THE CONSTITUTION
OF
THE CAPE FEAR ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY

In order to secure the benefits and pleasures of an association of individuals sincerely interested in amateur astronomy, we the members, do hereby organize and constitute ourselves The Cape Fear Astronomical Society, a non profit organization.  The goals of this organization will be to contribute to the advancement of the science of astronomy, to encourage and coordinate the activities of amateur astronomical societies, to promote observational and computational studies, to develop craftsmanship in the various fields of astronomy and to correlate amateur activities with professional research.

ARTICLE I - SOCIETY NAME

The name of this association shall be the Cape Fear Astronomical Society.

ARTICLE II - SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP

SECTION I:  Any person having a sincere interest in astronomy may be admitted to membership without regard to sex, race, creed or national origin.  Such members shall have full voting privileges and shall be eligible to hold office.

SECTION II: There shall be three classes of membership in the Society:

            1)     Regular Member:  Any person who has paid the set annual dues of $20.00 and who is able to 
            attend business meetings and society functions.

            2)     Lifetime Member:  Any person who has paid a one-time fee equal to 20 times the set annual 
            dues and meets the qualifications set forth as a regular member.

            3)     Family Member:  All members of a family household who have paid an annual group fee 
            of $25.00 and meets the qualifications set forth as a regular member.

SECTION III:  Appropriate membership dues will become due and payable in the first calendar month of each year for current members.  Members whose dues are not paid before or during the March meeting will be dropped from the newsletter and email lists. Members deciding to rejoin later that year will pay the full yearly dues regardless of the time remaining in that year.  New joining members will pay a prorated amount based on quarters, payng only the remaining quarters or portions of quarters remaining in that calendar year. 

SECTION IV:  A member may be removed from membership by a two thirds vote of a quorum after a show of due cause under the provision that the members are notified of such proposed action during the regular meeting prior to the meeting at which the action is to be taken.

ARTICLE III - SOCIETY OFFICERS

SECTION I:  The officers of The Cape Fear Astronomical Society shall consist of President, Vice President, Associate Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Editor.  All candidates must be paid-up members in good standing at the time of their election.

SECTION II:  The officers of the Society shall be elected to serve for one calendar year.

ARTICLE IV - DUTIES OF SOCIETY OFFICERS

SECTION I:  PRESIDENT:  The President shall preside at all business meetings, shall be the chairperson of the Executive Board and shall call extra business meetings when deemed necessary.  He/She shall temporarily fill vacancies and appoint committees not otherwise provided for.  He/She shall be an ex-officio member of all committees and shall perform all other duties normally required by the office of President.

SECTION II:  VICE PRESIDENT:  The Vice President shall preside in the absence or inability of the President to serve.

SECTION III:  ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT:  The Associate Vice President shall oversee all society committees, society functions and society activities.

SECTION IV:  SECRETARY:  The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the Executive Board meetings, and shall keep minutes of any and all regular business meetings.  The Secretary shall  correspond with other astronomical societies and individuals regarding society and regional business, and shall see that each member receives issues of all such publications due the membership.

SECTION V:  TREASURER:  The Treasurer shall keep an accurate account of all financial transactions of the organization and will carry out the following:

            1)     Receive and receipt dues from members.
            2)     Maintain an up-to-date roster of the membership.
            2)     Account for and bank all dues properly.
            3)     Pay all bills justly accrued by the organization.
            4)     Send renewal subscription monies to the appropriate publisher for those members 
                    who obtain special society subscription rates to astronomical publications.

SECTION VI:  EDITOR:  The Editor shall be responsible for accumulating, coordinating, producing and mailing the society publication "Cape Fear Skies" to all members, corresponding clubs, and AL officials.  The Editor shall receive and relay news and information of astronomical interest to the membership.

ARTICLE V - ELECTIONS

SECTION I:  The method of voting shall be by secret ballot at an annual election to be held during a regular meeting in either of the months of November or December at the discretion of the Executive Board.

SECTION II:  Nominations shall be accepted from the floor and recorded by the Secretary at the last two regular meeting preceding the annual election.  Candidates must indicate that they accept the nomination in person or in writing by signed and dated letter to the President.

SECTION III:  At the last regular meeting preceding the annual election, the President shall appoint a Teller for the upcoming election.  The Teller shall be a paid-up member in good standing who is not a candidate for any Society office.  The Teller shall administer all aspects of the election, shall tally the votes and shall report the results verbally to the membership before the conclusion of the annular election.  These results shall then be recorded in the minutes by the Secretary.

SECTION IV:  Each office shall be voted upon separately.

SECTION V:  There shall be no absentee voting conducted by the Society at any time.

SECTION VI:  In the event of a tie in the voting for any office, the President shall call a recess as soon as all results have been announced.  If at the conclusion of this recess, neither candidate involved in the tie wishes to withdraw from the race, a runoff vote will then be conducted with members present writing their choice on blank ballots.  If this runoff also results in a tie, then the race for that office will be decided by the toss of a coin.

SECTION VII:  Officers may be removed from office by two-thirds vote of a quorum after a show of due cause under the provision that the members are notified of such proposed action at the regular meeting prior to the meeting at which the action is to be taken.

SECTION VIII:  Vacancies occurring between elections shall be filled by a special election at the regular meeting following the announcement of the resignation or withdrawal of the officer.  Duties of the office shall reside with the President or his interim appointee unless otherwise directed by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS

SECTION I:  Regular meetings:  The Cape Fear Astronomical Society will hold its regular meetings once a month on the first Sunday of each month at a location agreed upon by the membership present at the previous regular meeting and published in the newsletter prior to the meeting.  In lieu of this, notification by mail or telephone will be carried out.  Meeting times may vary in accordance with seasonal or astronomical conditions.

