BYLAWS OF FRIENDS OF SIERRA ROCK ART
Table Of Contents
- PURPOSE
- OBJECTIVES
- CODE OF ETHICS
- MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
- VOTING
- MEETINGS
- BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- SELECTION & DUTIES OF OFFICERS
- COMMITTEES
- AMENDING THE BYLAWS
I PURPOSE OF THE FRIENDS OF SIERRA ROCK ART
Friends of Sierra Rock Art (FSRA) is a Volunteer Organization, formed to help promote stewardship of Native American petroglyph and pictograph rock art sites, including (1) conservation, (2) preservation, (3) cultural resource management, (4) site monitoring, and (5) site documentation. Our primary focus is the Northern Sierra Nevada Mountain Region of California, and elsewhere, as determined by the Board of Directors.
II OBJECTIVES
A. PROTECTION OF SITES, WE WILL-
1. Educate the public as to the fragility of sites.
2. Work with Native Americans, public agencies, private owners, and others to protect all sites.
3. Seek permission from archaeologists responsible for sites we visit as a group and avoid sites that are too sensitive to visit-as determined via the FSRA Outings Policy.
4. Do no damage to sites we visit.
5. Keep site locations confidential (except for sites developed for interpretive use).
B. DOCUMENTATION OF SITES
We will work with land managers and archaeologists to help document and record rock art sites to provide a baseline for management plans, assess vandalism at sties, and add to the California Archaeology Inventory
C. MONITOR SITES
We will monitor sites to assess disturbances, to provide a presence at sites and, when appropriate, recommend conservation and preservation measures.
D. PUBLIC EDUCATION
1. We will provide public education. When appropriate, we will help develop and improve interpretive sites.
2. We will host programs to promote the understanding of archaeological sites and surrounding cultural landscapes.
E. INFORMATION NETWORK, WE WILL-
1. Keep FSRA members informed about rock art issues in the Sierra Nevada region and elsewhere.
2. Mobilize action to protect sites with letter writing campaigns, etc.
3. Advocate for pro-rock art regulations and foster local, state, and national protection of rock art in general.
4. Communicate with other rock art and archaeological organizations, to inform them of FSRA activities and to keep FSRA members up to date with the activities of other groups.
F. WORK WITH AGENCIES AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS
We will develop working relationships with the Forest Service, CDF, State Parks, BLM, Native American groups, private landowners and other organizations and groups to help further our goals and promote conservation, preservation, and good cultural resource management of rock art sites.
III. CODE OF ETHICS
A. Members and guests of Friends of Sierra Rock Art (FSRA) will adopt and promote a preservationist and conservationist ethic in regard to rock art and all other archaeological resources.
PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN FSRA ACTIVITIES:
(1) Will observe all applicable local, state, federal, and international antiquities laws.
(2) Will not damage or disturb archaeological sites or features in any way, and not collect or damage artifacts.
(3) Will not damage or disturb locations used by Native Americans for ceremonial or traditional cultural activities.
(4) Will honor the confidentiality of site locations by adopting a nondisclosure approach.
C. Membership in good standing in Friends of Sierra Rock Art is contingent upon compliance with this Code.
IV. MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
A. REGULAR MEMBER
1. Any person that pays membership dues, as determined by the Board of Directors (the Board), will be a member of FSRA. Family memberships, will include family units with two or more individuals that are eighteen years of age or older.
2. Membership in good standing includes payment of dues, and adherence to the Code of Ethics (see Section III).
3. Each member must sign a liability release before attending any FSRA outings or other FSRA events related to physical activity and/or driving.
4. Should a question arise as to a person's membership status, it will be resolved by the Board.
B. HONORARY MEMBERS/COMPLIMENTARY NEWSLETTER RECIPIENTS
1. The Board may grant honorary membership to any individual or organization when it deems appropriate. They will be accorded all benefits of regular membership, excluding voting privileges.
2. Newsletters may be sent to other non-member individuals or organizations.
3. The duration for Honorary Members and Newsletter Recipients will be decided by the Board of Directors.
C. NON-DISCRIMINATION: FSRA will not discriminate against any person on basis of race, religion, gender, age, color, or national origin.
D. DUES: Annual dues will be determined by the Board for each calendar year.
V. VOTING AT ANNUAL & GENERAL MEETINGS
A. VOTING TOPICS at meetings can be brought to the membership by a representative of the Board of Directors OR any Association Member,
B. ONE VOTE is allowed for each Individual Membership, 2 for a Family Membership.
C. MAJORITY of votes cast will determine decisions.
D. METHOD, voting may be done in person, by mail, e-mail or FAX, but NOT by proxy.
E. TO VOTE, a person must be an FSRA member in good standing. (SEE Code of Ethics, Sec. III)
F. QUORUM- Eight (8) FSRA members will constitute a quorum for casting votes at any membership meeting.
G. Any questions regarding voting will be resolved by the Board.
VI. ANNUAL & GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
A. ANNUAL MEETING - will be held on a day and time, preferably between March 1 and June 1, as determined by the Board. The Board will submit an Annual Report at this Meeting.
B. GENERAL MEETING - of the members of FSRA for any purpose, may be initiated at any time by the President, Acting President OR by any three (3) Directors.
C. NOTIFICATION - The Board will appoint a person or committee to notify members of these meetings.
VII. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A. GENERAL
1.The business and affairs of FSRA will be controlled by the Board of Directors.
