CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
Central Gulf
Coast Chapter of the
National Weather Association
(ESTABLISHED: JULY 1994)
Part I as set forth by the National Weather Association
ARTICLE I: NAME
This organization can adopt any name desired by the majority of its active membership, provided the name in question is not in current use, upon approval of the Executive Director of the National Weather Association.
ARTICLE II: OBJECTIVES
Primary objectives of the organization shall be to foster the growth of operational meteorology, through research, forecasting, broadcasting, and education.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
1. Membership in the local chapter is open to anyone interested in operational meteorology and who agrees to abide by the requirements of this constitution.
2. Officers shall consist of President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, and Corresponding Secretary.
3. A minimum of three officers must be full members (regular or student) of the National Weather Association.
4. Officers shall be elected at the first official meeting of the chapter and at the last meeting of the year thereafter. All officers shall hold their position for one year and may be re-elected.
5. Any vacated office shall be filled by action of the executive committee in accordance with the local chapter constitution.
6. The President shall report
directly to the Executive Director, National Weather Association.
ARTICLE IV: COMMITTEES
1. The following committees are required: Program, Membership, and Publicity. The chairman of these committees will consist of the Vice-President (Program Committee), Secretary-Treasurer (Membership Committee), and Corresponding Secretary (Publicity Committee). Additional members of the committees shall be appointed in accordance with local chapters constitution.
2. The Publicity Committee will file (through the President) a brief synopsis of the past years activities to the Executive Director, National Weather Association. This synopsis shall consist of, but is not limited to, number of members, number of new members, programs at each meeting, financial statement and outlook for future.
3. The executive committee consists
of the immediate past President and current officers.
ARTICLE V: DUES
No national dues are required of
chapter members. The National Weather Association does strongly recommend that all local
members become full members of said organization.
ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS
Chapters shall have a minimum of six
meetings each year.
ARTICLE VII: VOTING PROCEDURES
1. All active members of the local chapter may participate in voting.
2. Voting for officers of the local
chapter shall be in accordance with the local chapter constitution.
ARTICLE VIII: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The rules contained in Robert's Rules
of Order, Revised Edition shall govern in all cases to which they are applicable, and in
which they are not inconsistent with the constitution.
ARTICLE IX: NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
This local chapter of the National
Weather Association is organized and operated exclusively for nonprofit purposes, and no
part of its earnings shall inure to the benefit of any member.
ARTICLE X: DISSOLUTION
Upon dissolution or disbandment of
this organization, all funds and properties in excess of liabilities and expenses of
dissolution will be distributed as determined by a majority of the active members.
ARTICLE XI: ADOPTION
This local chapter of the National Weather Association shall become effective upon approval of the Executive Director, National Weather Association.
Part
II as set forth by the Central Gulf Coast Chapter
of the National Weather Association
ARTICLE I: NAME
This local chapter shall be known as the Central Gulf Coast Chapter of the National Weather Association.
ARTICLE II: OBJECTIVES
The Central Gulf Coast Chapter shall foster the growth of operational meteorology in the Central Gulf Coast region by providing the community with a social and scientific point of contact for meteorological forecasting and broadcasting, and other interdisciplinary interests. The Central Gulf Coast Chapter shall encourage collaborative research among its members and shall engage in continuing education on the latest developments in the various branches of hydrometeorological science.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
1. Membership in the Central Gulf Coast Chapter of the National Weather Association is open to anyone with an interest in meteorology and its related fields, and resides in the geographic area of the Western Florida Panhandle, Southern Alabama, and Southeast Mississippi, and who agrees to abide by the requirements of this constitution.
2. The President presides as the Chair at all local chapter meetings and is responsible for the ideological and financial well being of the chapter. The President has the authority to appoint committees, to act upon local chapter interests as necessary, and oversees the goals and aspirations of the active membership.
3. The Vice-President presides as the Chair in the absence of the President and is Chair of the Program Committee. The Vice-President also assists the other officers in the performance of their duties.
4. The Secretary-Treasurer serves as the administrative focal point for all chapter activities, presides as Chair of the Membership Committee, keeps current list of the active membership, and maintains accurate financial records concerning local chapter activities. The Secretary-Treasurer (or the Secretary-Treasurer's designee) shall make a report of the financial status of the chapter at each meeting. In the absence of both the President and Vice-President, serves as the Chair at the local chapter meeting.
5. The Corresponding Secretary is charged with keeping the active membership informed about chapter functions, presides as Chair of the Publicity Committee, and submits reports of chapter activities to the national organizations through the President. In the absence of the President, Vice-President, and Secretary-Treasurer, serves as Chair of the local chapter meeting.
6. The active membership has the right to impeach any officer if the officer's actions or activities warrant dismissal. A majority vote by the active membership is required to dismiss a local chapter officer. This vote will be done by secret ballot.
