CONSTITUTION OF THE WYOMING GROUND WATER ASSOCIATION
Constitution of the Wyoming Ground Water Association
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the Association shall be WYOMING GROUND WATER ASSOCIATION.
ARTICLE II
OBJECTIVES
The Wyoming Ground Water Association shall be established as a non-profit organization. The objectives of this association shall be: to assist, promote, encourage and support the interest and welfare of the groundwater industry in the State of Wyoming; to foster, aid and promote scientific education, research, and techniques in order to improve methods of drilling, well construction, well development, and to advance the science of groundwater hydrology; to promote and encourage harmony, mutual understanding and cooperation between well drillers and pump installation contractors, governmental and scientific agencies, relative to the proper development, conservation, and protection of groundwater sources in Wyoming; and to keep the members informed and advised on new and improved methods and techniques in the groundwater industry, and to advance the mutual interests of those engaged therein, in their own and public welfare.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. The membership of this Association shall consist of Active, Sustaining, Associate, Technical, and Honorary members.
Section 2. Active Member: Any one person actively engaged in the business of the groundwater industry, water well drilling, or pump installation may become an Active member of this Association on payment of an active membership fee. Two voting delegates per business are allowed.
Section 3. Sustaining Member: Any person, partnership, firm or corporation actively engaged in the business of the groundwater industry, water well drilling, or pump installation may become a Sustaining member of this Association on payment of a sustaining membership fee. Four voting delegates per business are allowed.
Section 4. Associate Member: Any person, firm or corporation engaged in manufacturing, supplying or jobbing ofgroundwater related equipment and materials. Any other persons interested in the groundwater industry but not actively engaged in the business of water well drilling or pump installation may become Associate members and have all the rights and privileges of Active members of the Association except those of voting and of holding office, upon payment of appropriate membership fee. Associate members may be appointed to and serve on committees of the Association.
Section 5. Technical Member: Persons and organizations engaged in occupations pertaining to the investigation, supervision, or regulation of underground water or groundwater supply installations, or any teacher in a recognized institution whose work is of such character as in the opinion of the Board of Directors shall qualify him for membership, shall be eligible to become a Technical Member of the Association and have all the rights and privileges of Active Members except those of voting and holding office, upon payment of the Technical membership fee. Technical members may be appointed to and serve on committees of the Association.
Section 6. Honorary Member: Any person who is interested and active in scientific investigations and research of practical value to the water well drilling industry and who has contributed some substantial service in the furtherance of the objectives of this Association may be recommended for Honorary membership, and may be elected an Honorary member by majority vote of members present at a meeting, or by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors present at any directors meeting. Honorary members are entitled to all the privileges of Active membership and are exempt from membership fee. Honorary members may be appointed and serve on committees. Any active member in good standing for at least ten years before his retirement because of age or disability may, upon retiring and upon his written request to the Board of Directors, become an honorary member of the Association.
Section 7. Ladies Auxiliary: A ladies’ auxiliary may exist and shall have a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. Officers: The Officers of the Wyoming Ground Water Association shall consist of President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, Executive Director, Past President, five Directors, Director At Large and one Manufacturer and Supplier Director. Each Director shall represent one of the five areas into which the State of Wyoming shall be divided, as follows:
Area I Northwest: Counties of Teton, Sublette, and Lincoln;
Area II Northeast: Counties of Sheridan, Johnson, Campbell, Crook, and Weston;
Area III West-Central: Counties of Natrona, Big Horn, Fremont, Park, Hot Springs, and Washakie;
Area IV East: Counties of Laramie, Albany, Carbon, Goshen, Platte, Converse, and Niobrara;
Area V Southwest: Counties of Sweetwater and Uinta.
ARTICLE V
DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. Board of Directors The control and management of the affairs of the Association shall be vested in the Board of Directors. The members of the Board shall, upon election, immediately enter upon the performance of their duties and shall continue in office until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The Board of Directors shall have authority to engage and discharge employees and agents of the association; fix salaries, admit, suspend, or expel members; create and appoint committees; and do everything necessary and desirable in the conduct of the business of the Association, in accordance with the Constitution and By-laws.
