CONSTITUTION
New
York City AAZK Chapter
Chapter Name
Chapter Name
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ZOO
KEEPERS, INC.
GENERAL ARTICLES
ARTICLE
I – NAME
The
name of the this organization shall be The New York City Chapter of the AAZK
(Chapter
Name)
ARTICLE
II – STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
This Chapter is
established and chartered by the American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc. in
accordance with the procedures in the Bylaws as established by the Board of
Directors and is subject to the Bylaws of the parent organization. This Chapter
is a non-profit organization in accordance with the provisions made by the
Internal Revenue Code of 1954 and adheres to the declaration of the Charter and
subsequent Recharter Agreements as notarized by the elected Chapter Officers.
The objects and
purposed of this Chapter shall be:
Section
1
To promote and
establish good relationships amongst professional animal care personnel; to
promote and establish a means to stimulate incentive, greater interest and
professional attitudes towards sound captive management through the zoo keeping
profession; and promote greater communication with members of the profession
through projects and programs that will strengthen the zoo keeper’s
professional knowledge.
Section
2
To support and
publicize our concern for all valid and deserving projects of conservation and
to do our part in educating the general public to the need for worthwhile
projects of preserving our natural resources and animal life.
Section
3
To establish
materials beneficial to zoo keeper education.
Section
4
To accept and
receive property, both real and personal, by gift, grant or bequest; and to
manage, hold, contract and dispose of same in accordance with the purpose of
the Chapter and under the restrictions of the Bylaws of AAZK, Inc.
Section
5
Upon
dissolution of this Chapter by unanimous vote of its members, a letter of resignation
accompanied by a copy of the minutes of the meeting shall be sent to the
Administrative Secretary/Treasurer of the Association. All funds remaining in
the Chapter treasury after payment of debts shall be forwarded of the National Association
for distribution through the Conservation, Preservation and Restoration Committee
of AAZK, Inc.
ARTICLE
III – OFFICES
Section
1
Principal
Offices for the transaction of business of the Chapter is hereby located at:
The
Bronx Zoo.
Section
2
Chapter
records shall be kept in the possession of the Chapter Secretary.
ARTICLE
IV – MEMBERSHIP
Section
1
Membership
eligibility, dues, initiation fees and assessments shall be fixed by the
Bylaws.
ARTICLE
V – ELECTIONS
Section
1
Chapter
elections shall be held in such a manner as fixed by the Bylaws.
ARTICLE
VI – MANAGEMENT
Section
1
The
recharter date for this Chapter shall be 1
March of each calendar year. The recharter fee shall be set by the Board of
Directors of AAZK, Inc. The names of the elected Chapter Officers shall be
reported to Administrative Offices at the recharter date.
Section
2
Failure
for this Chapter to comply with fees and required reports by the annual
recharter date shall be considered in violation of Article V, Section 1 and 2
of the AAZK, Inc. Bylaws and the Chapter charter shall be subject to
revocation.
Section
3
All
Chapter monetary transactions shall require the signature of two Chapter
officers.
Section
4
No
individual member or Chapter officer may enter into any contract utilizing
Chapter-generated funds or execute any instrument in the name of, on behalf of
the corporation, without prior written application to, and consent of the Board
of Directors of the Association. Similarly, no individual shall have any power
or authority to bind the corporation by any contract or engagement, or to
pledge its credit or to tender it liable for any purpose in any amount, without
prior written application to, and consent of the Board of Directors of the
Association. Chapters are empowered to enter into contracts for less than
$1000.00 without the prior approval of the Board of Directors.
Section
5
Chapters
may not hold permanent title to real estate or vehicles of any kind without
written application to, and consent of the Board of Directors of AAZK, Inc. and
unless they incorporate within their individual State or Province. Chapters
must notify the National Association of their intent to incorporate; the
Chapter must provide the Board of Directors of AAZK, Inc. with a copy of the
Bylaws and their final incorporation papers.
