Cryosphere Specialty Group By-Laws

Bylaws adopted at the 1998 Annual General Meeting:
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Article I: Name

The name of this association shall be the Cryosphere Specialty Group (CrSG) of the Association of American Geographers (AAG).

Article II: Purpose

The purpose of the association shall be: to foster communication between practitioners dealing with the various elements of the cryosphere, to establish linkages with related organizations, and to enhance research on and teaching of cryospheric topics.
The CrSG is organized exclusively for educational and scientific purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Article III: Membership

Any member of the AAG may elect membership in the CrSG.
All members of the CrSG must be members of the AAG.
Any member of the CrSG may hold office if duly elected or appointed according to the requirements of Article IV below.
The AAG Central Office will certify membership in the CrSG each year after payment of AAG and CrSG dues.

Article IV: Board of Directors

The CrSG will be governed by an elected Board of Directors (hereinafter referred to as the Board) consisting of five voting members, a Chair, a Secretary/Treasurer and three Directors.
All members of the Board must be members in good standing of the AAG and CrSG.
The Chair will be the chief executive officer of the CrSG and will preside over the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and all Board meetings of the CrSG.
The Secretary/Treasurer shall maintain an account of all income and expenditures of the CrSG, will present an annual financial report at the AGM and will take minutes of all Board meetings and AGMs.
All Board members will serve a two-year term of office, commencing at the end of the AAG Annual Meeting at which they were elected, except as required by Article IV.9, below.
If the position of Chair becomes vacant before the end of the normal two year tenure, the Secretary/Treasurer shall assume the duties of the position until the next AGM and shall appoint an acting Secretary/Treasurer for the same period.
If the positions of Secretary/Treasurer or Director become vacant before the end of the normal two year tenure, the Chair shall appoint an acting officer to the vacant position until the next AGM.
Persons elected to fill vacant positions at the AGM following the vacancy shall be appointed for the balance of the tenure of the position.
No Board member may hold more than one elected position in the CrSG at the same time.

Article V: Committees

Article VI: Election of Officers

Terms of office for Board members shall be staggered as follows:
1. the Chair, Secretary/Treasurer and one Director will be elected in odd-numbered years.
2. the remaining two Directors will be elected in even-numbered years.
Offices will be filled by secret ballot at the AGM during the AAG Annual Meeting.
Nominations for those positions becoming vacant each year will be accepted from members in good standing (in writing) by either the Chair or Secretary/Treasurer on or after the February 1 preceding the AAG Annual Meeting. A Call for Nominations will be included in the Newsletter published prior to the Annual Meeting; this notice will inform members of any additional positions for which nominations are required by virtue of a vacancy due to resignation. Such nominations should include the name, affiliation and address of the nominee, the position for which he/she is being nominated and an indication that the nominee has been consulted and is willing to stand.
Additional nominations will be accepted from the floor at the AGM subject to the limitation that the nominee be present and is willing to stand.
All positions will be filled by the nominee receiving a plurality of the votes cast at the AGM. In the event of a tied vote for the position, a run-off election will be held to decide the outcome.

Article VII: Dues and Fees

The Board of Directors may assess annual dues from its membership, which will be collected by the Central Office at the time membership in the AAG is renewed. Dues rate changes must be approved by a majority vote of the members present at the AGM.
The Board shall manage all dues collected.
Annual reports of income and expenditures shall be furnished to the membership in the Newsletter published prior to the Annual Meeting and to the AAG Central Office.
The Board may establish reasonable fees for publications, workshops, symposia and other activities organized under the auspices of the CrSG.
The CrSG will operate on a fiscal year starting at the end of the AAG Annual Meeting.
Inurement of income. No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, trustees, officers or other private persons except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered.

Article VIII: Meetings

The CrSG shall hold at least one general membership meeting (the AGM) each year, usually during the AAG Annual Meeting. The time and place for this meeting will be published in the Annual Meeting Program Book, and/or amendments thereto.
The Board shall hold at least one meeting annually, usually prior to the AGM at the AAG Annual Meeting.

Article IX: Newsletter and Other Publications

The CrSG will publish and distribute a Newsletter to members at least twice a year, one of which will be disseminated during the period between January 1 and the date 4 weeks prior to the AAG Annual Meeting. This issue shall include (but need not be restricted to) a call for nominations for vacant offices, notices of proposed changes in the bylaws, minutes from the last AGM and a tentative agenda for the coming AGM.
The Newsletter will be distributed to members in good standing at the time of the distribution, as defined by the membership lists maintained by the AAG Central Office. Distribution may be primarily via the Internet.
The CrSG may sponsor other publications (directories, proceedings etc.) as appropriate, subject to the approval of a majority of members present at the AGM.

Article X: Ratification and Amendment of Bylaws

These Bylaws will take effect immediately upon their approval by at least 60% of members present at the 1998 CrSG AGM.
Amendment of these Bylaws may be proposed by a majority of the Board or by a petition signed by at last 25 CrSG members in good standing. Petitions must be received at least 10 weeks prior to the beginning of the AAG Annual Meeting to permit their inclusion in the Newsletter.
Acceptance of the amendment shall require the approval of at least 60% of members present at the first CrSG AGM after the proposal of the amendment and its publication in the Newsletter.

Article XI: Legislative or Political Activities

No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in or intervene in (including the publication or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

Article XII: Operational Limitations

Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) or (b) by organizing contributions which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Revenue Law).

Article XIII: Dissolution Clause

Upon dissolution of the organization, the Board shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all liabilities of the organization, dispose of all the assets of the organization to the AAG.