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CONSTITUTION:
ROCKY MOUNTAIN
SOCIETY OF AVICULTURE CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
Adopted
10/9/2009
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I - NAME, OBJECTIVES, MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS, OFFICE, OFFICERS,
MEETING AND GOVERNMENT / AMENDMENTS
Section 1 – Name
The name of the organization shall be the Rocky Mountain
Society of Aviculture (hereinafter “RMSA” and 'the club").
Section 2 - Objectives
1)
To promote better care, welfare and
breeding, of cage birds through education.
2)
To learn new and better methods
pertaining to aviculture and conservation.
3)
To have fellowship with others interested
in birds.
4)
To promote the conscientious and
responsible raising and selling of cage birds in the Rocky Mountain Region.
5)
To present educational events.
6)
To provide foster care and adoption for
birds in need through RMSA Adopt A Bird program.
Section 3 – Qualifications for Membership
Any
person interested in aviculture or who agrees to support the objectives above
shall be eligible for membership.
Section 4 – Office of RMSA
The office of RMSA shall be designated by the Board of
Directors.
Section 5 – Officers of RMSA
President, Vice President,
Secretary, Treasurer, Events Manager, Education Manager, Publicity Manager,
Fundraising Manager, Adopt-a-Bird Manager and two Trustees
All officers and appointed positions of RMSA must sign a
conflict of interest statement upon election or appointment. Such
statement will be kept on file with the secretary. A new conflict of
interest statement must be signed with each re-election or re-appointment.
Any member of six months or more and age 18 years of age and
older is eligible to hold office. However, only one member from a household or
family may hold a voting board position at any time. Terms of office shall be
for two years. The appointed positions of Games Manager, Membership
Coordinator, Newsletter Editor, Parliamentarian, Webmaster, Finance Review
Committee, and Information Phone Line Monitor serve for one-year terms with no
term limits.
Elections will be held annually at the December meeting.
Officers for the positions open that year will be voted in by written ballot by
a majority vote of the members present. Uncontested positions require a
majority ‘yea’ vote to take office; no position will be appointed by
acclimation. Proxy votes will not be recognized. Officers will be
installed at the December meeting and begin their duties on January 1 of their
election year.
Section 6 – Appointed Positions
Games Manager, Membership
Coordinator, Newsletter Editor, Parliamentarian, Webmaster, Finance Review
Committee and Information Phone Line Monitor.
These positions will be
appointed by the President with approval of the board at the beginning of each
calendar year, unless otherwise stipulated. Appointed positions are not
voting members of the board of directors.
All officers and appointed positions of RMSA must sign a conflict of interest
statement upon election or appointment. Such statement will be kept on
file with the secretary. A new conflict of interest statement must be
signed with each re-election or re-appointment.
Any member of six months or more and age 18 years of age and older is eligible
to hold an appointed position. Terms of appointment shall be for one year
unless otherwise stipulated, with no term limits.
These positions will start their duties immediately upon
appointment.
Section 7- Meeting of the Society
Monthly meetings shall be held for the combined purpose of transacting business,
education, and fellowship. Time allotted to the transaction of business shall
not exceed one hour, unless two-thirds of the members present vote to extend the
business part of the meeting.
Section 8 – Government and Amendments
RMSA shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Colorado, the RMSA Constitution and Bylaws, then
Robert’s Rules of Order.
Proposed amendments must be presented to the membership one
month prior to vote. Notice will be made at the general meeting, and in
the monthly newsletter or website.
Two-thirds majority vote of those members present shall be
required to amend the Constitution and/or Bylaws. Proxy votes will not be
recognized.
BYLAWS
ARTICLE I - POWERS AND PURPOSES OF BYLAWS
Section 1 - Powers
RMSA shall be empowered to do all things and conduct all
business necessary to achieve the objectives of RMSA in keeping with the Rocky
Mountain Society of Aviculture Bylaws (hereinafter “Bylaws”).
Section 2 – Purpose of Bylaws
The purpose of these Bylaws is to provide a broad
administrative framework within which the objectives of RMSA may be achieved.
All business of RMSA shall be conducted in accordance with the Bylaws.
ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
Section 1 – Membership
Membership in RMSA shall be open to anyone interested in
aviculture who agrees to support the objectives cited in RMSA Constitution
and Bylaws.