Section
6
In
accordance to Article VII, Section 6 of the current Bylaws of AAZK, Inc., all
profits made on products/projects as described in said Article and Section must
be split equally between the Chapter and the National Association.
Section
7
The
fiscal year of the Chapter shall be January
1 to December 31 inclusive.
Section
8
Election
of Chapter officers as defined and fixed in the Bylaws shall take place in the
twelfth month of the current fiscal year.
Section
9
Chapter
officers shall be responsible to the membership and to AAZK, Inc. to control
and manage the Chapter and its property, and to perform and comply to all
duties and requirements as prescribed by the Bylaws of the Chapter and the
Constitution and Bylaws of AAZK, Inc.
ARTICLE
VII – CHAPTER BYLAW CUSTMIZATION/AMENDMENTS
Subject
to the limitations of this Constitution and amendments as to action which shall
be authorized or approved by the Board of Directors of AAZK, Inc., Chapters
shall have the right to make amendments to the Articles of Bylaws and further customize them so that they will
facilitate the operation of the Chapter. Amendments to the Articles of Bylaws shall not affect the content of the General Articles of this Constitution,
nor may the General Articles be
amended unless prescribed or approved by the Board of Directors of AAZK, Inc.
Amendments
shall be passed by a majority of the voting Chapter members at any regular or
special meeting called for such purpose.
All proposed amendments
shall be presented in writing to the Chapter membership thirty (30) days prior
to voting.
Chapters shall
be required to forward a copy of the Chapter Bylaws, complete with all approved
amendments, upon written request from the Administrative Offices of AAZK, Inc.
or the Board of Directors of AAZK, Inc. within thirty (30) days of receipt of
such request.
ARTICLES OF BYLAWS
ARTICLE
I – MEMBERSHIP
Membership
in the Chapter shall be open to any (animal keeper, attendant, handler,
aquarist, trainer, other) employed by a recognized animal keeping facility
(located within the State or Province of New York); associations or
groups thereof; and to individuals and associations interested in the objectives
and purposes of the Chapter.
The membership
categories shall include the following:
a) Professional
– Permanent, full-time (part-time, temporary) animal keepers (lab technicians,
handlers, trainers, attendants, other) directly connected with the care and
feeding of captive wildlife in recognized zoological parks, aquariums, animal
reserves, or any other animal care facility.
b) Affiliate
– Professional and non-professional zoological or aquarium society members,
conservation organization members, (zoo and aquarium personnel who do not
qualify for Professional or Associate categories as defined by the Chapter:
this may include part-time/temporary/seasonal animal keepers, attendants,
technicians, trainers, handlers, managerial and non-keeper zoological
park/aquarium personnel, docents, students, volunteers, other).
c) Associate
– Any interested individual who is not connected directly or indirectly with
any recognized animal keeping facility (located within the State/Province of New
York).
Chapter
dues will be $ 15 per member and will cover the period of one (1)
year(s) from the date of payment.
The
property of the members shall be exempt from the execution for the debts of the
Chapter, and no member shall be liable nor responsible for any debts or
liabilities of the Chapter.
No
member shall have any rights to the property of the Chapter.
Only active Chapter
Professional, Affiliate, and Associate members (those having contributed dues
to local and National AAZK membership for the current year) shall be entitles
to one vote.
Only active Chapter
members (as defined by above) are eligible to hold office of President, Vice
President, Secretary, and Treasurer on the Chapter Executive. Any member is eligible
to hold appointed office within the Chapter.
Any
member with defaults in payment of dues for local or National AAZK membership
shall be stricken from the rolls of the Chapter and his/her membership
terminated.
Any
member may terminate his/her membership in the Chapter by submitting a letter
of resignation to the Chapter Secretary, but no monies shall be refunded for
dues or fees previously paid.
If
any member of the Chapter shall commit any act prejudicial to the conduct of
the affairs of the Chapter or the AAZK, Inc. or the purposed for which it was
formed, such person shall be notified, in writing, to appear personally before
the Chapter Executive Officers at a designated time not less than thirty (30)
days after such notification and, at such time, be given a hearing. By a majority
vote of all Chapter Officers present at the meeting, the membership of such
person in the Chapter may be terminated or suspended.