Section 2. President The President shall be the executive officer of the organization, and shall preside at meetings of the Association and of the Board of Directors. He shall be a member ex-officio, with right to vote, of all committees except the nominating committee. He shall also, at the annual meeting of the Association and at such other times as he shall deem proper, communicate to the Association or to the Board of Directors such matters and make such suggestions as may, in his opinion, tend to promote the welfare and increase the usefulness of the Association. He shall also perform such other duties as are necessarily incident to the office of President of the Association, or as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Vice President In case of death or absence of the President, or his inability from any cause to act, the Vice President shall perform the duties of the President’s office until such time as the President can re-assume his duties. In the event that the President resigns during his term of office, the Vice President shall assume the office of President until the next Annual Meeting.
Section 4. Secretary/Treasurer It shall be the duty of the Secretary/Treasurer to give notice of and attend all meetings of the Active members and Board of Directors, and keep a permanent record of their proceedings; to conduct correspondence and carry into execution all actions of the Association; to keep a list of members of the Association; to collect and receipt for annual dues and all other monies payable to the Association; keep a correct amount of the same; to prepare an annual report of the transactions, affairs and obligations of the Association; to take charge of and care for the general business affairs of the Association; shall keep an account of all monies received and expended for the use of the Association, and shall make disbursements authorized by the Board of Directors and such other officers as the Board may prescribe. All sums received he shall deposit in the bank or banks approved by the Board of Directors, and shall make a report at the Annual Meeting or when called upon by the President. The Secretary/Treasurer is authorized to disburse funds of the Association for all legitimate purposes upon receipt of orders approved by the President. He shall also devote his best efforts to forwarding the business and advancing the interests of the Association, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors. The Secretary/Treasurer shall be appointed by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Executive Director The Executive Director shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. The salary for this position shall be set by the Board of Directors. The Executive Director may be assigned the duties of the Secretary/Treasurer by the Board of Directors. It shall be the duty of the Executive Director to care for the general business affairs of the Association, devoting his best efforts to advancing the interests of the Association, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors; and report at the Annual Meeting or when called upon by the President.
Section 6. Bond or Insurance Policy The Secretary/Treasurer, President, Executive Director, or any other person entrusted with the handling of funds or property of the Association shall, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, furnish, at the expense of the Association, a fidelity bond or insurance policy approved by the Board, in such sum as the Board may prescribe.
Section 7. Resignation and Vacancies Vacancies resulting from resignation or death of Officers and Directors shall be filled in the following manner: A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by the Vice-President, who shall assume all duties of the office until the next Annual Meeting. Vacancies in the offices of Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer shall be filled by appointment by the Board of Directors. The resulting vacancies among the Directors shall be filled by appointment by the Board of Directors, upon the advice of the membership within the area in which the position of Director is vacated. All such appointees shall serve until the next Annual Meeting of the Association, when any unexpired terms shall be filled by election.
Section 8. Salaries and Expenses No salary or compensation shall be received by any Officer or member of the Board of Directors, but this section shall not prevent reimbursement to any Officer or Board Member for actual personal expenses incurred on behalf of the Association.
ARTICLE VI
ANNUAL ELECTION
Section 1. Directors There will be a director from each of the five areas whose terms will run for three consecutive years. At the time of expiration of the term of a Director, an election will be held at that year’s Annual Meeting to fill the vacancy. One additional director from Manufacturing and Supplier membership shall have a board position for a one year term.
Section 2. Officers At an Annual Meeting a President and a Vice-President shall be elected, each for a term of two years, to serve until the close of the Annual Meeting two years following their election. The Secretary/Treasurer shall be appointed for a term of two years.
Section 3. Qualifications No person shall be elected a Director or Officer who is not an Active Member of the Association. Directors and Officers may succeed themselves, when properly elected or appointed under the rules of the Association.
Section 4. If the Past President is unable to serve, a Director At Large position will be appointed by the Board of Directors each year for a one year term until a succeeding Past President is able to serve.
ARTICLE VII
SEAL AND INSIGNIA
Section 1. Seal The Association shall have a seal of such design as the Board of Directors may design and adopt.
