ARTICLE I. Membership
SECTION 1. Any person, institution, business firm, or other organization engaged in or interested in any aspect of the study, management, or use of rangelands and range resources shall be eligible for membership in the Society, as herein after provided.
SECTION 2. The Society shall have the following classes of membership for individuals:
(a) Regular — A member who does not qualify for or elect different class of membership, as hereinafter provided, shall be designated a Regular member and, as such, shall enjoy full membership rights and privileges, including but not necessarily limited to voting, inclusive rights to subscribe to Society publications, service on committees, and nomination and election to any office as provided in these bylaws.
(b) Student — An individual who is a full-time high school, undergraduate or graduate student is eligible as a Student member, and shall enjoy the rights and privileges as set forth in paragraph (a) of this section. Student members must succeed to a different class of membership in the calendar year following the one in which that person terminates their current course of study; providing, however that an individual who continues in a subsequent course of study or who reenters school as a full-time student after an intervening period of time, shall again be eligible for Student membership.
(c) Young Professional — An early career individual is eligible as a Young Professional member for five years and shall enjoy the rights and privileges set forth in paragraph (a) of this section. Young Professional members must succeed to a different class of Membership in the sixth calendar year following their acceptance as a Young Professional.
(d) Emeritus — A member is eligible for Emeritus membership in the year that they become 55 years of age, or any year thereafter, provided they have retired and has maintained prior membership in the Society for at least 15 continuous years; such members shall have the same rights and privileges as set forth in paragraph (a) of this section, except that inclusive subscriptions to Society periodicals shall be the choice of either Rangelands or the Journal of Rangeland Ecology and Management.
(e) Life — An individual may become a Life member of the Society by a one-time payment of the current Life membership fee. Life members shall enjoy the rights and privileges, including but not necessarily limited to voting, inclusive subscription to all Society periodicals, service on committees, and nomination and election to any office as provided in these bylaws. The Board has the option to suspend admission of new applicants to this class of membership. This suspension shall not affect the privileges of existing Life Members.
(f) Family — Family membership provides the opportunity for more than one member of the same household to be affiliated with the Society. One member will be a Regular member as defined in Article I, Section 2(a). Additional family members shall be carried on membership rolls with all privileges of a regular member as defined herein except that they will not receive publications. The Board has the option to suspend admission of new applicants to this class of membership. This suspension shall not affect the privileges of existing Family Members.
(g) Life Family — Life Family membership provides the opportunity for a person and their spouse to be affiliated with the Society by a one-time payment of the current Life Family fee. Life Family members shall enjoy the same rights and privileges as set forth in paragraph (e) of this section. The Board has the option to suspend admission of new applicants to this class of membership. This suspension shall not affect the privileges of existing Life Family Members.
(h) International — A member who both resides in and is a citizen of one of the countries listed on the SRM International Country List. International members shall enjoy full membership rights and privileges, including but not necessarily limited to voting, inclusive rights to subscribe to Society publications, to serve on committees, and nomination and election to office as provided in these bylaws.
SECTION 3. Individual Sustaining — Any class of membership described in Article I, Section 2 who gives additional financial support to the Society, as Hereinafter provided, shall be designated an Individual Sustaining member. The names of current Individual Sustaining members shall be published once each year in a Society periodical.
SECTION 4. Institutional — An institution, or other entity not organized for profit shall be admitted to membership only as an Institutional member and, as such, shall be entitled to the same rights and privileges as though it were an individual Regular member; providing, however, that any such institution, or other entity not organized for profit must designate a specific individual to serve as its representative for the purpose of exercising such rights and privileges that pertain to individuals, except the right to hold elective office as provided in these Bylaws. The names of current Institutional members shall be published once each year in a Society periodical.
SECTION 5. Commercial — Any business, individual or entity organized for profit who wishes to financially support range management activities is encouraged to become a supporting, contributing or major Commercial member. Commercial members are entitled to all rights and privileges of a regular member after designating a specific individual as their representative. The names of Commercial members shall be published once a year in a Society periodical.
