Central Virginia Chapter Of the American Meteorological Society

CONSTITUTION

 

ARTICLE I____NAME

Section 1. The name of this association shall be the Central Virginia Chapter of the American Meteorological Society (AMS). Hereafter in this Constitution, the association shall be referred to as the Chapter and the American Meteorological Society as the Society.

 

 

ARTICLE II____OBJECTIVE

Section 1. The objective of the Chapter is to promote and disseminate knowledge of meteorology in all its phases and applications and the advancement of its professional ideals. The Chapter will encourage meteorologists and weather enthusiasts to be lifelong students of weather science.

 

 

ARTICLE III____MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership shall be on a volunteer basis to persons interested in meteorology and who agree to this Constitution. Membership shall not be restricted on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, creed, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, or any other unlawful criterion.

 

 

ARTICLE IV____DUES

Section 1. The amount and frequency of payment of membership dues shall be determined by the executive committee.

Section 2. Members delinquent in their dues by the spring meeting shall automatically be suspended from participating in committees, voting and other support functions of the Chapter until such dues are paid in full.

Section 3. Members collectively and individually are financially liable for all monetary debts incurred by the Chapter, but only up to the limit of any dues paid or payable by each individual member. Any liability above the limit of any dues paid or payable by each individual member will only be incurred if the financial liability is voted on and approved by a majority of the membership at a general meeting of the chapter where a quorum is present.

 

 

ARTICLE V____OFFICERS

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Section 1. The Elective Officers of this Chapter shall be:

(a) President, (b) Vice President, (c) Secretary - Treasurer

Section 2. All Elective Officers and candidates for office must hold active membership in the Chapter.

Section 3. Elected officers shall hold office for one year unless they resign or are removed by the membership. An elected officer may be removed by a majority vote of the attending members at a Business meeting held by the Chapter.

Section 4. The Elective Officers can be re-elected but may not hold the same office more for than 3 consecutive terms.

Section 5. The Elective Officers shall be elected during the spring business meeting by the majority of active members of the Chapter.

Section 6. The Elective Officers and the Past President of the Chapter shall comprise the executive committee.

Section 7. If any officer, other than the President, becomes incapable of performing his or her duties, or his or her office is vacated, the President may reassign that officer’s duties among the other officers. If more than one office is vacant at the same time, then elections shall be conducted to fill these offices. Depending on the incapability of an officer, other than President, that office may be filled temporarily, or until the next scheduled election, by Executive committee action, or election, respectively. If both the President and Vice-President become incapable of performing their duties, or their offices become vacant, then the Secretary-Treasurer shall temporarily assume the Presidency until after elections can be held to fill the vacancy(s) or at least one of the officers again becomes able to assume the Presidency. Likewise, the Past President shall succeed the Secretary-Treasurer to the Presidency until after elections can be held to fill the vacancy(s) or at least the President or Vice-President becomes able to assume the Presidency. If all Executive committee members are incapacitated and unable to carry out their duties, then the Chapter shall elect a temporary Chairperson who shall conduct business until after elections can be held to fill vacant offices, or at least the President or Vice-President becomes able to assume the Presidency. If an officer is incapable of performing his or her duties for more than 60 days, then his or her office automatically becomes vacant. Elections to fill vacant offices shall be held within 30 days of the time the office became vacant, and shall be by majority vote of the business meeting quorum. The incapability of an officer to perform his or her duties shall be decided by the capable members of the Executive Committee or else by majority vote at any business meeting.

Section 8. Executive committee meetings may be called by the President whenever the President deems it appropriate or when a majority of the executive committee deems it appropriate, and executive committee policy decisions shall then be made by polling all executive committee members for a vote. Minutes shall be taken at all executive committee meetings at which a vote was taken, and these minutes shall be presented to the Chapter in some way at the next general business meeting.

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Section 9. The executive committee members shall each have one vote. If the vote of the executive committee results in a tie vote and the matter cannot be reconciled, the matter will be voted on by a quorum of general membership and be decided by a majority of that quorum.

 

 

ARTICLE VI____MEETINGS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1. Chapter meetings

Chapter meetings include business meetings, general membership meetings, and executive committee meetings as well as any subcommittee meetings deemed appropriate by the executive committee.

(a) Business meetings are defined as meetings where the business of the Chapter takes place. All elections and any votes to amend the Constitution and/or by-laws must take place at a business meeting. The Chapter shall hold at least one business meeting a year to hold elections.

