BY-LAWS OF THE ADIRONDACK MOUNTAIN CLUB SCHENECTADY CHAPTER, INC.

ARTICLE 1

Name

This corporation shall be named the Adirondack Mountain Club, Schenectady Chapter, Inc., hereinafter referred to as the "Chapter".

ARTICLE 2

Organization

This corporation is a Chapter of, and shall be regulated by the Articles of Incorporation and By-laws of the Adirondack Mountain Club, Inc., hereinafter referred to as the “Main Club”.

ARTICLE 3

Objectives

As to Conservation:
1. To advocate and to broaden popular support of that part of the New York State Constitution which provides that the lands of the State constituting the Forest Preserve shall be forever kept as wild forest lands.
2. To create and to encourage public interest in the principles of the conservation of natural resources, especially of the Adirondacks.
3. To urge the acquisition of additional forest land for watershed and wildlife protection and for increasing recreational use, and to advance the practice of forest management outside of the Forest Preserve.
As to Recreation:
1. To sponsor and to encourage outdoor recreation in the Adirondack Mountains in a manner consistent with the wild forest character of the region.
2. To organize and to conduct innings, outings and other activities.
3. To mark and to maintain hiking trails, consistent with the objectives of the Main Club and the requirements of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
As to Education:
1. To promote the stewardship of the diverse natural areas, especially of the Forest Preserve by preventing pollution, preserving forest resources and promoting wilderness values (ex. Carry In - Carry Out).
2. To encourage the responsible use of the lands in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks by focusing on safety and survival through preparation, knowledge of party size, proper equipment, clothing, food for diverse seasons and wilderness ethics.
3. To recognize that the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains are to be preserved for their wilderness, natural beauty and recreation.
4. To promote areas other than the High Peaks so to reduce impact on fragile vegetation.

ARTICLE 4

Membership

The classes of membership of the Chapter shall be the same as those of the Main Club, which are appropriate for Chapter members.
Affiliate members shall not be entitled to vote or hold office in the Chapter, but may be appointed chair of a committee and, while holding such office, may vote as the committee’s representative on the Chapter Board. Also, they may serve on committees and vote as committee members.

ARTICLE 5

Election of Members

Any person who fulfills the requirements for Main Club membership and indicates to the club that they wish to join the Schenectady Chapter shall be accepted into Chapter membership.
Any member of another Chapter who also desires to be a member of this Chapter may become an Affiliate member of this Chapter by paying the appropriate dues.

ARTICLE 6

Dues

Each class of Chapter membership shall pay annual dues in the amount specified in the By-laws of the Main Club.
The dues of Affiliate members will be established by the Chapter Board.

ARTICLE 7

Officers

The officers of the Chapter shall be the Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Directors and Project Coordinators.
The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the Chapter and the Chapter Board; shall appoint all committee chairs; shall be a member ex-officio of all committees, except the nominating committee; and shall perform all other duties ordinarily devolving upon the office of Chair.
The Vice-Chair shall perform the duties of the office of Chair in the absence of the latter. The Vice-Chair shall be Chair of the Program Committee and shall plan and direct the program of the Chapter meetings.
The Secretary shall keep records of the Annual Meeting and of all meetings of the Chapter Board and shall perform all other duties ordinarily devolving upon the office of Secretary.
The Treasurer shall receive all revenues due to the Chapter and deposit them in appropriate accounts: shall make payment of any Chapter expenditures authorized by the Chapter Board; and shall perform all other duties ordinarily devolving upon the office of Treasurer. Under no circumstances shall Chapter funds be commingled with personal funds.
The Directors shall represent the Chapter on the Board of Directors of the Main Club; represent the views of the Main Club to the Chapter; and represent the views of the Chapter to the Main Club. The Directors shall be elected and serve as specified in the Main Club By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation. Any Chapter officer may serve as an alternate on the Main Club Board of Directors in the event the elected Director cannot attend. The number of Chapter Directors is dependent on Chapter size and is prescribed by Main Club By-Laws.
The Project Coordinators shall perform duties as requested by the Chapter Chair.
Each Board member shall have only one vote regardless of the number of positions held.