SECTION 6. Members of the Society who reside or work within the geographical boundaries of a Section of the Society, as such sections are herein after provided for, also shall be registered as members of that Section, except that any member may elect to be registered in a Section other than the one in which that member resides or works or may elect to be a member of more than one Section. A member who does not reside or work within the geographical boundaries of a Section may request that they remain “Unsectioned” or may specify to be a member of any Section. Institutional members may elect to be Unsectioned.
SECTION 7. No one shall be a member of a Section or Chapter unless they are members in good standing of the Society for Range Management.
SECTION 8. No one shall serve the Society in any capacity, such as but not limited to, the Board of Directors, Committee Membership, Committee Chair or Chair Elect, Task Force Member or Chair, etc., unless they are members in good standing of the Society for Range Management.
SECTION 9. Annual dues to be paid by the several classes of members shall be established by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 10. The governing body of each Section may assess dues as it deems necessary to finance Section activities, provided that such Section dues shall not exceed those limits established by the Board of Directors; and provided further that such Section dues including dues paid by members of more than one Section, shall be paid directly to the Society for Range Management and a rebate subsequently be remitted to the Section(s) once annually within 60 days after the Annual Meeting. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the dues paid by members who are not registered members of a geographical Section of the Society, as provided in Section 6 of this article.
SECTION 11. Although application for membership in the Society may be made at any time, all classes of membership will have a common renewal date of January 1. New members who join the Society within a reasonable time period before or after January 1, as defined and approved by the Board of Directors, shall remit a full year’s dues. Those who join outside that reasonable time window will have an appropriate schedule of proration of dues for their first year, as defined and approved by the Board of Directors. Applications for membership shall be accompanied by payment of the initial year’s dues for the class of membership for which an application is made.
SECTION 12. Annual dues for the year following the one in which the member is first registered, and for each year thereafter, are payable on or before January 1. All dues, including the amounts to be paid to Sections, shall be paid to the Society. The Society shall annually remit to each Section the dues collected for that Section’s account.
SECTION 13. A member whose dues are in arrears on December 31 shall be dropped from the membership rolls and that member’s rights and privileges in the Society shall become null and void. A person so dropped may be reinstated to full membership upon payment of the current year’s dues.
ARTICLE II. Officers and Directors
SECTION 1. The officers of the Society shall include a President, First Vice President and Second Vice President. The Second Vice President shall be elected to that office as hereinafter provided and in the first following year shall succeed to the first vice presidency and in the second following year shall succeed to the presidency.
SECTION 2. The Executive Vice President, a paid employee of the Society, shall serve as the chief administrative officer of the Society, the Executive Vice President shall initially be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall establish the Executive Vice President’s salary. The Executive Vice President may be dismissed by a two-thirds vote of the entire Board of Directors.
SECTION 3. The Society shall have a Board of Directors consisting of the officers named in Article II, Section I and six elected members at large (Directors), each of whom shall be a member in good standing of the Society. The Executive Vice President of the Society shall serve as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 4. The President, First Vice President and the Second Vice President shall serve in succession one year in each position. Each elected director shall serve for a term of three years, with two of the six directorships being filled by election each year. No elected officer or director shall be eligible for re-election to the same office until at least one year has passed after the completion of the elected term. The terms of office for the newly elected officers and directors shall begin after their official installation during the next annual meeting of the Society following their election.
SECTION 5. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the President, First Vice President and the Second Vice President and the Executive Vice President.
SECTION 6. Any member of the Board of Directors who fails to fulfill the responsibilities of the office may be removed from the office by a two-thirds majority vote of the entire Board of Directors.
SECTION 7. Any member of the Board of Directors of the Society can be recalled by a majority vote of those ballots cast in a recall election. Such recall election shall be initiated when petitioned by fifteen percent of the current members of the Society or by sixty-seven percent of the entire official Advisory Council (as provided for in Article V herein). The recall election shall be held within 60 days after the receipt of the petition at the Society’s headquarters office. Ballots shall be handled in a manner similar to that for any regular election as detailed in these bylaws.
