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Bylaws
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These Bylaws were adopted by the membership in attendance January 28, 1999.
They were revised per attorney recomendation March 18, 2000.
They were amended, pursuant to Article VII, by the membership on October 27, 2005.
Article I - Name and Purpose
The name of this organization shall be the Greenbelt Astronomy Club, Inc. Astronomical Society of Greenbelt, Inc., hereinafter referred to
as the Organization.
The purpose of this organization shall be the education and mutual
improvement of its members and the public in the science of astronomy
and the encouragement of an interest in this science among others. No
part of the net income of this group shall inure to the benefit of any
of its
members or any private individual.
Article II - Membership
- Section 1.
- Membership shall be open
to all members of the public aged 13 years or older with an interest in
astronomy upon payment of the annual
dues. Membership is not required for attending public meetings or star
parties.
- Section 2.
- Membership in this organization shall be composed of
several classes. Applications for membership is a written form, which can be obtained from any one of the officers.
- Individual membership - Individual memberships are available to
anyone
aged 13 years or older. Annual dues are due in January of each year.
The amount of the dues shall be determined by a majority vote in a duly
assembled meeting, a quorum being present. Individual memberships count
as a single vote. Members may vote by proxy when absent from a meeting,
by giving their proxy vote to any
club Organization officer. The Greenbelt Astronomy
Club Organization
is also a member of the Astronomical League and therefore members will
receive a copy of the Astronomical
League Newsletter, "The Reflector", as a benefit of membership.
Additionally, each member may also subscribe to the publication SKY AND
TELESCOPE at a
discounted rate. The cost of the subscription is to be paid to the club Organization's
Treasurer each year when the member's subscription renewal is due.
- Family Membership - Family memberships are available when more than one family member desires membership in the
club
Organization. A family membership counts as a single membership in the club Organization.
Annual dues are due in January of each year. The amount of the dues
shall be determined by a majority vote in a duly assembled meeting, a
quorum being
present. All family members aged 13 years or older present at a meeting
have one vote. When no family members are present at a meeting, a
single vote by proxy
may be made by giving the proxy vote to any club Organization officer. The Greenbelt
Astronomy Club Organization
is also a member of the Astronomical League; family memberships will
receive a single membership
in the Astronomical League and a single copy of the Astronomical League
Newsletter, "The Reflector", as a benefit of membership. Memberships in
the
Astronomical League for other family members may be purchased through
the club Organization by paying the additional Astronomical League dues to the
Treasurer. Additionally,
family members may also subscribe to the publication SKY AND TELESCOPE
at a discounted rate. The cost of the subscription is to be paid to the
club Organization's Treasurer each year when the member's subscription renewal is due.
- For new members joining in the months from July to December, the
membership fee is reduced to half that of the regular membership fee.
- Complimentary/Honorary Membership - This membership class is open for maintaining contacts with other
astronomy clubs astronomical organizations, or publicity or for other special
events. It has no dues or voting privileges.
- Section 3.
- One quarter of the number of full memberships in
good standing shall constitute a quorum. A quorum must be present at any meeting of the
organization Organization at
which a vote is taken committing it to any proposal or action.
Article III - Meetings
Stated meetings of the organization shall be at times that are determined
by the officers.
Article IV - Rules of Order and Parliamentary Authority
- Section 1.
- The order of business shall be such as is required by the occasion.
- Section 2.
- Robert's Rules of Order shall be the authority on all questions of procedure and parliamentary law not covered by these Bylaws.
Article V - Board of Directors and Officers
- Section 1.
- The elected officers of
this
organization shall serve as the Board of Directors and shall consist of
a President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. The officers
shall serve
without remuneration and they shall meet at least once a month.
- Section 2.
The officers shall be elected by
secret
ballot at the February meeting of the organization, to take office
immediately, and they shall serve until their successors have been
installed.
