ADOPTED - AUGUST 31, 1968

AS AMENDED - 1968

AS AMENDED - 1972

AS AMENDED - 1974

AS AMENDED - 1979

AS AMENDED - 1981

AS AMENDED - 1986

Article I - Name, Area, and Affiliation

Article II - Objectives

Article III - Chapter Year

Article IV - Membership

Article V - Elections and Officers

Article VI - Meetings

Article VII - Management and Finance

Article VIII - Committees

Article IX - Dissolution

Article X - Amendment to Bylaws

ARTICLE I - NAME, AREA, AND AFFILIATION

Section 1. - Name - The name of this organization shall be the Indiana Chapter of the Wildlife Society.

Section 2. - Area – This Chapter shall have as its area of organization the State of Indiana.

Section 3. - Criteria for Affiliation - The Indiana Chapter shall conform to Bylaws, Code of Ethics, objectives, policies, and positions as adopted by The Wildlife Society, Inc. (Hereinafter, The Wildlife Society, Inc., may be referred to as the Society.)

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ARTICLE II – OBJECTIVES

Section 1. - Objectives - Consistent with the objectives of the Society, the Chapter objectives are:

1) to advance the science and art of wildlife management.

2) to promote and maintain high professional standards.

3) to improve public understanding and support of scientific management of wildlife and related resources.

4) to recognize and commend outstanding work in the profession.

5) to focus the aims and objectives of the Society on wildlife issues and events on the state scene.

6) in the case of wildlife problems arising in the state, to take action and notify the Society with recommendations for action if appropriate.

7) to provide a common meeting ground for wildlife workers.

Section 2. - Implementation - To aid in the achievement of these objectives, this Chapter proposes to:

1) Provide opportunities for better liaison among individual members, their section, and the Society. 

2) Evaluate the principles involved in proposed or enacted societal actions that could affect wildlife.

3) Recognize and commend outstanding achievement in the wildlife environment.

4) Focus the aims and objectives of the Society and operating section upon professional wildlife needs, problems, and events on the local scene.

5) Encourage communications between members and non-members to create climate under which the resource management arts will be used effectively.

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ARTICLE III – CHAPTER YEAR

To make fiscal, calendar, and tax year the same, the Chapter operating and fiscal year shall begin January 1.

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ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP

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Section 1. - Regular Member – Regular membership in the Indiana Chapter shall be available to any member of The Wildlife Society who resides within the boundaries of the chapter as defined in Article I, Section 2. Only regular members may hold elective offices in the Chapter; vote on matters affecting Chapter policy; vote on matters affecting the Society; and represent the Chapter or Section on Society business.

Section 2. - Affiliate Member – Affiliate membership in the Indiana Chapter shall be available to any person who, although not a member of The Wildlife Society, has an interest in the objectives and activities of the chapter and is approved by the Membership Committee. An affiliate member shall be entitled to all rights, privileges and responsibilities of regular members except as otherwise provided in Article IV, Section 1. Affiliate members may vote in chapter elections and chapter business not relating to policy or Society business.

Section 3. - Dues – Annual dues, to be determined at each spring meeting, shall be payable by each member to the Secretary-Treasurer no later than July 1. Members who have not paid Society dues shall lose their regular member status in the Indiana Chapter. Annual dues also may be paid to the Society’s Bethesda, Maryland, office along with Section and Society dues, and subsequently will be remitted to the Chapter.

Section 4. - Resignation – Members may resign at any time by giving notice to the Chapter’s Secretary-Treasurer.

Section 5. - Reinstatement – Persons who are dropped from the rolls of the Chapter for non-payment of dues may be reinstated into membership in this Chapter upon reapplication and payment of appropriate dues.

Section 6. - Charter Member – Regular and affiliate members in good standing on the membership rolls as of September 30, 1969 shall be considered Charter members.

