SAULT NATURALISTS OF ONTARIO AND MICHIGAN

CONSTITUTION

Insert date of approval

Article 1 -- NAME

This organization shall be known as the SAULT NATURALISTS OF ONTARIO AND MICHIGAN, herein after known as The Club.

Article 2 -- OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this organization shall be to provide its members with a common meeting ground for the exchange of ideas and for broadening their knowledge and understanding of natural science; to promote the appreciation, preservation and conservation of our natural heritage; and to support and cooperate with other organizations with similar aims.

Article 3 -- MEMBERSHIP

Any person or family shall, upon payment of dues, become a member of this organization. Payment of the Annual Dues as set out in the Bylaws shall be a condition for maintaining membership. Membership classifications in the club are: Regular, Family, Student, Honorary, Life and Charter members.

  1. Individual members may hold office and vote at business meetings.
  2. Family members consist of parent(s) and dependent children. Adult members may hold office and vote at business meetings.
  3. Charter members are those members who were present at the first, second, or third meeting of the SAULT NATURALISTS OF ONTARIO AND MICHIGAN.
  4. Honorary members shall be elected on recommendation of the Board of Directors by a majority vote of the general membership in recognition of distinguished service related to the purposes of the club.
  5. Life members shall be those persons who paida lump sum for such membership as outlined in the bylaws. Such persons shall be entitled to hold office and vote at business meetings.

Article 4 -- FUNDS

  1. The CURRENT FUND shall contain the working money of the club for current operations. This fundshall receive all normal income such as regular membership fees and other money not allocated to specific purposes.
  2. Money received for life memberships shall be deposited in an interest generating account and only the interest shall be used for club expenses, except by express permission from the general membership.

Article 5 -- OFFICERS

Officers of the club shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, andObservation Secretary who shall be elected at the Annual Meeting of the club. A special election may be held at a regular meeting to fill an official vacancy upon notice of such election to members. Such notice shall be posted electronically and/or via a printed notice.

Article 6 -- BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR EXECUTIVE BOARD

The Board of Directors or Executive Board shall consist of the elected officers of the club and chairpersonsof standing committees. Upon retirement of the President from office, the President shall continue to be a member of the Board of Directors for one year. The Board of Directors shall meet from time to time at the call of the President or any two of its members; it shall manage all matters affecting the welfare and activities of the club; it shall manage all matters of the funds of club; it shall present at the Annual Meeting a report on the year’s work. The Boardshall have power to accept any resignation and to appoint any member of the club to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the term of office.

Article 7 -- TERM OF OFFICE

All persons elected or appointed shall commence their duties at the close of the meeting at which they are elected or appointed and shall serve until the end of the next Annual Meeting or until their successors are elected or appointed.

Article 8 -- QUORUM

Ten members shall constitute a quorum to conduct business of the club and five members shall constitute a quorum of the Board of Directors. If membership declines below thirty, a general membership meeting shall determine the future of the club. In case of dissolution, assets of the SAULT NATURALISTS OF ONTARIO AND MICHIGAN shall be turned over to one or more affiliated organizations as decided at that general membership meeting.

Article 9 -- DUTIES OF OFFICERS

  1. The President shall preside at regular meetings of the Club and at meetings of the Board of Directors.
  2. The President shall be ex-officio member of all committees of the SAULT NATURALISTS OF ONTARIO AND MICHIGAN.
  3. The Vice-President shall assist the President in his/her duties and shall in his/her absence or at his/her request act in his/her stead.
  4. The Secretary shall keep minutes of the proceedings of the General Membership Meetings, the Annual Meetings and the Board Meetings and handle correspondence and filing copies of same.
  5. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the funds of the club. The Treasurer shall submit a quarterly and annual financial statement.
  6. The Observation Secretary shall record bird and mammal observations reported by members and shall maintain such records to provide information on population dynamics to members and other interested parties.
  7. Cheques and any banking documents shall be signed by the Treasurer, or in his/her absence, the President or Vice-President.

Article 10 -- STANDING COMMITTEES

There shall be threeStanding Committees: Program Committee, Field Trips Committee, and Environmental Action Committee. The President shall appoint chairpersons for the Program, Field Trip and Environmental Action Committees. Each chairperson shall have the power to select members of his/her committee from among the members in good standing of the Club. From time to time the Board of Directors may set up other committees to deal with specific questions.

Article -11 The President shall appoint a person who will be responsible for membership recruitment and keeping membership records.

Article- 12 The President shall appoint a person who will be responsible for keeping the archival records of the club and catalog of all properties belonging to the Club.

Article- 13 The President shall appoint a person who will be responsible for creating publicity for the Club include including notices of meetings, field trips and outings and special activities of the Club.

Article 14 -- AUDITOR

An Auditor will be appointed by the President, who shall examine the Treasurer’s accounts and certify as to their accuracy. The Treasurer shall present the audited report at the Annual Meeting.

