• BYLAWS
ARTICLE I: FISCAL YEAR AND DUES
Section 1. The CGS shall adopt a fiscal year extending from October 1 to September 30. All members shall pay annual dues approved by the membership in conjunction with the spring conference and their membership shall be valid for one year extending April 16th to April 15th.
Section 2. Membership dues of the Organization shall be established by the Board for the following levels of membership: Life, Regular, Retired, and Student.
Section 3. Recipients of Life Membership Awards shall be exempt from dues.
Article II: Terms of Office and Committees
Section 1. The President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall hold office for two years. The President and Vice-President may not hold office for multiple terms. Upon completion of his/her term, the outgoing President shall serve a two-year term as Past-President and continue to have voting rights. The Secretary and Treasurer may hold office for multiple terms, if re-elected by the membership. All new officers shall be installed at the conclusion of the annual conference.
Section 2. Board members shall serve a three-year term and at its conclusion, they may run for re-election by the membership. Two student board members, representing N/Central and S. CA, shall be appointed by a vote of the Board. Student board members shall serve the shorter of either a three-year term or until their student status expires, unless reappointed by a vote of the Board.
Section 3. Finance Committee–At the beginning of the fiscal year, a Finance Committee consisting of the Vice-President (Chairperson of the Committee), Treasurer, and Secretary shall be formed. It shall be the duty of the Finance Committee to prepare the organization’s budget for the following fiscal year.
Section 4. The President may appoint additional committees and/or assign duties at his or her discretion.
Article III: Elections
Section 1. Non-student members in good standing shall be eligible for election to office. Student members in good standing are eligible to serve on the Board, if appointed by the Board.
Section 2. An Elections Committee of three, selected and appointed by the Executive Committee, shall prepare a slate of candidates for the positions to be filled by the general election, i.e., President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Board members. The chairperson of the committee shall prepare and forward to the Editor of the Bulletin a ballot with the slate of candidates proposed with space for write-in candidates for each office. A brief statement of identification shall be included for each candidate. The ballot shall be published in the Bulletin or otherwise distributed at least 30 days before the annual conference, and shall be returned to the chairperson of the Elections Committee not later than one week before the annual conference. Election shall be by a simple majority of the members voting, or a plurality in the case of three or more candidates.
Article IV: Meetings
Section 1. There shall be two annual meetings of the CGS Board. These meetings shall normally be held the first Saturday in October and in conjunction with the annual conference in the Spring. All CGS boardmembers are expected to attend these two meetings. Absence from two consecutive board meetings shall be grounds for removal from the Board.
Section 2. The annual conference shall normally be held during a period between April 15 and May 10 at a location determined by the Board. The selection of the conference location will be made at least one year in advance. A conference planner will be designated at the time the location is approved and it will be that individual’s responsibility to make the necessary arrangements for the conference in consultation with the President, Vice-President, and Past President. The conference planner will ensure that conference registration information is mailed to the membership with a postmark no later than March 1st.
Article V: Publications
Section 1. Official publications of the CGS shall be the California Geographer, the CGS Bulletin, and such others as authorized by the CGS board. The editors of all publications shall be appointed by the Executive Committee. Expenditures necessary for all publications shall be incorporated into the annual budget.
Article VI: Amendments
Section 1. Provisions for amending the Bylaws shall be the same as those for amending the Constitution.
Article VII: Organization and Operation
Section 1. The California Geographical Society will be operated at all times in an educational manner within the contemplation of Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954; and within the scope it is empowered to foster scholarly, professional, and popular activities among geographers primarily in the State of California. The Organization’s official address shall be designated by the President.
Section 2. Decisions regarding the normal transaction of CGS business shall be made by a simple majority vote of board members, officers, and the Past President. Participation by at least two thirds of those eligible to vote shall be necessary to validate decisions made by vote.
• CONSTITUTION
Article I: Name and Objectives
This organization shall be known as the California Geographical Society (CGS). The purpose of the Organization shall be to foster and promote geographic knowledge among the general public of California.
Article II: Membership
Section 1. Membership shall be open to any person or group supporting the objectives of the Organization.
Section 2. All members in good standing shall have the right to vote and serve on the Board.
Article III: Organizational Practices
Section 1. No part of the activities of this organization shall consist of promoting exclusive personal objectives of its members. The organization shall not carry on propaganda, or otherwise attempt to influence legislation, nor participate or intervene in any political election campaign (including the publishing or distribution of statements) on behalf of any candidate for public office.
Section 2. This organization shall be in total compliance with the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law of the State of California and shall not contemplate pecuniary gain or profit.
Section 3. The property of this organization is irrevocably dedicated to geographic educational and informational purposes, and no part of the net income or assets of this organization shall ever inure to the benefit of any director, officer, or member thereof or to the benefit of any private individual. Upon the dissolution or winding up of the Organization, its assets remaining after payment, or provision for payment, of all debts and liabilities of this organization, shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation, or corporation which is organized and operated exclusively for geographic educational purposes and which has established its tax exempt status under Section 501©(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. If this organization holds any assets in trust, or a corporation is formed for charitable purposes, such assets shall be disposed of in such a manner as may be directed by decree of the Superior Court of the county in which the corporation has its principal office, upon petition therefore by the Attorney General or by a person concerned in the liquidation, in a proceeding to which the Attorney General is party.
Article IV: Officers
Section 1. The officers shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. These officers shall comprise an Executive Committee, which is empowered to take interim action and make interim decisions. These decisions shall not, in any way, contradict the Constitution and Bylaws, including, but not limited to, the purpose of the Organization, and shall not contradict matters voted on and approved by the Members.
Section 2. Should the office of the President be vacated between elections, the Vice President shall automatically succeed to that office. Other offices vacated between elections shall be filled by appointment by the Executive Committee.
Article V: Amendments to the Constitution
Section 1. An amendment to the Constitution shall be initiated by a petition to the Executive Committee and signed by at least 15 members in good standing,
Section 2. An amendment to the Constitution shall be presented in writing by the Executive Committee to the membership at least 30 days before a vote of the membership.
Section 3. A majority vote by those voting by ballot shall be required to effect changes in the Constitution.