High Plains Chapter of the AMS/NWA
Constitution and By Laws
Last Updated March 2012
Part I as set forth by the national organizations.
ARTICLE I: NAME
This organization can adopt any name desired by the majority of its active membership,
provided the name in question is not in current use, upon approval of the Executive Director,
National Weather Association and the Executive Committee, American Meteorological Society.
ARTICLE II: OBJECTIVES
Primary objectives of the organization shall be to foster the growth of operational meteorology,
through research, forecasting, broadcasting, and education.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
1. Membership in the local chapter is open to anyone interested in meteorology and its related fields
and who agrees to abide by the requirements of this constitution.
2. Officers shall consist of President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
3. The president must be a member (full, associate, or student) of the American Meteorological Society.
If requested, the chapter shall reimburse the president for this expense during his/her time in office.
4. Officers shall be elected at the first official meeting of the chapter and at the first meeting of the
calendar year thereafter. All officers shall hold their position for one year and may be re-elected.
5. Any vacated office shall be filled by action of the executive committee in accordance with the local
chapter constitution.
6. The President shall report directly to the Executive Director, National Weather Association and Executive
Director, American Meteorological Society.
ARTICLE IV: COMMITTEES
1. The following committees are required: Program, Membership, and Publicity. The chairs of these committees
will consist of the Vice-President (Program Committee), Treasurer (Membership Committee), and Secretary (Publicity
Committee). Additional members of the committees shall be appointed in accordance with the local chapter constitution.
2. The Publicity Committee will file (through the President) a brief synopsis of the past year's activities
to the Executive Director, National Weather Association, and keep the national American Meteorological Society
advised of all local chapter activities.
3. The Executive Committee consists of the immediate past president and the current officers.
ARTICLE V: DUES
No national dues are required of chapter members. The National Weather Association and the American Meteorological
Society do strongly recommend that all local chapter members become full members of said organizations.
ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS
Chapters shall have a minimum of six meetings each year.
ARTICLE VII: VOTING PROCEDURES
1. All active members of the local chapter may participate in voting.
2. Voting for officers of the local chapter shall be in accordance with the local chapter constitution.
ARTICLE VIII: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order, Revised Edition shall govern in all cases to which they are
applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with the constitution.
ARTICLE IX: NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
This local chapter of the National Weather Association and the American Meteorological Society is organized and
operated exclusively for nonprofit purposes, and no part of its earnings shall inure to the benefit of any member.
ARTICLE X: DISSOLUTION
Upon dissolution or disbandment of this organization, all funds and properties in excess of liabilities and expenses
of dissolution will be distributed as determined by a majority of the active members.
ARTICLE XI: ADOPTION
This local chapter of the National Weather Association and the American Meteorological Society shall become effective
upon approval of the Executive Director, National Weather Association and Executive Committee, American Meteorological Society.
Part II as set forth by the local chapter of the of the National Weather Association and the American Meteorological Society.
ARTICLE I: NAME
This local chapter shall be known as the High Plains Chapter of the National Weather Association and the American
Meteorological Society.
ARTICLE II: OBJECTIVES
The High Plains Chapter shall foster the growth of operational meteorology in the plains of Colorado, Kansas, and
Nebraska by providing the community with a social and scientific point of contact for meteorological, hydrological, and other
related scientific interests. The High Plains Chapter shall encourage collaborative research among its members and shall engage
in continuing education on the latest developments in the various branches of hydrometeorological science.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
1. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in meteorology and its related fields in the plains regions of Colorado,
Kansas, and Nebraska, and who agrees to abide by the requirements of this constitution.
2. The President presides as the Chair at all local chapter meetings and is responsible for the ideological and financial
well being of the chapter. The President has the authority to appoint committees, to act upon local chapter interests as necessary,
and oversees the goals and aspirations of the active membership.
3. The Vice-President presides as the Chair in the absence of the President and is Chair of the Program Committee. The
Vice-President also assists the other Officers in the performance of their duties.
4. The Treasurer serves as the administrative focal point for all chapter activities, presides as Chair of the Membership
Committee, keeps current list of the active membership, and maintains accurate financial records concerning local chapter
activities. The Treasurer or designee of the Treasure shall make a report of the financial status of the chapter at each meeting.
In the absence of both the President and Vice-President, serves as the Chair at the local chapter meeting.
