BY-LAWS
Taos Archaeological Society
Chapter 1 – Name
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the “Taos Archaeological Society”
Chapter II – Purpose
Section 1. The purpose of this organization, a not-for-profit institution, and not a private foundation, shall be:
a) To conserve the archaeological and historical presence and evidence in North Central New Mexico.
b) To preserve the prehistoric and historic sites and remains in North Central New Mexico.
c) To maintain and extend the records of North Central New Mexico.
d) To promote archaeological, historical, ethnological, and anthropological studies within North Central New Mexico.
e) To promote public awareness of the ancient heritage of North Central New Mexico.
f) To cooperate in the conservation of the native arts, crafts, and customs of the region.
g) To maintain affiliation with the Archaeological Society of New Mexico.
Chapter III – Membership
Section 1. Any person or institution subscribing to the purpose and the Society, and willing to abide by its Code of Ethics is eligible for membership.
Section 2. Application for membership is made by filling out an appropriate form and submitting it to the Secretary.
Section 3. The members, by majority vote, may set the amount of annual dues.
Section 4. Members understand and agree that the Taos Archaeological Society, its officers and members owe me no legal duty whatsoever. As a members, I further agree that I shall be solely responsible for my own safety and welfare during all Taos Archaeological Society activities.
Section 5. The membership categories of Member, Life Member, and Honorary Life Member are recognized. A Life Member is anyone who, on single payment of a designated amount, may thereafter forego payment of annual dues. An Honorary Life Member, who is not obligated to pay dues, may be named for extraordinary service to the Society or its purposes, and elected by a majority of the members.
Section 6. The membership year shall be the calendar year. Members joining before October 31 of any calendar year shall be considered members for that year. Members joining after October 31 shall be considered members for the following year.
Section 7. Annual dues shall be payable on notification and not later than three month following notification. Members failing to pay within this grace period shall be dropped from the membership rolls.
Chapter IV – Management
Section 1. All business and property of the Society shall be managed by the Officers of the Society, elected from and by the members of the Society.
Section 2. The Officers of the Society shall include a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Program Chair-Person. The offices of the Secretary and Treasurer may be held jointly by the same person. During the first month of holding office, the Program Chairperson shall appoint two (2) willing members to comprise a Program Committee of three (2) persons. These two appointees shall not be officers of the Society; however, they shall be approved by the Officers. In no case shall there be an even number of Officers.
Section 3. An election of officers shall be held annually, and by majority vote of the members. A Nominating Committee, charged with presenting a slate of willing candidates, shall be appointed by the Officers; nomination for officers by and from the members shall have equal rank.
Section 4. Officers who resign or who are discharged by disability or cause shall be replaced by special election within two months or two meetings, whichever comes later, or in the case of the President, immediately replaced by the Vice-President.
Section 5. Any officer who, without prior notification and acceptance, fails to attend three consecutive regular meetings shall be deemed to have resigned and will be replaced.
Section 6. Officers may be removed for cause by a two-thirds vote of the members. Cause justifying removal are: abuse of the Code of Ethics and failure to perform the duties of office.
Section 7. The duties of the President shall include presiding at all regular program meetings, special meetings, and executive meetings of the Officers.
Section 8. The duties of the Vice-President shall include taking the place of the President when he or she is unavailable and filling the unexpired term of a vacated presidency.
Section 9. The duties of Secretary shall be to record the minutes of all regular, special, and executive meetings; to transmit notices of all Special Meetings to the members; and to send thank you letters to all speakers.
Section 10. The duties of the Treasurer shall be to collect dues, maintain the financial records and accounts of the Society, and make timely payment of affiliation dues to the Archaeological Society of New Mexico.
Section 11. The Program Chairperson shall appoint two (2) willing members to the Program Committee. The duties of the Program Chairperson and the Program Committee are:
a) To prepare for the regular program meetings and preside over the program portion of said meetings, including the arrangements for a meeting room.
b) To recruit appropriate program speakers or otherwise prepare for the regular program meetings according to the following schedule to be published in Society Newsletters:
(i) Speakers and/or other programs for the regular program meeting of September, October, November, and January shall be arranged for by July 31 of each year; and
(ii) Speakers and/or other programs for the regular meetings of February, March, April, and May shall be arranged for by November 30 of the Previous year.
c) To make timely notice to local information media, and to maintain a record of speakers correspondence, and of programs held.
Section 12. In case of the dissolution of the Society, any assets remaining shall be liquidated and expended as determined by Officers and Members in good standing.
Chapter V – Meetings
Section 1. The Society shall hold regular program meetings. Notice of the regular meetings, specifying the program, shall be released to the local information media by the Program Committee on a timely basis. Insofar as the program meetings are regular, no mail or telephone or telephone notice to the members is required, but may be performed as deemed proper.
Section 2. Special Meetings of the Society may be called at any time by the Secretary, on orders from the President, or by written request on ten (10) or more members. The business of such Special Meetings shall be limited to that specified in their call. Notification of Special Meetings shall be made on a timely basis to all members by mail or telephone, and at least one week before the date of such meeting.
Section 3. At Special Meetings, nine members in good standing shall constitute a quorum.
Section 4. While the Officers may meet in executive session as often as and informally as they deem fit, no action on behalf of the Society shall be taken therein.
Section 5. A transitional meeting between incoming and outgoing Officers shall occur annually in February, or within two (2) weeks of the Officers’ election.
Section 6. On proper notice, Special Meetings may be combined with regular program meetings.
Chapter VI – Nominations and Elections
Section 1. The Officers shall appoint a Nominating Committee of at least three members, not more than one of whom may be an officer. This must be done no later than January of each year, the election to be held in February of each year.
Section 2. Members may nominate members for office either by submitting names to any member of the Nominating Committee or by nominating form the floor at the Election Meeting.
Chapter VII – Amendments
Section1. These By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote of a quorum of members at a Special Meeting called for that stated purpose. Amendments must be proposed to the Secretary in writing at least one week before the date on which the notice of the Special Meeting must be made.
Section 2. Amendments to these By-Laws, after approval by the members, shall be noted on a timely basis by the Secretary to the Archaeological Society of New Mexico.
Adopted: December 31, 1987
Amended: January 11, 1994
Amended: February 12, 2008