Constitution 1960
CONSTITUTION
OF THE
ILLINOIS GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
ARTICLE I – NAME
This Society shall be called the Illinois Geological Society and shall be incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois as a Not for Profit corporation.
ARTICLE II — OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this Society are:
To advance Geology as a science and profession;
To encourage cooperation and friendship between members and all branches of the profession;
To foster higher standards of education and ethics among Members and students;
To provide, through the Society, for the distribution of information pertinent to the Members and Associates of the Society;
To accumulate and make available geologic knowledge and data;
To encourage public appreciation of the utility and application of geologic science;
To advance the geological sciences by the promotion of research and the application of the geological sciences to public welfare and industrial life.
ARTICLE III — MEMBERSHIP
Section 1
The membership of the Society shall consist of Members, Non-Resident Members and Associates.
Section 2
Members shall be those members who have been certified as Qualified Professional Geologists by the Membership Board and who are in good standing. Only Members shall hold office, or vote on constitutional matters and shall have the right to advertise their affiliation with the Society in professional cards, professional reports or otherwise.
Section 3
Non-Resident Members shall be those members who have been certified as Qualified Professional Geologists by the Membership Board and who are in good standing, but who reside outside of the State of Illinois. They shall have the rights to advertise their affiliation with the Society in professional cards, professional reports or otherwise. They shall not vote on any constitutional matter or hold any elective office.
Any geologist who resides in a state having an organization similar to the Illinois Geological Society and who is a full and valid member of such organization and the organization has requirements, in the opinion of the Membership board, similar to those set out in this constitution to become a Qualified Professional Geologist, shall automatically be accepted as a Qualified Professional Geologist upon receipt of Non-Resident Members dues and payment for identification card and framed certificate of recognition.
Section 4
Associates shall be any person interested in the science of Geology. They shall be admitted at the discretion of the Membership Board. Associates shall enjoy all privileges of membership except that they shall not advertise their affiliation with the Society nor shall they vote on constitutional matters nor election to the Membership Board. However, they shall vote in the election of officers, serve on committees and participate in all social functions of the Society.
Section 5
Election to Membership
- The present members in good standing of the Illinois Geological Society shall comprise the membership of the successor Society, with the proviso that each member shall submit a competed application form to the Membership Board, together with such documentary evidence as required. The Membership Board shall examine all such application and shall classify each application as a Member. Non-Resident Member or Associate of the Illinois Geological Society under this Constitution.
- Members: An applicant who is a resident of the State of Illinois shall submit to the Membership Board a completed application form, signed by three sponsors, such documentation as required by the Board and fees as specified by the By-Laws of the Society. Any such applicant may be admitted or not admitted at the discretion of the Membership Board.
- Non-Resident Members: An applicant who is a Non Resident of the State of Illinois shall submit to the Membership Board a completed application form, signed by three sponsors, such documentation as required by the Board and fees as specified by the By-Laws of the Society. Any such applicant may be admitted or not admitted at the discretion of the Membership Board.
- Associates: An applicant shall submit to the Membership Board a completed form signed by three sponsors and fees as specified by the By-Laws of the Society.
- Sponsors: Sponsors shall be Members of the Society.
Section 6 — Ethics
Each Member, Non-Resident Member and Associate shall be guided by the highest standard of business ethics, personal honor, and professional conduct. Qualified Professional Geologists in their application for recognition shall formally subscribe to the Code of Ethics of the Society, pledge strict adherence to it and shall voluntarily submit to and be bound by any disciplinary action taken by the properly constituted authority of the Society. Associates of the Society shall make a similar declaration and subscription on their application.
ARTICLE IV — GOVERNMENT
All powers of government of this Society, except those reserved unto the Membership Board, shall be vested in a Board of Governors which shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, Recorder and Immediate Past President.
ARTICLE V – OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES
Section 1
The officers of the Society shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, and Recorder.
