BYLAWS

of the

UTAH ASSOCIATION OF GEOCACHERS (UTAG)

ARTICLE I
Name and Mission Statement

SECTION 1. The name of the Association shall be:
Utah Association of Geocachers (also to be known as UTAG).

SECTION 2. The Utah Association of Geocachers (UTAG) strives to advance the sport of geocaching throughout the state of Utah. We endeavor to accomplish this mission by:

Encouraging fellowship and fraternity amongst Utah geocachers through regular social activities.

Fostering geocaching etiquette and responsible stewardship of our public lands.

Raising public awareness and understanding of geocaching through effective use of media relations.

Ensuring access to public lands for geocaching activities by working as a liaison with public land-use agencies.

Promoting geocaching as a worthwhile family-oriented outdoor activity.

SECTION 3. The Association shall not be conducted or operated for profit, and no part of any profits or remainder or residue from dues or donations to the Association shall inure to the benefit of any member or individual.

SECTION 4. The members of the Association shall adopt and may from time to time revise such bylaws as may be required to carry out these objectives.

ARTICLE II

Eligibility/Membership/Dues

SECTION 1. Eligibility. Any individual shall be eligible for membership, provided they agree to abide by the bylaws and rules of the Association. Adult members in good standing shall be entitled to vote and to hold office.

SECTION 2. Membership. Each applicant for membership shall be required to register online at the UTAG Forum, thereby providing the Association with name, age, address, phone, email address and geocaching name and other information deemed necessary for contact and identification of candidate. Once an applicant has provided the above information, the applicant shall be considered a member of UTAG.

SECTION 3. Dues. There shall be no initiation or membership dues unless deemed necessary by vote of the Officers of the Association.

ARTICLE III
Meetings

SECTION 1. General Membership Meetings. There shall be an annual general membership meeting of the Association each year during the month of May, the place, date, and hour to be designated by the Officers. Notice of general membership meetings shall be emailed by the Secretary to each member at least 30 days prior to the date of the meeting and posted on the UTAG website. The quorum for the annual meeting shall be ten members in good standing on the day of the meeting.

SECTION 2. Special General Membership Meetings. Special general membership meetings of the Association may be called by the President or by a majority vote of the Officers, or shall be called by the Secretary upon receipt of a petition signed by ten members of the Association who are in good standing. Such meeting shall be held at such place, date, and hour as may be designated by the Officers. Notice of such meeting shall be emailed to members by the Secretary at least 14 days and not more than 30 days prior to the meeting and posted on the UTAG website. The notice of the meeting shall state the purpose of the meeting and no other Association business may be transacted. The quorum for such a meeting shall be ten members in good standing.

SECTION 3. Officers’ Meetings. The first meeting of the Officers shall be held immediately following elections. Other meetings of the Officers shall be held at such times and places as are designated by the President or by majority vote of the Officers. Notice of each meeting shall be emailed by the Secretary to each Officer. The Officers may also conduct their business by mail, FAX, computer, or telephone conference call through the Secretary.

ARTICLE IV
Officers

SECTION 1. Officers. The Association's officers, consisting of the President, 1st Vice-President, 2nd Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall serve in their respective capacities both with regard to the Association and its meetings and shall perform their duties as prescribed by these bylaws and by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Association. The officers shall not be eligible to serve for more than two consecutive terms in the same office.

The Officers shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Association between its general membership meetings, fix the hour and place of meetings, make recommendations to the Association, and shall perform such other duties as are specified in these bylaws. The Officers shall be subject to the orders of the Association, and none of its acts shall conflict with action taken by the Association.

(a) The President shall preside at all meetings of the Officers and of the Association, and shall have the duties and powers normally appurtenant to the office of President in addition to those particularly specified in these bylaws.

(b) The 1st Vice-President shall have the duties and exercise the powers of the President in case of the President's absence, death or incapacity and shall fulfill the duties and powers normally appurtenant to the office of Vice-President, and shall have such powers and discharge such duties as may be assigned to him or her by the Officers.

