BYLAWS

Bylaws of the
Cecil Bird Club
Amended March, 2002

ARTICLE I.   NAME
The name of the organization shall be the “Cecil Bird Club” (hereinafter in this document referred to as “the Club”).

ARTICLE II.   PURPOSE
The purpose of the Club is to further recreational, educational, scientific and charitable pursuits relating to birdlife in Maryland.  In particular, the activities of the Club shall be to promote the above activities in Cecil County, Maryland, in a fashion that is consistent with the objectives of the Maryland Ornithological Society (hereinafter in this document referred to as “MOS”).

ARTICLE III.   MEMBERSHIP
Section 1.  Membership shall be open to any person who supports the purpose of the Club and MOS upon payment of dues applicable to class of membership selected.
Section 2.  The classes of membership shall be as follows:  Individual, Household, Sustaining, Life, Junior, Affiliate and Honorary.  Definitions of the classes of membership shall be as is consistent with the Manual of Operations of MOS.
Section 3.  Dues for any class of membership may be changed at any time upon recommendation of the officers, approved by two-thirds vote of the members present at a regularly scheduled meeting announced in advance to the membership.  Dues shall be established at a level that provides for membership in the Club as well as in MOS.
Section 4. The membership year shall begin on September 1.  Members whose dues remain unpaid on February 1 following expiration of membership shall be dropped from the membership, but may be reinstated upon payment of dues for the current year.
Section 5.  New members shall pay full annual dues, unless they join later than March 1, in which case the dues shall be one-half.

ARTICLE IV.  OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of the Club shall be the  President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Section 2.  Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of members present at the annual meeting in May, following presentation of a proposed slate of officers at a regular club meeting at least 60 days prior to the annual meeting. Officers shall assume their duties on September 1, and shall hold office for one year, unless they are removed from office as provided in Section 3.  Officers may hold office for more than one term.
Section 3.  Any officer of the Club may be removed from office by a majority vote of those members present at any regularly scheduled meeting of the Club.  It is necessary for the members to show cause for such removal from office.
Section 4.  The officers of the Club shall perform the duties of their offices consistent with those same duties as outlined in the Operations Manual of the Club.
Section 5.  There may be non-elected administrative officers of the Club, as appointed by the President upon approval of a majority vote of those members present at any regularly scheduled meeting of the Club.  Their terms shall be stipulated at time of appointment, recorded in the minutes of the Club, and they shall be eligible for reappointment.

ARTICLE V.   AFFILIATION
Section 1.  The Club was founded in affiliation as a local chapter of MOS, and shall maintain that status throughout its existence.
Section 2.  The Club shall administer its affairs in accordance with the Bylaws of MOS.  It shall collect dues as established by the officers and ratified by the membership, and forward the appropriate portions of said dues to the Treasurer of MOS.
Section 3. The President of the Club shall serve as a representative to the Board of Directors of MOS.  In addition, the members shall elect one Director to serve in that same capacity, as outlined in the Manual of Operations of the Club, for each one hundred members or part thereof.
Section 4.  If at any time the Club dissociates from its affiliation with MOS, it shall immediately cease to promote itself as such an affiliate and will lose any privileges granted by said affiliation.

ARTICLE VI.    EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the current elective officers of the Club, the immediate past President, and the chairs of any Standing Committees.  No member may serve in more than one position, nor may any member have more than one vote in Club matters.
Section 2.  The Executive Committee shall constitute the managing body of the Club, and as such shall have the authority to carry out the business of the Club and the policies established by the members at the annual business meeting.
Section 3. The Executive Committee shall conduct a meeting following assumption of offices and/or duties in September, and again in March to acknowledge budget requests and adopt a budget for the ensuing year, receive and act on reports of officers and committees, establish procedure for officer nominations and committee chairs, preparation of official business items to present to the members at the March meeting (in preparation for vote at the May annual club meeting).  Additional meetings may be scheduled as needed.
Section 4. A quorum of the Executive Committee shall be defined as at least 3 of the 4 officers.  At all meetings of the Executive Committee, matters may be voted on by a majority of those members of the Executive Committee present, providing a quorum has been met.
Section 5.  The Executive Committee may vote by mail on matters referred to it by the President.
Section 6. The Board of Directors may vote by mail on matters referred to it by the President.
Section 7.  Any vacancy on the Executive Committee shall be filled by recommendation of a majority vote by the remaining members of the Executive Committee, with the exception of the office of President, which shall be filled by the Vice President.

ARTICLE VII.   COMMITTEES
Section 1.  Standing Committees shall include Field Trip, Conservation, Education, Hawk Watch, and Publicity.  Ad-hoc committees, such as Nomination, Promotional, etc. shall be created as necessary.  Chairs of ad-hoc committees shall be appointed by the President.
Section 2. Standing Committees may be created or terminated at any time by the Executive Committee.  Appointments of Standing Committee Chairs shall be made by the President and approved by vote of the Membership.
Section 3.  Chairs of Standing Committees serve concurrently with the President.  They may be reappointed.
Section 4.  No member may concurrently chair more than one Standing Committee, and no officer may concurrently hold office and chair a Standing Committee

ARTICLE VIII.   MEETINGS
Section 1.  There shall be an annual business meeting of the Club in May at which elections shall take place.  The place and time of said meeting shall be announced no later than 60 days before it is scheduled to occur.  Other meetings of the Club may be scheduled by the President.
Section 2.  Minutes of all meetings shall be kept.  Minutes of the annual business meeting shall be forwarded to MOS within 30 days of the date on which the meeting occurs.
Section 3. Except for elections, which may be held only at the annual business meeting, any other business as may properly come before the members present may be conducted at any meeting.
Section 4. At any previously announced meeting of the Club, those members present shall constitute a quorum, and by majority vote shall pass on such business as comes before them.

ARTICLE IX.   SIGNATURES
Section 1. All notes of the Club shall be signed by both the President and the Treasurer, or, in the extended absence of the President, may be signed by Vice President and Treasurer.

ARTICLE X.   AMENDMENTS
Section 1. These bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of those members present at the annual business meeting of the Club, provided that the proposed amendment(s) shall have been distributed 60 days prior to the date of said meeting, and must have been previously approved by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE XI.   DISSOLUTION
Section 1.  If at any time the Club becomes inactive or unable to sustain its operations, it may be dissolved by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.  In case of such dissolution all assets of the Club shall become the property of MOS.  MOS shall not be liable for any debts or obligations of the Club at the time of its dissolution.