Section 2
Election of Officers: A Nominating Committee of three members shall be appointed by the President. This Committee shall nominate one candidate for each office and shall inform the Society of its selection at the regular April meeting. At the next regularly scheduled meeting there shall be nominations from the floor. Before nominations may be closed at least one candidate shall be nominated for each office in addition to the Nominating Committee’s candidates. Ballots shall be mailed to all Members and Associates and a majority of those returned to the Board of Governors (or Ballot Committee) within two weeks of the mailing date shall constitute election. Successful candidates shall be installed at the regular June meeting.
Section 3
Duties of the President: The president shall be the presiding officer at all meetings of the Society. He shall take cognizance of the acts of the Society, of its officers and staff. He shall appoint, within the limitation described in the Constitution and By-Laws, such committees as required for the purpose of the Society and shall delegate members to represent the Society. He shall serve as Chairman of the Board of Governors. He shall not vote except to make or break a tie.
Section 4
Duties of the Vice-President: The Vice-President shall assume the office of the President in case of a vacancy for any cause in that office and shall assume the duties of President for such period or periods as that officer for any reason may be unable to perform his official duties.
Section 5
Duties of the Secretary-Treasurer: The Secretary-Treasurer shall assume the duties of the President in case the President and vice-President are for any reason unable to serve. He shall carry out those duties normally performed by a corresponding secretary, receiving all correspondence and bringing it to the attention of the proper officer, maintaining correspondence files, and sending such communications as may be necessary to the business of the Society or as directed by the Society or Board of Governors. He shall have charge of the financial affairs of the Society and shall annually submit reports as Secretary-Treasurer covering the fiscal year. He shall receive all funds of the Society and under the directions of the Board of Governors shall disburse all funds of the Society. The Secretary-Treasurer shall maintain financial records which shall be available to the Membership upon reasonable notice. The Secretary-Treasurer shall, at the discretion of the Board of Governors, be bonded.
Section 6
Duties of the Recorder: The Recorder shall advise the Society of all requirements under the Illinois Statutes as to the conduct of its meetings and business and shall act as Parliamentarian of the Society. He shall file necessary reports to the State of Illinois or any other legal body so involved. The Recorder shall record the minutes of all regular and special meetings of the Society and of the Board of Governors. Such minutes shall be recorded in an appropriate Minute Book available for inspection, at all reasonable times, by any Member of the Society.
Section 7
All officers shall assume their duties at the Annual Meeting of the Society.
Section 8
If the immediate Past President shall for any reason be unable to serve as a member of the Board of Governors. the President shall fill the vacancy by the appointment of the next available preceding Past President. A vacancy or disability occurring in the office of the Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer or Recorder shall be filled by majority vote of the Board of Governors, either for the unexpired term or for a shorter period of disability as they made decide. In the event of prolonged disability or resignation of the President. The Vice-president shall assume the office and responsibilities of President and the Board of Governors shall elect a new Vice-President to fill the unexpired term.
ARTICLE VI – MEMBERSHIP BOARD
Section 1
The Membership Board shall be comprised of the immediate Past President of the Society, who shall preside, and six elected members, as follow: one (1) geologist from the academic or government agencies, two (2) salaried company geologist, two (2) independent or consulting geologists, and one (1) geologist at large.
Section 2
Duties of the Membership Board: The Membership Board shall examine applications for membership under all categories and for recognition as Qualified Professional Geologist. It shall ascertain that applicants meet the requirements specified in the Constitution and By-Laws of this Society and shall act at its discretion in admitting applicants possessing these minimum qualifications to the several classifications of membership and to recognition as Qualified Professional Geologists.
The Membership Board is charge with the disciplinary and judiciary authority of the Society. It shall take cognizance of, investigate, and hold hearings on charges of unethical practices or misconduct by Members, Non-Resident Members, or Associates of the Society and Qualified Professional Geologists as certified by Illinois Geological Society. Such hearings are to be carried out in the manner prescribed in a later Article of this Constitution. It shall have the authority to rebuke, suspend, or expel any Member, Non-Resident Member, or Associate or revoke the certification by Illinois Geological Society of Qualified Professional Geologists upon whom such charges may be sustained, subject to the rights of appeal specified in Article X of this Constitution.