ARTICLE 8

Administration

The business affairs of the Chapter shall be managed and directed by the Chapter Board. The members of the Board are the Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Director(s), the four Project Coordinators, and the appointed chairs of the standing committees.

All officers are elected at the Annual Meeting. The Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer are each elected for a one-year term; the Director(s) for the term of office as specified by the Main Club By-laws; and the four Project Coordinators for two years. Two Project Coordinators are elected each year to allow for an overlap, which is intended to insure continuity of Chapter programs. The committee chairs are appointed by the Chair, subject to the majority approval of the other Board members.
Any vacancy in an elective office occurring before the expiration of the term thereof may be filled by the Chapter Board; but the term of office of anyone so appointed shall expire at the end of the calendar year. Thereafter, should any un-expired term exist in the vacancy, a candidate shall be elected at the Annual Meeting to fill the remainder of the term.
No member elected as an officer of the Chapter, except the Treasurer, shall be eligible for the same office after serving two consecutive terms until at least one year has intervened. The Treasurer can serve up to four consecutive terms.
Meetings of the Chapter Board shall be held at least six times per year and shall be called at the discretion of the Chair, except that the Chair must call a Chapter Board meeting within two weeks following a written request from three members of the Board.
Quorum of the Chapter Board shall be at least 50 percent.

ARTICLE 9

Meetings

The Chapter shall hold the Annual Meeting and election of officers during the period between October 15 and November 15. The membership shall be notified of the date and place of the meeting at least two weeks in advance of the meeting. Publishing in “The Lookout” shall suffice for this requirement.
A minimum of 25 voting members, or 10 percent of the voting members, whichever is less, shall constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE 10

Election of Officers

A Nominating Committee consisting of at least three members not currently serving as elected officers shall be appointed by the Chair each year by May 1. This committee shall report by July 15, and a notice of its nominations shall be sent to all members at least one month prior to the mailing of the ballot.
Additional nominations may be made by petition, signed by five members, and accompanied by a signed statement of acceptance from all such nominees. Such nominations are to be in the hands of the Secretary by the deadline of “The Lookout” preceding the Annual Meeting.
A ballot containing the names of all duly nominated candidates shall be mailed to every voting member at least two weeks prior to the Annual Meeting. Completed ballots shall be returned to the Chair of the Nominating Committee and shall be valid if received prior to 6:00 p.m. on the day of the Annual Meeting.
The Secretary, the Chair of the Nominating Committee, and the continuing Project Coordinators shall act as tellers and announce the result at the Annual Meeting. The Chapter Chair shall appoint a substitute for any designated teller that cannot serve.
New officers shall assume their duties on January 1 following the Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE 11

Committees

Committee chairs shall be appointed by the Chair per Article 8A.
Committee members shall be appointed by the Chair of the respective committee.
The standing committees shall be:
Bulletin, Conservation, Membership, Outings, Program, Publicity, Publishing, Silver Lake Wilderness, Trails, Webmaster, Whitewater, and Education.
Chair and Co-chairs of standing committees shall each have one vote. In the event that there are more than two Co-chairs, only two votes shall be allowed.
Special committees may be appointed by the Chair as deemed advisable. The Chair shall appoint such special committees as may be directed by the membership or the Chapter Board.

ARTICLE 12

Amendments

Any proposed amendment to these By-Laws shall first be approved at a regular or special meeting of the Chapter Board, by a two-thirds vote of the Board members present at such meetings. Any proposed amendment so approved shall be submitted in writing to the members. A two-thirds vote of those responding within a minimum of two weeks shall be required for adoption.

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The above By-laws incorporate an amendment passed in 2002.