The Littleton Gem and Mineral Club, Inc., is organized to assist in the enjoyment of finding, procuring, collecting, processing, identifying, exchanging, and displaying gems, minerals, fossils, and jewelry as a hobby. It is a non-profit organization whose funds are primarily derived from dues and contributions of its membership. Its meetings and properties, including mining claims controlled by the club, are for the education and improvement of the members in the enjoyment of their hobby and are not to be used by members or others for personal financial benefit except in the improvement of their private collections, nor are they to be used in commercial enterprise.
BY-LAWS
Article I. Membership
- Membership in the Littleton Gem & Mineral Club, Inc., shall be open to all persons who concur in the purposes of the club and who agree to abide by its rules and are current in dues.
- The membership may vote a Life Membership to persons whom they wish to honor for special or extraordinary services rendered to the club. No further annual dues shall be required of said Life Members.
- Memberships shall be open year-around and are subject to approval by the Board of Trustees.
- Members who violate club rules will be cautioned concerning the rule by a Board member. Violation of any rule may result in the suspension or termination of membership in the club.
Article II. General
- Regular monthly meeting of the club shall be held at 7:30 p.m. on the third Friday of each month from September through May in Littleton, Colorado, at such meeting place which may be designated by the President and announced in the Highlites, the publication of the club.
- The club shall publish and distribute to the members the Highlites, which shall contain notices and announcements to the members and other items of interest to the club.
- The business and affairs of the club shall be under the control and management of a Board of Trustees consisting of the elected officers of the club and the Editor, Program Chairman, and Field Trip Chairman, which three are appointed by the President.
- The elected officers of the club shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, President-Elect, and two trustees. The immediate past President shall serve as a third trustee.
- Annual membership dues shall be the same for a family or single membership. Dues are due and payable January 1 of each year, and delinquent after the March meeting of each year. The amount of the dues shall be as determined by the Board of Trustees and approved by a majority vote of the members attending and voting at a regular monthly meeting, following publication of any proposed change in the Highlites.
Article III. Election of Officers
- Candidates for office may be nominated by the Nominating Committee or by any member. Nomination to office must be accepted by the nominee to that office prior to election. Votes shall be cast by secret ballot, except in cases where only one nomination has been made, in which case a voice vote may be accepted by the chairman. The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee by the end of May of each year. Said committee shall present a slate of candidates to the membership at the September meeting.
- The regular monthly meeting of the club in October of each year shall be the meeting for the election of officers and trustees. No formal notice of said meeting shall be required other than mention thereof in the Highlites. Officers and trustees who are elected at said meeting shall take office at the monthly meeting in January following their election.
- The terms of office for officers shall be:
| President | | One year | | (President-Elect automatically becomes President after his one year term as President-Elect.) |
| President-Elect | | One year | | (Elected every year. Successsion to President the next year is automatic.) |
| Vice-President | | One year | | (Elected every year.) |
| Secretary | | One year | | (Elected every year.) |
| Treasurer | | One year | | (Elected every year.) |
| Trustee No. 1 | | One year | | (Automatically Past President.) |
| Trustee No. 2 | | Two years | | (Elected from membership on odd years.) |
| Trustee No. 3 | | Two years | | (Elected from membership on odd years.) |
- No salary shall be allowed to any of the club members or to any officer of the club or to any member of the Board of Trustees.
- Replacement of Officers. In the event of the death or resignation of any officer or member of the Board of Trustees, the remaining members of the Board of Trustees shall have the following options: (1) to appoint a member of the club in good standing to fill out the remaining term of office; or (2) to call for a general election by the membership at the next regular meeting to fill the vacated office. The member so chosen shall serve as interim officer until the following January installation of officers meeting.
Article IV. Duties of Officers
A. President shall:
1. Preside at all meetings of the club and at all meetings of the Board of Trustees.
2. Appoint all committee chairmen.
3. Be ex-officio member of all committees.
4. Be, in general, the chief executive officer of the club.
B. President-Elect shall:
1. Attend all meetings of the Board of Trustees.
2. Be ex-officio member of all committees.
C. Vice-President shall:
1. Assume the duties of the President in the absence of the President.
2. Be ex-officio member of all committees.
D. Secretary shall:
1. Keep an accurate record of the proceedings of each general and Board meeting, and read the same at the respective meeting next following.
2. Conduct the correspondence of the club.
3. Keep an up-to-date copy of the Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, and all rules adopted by the Board of Trustees or approved by a proper vote of the members. The record of all actions pertaining to these matters will be extracted from the complete minutes and filed with the document to which the action pertains.
E. Treasurer shall:
1. Receive and receipt for all membership dues and issue and sign all membership cards.
2. Receive all other funds belonging to the club and deposit the same to the club account in a bank designated by the Board of Trustees.
3. Pay out the funds of the club as directed by the club or the Board of Trustees.
4. Keep a correct account of the receipts and expenditures of the club and render a financial report annually to the club, or oftener if requested by the Board of Trustees.
5. Keep a permanent record of the names and addresses of all members of the club with notations thereon showing payment of dues, and eliminate from the mailing list of members all those whose dues remain unpaid after the March meeting.
F. Trustees shall:
1. Attend all Board meetings.
G. Meetings of the Board of Trustees may be called at any time by the President or by any three members of the Board of Trustees. Six members of the Board of Trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The Board of Trustees shall meet in at least nine monthly meetings each year.
H. The Board of Trustees may adopt rules as deemed necessary in the conduct of the club business and activities. If rules are adopted, they must be published and copies made available to all club members. The Board, at its discretion, may propose rules for adoption by the membership.
Article V. Committees
A. These committees are deemed to be essential to carry out the purposes of the club. The chairpersons may select the committee membership.
1. The Highlites committee. Chaired by the Editor and responsible for publishing and distributing the Highlites.
2. Field Trip committee. Chaired by the Field Trip Chairman and responsible for coordinating, planning, and conducting field trips for collecting and other purposes.
3. Program committee. Chaired by the Program Chairman and responsible for programs for presentation at the monthly membership meetings.
4. Hospitality committee. To meet and greet guests, maintain the guest book, introduce guests and new members, prepare name tags, and inform new members of club activities and opportunities.
5. Refreshments committee. To provide refreshments for the monthly membership meeting.
6. Historian. To keep a historical and/or pictorial record of the club, including any awards given or received by the club.
7. Librarian. To maintain the club library and encourage its use.
B. Other committees for specific activities or purposes may be appointed by the President.
Article VI. Special Interest Groups
A. Special interest groups, such as Mineral Study Groups, Facetors, Cabbers, and others, may be formed with Board consent to meet, study, exhibit, or otherwise promote the pleasures of the hobby.
Article VII. Amendments or Changes to the By-Laws
A. Amendments or changes to the By-Laws can be proposed by any member at any monthly meeting. Said proposed amendment or change must be published in the Highlites prior to the vote at the next meeting. Approval shall be by a majority vote of the members attending and voting.
Approved September 21, 1990, by a favorable vote of the members at a regularly scheduled meeting.
William D. Weller, Vice-President, Sept. 21, 1990