Section 3
Election of Members of the Membership Board: The President of the Society shall appoint a Nomination Committee which shall nominate one candidate for each forthcoming vacancy of the Membership Board, such nominations to be reported at the regular April meeting of the Society. At the next meeting of the Society there shall be nominations from the floor. Nominations shall not be closed until there is at least one additional nomination for each vacancy. Ballots shall be mailed to all Members and a majority of those returned to the Board of Governors (or Ballot Committee within two weeks of the mailing date shall constitute election. Successful candidates shall be installed at the regular June meeting. The nominees for the Membership Board to be elected in 1961 and 1962 must have been members of the GSA, AAPG, or SEG for a period of five years immediately preceding January 1, 1961. The terms of office shall be so arranged that two new members of the Board will be elected each year. The Initial membership of the Membership Board will be elected by such methods as may be adopted by the Society. When an elected member of the Board is unable to complete his term the President of the Society shall appoint a member in the same professorial category to fill the vacancy until the next Membership Board election. No Board Member shall succeed himself, regardless of any change in his professional category, except in the case of an interim appointee who has served for less than one year.
Section 4
Officers of Membership Board and their Duties: The Chairman of the Membership Board shall be the immediate Past President of the Society. He shall preside at all meetings of the Membership Board, shall take cognizance of the actions of the Board and of its officers and subcommittees. The Secretary of the Membership Board shall be elected by the Board for a term of one year. He shall record the minutes of all regular and special meetings of the Membership Board. He shall receive, acknowledge, and bring to the attention of the Board, all applications for membership and for recognition as Qualified Professional Geologists. He shall maintain confidential files of such applications and supporting documents and upon favorable action of the Board, shall notify applicants of their acceptance to membership in the Society. He shall issue to new members and Qualified Professional Geologists such recognition cards and certificates as the Membership Board may provide. He shall be charged with the responsibility of maintaining liaison with the Board of Governors and particularly with the Secretary-Treasurer. He shall periodically furnish the Secretary-Treasurer with lists of eligible members in all categories.
Section 5
The Membership Board, upon election, shall meet and adopt its own rules of procedure for all matters within its authority not specified In the Constitution and By-Laws of this Society.
ARTICLE VII
QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGIST
Section 1
It being one of the objectives of this Society to recognize a high level of professional attainment by members of the geological profession, the Society shall recognize geologists who possess a sound background of training and experience in geology, and who conduct themselves according to the Code of Ethics of this Society by recognition as “Qualified Professional Geologists”.
Section 2
The minimum requirements for recognition as Qualified Professional Geologists shall be as follows:
I. THOSE ENTERING THE PROFESSION BEFRE JULY 1, 1961
- Academic Requirements
Any geologist who has completed at least 90 semester hours credit, of which 24 hours were in geology, from a college or university of recognized standing.
- Experience Requirements
Ten years in practice of geology, or a Bachelor’s degree in geology or geological engineering from a college or university of recognized standing plus 3 years of experience in geology, or a Master’s degree in geology or geological engineering from a college or university of recognized standing plus 12 months in the practice of geology. Part time experience shall be computed by months of actual experience in geology. Experience obtained before achieving academic requirements cannot be counted. - Character Requirements
To be recognized as a “Qualified Professional Geologist” a person must accept and formally subscribe to the Code of Ethics of the Illinois Geological Society, and enter into a contractual agreement with the Membership Board agreeing to uphold the Code of Ethics and hold harmless the Membership Board in the event of dismissal, or other disciplinary action.
II. THOSE ENTERING THE PROFESSION AFTER JULY 1, 1961 AND BEFORE JULY 1, 1965
- Academic Requirements
A Bachelor’s or Masters degree with a major subject option in geology, with a minimum of 24 semester hours in geology from a college or university of recognized standing or the equivalent as determined by the Membership Board. - Experience Requirements
3 months in the practice of geology under the direct supervision of a ‘Qualified Professional Geologist, or under an experienced geologist who could be rated as a Qualified Professional Geologist by the Membership Board, or 24 months of experience as described above, plus a Master’s degree in geology from a college or university of recognized standing. Part time experience shall be computed by months of actual experience in geology. Experience obtained in geology before achieving Bachelor’s degree cannot be counted. - Character Requirements
These requirements shall be the same as I-C above.