Membership
in the Chapter shall not be transferable.
Fines
or penalties are not permitted. The penalty of misconduct is suspension or
termination, as provided above.
ARTICLE
II – ELECTIONS
The
terms of office of the members of the Chapter Executive shall be one (1)
year(s). Elections shall be held annually (other). Each elected officer shall
serve for one (1) year(s) following the election meeting. Members of the
Chapter Executive may serve for three (3) consecutive terms; after a one
(1) year lapse, they may run for and hold office again.
Any
officer elected by the members may be removed by the members whenever, in its judgment,
the best interests of the Chapter would be served, provided such removal be
effected by a vote of the majority of voting members of the Chapter. This vote
shall take place at a special meeting.
Except
as otherwise provided for in these Bylaws, any vacancy in any officer of the
Chapter may be filled by the Chapter Executive for the unexpired term of such
office.
ARTICLE
III – MEETINGS
Regular
meetings shall be held at such time and place as fixed by resolution of the
Chapter Executive and designated in the notice of the meetings.
Special
meetings of the members may be called by the Chapter President, Chapter
Officers, or upon a written request signed by at least ten percent (other) of
the total membership.
Any
meeting of the members, whether or not a quorum is present, may be adjourned by
a majority of the members present; but in the absence of a quorum, no other business
may be transacted at such meetings.
The
presence of at least twenty (20) percent of the voting members of the
Chapter shall constitute a quorum necessary for the business at all meetings of
the members. After a quorum has once been called at any meeting, the withdrawal
of members thereafter shall not defeat the quorum.
Each
voting member, as defined by the Bylaws, shall be entitled to one (1) single
voted on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of the members.
Meetings
of the Chapter Executive shall be attended by a majority of the Executive in
order to conduct business.
ARTICLE
IV – OFFICERS
Powers.
Subject to the limitations of this Constitution and amendments as to action
which shall be authorized or approved by the members, and subject to the duties
of Officers as prescribed by the Bylaws; all Chapter powers shall be exercised
by or under the authority of, and the conduct and affairs of the Chapter shall
be controlled by, the Chapter Executive.
Duties.
The duties of the Chapter Executive herein described as Officers shall be:
a) To
confirm appointments made by the Chapter President
b) To
control and manage the Chapter and its property, passing upon acquisitions and
disbursements with a vote of a simple majority of the membership, other than
allowable operating expenses.
c) To
formulate policies, rules, and regulations in accordance with the Constitution
and these Bylaws
d) To
empower the Chapter Treasurer authority to purchase items necessary to conduct
the business of the Chapter, without the approval of the membership, not to
exceed $ one hundred (100).
e) Officers.
The officers of the Chapter shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary
and a Treasurer. Any number of offices may be held by the same person with
membership approval.
Subordinate
Officers. The Chapter Executive may appoint such other
officers as the conduct of the Chapter may require, each of whom shall have authority
an perform such duties as are provided in these Bylaws or as the Chapter
Executive ay from time to time specify.
Vacancies.
Vacancies on the Chapter Executive may be filled by a majority of the remaining
officers, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining officer. If at
any time, by reason of any cause, the Chapter should have no Executive in
office, then any Chapter member may apply to the Chapter membership for a
decree summarily ordering election. Each officer so elected shall hold office
until a successor is elected at a meeting of the members.
Number
and Qualification of Officers. The authorized number
of officers of the Chapter shall be four (4) until changed by amendment
to this Bylaw. Officers must be members in good standing with AAZK, Inc.
Removal
and Resignation. Any officer may be removed, either
with or without cause, by a majority of the Chapter Executive at the time in
office, at any regular or special meeting, or by any officer upon whom such
power of removal may be conferred by the Chapter Executive.
Voting.
Any voting of the Chapter Executive shall consist of no less than three (3)
consenting votes.
