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Maine Entomological Society CONSTITUTION (as adopted on 24 June, 2000)

Article I. Name of Organization

The name of this organization shall be the Maine Entomological Society.

Article II. Purpose The purposes of the Maine Entomological Society shall be:

a) to promote a forum for discussion, cooperation and collaboration among amateurs and professionals in entomology, who either reside in Maine or have interests in Maine insects or terrestrial arthropods; and
b) to encourage active study of all aspects of Maine insects and terrestrial arthropods, and to promote educational activities on Maine insects and terrestrial arthropods throughout the state.

Article III. Membership

a) Membership in the Maine Entomological Society shall be open to any and all persons who have interests in any Maine insects or terrestrial arthropods; membership may only be revoked or denied under extreme circumstances, and only by vote of the membership upon just cause.
b) The Maine Entomological Society will not discriminate against any individual because of race, national origin, age, gender, sex or sexual orientation, religion, or disability.

Article IV. Meetings

Meetings of the Society shall be held at least three times per year. Special meetings may be called in exceptional circumstances to take action on urgent matters, but in such cases the entire membership shall be notified in advance at least three (3) weeks prior to the convening of any special meeting.

Article V. Publications

Publications of the Society will include a Newsletter, and a computer Web page (to be developed as time and expertise permit). The Newsletter will be the primary organ for distribution of information to the membership.

Article VI. Officers

a. Identity
Officers in the Society shall consist of the President, a Vice President, a Secretary-Treasurer, and a Newsletter Editor. These four, plus two members elected at-large, shall be considered the Executive Committee of the Society.
b. Selection
All officers in the Society, and the two at-large members of the Executive Committee, shall be elected on an annual basis, at the fall meeting.
c. Responsibilities
1. The President shall be responsible for convening meetings, for conducting such meetings, and for conducting the external affairs of the Society, such as relationships with state agencies, or other state, regional or national entomological associations. The President shall write a regular column for each issue of the Newsletter to report on Society business.
2. The Vice President shall serve as chief deputy to the President, and shall assume the responsibilities of the President should the President be unable or unwilling to fulfill those duties.
3. The Secretary/Treasurer shall be responsible for maintaining:
a. the financial records of the Society;
b. a list of Society membership; and
c. other Society records, as defined in the Bylaws.
4. The Newsletter Editor shall be responsible for producing a Newsletter on a regular basis, reporting on Society business and other noteworthy matters of interest to the Society and its members.
5. The Executive Committee may meet from time to time to discuss Society business, and in emergency situations may act on behalf of the Society. It will not, however, make any major policy decisions without first bringing such matters to the Members for a vote in a regular forum. Any activities of the Executive Committee will be reported to the membership in the President's Column in the Newsletter.

Article VII. Offices of the Organization

The offices of the Society shall nominally be located at the home or office of the President of the Society until such time as the Society deems it necessary to establish a more permanent office.

Article VIII. Funds

a) Dues
Dues shall be assessed to all members of the Society, the amount of said dues to be determined by vote of the membership, in order to support the costs of producing and mailing the Society Newsletter and of conducting Society business.
b) Contributions
Voluntary contributions to the Society may be accepted by the Society. Unless otherwise explicitly stated by the donor, contributions will normally be entered into the general funds for the Society and used to help pay Society expenses. If desired by the donor and approved by the Executive Committee, donations may be made to a special fund (or funds) for a specific project (or projects).

Article IX. Bylaws

The day-to-day operations of the Society shall be regulated by the Bylaws, within the framework provided by the Constitution.

Article X. Adoption

a) A copy of the proposed Constitution will be mailed to all Society members of record no less than three (3) weeks prior to the first meeting at which it will be presented for consideration. Alterations suggested and approved by the membership at the first consideration will be incorporated into the document, and a draft will then be sent to all members of the Society for their approval.
b) This Constitution shall become effective if it is approved by at least 75% of the Society members who return ballots by the closing date of the election; this closing date shall be no less than three (3) weeks after the mailing of the revised draft.

Article XI. Amendments

This Constitution may be amended by a 75% favorable vote of the members returning ballots in any election including a proposed amendment. Any such proposed amendments must be circulated to the membership for thoughtful deliberation at least three (3) weeks prior to the meeting at which they will be considered. Normally, such circulation will take place via the Society Newsletter, to be mailed in sufficient time that it should be received by the membership in time to allow for at least three weeks of consideration.

Article XII. Dissolution

In the event that membership of the Society declines to a level so low that it is felt by the remaining members that a critical mass for activities no longer exists, the remaining members will gather at some ordained and advertised time and place to vote on dissolution of the Society. At this meeting, a decision will also be made as to the disbursement of any funds remaining in the Society account(s) (see Bylaws).