BYLAWS
ARTICLE I – Name
Section 1. The name of this Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society shall be Montana Chapter, hereinafter referred to as the Chapter.
ARTICLE II – Location
and Area
Section 1. The headquarters of the Chapter shall be the address designated by the Executive Council.
Section 2. The area of the Chapter shall have the same
boundaries as the boundaries of the State of
Section 3. Within the Chapter area, sections or subdivisions may be formed as provided under Article VI.
ARTICLE III – Objectives
Section 1. The objectives of the Chapter shall be: Development and advancement of the science and art of good land use and management and the promotion of conservation of soil, water, air, and related renewable natural resources, including, without limitations, trees, grass, fish, wildlife, and all other forms of beneficial plant and animal life, and for these purposes to employ education of the people and other appropriate means, to the end that mankind may have the use and enjoyments of these resources forever.
ARTICLE IV – Membership
Section 1. Membership in the Chapter shall be limited to persons holding membership in the Soil and Water Conservation Society.
Section 2. The grades of membership shall be the same as those of the parent Society.
Section 3. Upon payment of Chapter dues, such persons, as qualify under Section 1 above, shall acquire similar grade membership in the Chapter.
Section 4. Annual dues shall be the current parent society dues plus an amount for Chapter dues set by a majority vote of those attending a regular meeting of the Chapter. Parent Society will reimburse the Chapter for members selecting the Montana Chapter as their local affiliate. If appropriately divided by the Chapter Executive Council between the Chapter and the Sections to cover miscellaneous expenses.
Article V – Termination of Membership
Section 1. Membership in the Chapter shall terminate upon cessation of membership in the parent Society, upon failure to pay Chapter dues which are delinquent, upon transfer to another Chapter, or upon voluntary resignation.
Article VI – Sections
Section 1. Sections of the Chapter may be authorized by the Chapter Executive Council upon written petition of five or more Chapter members or may be formed by the Chapter Executive Council, by dividing the Chapter area into sub-areas.
Section 2. Any Section may, subject to the approval of the Chapter Executive Council, adopt such bylaws as are desired, provided that such bylaws shall not conflict with the bylaws of the Chapter or the parent Society.
Section 3. A Section must hold at least one meeting each year to retain its authorization.
Section 4. The officers of each Section shall include a Chairman, a Secretary, and such others as are found necessary.
Section 5. A Section may establish such additional Section membership dues as are agreeable to its membership and necessary for a Section program.
Section 6. The primary year-round activities will be carried out by the Sections. The Chapter will encourage and assist the Sections in planning and implementing the activities desired by the Section membership. Suggested Section programs include: Roundtable or panel discussions, contests, field trips, visits to research stations, etc.
Section 7. A Section may be dissolved by a resolution requesting dissolution, passed by a majority of the Section membership and approved by the Chapter Executive Council.
Section 8. The Chapter through action of its Executive Council shall have the right, for just cause, to rescind the authorization of any Section and to terminate its existence or include it with another Section.
ARTICLE VII – Officers
Section 1. The officers of the Chapter shall consist of a President, a President-Elect, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, provided that the offices of the Secretary and the Treasurer may be held by one person – a Secretary-Treasurer.
Section 2. The officers shall be elected annually from
the membership (except that the incumbent President Elect shall automatically
become President for the ensuing 2 years and the Information Officer shall be
annually appointed by the elected members of the Executive Council) and shall
perform the duties of their respective office until their successors shall
qualify. The terms of President and
President-Elect shall be for 2 year and shall begin with the annual meeting of
the Chapter or on February 1, if a winter meeting is not anticipated or held.
Section 3. The President shall have general responsibility for the affairs of the Chapter, shall arrange the program for the annual meeting, shall preside at the annual meeting and sessions of the Executive Council, and shall have charge of the election of officers. In the absence of the President, the President-Elect shall perform the duties of President.
Section 4. Duties of the Secretary and the Treasurer or
Secretary-Treasurer shall be those usually pertaining to the offices held. The Treasurer, or Secretary-Treasurer, shall
submit to the membership at the annual meeting, a financial report of the
Chapter. The duties of the Information Officer will include editing and
publishing the Chapter newsletter and other duties as assigned by the Executive
Council.
Section 5. The immediate Past President and the Information Officer will automatically become members of the Executive Council.
Section 6. No compensation shall be paid to any elected
or appointed officer or council member, except reimbursement for approved
travel and miscellaneous expenses pertaining to Montana
Article VIII – Elections
Section 1. Nominations for the offices of the Chapter and the five members to be elected to the Executive Council shall be made with the provision that, in addition, nominations may be submitted by written petition signed by not less than ten (10) Chapter members in good standing.
