Constitution

ARTICLE I—Name

This is a not-for-profit organization and shall be known as the “Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies, Inc.” It is hereinafter referred to as “This Association.”

ARTICLE II—Object

The object of This Association is to provide for discussion and publication of papers on subjects and problems coming within the scope of the Geological profession and with particular emphasis on Gulf Coast geology.

ARTICLE III—Organization

This Association is an organization of AAPG-affiliated Geological Societies in the Gulf Coast area.

Section 1.

The business of This Association shall be transacted by a Board of Directors composed of one representative from each member society and the President, Vice-President, Convention General Chair, Past President and the GCAGS Treasurer. The Vice-President shall be elected by the host society next in line for the annual convention. The GCAGS Convention Finance Chair shall be appointed by the President or elected by the host society. They will not take office until after the annual meeting preceding their terms of office. The Vice-President shall be nominated by the Executive Committee of the host society for the annual meeting two years hence and shall accede to the Presidency. Thus each year the President, Convention General Chairman, and GCAGS Convention Finance Chair will be from the host society with the Vice-President providing continuity with the Board of Directors as he assumes the Presidency in the ensuing year. The duties of these officers shall be those customary to their respective offices. The GCAGS representatives to the Advisory Council of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) shall be selected in accordance with the procedures as specified in the By-Laws of AAPG, and otherwise as determined by the GCAGS Board of Directors. Such Representatives shall also serve as ex-officio, non-voting members of the GCAGS Board of Directors. Each member society shall designate a representative to the Board of Directors and in the event the chosen representative cannot attend any given Board of Directors meeting, an alternate representative shall be appointed by the member society to attend and vote in the absence of the representative. The representative, when practicable, shall be an officer or past officer of the society he represents. Each society shall have one vote on actions taken by the Board of Directors with the following exceptions: the host society will be entitled to three votes by virtue of their members holding the offices of President and General Chair, and the next annual host society and the immediate past host society will be entitled to two votes by virtue of their members holding the offices of Vice-President and Past President. The GCAGS Treasurer, as Finance Committee Chair, is a Delegate at Large and has no society affiliation, representing the interests of This Association. The officers of the Board of Directors shall be elected for a term of one year. They shall be elected and assume their duties as soon after the annual meeting of This Association as is practicable, except as noted in Paragraph 1 with regard to the GCAGS Convention Finance Chair. Any vacancies shall be filled by the Board of Directors as provided above in Paragraph 1.

Section 2.

The business of This Association shall be conducted by the Board of Directors. A simple majority vote of the members present at meetings is required to effect decisions, except in those matters which require a greater majority, as set forth in this Constitution and these Bylaws. A quorum shall consist of more than one-half of the voting members of the Board of Directors. The GCAGS Executive Committee, composed of the President, Vice-President, General Chair, Past President, and GCAGS Treasurer, shall have the authority to transact business of an emergency nature between meetings. Any business so transacted shall be subject to ratification by the Board of Directors at its next regularly scheduled meeting. A quorum of the Executive Committee shall be three members.

Section 3.

The office of GCAGS Executive Director is hereby created. The Executive Director shall be responsible for keeping minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors, as well as providing notifications of meetings to its members, and other such duties as agreed to and proposed by the GCAGS Board of Directors. The GCAGS Executive Director shall be an ex-officio non-voting member of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IV—Meetings

There shall be an annual meeting (Convention) of This Association, the time and place of which shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Additional meetings may be called at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE V—Publications

There shall be an annual Transactions published by This Association, which shall contain papers presented at the annual meeting, and such other material as selected by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is authorized to have published additional bulletins, and other material which they feel will further the purpose of This Association.

ARTICLE VI—Funds

The funds of the Association shall be deposited in any federally insured bank or savings institution. Funds in excess of the current year’s needs may be invested, at the direction of the Finance Committee, in low-risk mutual funds or similar liquid financial instruments, or invested in U.S. Government bonds.

ARTICLE VII—Amendments

Amendments to this Constitution and to the Articles of Incorporation may be proposed by a majority of the GCAGS Executive Committee, or by any two member societies. Proposed amendments shall be submitted to each of the member societies in writing. It shall require an affirmative vote of three-fourths of the member societies to ratify such an amendment.

ARTICLE VIII—Later Affiliation

Non-member Geological Societies in the Gulf Coast Area which are affiliated with AAPG may petition the Board of Directors for membership and shall be accepted by an affirmative vote of three-fourths of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IX—Resignation

Any member society may resign from This Association at any time by written notice to the Board of Directors. There shall be no obligation to transfer to such resigning society any portion of This Association’s funds.

ARTICLE X—Dissolution

This Association shall terminate at such time as a majority of the member societies shall so vote. Upon dissolution all funds and other property shall be divided as mandated by the Articles of Incorporation.

Rev. 9-12-17