SECTION 8. Vacancies in any un-expired term of the elected members of the Board of Directors shall be filled from among the Society membership of good standing, by a two-thirds majority vote of the remaining Board of Directors. Vacancies in any un-expired term of the President then the First Vice President shall be filled in order of automatic succession to the presidency to serve the un-expired term and the term for which they were elected. A vacancy in the office of the Second Vice President shall be filled by election at the next regular election, thus requiring election of both First and Second Vice Presidents for the succeeding year. When a member of the Board of Directors is recalled the vacancy will be filled as when any other vacancy occurs. When more than three vacancies on the Board of Directors occur simultaneously for any reason all vacancies shall be filled by a majority vote of the entire official Advisory Council.
SECTION 9. No member of the Board of Directors shall receive a salary or other remuneration for services rendered on the Board, except that they may be reimbursed for certain direct expenses incurred while carrying out official duties. The policy for such reimbursement shall be established and may be modified as necessary by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE III. Nominations and Election of the Second Vice President and Members of the Board of Directors
SECTION 1. The Second Vice President and members of the Board of Directors shall be elected by the Society membership as herein provided.
SECTION 2. The Nominating Committee shall consist of nine members, each serving three-year terms. Three new members and the chair shall be appointed by the First Vice President and approved by the Board of Directors each year. The Nominating Committee shall receive all nominations from any qualified voting member or from any Section, and shall prepare nominations of candidates qualified for elective offices as provided in Section 3 following. Members of the Nominating Committee are not eligible for nomination to any elective office during the years in which they serve on the Committee. The Committee shall select at least two candidates for the 2nd Vice President Position and four candidates for the two Director positions. The Chair of the Nominating Committee will present the list to the Executive Vice President prior to the SRM Annual Business Meeting. The Board of Directors will accept and approve the nominations as forwarded by the Executive Vice President.
SECTION 3. Nominations shall be made in accordance with the following procedure: (a) each nomination shall name but one candidate for any elective office; (b) each nomination shall include the nominee’s full name, a biographical sketch highlighting the nominee’s qualifications, and a cover letter explaining that the nominee consents to the nomination, is willing to serve, and that the nominee’s respective Section, if applicable, has been informed of the nomination; and (c) each nomination shall be submitted to the Chair of the Nominating Committee.
SECTION 4. Proposed candidates nominated by voting members, sections, or members of the Nominating Committee shall be included in the list of all prospective candidates being considered by the Nominating Committee, but their names shall appear on the ballot only if they are finally selected by the Nominating Committee in accordance with the Committee’s procedures and operating guidelines that have been approved by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 5. Not later than September 1 of each year the Executive Vice President shall mail and/or make available to all voting members of the Society a printed and/or electronic ballot showing the names of all candidates, and a photograph, biographical sketch and statement of each candidate. Prudent care will be taken to ensure each voting member shall only cast one vote per election. Unless reasonably directed, the Society will distribute ballots by electronic means.
SECTION 6. An Elections Committee consisting of 3 to 5 members shall be appointed by the President not later than July 1, and it shall be the duty of such committee to receive and count the ballots returned by the membership. All valid ballots received by the Elections Committee on or before October 15 shall be counted and the results of the voting shall be reported to the President by November 1. All ballots shall be retained at the Society’s headquarters office for a period of one year. The candidate for Second Vice President receiving the greatest number of votes shall be declared elected, and the two candidates for the elected members of the Board of Directors who receive the highest and second highest number of votes shall be declared elected. If a tie vote precludes a clear outcome for any of the two Directors, then the winner(s) will be determined randomly by a drawing of names of the tied candidates. No current candidates for any elective Society office shall serve on the Elections Committee.
ARTICLE IV. Management of the Society
SECTION 1. The affairs and business of the Society, including but not necessarily limited to, the expenditure and investment of Society funds in accordance with the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, action upon applications for the establishment of Sections, any action required to advance the interests and objectives of the Society, and the designation of standing committees, shall be governed by a Board of Directors constituted as herein before provided. Each member of the Board of Directors shall have one vote.
