BY-LAWS OF THE JACKSONVILLE HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY Revised and Adopted July, 1998 ARTICLE I NAME: The name of the organization shall be the Jacksonville Herpetological Society.   ARTICLE II PURPOSE: The purpose of the Society shall be:   1.        To enhance the education of the members and the general public through the programs of the Society.   2.        To promote the conservation of all wildlife in general and of herpetofauna in particular, whenever and wherever possible.   3.        To achieve a closer cooperation and understanding between amateur and professional herpetologists, so they may work together for the common cause of science. ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP: SECTION 1. Membership in the Society shall be open to all persons. SECTION 2. Classes of membership, and the attendant rights and privileges of each class, shall be set by the members of the Board of Directors.   ARTICLE IV DUES: The members of the Board of Directors shall set dues.   ARTICLE V OFFICERS: The officers of the Society shall be President, Vice president, Treasurer, Secretary, and Sergeant-at-Arms.   The term of office shall be one year.   ARTICLE VI DUTIES OF OFFICERS: SECTION 1. PRESIDENT:  The President shall be the principle executive officer of the Society.  He/she shall preside over regular meetings, board meetings, and special meetings.   His/her authority at all times shall be subject to the control and direction of the Board of Directors.  He/she shall have no vote at any meeting except to break a tie.   SECTION 2. VICE PRESIDENT: The Vice president shall aid the President in the performance of his/her duties and shall perform such duties in the President's absence.  The Vice president shall be the ex officio member of all committees.   SECTION 3. TREASURER:  The treasurer shall keep accurate accounts of all monies received and disbursed, and shall deposit all monies received in a bank designated by the Board of Directors.  At each meeting, the Treasurer shall be responsible for presenting a report of the financial status of the Society. The Treasurer shall prepare an annual financial statement for publication in the JHS newsletter as directed by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall be responsible for payment of bills.   The Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping a current file and mailing list of the members, and shall be responsible for receiving dues and sending membership cards. The financial records shall be made available for inspection by the Society members upon request.   SECTION 4. SECRETARY:  The secretary shall be responsible for recording the minutes of all membership and board meetings and shall retain a copy of the Society minutes and records.   SECTION 5. SERGEANT-AT-ARMS:   The Sergeant-at-arms shall maintain order at the Society meetings.  He/she shall be responsible for maintaining a register of all members and visitors who attend meetings. He/she shall be responsible for leaving the meeting hall in good condition.     ARTICLE VII BOARD OF DIRECTORS: SECTION 1. The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, Vice president, Treasurer, Secretary, Sergeant-at-arms, immediate past-President, and five members-at-large.   SECTION 2. The Board of Directors shall manage the affairs of the Society and shall make all rules and regulations deemed necessary to accomplish the purposes of the Society. Actions of the Board may be countermanded at any membership meeting upon motion, duly passed by a majority of the members voting at said membership meeting.   SECTION 3. All Board meetings shall be open to all Society members.   SECTION 4. Board meetings shall be held monthly on a date designated by the members of the Board of Directors.  A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.  A majority vote of the quorum present at a meeting shall be sufficient to pass any motion, except as these by-laws otherwise provide.   SECTION 5. The term for members-at-large shall be two years commencing at the first meeting following election.  Two members-at-large are to be elected in even years, and three members-at-large are to be elected in odd years.   SECTION 6. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President or a quorum of the Board.  At least one-week notice of special meetings shall be given except in emergencies. ARTICLE VIII VACANCIES AND ABSENCES: SECTION 1. The permanent vacancy of any position in the Board of Directors, other than the immediate past-President, shall be filled by a member appointed by the President and approved by the remaining members of the Board of Directors.  This appointment shall remain in effect for the remainder of the un-expired term.   SECTION 2. In the event of the absence of any officer, his/her duties, as listed in ARTICLE VI, shall be assumed, where possible, by the officer below that position as listed in ARTICLE V. ARTICLE IX ELECTIONS: SECTION 1. Any member who is eligible to vote shall be eligible for nomination for any office or member-at-large of the Board.  No member may hold two offices at the same time, nor can a person be an officer and a member-at-large simultaneously.   SECTION 2. Officers and members-at-large of the Board shall be elected at the Annual Meeting, and shall be eligible for re-election.  Each member (except institutional members) shall be eligible to vote.  Absentee ballots may be cast in accordance with procedures passed by the Board of Directors.    ARTICLE X MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS: SECTION 1. Membership meetings shall be held monthly, the June membership meeting shall be the Annual Meeting.   SECTION 2.   Special membership meetings may be called by the President, or by a quorum of the Board of Directors, or by notice signed by at least twenty members, on at least one week's notification.   At such meetings no business other than that specified in the notice shall be transacted.   SECTION 3. The latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order will govern all meetings except where it is in conflict with these By-laws.    ARTICLE XI RESIGNATION AND EXPULSION: SECTION 1.   Resignations of officers or members-at-large of the Board of Directors shall be in writing and shall be delivered to the President or to the Board of Directors . SECTION 2. No member of the Board of Directors may be removed from his/her position except for failure to perform the duties of said position, including, but not limited to, unexcused absence of three consecutive Board meetings, or for violation of Society rules.  Said member shall be given reasonable notice and the opportunity to be heard.  No removal shall be effective unless passed by a majority of the entire Board of Directors, and approved by a majority of the members present at the next meeting.   SECTION 3. All or some of the rights and privileges of any member may be suspended, or a member may be expelled from the Society, but only for violation of existing Society rules.  An accused member shall be given reasonable notice of the complaint against him/her, and an opportunity to be heard by the Board of Directors.  No suspension or expulsion shall be effective unless passed by a majority of the members voting thereon at the next membership meeting.  Expelled members may apply to the Board of Directors for new membership not sooner than one year after expulsion.  Any such application may be accepted, or rejected by the Board of Directors. ARTICLE XII   AMENDMENTS: Amendments to these By-laws may be proposed by the members of the Board of Directors, or by submission to any member of the Board of Directors of a proposal signed by any ten members.  Any such proposed amendments shall be mailed to all members at least five days prior to the next membership meeting.  Amendments must be accepted by a two-thirds majority of the members voting thereon at said meeting.   Amendments shall then become effective.   AMENDMENT 1: The position of Treasurer is now an appointed position to be appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.   AMENDMENT 2: Repeals Amendment 1.   AMENDMENT 3: No President of Treasurer shall occupy these positions more than two times within a five-year period, nor shall they succeed themselves.   AMENDMENT 4: These By-laws shall be reviewed, and revised if necessary, yearly after the Annual Meeting by the new Board of Directors and at any other time deemed necessary by the Board of Directors. 07-98   AMENDMENT 5: The financial records and accounts shall be audited annually, by a paid accountant or by an auditing committee of no fewer than three members, before the Annual Meeting or at a time set by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may select the auditing committee.  07-98   AMENDMENT 6: rRepeals Amendment 3. Passed 07/2007                                                                                             AMENDMENT 7: The position of Treasurer is now an appointed position to be appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer may run consecutive terms. 05-2010   AMENDMENT 8: The Webmaster shall only be able to be removed by a majority vote by the Board of Directors.  05-2010   AMENDMENT 9: The JHS Reptile Rescue shall have a Director approved by the Board of Directors.  The Director must be able to house all reptiles, must be able to feed all reptiles and must hold all permits (Class 111 and ROC permits)  05-2010