(REVISED March 2018)

PREAMBLE

The name of this organization shall be “The Ohio Wildlife Management Association” as adopted on May 23, 1950. The objectives of the Association shall be: to foster, promote, and practice wildlife research and management; to sponsor an annual Ohio Wildlife Conference and other meetings that bring together people of diverse wildlife interests and backgrounds; and to present annually an award in recognition of an outstanding contribution to wildlife research and management in Ohio (As amended January 25, 2018).

Article I — Officers and Elections

Section l. The officers of the Association shall be a President, President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer. The Executive Council shall be composed of the immediate Past-President and the officers. Length of term for the President and President-Elect shall be one year. Length of term for Secretary and Treasurer shall be two years. Elections for Secretary and Treasurer shall alternate annually. (As amended February 3, 2012).

Section 2. Officers shall be elected by the members of the Association in good standing by a mailed ballot prior to the annual meeting. The President and President-Elect will take office at the termination of the annual business meeting. The Secretary and Treasurer will take office 30 days after the annual meeting (As amended February l6, l990).

Section 3. No officer shall serve more than two consecutive terms in any one office (As amended February l7, l967).

Section 4. Nominations for officers of the Association shall be by the three-member Nominating Committee appointed by the President, or by petition. Each nominating petition shall name but one candidate and shall bear the signatures of at least six active members of the Association. The slate of candidates shall consist of at least two candidates for each office. Prior approval shall be obtained from said candidates (As amended February l7, l969).

Article II — Membership

Membership shall be open to persons who are engaged in fostering, promoting, and practicing wildlife research and management.

BYLAWS

Article I — Duties of Officers

Section l. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association, appoint all necessary committees, and preside at meetings of the Executive Council.

Section 2. The President-Elect shall perform the duties of the President in the latter’s absence. At the expiration of the term of office of the President, the President-Elect shall become President (As amended February l7, l969).

Section 3. The Secretary shall keep a record of all transactions of the meetings of the Association, as well as meetings of the Executive Council, shall notify members of the time and place of meetings, and perform such other duties as are naturally incumbent upon the office.

Section 4. The Treasurer shall be custodian of all funds of the Association and shall draw all warrants for the payment of claims properly presented. The Treasurer shall maintain a minimum treasury balance of $5,000 in the Association account so that conference costs are secured for the future (As amended September 29, 2009).

Section 5. The Executive Council shall be a permanent committee, to serve at the discretion of the President (As amended March 2, l962).

Section 5A: Powers of the Executive Council

The Executive Council (or a committee appointed by them) shall determine what the minimum treasury balance should be. (As amended February 6, 2004)

The Executive Council may award requests for financial assistance from conservation organizations, as they deem appropriate. The only money that could be considered for such a purpose is that which exceeds the minimum treasury balance. (As amended February 6, 2004)

Article II — Meetings

One regular meeting shall be held annually, the place and date to be fixed by the Executive Council. When necessary, special meetings may be called by the Executive Council. Members shall be given thirty days notice of regular meetings, and special meetings may be called by the Executive Council on ten days notice.

Article III — Voting

Voting shall be by active members of the Association (As amended May 23, l950).

Article IV — Dues

Regular conference registration fees shall be charged for the conference, and members will be notified of the registration amount in the summer newsletter. Payment of conference registration fees shall also include membership in the Association. A discounted, non-refundable, early registration fee shall be available. A discounted student registration shall also be available at the conference with no discounts for early registration. Annual dues for those who do not attend the conference shall be $5.00 for regular members and $3.00 for student members, payable on or before July 1 of each year. Members whose dues are not paid by July 1 will be placed on inactive status until such dues are paid. At the end of one year of inactive status, membership in the Association will automatically terminate. (As amended January 25, 2018).

Article V — Quorum

Section 1. Resolutions and motions proposed at a meeting of the Association shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present in order to be binding on the Association (As amended February l2, l966). Proposed resolutions shall be provided to members at least 2 weeks prior to the vote along with the announcement of the time and place of the meeting. No resolutions, except those provided to the membership 2 weeks prior, will be considered for a vote on the day of assembly (As amended September 29, 2009). Resolutions introduced to the membership on the day of assembly may be voted upon electronically via e-mail ballot provided that the membership is allowed 2 weeks in which to cast their vote. Such e-mail ballots will be provided to the membership by the Executive Committee following the conference. Further, resolutions may be introduced to the membership via electronic ballot at any time during the calendar year provided that the 2-week consideration period is maintained (As amended February 5, 2010).

Section 2. Donations from the OWMA treasury will no longer be considered due to the sustained cost of the conference and the necessity of maintaining a minimum treasury balance of $5,000 (As amended September 29, 2009).

Article VI – Executive Actions

Resolutions and motions that require the issue of public statement(s), letter(s) of support or other action(s) will be administered by the President or, by appointment of the President, a member of the Executive Committee or other appropriate member of the Association.  Copies of statements, letters or a detailed report on other actions taken in response to resolutions and motions will be presented to the membership in the next issue of the Association newsletter or by direct e-mail as determined by the President.

Actions falling within previously established Association policies may be carried out by any duly elected officer upon unanimous approval of the Executive Board (elected officers). On issues where there are no previously established Association policies and that demand action on a reasonably short notice, the President, or designated representative, may present a public statement on behalf of the Association provided that: 1) the statement be brought to the Executive Board’s attention and is unanimously accepted by them prior to the public issuing of the statement; and 2) copies of the statement are sent to the membership in the next issue of the Association newsletter.  A no confidence vote shall be called for to allow the membership to rescind such “short notice” public statements issued under this section should 5 or more members ask for such a vote to occur.  The vote shall be immediately issued via e-mail ballot. (As amended February 5, 2016)

Article VII — Amendment

The Constitution and Bylaws may be amended at any meetings by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present, or by two-thirds of all votes cast electronically via e-mail ballot, provided that the membership is allowed 2 weeks in which to cast their vote electronically, and that at least two weeks prior to the vote, copies of the proposed amendment together with an announcement of the time and place of the meeting or the ending date for casting an electronic vote, shall be sent to all members (As amended April 29, 2015).

Article VIII – Dissolution

Upon dissolution of The Ohio Wildlife Management Association, the Executive Council shall distribute the assets and accrued income of the Association, as determined by the Executive Council, to one or more organizations which comply with U.S. Internal Revenue Service requirements for scientific and educational exemption status.