SECTION 2. The Society’s fiscal year shall commence on August 1st of each year.
SECTION 3. The Board of Directors shall meet at the time and place of the annual meetings of the Society, as such meetings are hereinafter provided for, and at such other times and places as the Board of Directors shall direct, or at the call of the President. Written and/or electronic notice from the Executive Vice President to each member of the Board of Directors and publication of meeting notice in a Society periodical, both to be made at least 30 days prior to the date of the meeting shall constitute official notice of a call for such meeting. Six voting members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum, authorized to conduct business in the name of the Society. All meetings shall adhere to the current edition of Roberts Rules of Order unless otherwise provided for within these bylaws. Emergency actions or actions at meetings with less than a quorum can only become official upon ratification in a duly constituted Board of Directors meeting. Executive or closed session of the elected members of the Board of Directors will be for the discussions of personnel actions or other actions of unusually sensitive nature pertaining to individual members only. Official Board actions can only be taken at open, duly constituted meetings of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 4. The Board of Directors may choose to conduct Society business between regularly scheduled meetings noted in Article IV, Section 3 through the use of teleconferences, electronic mail, or through other available technologies as the Board of Directors shall direct, or at the call of the President. Written or electronic notice from the Executive Vice President to each member of the Board of Directors is to be made at least 7 days prior to the date of the meeting shall constitute official notice of a call for such meeting. Six voting members of the Board shall constitute a quorum, authorized to conduct business in the name of the Society. Minutes of such meetings shall be made available to the membership after acceptance and approval by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 5. Summaries of recommendations and actions of all Board of Directors and Advisory Council Meetings shall be published/posted in a Society media outlet after they are approved. The official minutes shall be made available at cost to any member upon request.
SECTION 6. A referendum election shall be initiated by the Board of Directors or when petitioned by fifteen percent of the current members of the Society or by sixty-seven percent of the entire official Advisory Council. A referendum election called for by said petition shall be held within 60 days after the receipt of the petition at the Society’s headquarters office. Ballots shall be handled in a manner similar to that for any regular election as detailed in these bylaws. Passage of a referendum issue shall be by a simple majority of members voting in the election.
SECTION 7. The President shall have general supervision of the administration of the Society. The President or designee shall appoint members of the Society to fill vacancies in standing committees including chairs, and may create and appoint chairs and members of special ad hoc committees or task forces. The President shall preside at meetings of the Board of Directors and of the Society.
SECTION 8. The First Vice President shall, in the event of the absence or incapacity of the President, discharge the duties of that office. Likewise, the Second Vice President shall discharge the duties of the First Vice President should he be absent or incapacitated.
SECTION 9. The Executive Vice President shall serve as the chief administrative officer of the Society, is accountable to the Board of Directors and is under the immediate supervision of the President. The duties of the Executive Vice President are specifically stated in a job description on file in the Society’s headquarters office. As specific duties of the Executive Vice President may vary, a revised job description will be prepared by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 10. The Society shall operate under the standards of fiscal integrity. The Society shall not knowingly develop a deficit-operating budget for regular activities. Expenditures beyond income shall be authorized only for capital improvements or short-term activities of direct benefit to the Society. Such expenditures will be recognized by the elected officers and be secured by cash reserves or capital assets of the Society. Withdrawals and expenditures beyond the approved budget from funds treated as ‘reserves’ must be approved by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 11. The Executive Committee may have periodic meetings which are reported to the full Board of Directors within two weeks. They may make budgetary decisions as outlined in Section 10 of this Article. Management decisions beyond an approved budget and all policy decisions will require full Board of Directors approval.
SECTION 12. The Society shall have periodic audits of income, expenses, and business management practices as directed by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE V. Advisory Council
SECTION 1. Advisory Council shall serve as a planning, consultative, and advisory body to the Board of Directors, to provide the means for discussion and evaluation of Society affairs by a broad spectrum of membership, and to provide the opportunity for reporting on, exchanging ideas about, and evaluating Section and Society activities and programs.