5. The Secretary is charged with keeping the active membership informed about chapter functions, presides as Chair of the
Publicity Committee, and submits reports of chapter activities to the national organizations through the President. In the absence
of the President, Vice-President, and Treasurer, serves as Chair of the local chapter meeting.
6. The active membership has the right to impeach any officer if the officer's actions or activities warrant dismissal. A majority
vote by the active membership is required to dismiss a local chapter officer. This vote will be done by secret ballot.
ARTICLE IV: COMMITTEES
1. The Executive Committee consists of five members: the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, and immediate past President.
If there is no immediate past President the most recent past President of the High Plains Chapter will serve on the Executive Committee.
If there are no past Presidents of the High Plains Chapter this seat will be filled by special election. The winner of this election shall
hold the title of Officer Without Portfolio.
2. The Program Committee will be chaired by the Vice-President and have up to two other members.
3. The Membership Committee will be chaired by the Treasurer and have up to two other members.
4. The Publicity Committee will be chaired by the Secretary and have up to two other members.
5. Additional committees shall be organized at the discretion of the President.
6. Committee members shall consist of any active member in the High Plains Chapter.
ARTICLE V: DUES
1. Annual dues of fifteen dollars ($15.00) shall be paid to the High Plains Chapter of the National Weather Association and the American
Meteorological Society. Dues are payable at the first meeting of the chapter year. Payment of dues entitles the member to active member
status and voting privileges.
1.a. Members who join the High Plains Chapter in the fourth month of the chapter year or later shall pay dues prorated at the rate of
one-tenth of the annual dues for each remaining month, including the current month.
2. If local chapter dues are not paid by the end of the second meeting of the chapter year the individual's membership privileges will
be revoked and the individual will no longer receive announcements of future chapter activities until the dues are paid.
3. Use of all dues shall be for activities of the High Plains Chapter and for the betterment of the chapter.
ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS
1. The chapter shall have six meetings per chapter year. The chapter year shall run from January 1 to December 31 with elections
held at the first meeting of the calendar year.
2. Time and location of the meetings will be determined by the Executive Committee, with input from the active membership.
3. At least four meetings shall occur in a physical location. In order to meet the six meetings per year mandate, the membership
may approve up to two "cybermeetings."
4. All meeting minutes shall be sent in writing to all active members by the Program Committee at least fifteen (15) days prior
to the next meeting. This message shall also include the time, place, and purpose of the next meeting.
ARTICLE VII: VOTING PROCEDURES AND ELECTIONS
1. A quorum is defined as more than one-quarter of the active membership and must include one elected Officer.
2. A simple majority of the quorum is required for the election of officers and matters other than constitutional reform.
Voting may take place by one of two methods.
2a. If a quorum is present at a meeting, voting may take place at that time.
2b. If a quorum is not present at a meeting, then all matters that require voting will be subject to electronic voting.
Electronic voting will take place one week after the minutes for the previous meeting have been made available. After the
one week waiting period, the president (or the president's designee) will post the question to all active members via electronic
mail. Voting will take place within a one week window beginning with the day the question is posted. This will ensure the vote
will be completed by the next meeting. Votes will be made via electronic mail directly to the president (or the president's
designee). Members without electronic mail capability will have their vote forwarded by a member who does. Results of the vote
will be announced at the next meeting, and by electronic mail to all active members.
2c. If electronic mail vote is authorized then the President or a designee of the President shall retain copies of all
electronic mail ballots for a period of one year.
2d. If a quorum is not met via electronic voting the matter shall be tabled until the next meeting. No chapter business
can occur without a quorum.
3. A two-thirds majority of the active membership is required for amendment of the constitution. This is almost certainly
going to require an electronic mail vote. Electronic voting will take place one week after the minutes for the previous meeting
have been made available. After the one week waiting period, the president (or the president's designee) will post the potential
amendment to all active members via electronic mail. Voting will take place within a one week window beginning with the day the
potential amendment is posted. This will ensure the vote will be completed by the next meeting. Votes will be made via electronic
mail directly to the president (or the president's designee). Members without electronic mail capability will have their vote
forwarded by a member who does. Results of the vote will be announced at the next meeting, and by electronic mail to all active
members.
4. Nominations of active members qualified to hold Officer positions will be accepted from the floor during the last meeting
of the calendar year. A list of the nominees will be sent to all active members within ten (10) days after the close of the
fifth meeting.