III. THOSE ENTERING THE PROFESSION AFTER JULY 1, 1963
- Academic Requirements
A Bachelor’s degree in geology or a related field and a Master’s degree in geology, with a total minimum of 50 semester hours in geology, from a college or university of recognized standing. - Experience Requirements
48 months of experience in the practice of geology, two years of which must have been under the direct supervision of a “Qualified Professional Geologist” or under an experienced geologist who could be rated as a “Qualified Professional Geologist” by the Membership Board. During the two years immediately preceding application, a substantial portion of the applicant’s time shall have required original judgment in the performance of his geologic duties.
- If Bachelor’s degree was obtained in major subject option in geology, the experience time may be taken before the Master’s degree is obtained, but only after Bachelor’s degree is obtained.
- If Bachelor’s degree was not with major subject option in geology, the Master’s degree requirement must first be obtained and only experience obtained thereafter will be acceptable.
- Character Requirements
These requirements shall be the same at I-C above.
IV. EXCEPTIONS
These requirements shall be adhered to regardless of rank or membership in any other organization The Membership Board may waive specific academic requirements when, in their unanimous option, the applicant has the equivalent qualifications.
Section 3
Candidates for recognition as Qualified Professional Geologists shall submit evidence of their satisfaction of the above requirements to the Membership Board who may accept or reject such application at their discretion.
Section 4
Geologist recognized by the Membership Board as Qualified Professional Geologist shall be provided with certificates and identification cards in recognition of this status In such form as the Membership Board may direct.
Section 5
Geologists who meet the academic and character requirements for Qualified Professional Geologists, but who have not yet fulfilled the experience requirement, may from time to time be recognized by the Membership Board as “Junior Geologists” when, in the opinion of the Membership Board, such action is feasible and desirable. “Junior Geologists” shall remain Associate Members and shall be subject to the voting and candidacy limitations set forth for this class of membership.
ARTICLE VIII — MEETINGS
Section 1
Regular meetings of this Society shall be held monthly during the months between September and June, at a time and place to be determined by the Board of Governors. Notice of such meetings shall be mailed to each Member, Non-Resident Member and Associate by the Secretary- Treasurer.
Section 2
The regular June meeting of the Society shall be designated the Annual Meeting.
Section 3
The Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors will be held immediately preceding the regular June meeting.
Section 4
Special meetings of the Society or of the Board of Governors may be called by any member of the Board of Governors, save that a special meeting of the general membership must be approved by a majority of the Board of Governors or be requested by petition of at least twelve Members of the Society.
Meetings of the Board of Governors shall be held at such a time and place as may be reasonably convenient to those affected.
ARTICLE IX — FISCAL POLICIES
Section 1
The fiscal year of this Society shall terminate on June 30th.
Section 2
Dues are payable on July 1st and shall be assessed according to the By-Laws of the Society and shall be paid to the Secretary-Treasurer. Payment of dues and other assessments duly authorized by the Society shall constitute good standing.
Section 3
Any Member, Non-Resident Member, or Associate failing to pay the annual dues on or before December 31st shall be automatically dropped from the roll of membership of the Illinois Geological Society.
ARTICLE X
RESIGNATIONS AND DISCIPLINARY ACTION
Section 1
Resignations shall be accepted by the Membership Board from members in any category who are in good standing subject to the payment of all outstanding dues and obligations. Such resignation to be read at the next regular meeting of the Society.
Section 2
Any member who ceases to be a member of this Society for any reason must apply for membership de novo in this Society, except that the Membership Board, at its discretion, may reinstate a former member under exceptional and unusual circumstances.
Section 3
Any person whose membership in this Society has been terminated in any manner shall forfeit all interest any funds or other property belonging to the Society and all right to use the name, titles, seal, or other insignia of this organization.
Section 4
Each Member, Non-Resident Member and Associate shall exhaust all remedies herein provided before recourse to Courts of Law. No Member or officer of this Society shall be Individually liable in any manner for any disciplinary action taken in accordance with this Constitution.