(b) General membership meetings are defined as any meeting of the association open to all members to include business meetings, social events, and field trips, but not including executive committee, committee, or subcommittee meetings. The Chapter shall hold general membership meetings at least quarterly.

(c) Executive committee meetings are any meeting of the executive committee, which shall be comprised of the officers as defined in Article V. Section 6.

Section 2. Quorum and notice:

(a) The executive committee decides on a date and place to hold business meetings. Two weeks’ notice (via mail or e-mail) must be given to all members prior to holding a business meeting. The quorum for business meetings shall be at least 25% of the active Chapter membership, including at least two members of the executive committee. If a quorum is not present at any meeting, the members shall have the power to adjourn and reconvene the meeting at any time with or without notice to the members. The required quorum at the reconvened meeting shall be 10%. Two weeks’ notice must be given to all members.

(b) The executive committee decides on the date and place to hold general membership meetings at a time most convenient for the majority of the members. There is no quorum requirement for general meetings (unless it is also a business meeting). As much notice should be given to the members as possible prior to a general members’ meeting. General membership meetings shall be held at the time and place selected by the executive committee.

Section 3. Elections.

Elective Officers shall be elected at the spring meeting, to take office at the subsequent meeting. The nominating subcommittee, which will be chosen by the executive committee, shall prepare a slate of nominees for presentation prior to the spring meeting. The slate of nominees shall be e-mailed to the members at least two weeks prior to the spring meeting. Other nominations may be made by submitting a nomination to the Secretary-Treasurer prior to the start of the meeting when elections are to take place, or on the floor of the meeting prior to the election. The newly elected officers will hold the title of President-elect, et cetera, from the election until the subsequent meeting. All records will be turned over to the officers-elect no later than 2 weeks prior to the meeting following election. Voting by e-mail is allowed as long as ballots are sent to all active

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members in good standing two weeks before the business meeting. All ballots must be received by the Secretary before the start of the meeting where the election shall take place.

Section 4. Ties

In case of election ties at Chapter meetings, re-votes between the two highest polling candidates will be taken, and if a tie still exists, the executive committee will then decide. Executive committee vote ties will only be broken by votes of the top three existing officers.

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ARTICLE VII____PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Section 1. The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised shall govern in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the Constitution and by-laws.

 

 

ARTICLE VIII____AMENDMENTS

Section 1. This Constitution shall be altered or amended by two-thirds majority of a quorum present at the meeting provided any proposed amendments shall have been presented to all of the active members of the Chapter a minimum of 30 days prior to the meeting at which any proposed amendments are to be considered.

Section 2. The Executive Committee reserves the ability to review proposed amendments to ensure they are consistent with the Society by-laws and Constitution.

Section 3. Votes cast by e-mail must be sent to the Chapter e-mail address and received by the Secretary-Treasurer before the start of the meeting at which the proposed amendments are to be considered. Effective dates must exist on all proposed amendments. Ratified constitutions must be dated by the month and year of their ratification. Constitutions may be revised and voted upon anytime during the Chapter year.

Section 4. Any proposed amendment or change shall be voted on within 120 days of the time the proposal is made to the membership.

Section 5. In the event of a favorable action, an amendment or change shall go into effect immediately unless otherwise specifically provided.

 

ARTICLE IX____NONPROFIT ASSOCIATION

Section 1. The Chapter shall not be constituted as a not-for-profit corporation. The Executive Committee may at its discretion file to have the Chapter become a non-profit organization. At no time shall the Chapter’s net income or net worth inure to the benefit of its members.

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ARTICLE X____DISSOLUTION

Section 1. Upon dissolution of the Chapter, the Elective Officers shall act as trustees who shall liquidate the assets of the Chapter, as soon as practicable, and pay all existing debts and liabilities in proportion to final available funds, including any money rightfully due members. Residual assets will be donated to the Society. If the Chapter’s debts should be greater than its assets, each member shall be equally liable for those debts but only up to the limit of any dues paid or payable by each individual member or up to the limit of any liability voted on and approved by a majority of the membership at a general meeting of the chapter at which a quorum is present.. Dissolution of the Chapter shall be accomplished by a two-thirds vote of all active members.

 

ARTICLE XI____ADOPTION OF CONSTITUTION

Section 1. By-laws and other regulations deemed necessary by the Chapter members shall be adopted and have the force and effect as if published as a part of the Constitution, provided that all such proposals adopted by the Chapter membership are consistent with this Constitution.

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