SEG Sections and Associated Societies

SEG Sections and Associated Societies

Your Global Geophysical Network

MODEL BYLAWS

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this Society shall be the ______Geophysical Society. It shall be the ______Section/Associated Society of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists.

ARTICLE II - OBJECTIVE

The objective of this Society will be to promote the science of Geophysics and to promote the fellowship and cooperation among those persons interested in geophysical methods and problems.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

1. Membership

There shall be three classes of membership: Active Membership, Honorary Life Membership and Student Membership.

a. Active Membership

All members in good standing on the date of ratification of these Bylaws shall be classed as Active Members. Any person interested in the science of geophysics may apply for Active Membership. Such application must be sponsored by two Active Members (with the exception of Active Members of the parent Society of Exploration Geophysicists, who may be accepted for membership without sponsorship) and submitted in writing for approval by the Executive Committee. The Secretary shall notify the applicant of the action of the committee and, if the action is favorable, enclose a dues statement for the current year.

b. Honorary Life Membership

Honorary Life Membership may be extended to any member on the recommendation of the Honors and Awards Committee and the unanimous approval of the Executive Committee.

c. Student Membership

Students enrolled in the recognized college or university may become Student Members on the sponsorship of two Active Members and the approval of the Executive Committee. On approval, the Secretary shall notify the applicant of his election and enclose a dues statement for the current year. Student Members shall have no vote and such membership will automatically terminate when the student leaves school.

d. A member may resign at any time. Such resignation shall be in writing and shall be accepted by the Executive Committee.

e. A member may be expelled from the Society by unanimous vote of the Executive Committee.

2. Dues

a. The fiscal year of the Society shall be from June 1 to May 31 of the following year. An invoice for payment of annual dues for the following fiscal year shall be mailed to members on or before April 1, except to Honorary Life Members who shall be exempt from dues.

b. Annual dues for Active Members and Student Members shall be payable on or before June 1 of each year.

c. A member whose dues are not paid by December 31 shall have no vote and may be dropped from the Society rolls on approval of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE IV - CODE OF ETHICS

The code of ethics of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists shall be adopted as a guide for the ______Geophysical Society.

ARTICLE V - NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

1. The Nominating Committee shall consist of the President, as Chairman, and the two most recent available Past-Presidents. If no Past-Presidents are available, the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee from members of this Society.

2. The Nominating Committee shall nominate two candidates for each office of this Society. Consent of all candidates for nomination shall be obtained before the slate is presented to the members.

3. Representatives to the Council of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists shall be elected as provided for in the Bylaws of that Society.

4. A slate of candidates shall be presented to the members during March.

5. Additional nominations may be made in writing, signed by ten or more members in good standing, and presented at the April meeting.

6. The Secretary will mail ballots to all members immediately after the April meeting. In order to be valid, these ballots must be received by the Chairman of the Nominating Committee at least ten (10) days prior to the annual meeting.

The Nominating Committee shall be responsible for the tally of the ballots. The candidate receiving the greatest number of valid votes for each office shall be declared elected. The President shall announce the newly elected officers at the annual meeting.

ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES

1. The officers of this Society shall be: President, First Vice-President (or President-Elect), Second Vice-President (or Vice-President), Secretary, and Treasurer. These officers shall be elected for one (1) year and their term of office shall be from June 1 to May 31, inclusive.

2. The President shall:

a. Preside at meetings of the Society.

b. Preside at meetings of the Executive Committee and of the Nominating Committee.

c. Call Special Meetings when deemed advisable.

d. Appoint all committees except as he may delegate in writing.

e. Call a joint meeting of the outgoing and incoming Executive Committees to convene between the annual meeting and the end of the fiscal year in order to promote continuity of administration.

3. The First Vice-President (President-Elect) shall:

a. Assume the duties of the President in the absence of that officer, and become President for the remainder of the term in event of death or resignation of that officer.

b. Be responsible for the Technical Programs of the Society.

c. Determine the date and time for Regular Meetings and for Special Meetings as directed by the Executive Committee.

4. The Second Vice-President (Vice-President) shall:

a. Be Entertainment Chairman of the Society.

b. Be Publicity Chairman of the Society.

c. Make the necessary technical arrangements for meetings. This includes reserving a place for meetings, taking reservations for dinner meetings, and providing audio-visual equipment as needed.

d. Provide refreshments at meetings as directed by the Executive Committee.