2. When operating at full capacity, the Board of Directors will consist of seven (7) members.
All members of the Board will be members of FSRA, in good standing. (See section IV, A 2)3. Terms for Board members will be the calendar year, Jan.1 to Dec. 31, with no term limits.
4. The Board will have jurisdiction over all needs and decisions of FSRA not specified in the Bylaws as long as they do not alter the general scope or purpose of FSRA.
B. QUORUM
Four (4) members of the Board will constitute a quorum for any meeting of the Board of Directors.
C. VOTING
1. All decisions requiring Board approval will be decided by a majority vote cast.
2. The President of the Board will be considered a voting member of the Board.
D. VACANCIES on the Board will be filled by a vote of the majority of the Board members without need of a general election even if a quorum is no longer possible.
E. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
1. Each Fall, the Board will appoint a Nominating Committee to submit nominations to be approved by the Board. FSRA Members may propose further nominations.
2. All Nominations will be presented to Members in the FSRA Newsletter.
3. Elections will be held by written ballot, before the end of the calendar year.
F. MEETINGS
1. Meetings of the Board will be held at a place and time designated by the President or Acting-President.
2. The Board will hold at least two (2) meetings per calendar year.
3. Meetings of the Board may be called at any time by the President or Acting President or any three (3) Directors.
G. ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING.
Shortly after each annual election, of FSRA, the Board will hold a regular meeting for the purposes of re-organization, election of officers, and the transaction of other business.
H. NOTICE OF BOARD MEETINGS.
The notice of time and place for each meeting will be communicated to each Board member at least seven (7) days before the meeting, except in the case of an emergency as determined by at least four (4) members of the Board.
I. ANY PERSON MAY ATTEND a Board meeting, or any portion of a meeting.
FSRA MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND any Board meeting or place items on the Board agenda for discussion. Contact any Board Member for the time & place of the meetings. Only Board Members may vote on Board business.
J. VOTING WITHOUT A MEETING- BY PHONE, E-MAIL OR FAX
Decisions which are appropriate for the Board may be made without a meeting, either by PHONE, E-MAIL OR FAX, as long as they are in keeping with other criteria defined in these Bylaws.K. COMPENSATION
No current Directors will receive compensation for their services to FSRA.
VIII. SELECTION AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS OF THE FSRA BOARD
A. OFFICERS
1. The Board of Directors will appoint a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer from within its own membership. All officers of the Board will be members in good standing of FSRA. (See Code of Ethics III)
2. Specific powers and duties of each officer will be designated by the Board.
B. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
1. The officers will be elected by the Board at the organizational meeting, shortly after the Annual Election.
2. Officers will serve during the year's time between organizational Board meetings.
3. Vacancy in any office will be filled by the Board at their next meeting.
C. PRESIDENT
Subject to control of the Board of Directors, the President will have general supervision, direction, and control of the business and affairs of FSRA. He or she will preside at all meetings of FSRA members and the Board.
D. VICE-PRESIDENT
In the absence or disability of the President, the Vice-President will perform all the duties of the President and in so doing will have all the powers of the President.
E. SECRETARY
1. The Secretary will keep minutes of each Board Meeting and other FSRA meetings.
F. TREASURER
1. The Treasurer will receive and deposit funds in the bank designated by the Board.
2. Such funds will be paid out only on checks of the organization.
3.The Board will select members who, along with the Treasurer, will have the authority to sign checks, with two signatures required for check signing.
4. The Treasurer will present a written accounting summary at each Board meeting and at the Annual Meeting.
5. The Treasurer will keep the membership records.
6. Disbursements of FSRA funds will be made only after a written request has been approved by majority vote of the board. Such approval maybe made by e-mail, FAX or in person. No member will expect to get reimbursed for expenditures without prior approval from the Board.
IX. COMMITTEES
A. The BOARD will appoint committees that will serve for as long as needed. Each committee will be accountable to the Board and only exercise whatever authority is given by the Board. Committee examples include:Outings, Program, Monitoring, Recording, Nominating, Newsletter.
B. MEMBERS of committees will be appointed by the Board, at least one being a current Board member.
C. DECISIONS of committees will be decided by a vote of the majority. Decisions may be made by phone, fax or e-mail without holding a meeting, as long as a majority of committee members vote. The Board of Directors has final approval and veto powers over committee decisions.
X. AMENDING BYLAWS, MISSION STATEMENT and OBJECTIVES
A. AMENDING
1. For these Bylaws to be amended or repealed and new Bylaws to be adopted, the PROPOSED CHANGE(s)MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING TO THE BOARD of Directors.
2. Proposals to amend or change the Bylaws, Mission Statement or Objectives may be initiated by a Board member OR by written petition signed by EIGHT (8) current members, in good standing, of FSRA.
B. BOARD MUST APPROVE OR REJECT
1.Once the proposed changes are submitted in writing, the Board must vote to ADOPT OR REJECT THE CHANGE(s), NOT SOONER THAN 30 DAYS OR LATER THAN 120 DAYS after the date such written proposal was first presented to the Board at a regular Board or Membership meeting.
2. FOUR (4) members of Board must approve any changes to the BYLAWS, MISSION OR OBJECTIVES
C. CANNOT ALTER SCOPE OF FSRA
The procedures described in this Paragraph above cannot be used to alter the general scope or purpose of FSRA.
FSRA Bylaws approved by unanimous vote by the FSRA Board of Directors 22 August 2004 and submitted to the general membership for approval 30 August 2004. Approved by vote of general FSRA membership September 21st, 2004.