What are the WMAS By-Laws?

                                     Wasatch Marine Aquarium Society
                                                   *Revised 03/18/14



Article I
A. The name of the organization shall be the

WASATCH MARINE AQUARIUM SOCIETY

Unless otherwise directed by the Presidency, the principal place for the transaction of business of the Society shall be the city of Salt Lake City, county of Salt Lake County, state of Utah, U.S.A.

B. Our Creed:

The WASATCH MARINE AQUARIUM SOCIETY, Founded in 1995, is a non-profit organization dedicated to the support of the hobby of marine aquarium keeping.  We believe in conservation of coral reefs and support efforts to manage the reefs to obtain a sustainable harvest and by promoting the captive breeding of marine creatures wherever possible.  We believe in developing as natural as possible marine environments for the specimens we maintain.  We promote the responsibility and education of the marine hobbyist

Article II.
A.    Administrative Powers:
       
The administrative powers of this Society shall be vested in and exercised by the Presidency.

Article III.   
A.    Officers:

The elected officers of the Society shall be President, Vice-President, and at least four (4) council members.  Additional council members may be appointed to other offices by the President, or Vice President at their discretion.  Officers are also expected to not serve in a capacity which would be detrimental to the Society including but not limited to: attending, planning, advertising, or production of events and activities of other saltwater, reef, marine (or similar) organizations with similar objectives in a location served by the Wasatch Marine Aquarium Society. These activities would be considered a conflict of interest.

Article IV.    

A. Presidency:

Section 1. Eligibility of office:

Society officers shall be elected from the general population of the current society membership and who at time of assumption of office shall be at least 18 years old.

Section 2.  Positions and term of office:

There shall be a president, vice-president, at least Four (4) council members, and a past presidency council.   They shall hold office for one year terms starting Remove: with the first presidency meeting after their election  Add: on January 1 and ending on December 31 of the year immediately following the election.  A Society member may hold only one elected office at a time.

        Section 3. Eligibility of President and Vice President office:  
The society president and vice president shall:

a.      Be elected from members of the current society presidency or the immediately preceding presidency.

b.     Have been a presidency member for no less than 6 months.

c.      At time of assumption of office shall be at least 18 years old.

d.     Have maintained a continuous membership in the society for not less than 18 months.

e.      Have attended at least 6 of the regularly scheduled society meetings during the current year.

f.      Have been elected by a majority of the voting membership of the society.

   Section 4.  Council Members

The societies’ council shall be made up of 4 elected members and as many additional appointees as the president and vice president deem necessary.

Each elected council member must:

a.      Hold a current Membership and have maintained a continuous membership in the society for not less than 6 months.

b.     Have attended at least 4 of the regularly scheduled society meetings during their time as a member.

c.      Have positively affirmed their commitment to be a member of the council by accepting a nomination and being elected by a majority of the voting members.

d.     Not have renounced their membership on the committee. 

       Section 5.  Past Presidency Committee

The society shall have a Past Presidency Committee.  This committee will use their experience to council with the President and Vice President and may act as additional council members to help run the society and its meetings.  This committee shall consist of any and all past presidents and vice presidents who agree to be on the committee.

Each past presidency committee member must:

e.      Hold a current Membership.

f.      Have held the position of either President or Vice President of the society in the past.

g.     At the beginning of each year, positively affirm their commitment to be a member of the Committee.

h.     Have been a continuous member of the committee since their term in office as President or Vice President.

i.       Not have renounced their membership on the committee. 

A former member of the committee may once again attain committee membership status by once again serving as either President or Vice President of the society subject to the eligibility requirements of that office.

       Section 6.  Compensation of Officers:

All offices of the Society shall be strictly voluntary positions.  No compensation shall be made to officers or directors of the Society for their services whether by payment of currency or in goods.
       
            
        Section 7.  Annual election of officers:

a. Vacancies in the Presidency due to termination of office by lapse of time shall be filled by the general membership at the next regular meeting after the end of the current presidency's one term.

b. Candidates for election will come from nomination and second by the membership and must affirm that they are willing to serve in that capacity.

c. Elections shall be held by secret ballot.  Nominees having the greatest number of votes shall be declared elected.

       Section 8.   Eligibility to Vote

a.    Only current, paid members with a minimum of three months of membership are eligible to cast a vote.

        Section 9.   Vacancies:

Vacancies on the Presidency shall occur upon death, resignation, incapacity to act, end of term, or upon failure to attend four regularly scheduled meetings either general or Presidency without acceptable excuse for non-attendance.  Vacancies occurring for other than at end of  term shall be filled for the un-expired term by vote of the majority of the remainder of the Presidency in attendance at the next regularly scheduled Presidency meeting, even if less then a quorum is present.

        Section 10.   Duties and powers of the Presidency:

                The presidency shall:

a. Keep and maintain in permanent and ready reference form a complete record of all transactions and business conducted at its meetings.

b. Call special meetings of the membership at any time whenever necessary or required.

c. Direct, manage, and control the affairs and business of the Society and make such rules and regulations for its membership that are not inconsistent with these by-laws or the laws of the State of Utah.  Also, it shall foster and encourage the purposes for which the Society has been formed.

d. Cause all financial transactions of the Society to be audited at periodic intervals and full report thereof to be kept on file currently with the records of the Society.

e. Appoint such committees as may be necessary or appropriate and not otherwise provided for in these by-laws.

f. Designate ad hoc, such officers of the Society who shall, on its behalf, be authorized to execute contracts, agreements, checks, drafts and other obligations, papers or instruments necessary or expedient to carrying on the activities of the Society.

g. Accept or reject applicants for membership and direct issuance of membership certificates as stated in Article V.

h. Approve or disapprove the appointments by the President of such persons other than officers elsewhere designated in these by-laws, whose services may be necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the Society's activities.

i. Govern the proceedings of all meetings of the Society and the Presidency, in all cases not provided for in these by-laws.

j. Change the by-laws of the society as necessary and pass those by-laws by majority vote of a quorum of the presidency.



Article V.
       A. Society Membership
           Section 1.  General Membership
a. General Members of the Society are people in good standing with the society, who have paid their annual membership dues.

b. Members of the Society may not hold council positions (positions of authority or governance) in other saltwater, reef, marine (or similar) organizations with similar objectives in a location served by the Wasatch Marine Aquarium Society. These activities would be considered a conflict of interest.

Article VI.      
A.    Assets
Section 1.   Purchase and Use of Society Assets.

a. The Society upon agreement of a majority of the presidency may purchase assets as needed to fulfill the goals of the society.

b. Any and all assets held by the Society shall be exclusively for the use of the society and will be held by a member appointed by the presidency.


Section 2.   Sale or donation of Society Assets.

a.    The sale of assets of the Society shall be made upon agreement of a majority of the presidency and must be made at no less than current market value.  All proceeds from the sale of society assets will be remitted to the society’s general fund.

b.    Upon the dissolution of the society all assets will be donated to another non-profit aquarium club of the presidencies choosing or to a local non-profit charity of the presidency's choosing.  Assets may also be sold at no less than current market value and the funds from the sale donated to a local non-profit charity of the presidency's choosing.