AUGUSTA BIRD CLUB BYLAWS
(Revised and Approved April 14, 2025)

ARTICLE I.      NAME

SECTION 1.    The name of this organization shall be the Augusta Bird Club.

SECTION 2.    The Augusta Bird Club shall maintain membership in the Virginia Society of Ornithology (VSO).

SECTION 3.    The Augusta Bird Club shall function as a 501 (c) (3) organization.

ARTICLE II.    PURPOSES

SECTION 1.    The Augusta Bird Club shall operate exclusively for scientific and educational purposes with emphasis on the study of birds in Virginia, conservation of bird life, and education in relation to birds and bird life.

  1. Support the study of birds in Virginia and, with emphasis on the birds that populate the County of Augusta, the club shall record, collate, and permanently maintain accurate and authentic data, both past and present, on the distribution, abundance, seasonal occurrence, breeding, and behavior of all such birds.
  2. Contribute to the conservation and protection of bird life by promoting local conservation efforts and by supporting local, state and federal authorities, as well as other organizations, with efforts to protect our natural resources.
  3. Educate members of the community concerning the varied bird life of Virginia and the existing laws that conserve and protect such bird life.

SECTION 2.    The club shall not allow any part of its income or assets to inure to the benefit of any individual. (Refer to Article X for distribution of funds in the event of dissolution of the club.) The club shall not participate in any political campaign activity by supporting or opposing a candidate for public office.

ARTICLE III.   MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1.    Any person who is interested in bird study, or the enjoyment of watching birds, may apply for membership and be admitted upon payment of dues to the Treasurer.

SECTION 2.    The following categories of membership shall be available: Individual, Couple (two members at the same address), Family (three or more members at the same address), and Life (awarded to an individual by the Executive Board for significant and longstanding contributions to the club). Annual dues shall be established by the Executive Board with the approval of a majority vote of the members at any regular meeting of the organization.

SECTION 3.    All members whose dues are not in arrears shall be entitled to vote.

SECTION 4.    The fiscal year of the organization shall be from January 1 to December 31.

SECTION 5.    Any new member joining and paying dues during the last quarter (Oct, Nov, Dec) of the year shall pay the full amount of the annual dues and have their membership extended through the following year.

SECTION 6.    Members who have not paid their dues by March 15 of any calendar year, after having been notified two times, will be removed from the membership rolls.

ARTICLE IV.   OFFICERS

SECTION 1.    The elected officers of the Augusta Bird Club shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.

SECTION 2.    DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT

  1. Preside at meetings of the organization and the Executive Board.
  2. Create standing or special committees as needed.
  3. Appoint chairpersons of the established committees.

SECTION 3.    DUTIES OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT

  1. Assume the duties of the President in his/her absence.
  2. Chair the Program Committee.

SECTION 4.    DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY

  1. Keep an up-to-date copy of the Bylaws
  2. Keep a record of the proceedings of the organization and Executive Board.
  3. In consultation with the Executive Board and Editor, distribute information to the membership as needed to supplement the newsletter.

SECTION 5.    DUTIES OF THE TREASURER

  1. Receive and disburse all monies of the organization and keep a record of receipts and disbursements.
  2. Make financial reports to the membership and to the Executive Board as requested.
  3. Maintain a record of the membership and follow-up on payment of membership dues.
  4. File tax reports as required by the Internal Revenue Service.

SECTION 6.    DUTIES OF THE EDITOR

Prepare a newsletter to distribute to the membership on a schedule determined by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE V. COMMITTEES

SECTION 1.   

Committee chairs are responsible for appointing people to, and filling vacancies on, their respective committees.

SECTION 2.    PROGRAM

Program shall plan and arrange for regular educational programs to be presented to the members and public.

SECTION 3.    CONSERVATION

Conservation shall inform members on important conservation issues on the local, state, and national levels, and initiate and carry out plans that contribute to the conservation and protection of our natural resources.

SECTION 4.    EDUCATION

Education shall administer scholarships, develop programs, and provide educational materials for the study of the natural sciences.

SECTION 5.    FIELD TRIPS

Field trips shall arrange for regular and varied field trips to observe birds throughout the region.

SECTION 6.    HOSPITALITY

Hospitality shall organize refreshments and set-up for the organization’s special events.

SECTION 7.    FUNDRAISING

Fundraising shall devise methods of raising money to provide scholarships, fund the organization’s conservation and education initiatives, and make donations to charitable organizations and agencies devoted to the protection of wildlife and preservation of our natural resources. Funds shall be disbursed at the direction of the Executive Board.

SECTION 8.    NOMINATING

Nominating shall procure a slate of candidates for office and present it at the March meeting of the organization.

SECTION 9.    RECORDS

Records shall maintain records of birds in Augusta County, including status, extreme dates, peak counts, and breeding; periodically update field checklists; and submit seasonal reports to regional editors of ornithological publications.

SECTION 10.  DIGITAL PRESENCE

Digital Presence shall manage the organization’s website, social media, and other elements of online presence.

ARTICLE VI. EXECUTIVE BOARD

SECTION 1. The Executive Board shall be composed of the elected officers, immediate past-president, and the appointed committee chairs.

SECTION 2. The Executive Board shall implement projects and programs which will fulfill the intent and purpose of the club and authorize the disbursements of funds in support thereof.

ARTICLE VII. ELECTIONS

SECTION 1.    The officers of the organization shall be elected at the Annual Meeting held in April and take office on the day after the May meeting or, in the event the May meeting is cancelled, on May 31.

SECTION 2.    The term of each officer shall be for one year with no limit on the number of terms served.

SECTION 3.    Nominations shall be provided by the Nominating Committee at the March meeting of the organization.

SECTION 4.     Nominations may be received from the floor, with prior permission of the nominee.

SECTION 5.    Election shall be determined by simple majority as long as a quorum is present.  If there is more than one nominee for an office, the vote shall be determined by secret ballot.

ARTICLE VIII. MEETINGS

SECTION 1.    Meetings of the organization shall be held at least once per month from September to May.

SECTION 2.    The Annual Meeting of the organization shall be held in April.

SECTION 3.    At any official meeting of the organization, 10 percent of the membership shall constitute a quorum.

SECTION 4.    For conditions not covered by these Bylaws, Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern.

ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS

SECTION 1.    To amend the Bylaws, a proposed amendment must be presented to the membership at least one month prior to the meeting at which it is to be voted upon.

SECTION 2.    For an affirmative ballot, a quorum must be present and at least two-thirds of the votes must be in favor of the amendment.

ARTICLE X. DISSOLUTION

In the event of the dissolution of this club, all assets, whether tangible, intangible, personal, or real shall be distributed in the following manner:

  1. To any local ornithological club, society, or corporation which is a qualified 501(c)(3) organization as determined by the Internal Revenue Service.
  2. In the event such society does not exist, the assets shall be distributed to the Virginia Society of Ornithology but only so long as it is a qualified 501(c)(3) as designated by the Internal Revenue Service.
  3. In the event assets of the club cannot be distributed in accordance with the provisions of Items A and B above, then the assets of the club shall be distributed pursuant to Section 12. 1-907 of the Virginia Code (1950 as amended) pertaining to the distribution of assets of a Virginia Non-Stock Corporation.