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Club Information
Education
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BY-LAWS |
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Article I: Statutory Requirements Section I: Name Section II: Type Section III:
Address Article II - Purpose This club is formed for charitable, educational and scientific purposes, for individuals and groups, for the primary purpose of: Developing and implementing programs designed to foster awareness, in individuals and in the community, with regard to astronomical developments and achievements. Promoting the science of astronomy. Providing, individuals and the community, with educational resources concerning astronomy. Promoting the study of astronomy through instruction, lectures, and public viewing. Article III - Membership Section I: Criteria Membership shall be open to anyone with an interest in astronomy. Membership shall not be denied based on race, creed, ethnic background, or for any other reason. To retain membership within the club the individual, student or family must have current dues paid. If dues are not paid, membership will be temporarily revoked until dues are renewed. Any member may be dropped from membership by a 2/3 vote of members present after a show of due cause. Section II: Categories Membership shall consist of individuals and families whose dues are current. Members shall consist of the following classes: A. Individual Membership: B. Student Membership: C. Family Membership Section III: Dues Dues will be assessed to cover the costs of operation, maintenance and improvement of club assets. Dues shall cover a twelve-month period starting January 1st and ending December 31st. Dues are due by the January Club Meeting. Dues shall be determined by a majority vote of the board and may be changed with a majority vote of the board. Dues for each category of member shall be as follows: A. Individual Membership: $20.00 per year B. Student Membership: $15.00 per year C. Family Membership: $30.00 per year New member dues paid after October 1 are good through December 31 of the following year. Dues may be changed only through amendment of these By-Laws. Scholarships based on Financial Need are available to those who can not afford dues but would like to be involved in the club. A. Applicants must complete a membership form and
attach a request for scholarship stating: B. All scholarships must be approved by the board through a majority vote of the board members. C. Scholarships are valid for one year starting January 1st and ending December 31st of the year applied for. D. Scholarship recipients must complete the
following volunteer outreach hours to the club: E. The club secretary will maintain a form for club
members to log their outreach hours. F. Outreach hours are those hours that are actively given back to the group. All outreach events including Astronomy Day, Kidz Explore, National Night Out, or Public Star Parties may be counted toward outreach hours. Club meetings and observation nights are not considered outreach hours. However, the board may approve a specific club meeting or observation night if the member provides a presentation or other service at one or more of these events. G. Scholarships may be awarded to new members anytime during the year. In order to be eligible for future scholarships new members must complete the minimum required hours stated in these bylaws by December 31st. Hours will not be prorated. H. Scholarships for renewing members will be voted upon at the annual board meeting. I. Members who have received scholarships in the
past may reapply for scholarships as long as they continue to have a need.
Renewing applicants must: J. A board member may be a scholarship recipient, however the hours spent serving on the board will not count toward outreach hours. Section IV: Voting Privileges The following classes of members have general voting privileges on all matters submitted to the membership: Section V: Meetings General meetings, for all members, shall be held on the second Tuesday of each month unless otherwise designated by a majority vote of the members present at the regular meeting. The Annual Board Meeting will be held in January as advertised. All matters coming before any meeting are to be decided on by a majority vote of members present. No member shall be entitled to vote by proxy on any question before the membership. Article IV: Officers Section I: Number The elected board of the Panhandle Astronomy Club shall consist of: President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. The appointed/voluntary positions to the Panhandle Astronomy Club board could consist of the: Newsletter Editor, Webmaster, Night Sky Coordinator, and Astronomical League Correspondent. Section II: Qualifications All current members shall be eligible to hold office. All officers must be members in good standing. An individual may hold no more than one elected office at a time. Section III: Term of Office All elected positions shall be for a term of one-year. Officers shall assume their official duties following the close of the Annual Board Meeting in January. All appointed/voluntary positions are held until the volunteer so chooses to vacate the position or removal of the board. Section IV: Vacancies A vacancy in an office shall be filled from among the eligible membership. Vacancy in an elected office shall be chosen by the board from the total membership to serve for the unexpired term. His/her appointment to an elected board position shall be confirmed by a majority vote of the members at the next club meeting. Vacancy
in an appointed/voluntary position shall be appointed by the Section V: Method of Voting Each Individual and student member in good standing shall have one vote. All family memberships in good standing shall have two votes. Good standing means their dues are current. Voting shall take place by secret ballot or raising of hands at an annual meeting held in the month of January. In the event of a tie, the president shall be permitted to break the tie by casting his ballot twice. Section VI: Removal from Office An elected or appointed officer may be removed from office. The guidelines to do this are: A petition requesting a removal must be signed by at least three elected officers and two members-at-large. Each signer of the petition must have been a club member for two or more consecutive and current years. A motion approved by the board to review such a petition shall impose an immediate and temporary suspension of the officer being reviewed. An alternate pro tem officer shall be immediately appointed, so that any delay in resolution does not leave the office vacant or inactive. The pro tem officer will not have voting privileges. The petition will be reviewed at the next club meeting and voted upon at that time. A majority vote of the entire membership is required for removal of an officer. If an officer is not removed by this procedure, the original petition is then invalid and the process must be initiated again to remove the officer. Section VII: Duties of Officers President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Newsletter Editor Webmaster Night Sky Coordinator Astronomical League Correspondent (ALCor) VIII: Standing Committees Standing Committees are those committees allowed to exist by these articles. Membership of any standing committee is restricted to club members in good standing. All Standing Committees may have as many as 10 members and as little as one. There shall be the following standing committees: A. Children’s Program Committee B. Novice Committee C. Observing Program & Field Trip Committee D. Program Committee E. Public Outreach Committee F. Publicity Committee G. Star Party Committee H. Welcoming Committee Chairpersons A. Chairpersons of these standing committees shall be elected by a majority vote of the membership present at the Annual Meeting. B. Chairpersons shall serve terms of one year beginning after the annual board meeting. C. Vacancies in elected chair positions shall be filled from among the eligible membership by a majority vote of members present at any regular meeting. Any person selected to fill such vacancy shall serve for the unexpired term. D. Each committee chairperson may present a budget request to the Board. E. All standing committee chairpersons must have been members in good standing for at least a year immediately preceding assuming office. A chair position shall become vacant if the chairperson ceases to be a member. Article IX: Communication Tools Section I:
Newsletter Section II: Online
Photo Album Section III: Public
Yahoo Group Section IV: Website Article X: Amendments These By-Laws may be amended by the membership at any club meeting by a two-thirds vote, provided written notice setting forth any proposed amendment is mailed or delivered to each member at least fifteen days in advance of such meeting. Article XI: Dissolution Section I: Quorum Section II: Assets These by-laws were read and accepted on March 12, 2007 by the Membership.
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