ARTICLE IV: COMMITTEES
1. The Executive Committee consists of five members: the President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, Corresponding Secretary, and immediate past President. If there is no immediate past President, the most recent past President of the Central Gulf Coast Chapter will serve on the Executive Committee. If there are no past Presidents of the Central Gulf Coast Chapter, this seat will be filled by special election. The winner of this election shall hold the title of Officer Without Portfolio.
2. The Program Committee will be chaired by the Vice-President and have up to two other members.
3. The Membership Committee will be chaired by the Secretary-Treasurer and have up to two other members.
4. The Publicity Committee will be chaired by the Corresponding Secretary and have up to two other members.
5. Additional committees shall be organized at the discretion of the President.
6. Committee members shall consist of any active member in the Central Gulf Coast Chapter, and are appointed by the Executive Committee.
1. Annual dues of ten dollars ($10.00) for regular members, five dollars ($5.00) for student members, shall be paid to the Central Gulf Coast Chapter of the National Weather Association, due at the first meeting of the chapter year. Payment of dues entitles the member to active member status and voting privileges. Members who join the Central Gulf Coast Chapter in the fourth month of the chapter year or later shall pay dues prorated at the rate of one-tenth of the annual dues for each remaining month, including the current month.
2. Any member failing to pay stated dues by the end of the third meeting of the chapter year will have all membership privileges revoked and shall only receive meeting announcements via e-mail only until dues are paid.
3. Use of all dues shall be for the organizational objectives stated in Article I of this constitution.
ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS
1. The chapter shall have at least six meetings per chapter year. The chapter year shall run from 1 September to 31 August. Five of the meetings shall be held during the Fall and Spring college semesters, between 1 September and 31 May.
2. Time and location of the meetings will be determined by the Executive Committee, with input from the active membership.
3. Special meetings may be called by the Executive committee.
4. All meeting minutes shall be available electronically or via hardcopy at least fifteen (15) days prior to next meeting. At a minimum, the minutes shall announce the time, place, and purpose of the next meeting.
ARTICLE VII: VOTING PROCEDURES AND ELECTIONS
1. A quorum is defined as more than one-half of the active membership.
2. A simple majority of the quorum is required for the election of officers and matters other than constitutional reform. Election of officers will take place during the third meeting of the calendar year. Voting may take place by one of two methods.
2a. If a quorum is present at a meeting, voting may take place at that time by show of hands or secret ballot.
2b. If a quorum is not present at a meeting, then all matters that require voting will be subject to electronic voting. Electronic voting will take place seven (7) days after the minutes for the previous meeting have been made available. After the seven (7) day waiting period, the President (or the President's designee) will post the question to all active members via electronic mail. A maximum of fifteen (15) days will be available for electronic votes beginning with the day the question is posted. Expiration dates of electronic polling will be clearly specified on the ballot. Votes will be made via electronic mail directly to the President (or the President's designee). Members without electronic mail capability will have their vote forwarded by a member who does. If a quorum is not met via electronic voting, the matter shall be tabled until the next meeting. Results of the vote will be announced at the next meeting, and by electronic mail to all active members.
3. Nominations of active members qualified to hold officer positions will be accepted from the floor during the second meeting of the calendar year. A list of the nominees will be sent to all active members within fifteen (15) days after the close of the meeting.
4. If an officer position becomes vacant, the remaining Executive Committee members shall select a qualified active member to fill the vacancy. Three votes are required to fill a vacancy in this fashion. If no candidate receives three votes, the President shall make the selection to fill the vacancy. In either case, the member selected to fill the vacancy must be ratified by a simple majority of the quorum present at the next chapter meeting. Should the selection to the vacancy not be ratified, then an election to fill the vacancy must be held immediately.
5. A two-thirds majority of the active membership is required for amendment of the constitution. This is almost certainly going to require an electronic mail vote. Electronic voting will take place seven (7) days after the minutes for the previous meeting have been made available. After the seven (7) day waiting period, the President (or the President's designee) will post the potential amendment to all active members via electronic mail. A maximum of fifteen (15) days will be available for electronic votes beginning with the day the potential amendment is posted. Expiration dates of electronic polling will be clearly specified on the ballot. Votes will be made via electronic mail directly to the President (or the President's designee). Members without electronic mail capability will have their vote forwarded by a member who does. Results of the vote will be announced at the next meeting, and by electronic mail to all active members.
ARTICLE VIII: FINANCES
1. Expenditures of the Central Gulf Coast Chapter of the National Weather Association less than fifty dollars ($50.00) may be authorized by a majority of the Executive Committee. The Secretary-Treasurer shall have authority to sign checks for these expenditures. If there is no Secretary-Treasurer then the President shall have signature authority.
2. Expenditures of the Central Gulf Coast Chapter of fifty dollars ($50.00) or more shall require the approval of a simple majority of a quorum present. Both the Secretary-Treasurer and the President must sign checks for these expenditures.
ARTICLE IX: NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
The Central Gulf Coast Chapter of the National Weather Association is organized and operated exclusively as a nonprofit entity, and no portion of its earnings shall be used to the benefit of any individual that is an active member.