SECTION II:  Special meetings:  Special meetings shall be announced at a regular meeting of the Society for special events and/or activities.

ARTICLE VII - FINANCES

SECTION I:  The Treasury of The Cape Fear Astronomical Society shall be held in a checking and/or savings account.  All withdrawals will require the signatures of the Treasurer and the President.

SECTION II:  The Executive Board shall be empowered to pay bills and make expenditures on behalf of the Society up to a sum of $75.00 for any single item or purpose, between regular meetings.  These payments and expenditures shall be reported by the President or Treasurer at the next regular meeting of the Society and shall be noted in "Cape Fear Skies".

ARTICLE VIII - QUORUM

SECTION I:  The minimum number of members of the Society that must be present for valid transaction of business at a regular meeting shall be 25 percent of the regular membership, which shall constitute a quorum.

SECTION II:  The minimum number of members of the Society to participate in a valid transaction of business during an electronic meeting shall be 25 percent of the regular membership, which shall constitute a quorum.  A transaction can be proposed for electronic voting to the CFAS email list by any club member.  Members will be allowed to discuss the proposed transaction for a minimum of two days.  The President will then approve or deny the transaction for voting.  If approved, the President will appoint a Teller to post the official transaction email and tabulate the voting results.  Voting will take place for a minimum of three days and a maximum of five days from the date of the official transaction post.  The expiration date for voting will be posted in the official transaction email.  Voting results will be posted to the email list within seven days of the official transaction post.”

ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS

SECTION I:  This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of a quorum at any regular meeting provided that the members are notified of such proposed action at the regular meeting prior to the meeting at which the action is to be taken.

ARTICLE X - EQUIPMENT

SECTION I:  Use of Society property or Society equipment for reasons other than associated Society activities must be approved by a two-thirds vote of a quorum at any regular meeting provided that the members are notified of such proposed action at the regular meeting prior to the meeting at which the action is to be taken.

ARTICLE XI - EARNINGS

SECTION I:  No part of the net earnings of The Cape Fear Astronomical Society shall inure to the benefit of its members, directors, officers or other persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the exempt purpose of this organization.

ARTICLE XII - DISSOLUTION

SECTION I:  In the event of dissolution of The Cape Fear Astronomical Society" the residual assets of this organization shall be equally divided and distributed to:

            1) The Grand Strand Stargazers of Myrtle Beach  
            2) The Raleigh Astronomy Club  
            3) The Mid-Atlantic Star Party.

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AMENDMENTS

Amendment (date unknown) 
     Article V Section 2 shall be amended to read as follows:  "Nominations shall be accepted from the floor and recorded by the Secretary at the regular meeting of September and October. Candidates must indicate that they accept the nomination in person or in writing by signed and dated letter to the President."

Amendment of 02 November 1997:
     Article V shall be amended as follows:  All references to elections in November will be changed to December.

Amendment of 12 July 1998:
     Article V:  In Section 1, strike out "the month of December" and insert "either of the months of November or December at the discretion of the Executive Board"; in Section 2, strike out "regular meetings of September and October" and insert "last two regular meetings preceding the annual election"; in Section 3, strike out "October regular meeting" and insert "last regular meeting preceding the annual election", and strike out "December" and insert "annual-election"; and in Section 4, strike out "at the December meeting by secret ballot". 

Amendments of 03 April 2005:
     Article II Section III: Strike out “Appropriate membership dues will become due and payable in the first calendar month of each year.” and insert “Appropriate membership dues will become due and payable in the first calendar month of each year for current members.  Members whose dues are not paid before or during the March meeting will be dropped from the newsletter and email lists. Members deciding to rejoin later that year will pay the full yearly dues regardless of the time remaining in that year.  New joining members will pay a prorated amount based on quarters,  paying only the remaining quarters or portions of quarters remaining in that calendar year.    
     Article IV Section IV:  SECRETARY: Strike out “and shall maintain an up-to-date roster of the membership.”  Strike out “receive and relay to the membership, news and information of astronomical interest.”
     Article IV Section V:  TREASURER:  Between items 1 and 2 insert “Maintain an up-to-date roster of the membership.”
     Article IV Section VI:  EDITOR:  Insert “The Editor shall receive and relay news and information of astronomical interest to the membership.”
     Article V Section VI:  Strike out “in favor of the older candidate” and insert “by the toss of a coin.”
     Article XII Section I:  Stike out “1) The Cumberland County Astronomy Club   2) The Astronomical League” and insert “1) The Grand Strand Stargazers of Myrtle Beach  2) The Raleigh Astronomy Club  3) The Mid-Atlantic Star Party.”

Amendment of 05 June 2005:
     Article VIII - QUORUM:  Insert “Section II:  The minimum number of members of the Society to participate in a valid transaction of business during an electronic meeting shall be 25 percent of the regular membership, which shall constitute a quorum.  A transaction can be proposed for electronic voting to the CFAS email list by any club member.  Members will be allowed to discuss the proposed transaction for a minimum of two days.  The President will then approve or deny the transaction for voting.  If approved, the President will appoint a Teller to post the official transaction email and tabulate the voting results.  Voting will take place for a minimum of three days and a maximum of five days from the date of the official transaction post.  The expiration date for voting will be posted in the official transaction email.  Voting results will be posted to the email list within seven days of the official transaction post.”