c/o Mark Miller, PO Box 52261, Philadelphia PA 19115

A Non-Profit, Educational Organization - Founded 1952

The name of the organization shall be the Philadelphia Herpetological Society.

Section 1. To enhance the education of the members and the general public in herpetology through the facilities of the Society.

Section 2. To promote conservation of all wildlife in general and herpetofauna in particular, whenever and wherever possible.

Section 3. To provide information for the advancement of herpetology.

Section 4. To achieve a closer cooperation and understanding between amateur and professional herpetologists, so that they may work together for the common cause of Science.

Section 1. Membership in the Society shall be open to all persons. Membership in the Society will be determined solely by the payment of dues or the designation as an honorary member. Membership will be for the calendar year. Members will be entitled to: attend all meetings and functions of the Society; receive all Society publications for the membership year; receive notice of meetings for the membership year; and receive discounts on any Society merchandise as determined by the Steering Committee.

Section 2. Honorary membership in the Society may be granted by 3/4 vote of the Steering Committee. Such membership may be either for life, for a specified period of time, or ex officio (e.g. Curator of Herpetology at the Philadelphia Zoo). Honorary life membership is to be granted only to people who, in the opinion of the Steering Committee members, have contributed significantly, in some way, to the Society. The number of honorary memberships at any one time shall be limited to not more than one per 25 dues-paying members.

Section 1. Dues shall be proposed by the Steering Committee and decided by a majority of the membership at a general meeting. Any change in the dues must be either announced at the previous general meeting or presented in the PHS Newsletter or a meeting notice. Dues shall be due on the first of the year. Any member whose dues have not been received by 1 March of the current year shall have his name dropped from the rolls. At this time they are to be sent a notice that their dues are past due and they will receive no further publications or notices from the Society until their dues are received.

Section 2. There shall be three dues paying categories. Individual membership will be open to any person who has not previously been expelled from the Society. Family memberships will be available to couples and families. Family members will receive only one copy of any Society announcements or publications per household. Corresponding membership will be available to those who live more than 75 miles from the regular site of Society meetings. Corresponding members will receive copies of all publications and announcements that are mailed during the membership year. It is to be understood that Corresponding members are not guaranteed any specific numbers of publications by the Society. At the discretion of the Steering Committee, Corresponding members might be sent publications that are not mailed during the actual membership year. Corresponding members will be welcome to attend Society meetings when they are in the area.

Section 3. Honorary memberships will be presented to any speakers at Society meetings. Honorary members will be provided all of the rights and privileges of Individual members. Honorary membership will be for one year from the date of presentation to the Society. Honorary memberships may also be presented for other indications as determined by a majority of the Steering Committee.

Section 4. It will be the Membership Secretary and President's responsibility to ensure that persons attending Society meetings are members of the Society or Guests. Any person(s) who attend more than three meetings in a year are to be asked to join the Society or told they are no longer welcome at Society functions. This shall be the responsibility of the President.

The elective officers of the Society shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Membership Secretary. Term of office shall be two years and may be extended by re-election. However, the President may not serve more than two consecutive terms.

Section 1. The President shall be responsible for calling regular meetings, for arranging meeting programs, and for calling meetings of the Steering Committee.

Section 2. The Vice-President shall aid the President in his duties and shall assume these duties in the latter's absence.

Section 3. The Treasurer shall keep careful records and accurate accounts of all moneys received and disbursed. The books shall be open for inspection by the membership at all times. The Treasurer shall be responsible for depositing Society funds in an accredited bank as he receives them. The Treasurer shall be responsible for payment of all bills.

Section 4. The Membership Secretary shall keep a current card file and mailing list of the membership and shall be responsible for receiving dues and sending membership cards; he shall periodically turn in funds and a balanced account to the Treasurer. He shall notify all local members of meetings.

Section 1. The Steering Committee shall consist of the current President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Bulletin Editor, and a group of continuing members. The Steering Committee shall act in an advisory capacity and aid in the formulation of the policies of the Society.

Any Steering Committee decision may be overruled by a 2/3 vote of the members present at the general meeting at which the business is discussed.