Section 7. - Honorary Member – Honorary members of the Indiana Chapter shall be persons who, by a majority vote of all members of the chapter, have been thus recognized for their achievements. An honorary member need not pay chapter dues. Honorary Members who are voting members of The Wildlife Society shall have the same rights and privileges as Chapter Regular Members (Article IV, Section 1). Honorary Members who are not voting members of The Wildlife Society shall have the same rights and privileges as Affiliate Members (Article IV, Section 2).

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ARTICLE V - ELECTIONS AND OFFICERS

Section 1. - Nominating and Elections Committee – The three-member Nominating and Elections Committee selected by the Executive Board (See Art. VII, Sec. 1) of the Indiana Chapter shall prepare a slate of two candidates for each of the elective positions, namely: President-Elect, Secretary-Treasurer, and one additional Executive Board member from the membership of the Chapter.

Clause A – All nominees must be Regular Members of the Chapter (Article IV, Section 1)

Clause B – Prior approval shall be obtained from said candidates.

Clause C – Said nominations slate shall be submitted to the membership at least thirty days prior to mail balloting. Only ballots returned to the Secretary-Treasurer by November 1 shall be counted.

Clause D – Additional nominees may be added to the Nominating and Elections Committee’s slate upon the signed support of six or more members.

Clause E – A member may be elected for no more than two consecutive years in the same elective position. The current President and President-Elect may be nominated for a second term at the discretion of the Nominating and Elections Committee.

Section 2. - Balloting – Written ballots shall be received from the members by the Secretary-Treasurer and shall be counted by the Nominating and Elections Committee. For ballot-counting purposes, the President shall appoint a replacement for any member of the Nominating and Elections Committee who has been nominated for an office by the membership.

Clause A – Members in arrears shall forfeit their rights to vote during the period of their delinquency.

Clause B – A signed ballot may be submitted to the Secretary-Treasurer by a member prior to the scheduled time for counting ballots.

Clause C – The candidate receiving the largest number of votes on the written ballot shall be declared elected. No one may hold more than one elective position simultaneously.

Section 3. - Officers – Officers of the Indiana Chapter shall consist of a President, President-Elect (who shall serve as Vice-President), and Secretary -Treasurer. Their duties are:

Clause A – President – The President shall have general supervision of the chapter officers. He shall appoint, with the advice of the Executive Board, Chairmen of all standing and special committees, and he shall preside as Chairman at meetings of the Executive Board and shall be ex-officio, a member of all committees except the Nominating and Elections Committee. He may represent the chapter or appoint alternate representatives to other chapter, section, or parent Society boards, committees or meetings, including the Executive Board of the North Central Section. The Chapter Representative shall represent and serve as liaison to the Section for the Chapter, provide the editor of the Section newsletter with news and items of interest from the Chapter area, and serve as contact among the Section, Chapters, and members in their respective areas. The Representative will assist the Section President by verifying mailing addresses, conduct membership drives, polling individual members, and assist in routine Section business

Clause B – President-Elect - The President-Elect shall assume the duties of the President in his absence or upon his inability to serve, and shall perform any duties assigned by the President. (Such duties might include chairmanship of the membership or program committee). In the event the President-Elect cannot serve in the President’s absence, the Executive Board shall appoint a President, pro tempore.

Clause C – Secretary – Treasurer shall be responsible for the files, records, and funds, of the chapter, and he shall submit complete financial reports to the last meeting of his term of office. His duties also shall include the receipt and disbursement of funds, the recording of the minutes of all meetings, the maintenance of the membership rolls, correspondence, and the issues of meeting notes.

Clause D – Executive Board – The above named officers, with the immediate Past-President, the duly elected Board member, the presidents of the student chapters of the state, and possible others as described in Article VII, Section 1 shall make up the Executive Board which shall act as the governing body for the chapter.

Section 4. - Term of Office – The officers and elected board members must be members of the Society, serve for approximately one year, be installed at the Annual Meeting, take office on January 1, and, unless re-elected, terminate their duties at the conclusion of their term in office, or at such time as their successors are elected and installed.