SECTION 2. The official Advisory Council shall be composed of the President and two elected officers of each Section of the Society. For the purpose of conducting normal business at the meetings of the Advisory Council duly authorized members of Sections may serve as alternates. The Advisory Council shall be chaired on an annual basis in accordance with the Advisory Council Procedures as approved by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 3. The Advisory Council shall meet at the place and time of the annual meeting of the Society, in both separate session and in joint session with the Board of Directors, and may also meet at such other times and places as it may decide. Written and/or electronic notice from the chair of the Council to its members and publication of meeting notice in a Society periodical are both to be made at least 30 days prior to the date of the meeting.
SECTION 4. The Advisory Council may, at its discretion, choose to meet by teleconference, electronically, or by other methods in accordance with Article V, Section 3, at a time separate from the annual meeting of the Society.
SECTION 5. The representatives to the Advisory Council, including duly authorized alternates in accordance with said Advisory Council procedures in attendance at any duly called meeting of the Advisory Council, shall constitute a quorum providing a simple majority of the Sections are represented. A simple majority vote of such representative shall be sufficient to effect actions or recommendations of the Advisory Council except as provided for herein (Article II, Section 6; Article II, Section 7; Article X; Article XI, Section 7(f); Article XIII, Section 2).
SECTION 6. The current chair of the Advisory Council shall preside at all meetings of the same. In the event of the chair’s absence the chair-elect, who also serves as secretary of the Advisory Council, will preside. The chair and the chair-elect may attend all meetings of the Board of Directors, which do not conflict with Advisory Council meetings. The chair and chair-elect shall assist the Board of Directors in planning for the functions and affairs of the Society as representatives of the Advisory Council.
ARTICLE VI. Meetings
SECTION 1. The general meetings of the Society for the purpose of reviewing the business and affairs of the Society and for presenting professional papers, fostering professional interchange and encouraging discussion of matters of interest and concerns of the Society, shall be held at such times and places as approved by the Board of Directors after consideration of the recommendation of the Advisory Council. Notice of the annual and other general meetings shall be announced to the membership in the Society’s media outlets at least 60 days in advance of such meetings.
SECTION 2. Special tours, business and other meetings may be approved by the Board of Directors. Notice of such meetings shall be announced to the membership in the Society’s periodical publications or by special notice mailed to all Society members at least 60 days in advance of the meeting.
ARTICLE VII. Sections
SECTION 1. Sections, composed of Society members, may be established in any locality, and such organization shall become effective as soon as its proposed constitution, or articles of incorporation, and bylaws, which must specify the geographical boundaries of the proposed Section, or any amendments to those documents, shall have been submitted to and approved by the Board of Directors after consultation with the Advisory Council.
SECTION 2. A petition for the establishment of a Section must be signed by at least 50 members of the Society who reside or work in the area to be included in the proposed Section.
SECTION 3. Each Section shall provide in its bylaws for the annual election of an officer who shall succeed to the presidency the following year, and the Section may also elect such other officers, directors, or council members, and provide for such committees, as it deems necessary. All such officers, directors, council member, or committee members shall be members in good standing.
SECTION 4. The purpose and functions of a Section shall be to bring about, through regularly scheduled meetings, tours, or other means, a closer personal acquaintance among members of the Society, an increased spirit of cooperation on matters relating to Society objectives, the encouragement of members to participate in both Section and Society functions, to study and observe local range and range-related situations, to work with other Sections or with other local organizations on matters of common interest and concern, and to confer on Society affairs.
SECTION 5. Sections may hold such meetings and engage in such activities as they desire, and are encouraged to suggest needed action on the part of the Society.
SECTION 6. Sections, in their speech, writing, and action, shall conform to the principles, policies, and objectives of the Society, as set forth in its Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, or duly approved statements of policy, position and resolution (Article XI).
