NORTH CAROLINA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY BY-LAWS

 Article I.  Members

Section 1.  Membership shall be open to all persons who shall make formal application to the Secretary and pay the Treasurer the prescribed dues.
Section 2.  The officers of the Society shall have the right to refuse any new member or to terminate the membership of an existing member for cause and without prior notice.  However, a terminated person may appeal to the general meeting of the Society.
Section 3.  Each paid membership is entitled to one vote.

Section 5.  The standing committees shall be the Education Committee, the Conservation Committee, the Membership Committee, the Stewardship Committee, the Husbandry Committee, the Herp Shop Committee, and the Library/Archives Committee.

1. The Education Committee will be responsible for developing special programs for the membership and public in accordance with the statement of purposes of the Society.

2. The Conservation Committee will be responsible for keeping the membership informed of important conservation issues and for informing the membership of ways they can promote conservation.

3. The Membership Committee will be responsible for keeping the mailing list, accepting and processing applications for membership, and producing materials for the solicitation of new members.

4. The Stewardship Committee will be responsible for oversight of properties owned or managed by the Society.

5. The Husbandry Committee will be responsible for developing responsible husbandry practices among the members and other interested parties.

6. The Herp Shop Committee will be responsible for purchasing, maintaining, transporting, and selling merchandise at functions sanctioned by the Society.

7. The Library/Archives Committee is responsible for the maintenance and control of all Society library and archive items and will provide a means for Society members to borrow these items in an organized manner so as to serve as the safe keeper and librarian of these materials.

Section 6.  All records and implements of office shall be turned over by any officer to his or her successor immediately subsequent to the latter's assumption of the office.
Section 7.  The duties of the Editor of the Society newsletter shall be as follows:
The Editor shall be responsible for all phases of its publication and may appoint staff members to assist.  In as much as the newsletter is the principal mechanism for written communication to the membership, the Editor is obligated to publish all communications of the Society and its officers on first priority and to include, as space permits, other items consonant with the stated objectives of the Society.
The Editor shall report annually to the officers to whom he/she is responsible.

Section 1.  The Executive Council shall consist of the President, Vice-president, Secretary, Treasurer, immediate Past-president, Editor of the Society newsletter, and chairpersons of the standing committees.
Section 2.  The Executive Council shall be empowered to manage the affairs of the Society.
Section 3.  The Executive Council shall fill any vacancy occurring among the officers, except that of President, by an appointment for the unexpired term.
Section 4.  The Executive Council shall be specifically responsible for any publications of the Society and shall set policy as is needed to coordinate the contents of the various media so as to further the stated objectives of the Society and to insure the availability and distribution of the several items.

Section 1.  Elections shall be held yearly.  Terms of office shall be staggered such that elections for President and Treasurer shall be held in even years, and elections for Vice-president and Secretary shall be held in odd years.
Section 2.  The President shall appoint three members of the Society to serve as a nominating committee, to include not more than one member of the current Executive Council.
Section 3.  The Nominating Committee shall present a slate of at least one candidate for each office to be filled.  Additional nominations may be made by the membership at the time of the fall general meeting.
Section 4.  The Nominating Committee, or a member of the Society, proposing a nominee, shall obtain assent of the candidate to serve if elected.
Section 5.  The slate of nominations shall be circulated to the entire membership by the Secretary via the newsletter not later than one month before the fall general meeting.
Section 6.  Voting shall take place at the fall general meeting.  Each membership may cast one vote.  The Secretary shall prepare the ballots and supervise the   distribution and collection of the ballots. Members in good standing who do not attend the meeting shall receive an absentee ballot, mailed by the Secretary.  The Secretary shall receive the ballots and count the votes.  The results of the election shall be communicated to the membership via the newsletter.
Section 7.  The Secretary shall inform the elected candidates of their election.  Newly elected persons will take office at the beginning of the next calendar year following the date of the election.

Section 1.  The Society shall hold two general meetings, one in the spring and one in the fall, at times and locations set by the Executive Council of the Society. Not more than eighteen months shall elapse between meetings.
Section 2.  The membership shall be informed in writing of the time and place of the general meetings not later than two months prior to the opening of the meetings.
Section 3.  Special meetings may be called by vote of a majority of the Executive Council, or on a petition of a quorum of the membership.  The time and place of such special meetings must be announced to the membership in  writing at least two weeks prior to the meeting.
Section 4.  One-tenth of the membership will constitute a quorum to petition for a special meeting.
Section 5.  All meetings shall be conducted under Roberts Rules of Order.

Section 1.  The Executive Council shall meet at least twice a year no later than two months before the opening of the general meetings.
Section 2.  Any meeting of the Executive Council shall be open to attendance by interested members of the Society as observers unless the Executive Council moves for Executive Session.
Section 3.  A simple majority of the Executive Council shall constitute a quorum.
Section 4.  A simple majority of those present and voting shall be necessary to pass any motion.
Section 5.  The meetings shall be conducted according to Roberts Rules of Order.
Section 6.  Special meetings of the Executive Council may be called by the President, or by a majority of same.

Section 1.  The Executive Council shall be authorized to establish such dues as are compatible with the financial status of the Society.
Section 2.  A member in arrears for payment of dues for a period of six months after conclusion of the current membership year shall be dropped from the role after due notice from the Secretary.

The fiscal year of the Society shall embrace the period of 1 January through 31 December of the same year.

Section 1.  Amendments may be proposed by the Executive Council or by petition to the Secretary by ten or more members of the Society.
Section 2.  Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to the Secretary at least three months prior to the general meeting at which time they are to be discussed.
Section 3.  Such amendments shall be submitted in writing by the Secretary to the general membership at least two months prior to the general meeting at which they are to be discussed.
Section 4.  To be approved, an amendment must receive a positive vote by two-thirds of those voting at the general meeting.
Section 5.  Any adopted amendment shall become an integral part of the by-laws and the Secretary shall be instructed to add them to copies of the by-laws and to distribute the amended by-laws to the members of the Executive Council of the Society and to other interested members of the Society.