Constitution

Constitution of the Berkeley County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League Of America, Inc. 

Article I: Name

The name of this organization shall be the Berkeley County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America, Inc. The place of business of the Chapter shall be: 284 Izaak Walton Lane, P.O. Box 1212, Martinsburg, WV 25402-1212

Article II: Coordination

This Chapter shall be a local subdivision of the state division and the national organization known as the Izaak Walton League of America, Inc. The Constitution and By-laws of this Chapter shall at all times, in principle and purpose, be in strict accordance with the State and National Constitution and By-laws of the Izaak Walton League of America, Inc. In the event of inconsistencies between the Constitution and By-Laws of this chapter and those of the National Organization, the latter shall control.

Article III: Objects

The objects of this organization are:

To develop opportunities for the enjoyment of the great outdoors as an essential part of the character building and the spiritual and physical development of our people; to encourage the protection and the restoration of the woods, wild flowers, and wildlife; to safeguard the public health and conserve aquatic life by elimination of population; to conserve our water resources; to discourage unwise drainage; and to restore and transmit to posterity the outdoor America of our ancestors.

Article IV: Powers

Section 1: The power of the Berkeley County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America, Inc. shall be to do or perform such acts as may be necessary or proper to carry out the objects of this Chapter.

Section 2: The work of this Chapter shall not be conducted for private gain, although this Chapter may collaborate with business organizations and/or individuals on conservation, protection, and restoration projects of general public interest and importance. Before the name of this organization can be used for any purpose, it must first be presented to the Board of Directors and their permission given.

Section 3: The Chapter shall not be used in any way for political purpose nor shall it, as a Chapter, actively participate in the political candidacy of any person. 

Article V: Membership

Section 1: INDIVIDUAL (Single) MEMBERSHIP: Any person eighteen (18) years of age or older, who is of good character, and vouched for by two (2) members of the Chapter in good standing, shall be eligible for membership upon vacancy in the membership. Applicant will be prepared to remit the current single (regular) initiation fee and the current year’s dues donation at the time of the interview. (See Article VI - Admission to Membership)

Section 2: FAMILY MEMBERSHIP:  One or two adults over the age of eighteen (18) years of age (to include their natural, adopted, or foster children who are under the age of eighteen (18), who are of good character and vouched for by two (2) members of the Chapter in good standing, shall be eligible for membership under the Family Membership Plan. Applicants will be prepared to remit the current family membership initiation fee and the current year’s dues at the time of the interview. Any current single member in good standing who wishes his/her spouse/partner to become a member will pay one half the current family initiation fee and the difference between single and family membership dues, which are due at initiation. Single- parent families are subject to the same dues as two parent families. Conversion from Single (Regular) Membership to a Family Membership shall not be subject to the membership cap. Upon reaching the age of eighteen (18), children must convert to a Single (Regular) or Student Membership, and in doing so must present themselves at the next available General Membership Meeting to be voted on and sworn in. Failure to do so will forfeit all privileges.

However, if a child is away at school, a letter so stating from that institution must be presented to the Board of Directors, and the child will be sworn in upon their return. Anyone under the age of eighteen (18) may not serve an officer and will not have any voting privileges, but may serve on and vote on committees. (See Article VI - Admission to Membership.

Section 3: STUDENT MEMBERSHIP: Each student membership shall include one adult between eighteen (18) and twenty one (21) years of age, or a full time undergraduate student over twenty one (21) years of age who is sponsored by two (2) chapter members in good standing. Student members shall be entitled to vote, hold office at the chapter, state, and national level, and act as a delegate to state, division and national conventions. Each student membership shall be counted as one member subject to the membership cap. An applicant for student membership who has not transferred over from a family membership status must be prepared to pay the current initiation fee and dues donation at the time of interview. (See Article VI – Admission to membership)

Section 4: YOUTH MEMBERSHIP: A youth membership shall include one child under the age of eighteen (18) years of age who is not included in a family membership. Youth members shall not be entitled to vote, hold office at the chapter, state, or national level, or act as a delegate to state division and national conventions. A youth membership will be counted on the national membership rolls, but not on the chapter membership rolls. Upon reaching the age of eighteen (18)  a youth member will not be subject to the membership cap, but must convert to an individual or student membership, and pay the current initiation fee and dues donation.

Section 5: The membership cap will be determined by the Board of Directors.

Article VI: Admission to Membership

Section 1: Prospective new members shall be processed according to the following procedure:

A.   Prospective members will be required to mail a postcard to the Chapter address to have their name placed on the applicant list in the order of the postmark date. If more than one (1) card is postmarked with the same date, then the applicants for that day will be posted to the list in alphabetical order. The applicant(s) will be notified by the Membership Secretary when there is an opening. Applicants’ postcards must be renewed between January 1 and January 31 of each year or their name will be removed from the applicant list. All applications for membership must have two (2) current member sponsors.

B.  Applicant will be notified by the Membership Secretary of a date and time for an interview, at which time the applicant will be prepared to remit their initiation and dues donations.

C.   The applicant and sponsors’ names will be read to the General Membership at the regular membership meeting following the interview.

