Constitution and By-Laws

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I: NAME

Section 1. This organization shall be known as "THE NORTHWEST MOSQUITO AND VECTOR CONTROL ASSOCIATION" and shall be represented by the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

ARTICLE II: OBJECTIVES

Section 1. The objectives of the Association shall be to promote close cooperation among those directly or indirectly involved with or interested in understanding the biology and control of insects and rodents of public health importance; to enhance public health and quality of life through the suppression of such insects and/or rodents; to disseminate information to the membership and others; and to promote and develop public interest in accomplishing these objectives.

Section 2. This Association is organized exclusively for scientific purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Section 3. Upon the dissolution of this Association, after paying or adequately providing for the debts and obligations of the Association, the remaining assets shall be distributed to a non-profit fund, foundation or corporation, which has established its tax exempt status under Section 50.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. The membership of the Association shall consist of four classes: Regular Members, Emeritus Members, Honorary Members and Sustaining Associates.

Section 2. Regular Members: All persons who are sufficiently interested in the control or biology of insects or rodents who desire affiliation with this Association shall be entitled to join the Association as regular members.

Section 3. Emeritus Members: Emeritus membership may be conferred by the Executive Committee. Such members shall have lifetime membership in the Association with all the privileges of regular members including voting and holding office. Emeritus members shall pay no dues. Emeritus members shall be retired from active service and must have been regular members in good standing with the Association for at least fifteen years.

Section 4. Honorary Members: Honorary membership may be conferred by action of the membership, on any person who has demonstrated distinguished service in furthering the objectives of the association, entitling them to special recognition. A two-thirds affirmative vote of the membership attending a duly called meeting is required to confer the title of Honorary Member. Honorary members are entitled to all the rights and privileges of regular members and shall pay no dues.

Section 5. Substaining Associates: Sustaining association may be conferred on a company or corporation with a general interest in the Association and its objectives, and a desire to contribute to the Association's success. A firm may qualify as a sustaining associate on an annual basis by contributing a monetary sum to the Association. The minimum sum is to be determined by the Executive Committee. A Sustaining Associate is entitled to one regular membership.

ARTICLE IV: MEETINGS

Section 1. Meetings shall be held annually at a place and time to be determined by the Executive Committee.

Section 2. A majority of the members attending any duly called annual meeting shall constitute a quorum.

1 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

1. The officers of the Northwest Mosquito and Vector Control Association shall be President, President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer and Executive Director. At the time of their appointment or nomination, all officers shall be members of the Association.


2. The term for President shall be one year. The President-Elect shall serve one year before serving as President. The Vice President shall also serve for one year.


3. The states and provinces listed in Article I, section 1, shall each be entitled to one representative. These representatives shall be included on the ballot for election of officers and be elected for a term of one year by the members of the state or province they will represent. In addition, one industry representative shall be elected by the entire membership in the same manner as state and province representatives. The term for an industry representative shall be one year. State, province and industry representatives may succeed themselves.

ARTICLE VI: TERM OF OFFICE

Section 1. All officers shall serve for one year, with the exception of the Executive Director and the Secretary/Treasurer, or until their successors are elected and qualified. No officer except the Secretary/Treasurer shall succeed themselves. Newly elected officers and representatives shall begin their duties at the close of the annual business meeting.

Section 2. All elective officers shall be elected by a plurality of the total votes cast for each office. The office of President and President-Elect shall not appear on the ballot. In case of a tie vote for any elective office, the election will be decided by a majority of the voting members at the annual business meeting.

ARTICLE VII: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of: (A) the officers of the Association, (B) the immediate Past-President, and (C) one regional representative from each state and province, elected from the regular membership for the term of one year. The President of the Association shall chair the Executive Committee. Four members shall be present to constitute a quorum.

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall have full power of the Association in all matters demanding action between meetings of the Association, and shall submit at the next succeeding meeting a report of all actions taken by them under authority of them by this section.