SECTION 7. Membership dues to Sections shall be determined and paid as set forth in Article I of these Bylaws.
SECTION 8. The Board of Directors, in consultation with the Advisory Council, will examine and resolve any conflict that may arise between sections and they also may rescind the authorization of any Section and terminate its existence.
ARTICLE VIII. Section Chapters
SECTION 1. A Section Chapter, composed of Society members of a given Section, may be established by the governing body of that Section upon written petition of not less than 10 members resident in an area where a strong local organization may be effected. The geographical boundaries of a Chapter shall be established by the Section officers after considering the recommendation of the members concerned.
SECTION 2. Section Chapters shall hold at least one meeting each year to retain their authorization.
SECTION 3. The officers of a Chapter shall include a presiding officer; a successor to the presiding officer, and such other offices as deemed necessary, all of who shall be members in good standing of the Society. The term of office for Chapter officers shall be the same as those for officers of the Section in which the Chapter is situated. A current list of the Chapter officers shall be filed with the officers of the Section.
SECTION 4. A Section is authorized to appropriate money from its general funds for the conduct of Chapter business and Chapters may undertake fund-raising activities and assess Chapter dues payable directly to the Chapter treasurer.
SECTION 5. Section Chapters shall comply with the principles, policies and objectives of the Society as set forth in its Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, or duly approved statements of policy, position and resolution.
SECTION 6. The Section officers will examine and resolve any conflicts that may arise between Chapters within that Section, and they shall have the right to rescind the authorization of any Chapter and terminate its existence.
ARTICLE IX. Student Organization
SECTION 1. The Society and individual Sections will encourage and support student organization where student interest in rangeland management, study and use is present. The primary purpose of a student organization is to promote the profession of range management and the objectives of the Society in an educational environment, instill professionalism, and stimulate participation in the Society and its activities during their professional career.
SECTION 2. Where possible, the student organization shall form a Student Chapter, which will comply with Article VIII hereof.
SECTION 3. The student organization shall conform to the requirements for student organizations and be under the direct purview of the Sections. Where campus regulations prohibit Chapter status, the student organization shall be known as a Student Range Club or other comparable title. Members of student organizations will be encouraged by Sections and the Society to become members of the Society.
SECTION 4. The officers of a student organization shall be in compliance with campus requirements. Student organization officers may be elected on a school year or other basis as per campus requirements.
SECTION 5. A Section is authorized to appropriate money from its general funds for the support of student organizations. Student organizations may undertake fundraising activities and assess dues payable directly to the student organization.
SECTION 6. The purpose and functions of a student organization shall, in general, be the same as those specified for Sections, and in all their actions and activities, student organizations shall conform to the principles, policies and objectives of the Society.
SECTION 7. Students, either individually or from student organizations, shall be recognized or encouraged by the Society by sponsoring student conclaves, youth forums; judging contests and other appropriate activities as approved by the Board of Directors after consideration of the recommendation of the Advisory Council.
ARTICLE X. Publications
SECTION 1. As a means of accomplishing the Society’s objectives, the Society shall publish periodicals and/or publications, or media outlets, at such times and in such a manner as may be approved by the Board of Directors after consideration of the recommendation of the Advisory Council.
ARTICLE XI. Policies, Positions, Resolutions
SECTION 1. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to initiate, formulate and otherwise take action on basic Society policies, positions, and resolutions regarding issues or matters, which pertain to the provisions of Article II of the Articles of Incorporation.
SECTION 2. The following definitions shall be used by the Society, Sections or Chapters to distinguish between Policy Statements, Position Statements and Resolutions:
(a) Policy Statement: a carefully devised statement of principle to guide decisions and actions of the Society for Range Management.
(b) Position Statement: an unequivocal statement of posture or attitude in regard to a specific issue within the parameters of a Policy Statement of the Society,
(c) Resolution: A formal statement of opinion requesting and encouraging action to resolve a situation within the parameter of a Policy Statement of the Society.
