BYLAWSOF THENORTHWESTCHAPTER
OF THE RIVER MANAGEMENT SOCIETY
ItisthepurposeoftheNorthwestChapteroftheRiverManagementSocietytoupholdandfulfillthe constitutionoftheRiverManagementSocietythroughallits'activities.
ARTICLEI–MEMBERSHIP
Section1– Eligibility
AnyindividualwhoisamemberingoodstandingofTHERIVERMANAGEMENTSOCIETY(RMS)and whoresidesinthegeographicalareasofOregon,Washington,Idaho,MontanaandWyomingwillbe consideredamemberoftheNorthwestChapter.
Section2- MembershipCategoriesandBenefits
Professionalmembers are entitled to therightsandprivileges,including,but notnecessarilylimitedto:theQuarterlyNewsletter,MembershipDirectory,Members onlyInternetList Serve,ChapterEvents,MemberDiscounts,VotingPrivilegesandtheRighttoHold Office. Individualsineligibletoberegularvotingmemberswillbecomenon-votingAssociateMembers.
Associate membersare entitledto:theQuarterlyNewsletter,MembershipDirectory,MembersonlyInternetListServe,ChapterEvents andSymposiumDiscounts.
Organizationalmembersare entitledto:theQuarterlyNewsletter,MembershipDirectory,Members onlyInternetListServe,ChapterEvents andSymposiumDiscounts(fortwo).
Studentmembers are entitledto:theQuarterlyNewsletter,Membership Directory,Members onlyInternetListServe,SymposiumDiscounts,and ChapterEvents .
Lifetimemembersare entitledto:AllbenefitsforProfessionalmembers.
Section3- ResignationsandTerminations
ResignationfrommembershipinRMSwillautomaticallyresultinterminationfrommembershipinthe chapter.Resignationswillbeprocessedby theRMSProgramDirectorwhowillnotifytheChapter President.
Section4– Suspensions
AnysuspensionfromRMSwillconcurrentlyresultinsuspensionfromthesubsequentchapter.
ARTICLEII– MANAGEMENT OF THE CHAPTER
Section1- AdministrativeStructure
TheelectedofficersoftheChapterwillbeaPresident,Vice-President,Secretaryandan Events Coordinator andwill bemembersoftheNorthwestchapter.Allofficersarevotingofficers.
Nosalarywillbepaidtothe officers.
OfficerswillholdofficeforthreecalendaryearsstartingtheJanuary1followingelections.Allofficers willholdofficeuntiltheirrespectivesuccessorsareelected.
ThechapterPresidentwillserveas amemberoftheNationalRMSBoardofDirectors.
Section2- ElectionofOfficers
TheChapterPresidentwillcallforanelectionwhenofficertermsarenearingcompletionandwillcallfor a nominationofcandidates.Nominationsmaybe madeonlyby chaptermembers.Officerswillbeelected by thegeneralmembershipofthechapter.OnlyProfessionalandlifetimecategorymembers(ArticleI, Section2)fromthechaptermayvoteinchapterelections.
Section3– Elections
ThecurrentofficerswilladministerelectionswiththehelpoftheProgramDirector.Ballotswillbesentto eachvotingmemberby ageneralmailingor mayoccurusingelectronicmailing.Electionsmaybeheldto ratifybylaws,selectofficersorconductotherchapterbusiness.
Section4- VacanciesofOffice
ShouldthepositionofPresidentbevacantduringaterm,theVicePresidentwillfillinasPresidentuntil suchtimethatelectionsareconducted.Otherchapterofficer vacancieswillbefilledby theappointmentof aninterestedchaptermemberbasedonasimplemajorityvoteofthechapterofficers.Thetermsof anyvacatedofficewillbeheldtotheoriginalholderstermlimit.Emergencyelectionsmaybecalledif deemednecessarybytheremainingofficerswhenseveralvacanciesexist.
Section5-ExpensesofChapterOfficers
ChapterofficersmaybereimbursedfromNorthwest Chapterfundsfortravelingexpensesincurredfor thepurposeofattendingmeetingsby thesimplemajorityapprovalofchapterofficers.
ARTICLEIII
AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF CHAPTER OFFICERS
Section1– President
ThePresidentwillpreside at chapter meetingsandrepresenttheinterestsof
chaptermembers.ThePresidentwillprovidedirectiontootherchapterofficers.
Chapterresponsibilities:ThePresident isresponsibleforoverallcommunicationwithchaptermembers; contactsnew members;oversees coordination of at least three chapter events with the Events Coordinator Officer and other chapter officers and members;representstheSocietyatregionalevents;appointsorelectsStateStewardsor sub-chapterrepresentatives(optional);submitsquarterlychapterupdatesfortheSocietynewsletter; andorganizesquarterlyconferencecallswithchapterofficersand periodically invitesthenationalPresident, VicePresident and Executive Director.
Societyresponsibilities:ThePresidentisresponsibleattheNationalSocietylevelto serve on the National RMS Board; attendnational Societyevents;serveonthescholarshipcommittee;participateinconferencecallswiththeBoard; attendthe annual Boardmeeting(orfinda replacement)andprovidean annual chapter summary reportto theBoardatitsannualmeeting.
