Bylaws of the Spencer Mountain Grotto of the NSS

I. MEMBERSHIP

(A) Applications

Request for membership shall be carried out by the interested party signing an application for membership that is worded such as to show that the applicant will abide by the constitution of the Spencer Mountain Grotto and all other policies it believes in. All applications shall be approved by the Executive Committee. There shall be the following classes of membership:

1) Full membership: Must be a current NSS member.Will receive copies of the newsletter in the mail. This is a voting category.
2) Family membership: You must be a member of the immediate family of a full member and a current member of the NSS. You will not receive a copy of the newsletter in the mail. This is a voting category.
3) Student membership: You will receive a copy of the newsletter in the mail. This is a voting category. NSS membership is not required but is encouraged. You must be full time student to take advantage of this membership category.
4) Honorary membership This category has all benefits of a full membership. This category has no expiration date and is given to individuals whom have shown outstanding ability and or commitment in caving or speleology.

(B) Dues

All dues will become due the 1st week of September of each year. Payment should be made directly to the treasurer of the Spencer Mountain Grotto by cash, check or money order. Proof of current NSS membership is expected at the time the dues are paid for those categories of membership requiring it . A receipt is to be given for proof of payment.

(C) Termination of Membership

Membership shall be terminated for non-payment of Grotto dues if not received for a period of 14 days after the expected due date . A member dropped for non-payment of dues may be reinstated automatically upon payment of current Grotto dues. Members may be suspended from certain privileges,or expelled from the Grotto membership for any of of the following reasons:

1) Willful misuse of Grotto property of facilities.
2) Willful disregard of the safety of themselves and or others while participating in any caving activity.
3) Participating in any activity on public or private land that could result in negative relations with the land owner.
4) Any other activity detrimental to the Grotto or the NSS

Disciplinary action for any of these acts shall be decided by a two-thirds vote by the Executive Committee by a secret ballot . Disciplinary action shall be initiated only upon presentation to the Executive Committee of a written petition for disciplinary action,submitted by at least two members of the Grotto not in the same household. Upon receiving such a petition,the Executive Committee shall take such actions as are deemed necessary to notify the accused member or members,in writing,of the petition,and of the place, date, members shall have the right to speak on their own behalf. Such considerations shall take place no sooner than 30 days and no later than 60 days after the petition is received by the Executive Committee.

II. Executive Committee

(A) Officers

All elected officers shall take office September 1st of each year.Each officer may serve no more than three consecutive terms.The election will begin with a nomination and a second with the actual election being carried out by a show of hands with the majority vote winning.

The Executive Committee shall have the powered to remove any Executive Committee member who,without just cause,fails to attend two regular Executive Committee meetings in one fiscal year without sending a proxy or who,without cause, attends no Executive Committee meetings in person for three consecutive meetings .Vacancies on the Executive Committee that occur shall be filled for the balance of the fiscal year by the President's appointment,subject to majority approval of the rest of the Executive Committee.

(B) Proxies

Any member of the Executive Committee may appoint a member of the Grotto as a proxy to act for him or her at a meeting of the Executive Committee. Proxy may act at one meeting for only one Executive Committee member.The President must be notified directly before the scheduled meeting of the proxy appointment by the absent Executive Committee member before the proxy will be allowed to serve.

(C) Executive Committee Meetings

All Executive Committee meetings will be held on the same date and time as the regular Grotto meetings except for special circumstances when a private meeting should be called.

III .General Grotto Meetings

There shall be a least one General Grotto Meeting of the membership during each month,the time,date,and place of which will be announced in the monthly Grotto newsletter at least one month in advanced to the scheduled meeting.The Executive Committee shall decide the time,date,and place for these and any special meetings.In order for a vote to be carried out at least 50 percent of the voting Grotto membership must be present.

(A) Committees

Committees shall be established by the Executive Committee to execute the work of the Grotto. Chairpersons of the Committees shall be appointed by the President of the Grotto,subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. Committee chairpersons shall select the personnel and promote the activities of their committee.All committees will operate under the direction and approval of the Executive Committee.

(B) Finances

The Grotto may acquire real personal property,including equipment,literature,and other materials for use by and on behalf of the membership. Decisions for purchases will be made by the Executive Committee based on the greatest need.The fiscal year will run from September 1st through August 31st of each year.

IV. Dissolution

(A) Event of Dissolution

In the event of dissolution of the Grotto, all assets remaining after meeting outstanding liabilities shall be assigned to the National Speleological Society. However, if the named recipient is not then in existence or is no longer a qualified distributee, or unwilling or unable to accept the distribution, the assets of this organization shall be distributed to a fund, foundation, or corporation organized and operated exclusively for the purposes specified in Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future U.S. Internal Revenue law).

(B) Non-profit Organization

This grotto is a non-profit organization. No part of the net earnings of the Grotto shall inure to the benefit of or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the Grotto shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distribution in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the constitution of the Grotto. No substantial part of the activities of the Grotto shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Grotto shall not participate in, intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these bylaws, the grotto shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code(or the corresponding provision of any future U.S. Internal Revenue law) or by (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170 (c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future U.S. Internal Revenue law).

V. Amendment

All proposed amendments in these bylaws must be presented to the entire membership and notice given to the members of the place, date, and time of the General Meeting at which the amendment(s) will be considered for adoption, not provisions shall be made for absentee voting. This notice shall be given not less than 14 days prior to the designated meeting. Adoption of the amendment(s) shall require a two-thirds vote of the members voting, either in person or by absentee ballot, and the total votes cast must constitute at least 50 percent of the membership.