Section 5
All complaints by any parry concerning unethical conduct or unprofessional practice by any Member, Non-Resident Member or Associate of this Society shall be referred to the Membership Board. The complainant must present such complaint to the Membership Board by a signed statement setting out In detail all particulars of the complaint. Matters not cited will not be considered. However, the identity of the complainant will be held in confidence by the Membership Board. The Membership Board, acting through one or more of Its members, shall, upon receipt of a complaint, make immediately such preliminary investigation as It shall find necessary to ascertain the validity of the charge. The results of such preliminary investigation shall be made known to the Membership Board. If, in the opinion of the Board, the preliminary investigation reveals the need for a hearing, a hearing shall be called at which time the Member, Non-Resident Member or Associate charged with misconduct, or his designee, may appear in his defense. Notice to the Member, Non-Resident Member, or Associate accused shall be mailed by registered letter and shall include a detailed statement of the charges and evidence. If the preliminary evidence does not support the charges, further proceedings will be dropped. the complainant will be so notified, and all records pertinent to the case will be destroyed.
Section 6
A Member, Non-Resident Member, or Associate, at his option, may submit any matter of ethics or professional conduct to the Membership Board for an interpretation or ruling.
Section 7
All hearings concerning unethical practices or unprofessional conduct will be held at such time and place as may be determined by the Board.
Section 8
Members. Non-Resident Members or Associates are charged with responsibility to the Society and Membership Board and, at all reasonable times, must appear and testify on any matter brought before the Board, except in matters of professional privilege.
Section 9
Members, Non-Resident Members or Associates under charges may be represented at hearings by their designee and/or counsel, provided, however, that in the event they are to be represented by counsel they shall so notify the Membership Board at least 72 hours before the hearing.
Section 10
A quorum for the Membership Board at disciplinary hearings shall be five. All decisions for disciplinary action shall require an affirmative vote of at least five members. The charges shall be read to the defendant and all evidence disclosed at the outset of the hearing. The defendant shall be permitted to answer these charges as he wishes and present any contrary evidence. No evidence or charges not disclosed in the notification of the defendant will be considered, except that, if new evidence comes to light which is deemed by the Membership Board to be of importance to the proceeding, the same shall be disclosed to the defendant at the initial convening of the hearing and the hearing may then be continued for not more than ten days upon motion of the accused.
Upon full hearing of explanations and evidence the Membership Board shall retire for deliberation. As soon as possible it must notify the defendant of one of the following actions:
Dismissal of complaint.
Conviction and penalty.
Continuation of the proceeding pending further study and investigation, the reasons for such continuance being fully explained.
Section 11
If the complainant or defendant is not satisfied with the Board’s decision, he may request a special meeting. of Members which shall be called as soon as possible following such request, such a meeting to function as a Membership Board Of The Whole. The decision of the Membership Board may be overridden by a three-quarter majority vote of those present. All records of prior hearings of the Membership Board shall be made available to such meetings.
Section 12
It shall be a guiding principle of the Membership Board, and of the Society as a whole, that a Member, Non-Resident Member or Associate under charges shall be considered to be an honorable member of the profession until such time as a final determination is reached by the Membership Board. In accordance with this principle, all members of the Society will hold confidential all matters pertaining to the Investigation of which they may have knowledge, except to properly authorized investigative committees and to the Membership Board. For the same reason, the Membership Board shall make every effort to arrive at the earliest possible decision commensurate with a fair and equitable hearing.
Section 13
All voting with regard to disciplinary matters either in the Membership Board or in a special meeting of the Society acting as a “Membership Board Of The Whole” shall be by secret written ballot.
ARTICLE XI – AFFILIATION
Section 1
In full recognition of the values of national and regional fellowship and cooperation available to this Society and its members, it is hereby declared a policy of this Society to exercise fully those privileges and associations.
Section 2
The Board of Governors shall be authorized to enter into such affiliations and associations as deemed desirable.
ARTICLE XII- BY-LAWS
Section 1
The Board of Governors shall adopt By-Laws suitable for the business of the Society and shall submit these By-Laws to the membership for ratification,
Section 2
“Roberts’ Rules of Order” shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure not specifically covered by these By-Laws.
