CONSTITUTION
of the
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FOREST SERVICE RETIREES
I.
OBJECTIVES
THE
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES OF THIS ASSOCIATION SHALL BE:
1.
To establish a non-partisan, professional and science-based
organization
with members consisting of Forest Service retirees, associates, and
sustaining
members with germane training and experience
2.
To bring to bear members' combined knowledge and experience in
forestry,
range and other natural resource management, allied research,
and state and private forestry matters, for the purpose of providing
sound
and timely professional advice and public education relating to
critical
issues involving forestry and its related specialties.
3.
To provide information about natural resource management for the
American
people, their elected representatives and public and private agencies;
to provide educational material with the objective of enhancing public
understanding of natural resources, and to act as a contact point where
individuals and organizations can access expertise in the science and
practice
of forestry and related fields.
II.
NAME
The
name of this association shall be the National Association of
Forest
Service Retirees, informally known as NAFSR.
III.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership
in the NAFSR is open to:
(1)
"Regular Members": Forest Service retirees, their
spouses and surviving spouses who are the voting
members;
(2)
"Associate Members": Retirees of related federal agencies, as well as
others
who are scientifically or technically trained, or members of the public
with interest or experience germane to natural resource matters, who
shall
be non-voting.
(3)
"Sustaining Members" who, as determined by the Board of Directors, have
provided outstanding contributions to the furtherance of the objectives
of NAFSR. Sustaining members who are Forest Service retirees will have
voting privileges.
Membership
is contingent upon submission of a membership application and payment
of
dues.. The board of directors may also grant membership to special
individuals.
IV.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
There
shall be at least one Director from each of the Forest Service regional
geographic areas, selected by members of the retirees club in the
regional
area. The Board of Directors may designate, at their discretion, other
"At-Large" board members. Election of the Board will be as provided in
the bylaws.
V.
OFFICERS
Chair
of the Board of Directors will be determined by majority vote of the
Board
and will serve a two-year term. The Board may appoint an Executive
Director,
Secretary/Treasurer, legal counsel, and other officers of NAFSR, as it
deems necessary.
VI.
DUES
The
Board of Directors will establish dues as provided for in the bylaws
VII.
FINANCIAL REPORT AND AUDIT
The
Chair with the consent of the Board of Directors will appoint an audit
committee to perform an annual audit and financial report.
VIII.
CHANGES IN CONSTITUTION and BYLAWS
Changes
to the constitution and bylaws will require a two-thirds majority vote
of the Board of Directors.
IX.
DISSOLUTION
Upon
dissolution of the corporation, assets shall be distributed for one or
more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal
Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax
code,
or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or
local
government, for a public purpose, as designated by the Board of
Directors.
________________________________________________________________
BYLAWS
of the
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FOREST SERVICE RETIREES,
INC.
A.
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
1.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
a)
Elects the Board Chair
b)
Appoints and supervises the Executive Director
c)
Identifies issues of importance and directs the initiation of
action
d)
Approves contents of action items and reports
e)
Targets the response to appropriate audiences
f)
Fills vacant Board positions intheabsence
of regional club selections to the Board
g)
Appoints "At-Large" Board members
h)
Appoints and determines compensation for officers and staff
i)
Initiates and approves changes to the constitution and bylaws
2.
CHAIR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
a)
Convenes and presides over meetings of the Board of
Directors
b)
Signs all correspondence of the Association, except as may otherwise be
specifically delegated or directed.
c)
Executes contracts
d)
Holds general delegation authority
3.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The
Board of Directors will select the Executive Director. Duties will be
to
manage the day-to-day operation of the Association. He/she will
organize
and supervise the staff, the preparation and dissemination of issue
papers,
and facilitate communication among Board members, the general
membership,
agencies and other interested parties.
4.
SECRETARY/TREASURER
The
Secretary/Treasurer will perform normal corresponding secretarial
duties,
keep minutes of regular meetings maintain and file all official
correspondence,
record and deposit all monies received, maintain member rosters,
acknowledge
new members, manage the association's finances, prepare routine reports
and an annual audited financial report. The Board will appoint the
position
for a two-year term.
5.
COUNSELOR
The
Board appoints the counselor, normally an attorney, for a two-year
term.
Duties are to advise the Board on legal aspects of issues coming before
the Association and to offer advice regarding matters of law and ethics.
B
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The
initially-named Board of Directors shall consist of retired Forest
Service
employees, one-fourth of whom shall serve a term ending 12/30/01,
one-fourth
ending 12/30/02, one-fourth ending 12/30/03, and one-fourth who will
serve
terms ending 12/30/04. These initial terms will be determined by random
selection. Subsequent Board members will serve 2-year terms. Directors
may not be elected to more than three consecutive terms.
In
November of each year regional retiree clubs will be asked to select
people
to fill vacant positions on the Board of Directors. The method of
selection
shall be under procedures determined by the local club. In the event a
club does not designate a director or if there is no club representing
a geographic area, a representative to the Board shall be appointed by
the Board of Directors.
C.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Officers
are elected by the Board and serve a two-year term. Officers may not be
elected to more than three consecutive terms.
D.
DUES
1.
Regular members:
$25 annually
2.
Associate members:
$15 annually
3.
Sustaining members:
$50 annually (minimum)
E.
CHANGES TO BYLAWS
The
Board of directors may amend bylaws of this Association by a two-thirds
majority of those voting and will publish the changes on the retirees'
Internet website.