D.   The applicant and sponsors’ names will be read at the next Board of Directors meeting.

E.    The applicant and sponsors’ names will be read at the second regular membership meeting following the interview.

F.     The applicant and sponsors’ names will be read again at the third regular membership meeting following the interview, at which time the applicant will leave the meeting room while the vote for acceptance or rejection is taken. If accepted by the general membership, the applicant will be initiated at that meeting into full membership, including the privilege of leasing a key card.

G.    The applicant must be present at all three (3) General Membership meetings at which his/her name is read. The sponsors must be present at the first meeting to introduce the applicant.

H.    If the application is rejected by the General Membership, it will be held for an additional thirty (30) days so that the Membership Committee can investigate the rejection. Should the rejection be unjustified, a report will be made and the applicant will be initiated.

Section 2: Anyone moving into this vicinity who is a member of another Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, must pay the Chapter's initiation donation and be approved according to Section 1, before they can become affiliated with the Berkeley County Chapter.

Section 3: Active Military Child/Spouse of a member may join any time with two (2) sponsors and fall in under the membership cap. They must attend one (1) meeting to be sworn in. The applicant does not need to send in a postcard and does not get placed on the waiting list. If they are deployed away from the area, a family member (mother, father, or spouse) may stand in to be read so the applicant can be placed on the lot/dock list, if desired. The applicant must send in a postcard to be placed on the lot/dock list. The applicant must still be sworn in at the first available meeting to become an active member. All fees are due at the time of the applicant being read in.

Active Military for General Public – The applicant may submit a postcard with two (2) sponsors and be placed on the waiting list. Upon being called, the applicant will attend one meeting to be sworn in. All fees are due at that time. If the applicant is deployed away from the area, their name will remain at the top of the waiting list until they are able to be sworn in.(1/11)

Article VII: Officers

Section 1: The officers shall be President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Membership Secretary, Treasurer, Waterfront Manager, Financial Secretary, and Ways and Means Manager.

Section 2: These officers shall be elected by the members of the Chapter and shall hold office for one (1) year or until their respective successor is elected/appointed and shall have qualified. No one (1) member shall hold more than one (1) elected office simultaneously.

Section 3: The duties of the officers shall be as declared in the By-Laws.

Article VIII: Board of Directors

Section 1: The management of the Chapter shall be vested in the Board of Directors, consisting of the Officers and six (6) Directors.

Section 2: The Directors shall be elected by the members of the Chapter and shall hold office for two (2) years or until their respective successors are elected and shall have qualified.

Section 3: In the case of a vacancy in the office of the President, the First Vice President shall succeed to the office. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the First Vice President, the Second Vice President shall succeed to the office. Should a vacancy occur in the office of the Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Waterfront Manager, Financial Secretary, Ways and Means Manager, or a Director; a majority vote of the remaining Board of Directors shall elect a successor to the office(s) for the unexpired portion of the term(s).

Section 4: The immediate past President shall serve ex-officer as a member of the Board of Directors until such time he is succeeded by the retiring President.

Article IX: Nomination and Election of Officers and Directors

Section 1: At the April General Membership meeting each year the President, with the advice and approval of the Board of Directors, shall appoint a Nominating Committee of six (6) active members; three (3) of whom shall be Officers or Directors and three (3) of whom shall not.

The President, with the advice and approval of the Board of Directors, shall also appoint an Election Secretary and two (2) tellers.

Section 2: On or before the May General Membership Meeting, the Nominating Committee shall report to the Election Secretary its nominations for the various offices to be elected in that organizational year. The Nominating Committee may propose as many candidates for each office as it deems desirable. This list of candidates for office is to be read by the Election Secretary at the May General Membership Meeting, and their names will be placed along with the Nominating Committee's slate on the ballot. The method of voting and procedure shall be decided at the May General Membership meeting. The Chapter shall mail to each active member, at their address as it appears on the books of this organization, a copy of all candidates' names prior to the election meeting.

Section 3: The voting shall take place at the June General Membership meeting. The nominee for President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Waterfront Manager, Financial Secretary, and Ways and Means Manger receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected. If the names of more than three (3) persons are placed in nomination for the office of Director, then the three (3) receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected.

Section 4: Counting: The Election Secretary and two (2) tellers shall count and tabulate the votes for each office, certify the results, and seal all ballots in an envelope. Upon the request of the Board of Directors or Election Candidates, the individual ballots shall be submitted for the Boards inspection/recount at their next meeting. The candidates may attend this meeting and will be entitled to the final ballot tally for the positions in which they ran. The ballots shall then be destroyed by the Election Secretary.

Section 5: The elected Officers and Directors will be inducted into office and will assume duties at the first General Membership meeting following the election.

Article X: By-Laws

By-Laws, not consistent with this Constitution, shall be enacted by the members.

Article XI: Amendments

This Constitution shall be amended at any regular meeting of the members or special meeting called for that purpose, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the total authorized vote thereat provided written notice setting forth the proposed amendment has been mailed to each member at least (10) days before such meeting.

The above Constitution was adopted on the 14th day of February 1945 and last amended during the month of August 2015.