price for a plant on which a Member will receive a commission is $5.00.
  11. No parking lot sales are permitted.
  12. Members are expected to furnish their own meals at all BS/HI Plant Sales. Tea and coffee will be furnished by the Society, cooperative “potluck” planning is suggested.
  13. The Bromeliad Society/Houston, Inc., volunteer Society Members and the place of each sale will not be responsible for lost or stolen plants. Every effort will be taken to protect Members’ plants. Plants might remain outside overnight at Members’ risk.
  14. If any member does not have a “sales number” and would like one, please contact Allyn Pearlman at 713-858-3047.
The BSHI Speaker’s Fee Policy

For members and non-members who are not local (local meaning anyone who resides less than 100 miles from Houston) the BSHI will:

  • pay for round-trip economy airfare to Houston that is booked a minimum 21 days in advance. If the speaker chooses another mode of transportation, reimbursement will be no more than the cost of the previously mentioned air travel.
  • provide lodging and meals for the equivalent of one day. The program chairperson will be responsible for making the arrangements. The host will be reimbursed for any shared restaurant meals.
  • pay a speaker’s fee not to exceed $200 and if appropriate, 80% of their sales.

Local non-members receive their requested speaker fee not to exceed $200 and if appropriate, 80% of their sales.

Local members do not receive a fee but receive 80% of their sales.

Approved November 10, 2016, amended January 19, 2017, November 15, 2018, and January 17, 2019.

BS/HI Seedling Policy
Regular seedlings
  • Seedlings will be distributed at the regular meeting in the months of March, July and November.
  • A seedling will be distributed to every member in good standing and all first-time visitors who are in attendance at the meeting.
  • Purchase, tagging, and transportation of all seedlings will be arranged by the Plant Sales Committee Chair.
  • 45 seedlings or a number determined by the Board of Directors shall be purchased.
  • The cost of each seedling shall be limited to an average yearly cost of $12.00 plus the cost of shipping.
  • Proceeds from the monthly plant raffle will be used to help defray the cost of the seedlings.
  • Information concerning the culture of the seedling along with its photograph shall be published in the Society bulletin in the months that seedlings are distributed
  • Submission of information to the Bulletin Editor for publication will be arranged by the Plant Sales Committee Chair.
Special seedlings
  • A seedling can be purchased for distribution at the December Holiday meeting.
  • Cost and number to be determined by the Holiday Party Chair.
  • Cost will be included in the total cost of a party ticket.
  • Other seedlings will be purchased at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

Amended 03/17/2023