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CONSTITUTION

OF THE

DALLAS PALEONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY

ARTICLE I   NAME

      The name of this organization shall be the Dallas Paleontological Society.

ARTICLE II   PURPOSE

     The Purpose of the Society shall be to promote serious interest in and knowledge of the science of Paleontology. It is the intention of the founding members that the Society should be a network for the exchange of data between professionals and serious amateurs in this field. The Society is organized exclusively for educational and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions that qualify under Internal Revenue Code section 501 (c)(3).

ARTICLE III    MEMBERSHIP

  SECTION 1:   ELIGIBILITY

     Membership in the Society shall be open to all persons with an interest in promoting the purpose of the Society.

  SECTION 2:   CLASSIFICATION

         A.     Family Membership: for a maximum of two eligible adults and those people in the household under eighteen years of age who desire full access to all Society functions, privileges and voting rights. (voting will be limited to those sixteen years of age or older).

         B.    Single Membership: for any eligible individual sixteen years of age or older, who desires full  access to all Society functions, privileges and voting rights.

         C.    Honorary Membership: may be conferred to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of paleontology. Nominations to this level of membership may be submitted to the Executive Committee by any member. The Committee will review the nominee and will present its recommendations to a simple majority vote of members present at a regular monthly meeting.

         D.    Newsletter Subscription: for those individuals who are not able to participate in the activities of the Society but want to receive The Fossil Record.

         E.     Lifetime Membership: For any eligible individual who desires full access to all society functions, privileges, and voting rights for their lifetime.

  SECTION 3:   TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

        A.     Membership in the Society may be terminated upon recommendation of the Executive Committee by a simple majority vote of members present at a regular monthly meeting for any person failing to uphold the purpose of the Society.

        B.    Delinquency of  dues  by  more  than  two  months  will  result  in  termination  of

membership at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE IV  FINANCES

   SECTION 1:   DUES

       Dues provide for membership in the Society for twelve months from the date of payment. The cost of each type of membership shall be specified in the Bylaws of the Society.

   SECTION 2:   EXPENSES AND COVERAGE

      Dues and fund raising activities will be used to cover expenses of the Society as approved by the Executive Committee. No part of the net earnings of the Society shall inure to the benefit of members, officers or other private persons except as compensation for services or goods or to promote the stated purpose of the Society.

 Section 3:  President's Discretion

      The President shall have the discretion to spend up to $200 dollars to cover various expenses of the Society.  Any expense over $200 should be agreed upon by a quorum of the Executive Committee.  If the expense is of an urgent nature, and the President cannot reach the Committee in a reasonable amount of time, the expense may be allowed.  All receipts for expenses must be turned into the Treasurer in accordance with the IRS 501 (c) 3 codes.

ARTICLE V   OFFICERS

  SECTION 1:  OFFICERS

     The officers of the Society shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Editor. These officers collectively shall constitute the Executive Committee. Officers may only be chosen from family, single and Honorary members in good standing who are at least eighteen years of age or older. The term of office will begin January 1 of each calendar year.

     Officers may serve a maximum of two consecutive years in any office. They may then, however, be elected to any other office, or may be re-elected to the same office after being out of that office at least one year.

  SECTION 2:   DUTIES OF OFFICERS

      A.      President • the President shall be the principal officer of the Society and shall exercise general supervision of the property, affairs, and business of the Society, except such as shall be delegated by the President to others. The President shall sign all documents, which the Executive Committee has authorized to be executed, except in cases where the signing is expressly delegated to some other officer or agent of the Society. The President shall have the powers and perform the duties usually pertaining to the office or as may be delegated by the Executive Committee.

     B.      Vice President • In the absence of the President or in the event of the President's inability to perform the duties of the office, the Vice President shall assume the duties of the President In doing so, the Vice President shall have all the powers of and be subject to the restrictions of the President. The Vice President shall be responsible for external publicity and shall perform other duties as may be assigned by the President or the Executive Committee.

     C.     Secretary • the Secretary shall be responsible for keeping the minutes of all regular monthly meetings and meetings of the Executive Committee and shall keep and file all records pertaining to the Society. The Secretary shall handle correspondence where needed.

     D.     Treasurer •  the Treasurer shall care for  all funds  and financial papers  of  the Society, arrange for an annual audit, and assist in the preparation of the annual budget. The Treasurer shall be responsible with the President for disbursing funds belonging to the Society and shall prepare all annual corporate exhibits, reports, and tax returns required by Federal and local governments.