Section 5. - Vacancies – If the office of the President is vacated for any reason, the President-Elect shall assume the duties of the Present for the balance of the unexpired term of the President. All other vacancies in any unexpired term of an elective office shall be filled through appointment by the Executive Board, although an appointed President-Elect shall serve only until the next scheduled Chapter election where the membership shall elect the next President. All appointees must be Regular Members of the Chapter and Voting Members of The Wildlife Society.

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ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS

Section 1. - Meetings – Chapter general meetings shall be held at such time and places as determined and published by the Executive Board. 

Clause A – Annual Meetings – The last meeting prior to the end of the fiscal year shall be known as the Annual Meeting, for the purpose of installing elected officers, receiving reports of officers and committees, and for any other business that may arise.

Clause B – Meeting Notice – The members must be notified at least one month prior to annual meetings and special meetings and at least ten days prior to general meetings.

Clause C – Quorum – The quorum for the annual meeting of the Chapter shall be over fifty percent of the membership or ten members in good standing, whichever is less; and for Executive Board Meetings, three of the Board.

Clause D – Meeting Rules – The rules contained in the latest revision of Roberts Rules of Order shall govern meetings in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are consistent with the bylaws and/or other special rules of the Chapter and the Society.

Clause E – Bylaws – The Bylaws of this organization shall be available for inspection during every meeting.

Section 2. - Special Meetings – Special Meetings may be called by the Executive Board at any time, provided due notice (see Article VI, Sec. 1B) and the purpose of the call is given.

Clause A – Only those items listed in the call for a special meeting shall be acted upon at the special meeting.

Clause B – All clauses under Section 1 of the Article apply as well to special meetings.

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ARTICLE VII – MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE

Section 1. - Executive Board – The Indiana Chapter shall be governed by an Executive Board composed of its officers, the immediate Past-President, one member of the Chapter duly elected to the Board, and the presidents of the student chapters of the state.

Clause A – Conduct – The Executive Board shall conduct its affairs in conformance with the provisions of these Bylaws, and those of the Society. The Board is authorized to act for the chapter between meetings and shall report its interim actions to the members at each succeeding meeting. Any action of the Board may be overridden by two-thirds vote of the members attending a meeting.

Clause B – Attendance – Members may attend Board meetings, but may participate therein only when asked to do so, and they may not vote at such meetings.

Section 2. - Finance – Funds of the Indiana Chapter shall be under the supervision of the Executive Board, and shall be handled by the Secretary-Treasurer. The financial records of the Chapter shall be periodically examined by the Audit Committee (Article VIII, Sec. 2F). 

Clause A – The Secretary-Treasurer need not be bonded.

Clause B – Funds shall be derived from dues, special assessments, work projects, and contributions.

Clause C – Funds shall be placed in a federally-insured bank or savings and loan association.

Section 3. - Reports – Within 20 days after an election or other official action the Secretary-Treasurer shall report such action to the Executive Director of The Wildlife Society, the North Central Section Representative, and the North Central Section President. Annual financial statements and activity reports from the Secretary-Treasurer shall be forwarded to these same parties. A statement of calendar-year income and expenses, together with starting and ending balances, must be submitted to the Executive Director in January of each year for federal tax reporting.

Section 4. - Files – The Chapter shall maintain a file containing: Bylaws of The Wildlife Society, the North Central Section, and the Chapter; minutes of all general and special meetings of the membership and of the Executive Board; correspondence pertinent to Chapter affairs; all committee reports, financial statements and records; and all other material designated as pertinent by the Executive Board. A “procedure for filing” shall be kept in the Chapter file for the guidance of each succeeding Secretary-Treasurer. A chapter “Operations Manual” provided by the Society will be maintained by the President of the Chapter and a written record of transfer of this manual to the incoming President will be maintained and the Society will be notified of each such transfer.