Section 2. New continuing members of the Steering Committee shall be appointed by a majority vote of the Committee.

Section 3. The Steering Committee shall appoint a Bulletin Editor(s).

Section 4. Holding of a non-elective office on the Steering Committee shall prohibit the holding of a concurrent elective office.

Section 5. The Steering Committee shall appoint a person to fill any vacancy occurring among the officers, to serve out the unexpired term.

Section 6. The Steering Committee shall hold at least one meeting per year. A majority vote of all Committee members shall be necessary to pass on any business.

Section 7. A person who has served as an elected member of the Steering Committee for eight (8) years, may, upon majority vote of the membership, be constituted a Life Member of the Steering Committee. As such he shall be entitled to serve so long as he remains a dues paying member in good standing.

Section 8. The size of the Steering Committee shall be no more than 20 members. Of these, no more than 20 per cent may be life members of the committee.

Section 1. The Bulletin Editor(s) shall be responsible for all phases and policies of the Bulletin and other Society publications. He may appoint any staff members he requires. He is obligated to carry out the stated aims of the Society through the medium of Society publications.

Section 2. The Bulletin Editor(s) shall record the proceedings of both the Steering Committee and Society Meetings, and shall report Steering Committee decisions to the Membership.

Section 3. The Bulletin Editor(s) shall be responsible for all books and reprints sent to the Society. The Bulletin Editor(s) are responsible to the Steering Committee and the entire Membership.

Section 1. Election of the officers shall be at the first meeting of each election year. The new officers shall take office at the close of the meeting. Election shall be by majority vote of the members present at the meeting.

Section 2. A committee of three members appointed by the Steering Committee shall nominate candidates for each office. At least two members of the Nominating Committee, including its chairman, must be chosen from the Society Membership, exclusive of Steering Committee members. Additional nominations may be made from the floor.

Section 3. A nominating committee for elections is to be appointed not later than 1 November of the year before the election.

Section 4. The slate of candidates nominated by the nominating committee or any proposed change in the constitution and bylaws must be presented, in writing, to the entire membership not less than one month before the voting is to take place.

Section 5. Members unable to attend a meeting to vote may register their votes with the Membership Secretary by mail. Votes received after the election meeting is held will not be counted except when necessary to break ties, in which case, any postmarked by the day of the meeting at which the voting takes place will be counted.

Section 1. The Society shall meet as often as availability of programs warrants. The minimum shall be three meetings a year.

Section 2. Business may be transacted at any meeting provided that written notice of the business has been given. Except where specified otherwise in the Constitution, majority rule shall prevail.

Section 3. No regular meetings may be held at a time or a place that shall make attendance by local members difficult.

Section 4. Special Society meetings may be called by the Steering Committee. At these meetings no business other than that specified in the call shall be transacted.

Article XI. Resignation and Expulsion

Section 1. All resignations of Officers or other Steering Committee members shall be in writing and shall be tendered to the President.

Section 2. Any member may be expelled from the Society, from any office, or from the Steering Committee by a 2/3 vote of the Steering Committee.

Notice of the proposed expulsion must be given to the member and the President at least one week before action is taken thereon.

These by-laws may be amended at any general meeting upon a 2/3 vote of the members present, provided that written notice has been given of the proposed amendments.

Upon the dissolution of the Society, the Steering Committee shall, after payment of all liabilities, dispose of all the assets of the Society exclusively for the purposes, and in such manner, or to such an organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes, shall at the time qualify for exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 et seq.

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Drafted and approved by membership 1952 (pub. in Vol. 1)

Revisions approved December 1964

Revisions approved 22 March 1974 (pub.in Vol.25)

Addenda [VII.7 (M.Skaroff)] approved December 1982

Addenda [VII.8, IX.3-5, III.2 (R.Feuer)], (pub. Sep '83 Newsletter)

Approved 21 October 1983

Revisions and Addenda [III, IV.1-4 (Balsai)] approved October 1985,

(pub. in Sep/Oct '85 Newsletter)