Constitution of the Chapel Hill Bird Club (CHBC)

as amended 21 May 1996

Article I

The name of this organization shall be the Chapel Hill Bird Club (CHBC). The purpose of the club will be to participate and aid in the study and appreciation of bird life. The club will contact and cooperate with similar organizations as well as with local residents.

Article II - membership and dues

Membership shall be open to any person interested in furthering the purposes of the club as stated in Article I. Annual dues will be set at the November meeting for individual and family memberships and will be required of all members payable by January 1. Those joining after July 1 will be charged half the annual rate.

Article III - election of officers and official appointments

Clause I

The elected officers consist of a President, Vice-president (Chapel Hill area), Vice-president (Durham area), Treasurer, and Secretary. The election procedure is as follows:

  1. Nominations are to be made and seconded at the April meeting.
  2. Announcement of the nominations will be included in the May Bulletin.
  3. Election of the officers concludes with voting by a simple majority of those present during the May meeting.
  4. The official terms will be assumed June 1 and will be relinquished the following June 1.

Clause II

Temporary and/or appointed positions such as the Bird Count Supervisor/Compiler, Field Trip Chairman, Bulletin Managing Editor, Potluck Supper Chairman, and Publicity Chairman are official duties to be delegated by the President to the members of the club. The duties of all officers elected or appointed are outlined in the accompanying by-laws.

Article IV - finances

The CHBC maintains a checking account and/or savings account, for which the club's Treasurer is responsible. Only the Treasurer and other elected officers are authorized to sign checks from the club's checking account. The Treasurer will submit and publish annual financial statements for the members and to the official records of the club. In the event the club funds reach or exceed a $500 balance, all future expenditures will be made by check and will be countersigned by the Treasurer and one other elected officer.

Article V - meetings

Regular meetings are held monthly from September through May, except for December. The meeting location and schedule will be determined by the elected officers and published in the Chapel Hill Bird Club Bulletin. Potluck suppers are held monthly during the summer months in place of the regular meetings. The Potluck Supper Chairman will organize or delegate the duty of organizing the potluck suppers. Only the President or Vice-presidents can reschedule a regular meeting (i.e., date, time, and/or place) or schedule a special meeting. In addition, the aforementioned officer must adequately inform the membership of any such change to insure maximum attendance (e.g., notice in the CHBC bulletin or through the public news media).

Article VI

The Chapel Hill Bird Club Bulletin is the official publication of the club and is issued to the members monthly. The purposes of the club's Bulletin are to transmit official business information of the club, to provide information regarding bird migrations through this area, and to provide other information of interest to the members. The CHBC Bulletin Managing Editor is appointed by the President and is responsible for the publication of the Bulletin. Assistant editors will be appointed by the Managing Editor as needed to handle publication of the Bulletin.

Article VII - amendments

Any change in or addition to the constitutional amendments or By-Laws can only be implemented through the following procedures:

  1. motion shall be discussed at two consecutive regular meetings
  2. a written description of the motion will be included in the first Bulletin after the initial discussion
  3. voting to pass or reject the motion will occur at a regular meeting and only after the above stipulations have been adequately met
  4. a minimum of twenty-five members are required for all final voting on such matters and a two-thirds majority passes the motion
  5. absentee voting will be honored if the members wishing to do so, submit a written ballot to the Secretary prior to the meeting where voting will occur.

    Chapel Hill Bird Club