The Pennsylvania MicroBrewers Guild was founded as a marketing and promotional organization for the craft-brewing industry of Pennsylvania. The Primary function of the guild is to build greater awareness of Pennsylvania microbrewed products in the marketplace. Efforts will concentrate on the Pennsylvania beer market, but will include extolling the virtues of Pennsylvania beers to markets outside the state. Its purpose also is to continue to better educate the public about the finer points of microbrew in general. Additionally the Guild will advocate more modern beer laws.
Article I
1. A general membership meeting will be held from time to time, but not less than annually, whereby the overall business of the guild will be discussed and voted on by the members.
2. All by-laws require a 2/3 majority for passage.
3. A simple majority is required to conduct the business of the meetings.
4. Robert's Rule of Order will be used to conduct the meetings.
5. A quorum of a simple majority of members is required to hold a meeting.
Article II
1. A member must own brewing equipment and brew their beer in the state of PA.
2. Contract brewing is permitted as long as a member owns brewing equipment and brews some of their beer for sale. There are no minimums required as far as ratio of self to contract brewing.
3. A Guild member must not brew from malt extract.
4. A Guild member must not use adjuncts in beer production, unless it is traditionally accepted for that style of beer.
Article III
1. The Guild's logo can be used by any members on any of their products, as long as they are produced in PA and meet the criteria outlined in Article II.
Article IV
1. The Guild shall spend moneys collected as dues from all types of members primarily for the purposes outlined in our mission statement.
Article V
1. While the Guild is a standard "C" Corporation, stock will not be issued each member in the brewery category or the brewpub category will have only one vote.
Article VI
1. Associate memberships by industry vendors are welcomed with the annual dues rate decided each year at the first meeting. An associate member may address the guild at the end of a meeting only once a year. An associate member may also distribute material to the guild at any meeting by mailing the material to any guild member with instructions to distribute it.
Article VII
1. Membership is always encouraged in the guild. Proposed members must meet all criteria established by the guild and carry a 2/3 approval vote by current guild members to join.
2. To be eligible, proposed members must sell beer for at least one full year.
3. To be eligible, proposed members must file an application with the guild and follow the application procedures stated therein.
Article VIII
1. An Executive Committee consisting of a President (two year term), a Vice President (one year term), a Secretary (one year term), and a Treasurer (one year term), will be elected at the final meeting of members each year (typically November).
2. The annual budget and annual goals will be established at the final meeting of members each year.
3. The Executive Committee is authorized to conduct the business of the guild on a day to day basis, including guild representation to the public, pubic officials or the press. The Executive Committee may authorize and make expenditures within the approved budget. Any expenditure authorized by the Executive Committee must have ¾ approval by the Committee.
4. The Executive Committee shall meet from time to time to conduct the daily business of the guild, but not less than once every ninety- (90) days.
5. Minutes from any Executive Committee meeting will be distributed to the member breweries.
Last updated 6/12//98
