The Constitution of the Southwest Michigan Chapter of the American Meteorological Society and National Weather Association was written at the chapter's founding in 2010 and most recently modified in 2024. Any questions should be directed to the chapter officers.
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of this organization will be called the Southwest Michigan Chapter of the American Meteorological Society and National Weather Association.
ARTICLE II: OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this organization include developing relationships within and beyond the meteorological community, furthering education in the atmospheric sciences, and being a source of scientific knowledge for the Southwest Michigan region.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
1. Membership in the local chapter is open to anyone interested in meteorology and its related fields and who agrees to abide by the requirements of this constitution. Visitors are welcome.
2. Executive Board officers shall consist of President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary and At-Large.
3. Executive Board officers must attend 2/3 of all meetings. No more than two officers may be absent at any given meeting for business to be accomplished. “Business” is defined as the following: purchases over $200, committee meetings, voting, and proposal and ratification of constitutional amendments.
4. The President must be a full member of the AMS and NWA.
5. The President shall report directly to the Executive Directors of the AMS and NWA as necessary.
6. The President is responsible for the overall well-being of the chapter; presiding over general meetings and Executive Board meetings; assigning committees as necessary; interacting with other chapter presidents; and providing counsel to members.
7. The Vice-President is responsible for presiding over general meetings and Executive Board meetings in the President’s absence; overseeing committees and analyzing committee meeting minutes; and providing advice to the President on matters relating to membership productivity.
8. The Treasurer is responsible for maintaining the chapter’s finances and providing regular updates to members; collaborating with committee chairs on necessary purchases that may arise; and consulting with the President on any and all purchases.
9. The Secretary is responsible for providing general meeting minutes to the AMS and NWA; providing Executive Board meeting minutes to the Board and to the members; maintaining attendance; overseeing membership statuses; and recommending general meeting venues to the President. In addition, the Secretary is the chief archivist for the chapter.
10. The At-Large officer is responsible for maintaining the chapters web page, posting upcoming activities and past presentations via the internet and shall assist the Secretary in providing data for the chapters archives.
11. The President is free to assign additional duties to officers and the general members as he or she sees fit.
ARTICLE IV: COMMITTEES
1. Development of committees will be at the discretion of the President.
2. The President presides over Executive Board meetings.
3. The Vice-President has non-voting, ex-officio membership in all committees.
4. Any member who has paid dues and attends at least three (3) meetings each year may join a committee and is eligible to serve as a chairperson. Such a member is considered “active”.
5. Active members interested in serving as chairpersons must submit their intentions in writing or electronically to the Vice-President by the end of the meeting when the committee is approved. The Vice-President will then make selections for committee chairs at the soonest appropriate time.
6. Committee chairpersons will make final decisions for their respective committees. If the Vice President deems a decision to be inappropriate, the committee chairperson will need to resolve the matter back in committee.
ARTICLE V: DUES
1. On January 4, 2017 the Executive Board set the amount for dues at $20 for general membership and $10 for student members per our fiscal year from June 1 to May 31.
2. Those attending meetings who wish to be members and have voting privileges must pay dues by the second general meeting, or at another designated time at the discretion of the Treasurer. Persons joining while the fiscal year is underway will pay the same dues as all other members.
3. Expenditure of dues under $200 will be at the discretion of the Executive Board.
4. Expenditure of dues and/or general funds of at least $200 will be at the discretion of the membership, with quorum being required and a majority of members consenting.
ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS
The chapter shall meet at least six (6) times per year.
ARTICLE VII: VOTING PROCEDURES AND ELECTIONS
1. A quorum is defined as over one third of membership in attendance, plus a minimum of two Executive Board members present. Quorum is required for business to be accomplished at general meetings and for voting purposes, including constitutional amendments.
2. All members of the local chapter may participate in voting.
3. Any member may propose a constitutional amendment. Ratification of amendments will require quorum, with two thirds or more of those in attendance required to consent for ratification.
4. Officers shall be elected by paper ballot at the first official meeting of the chapter. If the Executive Board wishes to expedite the process, elections may be held electronically prior to the first meeting. All officers shall hold their position for one year and may be re-elected.
5. Any officer may be impeached under extraordinary circumstances made obvious to the general membership. Impeachment will require quorum and a two-thirds majority vote by the membership, done by secret ballot and certified by an officer not in question.
6. Any vacated office shall be filled by action of the Executive Board. In the case of a presidential vacancy due to resignation or impeachment, the Vice-President will take office as President and hold that office until the next general election.
7. Special elections may be authorized by the President to fill vacancies for the offices of Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
ARTICLE VIII: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order, Revised Edition shall govern in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the constitution. The President will determine to what extent Robert’s Rules are followed in general meetings and Executive Board meetings.
ARTICLE IX: STATUS OF ORGANIZATION
This local chapter of the AMS and NWA is organized and operated exclusively for nonprofit purposes, pending IRS approval, and no member shall explicitly and personally benefit from the chapter’s earnings.
ARTICLE X: DISSOLUTION
Upon dissolution or disbandment of this organization, all funds and properties in excess of liabilities and expenses of dissolution will be distributed as determined by a majority of the active members.
ARTICLE XI: ADOPTION
This local chapter of the AMS and NWA shall become effective upon written consent of each respective organization.
Adopted 12/04/2010
Revised 12/19/2010
Revised 06/06/2017
Revised 7/8/2024 - Article V, Sections 3 & 4 - Updated to increase spending limit without membership vote from $100 to $200.