Alachua Astronomy Club: Bylaws

	Alachua Astronomy Club, Inc.	Member Astronomical League	Member International Dark-Sky Association
	Bylaws	Member Astronomical League	Member International Dark-Sky Association
	29°39' N, 82°21' W Altitude: 50 Meters (more or less)		Updated Mar. 7, 2007
(Click logo for home page)	Founded: September 1987		(Developed with Netscape 4.x)

BYLAWS OF THE ALACHUA ASTRONOMY CLUB, INC.
(Revision Dates: 1988 September 8, 1995 September 12, 1995 November 14, 1999 January 12,
2001 October 9, 2005 September 13, 2007 March 13)

Name and Purpose

We constitute ourselves as the Alachua Astronomy Club, Inc., wishing to secure the fellowship, pleasures, and benefits of an association with persons commonly interested in astronomy. We hereby enact these Bylaws to help govern our club. The specific purpose for which this corporation is organized is to promote the science of astronomy by:

Providing opportunities for the local community to learn about and become interested in astronomy, such as, but not limited to, astronomy lectures, demonstrations, and sky observing events;

Making astronomy in general more accessible and visible to the general public, through public and media outreach; and

Providing opportunities, at low cost, for its general membership to learn and improve skills related to amateur astronomy, such as, but not limited to, sky observing, amateur scientific research, and the selection, construction, and use of astronomical equipment.

Membership

Membership in this club will be open to anyone with an interest in astronomy. A "member in good standing" is one who is up to date in the payment of his or her dues. The "general membership" will consist of all members in good standing.

Meetings

"Meetings" shall mean regularly scheduled club meetings each month at a date and location designated by the general membership. Where not indicated to the contrary, Roberts Rules of order shall be followed in the conduct of the meetings.

Dues

Dues shall be established by vote of the general membership become effective January 1, following. New members' dues shall be pro-rated according to the number of quarters left in the calendar year. New members who join the club in the last quarter shall pay no dues for that quarter.

Business

A "quorum" shall consist of at least 25 per cent of the members in good standing (including one officer.) A vote taken during a meeting will be binding on the club only if a majority of members present approves the motion.

Management of the Club

The affairs and business of the club shall be conducted and managed by a Board of Directors. The Board will include the following elected officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, all of whom will be elected annually by the general membership. All elected officers and directors shall be members in good standing for the year in which they will hold office. Each officer is responsible for the accomplishment of the duties defined herein.

Additional Board members will include three (3) directors, elected annually along with the slate of four (4) officers by the general membership.

Vacancies in the board of directors shall be filled by a vote of the majority of the remaining members of the board of directors for the balance of the year.

The Board may appropriate up to FIVE hundred dollars ($500) per expenditure for club business. Larger expenditures will be voted on by the general membership.

President

The President shall preside at all club meetings and shall see that all club business is conducted in a manner that is consistent with these Bylaws. Whenever necessary, the President shall create committees and appoint chairpersons who will thereupon recruit committee members to assist them in adequately conducting club activities. All chairpersons are responsible to the President.

Vice President

The Vice President shall assume all duties of the President in the President's absence. Additional responsibilities for the Vice President will include Parliamentarian duties, to interpret and arbitrate parliamentary procedures per Roberts Rules of Order.

Secretary

The Secretary shall be responsible for all correspondence, the accurate recording of all motions and official actions taken at all meetings, and for keeping up to date all membership records, club property records, and all other important club documents.

Treasurer

The Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection and disbursement of all club moneys authorized by the general membership or the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall keep up-to-date and accurate, complete, and comprehensive records.

Elections

Elections shall be held once a year, at the November meeting. The President shall appoint a nominating committee, consisting of two members from the Board of Directors and one from the general membership, to meet during the month of September and present a slate of officers and directors at the October meeting. Additional nominations will be accepted from the floor at that time, and also at the November meeting immediately prior to the election. Terms of office shall be for one year, with the restriction of three consecutive years limitation for re-election to each individual office.

Amendments

These Bylaws may be amended or changed at any meeting where a quorum is present, on a motion by a member in good standing, which is seconded, and then passed by a 2/3 majority of all members present.

[End of AAC Bylaws]

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