Section 2. Insignia The Board of Directors shall arrange for design and procurement of such insignia, letterhead stationary, membership plaques, official signs, and similar items as may be desired or needed by the Association and the members thereof.
ARTICLE VIII
COMMITTEES
Section 1. Standing Committees The President may appoint the following standing committees: convention planning, ethical practices, legislative, membership and promotion, resolutions, and standards. The chairman of each committee may be selected from the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Committees for Annual Meeting The President shall appoint at each Annual Meeting: 1) An Auditing Committee which shall audit the books of the Secretary/Treasurer, and Executive Director. 2) A Nominating Committee, none of whom shall be a member of the Board of Directors, which shall nominate one or more candidates for each office to be filled at the Annual election. Additional nominations of candidates may be made from the floor prior to elections of Officers and Directors.
ARTICLE IX
DISSOLUTION
The Association may be dissolved at any annual or special meeting by a two-thirds vote of the entire Active membership. The assets of the Association at the time of dissolvement, after all outstanding bills have been paid; will be donated to the University of Wyoming for groundwater research, or any other similar Wyoming State entity. The Board of Directors may, at the time of dissolution, designate the type of groundwater research for which the assets of the Association will be used.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. The Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting by a two-thirds majority vote of all Active members present and voting.
Section 2 The Bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting by a majority affirmative vote of all Active members present and voting.
By-Laws of the Wyoming Ground Water Association
ARTICLE I
ANNUAL DUES
Section 1. Members The annual dues for Active, Sustaining, Associate, and Technical members of the Association shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Membership dues are payable on or before the Association’s Annual Meeting. Membership year runs March 1 to February 28 of the following year.
Section 2. Honorary Members As honorary membership is bestowed in recognition of services on behalf of the Association, Honorary members are exempt from annual dues.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS
Section 1. Annual There shall be a meeting of the members of the Association each year, said meeting to be held at a time and place set by the Board of Directors, for receiving annual reports, election of Officers and Directors, and transaction of other business. Notice of the time, place and purpose of the annual meeting shall be given by the Secretary/Treasurer, Executive Director, or other officer designated by the Board of Directors, to all members entitled to vote at such meeting, at least ten days prior to the day named for the meeting, by notice to the last known address of said member.
Section 2. Special Special meetings of the Association may be called by the Board of Directors, or by the Secretary/Treasurer or the Executive Director at the request of the President, or by the Vice-President. Upon the written request of three board members directed to the President or the Vice-President by registered mail stating the object of such requested meeting, he shall direct the Secretary/Treasurer or the Executive Director to call such meeting within fifteen days of said notice. Notice of the time, place and purpose of special meetings shall be given by the Secretary/Treasurer or the Executive Director, or other officer designated by the Board at least ten days prior to the date for the meeting by notice to the last known address of the member.
Section 3. Board Quorum The presence of a majority of the Board of Directors of the Association will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, by declaration of the chair that a quorum is present. The presiding officer may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum is present. Any question regarding the priority of business shall be decided by the Chairman of the session without debate.
Section 4. Member Meeting Quorum: The presence of at least ten percent (10%) of voting delegates of the Association will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, provided these delegates represent eight percent (8%) of the membership of the Association, by declaration of the chair that a quorum is present. The presiding officer may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum is present. Any question regarding the priority of business shall be decided by the Chairman of the session without debate.
ARTICLE III
ORDER OF BUSINESS
Section 1. The order of business for annual or special meetings shall be determined by the rules prepared by the board of Directors. In meeting where the order of business is not specified by the board, the normal order of business shall be as follows:
1. Call to order
2. Reading of and action on agenda
3. Reading of and action on minutes
4. Reports of Officers
5. Report of Directors
6. Reports of Committees
7. Unfinished Business
8. General Business
9. Election of Officers and Directors
10. Appointment of Committees
11. Adjournment
Any question regarding the priority of business shall be decided by the Chairman of the session without debate.
Section 2. The order of business may be altered or suspended at any meeting by a majority vote of the eligible voting delegates present. Robert’s Rules of Order will govern when not in conflict with these bylaws.