Section 5. - Resolutions and Public Statements – Any two or more members may submit actions (resolutions or statements) to the Resolutions and Public Statements Committee for possible consideration by the Chapter’s Executive Board. These shall be accepted or rejected by the Board, and, if involving new policy, prepared for submission to the Chapter membership. Such new items must be approved by two-thirds of the Chapter membership voting and must be transmitted to the Society, the North Central Section Representative, and the North Central Section President, if approved. Action falling within previously established Chapter policies may be carried out by the President or Secretary-Treasurer upon unanimous approval of the Executive Board. On issues where there are no previously established Chapter policies and that demand action on a reasonably short notice, the President or designated representative, may present a Public Statement on behalf of the Chapter provided that: 

1) the concept of the statement be brought to the Executive Board’s attention and is accepted by them prior to public issuing of the statement; and

2) copies of the statement are sent to the membership within 15 days after public issuing of the statement. Furthermore, the Indiana Chapter may publish statements pertaining to issues in its locale:

a) when the content of the statement falls within the establish policy of the Society; and

b) in the absence of existing Society position statements.

The Chapter will not publish statements which may be in conflict with the policy of the Society without prior approval of the Society’s Council. All statements will follow the “Guidelines for Conservation Affairs Activities” (Appendix 4.42 lb of the Operations Manual) and conform to the Society’s policy regarding conservation affairs (Appendix 4.42 la of the Operations Manual). The Chapter membership, The Wildlife Society, the North Central Section Representative, and the North Central Section President must receive copies of any Resolution or Public Statement within 15 days of such action.

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ARTICLE VIII – COMMITTEES

Section 1. - Appointments – The President shall consider suggestions of the Executive Board in appointment chairmen of all standing committees (except the Nominating and Elections Committee – See Article V, Sec. 1.) and special committees such as awards and hospitality. Committee chairmen shall complete their committees with assistance of the President. All committee chairmen shall submit a written summary of committee activities to the President and the Secretary-Treasurer before the close of each annual Chapter business meeting.

Section 2. - Duties of Standing Committees:

Clause A – Nominating and Election – (See Article V, Sec. 1).

Clause B – Membership – This committee shall encourage the maximum number of qualified persons residing in the area to become members of the Society, the North Central Section, and the Chapter. As provided in Article IV, Section 2, the committee will receive nominations and make recommendations to the Executive Board regarding approval of all individuals seeking Affiliate Member status in the Chapter.

Clause C – Program – This committee shall arrange programs of all general and annual meetings and provide the President with a proposed agenda for the annual meeting at least two months prior to the meeting date.

Clause D – Education and Information – (Publicity) – This committee shall seek and employ methods of informing the public of basic concepts of wildlife management and of chapter and Society activities and interest.

Clause E – Resolutions and Public Statements – This committee shall receive proposed resolutions of public statements from members at any time, and shall prepare, submit and recommend action on such items to the Executive Board in accordance with Article VII, Section 5.

Clause F – Audit – This committee shall consist of a chairman and at least 2 additional members. It shall review the financial records and support documents of the Secretary-Treasurer at least annually. The committee also shall review these records and documents prior to any change in the office of the Secretary-Treasurer.

Section 3. - Accountability – All committees shall be accountable to the Executive Board, under general supervision of the President.

Section 4. - Tenure – All committees shall serve until new committees are appointed in their stead or until the duties assigned to the committee have been discharged.

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ARTICLE IX – DISSOLUTION

Upon dissolution of the Indiana Chapter of The Wildlife Society, its ExecutiveBoard shall transfer all assets, accrued income, and other properties to the Council of theSociety with a request that said assets be held for a period of not more than five years from the date of dissolution of the Chapter, for distribution to another chapter that may be established in approximately the same geographical area within said five year period. If another chapter is not established within said area and period of time, the Society Council may use or distribute all assets, accrued income, and other properties as determined best by the Council in accordance with Society Bylaws.

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ARTICLE X – AMENDMENT TO BYLAWS

Section 1. - Procedure – These Bylaws may be altered or amended by a majority of the Regular Members voting at any Annual or special meeting if due advance notice of the proposed changes per Article VI, Sec 1B of these Bylaws is followed. A member who will be absent from the meeting may file an absentee ballot (Article V, Sec. 2B).

Section 2. - Conformance – No amendment to these Bylaws shall be enacted which results in conflict with the Society Bylaws. If these Bylaws are revised, the new revision must be approved by the Society before becoming effective.

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