5. Election of Officers will take place during the first meeting of the calendar year.
6. If an Officer position becomes vacant, the remaining Executive Committee members shall select a qualified active member
to fill the vacancy. Three votes are required to fill a vacancy in this fashion. If no candidate receives three votes, the
President shall make the selection to fill the vacancy. In either case, the member selected to fill the vacancy must be ratified
by a simple majority of the quorum present at the next chapter meeting. Should the selection to the vacancy not be ratified, then
an election to fill the vacancy must be held immediately.
7. At the first meeting of the High Plains Chapter of the National Weather Association and American Meteorological Society,
both the nomination and election of Officers shall occur.
ARTICLE VII: VOTING PROCEDURES AND ELECTIONS
1. A quorum is defined as more than one-quarter of the active membership and must include one elected Officer.
2. A simple majority of the quorum is required for the election of officers and matters other than constitutional
reform. Voting may take place by one of two methods.
2a. If a quorum is present at a meeting, voting may take place at that time.
2b. If a quorum is not present at a meeting, then all matters that require voting will be subject to electronic voting.
Electronic voting will take place one week after the minutes for the previous meeting have been made available. After the
one week waiting period, the president (or the president's designee) will post the question to all active members via electronic
mail. Voting will take place within a one week window beginning with the day the question is posted. This will ensure the vote
will be completed by the next meeting. Votes will be made via electronic mail directly to the president (or the president's
designee). Members without electronic mail capability will have their vote forwarded by a member who does. Results of the vote
will be announced at the next meeting, and by electronic mail to all active members.
2c. If electronic mail vote is authorized then the President or a designee of the President shall retain copies of all
electronic mail ballots for a period of one year.
2d. If a quorum is not met via electronic voting the matter shall be tabled until the next meeting. No chapter business can
occur without a quorum.
3. A two-thirds majority of the active membership is required for amendment of the constitution. This is almost certainly
going to require an electronic mail vote. Electronic voting will take place one week after the minutes for the previous
meeting have been made available. After the one week waiting period, the president (or the president's designee) will post
the potential amendment to all active members via electronic mail. Voting will take place within a one week window beginning
with the day the potential amendment is posted. This will ensure the vote will be completed by the next meeting. Votes will be
made via electronic mail directly to the president (or the president's designee). Members without electronic mail capability
will have their vote forwarded by a member who does. Results of the vote will be announced at the next meeting, and by
electronic mail to all active members.
4. Nominations of active members qualified to hold Officer positions will be accepted from the floor during the last
meeting of the calendar year. A list of the nominees will be sent to all active members within ten (10) days after the
close of the fifth meeting.
5. Election of Officers will take place during the first meeting of the calendar year.
6. If an Officer position becomes vacant, the remaining Executive Committee members shall select a qualified active
member to fill the vacancy. Three votes are required to fill a vacancy in this fashion. If no candidate receives three votes,
the President shall make the selection to fill the vacancy. In either case, the member selected to fill the vacancy must be
ratified by a simple majority of the quorum present at the next chapter meeting. Should the selection to the vacancy not be
ratified, then an election to fill the vacancy must be held immediately.
7. At the first meeting of the High Plains Chapter of the National Weather Association and American Meteorological Society,
both the nomination and election of Officers shall occur.
ARTICLE VIII: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
1. Expenditures of the High Plains Chapter of the National Weather Association and the American Meteorological Society less
than fifty dollars ($50.00) may be authorized by a majority of the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall have authority to sign
checks for these expenditures. If there is no Treasurer then the President shall have signature authority.
2. Expenditures of the High Plains Chapter of fifty dollars ($50.00) or more shall require the approval of a simple majority of
a quorum present. Both the Treasurer and the President must sign checks for these expenditures.
ARTICLE IX: NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
The High Plains Chapter of the National Weather Association and the American Meteorological Society is organized and operated
exclusively as a nonprofit entity, and no portion of its earnings shall be used to the benefit of any individual that is an
active member.
ARTICLE X: DISSOLUTION
The High Plains Chapter of the National Weather Association and the American Meteorological Society shall follow the procedure
given in Part I, Article X of the constitution upon the dissolution of the chapter.
ARTICLE XI: ADOPTION
This constitution shall become effective upon ratification by two-thirds of the people present at the inaugural meeting of the
chapter on March 11, 1996, and upon approval of the parties named in Part I, Article XI of this constitution.