(c) The 2nd Vice-President shall have such powers and discharge such duties as may be assigned to him or her by the Officers.

(d) The Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the Association, and meetings of the Officers, and of all votes taken, and of all matters of which a record shall be ordered by the Association; have charge of the correspondence, notify members of meetings, notify officers of their election to office, keep a roll of members of the Association and their addresses and carry out such other duties as are prescribed in these bylaws.

(e) The Treasurer shall collect and receive all money due or belonging to the Association. Moneys shall be deposited in a cashbox or bank approved by the Officers, in the name of the Association. The books shall at all times be open to inspection by the Officers and a report shall be given at every meeting of the condition of the Association's finances and every item of receipt or payment not before reported; and at the general membership meetings an accounting shall be rendered of all moneys received and expended during the previous fiscal year.

SECTION 2. Vacancies. Any vacancies occurring among the Officers shall be filled until the next annual election by a majority vote of all the Officers; except that a vacancy in the office of President shall be filled automatically by the 1st Vice-President.

ARTICLE V
The Association Year, Voting, Nominations Elections

SECTION 1. Association Year. The Association's fiscal year shall begin on the 1st day of January and end on the last day of December.

The Association's official year shall begin on the day of the annual general membership meeting in May immediately at the conclusion of the election and shall continue through the next election. The elected Officers shall take office immediately following the election and each retiring officer shall turn over to his successor in office all properties and records pertaining to that office.

SECTION 2. Voting. At General Membership Meetings or at special meetings of the Association, voting shall be limited to those members in good standing who are present at the meeting, except for the annual election of Officers which shall be conducted as described in Art. 5, Section 3 and Section 4. Voting by proxy shall not be permitted.

SECTION 3. Annual Election. The election of Officers shall be conducted by one of two methods--a secret ballot at the Annual May General Membership Meeting or by an electronic ballot conducted prior to the Annual May General Membership Meeting.

The nominated or write-in candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected.

SECTION 4. Nominations and Balloting.

(a) In the event that elections are held at a General Meeting of the Association, Nominations shall be open until closed by a motion that is seconded and passed just prior to balloting. Said nominees must be present and shall denote willingness to serve before balloting begins.

(b) In the event that elections by electronic vote are deemed expedient by the Association Officers, Nominations shall be accepted in the week prior to commencement of electronic balloting. Such nominees must state their willingness to serve prior to the commencement of electronic balloting.

(c) Officers shall be elected by a simple majority vote of all eligible members present and voting or by a simple majority vote of all eligible members voting by electronic means. Election results shall be announced immediately following the close of elections and shall be posted on the Association website.

ARTICLE VI
Committees

SECTION 1. The Officers may appoint standing committees to advance the work of the Association. Such committees shall always be subject to the final authority of the Officers. Special committees may also be appointed by the Officers to aid with particular projects.

ARTICLE VII
Amendments

SECTION 1. Amendments to the bylaws may be proposed by the Officers or by written petition addressed to the Secretary signed by three members in good standing. Amendments proposed by such petition shall be promptly considered by the Officers and must be submitted to the members with recommendations of the Officers by the Secretary prior to a vote at a general meeting of the membership. A favorable vote of 2/3 of the members in good standing shall be required to effect such amendment.

ARTICLE VIII
Dissolution

SECTION 1. The Association may be dissolved at any time by the written consent of not less than 2/3 of the members. In the event of dissolution of the Association, other than for purposes of reorganization, whether voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law, none of the property of the Association nor any proceeds thereof nor any assets of the Association shall be distributed to any members of the Association but after payment of the debts of the Association its property and assets shall be given to a charitable organization selected by the Officers.

ARTICLE X
Parliamentary Authority

SECTION 1. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern the Association in all cases in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any other special rules of order the Association may adopt.