Club Bylaws

Sec. 1 The Primary purpose of the Club is to unite those who have a common interest in wild birds, that they may better study and conserve them.
Sec. 2 A secondary purpose of the Club is to promote good fellowship among bird lovers and provide social activity for them.

Sec. 1 Any person who manifests an interest in birds and their conservation is eligible for membership.
Sec. 2 The membership shall consist of:
a) Regular Members
b) Junior Members who are attending school and are under eighteen years of age
c) Life Members
d) Honorary Life Members
An honorary life membership in the Santa Cruz Bird Club may bestowed as follows:
1. As an honor for meritorious service, beyond the call of duty, on behalf of the Club.
2. As an honor to one distinguished in the field of ornithology or natural science who has served the Club with merit.
Any member of the Club may propose an honorary life membership. The Governing Body shall confirm or deny, by majority vote, the honorary life membership.
Sec. 3. The Santa Cruz Bird Club respects the privacy of its members and does not share member information, including email lists.

Sec. 1 The Governing Body of the Club, by a majority vote, shall recommend to the membership the amount of all categories of annual dues. A majority vote of the members present at the next meeting shall confirm, alter or deny the recommended amount.
Sec.2. Dues shall be payable for the period from June 1 to May 31 each year.
Sec. 3. Dues paid by new members joining after February 1 will provide for membership through May 31 of the following year.

Sec. 2 The Officers of the Club shall be:
a) President
b) First Vice-President and Program Director
c) Second Vice-president and Field Trip Director
d) Treasurer
e ) Secretary
f) Editor
g) Webmaster
h) Conservation Director
i) Membership Director
j) Outreach Coordinator
k) Hospitality Director
l) Historian
m) Bird Records Keeper
Sec. 3 The Officers shall be elected by a majority of the Club members present at the May meeting .
Sec. 4 The term of office for each Officer shall be one year commencing at the conclusion of the May meeting .
Sec. 5 Vacancies occurring among the officers shall be filled by the Governing Body.

Sec. 1 The specific duties of each officer shall be detailed in the Officers’ Job Description Manual. The Manual shall be reviewed biennially and revised as needed.
Sec. 2 The President shall:
a) call and preside at all meetings of the Club and Governing Body
b) appoint all committees, except as otherwise provided herein
c) be an ex-officio member of each committee, except the Nominating Committee.
Sec. 3 The First Vice-president shall assume the duties of the President in the absence of the President, or at his or her request, and shall be the Program Director.
Sec. 4 The Second Vice-president shall be the Field Trip Director and shall be responsible for organizing field trips.
Sec. 5 The Treasurer shall be responsible for, and must keep account of, the funds of the Club.
Sec. 6 The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the Governing Body and shall conduct such correspondence as directed by the Governing Body.
Sec. 7 The Editor shall be the editor of the Club newsletter and shall be responsible for its publication, layout, and printing.
Sec. 8  The Webmaster shall be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Bird Club’s Web Site.
Sec. 9 The Conservation Director shall be responsible for a program of conservation activities and shall bring to the attention of the Club any project that might affect the welfare of birds in this area, either favorably or adversely. The Conservation Director may choose his or her own committee.
Sec. 10. The Membership Director shall be responsible for receiving and acting upon all applications for membership, making contact with potential new members, and maintaining the membership file.
Sec.11 The Outreach Coordinator shall be responsible for outreach to schools, youth and seniors organizations, and other groups and sectors of the community, including but not limited to activities and educational programs promoting knowledge and the conservation of wild bird life.
Sec. 12 The Hospitality Director shall be responsible for greeting members, visitors and guests at all meetings. He or she shall be responsible for the social activities of the Club, including the Christmas Bird Count countdown dinner and other events.
Sec. 13 The Historian shall archive all appropriate material pertaining to the Santa Cruz Bird Club.
Sec.14 The Bird Records Keeper shall maintain files of observations of birds in Santa Cruz County.

Sec. 1 A nominating committee shall be appointed by the President at the March Meeting. The Committee shall select a slate of candidates for Officers and Activity Directors for the ensuing year and present it at the April meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor at the April or May meeting. Nominees must give permission to have their names placed in nomination.
Sec. 2 The President shall appoint an Audit Committee at the last Governing Body meeting of the Club’s year. The committee shall report to the membership at the September meeting.
Sec. 3 The President shall appoint a Budget Committee at the next to last Governing Body meeting of the Club’s year. The Committee shall prepare a proposed budget for the forthcoming year. The proposed budget shall be mailed to Governing Body members at least one week prior to the last Governing Body meeting of the Club’s year. The Governing Body shall review, amend, and approve the budget at their last meeting of the Club’s year.
Sec. 4 Additional committees may be appointed from time to time by the President, or as requested by Club members if the Governing Body deems them necessary.

Sec. 1 The President shall call to order the regular monthly meeting of the Club at a place, day and time designated by the Governing Body.
Sec .2 A quorum a t a regular meeting shall be ten members.
Sec. 3 The Governing Body shall meet no less than 4 times per year at a time and place to be determined by that Body. The Governing Body shall discuss the business of the Club and decide what matters should be brought to the attention of the membership. A quorum, which shall consist of 50% plus one of the current members of the Governing Body, shall be present to vote on any matter.   At the discretion of the President, proxy votes may be allowed from officers unable to attend a Governing Body meeting for items previously discussed.  If a quorum is not present for a vote at a meeting, or in other circumstances at the discretion of the president, a vote by email or similar means may be taken after a Governing Body meeting.  Votes by email or similar means may also be taken if an item must be voted on outside of a regularly scheduled meeting.  Motions to be voted upon may be made by any member of the Governing Body, including the President.  Any motion must receive a second from another member before it may be voted upon.
Sec. 4 The voting procedure at all meetings of the Club shall be in accordance with standard parliamentary procedure, except as otherwise stipulated in these by-laws.

Sec. 1 Amendments to the By-laws may be proposed by any member of the Club.
Sec. 2 To be adopted, a proposed amendment must be approved by a majority of the members present at two successive regular meetings of the Club, and then adopted by a vote of at least two-thirds of the members present at the second meeting at which they were approved.
​Sec. 3.  The Governing Body shall review these Bylaws and revise as needed, at least every 5 years.

If for any reason the Santa Cruz Bird Club should be dissolved, its resources shall be given to the Santa Cruz Natural History Museum.