CONSTITUTION OF THE
AUBURN HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Article I
Name
The name of this organization shall be:
“Auburn Herpetological Society”
Article II
Purpose
The purpose of this society shall be:
TO PROMOTE THE STUDY AND CONSERVATION OF
REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS.

TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF
REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS IN THE ECOSYSTEM.
ENJOY THE FELLOWSHIP OF PERSONS INTERESTED
IN THE BIOLOGY, ECOLOGY AND CAPTIVE CARE OF
REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS.
Article III
Membership

Membership in this society shall be open to all persons regardless of race, creed, sex, age, national origin, or handicap.  Full membership is restricted to regularly enrolled Auburn University students, faculty, and staff.
Article IV
Officers
1.  President:
2.  Vice President
3.  Treasurer
4.  Secretary
5.  Faculty advisor
1.  The president shall serve to coordinate and organize the functioning of the society and shall preside over society meetings.  The president will coordinate the efforts of the other society officers.   The president will make other members aware of the provisions in this constitution.

2.  The vice president shall assist the president and preside over society meetings in the president’s absence.  The vice president is in charge of promoting membership, maintaining the official membership list and coordinating any fundraising efforts.

3.  The treasurer shall keep all accounts, deposit all of the society’s funds and make expenditures.  The treasurer shall take in money from dues, fundraisers, contributions and other disbursements.  Money taken in by the society shall be deposited in an account with the society’s name on it.  The treasurer, president, vice president and faculty advisor shall have their names on the account, be able to sign society checks and withdraw money from the society’s account specifically for the society’s use.  The treasurer shall keep proper account of all the society’s funds and make public the status of the society’s funds by providing a financial statement at each monthly meeting.

4.  The secretary shall be responsible for recording and making public (through reading or a written report at the succeeding meeting) the minutes of each society meeting.  The minutes will be retained in the society’s files maintained by the secretary.  The secretary shall be responsible for all the society’s correspondence, including reservations or permits as required for field trips.

5.  The faculty advisor shall ensure the society operates within the rules, regulations and policies of Auburn University.

Elections will be held annually at the February meeting.  The newly elected officers shall serve as apprentice to member currently holding the office to which they have been elected.  The officer-elect shall take office the first meeting of the fall semester of the year they were elected and serve until the first meeting of the following year.  Officers shall have been members in good standing of the society for at least six months prior to serving.  Exceptions will be made for those students who have arrived at Auburn University less than six months prior to the election.  Nominations for office will be taken from the general membership.  If an officer resigns or graduates prior to completion of their term of office, an election to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term will be held at the next regularly scheduled meeting. Resignations are to be made in writing to the president.

Article V
Advisors
Any faculty member at Auburn University with a strong interest and appropriate training in herpetology is eligible to hold the position of faculty advisor.  Tenure of the faculty advisor shall be two years with review and reappointment during the February election.  There is no restriction on the number of consecutive terms served.  The general membership reserves the right to elect or replace faculty advisors at any time as the need arises.
Article VI
Meetings
Regular meetings will be held monthly.  The date (for example: second Wed of each month) will be determined at the first meeting of the fall semester.  Special meetings may be called if agreed on by the officers and faculty advisor.  If a special meeting is called, the membership shall be notified via announcements, emails and/or signs. The purpose of meetings is to conduct society business, plan field trips, social events and community service, hear speakers, view live specimens of reptiles and amphibians, and to socialize.  Most society business will be approved by a simple majority vote of those members present at the meeting.  If business must be completed on very short notice, a vote may be taken using email.  Voting membership shall be a privilege granted to dues-paying members in good standing.  A quorum is the society’s officers and one/third of the voting membership.

BY-LAWS OF THE AUBURN HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY

1.  Dues:  Membership dues are $12.00 per year.  Those that join spring semester will have their dues pro-rated to $6.00.  Payment of dues confers voting status and the privilege of attending society field trips.  Dues shall be deposited in the society’s account and be used to support society functions.  Expenditures of more than $50.00 shall be approved by a vote by no less than a quorum.  The president or faculty advisor shall approve expenditures of $1 to $49.

2.  Resignations:  Any member who wishes to resign must do so in writing to the society’s president.  Dues will not be refunded.  A member may lose membership in the society due to violation of Auburn University policies, incivility or disruptiveness, and/or cruelty to animals.  The society officers shall present the case for expulsion to the general membership.  A two/thirds majority vote by the membership is required to remove a person from the membership rolls.

3.  Standing committees: The society will have three standing committees.  Other committees will be formed as the need arises.  All committee chairs shall make a report to the general membership at each monthly meeting.

1.  Trip committee: The president and secretary shall co-chair this committee.  The trip committee shall organize all society field trips.  This includes contacting faculty advisors, other faculty, staff, students, and outside sources for ideas about possible trips.  Members of this committee shall be responsible for researching and presenting to the society general information on the ecology of the area to be visited, including a list of potential species that may be seen.

2.  Membership committee: The vice president shall chair this committee.  The purpose of this committee is to publicize and promote the activities of the society.  This includes posting and advertising society events and meetings via the web, signs, posters, UPC calendar, newspaper, and/or radio.  An information table will be set up and manned at the appropriate time on the concourse at the beginning of the fall and spring semester.  This committee will be responsible for maintaining the society’s web site and newsletter.

3.  Public service committee: A general member will chair this committee.  The purpose of this committee is to research, plan and coordinate public service projects.  These projects shall promote education of the general public or conservation of reptiles and amphibians.

4.  Amendments to By-Laws.  By-laws may be amended at any time by a vote consisting of no less than a quorum.
 


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