Article 15 -- ANNUAL MEETING

The Annual Meeting of the Club will be held at such time and place as specified in the Bylaws.

At the end of a monthly General Meeting, a Business Meeting may be held that will serve to allow business that is normally conducted at the Annual Meeting in February to be completed.

Article 16 -- ELECTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

At the October meeting the President shall appoint a nominating committee to present a slate of officers at the Annual Meeting. Other nominations will be accepted from the floor.

Article 17 -- AFFILIATIONS

The SAULT NATURALISTS OF ONTARIO AND MICHIGAN is affiliated with the Ontario Naturalists, the Michigan Audubon Society and NatureCanada. Directors may appoint representatives to such affiliates from year to year.

Articles 18 -- AMENDMENTS

An Amendment to this constitution may be made at an Annual Meeting of the Club by a two-thirds vote of members present, notice having been sent to the Secretary, who shall present it at a meeting of the Board of Directors at least two months previous to such Annual Meeting. Notification of a proposed Amendment shall be posted electronically and/or via a printed newsletter least one month before the Annual Meeting at which a vote on the Amendment is to be taken.

Article 19 -- BYLAWS

A Quorum may propose Bylaws that are consistent with the provisions of the Articles of this Constitution. The Bylaws and any amendments thereto shall be adopted by a two-thirds majority at a General Membership Meeting.

SAULT NATURALISTS OF ONTARIO AND MICHIGAN

BYLAWS

REVISED 2009

THESE BYLAWS of the SAULT NATURALISTS OF ONTARIO AND MICHIGAN (hereinafter referred to as the “Club”) shall be effective upon adoption by a quorum of the general membership of the Club, as voted upon at a General Membership Meeting.

I.MEMBERSHIP DUES STRUCTURE:

1. On an annual basis, January 1 through December 31, dues shall be in the following amounts:

a.Individual membership$20.00

b.Family membership (parents and children)$25.00

c. Student (including university) $10.00

d. Life member - recognized upon a one-time payment of $225.00

2. The above amounts shall be acceptable in either Canadian or United States funds.

3. Monies received for the first three categories shall be applied against the earliest unpaid yearly dues.

4. Monies received for Life Memberships shall be set aside in a special endowment account; only the interest thereon may be used for current expenses of the Club, as specified in Article 4-3 of the Constitution.

II. DISCIPLINE:

  1. A member may be expelled from the Club for conduct or activities prejudicial to the well-being of the Club. The procedure shall be as follows:

a.A member who considers the actions or behavior of another member to be prejudicial shall submit a complaint in writing to the President.

b.The President shall convene a meeting of the general membership to discuss the complaint.

c.If the complaint is of such a nature that, in the unanimous opinion of the members, it demonstrates prejudicial behavior, the member will be asked to resign.

d.If the opinion of the members is not unanimous, the member may be reprimanded but not asked to resign.

  1. Any member of the Club convicted of violating any existing governmental law pertaining to plant and animal life may be suspended for such period of time as the Board of Directors may deem appropriate.
III. MEETINGS
  1. GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS shall be held at a time and place to be determined by the Executive Board.
  2. The ANNUAL MEETING shall be held on the second Tuesday of February at such time and place to be determined by the committee responsible for the event. In the event of a special civic or national occasion or festival, the time and or place of the meeting may be changed to coincide with the celebration, with the consent of the Executive Board.
  3. EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS shall be held at least quarterly.
  4. Robert’s Rules of Order shall be followed at all business meetings.

IV. FIELD TRIPS:

1. Although all persons are eligible to go on field trips organized by the Club, some trips may not be appropriate for certain individuals, to wit:

a. Some trips may cover rugged terrain which requires unusual physical strength and agility.

b. Some trips may be of such duration that a good deal of stamina is required. Therefore, it should be responsibility of the trip leader to discourage anyone from attempting to participate if, in the leader’s judgment, a person does not have the physical strength to safely overcome any hardships which may be encountered.

2. It shall not be considered appropriate for members or friends to bring pets on field trips.

3. Members and friends are encouraged to bring children, provided that the children are mature enough and of sufficient physical stamina to meet the rigorous of thetrip and provided that they remain under the parents’ control and supervision.

4. The leader of the trip shall have the authority to reprimand any individual who is making a nuisance of him/herself or who is not observing a proper regard for the natural environment.

V. DISBURSEMENTS:

  1. Before the end of the year, the Treasurer shall prepare a budget for the forthcoming year from information received from the officers and committee heads.
  2. The Executive Board may authorize an unbudgeted expense up to $100.00.
  3. Any expense in excess of $100.00 which has not been budgeted must be presented at a General Membership Meeting and authorized by the members.

VI. AMENDMENTS:

Amendments to these Bylaws may be presented at any meeting at which a quorum of members is present. Such amendments shall be adopted by a two-thirds majority of the members present at a General Membership Meeting.