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Bylaws of the Western Cave Conservancy
ARTICLE 1
OFFICES |
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SECTION 1. PRINCIPAL OFFICE
The principal office of the corporation for the transaction of its business
is located in Santa Cruz County, California. |
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SECTION 2. CHANGE OF ADDRESS
The county of the corporation's principal office can be changed only by
amendment of these Bylaws and not otherwise. The Board of Directors may,
however, change the principal office from one location to another within
the named county by noting the changed address and effective date below,
and such changes of address shall not be deemed an amendment of these Bylaws:
213 Elm Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Dated: September 7, 2002
_______________________________ Dated: ____________
_______________________________ Dated: ____________
_______________________________ Dated: ____________ |
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SECTION 3. OTHER OFFICES
The corporation may also have offices at such other places, within or
without the State of California, where it is qualified to do business,
as its business may require and as the board of directors may, from time
to time, designate. |
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ARTICLE 2
PURPOSES AND TERRITORY |
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SECTION 1. OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES
The primary objective and purpose of this corporation shall be to protect caves
and associated natural and cultural resources within the corporation's designated
territory, by purchases of land, conservation easements and leases, and by other means.
The secondary objectives and purposes of this corporation shall be:
(a) to facilitate public access to the acquired properties, subject to
reasonable restrictions, for various scientific, scenic and educational purposes;
(b) to encourage scientific inquiry and study of the corporation's caves and related
surface and subsurface geological, faunal, hydrological, archaeological and other
natural and cultural resources;
(c) to assist cave owners within the corporation's territory with the management
and protection of their caves.
(d) to educate the general public about the origin and importance of caves, and
in the value of preserving and protecting caves together with the fragile and
irreplaceable resources they contain. |
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SECTION 2. TERRITORY
The Territory of the corporation is limited to the western United States. |
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ARTICLE 3
DIRECTORS |
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SECTION 1. NUMBER
The corporation shall have not less than five (5) and not more than nine (9)
directors and collectively they shall be known as the Board of Directors. The
exact number may be fixed within these limits by approval of the Board of
Directors in the manner provided in these Bylaws. |
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SECTION 2. POWERS
Subject to the provisions of the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation
law and any limitations in the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws relating to
action required or permitted to be taken or approved by the members, if any, of
this corporation, the activities and affairs of this corporation shall be
conducted and all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the direction
of the Board of Directors. |
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SECTION 3. DUTIES
It shall be the duty of the directors to:
(a) Perform any and all duties imposed on them collectively or individually
by law, by the Articles of Incorporation of this corporation, or by these Bylaws;
(b) Appoint and remove, employ and discharge, and, except as otherwise provided
in these Bylaws, prescribe the duties and fix the compensation, if any, of all
officers, agents and employees of the corporation;
(c) Supervise all officers, agents and employees of the corporation to assure
that their duties are performed properly;
(d) Meet at such times and places as required by these Bylaws;
(e) Register their addresses with the Secretary of the corporation and notices
of meetings mailed or telegraphed to them at such addresses shall be valid
notices thereof. |
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SECTION 4. TERMS OF OFFICE
Each director shall hold office for three (3) years, and until his or her successor
is elected and qualifies. The terms of office shall be as follows:
(a) The initial directors of the corporation shall have staggered terms.
Specifically, Robert Haye shall have a term of one year; Joel Despain and
Rolf Aalbu shall each have a term of two years; and Marianne Russo and
Jerald Johnson shall each have a term of three years.
(b) When a director's term expires, the board shall elect a director to fill
the vacancy; that director's term shall be three years. |
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SECTION 5. COMPENSATION
Directors shall serve without compensation except that they shall be allowed
and paid their actual and necessary expenses incurred in attending Directors
meetings. In addition, they shall be allowed reasonable advancement or
reimbursement of expenses incurred in the performance of their regular duties
as specified in Section 3 of this Article. Directors may not be compensated
for rendering services to the corporation in any capacity other than Director
unless such other compensation is reasonable and is allowable under the
provisions of Section 6 of this Article. |
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SECTION 6. RESTRICTION REGARDING INTERESTED DIRECTORS
Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws, not more than forty-nine
percent (49%) of the persons serving on the board may be interested persons.
