By-Laws

ARTICLE 1 - PURPOSE AND EXISTENCE

SECTION 1. The purpose of the club shall be to:

a. Assist the Calvert Marine Museum, other societies, clubs, educational and scientific institutions, professionals and amateurs engaged and field collection, preparation, research and education in Paleontology, Geology and other related sciences.
b. Arrange and conduct field trips for the enhancement of knowledge and enjoyment of this hobby.
c. Provide opportunities and arrange for the exhibition and display of fossil specimens, collections, and other objects related to this hobby; to provide opportunity for the transfer of interest and knowledge in the field.

SECTION 2. This Club shall be non-political, non-commercial and non-profit.

SECTION 3. All assets, property and funds of the Club shall be devoted to the furtherance of the primary objectives and purposes of the Club. It's works, purposes and objects shall be primarily educational, social and recreational ands hall be solely in the interest in the advancement of its members, the Calvert Marine Museum and of the public along scientific and educational lines.

SECTION 4. In the event of the dissolution of the Club, it's assets shall be disposed of for the benefit of the Calvert Marine Museum.



ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1. Member ship in this Club shall be open to all persons interested in paleontology, the Earth Sciences and related fields.

SECTION 2. Membership in the Club may be gained after the applicant has joined the Calvert Marine Museum Society and has submitted a completed application for membership

SECTION 3. Life Membership may be granted to members who have rendered distinguished active service to the Club over a period of five (5) or more years. Nomination of an individual for Life Membership by one or more of its members shall be submitted to the Board of Directors, wherein final decision on such award shall be invested.

SECTION 4. No applicant shall be denied membership on the grounds of race, color, sex, creed or national origin.

ARTICLE III - OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

SECTION 1. OFFICERS: The Executive Officers of the Club shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary and the Treasurer.

SECTION 2. DIRECTORS: The Board of Directors shall consist of the Executive Officers, the Immediate Past President, The Field Trip Coordinator(s), the Club's Technical Advisor and the Editor of The Ecphora.

ARTICLE IV - ELECTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

SECTION 1. Elections: The Executive Officers shall be elected at the regular meeting in April of each year. And shall take office as of June 1 of that year. The term of office shall be until June 1 of the following year.

SECTION 2. Vacancies: In the event a vacancy occurs in any executive office, the Board of Directors, by majority vote, shall select a person to fill the vacancy.

SECTION 3. Qualifications: Each member who is of age ten (10) or older shall be entitled to vote, but any vote on a matter of financial obligation upon the Club shall require a majority vote of those who are eighteen (18) or more years of age. The President shall only vote in the case of a tie, except that he/she shall have the privilege of voting at the election of officers.

SECTION 4. Balloting: Elections of all Executive Officers shall be by ballot, unless there are no nominations from the floor, the slate as presented by the nominating committee contains only one name for each office, and the slate is not contested, in which case it is permissible to have a motion, seconded and passed by a unanimous vote of those present to have the Secretary cast a single vote in favor of the presented slate.



ARTICLE V - MEETINGS

SECTION 1. Regular Meetings: Regular meeting shall be held at such as and place as shall be announced as the preceding meeting, as shall be set forth in a special notice of such meeting, or as shall be printed in The Ecphora.

SECTION 2. Special Meetings: Special meetings of the Club shall be called any time by the president, or by the majority of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 3. Director's Meetings: The Board of Directors shall meet as often as deemed necessary at the call of the President or of a majority of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VI - DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS

SECTION 1. President: The President shall preside over the meetings of the Club and of the Board of Directors.

SECTIONS 2. Vice-President: The Vice-President shall be vested with all of the powers of the President and shall perform the duties of the President in the absence or disability of the latter. In addition, he/she shall coordinate the planning of the program for each regular meeting of the Club.

SECTION 3. Secretary: The Secretary shall keep meeting minutes of all meeting of the Club and of the Board of Directors, and shall conduct the correspondence and maintain the records of the Club as the Board of Directors may direct; shall be prepared at all times to furnish information on the rulings of the Club.

SECTION 4. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall keep records of all moneys received and shall approve all disbursements from the Club account after they have been approved by the board or by the officers who were responsible for the bills incurred. The Treasurer shall present to the Board of Directors, when requested, a report of the receipts and disbursements of the Club since the previous report.

SECTION 5. Field Trip Coordinator: The Field Trip Coordinator, or their duly appointed representative, shall act in the name of the Club when making arrangements with property owners or their agents for field trips to be conducted by the Club. The Board of Directors may formulate filed trip rules which, when adopted by the Club, shall govern the conduct of those attending the field trip Any restrictions or requests by the owner or their agent shall become a part of the "Field Trip Rules" for that field trip. Field trips may be engaged in by any member of the Club. It shall be the obligation of any member having guests (when guest are allowed) to acquaint the guest beforehand with the Code of Ethics and Field Trip Rules.

SECTION 6. Technical Advisor: The Calvert Marine Museum Curator of Paleontology as well as other professional paleontologists as the Club may designate, shall serve as Technical Advisors to the Club. Their role is to help guide and the Club with policy, concerns of ethics, programming, and other matters as the Club may find useful.

SECTION 7. Nominating Committee: The Board of Directors shall appoint, before the April meeting, a Nominating Committee consisting of three (3) members. The committee shall select a Chairperson and select a slate of at least one (1) candidate for each executive office to be filled. Nominations may also be made from the floor at the April meetings. Elections shall be held at the April meeting.

SECTION 8. Governing Board of Directors: The Board of Directors shall constitute the governing Board of Directors of the Club.

SECTION 9. Removal: An Officer derelict in his or her duties, and any member whose conduct is such that it is considered to be detrimental to the welfare or reputation of the Club may be removed from office or membership by a two-thirds (2/3's) affirmative vote of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VII - DUES AND FEES

SECTION 1. Amount: The amount of all dues and fees shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 2. Payment of Dues: Dues shall be payable on application for membership and thereafter due on October 1st. Any members who is in arrears for more than one (1) month shall forfeit membership.

ARTICLE VIII - QUORUM

SECTION 1. Business Meeting: A quorum for a business meeting of the Club shall consist of members present and voting.
SECTION 2. Board Meeting: A quorum for a meeting of the Board of Directors shall be fifty percent (50%) of its members.

ARTICLE IX - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

SECTION 1. Procedure: The latest version of "Roberts Rules of Order" shall be used as a guide in the conduct of the business of the Club in all cases to which they are applicable and if not inconsistent with the Charter and By-Laws of the Club.

ARTCILE X - AMENDMENTS

SECTION 1. Amendments: Any article or provision hereof may be altered, amended, supplemented, or repealed by the affirmative vote of a majority of the eligible voting members present at any duly constituted meeting of the Club, provided that notice of any proposed change be sent in writing to all members in advance of the meeting. Publication of the proposed change in that issue of The Ecphora announcing the meeting shall be considered as filling the requirement, "sent in writing". Suggested amendments may be submitted in writing to the Board of Directors for consideration and for presentation to the Club.

SECTION 2. Date When Effective: Any change made in the Charter or By-Laws shall be effective immediately upon passage by the Club.

ARTCILE X1 - SAVINGS CLAUSE

SECTION 1. Any action taken under previous Constitutions and By-Laws not consistent with the laws of the Sate of Maryland and the Charter of this Club shall remain in force even though not consistent with the By-Laws, until revoked, repealed, or rescinded by an subsequent action buy the Club or the Board of Directors.

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