President.
The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Chapter and shall,
subject to the control of the Chapter Executive, have general supervision,
direction and control of the conduct and officers of the Chapter. The President
shall preside at all meetings of the membership at all meetings of the Chapter
Executive. The President shall preside at all meetings of the membership and at
all committees, if any, and shall have the general duties and powers as may be prescribed
by the Chapter Executive or these Bylaws.
Vice-President.
In the absence or disability of the President, the Vice-President shall perform
all the duties of the President, and when so acting shall have the powers of,
and be subject to all the restrictions upon, the President. The Vice-President
shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time
may be prescribed by the Chapter Executive or these Bylaws.
Secretary.
The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, a book of minutes at the
principal offices or other such place as prescribed by the Chapter Executive,
with the time and place of holding meetings, whether regular or special,
members present or represented at such meetings, and the proceedings thereof.
The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, or cause to be kept, a
membership list, showing the names of the members and their addresses, and the
number and date of memberships issued; and the date of suspension, termination
or resignation of every membership surrendered for cancellation. The Secretary
shall have other powers and perform other duties as from time to time may be
prescribed by the Chapter Executive or these Bylaws.
Treasurer.
The Treasurer shall deposit all monies and other valuables in the name and to
the credit of the Chapter with such depositories as may be designated by the
Chapter Executive. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Chapter as may
be ordered by the Chapter Executive, shall render to the President and Chapter
Officers, whenever they request it, an account of all the transactions as
Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Chapter, and shall have such
other powers and perform other duties as from time to time may be prescribed by
the Chapter Executive or these Bylaws.
CONSTITUTIONAL
BYLAWS
New
York City AAZK Chapter
American
Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc.
BYLAWS
BY YEAR
2011
Voted “yes” by a quorum at the September 2011
meeting:
OFFICER
MID TERM RESIGNATION: If an officer resigns from their
position during their term, they cannot run in the mid-term election they
resigned from. They will be eligible to run for other positions mid-term and for
annual officer elections.
OFFICER
ELECTION TIES: In the case of a tie in an officer
election, the current officers will make the tie-breaking decision by majority
vote.
Voted “yes by a quorum at the November 2011 meeting:
ONLINE
VOTING FOR CONSTITUIONAL CHANGES: All changes made to
the Bylaws of the Chapter Constitution will be carried out online through the
Chapter’s website http://nycaazkmeetingminutes.blogspot.com/p/online-voting.html.
Voting will be live for thirty day after the meeting in which the amendment is
proposed.
2012
Voted “yes” by an online vote between the December
2011 and January 2012 meetings:
EXPANSION
TO ALL FIVE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY FACILITIES: The
Chapter will be expanding membership to all five Wildlife Conservation Society
facilities and will now include the Bronx Zoo, the Central Park Zoo, the New
York Aquarium, the Prospect Park Zoo, and the Queens Zoo.
Voted “yes” by an online vote between the October
and November 2012 meetings:
DUES
DECREASE: Local Chapter dues will be decreased from $25 per
year to $15 per year.
2013
Voted “yes” by an online vote between January and
February 2013 meetings:
CHAPTER
NAME CHANGE: In order to better reflect the
membership of the Chapter, the name of the Chapter will be changed from Bronx
Zoo AAZK Chapter to New York City AAZK.
In review for proposal:
2014
Proposed
for the March 2014 meeting:
CHAPTER
MEMBERSHIP: Any Wildlife Conservation Society animal
or education staff member, animal intern, or animal volunteer may become a
local member of NYC AAZK so long as they are also a National member as defined
by Article I of the Constitution’s Articles of Bylaws. All local NYC AAZK
members must also be paid National AAZK members. All local NYC AAZK members
must also be paid National AAZK members.
OFFICER
ELIGIBILITY: Any Chapter member that is defined by
Article I of the Constitution’s Articles of Bylaws and is a full time Wildlife Conservation Society staff member may
run for a local officer position. The member may not be a provisional or
probationary staff member.