Section 2. Before any member is nominated for an office or for councilperson in the Chapter their consent shall be obtained.
Section 3. Nominations, generally two or more for each office to be filled, shall be made not later than 45 days prior to the expiration date of the terms of elected officers as established in Article VII, Section 2, and the nominations submitted to the entire Chapter membership for vote not later than 15 days before such established date. Voting shall be by secret mail ballot. Sealed ballots shall be returned to the Past President prior to a date established by the Executive Council in compliance with Article XI, Section 3, concerning transition from old to new officers. The candidate receiving a plurality of the votes cast for the office for which he/she is nominated shall be declared elected. In case of a tie vote, the Executive Council shall decide the winner.
Article IX – Executive Council
Section 1. The Executive Council shall consist of the President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer (or Secretary-Treasurer in lieu of a Secretary and a Treasurer), the immediate Past President, the Information Officer and five elected members determined in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII. Directors will serve for three years, terms to be staggered. (If Chapter areas are subdivided or if Sections are formed, one member from each subdivision or Section shall serve on the Executive Council.)
Section 2. The Executive Council is the legal representative of the Chapter and as such shall have, hold, and administer all funds and property of the Chapter.
Section 3. Vacancies in offices occurring between elections shall be filled by action of the Executive Council, except that in case of a vacancy in the office of the President, the President-Elect shall automatically become President for the remainder of the term.
Section 4. The Executive Council shall have the power to act on matters that arise between the annual meetings or regularly scheduled meetings that are not specifically and otherwise provided for in the bylaws.
ARTICLE X – Committees
Section 1. A Nominating Committee for Chapter officers shall consist of the immediate Past President and four (4) members (who are not members of the Executive Council) appointed by the Chapter President, or if there is no immediate Past President, a fifth (5) member appointed by the Chapter President.
Section 2. There shall also be committees as deemed necessary by the Chapter President and approved by the Executive Council.
Section 3. The Chapter President shall appoint the membership of each committee as necessary to conduct the affairs of the Chapter. Such committees shall function during the term of office of the President or, if earlier, until their assignment is accomplished.
ARTICLE XI – Meetings
Section 1. Regular meetings of the Chapter shall be held at least once each year. The time and location of meetings shall be determined by the Executive Council with consideration for securing maximum membership attendance and transaction of essential business.
Section 2. Any members of the parent Society and their guests may attend the meetings of the Chapter. Only members of the Chapter, in good standing, may vote, serve on committees, or hold office in the Chapter.
Section 3. At least one meeting annually shall provide opportunity for (Section) activities, and conduct of normal Chapter business including appropriate annual reports from officers and committees as well as plans for transition from current to newly elected officers. Technical papers presented at Chapter meetings should be made available for publication in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation or the Chapter newsletter.
ARTICLE XII – Status and Dissolution
Section 1. The Chapter is a non-profit organization, dedicated to the furtherance of conservation for the benefit of the general public and not for the monetary profit or gain of its members.
Section 2. This Chapter may be dissolved by a resolution requesting dissolution passed by a majority mail vote of the membership, or by a majority vote of the members in a majority of the Sections comprising the Chapter at a meeting called for that purpose, provided that notice of such action has been mailed to all members at least 60 days prior to (1) the closing date for mail ballots, or (2) the date of the meeting if the vote is to be taken at a meeting.
Section 3. If dissolution is favorably acted upon in accordance with Section 2, the last Executive Council shall pay all just debts of the Chapter out of Chapter funds, and transfer all remaining moneys and other assets to the parent Society or to a non-profit organization with similar objectives. All records, correspondence, and other papers shall be forwarded to the parent Society.
ARTICLE XIII – Adoption and Amendment of Bylaws
Section 1. Anything contained in the bylaws adopted by the Chapter, deemed by the parent Society, by Council action after due opportunity for hearing the Chapter, to be in conflict with the bylaws of the Soil and Water Conservation Society or any provision thereof, shall be void and of no effect after official notification.
Section 2. These bylaws may be amended by majority vote of mail ballots or of Chapter members present at any regular meeting of the Chapter providing notice of all proposed changes has been mailed to all members at least 30 days prior to the closing date for mail ballot or date of the meeting if the vote is to be taken at a meeting.
Section 3. Bylaws and amendments thereto shall be declared as being in effect upon receiving a majority of votes cast by the membership voting, and upon receiving approval by the Council of the Soil and Water Conservation Society.
Adopted