SECTION 3. Sections, and Chapters through their parent Sections, may initiate and help develop proposed Society policy, position, and resolution statements or propose changes in Society policy, position, and resolution. Such proposals will be forwarded to the Executive Vice President for referral to the appropriate Society Committee and Advisory Council for consideration and action.
SECTION 4. The Board of Directors may refer proposed statements of Society policy, position, or resolution to the general membership for ballot vote, or after appropriate review may take direct action on policy proposals. In accordance with Sections 1, 7, and 8 of this article, the Board of Directors shall make the final decisions as to whether any issue of Society policy, position, or resolution is sufficiently acceptable to the membership to justify a policy, position or resolution statement. Policy, position, or resolution statements established by the Board of Directors, or by the referendum, shall be published in a Society periodical. The results of the referenda held to obtain a statement by the membership on existing or proposed statements shall also be published in a Society periodical.
SECTION 5. Society statements approved by the Board of Directors, or by the referendum, shall be published in a Society periodical. The results of the referenda held to obtain a statement by the membership on existing or proposed statements shall also be published in a Society periodical.
SECTION 6. The Society’s Board of Directors may, by a two-thirds vote, rescind any Society, Section or Chapter statements. Sections and Chapters may rescind only their respective statements, which are within the area of its jurisdiction.
SECTION 7. In any matter of policy formulated by the Society, Sections, or, Chapters, the following guidelines shall be followed: (a) Formulation of policy should be a deliberate matter because of the diversity of groups within the Society, the breadth of its objectives, and the way in which it is organized. Impetuous and hastily conceived policy statements can be disastrously divisive and reflect unfavorably on the Society. (b) Policy statements should relate to principle rather than specifics or procedures. Thus formulated they would be more flexible, more enduring, and more in keeping with the objectives of the Society. (c) The manner in which policy statements are made will need to be governed by prudence, foresight, and a sense of realism. (d) The Society can speak only for the profession of range management and not for the objectives and interests of any of the diverse groups represented within the Society. (e) On issues where the Society, Section, or Chapters is divided significantly in opinion, even though the issue is approved by majority vote, it would be unwise to express a position forcibly. (f) There are many kinds of issues on which it would be imprudent for the Society, Sections, or Chapters to issue policy statements or to express an opinion.
SECTION 8. In the matter of resolutions or position statements formulated by the Society, Sections or Chapters, the following guidelines shall be followed: (a) A Section, Chapter, or any member of the Society may submit statement changes or proposals to the Executive Vice President for referral to the appropriate committee and Advisory Council. (b) Society committees and the Advisory Council must consider all statements on rangeland matters coming from a Section, Chapter or an active member. The Board of Directors and Advisory Council may at any time prepare and present statements to the Public and Policy Affairs Committee for editorial review and presentations to the Board of Directors. The appropriate Society committee chairperson and/or Advisory Council president shall be present during deliberations and be prepared to support such statements. (c) Society committees and the Advisory Council shall consider and prepare statements. These shall be forwarded to the Public and Policy Affairs Committee for editorial review and presentation to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may rescind any statements by two-thirds vote. Sections and Chapters may rescind their respective statements if consistent with jurisdiction. (d) Interim statements approved by the Board of Directors will be submitted to the appropriate committee and Advisory Council at the next meeting of the Society for review and consideration through regular formulation procedures. (e) Each Chapter and Section shall have the authority to formulate statements, which are within the area of its jurisdiction and are consistent with Society Policy Statements. (h) Chapters must file statements with the Section. Sections must file both Chapter and Section statements with the Society’s Executive Vice President.
ARTICLE XII. Endowment Fund
SECTION 1. SRM Endowment Fund — There is hereby established a created fund to be designated The Endowment Fund of the Society for Range Management. The official abbreviation shall be the SRM Endowment Fund.
SECTION 2. The Board of Directors of the Society shall also be empowered to establish and maintain trust, memorial, scholarship or either types of fiduciary funds as may be deemed necessary or financially prudent for the efficient operation of the Society for Range Management.