Definition of membership shall be any individual who meets
the above criteria and who has paid dues as required by RMSA.
Rights and Responsibilities of membership: Members 18
years of age and older are entitled to vote and hold office in RMSA, to attend
any RMSA or Board of Directors meeting, and receive all other benefits of
membership.
All members of RMSA shall be governed by the Bylaws.
Section 2 – Dues
Annual dues rates shall be set by the Board of Directors with the approval of a
two-thirds majority vote of the general membership at any scheduled meeting. All
membership dues shall be applied to a 12-month period determined by the date the
membership began. A new membership becomes effective the first day of the
month following payment of dues. A current membership will renew in the month of
the membership anniversary and will retain that anniversary date if renewal fees
are received by that date or within 30 days after that date.
Section 3 – Loss of Membership
If at any time a member becomes non-cooperative and a
hindrance to the objectives of RMSA, the Board of Directors, with a simple
majority vote, may recommend revoking such person’s membership. A two-thirds
vote of the members present at a regularly scheduled meeting, voting by ballot,
shall be required to revoke said membership.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
(1) A scheduled meeting of the
membership shall be held on the second Friday of each month. This will be
a combined business, education, and fellowship meeting.
(2) 15 voting members shall
constitute a quorum at all business meetings.
(3) Special General Membership meetings may be called by the
President, Board of Directors, or a one-third vote of the membership.
(4) A Board of Directors meeting may be called by the
President or by any two members of the Board.
(5) The Board may change the day of the meeting with a
two-thirds majority vote of the membership at a general meeting. The change must
be published at least two months in advance of the said change.
ARTICLE IV – ELECTED AND APPOINTED POSITIONS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
Section 1 – Officers
(1) The elected officers of RMSA shall consist of: President,
Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Events Manager, Education Manager,
Publicity Manager, Fundraising Manager, Adopt-a-Bird Manager, and two Trustees.
(2) These officers shall form the Board of Directors.
(3) A member may not be
elected to more than one Board position simultaneously.
(4) Elections for open positions will be held annually at the
December meeting. All positions shall serve for a two year term. Vice
President, Treasurer, Education Manager, Fundraising Manager, Adopt-a-Bird
Manager, and one Trustee will be elected in even numbered years; President,
Secretary, Events Manager, Publicity Manager, and one Trustee will be elected in
odd numbered years.
(5) Elected officers shall be installed and begin their
duties January 1 of the following year.
(6) If a vacancy occurs, that office shall be filled by a
majority ‘yea’ vote of members present at the next scheduled business meeting.
No office may be filled without a two-thirds majority ‘yea’ vote. The
officer thus elected shall serve the balance of the unexpired term.
(7) Elected officers shall attend all Board of Directors
meetings and all regularly scheduled meetings and events of RMSA. An officer
will be considered absent for a particular meeting if s/he misses one hour or
more of the meeting in question.
(8) Any officer may be disqualified and removed from office
upon recommendation of a simple majority of the Board of Directors; this
recommendation must be acted upon at the next scheduled business meeting and
will require a two-thirds majority vote by written ballot of those eligible
members present to disqualify the officer in question. Proxy votes will not be
recognized.
(9) No officer shall obligate RMSA to any contracts or
financial responsibility without prior approval from the board of directors by
consensus or majority vote.
Section 2 – Responsibilities of Elected and Appointed
Positions
President
Shall be the chief executive officer of RMSA, preside at all
business meetings of RMSA and the Board of Directors, and shall nominate for
appointment by the board, all appointed officials.
Vice President
Shall assist the President and the Board of Directors as
needed and assume the duties and functions of the President in the event of the
President’s inability to serve in office.
Treasurer
Shall be the financial officer of RMSA, receive, give
receipts for and deposit all monies belonging to RMSA in a bank or banks
designated by the Board of Directors.
Secretary
Shall maintain and preserve all records and documents of RMSA
and record and maintain records of all proceedings of the general meetings and
the Board of Directors.
Events Manager
Shall be responsible for such shows, exhibits and/or events,
and their production, as RMSA may decide to hold.
Education Manager
Shall be responsible for educational speakers at the
regularly scheduled general meetings and for educational outreach programs as
directed by the Board of Directors or the membership.