ARTICLE XIII — AMENDMENTS
This Constitution may be amended provided that the proposed amendment be read and an opportunity for discussion given at a regular meeting of the Society at least one month previous to voting. Such vote shall be conducted by mail, the Secretary of the Society to mail to each Member of the Society a copy of the proposed amendment and appropriate ballot. A two-thirds majority of votes received within 15 days of mailing of the ballot is required for adopt ion of the amendment.
ARTICLE XIV — CONTINUITY
This Constitution, upon acceptance by two-thirds of the qualified voters of the Illinois Geological Society, shall supersede any previous constitution and amendments thereof which shall then be of no further force and effect, provided, further that the officers elected under either Constitution shall be duly constituted officers of the successor Society.
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I — OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES
Section 1
The Board of Governors shall delegate the Vice-President to serve as program chairman, reserving unto itself the authority to designate this duty as program chairman to a non-officer member.
ARTICLE II MEMBERSHIP BOARD
Section 1
Composition of Membership Board.
Past President of Society shall mean Past President of the Illinois Geological Society
Academic and/or government agencies shall mean educational Institutions, non -commercial research organizations, and any governmental department or agency employing practicing geologists.
Salaried Company Geologists shall be those geologists employed by companies, or corporations, whose income is not largely derived from professional fees or retainers.
Independent or Consulting Geologists shall be those geologists whose Income is largely derived from professional fees or retainers; or those geologists employed by organizations whose incomes are largely derived from professional fees or retainers.
Geologist at large may be a geologist in good standing from any of the above mentioned categories.
Section 2
Election of Members of the Membership Board.
The nominating committee appointed by the President of the Society shall be members of the Society in good standing.
All nominees shall be members of the Illinois Geological Society in good standing for a minimum continuing period of two years before being eligible to serve on the Membership Board. This eligibility to be attested to by the Secretary of the Membership Board and Secretary-Treasurer of the Society.
Interim appointees selected by the President of the Society must fulfill requirements as set forth for nominees to the position he is fulfilling. The eligibility of all nominees shall be verified by the Secretary of the Membership Board and the Secretary-Treasurer of the Society.
Section 3
The Membership Board has adopted a set of By-Laws to facilitate their operations and these By-Laws shall be available to all members of the Illinois Geological Society at any time.
ARTICLE III – MEETINGS
Section 1
The Board of Governors of the Society shall meet as specified under Section 4, Article VIII of the Constitution. A quorum of the Board of Governors must be present at any and all meetings before any official action can be taken on any item if Society business. A quorum for the Board of Governors shall be four members.
Section 2
In the event that under unforeseen circumstances the annual June Meeting cannot be held as called, the Board of Governors will set an alternate date within a reasonable time for the annual meeting.
Section 3
Business meetings may be conducted at any of the regular meetings of the Society during the months between September and June. Robert’s Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary authority for all matter of procedure not specifically covered.
ARTICLE IV – FISCAL POLICIES
Section 1
The annual due of Members, Non-Resident Members and associates shall be Three dollars ($3.00). The annual dues are payable in advance on July 1. A statement shall be mailed to each Member, Non-Resident Member and Associate before July 1. A second statement will either be mailed separately or included with the October meeting notice. Any Member, Non-Resident Member or Associate failing to pay the annual dues on or before December 31, shall be notified that they are being dropped from the roll of membership of that Illinois Geological Society.
Section 2
Fees assessed by the Membership Board for Certificates and Identification cards are supplement to regular dues and/or assessments of the Illinois Geological Society.
Section 3
The Board of Governors may, at its discretion, suspend or waive annual dues and fees assessed by the Membership Board to Members, Non-Resident Members or Associates serving in the armed forces of the United States without otherwise affection their membership status, except that they shall not receive any meeting notices or publications of the Society during a period for which no dues are paid.
Section 4
The Board of Governors, in order to recognize distinguished service to the geological profession, ay waive payment of dues and fees assessed by the Society to any Member or Non-Resident Member who, in the unanimous opinion of the Board of Governors, merits such recognition.
ARTICLE V – COMMITTEES
Section 1
The President of the Society shall appoint committees as needs for certain committees arise. He shall also appoint chairmen for these committees.