American Institute of Professional Geologists

New Mexico Tech Chapter

The American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG), founded in 1963, is the largest association dedicated to promoting geology as a profession. It presently has more than 7,800 members in the U.S. and abroad, organized into 36 regional Sections. The Institute adheres to the principles of professional responsibility and public service and is the only international organization that certifies the competence and ethical conduct of geological scientists in all branches of the science with members employed in industry, government, and academia. AIPG emphasizes competence, integrity and ethics. AIPG is an advocate for the profession and communicates regularly to federal and state legislators and agencies on matters pertaining to the geosciences.

Club Officers

BYLAWS OF THE ROBERT LESSARD MEMORIAL STUDENT CHAPTER of the
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGISTS

Article I - Name

Section 1. This Chapter shall be known as the Robert Lessard Memorial Student Chapter of the American Institute of Professional Geologists. (One Chapter may serve neighboring campuses.)

Article II - Object

Section 1. Its object shall be to promote among its members continued professional growth in the areas of geology and to encourage professional responsibility that includes ethical, social, economic, and safety considerations, with the added focus of helping students gain employment in the industry.

Article III - Conformity with American Institute of Professional Geologists

Section 1. The governance of this Chapter shall at all times conform to the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the American Institute of Professional Geologists.

Article IV - Membership

Section 1. Any student enrolled in an accredited 4-year university or college and enrolled in a geological or geoscience course or those interested in geosciences field shall be eligible for membership. Meetings are open to all students, alumni, professionals, and others who care to attend.

Section 2. Membership shall continue as long as the member remains in good standing including payment of all dues owed.

Section 3. The Chapter Sponsor and the Faculty Sponsor(s) shall be ex-officio members of the Chapter.

Article V -Dues

Section 1. Annual Chapter dues of $0 shall be payable at the beginning of each administrative (academic) year. Chapter dues are separate from those remitted for affiliation with the Institute.

Section 2. A member in arrears one term shall lose voting privilege and, if in arrears one year, membership.

Section 3. The Chapter shall have the right to levy special assessments by a two-thirds vote of all present at any regular meeting.

Article VI - Officers

Section 1. The officers shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 2. Not less than two months prior to the last regular meeting of each administrative year, the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee to select a slate of candidates, not to exceed two for each office.

Section 3. Officers shall be elected for a term of one year at a regular meeting of the Chapter not later than one month prior to the last regular meeting of each school year. The administrative year shall coincide with the academic year, commencing with the fall term in August.  Each officer so elected shall personally thereupon accept election and pledge to assume the duties of the office.

Section 4. Vacancies occurring during an administrative year shall be filled at a called election at the next regular meeting.

Section 5. To be eligible for election, the nominee must be an Affiliate or Member of American Institute of Professional Geologists and a member of the Chapter.

Section 6. Election shall be by a majority vote (i.e., more than 51%) of the members present.

Section 7. At the time of each annual election, there shall be identified to the Chapter, the AIPG Member appointed by the Section President, who shall act as Chapter Sponsor, a source of inspiration and counsel to the officers.

Article VII - Duties of the Officers

Section 1. The President shall preside at all Chapter and Chapter Executive Committee meetings, render the prescribed Chapter requirement of an Annual Report to AIPG headquarters, and assume all executive duties not otherwise delegated by these bylaws.

Section 2. The Vice-President shall preside during the absence or at the request of the President and shall automatically succeed to the Presidency in case of vacancy.  The Vice President shall also be responsible for transporting refreshments to meetings.

Section 3. The Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the Chapter and the Chapter Executive Committee in the official minute book. The outgoing Secretary shall fulfill the Chapter requirements of reporting the election of new officers to AIPG Headquarters and to the Section President and shall act as librarian. The Secretary shall preside during the absence of both the President and Vice-President.

Section 4. The Treasurer, working under the supervision of the Chapter Sponsor and the Section Treasurer, shall handle and account for all funds, paying out funds only upon approval of the President, or the Chapter Executive Committee. At the end of the year, the Treasurer shall submit a report with cash balance to the Chapter Executive Committee for audit and approval, and deliver all records and moneys to the incoming Treasurer.

Section 5. The Chapter Sponsor shall advise the officers and membership and represent the Chapter at American Institute of Professional Geologists Section Meetings as regularly as possible. He/she shall encourage all Chapter members to attend Section and National meetings as may be possible.

Section 6. The Faculty Sponsor(s) shall serve as liaison between the Chapter and the faculty of the host institution, and shall advise the officers and membership.

Article VIII - Chapter Executive Committee

Section 1. The Executive Committee consists of the elected officers, plus the Sponsor, of the Chapter. It meets regularly each month during the academic year and such other times as called by the President, or by a quorum of the committee. A quorum, which consists of a simple majority, is necessary to conduct business. The Executive Committee conducts the business of the Chapter, acts on periodic reports from the Secretary, Treasurer, and Committee Chairmen, and is responsible to the Section, the Institute and the will of the majority of all Chapter members. The Executive Committee must approve the Annual Reports of the President, Secretary, and Treasurer before they are sent to the Section and the Institute.

Section 2. All meetings of the Executive Committee shall be open to the Chapter members.

Article IX - Committees

Section 1. The officers of the Chapter, including the Chapter Sponsor as advisor, shall constitute the Executive Committee, charged with the responsibility of a successful year’s program.

Section 2. The President, as Chairperson of the Executive Committee, shall appoint, with the approval of the Executive Committee, the personnel of the standing committees.

Section 3. The standing committees shall include:

a)   Program Committee - to arrange and be responsible for meetings, speeches, and papers presented.

(b)  Field Trip Committee - to arrange and carry out field trips

(c)   Membership Development Committee - to promote local and national membership and to encourage the involvement of non-members in Chapter activities.

(d)  Publicity Committee - to bring the Chapter and its activities, including all meetings, to the attention of members, potential members, the school and the press and any other potentially interested persons.

The President shall be an advisory member of the standing committees. The committees shall be directly responsible to the Executive Committee, which shall have the power to change the personnel of the standing committees, and to appoint special or ad hoc committees as deemed necessary.

Article X - Meetings

Section 1. The times for the regular meetings of the Chapter shall be decided at the beginning of each semester by the Executive Committee, which may also call a special meeting at any time.

Article XI - Amendments

Section 1. These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members, provided notice of the proposed amendment shall have been given in writing at the last regular meeting.

Section 2. Amendments to these Bylaws must be approved by the American Institute of Professional Geologists Section and National Executive Committees.