For purposes of this Section, "interested persons" means either:
(a) Any person currently being compensated by the corporation for services rendered
it within the previous twelve (12) months, whether as a full- or part-time officer
or other employee, independent contractor, or otherwise, excluding any reasonable
compensation paid to a director as director; or
(b) Any brother, sister, ancestor, descendant, spouse, brother-in-law, sister-in-law,
son-in-law, daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, or father-in-law of any such
person. |
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SECTION 7. PLACE OF MEETINGS
Meetings shall be held at the principal office of the corporation unless otherwise
provided by the board or at such place within or without the State of California
which has been designated from time to time by resolution of the Board of
Directors. In the absence of such designation, any meeting not held at the
principal office of the corporation shall be valid only if held on the written
consent of all directors given either before or after the meeting and filed with
the Secretary of the corporation or after all board members have been given written
notice of the meeting as hereinafter provided for special meetings of the board.
Any meeting, regular or special, may be held by conference telephone, electronic video
screen communication, or other communications equipment. Participation in a meeting
through use of conference telephone constitutes presence in person at that meeting
so long as all directors participating in the meeting are able to hear one another.
Participation in a meeting through use of electronic video screen communication or
other communications equipment (other than conference telephone) constitutes presence
in person at that meeting if all of the following apply:
a) Each director participating in the meeting can communicate with all of the other
directors concurrently;
b) Each director is provided the means of participating in all matters before the
board, including, without limitation, the capacity to propose, or to interpose an
objection to, a specific action to be taken by the corporation;
c) The corporation adopts and implements some means of verifying 1) that all persons
participating in the meeting are directors of the corporation or are otherwise
entitled to participate in the meeting, and 2) that all actions of, or votes by,
the board are taken and cast only by directors and not by persons who are not directors. |
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SECTION 8. REGULAR AND ANNUAL MEETINGS
Regular annual meetings of Directors shall be held on the second Sunday in
January at 2 o'clock PM, unless the Board of Directors schedules a different
date and/or time in advance.
At any meeting of directors, directors may be elected by the Board of Directors
in accordance with this section. Each candidate for director shall be nominated
by at least one director. Each director shall cast up to the same number of
votes as the number of directors, and shall not name the same candidate more
than once. Candidates shall be ranked according to the number of votes received,
the highest ranking filling the vacant seats, in the order the vacancies occurred.
Voting will be by secret ballot and will be tallied by the Secretary. |
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SECTION 9. SPECIAL MEETINGS
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairperson of
the board, the President, the Vice President, the Secretary, or by any two
directors, and such meetings shall be held at the place, within or without the
State of California, designated by the person or persons calling the meeting,
and in the absence of such designation, at the principal office of the corporation. |
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SECTION 10. NOTICE OF MEETINGS
Regular meetings of the board may be held without notice. Special meetings of the
board shall be held upon four (4) days' notice by first-class postal mail or
electronic mail, or forty-eight (48) hours' notice delivered personally or by
telephone or telegraph. If sent by postal mail, electronic mail or telegraph,
the notice shall be deemed to be delivered on its deposit in the mails or on its
delivery to the telegraph company. Such notices shall be addressed to each
director at his or her address as shown on the books of the corporation. Notice
of the time and place of holding an adjourned meeting need not be given to absent
directors if the time and place of the adjourned meeting are fixed at the meeting
adjourned and if such adjourned meeting is held no more than twenty-four (24)
hours from the time of the original meeting. Notice shall be given of any adjourned
regular or special meeting to directors absent from the original meeting if the
adjourned meeting is held more than twenty-four (24) hours from the time of the
original meeting. |
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SECTION 11. CONTENTS OF NOTICE
Notice of meetings not herein dispensed with shall specify the place, day and
hour of the meeting. The purpose of any board meeting need not be specified in the notice. |
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SECTION 12. WAIVER OF NOTICE AND CONSENT TO HOLDING MEETINGS
The transactions of any meeting of the board, however called and noticed or wherever
held, are as valid as though the meeting had been duly held after proper call and
notice, provided a quorum, as hereinafter defined, is present and provided that
either before or after the meeting each director not present signs a waiver of
notice, a consent to holding the meeting, or an approval of the minutes thereof.
All such waivers, consents, or approvals shall be filed with the corporate records
or made a part of the minutes of the meeting. |
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SECTION 13. QUORUM FOR MEETINGS
A quorum shall consist of a majority of the Directors.
Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws or in the Articles of Incorporation
of this corporation, or by law, no business shall be considered by the board at
any meeting at which a quorum, as hereinafter defined, is not present, and the
only motion which the Chair shall entertain at such meeting is a motion to adjourn.
However, a majority of the directors present at such meeting may adjourn from time
to time until the time fixed for the next regular meeting of the board.
When a meeting is adjourned for lack of a quorum, it shall not be necessary to
give any notice of the time and place of the adjourned meeting or of the business
to be transacted at such meeting, other than by announcement at the meeting at
which the adjournment is taken, except as provided in Section 10 of this Article.
The directors present at a duly called and held meeting at which a quorum is
initially present may continue to do business notwithstanding the loss of a quorum
at the meeting due to a withdrawal of directors from the meeting, provided that
any action thereafter taken must be approved by at least a majority of the required
quorum for such meeting or such greater percentage as may be required by law, or
the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of this corporation. |
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SECTION 14. MAJORITY ACTION AS BOARD ACTION
Every act or decision done or made by a majority of the directors present at a
meeting duly held at which a quorum is present is the act of the Board of
Directors, unless the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of this corporation,
or provisions of the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law,
particularly those provisions relating to appointment of committees (Section 5212),
approval of contracts or transactions in which a director has a material financial
interest (Section 5233) and indemnification of directors (Section 5238e), require
a greater percentage or different voting rules for approval of a matter by the
board. |
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SECTION 15. CONDUCT OF MEETINGS
Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairperson of
the Board, or, if no such person has been so designated or, in his or her absence,
the President of the corporation or, in his or her absence, by the Vice President
of the corporation or, in the absence of each of these persons, by a Chairperson
chosen by a majority of the directors present at the meeting. The Secretary of
the corporation shall act as secretary of all meetings of the board, provided
that, in his or her absence, the presiding officer shall appoint another person
to act as Secretary of the Meeting.
Meetings shall be governed by Roberts' Rules of Order, as such rules may be
revised from time to time, insofar as such rules are not inconsistent with or in
conflict with these Bylaws, with the Articles of Incorporation of this corporation,
or with provisions of law. |
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SECTION 16. ACTION BY UNANIMOUS WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT MEETING
Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors under any
provision of law may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the board
shall individually or collectively consent in writing to such action. For the
purposes of this Section only, "all members of the board" shall not
include any "interested director" as defined in Section 5233 of the
California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law. Written consent may be
provided by first-class postal mail or by electronic mail. Such written consent
or consents shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the board.
Such action by written consent shall have the same force and effect as the
unanimous vote of the directors. Any certificate or other document filed under
any provision of law which relates to action so taken shall state that the
action was taken by unanimous written consent of the Board of Directors without
a meeting and that the Bylaws of this corporation authorize the directors to so
act, and such statement shall be prima facie evidence of such authority. |
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SECTION 17. VACANCIES
Vacancies on the Board of Directors shall exist (1) on the death, resignation
or removal of any director, and (2) whenever the number of authorized
directors is increased.
The Board of Directors may declare vacant the office of a director who has
been declared of unsound mind by a final order of court, or convicted of a
felony, or been found by a final order or judgment of any court to have
breached any duty under Section 5230 and following of the California Nonprofit
Public Benefit Corporation Law.
If this corporation has any members, then, if the corporation has less than
fifty (50) members, directors may be removed without cause by a majority of
all members, or, if the corporation has fifty (50) or more members, by vote
of a majority of the votes represented at a membership meeting at which a
quorum is present.
If this corporation has no members, directors may be removed without cause by a
unanimous vote of the remaining directors then in office.
Any director may resign effective upon giving written notice to the Chairperson
of the Board, the President, the Secretary, or the Board of Directors, unless
the notice specifies a later time for the effectiveness of such resignation.
No director may resign if the corporation would then be left without a duly
elected director or directors in charge of its affairs, except upon notice to
the Attorney General.
Vacancies on the board may be filled by approval of the board or, if the
number of directors then in office is less than a quorum, by (1) the unanimous
written consent of the directors then in office, (2) the affirmative vote of a
majority of the directors then in office at a meeting held pursuant to notice
or waivers of notice complying with this Article of these Bylaws, or (3) a sole
remaining director. If this corporation has members, however, vacancies created
by the removal of a director may be filled only by the approval of the members.
The members, if any, of this corporation may elect a director at any time to
fill any vacancy not filled by the directors.
A person elected to fill a vacancy as provided by this Section shall hold office
until the expiration of the term, or until his or her death, resignation or
removal from office. |
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SECTION 18. NON-LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS
The directors shall not be personally liable for the debts, liabilities, or
other obligations of the corporation. |
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SECTION 19. INDEMNIFICATION BY CORPORATION OF DIRECTORS,
OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND OTHER AGENTS
To the extent that a person who is, or was, a director, officer, employee or
other agent of this corporation has been successful on the merits in defense
of any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceeding brought to
procure a judgment against such person by reason of the fact that he or she
is, or was, an agent of the corporation, or has been successful in defense of
any claim, issue or matter, therein, such person shall be indemnified against
expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with
such proceeding.
If such person either settles any such claim or sustains a judgment against
him or her, then indemnification against expenses, judgments, fines,
settlements and other amounts reasonably incurred in connection with such
proceedings shall be provided by this corporation but only to the extent
allowed by, and in accordance with the requirements of, Section 5238 of the
California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law. |
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SECTION 20. INSURANCE FOR CORPORATE AGENTS
The Board of Directors may adopt a resolution authorizing the purchase and
maintenance of insurance on behalf of any agent of the corporation (including
a director, officer, employee or other agent of the corporation) against any
liability other than for violating provisions of law relating to self-dealing
(Section 5233 of the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law)
asserted against or incurred by the agent in such capacity or arising out of
the agent's status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the
power to indemnify the agent against such liability under the provisions of
Section 5238 of the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law. |
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ARTICLE 4
OFFICERS |
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SECTION 1. NUMBER OF OFFICERS
The officers of the corporation shall be a President, a Vice President, a
Secretary, and a Chief Financial Officer who shall be designated the Treasurer.
The corporation may also have, as determined by the Board of Directors, a
Chairperson of the Board, Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers, or
other officers. Any number of offices may be held by the same person except
that neither the Secretary nor the Treasurer may serve as the President or
Chairperson of the Board. |
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SECTION 2. QUALIFICATION, ELECTION, AND TERM OF OFFICE
Any person may serve as officer of this corporation. Officers shall be elected
by the Board of Directors, at any time, and each officer shall hold office
until he or she resigns or is removed or is otherwise disqualified to serve,
or until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, whichever occurs first. |
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SECTION 3. SUBORDINATE OFFICERS
The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers or agents as it may deem
desirable, and such officers shall serve such terms, have such authority, and
perform such duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors. |
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SECTION 4. REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION
Any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Board of
Directors, at any time. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written
notice to the Board of Directors or to the President or Secretary of the
corporation. Any such resignation shall take effect at the date of receipt of
such notice or at any later date specified therein, and, unless otherwise
specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary
to make it effective. The above provisions of this Section shall be superseded
by any conflicting terms of a contract which has been approved or ratified by
the Board of Directors relating to the employment of any officer of the corporation. |
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SECTION 5. VACANCIES
Any vacancy caused by the death, resignation, removal, disqualification, or
otherwise, of any officer shall be filled by the Board of Directors. In the
event of a vacancy in any office other than that of President, such vacancy
may be filled temporarily by appointment by the President until such time as
the Board shall fill the vacancy. Vacancies occurring in offices of officers
appointed at the discretion of the board may or may not be filled as the board
shall determine. |
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SECTION 6. DUTIES OF PRESIDENT
The President shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation and shall,
subject to the control of the Board of Directors, supervise and control the
affairs of the corporation and the activities of the officers. He or she shall
perform all duties incident to his or her office and such other duties as may
be required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation of this corporation, or
by these Bylaws, or which may be prescribed from time to time by the Board of
Directors. Unless another person is specifically appointed as Chairperson of
the Board of Directors, he or she shall preside at all meetings of the Board
of Directors. If applicable, the President shall preside at all meetings of
the members. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, by the Articles
of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws, he or she shall, in the name of the
corporation, execute such deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, checks, or
other instruments which may from time to time be authorized by the Board
of Directors. |
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SECTION 7. DUTIES OF VICE PRESIDENT
In the absence of the President, or in the event of his or her inability or
refusal to act, the Vice President shall perform all the duties of the
President, and when so acting shall have all the powers of, and be subject to
all the restrictions on, the President. The Vice President shall have other
powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law, by the
Articles of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws, or as may be prescribed by
the Board of Directors. |
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SECTION 8. DUTIES OF SECRETARY
The Secretary shall:
(a) Certify and keep at the principal office of the corporation the original,
or a copy of these Bylaws as amended or otherwise altered to date.
(b) Keep at the principal office of the corporation or at such other place as
the board may determine, a book of minutes of all meetings of the directors,
and, if applicable, meetings of committees of directors and of members,
recording therein the time and place of holding, whether regular or special,
how called, how notice thereof was given, the names of those present or
represented at the meeting, and the proceedings thereof.
(c) See that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of
these Bylaws or as required by law.
(d) Be custodian of the records and of the seal of the corporation and see
that the seal is affixed to all duly executed documents, the execution of
which on behalf of the corporation under its seal is authorized by law or
these Bylaws.
(e) If this corporation has any members, keep at the principal office of
the corporation a membership book containing the name and address of each
and any members, and, in the case where any membership has been terminated,
he or she shall record such fact in the membership book together with the
date on which such membership ceased.
(f) Exhibit at all reasonable times to any director of the corporation, or
to his or her agent or attorney, on request therefor, the Bylaws, the
membership book, and the minutes of the proceedings of the directors of
the corporation.
(g) In general, perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and
such other duties as may be required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation
of this corporation, or by these Bylaws, or which may be assigned to him or
her from time to time by the Board of Directors. |
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SECTION 9. DUTIES OF TREASURER
Subject to the provisions of these Bylaws relating to the "Execution of
Instruments, Deposits and Funds," the Treasurer shall:
(a) Have charge and custody of, and be responsible for, all funds and securities
of the corporation, and deposit all such funds in the name of the corporation in
such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as shall be selected by the
Board of Directors.
(b) Receive, and give receipt for, monies due and payable to the corporation
from any source whatsoever.
(c) Disburse, or cause to be disbursed, the funds of the corporation as may be
directed by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements.
(d) Keep and maintain adequate and correct accounts of the corporation's
properties and business transactions, including accounts of its assets,
liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains and losses.
(e) Exhibit at all reasonable times the books of account and financial records
to any director of the corporation, or to his or her agent or attorney, on
request therefore.
(f) Render to the President and directors, whenever requested, an account of
any or all of his or her transactions as Treasurer and of the financial
condition of the corporation.
(g) Prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify, or cause to be certified,
the financial statements to be included in any required reports.
(h) In general, perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer and
such other duties as may be required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation
of the corporation, or by these Bylaws, or which may be assigned to him or her
from time to time by the Board of Directors. |
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SECTION 10. COMPENSATION
The salaries of the officers, if any, shall be fixed from time to time by
resolution of the Board of Directors, and no officer shall be prevented from
receiving such salary by reason of the fact that he or she is also a director
of the corporation, provided, however, that such compensation paid a director
for serving as an officer of this corporation shall only be allowed if
permitted under the provisions of Article 3, Section 6 of these Bylaws. In
all cases, any salaries received by officers of this corporation shall be
reasonable and given in return for services actually rendered for the
corporation which relate to the performance of the charitable or public
purposes of this corporation. |
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ARTICLE 5
COMMITTEES |
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SECTION 1. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Board of Directors may, by a majority vote of directors, designate two
(2) or more of its members (who may also be serving as officers of this
corporation) to constitute an Executive Committee and delegate to such Committee
any of the powers and authority of the board in the management of the business
and affairs of the corporation, except with respect to:
(a) The approval of any action which, under law or the provisions of these
Bylaws, requires the approval of the members or of a majority of all of the
members.
(b) The filling of vacancies on the board or on any committee which has the
authority of the board.
(c) The fixing of compensation of the directors for serving on the board or
on any committee.
(d) The amendment or repeal of Bylaws or the adoption of new Bylaws.
(e) The amendment or repeal or any resolution of the board which by its express
terms is not so amendable or repealable.
(f) The appointment of committees of the board or the members thereof.
(g) The expenditure of corporate funds to support a nominee for director after
there are more people nominated for director than can be elected.
(h) The approval of any transaction to which this corporation is a party and
in which one or more of the directors has a material financial interest, except
as expressly provided in Section 5233(d)(3) of the California Nonprofit Public
Benefit Corporation Law.
By a majority vote of its members then in office, the board may at any time
revoke or modify any or all of the authority so delegated, increase or decrease
but not below two (2) the number of its members, and fill vacancies therein from
the members of the board. The Committee shall keep regular minutes of its
proceedings, cause them to be filed with the corporate records, and report the
same to the board from time to time as the board may require. |
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SECTION 2. OTHER COMMITTEES
The corporation shall have such other committees as may from time to time be
designated by resolution of the Board of Directors. Such other committees may
consist of persons who are not also members of the board. These additional
committees shall act in an advisory capacity only to the board and shall be
clearly titled as "advisory" committees. |
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SECTION 3. MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES
Meetings and action of committees shall be governed by, noticed, held and taken
in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws concerning meetings of the
Board of Directors, with such changes in the context of such Bylaw provisions
as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the Board of
Directors and its members, except that the time for regular meetings of
committees may be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors or by the
committee. The time for special meetings of committees may also be fixed by
the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may also adopt rules and
regulations pertaining to the conduct of meetings of committees to the extent
that such rules and regulations are not inconsistent with the provisions of
these Bylaws. |
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ARTICLE 6
EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS, DEPOSITS AND FUNDS |
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SECTION 1. EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS
The Board of Directors, except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, may by
resolution authorize any officer or agent of the corporation to enter into any
contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of
the corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific
instances. Unless so authorized, no officer, agent, or employee shall have
any power or authority to bind the corporation by any contract or engagement
or to pledge its credit or to render it liable monetarily for any purpose or
in any amount. |
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SECTION 2. CHECKS AND NOTES
Except as otherwise specifically determined by resolution of the Board of
Directors, or as otherwise required by law, checks, drafts, promissory notes,
orders for the payment of money, and other evidence of indebtedness of the
corporation shall be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the President
of the corporation. |
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SECTION 3. DEPOSITS
All funds of the corporation shall be deposited from time to time to the credit
of the corporation in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as the
Board of Directors may select. |
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SECTION 4. GIFTS
The Board of Directors may accept on behalf of the corporation any contribution,
gift, bequest, or device for the charitable or public purposes of this corporation. |
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ARTICLE 7
CORPORATE RECORDS, REPORTS AND SEAL |
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SECTION 1. MAINTENANCE OF CORPORATE RECORDS
The corporation shall keep at its principal office in the State of California:
(a) Minutes of all meetings of directors, committees of the board and, if this
corporation has members, of all meetings of members, indicating the time and
place of holding such meetings, whether regular or special, how called, the
notice given, and the names of those present and the proceedings thereof;
(b) Adequate and correct books and records of account, including accounts of
its properties and business transactions and accounts of its assets, liabilities,
receipts, disbursements, gains and losses;
(c) A record of its members, if any, indicating their names and addresses and,
if applicable, the class of membership held by each member and the termination
date of any membership;
(d) A copy of the corporation's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws as amended
to date, which shall be open to inspection by the members, if any, of the
corporation at all reasonable times during office hours. |
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SECTION 2. CORPORATE SEAL
The Board of Directors may adopt, use, and at will alter, a corporate seal. Such
seal shall be kept at the principal office of the corporation. Failure to affix
the seal to corporate instruments, however, shall not affect the validity of
any such instrument. |
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SECTION 3. DIRECTORS' INSPECTION RIGHTS
Every director shall have the absolute right at any reasonable time to inspect
and copy all books, records and documents of every kind and to inspect the
physical properties of the corporation. |
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SECTION 4. MEMBERS' INSPECTION RIGHTS
If this corporation has any members, then each and every member shall have the
following inspection rights, for a purpose reasonably related to such person's
interest as a member:
(a) To inspect and copy the record of all members' names, addresses and voting
rights, at reasonable times, upon five (5) business days' prior written demand
on the corporation, which demand shall state the purpose for which the inspection
rights are requested.
(b) To obtain from the Secretary of the corporation, upon written demand and
payment of a reasonable charge, an alphabetized list of the names, addresses
and voting rights of those members entitled to vote for the election of directors
as of the most recent record date for which the list has been compiled or as of
the date specified by the member subsequent to the date of demand. The demand
shall state the purpose for which the list is requested. The membership list
shall be made available on or before the later of ten (10) business days after
the demand is received or after the date specified therein as of which the list
is to be compiled.
(c) To inspect at any reasonable time the books, records, or minutes of proceedings
of the members or of the board or committees of the board, upon written demand on
the corporation by the member, for a purpose reasonably related to such person's
interests as a member. |
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SECTION 5. RIGHT TO COPY AND MAKE EXTRACTS
Any inspection under the provisions of this Article may be made in person or by
agent or attorney and the right to inspection includes the right to copy and
make extracts. |
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SECTION 6. ANNUAL REPORT
The board shall cause an annual report to be furnished not later than one
hundred and twenty (120) days after the close of the corporation's fiscal year
to all directors of the corporation and, if this corporation has members, to any
member who requests it in writing, which report shall contain the following
information in appropriate detail:
(a) The assets and liabilities, including the trust funds, of the corporation
as of the end of the fiscal year;
(b) The principal changes in assets and liabilities, including trust funds,
during the fiscal year;
(c) The revenue or receipts of the corporation, both unrestricted and restricted
to particular purposes, for the fiscal year;
(d) The expenses or disbursements of the corporation, for both general and
restricted purposes, during the fiscal year;
(e) Any information required by Section 7 of this Article.
The annual report shall be accompanied by any report thereon of independent
accountants, or, if there is no such report, the certificate of an authorized
officer of the corporation that such statements were prepared without audit from
the books and records of the corporation.
If this corporation has members, then, if this corporation receives TWENTY-FIVE
THOUSAND DOLLARS ($25,000), or more, in gross revenues or receipts during the
fiscal year, this corporation shall automatically send the above annual report
to all members, in such manner, at such time, and with such contents, including
an accompanying report from independent accountants or certification of a
corporate officer, as specified by the above provisions of this Section relating
to the annual report. |
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SECTION 7. ANNUAL STATEMENT OF SPECIFIC TRANSACTIONS TO MEMBERS
This corporation shall mail or deliver to all directors and any and all members
a statement within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the close of its fiscal
year which briefly describes the amount and circumstances of any indemnification
or transaction of the following kind:
(a) Any transaction in which the corporation, or its parent or its subsidiary,
was a party, and in which either of the following had a direct or indirect
material financial interest:
(1) Any director or officer of the corporation, or its parent or
subsidiary (a mere common directorship shall not be considered a material
financial interest); or
(2) Any holder of more than ten percent (10%) of the voting
power of the corporation, its parent or its subsidiary.
The above statement need only be provided with respect to a transaction during
the previous fiscal year involving more than FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($50,000)
or which was one of a number of transactions with the same persons involving,
in the aggregate, more than FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($50,000).
Similarly, the statement need only be provided with respect to indemnifications
or advances aggregating more than TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($10,000) paid during
the previous fiscal year to any director or officer, except that no such statement
need be made if such indemnification was approved by the members pursuant to
Section 5238(e)(2) of the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law.
Any statement required by this Section shall briefly describe the names of the
interested persons involved in such transactions, stating each person's
relationship to the corporation, the nature of such person's interest in the
transaction and, where practical, the amount of such interest, provided that in
the case of a transaction with a partnership of which such person is a partner,
only the interest of the partnership need be stated.
If this corporation has any members and provides all members with an annual
report according to the provisions of Section 6 of this Article, then such annual
report shall include the information required by this Section. |
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ARTICLE 8
FISCAL YEAR |
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SECTION 1. FISCAL YEAR OF THE CORPORATION
The fiscal year of the corporation shall begin on the first day of January and end
on the last day of December in each year. |
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ARTICLE 9
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS |
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SECTION 1. AMENDMENT
Subject to any provision of law applicable to the amendment of Bylaws of public
benefit nonprofit corporations, these Bylaws, or any of them, may be altered,
amended, or repealed and new Bylaws adopted as follows:
(a) Subject to the power of members, if any, to change or repeal these Bylaws
under Section 5150 of the Corporations Code, by approval of the Board of Directors
unless the Bylaw amendment would materially and adversely affect the rights of
members, if any, as to voting or transfer, provided, however, if this corporation
has admitted any members, then a Bylaw specifying or changing the fixed number of
directors of the corporation, the maximum or minimum number of directors, or
changing from a fixed to variable board or vice versa, may not be adopted,
amended, or repealed except as provided in subparagraph (b) of this Section; or
(b) By approval of the members, if any, of this corporation. |
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ARTICLE 10
AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES |
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SECTION 1. AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES BEFORE ADMISSION OF MEMBERS
Before any members have been admitted to the corporation, any amendment of the
Articles of Incorporation may be adopted by approval of the Board of Directors. |
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SECTION 2. AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES AFTER ADMISSION OF MEMBERS
After members, if any, have been admitted to the corporation, amendment of the
Articles of Incorporation may be adopted by the approval of the Board of Directors
and by the approval of the members of this corporation. |
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SECTION 3. CERTAIN AMENDMENTS
Notwithstanding the above sections of this Article, this corporation shall not
amend its Articles of Incorporation to alter any statement which appears in the
original Articles of Incorporation of the names and addresses of the first
directors of this corporation, nor the name and address of its initial agent,
except to correct an error in such statement or to delete such statement after
the corporation has filed a "Statement by a Domestic Non-Profit Corporation"
pursuant to Section 6210 of the California Nonprofit Corporation Law. |
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ARTICLE 11
PROHIBITION AGAINST SHARING CORPORATE PROFITS AND ASSETS |
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SECTION 1. PROHIBITION AGAINST SHARING CORPORATE PROFITS AND ASSETS
No member, director, officer, employee, or other person connected with this
corporation, or any private individual, shall receive at any time any of the
net earnings or pecuniary profit from the operations of the corporation,
provided, however, that this provision shall not prevent payment to any such
person of reasonable compensation for services performed for the corporation
in effecting any of its public or charitable purposes, provided that such
compensation is otherwise permitted by these Bylaws and is fixed by resolution
of the Board of Directors; and no such person or persons shall be entitled to
share in the distribution of, and shall not receive, any of the corporate assets
on dissolution of the corporation. All members, if any, of the corporation shall
be deemed to have expressly consented and agreed that on such dissolution or
winding up of the affairs of the corporation, whether voluntarily or
involuntarily, the assets of the corporation, after all debts have been
satisfied, shall be distributed as required by the Articles of Incorporation
of this corporation and not otherwise. |
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ARTICLE 12
MEMBERS |
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SECTION 1. DETERMINATION OF MEMBERS
If this corporation makes no provision for members, then, pursuant to Section
5310(b) of the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law of the State of
California, any action which would otherwise, under law or the provisions of
the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of this corporation, require approval
by a majority of all members or approval by the members, shall only require
the approval of the Board of Directors. |
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WRITTEN CONSENT OF DIRECTORS ADOPTING BYLAWS |
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We, the undersigned, are all of the persons named as the initial directors
in the Articles of Incorporation of the Western Cave Conservancy, a California
nonprofit corporation, and, pursuant to the authority granted to the directors
by these Bylaws to take action by unanimous written consent without a meeting,
consent to, and hereby do, adopt the foregoing Bylaws, consisting of 16 pages,
as the Bylaws of this corporation.
Dated: ___________
___________________________
Rolf L. Aalbu, PhD, Director
___________________________
Joel Despain, Director
___________________________
Robert C. Haye, Director
___________________________
Jerald J. Johnson, PhD, Director
___________________________
Marianne L. Russo, Director
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CERTIFICATE |
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This is to certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the Bylaws
of the corporation named in the title thereto and that such Bylaws were duly
adopted by the Board of Directors of said corporation at its inaugural meeting
on the date set forth below.
Dated: September 7, 2002
Daniel S. Snyder, Secretary
Western Cave Conservancy
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