CONSTITUTION
of the
MISSISSIPPI ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY

 

Article I – Name

The name of this organization shall be the “Mississippi Ornithological Society.”

 

Article II – Purpose

Section 1 – To encourage scientific research in the field of ornithology and to promote and encourage greater appreciation and conservation of native birds.

Section 2 – To cooperate with other organizations engaged in ornithological research and/or in the observation and study of birds.

Section 3 – To provide for the publication of a journal of ornithology to be known as The Mississippi Kite and the MOS Newsletter.

 

Article III – Members

There shall be eight classes of members: Junior (age 14 and under), Student (age 15 and older), Individual, Family, Library, Sustaining, Life, and Honorary.

 

Article IV – Officers

Section 1 – The elected officers of the Society shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. They shall be elected by a majority vote of the members present at the Annual Meeting, and shall serve for a period of two years. They may be re-elected. If the office of President is vacated during the two-year term, the Vice-President shall automatically become President and complete the term. If one of the other offices is vacated before the end of the term, another member shall be appointed to complete the term by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. The terms of the newly elected officers shall begin immediately following the Annual Meeting. Their terms will terminate in two years at the Annual Meeting.

Section 2 – Appointed officers shall be the editors of the journal and newsletter. The editors shall be appointed by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

 

Article V – Board of Directors

Section 1 – The executive body of the Society shall be known as the Board of Directors. It shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, immediate Past-President, and the editors of the journal and newsletter.

Section 2 – The Board of Directors shall have charge of the execution of the policies of the Society, shall govern the publication of the journal and newsletter, and shall oversee any committees created by the By-Laws or appointed by the President.

Article VI – Election of Officers

Section 1 – A nominating committee appointed by the President shall submit to the Annual Meeting of the Society nominations for President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Nominations from the floor shall also be in order.

Section 2 – The officers shall be elected by a majority vote at the Annual Meeting. All classes of membership except Library may vote.

 

Article VII – Meetings

The Society shall hold at least one meeting a year. If more than one meeting is held, the fall meeting shall be known as the Annual Meeting. The President shall have the authority to make arrangements for these meetings, or to designate a member to do so.

 

Article VIII – Quorum

A quorum shall not be necessary to transact business at meetings. Regular business transactions may be approved by a majority vote of the qualified voters present at any meeting of the Society, provided the Membership has been given 10 days written notice of the time and place of the meeting.

 

Article IX – Amendments

This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present at any regular meeting provided the Membership has been given 30 days written notice of the proposed change(s) and the time and place of the meeting.

 

Article X – Dissolution

The Society may be dissolved by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present at any meeting, regular or special, provided that 30 days written notice of the proposed dissolution be given to each voting member. Upon dissolution of the Society, all of its assets and accrued receipts shall be distributed by the Board of Directors to one or more organizations formed and then being operated for charitable, scientific, or educational purposes and eligible for qualification as tax-exempt organizations under the United States Internal Revenue code.

 

Original constitution adopted April 30, 1955.
Amendments adopted 1965, December 1993, October 1996, September 2006, September 2013, and October 2016.