The Colorado Herpetological Society

Bylaws of the CHS

ARTICLE I:   NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Colorado Herpetological Society.

ARTICLE II:   PURPOSE

The purpose of this Society shall be:

1. To promote knowledge in the field of herpetology for the membership.
2. To promote the conservation of reptiles and amphibians.
3. To promote knowledge in the field of herpetology for the general public, and to foster a continuing interest in herpetology at school levels to insure a supply of future herpetologists.

ARTICLE III:   MEMBERSHIP

1. Membership in the Society shall be open to all persons.
2. Classes of membership

   1. Individual:

      A dues-paying member with full voting rights, who is entitled to receive all Society publications.

   2. Student/Educator:

      A dues-paying member with full voting rights, who is entitled to receive all Society publications and who is either enrolled in school or is employed in the field of education. Students and educators are entitled to a discount from the normal Individual membership fee.

   3. Family:

      A dues-paying family entitled to two votes, who is entitled to receive all Society publications.

   4. Newsletter:

      A dues-paying member living outside the State of Colorado, with no voting rights, who is entitled to receive all Society publications.

   5. Contributing:

      A dues paying member with full voting rights, who makes a voluntary contribution above and beyond normal membership, and who is entitled to receive all Society publications. Contributing members earn the gratitude of the Society.

   6. Corporate:

      An individual or business establishment who is entitled to receive all Society publications, and to run a business card sized advertisement in the Society newsletter.

   7. Honorary:

      A non-dues-paying member who has contributed to the Society, who is voted to receive this honor for one year by the executive board and is entitled to all Society publications.

ARTICLE IV:   DUES

1. Dues shall be set by the Board of Directors, according to the classes of membership and approved by a majority of the voting members.
2. Dues shall be paid upon joining the Society and must be renewed yearly. Members shall have 45 days to renew their membership after the expiration date.

ARTICLE V:   OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS

1. The elected officers shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
2. The term of office shall be one year.
3. Officers shall be nominated at the October general meeting, elected at the November general meeting, and will take office at the next meeting of the Board of Directors. In the event that only one person is nominated at the October meeting, and that person is unable or unwilling to run in November, nominations will be re-opened prior to the election at the November meeting. In the event that a person elected at the November meeting is unable or unwilling to assume the office at the next Board meeting, the Board shall appoint another person to the office.
4. Officers shall be members in good standing, 18 years or older, receiving a majority of the votes of the membership.
5. The president must have been an active member of the Society at least one year prior to assuming office.
6. Other officers may be appointed from time to time by majority approval of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VI:   DUTIES OF OFFICERS

1. President:

   Shall be the principal executive and shall preside over all board and membership meetings of the Society. Shall represent the Society on most occasions.

2. Vice-president:

   Shall be responsible for the general membership meeting programs, and shall assume the duties of the president, when that officer is absent.

3. Secretary:

   Shall maintain the non-financial business records, shall record minutes of all Society meetings, shall maintain a journal of these minutes, recording them in a timely manner and making them available to all members, and in the absence of the president and vice-president, may assume the duties of conducting a regularly scheduled meeting.

4. Treasurer:

   Shall be responsible for the financial transactions and financial records, shall present financial statements at board meetings and general membership meetings as required, and shall be responsible for maintaining a current membership list.

5. Other Officers:

   Other officers appointed by the Board shall assume such responsibilities as are specified by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VII:   BOARD OF DIRECTORS

1. The board of directors shall manage the affairs of the Society and shall make all rules and regulations deemed necessary to accomplish the purposes of the society. It shall consist of an executive board and an advisory board.
2. The total number of board members shall be no less than seven and no mre that ten.

3. Executive Board:

   Shall consist of the 4 elected officers.

4. Advisory Board:
   1. Shall be appointed by the elected officers and approved by a majority of the current Board of Directors members.
   2. Shall include all other officers appointed by the Board of Directors.
   3. Shall attend all Board meetings and membership meetings.
   4. Shall assume extra duties by serving on committees and assisting and advising the Executive Board.
   5. Shall perform other duties as may be requested by the Executive Board.
   6. Shall have a full vote at all meetings of the Board of Directors.
5. A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum of the board.
6. Permanent vacancies in any office or in the Advisory Board shall be filled by appointment by the Board of Directors for the unexpired term.

ARTICLE VIII:   MEETINGS

1. General membership meetings:

   There shall be a minimum of 10 held yearly.

2. Special membership meetings:

   Shall be called by the president or the Board of Directors. The membership shall be notified 7 days in advance of such a meeting.

3. Board meetings:

   Shall be held regularly, before the general membership meetings. Shall be open to all Society Members.

4. All meetings shall be governed by the presiding Officer in a reasonable and orderly manner.

ARTICLE IX:   RESIGNATION AND TERMINATION OF OFFICERS, ADVISORY BOARD AND MEMBERS

1. Resignation of officers and Advisory Board members shall be in writing and shall be delivered to the president.
2. An officer may be removed from office for not performing the duties of the office. This removal will require a majority vote of the membership present at the general membership meeting following the meeting at which such a motion was made.
3. Any board member missing three consecutive board meetings without being excused by the other board members shall be removed from the board.
4. Termination of membership:
   1. Causes for termination:
      1. Cruelty to reptiles, amphibians or other animals.
      2. Unnecessary and deliberate destruction of habitat of an animal population.
      3. Claiming to speak for the Society when not authorized to do so, or publicly attributing opinions to the Society when no stand has been taken.
      4. Engaging in any activity considered detrimental to the Society.

   2. Procedure:

      When written notice of reason or cause is received by the executive board, the offense must be investigated by the executive board. If deemed valid by the executive board, the offender will be notified in writing of impending termination, with a specific amount of time to rectify the situation. If, at the end of the specified amount of time for rectification, the executive board votes to terminate the membership, the offender shall have the right to have the issues brought before the membership at the next general meeting. At that meeting, a vote of a majority of the members will terminate the membership.

   3. Reinstatement:

      Terminated members may apply to the board for reinstatement, no sooner than one year after termination. Any such application may be accepted or rejected by the board.

ARTICLE X:   AMENDMENTS TO THESE BYLAWS

1. These bylaws may be reviewed once a year by a committee appointed by the board. A proposal for a change in the bylaws may be submitted to the board in writing by any member at any time. Proposed changes will be presented to the membership by the bylaws committee one meeting prior to a vote on the changes and must be published in the newsletter one month prior to the meeting at which they will be voted on.
2. Amendments must be accepted by a two-thirds majority of members voting at the general meeting.