BY-LAWS OF THE SACRAMENTO AQUARIUM SOCIETY

ARTICLE I    NAME

This society shall be known as the Sacramento Aquarium Society

ARTICLE II    OBJECT OF THE SOCIETY

The object of this Society is to encourage and further the interest of the care and breeding of tropical fish and to promote the exchange of information between amateur aquarists.

ARTICLE III    FAMILY MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

1. All persons interested in the object of this Society shall be eligible for family membership and may welcome members upon payment of dues or fees in force at the time of application.
2. There are three (3) classes of family membership: Active, Lifetime, and Honorary.
3. Lifetime members may be admitted by a majority vote of the board members present at any Board of Directors meeting, subject to approval by the majority of members present at a general meeting.  They shall be exempt from the payment of dues or fees and shall be eligible for all privileges of membership.
4. Honorary members may be admitted by a majority vote of the board members present at any Board of Directors meeting.  They shall be exempt from the payment of dues or fees, shall not be eligible to vote or hold office, but shall be eligible for all other privileges of membership.
5. By a vote of three-fourths (3/4) of the members present at any general membership meeting, any member may be dropped for conduct considered injurious to the best interest of the Society.
6. Annual dues shall be determined by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership at a general membership meeting.  Current dues rates shall be published in the Society bulletin.  Non-payment of dues shall be considered equivalent to resignation, and after written or published notice in February, members still delinquent following the February general membership meeting shall be dropped from the roll.

ARTICLE IV    MEETINGS

1. There shall be one general membership meeting each month.  The time and place of the general membership meetings shall be on a regularly scheduled basis, to be determined by the Board of Directors.  Any change in the general membership meeting schedule shall be published one month prior the change.
2. Special meetings may be called by the President, or by request of 10 percent (10%) of the family memberships.  One weeks notice shall be given to the membership of all such meetings.
3. Nominations for Officers shall be opened during the general membership meeting in October, Nominations will be closed not sooner than the November general membership meeting, when the annual election shall take place.
4. The annual meeting shall be on the stated date in December and the Fiscal year shall start on the following January 1st.
5. The installation of new Officers shall take place as the final order of business at the December general membership meeting.

ARTICLE V   BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STANDING COMMITTEES

1. The Board of Directors for the Sacramento Aquarium Society shall be composed of five (5) Officers, and a six (6) Member "Board of Governors."
2. The Officers of the Sacramento Aquarium Society shall consist of a President, a Vice President, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary, and a Treasurer.  All Officers shall be chosen by ballot at the November general membership meeting, and shall hold office until their successors are named, or elected and installed as herein provided
3. Their duties shall be as ordinarily appertains to their respective offices.
4. There shall also be elected at the November general membership meeting a Board of Governors of six (6), who together with the Officers shall meet once a month to plan and provide programs for the general membership meetings, and to transact Society business.
5. Each member of the Board of Governors and each Officer shall have one vote in transacting the Society's business and they shall be referred to as the Board of Directors.
6. Vacancies and absences: non-performance of duty.

1. Permanent vacancies of any Office or on the Board of Governors shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.  The vacancy shall be announced in the club publication prior to the Board Meeting at which the vacancy will be filled.
2. Any member of the Board of Directors who is absent from Society meetings as provided for herein, shall have resigned and their position shall be vacant unless the B.O.D. has, by a vote of two-thirds, voted to retain a member of the B.O.D. who has missed  three consecutive meetings (either consecutive general meetings, consecutive board meetings, or a combination thereof), or 5 total meetings.
3. Any member of the Board of Directors who has failed to perform the required duties of offices described in the Sacramento Aquarium Society Handbook, can be dismissed from office or the Board of Governors and their position declared vacant if the B.O.D. has, by a vote of three-quarters voted to dismiss them.  The vacant position shall be filled as detailed under Article V. Section 5 (a).  A dismissed member can be reinstated to the B.O.D. if a vote is called for at the next General Meeting by a member in good standing, and the membership present have, by a majority vote, voted to reinstate the member to the Board of Directors.

6. The treasurer shall make all disbursements upon approval of the Board of Directors or vote of the Society.
7. The board of Directors shall provide for the appointment of a Finance Committee, and the President shall appoint a chairperson.  Said committee shall consist of a chairperson, the Society Treasurer, and two (2) other society members who are appointed by the chairperson. Said committee shall present a Society operating budget to the Board of Directors at the May Board meeting and the Budget must be approved by a vote of 2/3 of the Board of Directors by the June Board Meeting.  The approved budget will be in effect from the July General Meeting through the June Board Meeting of the following year.  The Finance Committee shall also perform an audit of the Society records for the previous fiscal year (January through December) and present a report to the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VI    ALTERATIONS AND AMENDMENTS

Alterations and amendments to the Constitution and By-laws may be made, at any general membership meeting, providing three days notice is given.  To each member of such proposed alterations, and also provided that it is adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at such meeting.

ARTICLE VII    PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES

1. At any general membership meeting of the Society, the members present shall constitute a quorum.
2. At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the board members shall constitute a quorum.
3. Robert's Rules of Order shall be the authority in all transactions not provided for by this Constitution.
4. The Constitution of the Society shall also serve as By-laws of this society.
5. The SAS Handbook shall be considered the procedural manual of the society.  All rules, job descriptions, policies or programs not covered by these bylaws shall appear in the SAS Handbook upon approval by the B.O.D. The society shall keep two copies of the SAS Handbook: one to be kept by the club Librarian for viewing at every General Meeting and one for the president's reference.

ARTICLE VIII    PUBLICATIONS PERIODICALS

1. Any regular Publication or periodical sponsored by the Society shall have an Editor and Publisher, both of whom are expected to attend the general membership and Board meetings.
2. The Editor and Publisher shall be appointed by the President.
3. The Editor shall choose a staff in sufficient numbers to carry on the work, and said staff shall include an Advertising Manager to be appointed by the President.
4. The Editor shall be responsible for all phases of publication, but the policy shall be the providence of the Board of Directors.
5. The Editor shall draw on the Treasurer for the necessary expenses and the Advertising Manager shall be accountable for such receipts as there may be.
6. Any such regular publication or periodical shall be considered the official communication of the Society, but the opinions and views expressed therein shall not necessarily be considered those of the Society unless so stated.
7. Any regular communication shall contain the official minutes of the immediately preceding meetings of the Society and Board, in lieu of verbal presentation at the subsequent meeting for approval or correction.
8. Each member of the Society in good standing shall be furnished one (1) copy of each issue of such communication as a condition of their membership.
9. Rates for such advertisements as may be solicited shall be established with the agreement of the Board of Directors.