BY-LAWS of the
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ASTRONOMICAL
ARTICLE
I -- NAME
The name of this Society shall be the Southwest Florida Astronomical Society,
Inc.
ARTICLE
II -- PURPOSES
The Southwest Florida Astronomical Society was formed in l980 by amateur
astronomers in Lee County, FL. Its
purpose and goals include educating the public, school children, and scouts
about the wonders of the night sky. The
Southwest Florida Astronomical Society regularly works with the Calusa Nature
Center and Planetarium, the Children's Science Center, as well as Florida Gulf
Coast University with public observing events.
ARTICLE
III -- MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1. CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP.
A.
REGULAR MEMBERSHIP.
Regular membership shall be for any person 18 years of age and older. Such members shall have full voting privileges and shall be
eligible to hold office.
B.
HONORARY MEMBERSHIP.
Honorary membership shall be for those persons who are recognized by the
membership of the Society as having served to further the goals and ideals of
our Society over an extended period of time.
These members shall have full voting rights and may hold office.
C.
BENEFIT OF MEMBERSHIP.
Benefit of membership in the Society shall include the right to vote; to
serve on committees appointed by the President; to hold office; to attend all
private and public functions of the Society; to optionally obtain annual
subscriptions to astronomical publications at a reduced rate offered through the
Society, and to have membership in the Astronomical League.
D.
MEMBERSHIP DUES.
The annual dues for Regular members shall be determined by the Officers.
SECTION 2. MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS.
All
persons interested in the science of astronomy may become members of the Society
by
ARTICLE
IV -- OFFICERS
SECTION 1.
The Society shall be
governed by four members selected from the membership.
SECTION 2.
The
officers of the Society shall consist of a President, a Vice-President, a
Secretary, and a Treasurer.
A.
PRESIDENT.
The President shall preside at all business meetings; shall call extra
business
B.
VICE-PRESIDENT.
The Vice-President shall act as Public Relations Coordinator and liaison
between the Southwest Florida Astronomical Society and the community.
C.
SECRETARY.
The Secretary shall take minutes of business and Officers meetings;
maintain club roster and Astronomical League membership; and maintain and have
available Society records to include Newsletters and minutes of meetings.
"Robert's Rules of Order" shall be the authority on all
questions of procedures not specifically stated in the by-laws.
D.
TREASURER.
The Treasurer shall collect dues; maintain membership records; pay
Society bills; complete annual tax return; distribute mail to appropriate
Officers and members; and maintain complete financial records.
ARTICLE
V -- ELECTIONS
SECTION 1.
The Officers shall be
elected during the regular monthly meeting during the month of December.
SECTION 2.
Each office shall be
voted on separately immediately following the closing of nominations of
candidates for that office.
SECTION 3.
The results shall be
tallied, with the results expressed verbally to the membership, and shall be
SECTION 4.
The four candidates with
the most votes will take the at-large positions of Officers.
SECTION 5.
There shall be no
absentee voting conducted during election of Officers.
SECTION 6.
The votes shall be
counted and noted in the Secretary's official minutes.
SECTION 7.
The term of office of
all Officers shall be for one year, with the term beginning at the January
SECTION 8.
Officers may be removed
from office by a two-thirds vote of a quorum after a show of due cause under the
provision that the members be notified of such proposed action at the regular
meeting prior to the meeting at which the action is to be taken.
SECTION 9.
Vacancies occurring
between elections shall be filled by the President at the regular meeting
following the announcement of the resignation or withdrawal of the Officer.
ARTICLE
VI -- AFFILIATION
The Society shall be
affiliated with the Astronomical League and the International Dark Sky
Association and shall pay all necessary dues to these organizations.
ARTICLE
VII -- MEETINGS
SECTION 1. REGULAR MEETINGS.
Regular meetings of the
Society shall be held monthly at the Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium,
Inc. The Officers shall have the
power to change the date, time and temporary locations of the regular meeting.
The change in permanent location of the regular monthly meeting will take
place under the vote of a majority of a quorum.
Announcements of such a vote must be placed in the Society's Newsletter.
SECTION 2. SPECIAL MEETINGS.
Special meetings shall
be held at the call of the President.
SECTION 3. QUORUM.
Two-thirds of the
membership of the Society shall constitute a quorum at any regular or special
meeting.
SECTION 4. OFFICER MEETINGS.
The Officers shall meet
at least twice a year, beginning at the time of their election.
SECTION 5. QUORUM FOR OFFICER
MEETINGS.
At least three officers
shall be present to conduct business.
SECTION 6. PROXY VOTE BY OFFICERS.
Any member of the
Officers may cast a proxy vote through another Officer.
ARTICLE
VIII -- FINANCE
SECTION 1. INVESTMENT OF
FUNDS.
The funds of the Society
shall be deposited in a financial institution with all such transactions
included in the detailed reports of the Treasurer.
SECTION 2. REMUNERATION.
The Officers of the
Society shall serve their term of office without remuneration of any kind from
the Society.
SECTION 3. FINANCIAL
REPORT.
A financial report shall
be presented to the members attending a regular meeting by the Treasurer at the
request of the President.
SECTION 4. FINANCIAL AUDIT.
A financial audit shall
be done by a committee appointed by the President, prior to the annual election
of Officers, and results of this audit shall be presented to the membership at
the next regular scheduled meeting.
SECTION 5. MINIMAL
DISBURSEMENTS.
The Officers shall
authorize spending of all money of the Society in amounts less than one hundred
dollars. All minimal disbursements
shall be recorded in the detailed reports by the
SECTION 6. LARGER
DISBURSEMENTS.
Proposals to spend
money in excess of one hundred dollars shall be presented to the Officers.
ARTICLE
IX -- INDEMNIFICATION OF ASSOCIATION
There shall be an
agreement among the members of the Society that shall be held acceptable by all
members upon payment of annual dues, that holds the Society members and Officers
harmless during any meeting or activity of the Society, both public and private.
ARTICLE
X -- DISSOLUTION
Upon
the time of dissolution of the corporation, assets shall be distributed by the
Officers, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all debts,
obligations, liabilities, costs and expenses of the corporation, for one or more
exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be
distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a
public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by a
Court of Competent Jurisdiction of the county in which the principal office of
the corporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such
organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are
organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.
ARTICLE
XI -- AMENDMENTS
Amendments
to these by-laws may be introduced by the Officers of the Society at any regular
meeting. The amendments shall be
voted upon not later than two months from the time they were introduced.
A majority of the quorum of the members present at a regular meeting is
required to adopt the amendments.