The officers shall be elected at a meeting of the
Organization designated at the time of the previous election, pursuant
to the
stipulations of Section 3 of this Article. Should a quorum not be
present at the designated meeting, an election may be held, with the
new officers serving
in a provisional status until the next meeting at which a quorum is
present. At that time officers shall be elected and their terms of
service specified,
pursuant to the Section 3 of this Article.
- Section 3.
- The officers shall serve
for one year, and should a term of not less than six months and
not more than one year. If a shorter term is not specified, the term shall be one year. Should
any office become vacant, the remaining officers shall
make a temporary appointment for the rest of the term. There shall be a
limit of two consecutive terms for the office of President. There is no
restriction
on the number of successive terms for any other office.
- Section 4.
- Any member in good standing may serve in any of
the official offices.
- Section 5.
- The duties of the President, Vice
President, Treasurer and Secretary shall
be the efficient management of this organization. An additional
position of Astronomical League Coordinator (ALCOR) is an appointed
position by the
President. The duties shall include but not be limited to:
- President:Arrange and run the meetings of the
club Organization
Arrange for speakers or demonstrations at the meetings
Assign duties to the membership as needed
Cosign checks from the Club Organization's Investment/Capital fund
- Vice President:Arrange
club Organization activities outside of meetings
Run the meetings in lieu of the President
Maintain the club Organization's equipment in working order
Manage Certification for use of Club Organization equipment
Coordinate the need for new equipment
- Treasurer: Sign checks from the
Club Organization's Operating fund
Cosign checks from the club Organization's Investment/Capital fund
- Secretary: Record and distribute the official minutes of meetings to the members of the
Greenbelt Astronomy Club Organization
Act as the liason with the Sky Publishing Corporation
Maintain membership records
Handle announcements of Club Organization activities to the members and the general public.
Provides information about the Club Organization to new and prospective members
- ALCOR:(appointed by the President yearly a non-elected position)
Act as the liason with the Astronomical League
Maintain liasons with other astronomy clubs organizations
The President can assume the duties of the other officers as needed.
Article VI - Committees
- Section 1.
- Special committees may be created and appointed by the
President. All members of the organization are eligible for service on committees.
- Section 2.
- The Astronomy Day Committee will be a standing committee. The members will
be volunteers among the
club's Organization's membership. The President will appoint the committee chair.
- Section 3:
- The Observatory Committee is for the purpose of planning
the fundraising, design, construction, and staffing of the Greenbelt Municipal Observatory.
- Section 4:
- The Greenbelt Labor Day Festival Committee is responsible
for the planning of the
Greenbelt Astronomy Club's Organization's participation in the Greenbelt Labor Day Festival.
Article VII - Financial
- Section 1.
There will be two
banking
accounts for the Greenbelt Astronomy Club. 1) An operating account
which will provide funds for the regular club operations (i.e.:
postage, copying) and 2) an
Investment/Capital account which will provide funds for large-scale
projects and activities (i.e. Observatory Construction, Astronomy Day,
etc.)
The Organization may establish accounts at
financial institutions to conduct its normal operations and to build
funds for its larger
projects.
- Section 2.
- The
club
Organization
will vote spending limits for operational categories annually
in June. These limits will be 1) maximum monthly expenditures from the
operations account on checks which can be written on Treasurer's
signature, 2) maximum quarterly expenditures from the Capital account
which can be written on the Treasurer and President's signature. 3)
Maximum quarterly expenditures, which can be, approved by vote the
Board of Directors. The Club Organization
must vote any expenditure beyond these amounts.
- Section 3.
- The
Club Organization's
Fiscal Year shall be the Calendar Year, ending December 31st.
Article VIII - Amendments
- Section 1.
- Except as otherwise
specifically
provided herein, these Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote in a
duly assembled meeting, a quorum being present, provided that notice of
the proposed
amendment has been given at the preceding meeting.
- Section 2.
- No amendment of these Bylaws that would
require reorganization or dissolution shall be made except by a
three-fourths vote in a
duly assembled meeting, a quorum being present, and provided that
written notice of the proposed amendment was duly mailed, thirty days
prior to
such meeting, to each member in good standing.
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