SECTION 3. The SRM Endowment Fund and any other established fiduciary funds shall consist of donations, gifts, devises and bequests directed hereto. These donations, gifts and bequests of personal/real property for the Endowment Fund or other established funds, shall be considered the cash principal of the funds.
SECTION 4. The basic SRM Endowment Funds shall be held in trust in perpetuity and shall be kept distinct from the operating funds of the SRM to assist in accomplishing the purposes of SRM and performance of activities according to the policies as they are set forth in the Articles of Incorporation and these Bylaws as amended.
SECTION 5. The SRM Endowment Fund shall be administered by the SRM Executive Committee, which shall be called the managers, and in consultation with the Endowment Committee Chair. A majority vote of the managers shall control their decision.
SECTION 6. The managers shall make a full statement of the condition of the SRM Endowment Fund/other established fiduciary funds to the Board of Directors and the SRM membership at the annual meeting of SRM.
SECTION 7. The rents, revenues and other income of any of these funds shall be devoted, expended and applied to the use and benefit of SRM bearing in mind designations made by the donor.
SECTION 8. The managers shall administer the investment of these funds in a manner considered to be professionally sound and financially prudent for the stability and continued operation of the SRM.
SECTION 9. The managers shall hold and retain securities and properties other than cash of the SRM Endowment Funds so long as they are, in the opinion of the managers, sufficiently income producing.
SECTION 10. The proceeds from the sale of any such securities or other property held in the SRM Endowment Funds shall become a part of the cash principal of the SRM Endowment Fund.
SECTION 11. The SRM Endowment Fund and any other established fiduciary funds shall conform to the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the Society for Range Management as amended and to Federal and State Laws as they pertain to contributions made to tax exempt public charities. The Board of Directors shall notify the IRS of the establishment of the Endowment and its status as a public charity.
SECTION 12. The Board of Directors of the Society must encourage potential contributors/donors to seek tax counseling prior to contributing to any fiduciary funds.
ARTICLE XIII. Amendments
SECTION 1. Proposed amendments to these Bylaws shall be submitted to a vote of the Society membership, and shall be effected by an affirmative vote of two-thirds or more of the members voting.
SECTION 2. Amendments must be proposed by June 1 using at least one of the three methods: (1) through the Advisory Council, to the Board of Directors in writing and bearing the signature of at least 50 members eligible for voting, (2) by a majority vote of the entire Board of Directors, or (3) by a majority vote of the entire Advisory Council. All proposed amendments shall be submitted to a membership vote in the regular election next following, or at the direction of the Board of Directors, a special election may be held.
SECTION 3. Proposed amendments shall be printed and mailed or sent electronically to all voting members of the Society, together with a printed and/or electronic ballot indicating a “Yes” and a “No” for the proposed amendment. Whether the amendment is proposed during a regular annual election of the Society, or if an amendment is proposed at any other time, a printed and/or electronic ballot shall show plainly the date by which it is returned (postmarked or time stamped) to be eligible for tabulation, such specified date to be not less than 45 days from the date of distribution of mailed or electronic ballots. Unless reasonably directed, the Society will distribute amendment ballots by electronic means.
SECTION 4. A proposed amendment that receives the required two-thirds affirmative vote shall take effect immediately upon submission of the Election Committee’s report to the President. Subsequently the SRM Board of Directors will receive and adopt the approved amendments with a noted date.
Amended December 2014 by Bylaws Task Force based on SRM Membership vote in Fall 2014
Received and Adopted by SRM Board of Directors January 20, 2015
Amended December 2017 by Bylaws Task Force based on SRM Membership vote in Fall 2017
Received and Adopted by SRM Board of Directors January 27, 2018
Amended ARTICLE I. (Membership) by adding new Section 8 per SRM Membership vote Fall 2019
Adopted by SRM Board of Directors November 5, 2019
Amended ARTICLE XIII, (Amendments), Section 2 per SRM Membership vote Fall 2023 Adopted by SRM Board on June 18, 2024
SRM Board of Directors June 18, 2024