Section2-VicePresident
Chapterresponsibilities:TheVicePresidentis responsibleforcontactingchaptermemberswith expiredmembershipsandencouragingthemtorenew. The Vice President,withassistancefromfellowofficers,willwritechapternewsandevents updatesforchapter memberstwiceduringacalendaryear.TheVicePresidentwillpromotechapter/regionalissuesfor inclusioninthebiennialsymposiumandforotherpurposes;activelypursuearticlesofinterestand coordinatewiththeExecutive Directorwhenthe Northwest Chapteristhefocusofthe RMS newsletter.TheVicePresident willorganizechapterelectionsoraprocessforselectionofofficers.TheVicePresidentwillassistthe Events Coordinator withplanningandcoordinatingchapterevents.
Societyresponsibilities:TheVicePresidentwillserveasa memberon the national succession committeeorrecruitachaptermembertodoso. The Vice President will fill in for the President, as needed, on national duties such as Board calls and meetings.
Section3–Secretary
Chapterresponsibilities: TheSecretarywillrecordand keepchapter meeting minutesand conducttimelymailingof minutestochapter membership, when necessary. Asrequestedby chapterofficers,thesecretarywillalsoconductmailingsofchapternews, activityupdates,etc.TheSecretarywillassisttheVicePresidentinactivelypursuingarticlesofinterest andcoordinatingwiththeExecutiveDirectorwhenthechapteristhefocusofthe RMS newsletter. The SecretarywilltrackanychapterdisplaysandeventsfortheSociety’snationaldisplayandkeeprecordsof eventsthechapterisinvolvedin.TheSecretarywillmanageseasonaltrainingopportunitiesorjobshares withinthechapterandnotifychaptermembersoftheseopportunities.TheSecretarywillassistthe Events Coordinatorinplanningandcoordinatingchapterevents.
Societyresponsibilities:TheSecretarywillserveonthenationalRMSMembershipCommitteeorwill recruitachaptermembertodoso.TheSecretarywillforwardarticlesanddocumentsofspecialinterestto theNationalSecretaryforincorporationintotheSociety’shistoricalrecords. The Secretary will work with the RMS National Treasurer to keep track of Northwest Chapter funds.
Section4- Events Coordinator
Chapterresponsibilities: Events Coordinator will plan, coordinate, organize and participate (when possible) in all Northwest Chapter events. Events Coordinator will coordinate at least three events per calendar year to include the River Ranger Rendezvous every other year. Events Coordinator will accomplish this by doing the work themselves, recruiting chapter members to coordinate events in their location, and using assistance from other chapter officers. Chapter events include, but are not limited to, workshops, trainings, river trips, gatherings and a River Ranger Rendezvous every other year. Coordinator will update routinely the RMS Facebook page and website in cooperation with the Executive Director. Events Coordinator will assist other chapter officers with membership and other chapter duties as requested.
Societyresponsibilities: Events Coordinator willserveon the National RMS fund raising committee or recruit a chapter member to do so. The Events Coordinator will assist the Executive Director with national RMS events.
Section5- ExecutionofInstruments
Agreements,conveyances,transfers,obligations,certificatesandotherinstrumentsanddocumentsmay beexecutedanddeliveredoracceptedonbehalfofthechapterby thePresidentorhisorher representative,uponapprovalby asimplemajorityofthechapterofficers.
ARTICLEIV
CHAPTER OFFICER PROCEEDINGS
Section1–Meetings
Chapterofficersshallmeetatleastfour times ayearthroughavarietyof methods.Conferencecallsand chapter events mayserveas meetingmethodsfortheofficers. Meeting minutes will be kept at each chapter meeting and reside with the Secretary Officer.
Section2–Decisions
Asimplemajorityofthechapterofficersshallcompriseaquorum.TheChapterPresident,if unableto attendameeting,mayappointanotherofficerofthechaptertorepresentthechapter’sinterests.That representativeshallhavefullvotingrightsforthatmeeting.Noproxyvotesareallowed.
ARTICLEV
COMMITTEES
Section1– Structure
ThePresidentmayappointstandingcommitteeswiththeconcurrenceoftheotherofficers,asnecessary. Allcommitteeswillbeadvisoryincharacterandwillreporttoandactunderthedirectionofthe President.Membersofcommitteescanbereimbursedforanytravelexpensesincurredwhileattending regularcommitteemeetingsuponpriorapprovalbyasimplemajorityofthechapterofficers.
Section2– Duties
Thechapterofficerswilldeterminetheresponsibilitiesofeachcommittee.Eachcommitteewill makereports, as requested.
ARTICLEVI
FINANCES
Section1-FiscalYear
The chapter fiscalyearwillcoincidewiththecalendaryear.
Section2- FinancialManagement
Chapterfundswillbeusedinsupportofchapteractivities,including,butnotlimitedto:chapter workshops,mailings,officialtravel,chapterscholarships,andsupport for chapter events. Expenditureoffundswilloccuruponapprovalby asimplemajorityvoteofchapterofficers. The President and/or Secretary will contact the National Treasurer to dispense funds and keep records of chapter transactions.
Acceptanceorrejectionoffundsduetoordonatedtothechapter,fromanysource,willoccurupon approvalorrejectionby asimplemajorityvoteofchapterofficers.TheSecretary and National Treasurerwillkeeparecordof suchapprovalsorrejections.AcceptanceorrejectionoffundswillbeincompliancewiththeSociety PlannedGivingProgram.
ARTICLEVII
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
Thebylawsmustberatifiedby asimplemajorityvoteofchapterofficersandits’ members.Minor Amendmentsmaybe madetothebylawsby avotingmajorityoftheofficers.Anyamendmentsmustbe consistentwiththeconstitutionofRMS.
AdoptedJuly9,2003
AmendedNovember23,2005
Amended October 8, 2014
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