5. The Secretary shall:

a. Maintain a complete, up-to-date list of the membership and, in conjunction with the Treasurer, mail invoices for payment of annual dues.

b. Keep the minutes of all meetings of the Society and of the Executive Committee

c. Mail advance notices of proposed amendments to these Bylaws.

d. Mail advance notice of all meetings to members.

e. Transact any other business as directed by the Executive Committee.

6. The Treasurer shall:

a. Receive, disburse and keep accurate account of all Society funds.

b. Mail notices as directed by the Executive Committee to those members whose dues are not paid when due.

c. Sell tickets at Society functions when such service is not otherwise provided.

d. Report on the condition of the treasury at each Annual Meeting and at other times on request by the President.

e. Make the records of the Treasurer available to an Audit Committee to be appointed by the President.

ARTICLE VII - MEETINGS

1. The Regular Meetings shall be held once each month, except during the months of June, July, and August. Exceptions to this shall be approved by the Executive Committee. At regular meetings where business is to be transacted a quorum of ___% of active members is required.

2. The Annual Meeting shall be held at the Regular Meeting date in May. A quorum shall consist of ___% of active members in good standing.

ARTICLE VIII - COMMITTEES AND THEIR DUTIES

1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, First Vice-President (or President-Elect), Second Vice-President (or Vice-President), Secretary, Treasurer, and the most recent available Past-President. During the first year, the Membership Committee Chairman shall serve as the sixth member of the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee shall:

a. Fill all vacancies of Officers and Representatives occurring between elections except as otherwise provided for in these Bylaws.

b. Recommend affiliation of this Society with any duly organized groups or societies before presenting affiliation for vote by the members. This vote shall be by mail ballot.

c. Transact all business of this Society not otherwise herein specifically provided for.

d. All decisions of this Committee shall be determined by a majority vote when a quorum of four (4) or more members is present.

2. An Honors and Awards Committee, appointed by the President, shall have the duty to review the rolls of the Society to determine if in its judgment there are candidates for Honorary Life Membership or for other honor or recognition and to recommend such candidates to the Executive Committee.

3. An Audit Committee of at least two members shall be appointed by the President. Their duties shall be to make audits of the Society's accounts at the direction of the Executive Committee. Such audits shall be made at least once a year within ten (10) days prior to the Annual Meeting. A report of the audit shall be submitted to the President for presentation at the Annual Meeting.

4. A Membership Committee, appointed by the President, shall have the duty to search out interested, qualified persons and to encourage them to apply for membership. The Chairman of this Committee shall serve also on the Membership Committee of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists.

5. A Public Relations Committee shall be appointed by the President to provide information to the public and to provide speakers or representatives of the Society to Public Schools, the Science Fair, and to other functions as requested by the President.

ARTICLE IX - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Society in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws.

ARTICLE X - DISSOLUTION

1. If the Society is unable to hold two technical sessions a year or to elect a full slate of officers, the existing Executive Committee or remaining responsible active members will notify the membership that their Society is declared inactive.

2. If the Society is unable or unwilling to regain active status, the existing Executive Committee or the remaining responsible active members have the responsibility to orderly dissolve the Society.

3. In the event of dissolution of the Society, all property and assets remaining after all outstanding debts are paid shall go and be distributed to the Society of Exploration Geophysicists or to such nonprofit organizations as the existing Executive Committee or remaining responsible active members may select. In no event shall any of the property or assets be distributed to the remaining members.

4. Upon completion of dissolution of the Society, the existing Executive Committee or the remaining responsible active members shall notify the Executive Director of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists of the dissolution of the Society and of the distribution of the property and assets of the Society.

ARTICLE XI - AMENDMENTS

1. These Bylaws may be amended at any Regular Meeting of the Society by three-fourths (3/4) of the votes cast, provided the proposed amendments shall first have been approved by the Executive Committee, read at a Regular Meeting, and submitted in writing to the membership at large at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the Regular Meeting at which the vote is to be taken.

2.  Nothing in these Bylaws shall be inconsistent with the Bylaws of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists.