Constitution

SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES AND TECHNOLOGY

PALEONTOLOGY CLUB

Last Updated November 2010

ARTICLE I:   NAME

Section 1. The name of the organization will be the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Paleontology Club.

ARTICLE II:   PURPOSE

Section 1.  Mission Statement

The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Paleontology Club (here after referred to as the Paleontology Club) is an educational, scientific, and non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the science of paleontology at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSM&T) and in the community.  The Paleontology Club will:

  1. Provide scientific paleontological educational programs to members of the organization and members of the surrounding community.
  2. Conduct field trips, lectures, seminars, and other scientific and educational activities;
  3. Assist others with scientific information regarding identification, preparing, preserving, and displaying fossils.
  4. Adhere to responsible codes of conduct and ethics as followed by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, the Paleontological Society, and the American Association of Museums.
  5. Assist museums and educational institutions in furtherance of their scientific paleontological activities.
  6. Cooperate with government authorities and agencies in the development of laws governing the collection of fossils and their preservation for future generations.

Section 2. Objectives

  1. To encourage the interest in and increase the knowledge of paleontology for SDSM&T students and surrounding community members through club activities, such as educational programs, field and lab activities, and cooperative work with other organizations interested in promoting the science of paleontology.
  2. To be responsible in the legal and ethical collection of fossils and recording of required data (geographic, stratigraphic, sedimentologic, taphonomic, etc.) in all club activities.  All surveys and fieldtrips conducted under the auspices of the Paleontology Club will follow the guidelines promoted by SDSM&T.
  3. To assist government agencies with the development of policies (as requested) and to follow these guidelines, policies and regulations.
  4. To scientifically curate specimens in accordance with the Museum of Geology’s Collections Management Policy, and to deposit specimens into the appropriate repository.  Curation of specimens will occur in a timely manner following their collection.
  5. To share paleontological information with others in the group and with the scientific community and general public.  This includes, but is not limited to, members providing lectures to the Paleontology Club and community; members attending conferences and sharing this information with other members.

ARTICLE III:  MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership is open to any SDSM&T student or faculty member as well as community members.

Section 2. Membership in the Paleontology Club shall be designated as member, associate member, or honorary member.

  1. Membership is for those persons who wish to be active members and meet the requirements of the SDSM&T Student Organization Rules of Registration.
  2. Associate membership is for those persons who wish to be active members, however, do not meet the requirements of the SDSM&T Student Organization Rules of Registration.
  3. Honorary membership is for those persons the Paleontology Club wishes to honor.

Section 3. Associate members and honorary members may not hold office or vote, but shall have all other privileges of members.

Section 4. All members shall be obligated to uphold the objectives of the Paleontology Club.

Section 5. Dues are collected from the membership for the promotion of approved activities and expenses incurred by the Club for normal operation.  Expenditures must be approved by the Officers and Executive Council before the Treasurer may cover or reimburse expenses.  The Treasurer shall periodically report all expenses and monies received.

Section 6. All Members shall act in accordance with the SDSM&T Student Organization Handbook Section One, Article III, Paragraph 3; and Article IX

Section 7. The fiscal year of the Paleontology Club shall be the academic fiscal year (i.e.  July 1-June 30 of the following year).

Section 8. The Paleontology Club Treasurer shall receive dues by the second month of the fall and spring academic semester.

Section 9. If a Member fails to pay dues within sixty days after the due date, he/she will be automatically assigned the role of associate member.  The Secretary must give notice of the Membership change no later than the meeting before the sixty days are up.

Section 10. Honorary Members shall be exempt from payment of dues.

ARTICLE IV:  OFFICERS

Section 1. Four officers shall administer the Paleontology Club and shall comprise the Executive Council.  Duties of each officer below may include but are not limited to the following:

  1. President- presides over meetings, establishes committees
  2. Vice-President- chairs Communication Committee
  3. Secretary- records relevant records and stores them in the club’s designated record repository
  4. Treasurer- manages club finances

Section 2. The term for each officer shall be one year, with elections to take place on the last meeting of the fall semester.

Section 3. The Officers shall be elected from members in good standing in accordance with SDSM&T Student Organization Rules of Registration. Officers must receive a simple majority of votes from members present and voting.

Section 4. The President shall only vote in the event of a tie, in which case he/she shall have the deciding vote.

ARTICLE V:   ADVISORS

Section 1. The faculty / staff advisor to the Paleontology Club shall be a faculty or staff member of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The advisor is responsible for ensuring that the students adhere to the Constitution as set forth in this document. If a student member does not follow the Constitution, the advisor will recommend that this member be reprimanded and possibly removed from membership in the Paleontology Club.