BY-LAWS OF THE CALIFORNIA COUNCIL OF GEOSCIENCE ORGANIZATIONS

ARTICLE I - NAME, STATUS, PURPOSE AND POWERS

1.1 Organization

The name of the organization shall be the California Council of Geoscience Organizations ("Council").

1.2 Status

The Council is a not-for-profit membership corporation organized under the laws of the State of California.

1.3 Purpose

The Council advocates the use of sound geologic knowledge and practice by proposing, reviewing, and monitoring statutes, regulations, and public policies.

1.4 Powers

In the furtherance of the purposes described herein, but not in limitation thereof, the Council shall have the power to accept grants, gifts, and donations, to collect and disseminate statistics and other information, to conduct research, to participate in the legislative process in any legal manner including political advocacy, to engage in various fund raising activities, to conduct promotional activities including advertising and publicity in or by any suitable manner or media, and to hold such property as is necessary to accomplish its purpose.

ARTICLE 2 - MEMBERSHIP

2.1 General Membership

2.1.1 Composition

The membership of the Council shall consist of all organizations admitted in accordance with the Bylaws.

2.1.2 Classes of Membership

The Council shall consist of two classes of members to be known as Organizational Members and Business Members. Organizational Members shall be those organizations and/or their subdivisions with a direct involvement in California geosciences. Members will have dues, rights, and priveleges as determined by the Board of Directors. Additionally, the Council will have contributors, who are not members. Contributors shall include those involved in the geosciences with an interest in furthering the mission of the Council.

2.1.3 Representation

No Member, nor any agent or representative of any Member, shall speak for the Council as a whole unless so authorized by the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, or the President. The Executive Director, legal counsel, and legislative or government advocates may speak for the Council if so authorized by the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, or the President.

2.1.4 Application

Application for membership shall be signed by an officer of the applying organization or business, or by a designated representative or agent. All candidates for membership shall provide evidence satisfactory to the Board of Directors that the candidate organization meets the qualifications stated in Section 2.2.1.

2.1.5 Admission

The authority to admit candidates to membership shall be vested in the Board of Directors. The Board shall make the final determination on the denial or admission of all applicants for membership. The Board of Directors may decline to accept any application for membership or renewal with or without cause. The Executive Committee, acting under the provisions of these Bylaws, may act for the Board in admitting members.

2.1.6 Renewal and Lapse of Membership

Renewal shall occur annually. If membership dues are not received within sixty (60) days of the stated due date, the membership shall be deemed to be lapsed. Lapsed members may not claim membership in the Council, nor may they exercise voting rights in Council affairs or the business of Council committees, until an officer of the Council or the Executive Director states that the dues of the lapsed member have been received in good order. Recognition of lapsed members in the business proceedings of the Council is at the discretion of the President. Members who are more than 120 days in arrears of payment will be dropped from the Council and will be required to reapply for membership.

2.1.7 Waiver of Requirements

In special instances, any of the requirements set forth in this article may be waived by three fourths (3/4) majority vote of either the Board or Executive Committee.

2.1.8 Termination of Membership

By majority vote the Board of Directors may terminate the membership of any member for cause or without cause. If the Board terminates the membership of a member, it shall be done by written notice to the member, such notice to be followed within thirty (30) days by the mailing of a time-based pro-rata refund of annual dues to the terminated member. Aside from such refund, the terminated member shall have no recourse against the Council, its officers, Board, employees, or agents.

2.2 Organizational Member Class

2.2.1 Qualifications

Organizational members shall include societies or associations whose primary focus is in the geosciences, who draw a significant percentage of their membership from California, who have a direct involvement in California geosciences, and who abide by the organizational purpose set forth in Section 1.3 of these Bylaws, and are actively engaged in serving the interests of the public in matters relating to the geosciences.

2.2.2 Rights and Privileges

Organizational members shall have all rights and privileges of the Council, including: the right to appoint a designated representative or alternate who may vote and hold office in the Council't Board of Directors, and who may chair and serve on Board committees. Contributors will be non-voting and will not serve on the Board of Directors. However, contributors may serve on and chair committees within the Council.

2.3 Business Member Class

Business members shall have such rights and privileges as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors, but Business Members may not appoint Directors. The Board of Directors may form a working group of Business Members to be known as the "Business Roundtable," or "Advisory Council," or other designation chosen by the Board, which shall be appraised of Council issues, plans, and strategies and act as an advisory and supportive body to the Council. The President may request Business Members to recommend persons for membership on special or ad hoc Council committees, and those persons may serve as voting members of special or ad hoc committees even though not members of the Board.