ARTICLE VIII: AMENDMENTS

Section 1. This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the regular members present at any annual meeting. Any amendment proposed by three or more regular members shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary/Treasurer, who shall, under the direction of the Executive Committee, advise the members of the proposed amendment's (prior to the business meeting at which the amendment's shall be considered).

STATEMENT

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BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I: VOTING PRIVILEGES

Section 1. Every member of the Association who is in good standing shall be entitled to one vote.

ARTICLE II: FINANCES

Section 1. The revenue of the Association shall be derived from dues, assessments, sale of publications and such other sources as the Executive Committee may from time to time determine and prescribe.

Section 2. Dues for regular members shall be established by the Executive Committee, payable by January 1st. On July 1st, any unpaid dues shall be declared in arrears, and the delinquent members shall not be in good standing. Any member two years in arrears shall be dropped from the membership roll.

Section 3. Except by specific direction of the membership at an annual meeting, no debt or other financial obligation shall be incurred beyond the net assets of the Association.

ARTICLE III: COMMITTEES

Section 1. There shall be the following standing committees: (A) Executive Committee; (B) Nominations Committee; (C) Legislative Committee; (D) Program Committee; (E) Resolutions Committee; (F) Audit Committee; (G) By-laws Committee; (H) Membership Committee; (I) Awards Committee; (J) Public Education Committee.

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall operate under the guidelines established in Article VII, Section 1 and 2 of the Constitution.

Section 3. The Nominations Committee shall consist of four members (with one committee member being also a member of the Executive Committee) who shall submit to the Executive Director, prior to July 1, its designation of nominations for each office to be filled in the ensuing year, except the office of President and President-Elect. Where nominations are not unanimous, the names of the two nominees receiving the most votes by the Nominating Committee will be placed on the ballot for mailing to the voting membership. All nominations, including write-in candidates, shall carry the consent and assurance that they will serve if elected.

Section 4. The Legislative Committee shall consist of the Regional Representatives. This Committee will function as a pool for relevant information, emanating from the various agencies (Federal to Local), that affect the members. This Committee shall report to the Executive Committee.

Section 5. The Program Committee shall consist of three members, and their duties shall be to provide programs for each annual conference. The Chair of the Program Committee shall be the President-Elect.

Section 6. The Resolutions Committee shall consist of three members, one of which shall be a member of the Executive Committee. All resolutions presented at any annual meeting of the Association shall be presented to this Committee, which will in turn present them to this Association.

Section 7. The Audit Committee shall consist of three members whose duties shall be to examine annually and audit the books of the Secretary/Treasurer, and to report their findings at each annual meeting.

Section 8. The By-laws Committee shall consist of at least three members and the Chair shall be the Immediate Past President. The President shall also be a member of this committee.

Section 9. The Membership Committee shall consist of at least three members of the association appointed by the President.

Section 10. The Awards Committee shall consist of at least three members. The President shall be a member of this committee. The remaining committee members shall be selected by the Executive Committee.

Section 11. The Public Education Committee shall consist of at least three members appointed by the President.

Section 12. The President may appoint such other temporary (Ad Hoc) Committees as may be deemed necessary to the interests of the Association. Permanent Committees maybe established only by the majority vote of the membership at the regular business meeting.

ARTICLE IV: RULES OF ORDER

Section 1. Business sessions of the Association shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order.

ARTICLE V: PUBLICATIONS

Section 1. All publications of the Association shall be under the direction of the Executive Committee.

Section 2. The Executive Committee may appoint an Editor, if and when the need arises. The Editor shall be directly responsible to the Executive Committee for the publications of the Association.

Section 3. The Program Committee Chair and the Editor shall determine which papers shall be published in abstract or in total. Publications of tables and charts shall be at the discretion of the Chair of the Program Committee and the Editor.

Section 4. Worthy papers selected by the Editor and approved by the Executive Committee may be published separately for sale by the Association.

ARTICLE VI: AMENDMENTS

Section 1. These By-Laws may be supplemented, altered, amended or rescinded in the manner provided in Article VIII of the Constitution with respect to Amendments of the Constitution.

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