Constitution
PROPOSED NEW 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 all Members and all branches of the profession;
To foster higher standards of education 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.
ARTICLE III — MEMBERSHIP
Section l The membership of the Society shall consist of Members, Non—Resident Members and Associates.
Section 2 Members shall be those persons who have had training and experience as a geologist and who have been elected into the membership by the Board of Governors. Only members shall have the
right to advertise their affiliation with the Society on professional cards and reports, or other professional documents.
Section 3 Non-resident Members shall be those persons who have had training and experience as a geologist, but who reside outside of the State of Illinois and who have been elected into the membership by the board of governors. They shall have the right to advertise their affiliation with the Society on professional cards, reports or other professional documents.
Section 4 Associates Members shall be those persons interested in the science of Geology. They shall be elected into the membership by the Board of Governors. 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. 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
A. The present members in good standing of the Illinois Geological Society shall comprise the membership of the successor Society with the provision that each member shall submit a
completed application form to the Board of Governors, together with such documentary evidence as required. The Board of Governors shall examine all such applications and shall classify each applicant as
a Member, a non—resident Member or Associate of the Illinois Geological Society under this Constitution.
B. Members: An applicant who is a resident of the State of Illinois shall submit to the Board of Governors a complete application form, and 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 Board.
C. Non-Resident Members: An applicant who is a Non-resident of the State of Illinois shall submit to the Board of Governors a completed application form, 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 Board.
D. Associates: An applicant shall submit to the Board of Governors a completed application form and fees as specified by the By Laws of the Society.
E. 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.
ARTICLE IV — GOVERNMENT
All powers of government of this Society, shall be vested in a Board of Governors which shall consist of the President, Vice—President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Immediate past 3 Presidents.
ARTICLE V — OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES
Section 1 — The officers of the Society shall be President, Vice- President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
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. Ballots shall be mailed to all Members and associates and a majority 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 Annual meeting.
Section 3 Duties of the President: The President shall be the presiding officer at all meetings of the Society. He/She shall take cognizance of the acts of the Society, of its officers and staff. He/She shall appoint, within the limitations prescribed in the Constitution and By—Laws, such committees as required for the purposes 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. He/She is responsible for program development.
Section 5 Duties of the Secretary: The Secretary shall assume the duties of the President in case the President and Vice—President are for any reason unable to serve. He/She 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/She advise the Society of all requirements under the Illinois Statues 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 Secretary 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. The Secretary shall maintain a current membership list containing the names of all members, non— resident members, and associate members.
Section 6 Duties of the Treasurer: The Treasurer shall have charge of the financial affairs of the Society and shall annually submit reports as 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 treasurer shall maintain financial records which shall be available to the Membership upon reasonable notice. The Treasurer shall, at the discretion of the Board of Governors, be bonded.
Section 7 All officers shall assume their duties at the Annual Meeting of the Society.
Section 8 If the immediate past Presidents 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, or Treasurer 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 may 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 – 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
Section 2 The regular September 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 September 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 VII – 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 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 VIII – RESIGNATIONS
Section 1 Resignations shall be accepted by the Board of Governors from members in any category who are in good standing subject to the payment of all outstanding dues and obligations.
Section 2 Any member who ceases to be a member of this Society for any reason must reapply for membership as a new member in this Society, except that the Board of Governors, 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 in any funds or other property belonging to the Society and all right to use the name, titles, seal, or other insignia of this organization.
ARTICLE IX – 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 X – 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 “Robert’s Rules of Order” shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure not specifically covered by these By-Laws.
ARTICLE XI – 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 adoption of the amendment.
ARTICLE XII – CONTINUITY
This Constitution, upon acceptance by two—thirds of the qualified voters of the Illinois Geological Society shall supersede any previous constitutions 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 — MEETINGS
Section 1. — The Board of Governors of the Society shall meet as specified under Section 4, Article VI 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 of Society business. A quorum for the Board of Governors shall be four members.
Section 2. — In the event that under unforeseen circumstances the Annual 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 matters of procedure not specifically covered.
ARTICLE II — FISCAL POLICIES
Section 1. The annual dues of Members, Non—Resident Members and Associates shall be Ten dollars ($10.00). The annual dues are payable in advance on August 1. A statement shall be mailed to each Member, Non—Resident Member and Associate before August 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 dies on or before December 31, shall be notified that they are being dropped from the roll of membership of the Illinois Geological Society. Any person dropped
from the roll will be eligible to receive the Annual meeting notice.
Section 2. The Board of Governors, in order to recognize distinguished service to the geologic profession may 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 III – COMMITTEES
Section l The President of the Society shall appoint committees as needs for certain committees arise. He shall also appoint chairmen for these committees.