     E.      Editor • the Editor shall compile a monthly newsletter and ensure that it is distributed as early in the month as possible. In addition, the Editor shall publish any other articles or publications deemed necessary by the Executive Committee. The Editor shall edit all articles submitted to be published under the auspices of the Society unless otherwise directed by the Executive Committee.

  SECTION 3:   ADVISORY BOARD

     There shall be an Advisory Board, which shall serve the Society in an advisory capacity. This board shall consist of a maximum of three people who shall be appointed by the Executive Committee annually, except that the immediate past President will automatically serve for a period of two years. A nominating committee shall be appointed each year by the current Advisory Board for the purposes of nominating prospective officers for the upcoming year.

  SECTION 4:   DUAL OFFICES

      No member shall be elected to more than one elective office at the same time.

  SECTION 5:   QUORUM

     A majority of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum to transact business. On any specific question, absentee officers may phone or mail their votes to the Secretary.

ARTICLE VI   REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT

   SECTION I:   REMOVAL

       Any officer who fails to uphold the purpose of the Society or who can no longer properly fulfill assigned duties should resign that office. A non-functional officer can be removed by simple majority vote of the membership at any regular monthly meeting, following notification of membership in writing.

   SECTION 2:  REPLACEMENT

      A vacant office may be filled by any family, single or honorary member as appointed by the Executive Committee, and approved by majority vote of the membership at a regular monthly meeting

ARTICLE VII  COMMITTEES

     The Executive Committee shall appoint such committees as are necessary for the functioning of the Society.

ARTICLE VIII  ELECTION OF OFFICERS

  SECTION 1:  NOMINATION OF OFFICERS

       The nominating committee shall announce their proposed slate of officers for the coming year at the November regular monthly meeting, and nominations can also be taken from the floor. Nominations can be made by any family or single member, but should have the permission of the nominee. Nominees will be published in the December newsletter.

  SECTION 2:  ELECTION OF OFFICERS

     Election of officers shall take place during the December regular monthly meeting of the Society. Voting shall be done by written ballot by family, single   or honorary members only.

  SECTION 3:  VOTING IN ABSENTIA

     Family, single and honorary members may vote in absentia in writing.

ARTICLE IX   ACTIVITIES

   SECTION 1:   REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS

     There shall be a general meeting of the Society once every month. The time and place shall be determined by the Executive Committee. Voting at monthly meetings shall be by voice or by actual count of hands of family, single or honorary members only.

   SECTION 2:   EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS

     Meetings of the Executive Committee and all committee heads shall be held as often as necessary to transact the business of the Society. These meetings may be called by the President or by any two members of the Executive Committee. Business meetings shall be open to the membership.

   SECTION 3:   OTHER ACTIVITIES

     The Society has the right to promote its purpose in any manner the Executive Committee deems necessary. Such activities include, but are not limited to: the publication of periodic scientific papers, furnishing representatives and materials to public events and support of various Paleontological investigations. No substantial part of the activities of the Society shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation or intervene in any Political campaign for public office. Some activities may be restricted on the basis of age or physical ability at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE X   AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

   SECTION 1:  PROPOSAL

       A proposed amendment can be initiated by any family, single or honorary member providing such amendment is submitted in writing to the Executive Committee.

SECTION 2:  REVIEW

SECTION 3:  NOTICES

Amendments approved by the Executive Committee must be submitted to the membership in writing immediately prior to the regular monthly meeting where a general membership vote on the proposed amendments is to take place.

SECTION 4:   VOTING

      The proposed amendment shall be read to the membership at the regular monthly meeting following its publication. A period of debate and discussion will be provided. Voting on a constitutional change can be by hand or ballot as recommended by the Executive Committee. A simple majority of positive votes by attending family, single or honorary members is satisfactory for adoption.

ARTICLE XI   LIABILITY

     No officer of the Society shall be liable for the acts, defaults or neglect of any other officer, or for any loss sustained by the Society, unless such loss results from willful misconduct, willful neglect, or actual negligence of the particular officer sought to be charged with the liability.

ARTICLE XII  DISSOLUTION

     Upon dissolution of the Society, remaining assets will be contributed to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.   If at the time of dissolution, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science is no longer in existence or is not recognized as tax exempt under section 501(c)3 of the internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose.  Any such assets not disposed of shall be disposed of by a court of competent jurisdiction in the county in which the principal office of the organization is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

ADOPTED JANUARY 12, 1985

MOST RECENT AMENDMENTS RATIFIED December Meeting, 2015