Publicity Manager
Shall be responsible for publicizing RMSA and its events.
Fundraising Manager
Shall be responsible for
the RMSA Store and fundraising projects as directed by the Board of Directors
and the membership.
Adopt A Bird Manager (hereinafter "AAB")
Shall be responsible for the operation of the AAB program as
directed by the Board of Directors and the membership, according to Federal,
State and Local government regulations.
Trustees (two board positions)
Shall serve in an advisory capacity in all matters dealing
with the business and welfare of RMSA.
APPOINTED POSITIONS:
Games Manager
Shall be responsible for all Colorado State Licensed raffles
as RMSA may decide to hold.
Membership Coordinator
Shall maintain the RMSA
database of member and non-member contact and membership information.
Newsletter Editor
Shall be responsible for
creating and distributing the RMSA monthly newsletter.
Parliamentarian
Shall assist and advise in the orderly functioning and
conduct of General and Board meetings and procedures according to the RMSA
Bylaws and Robert’s Rules of Order.
Webmaster
Shall be responsible for design, development, marketing,
updating and maintaining a fully comprehensive website.
Finance Review Committee
Shall review RMSA’s financial records annually.
Information Phone Line Monitor
Shall be responsible for monitoring, maintaining and updating
the RMSA information phone line.
ARTICLE V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1 – Members of the Board of Directors
The voting members of the Board of Directors shall consist of
all elected RMSA Officers. The appointed positions do not have a vote on
the Board of Directors. For purposes of conducting a Board of Directors
meeting, a quorum of greater than 50% of current Directors is required.
All board decisions and actions shall be considered official and binding when
there is a quorum and when the motion or consensus decision is supported by a
majority vote of the board members present. All Directors will be notified of
Board of Directors meetings in advance by the Board's Secretary or the Board
President.
Section 2 - Responsibilities
The Board of Directors is the managing council of RMSA and
shall:
(1) Be directly responsible to the membership
and shall represent RMSA on all matters pertaining to or resulting from RMSA's
incorporation.
(2) Supervise the operational functions of RMSA,
making such recommendations and offering such advice pertinent to the general
well being and overall stability of the club.
(3) Assist the President in the preparation of an
annual budget to be presented to the membership for approval.
(4) Meet on a regularly scheduled basis to conduct
club business.
ARTICLE VI
ELECTIONS AND NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Section 1 – Election by Simple Majority
All officers shall be elected by a majority vote.
Section 2 - Nominating Committee
(1) Consists of three members who shall be
elected by a simple majority at the September
general membership meeting. The
current year's President may not be a member of
the nominating committee.
(2) Presents to the membership at the October
meeting a slate of officers for that December's
election of club officers.
(3) Any member of the nominating committee may
be a candidate for office. The work of the
nominating committee shall continue
until the day of election.
Section 3– Nominations
Prior to the election meeting that is held in December of
each year, the Board shall encourage potential candidates to run for office by
publishing a notice in the Newsletter. The list of positions up for election and
known candidates for office, with the time and place of the election meeting,
shall be published in the Newsletter and on the RMSA web site at least thirty
(30) days prior to the election date. At the election meeting, additional
nominations will be accepted from any member for either themselves or on behalf
of others. Individuals nominated by someone else must accept or decline the
nomination prior to the time the election is held that evening.
Section 4 - Voting
The voting body of the RMSA shall consist of current eligible
members who are 18 years of age and older. Proxy votes will not be
recognized.
ARTICLE VII
REVISIONS AND AMENDMENTS
The members shall have the power to revise or amend these
Bylaws by a two-thirds vote of members present at any scheduled business
meeting, provided that the amendment or revision to be made has been read at the
previous meeting.
The Board of Directors shall review the Bylaws on odd
numbered years.
ARTICLE VII
DISSOLUTION
Upon dissolution of the Society, and after payment of all
liabilities, the Board of Directors shall dispose of all remaining assets of the
corporation to an organization or organizations operated exclusively for
charitable, educational, or scientific purposes which shall at the time qualify
for exemption under Section 501(c) (3) of the United States Internal Revenue
Code of 1954, such as the American Federation of Aviculture.
No part of the net earnings or the treasury of the society
shall accrue to the benefit or be distributed to members, officers, or other
private persons.
303-456-0068
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