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ARTICLE I Name, Purpose and Seal

1.1 The name of this organization shall be the Midcoast Mineral Collectors Club,
hereinafter referred to as the Club.
1.2 The purpose of this Club shall be to engage and foster a positive interest in mineralogy, mineral collecting, the lapidary arts, geology, and paleontology. 
1.3 This Club was organized as the Midcoast Mineral Collectors Club on October 28th, 2024.
1.4 The seal of this Club shall display... (Mineral crystal matrix with a miner underneath and a map of Maine with an outline of the midcoast area Midcoast Mineral Collector Club is written around the inner circle).

ARTICLE II Officers

2.1 The elected officers of this Club shall be President, Vice President, Treasurer, and
Secretary. Collectively these officers shall constitute the Executive Committee of the Club.
2.2 A past President shall also be a member of the Executive Committee to constitute a voting
Executive Committee of 5 members. If a past President is not able to be on the Committee then
the 4 elected officers may appoint a previous past officer as the 5th Executive Committee
member.
2.3 Terms of officers shall be one year, or until their successors accept nomination and are
elected. Officers may succeed themselves.
2.4 Additional officer positions may be added by the Club as the needs of the Club may
demand.
2.5 Officers shall be elected by regular hand vote or by secret ballot at the annual meeting of
the Club and shall continue in office until the next annual meeting or until their successors are
elected.
2.6 After due deliberation and for just cause shown, an officer may be removed from office by
a two-thirds vote of those members present and voting at a meeting of the Club at which a
quorum is present.
2.7 The vacancy of any officer, for whatever reason, may be filled by nomination from the
general membership and approval by general election where a quorum is present during any
scheduled, regular meeting of the Club.
2.8 Except as herein provided, the duties of officers are those normally associated with their
respective offices.
2.9 Elections of officers shall require a simple majority of the Club voting members present at
the scheduled Annual meeting.

ARTICLE III Appointments

3.1 Directors, Chair and Standing Committee appointments shall be made by the President at
the beginning of him or her term, or as necessary, for Field Trips, Newsletter Editor, Program
Director, Publicity Director, Safety Officer, Show Chair, Webmaster and Federation Delegates.
3.2 Other committee chairs may be appointed as appropriate and shall serve throughout the
year or until the committee business is completed.

ARTICLE IV Duties of Officers, Directors and Chairs

4.1 The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club. In the absence or disability of the
President, the Vice President shall perform the duties of the President.
4.2 In addition to the above-mentioned duty, the Vice- President shall perform any function or
duty given to them by the President.
4.3 The Secretary shall keep the minutes and the records of the Club.
4.4 The Treasurer shall be the financial agent of the Club and shall, subject to the orders and
supervision of the Club, collect and disburse the funds of the Club; shall keep or cause to be
kept accurate books of account; and shall make a report of the financial condition of the Club at
each scheduled meeting.
4.5 The Executive Committee shall be responsible for conducting the standard business of the
Club as expected on behalf of the general membership.
4.6 The Field Trip Director and Assistants (if any) shall investigate and negotiate for use of
collecting sites for Club field trips and shall oversee all Club field trips.
4.7 The Editor(s) of the newsletter shall ensure a timely publication of the monthly newsletter.
4.8 The Program Director will work with members of the Club to engage and foster a positive interest in mineralogy, mineral collecting, the lapidary arts, geology, and paleontology. 
4.9 The Publicity Director oversees and coordinates the social media activity of the Club; 
administers the Club’s social media accounts; encourages member’s participation; creates, 
edits, and reviews and approves Club’s social media posts and pages in order to disseminate 
appropriate news, notices, activities, accomplishments and other items of importance from the 
Club, other regional club activities, and other pertinent sources.
4.10 The Safety Officer....
4.11 The Fair/Show Chair....Organizes the Club’s Fair or Show and helps coordinate volunteers.
4.12 The Webmaster shall develop and maintain the Club website.
4.13 The Federation Delegates....

ARTICLE V Membership

5.1 Membership in the Midcoast Mineral Collectors Club shall be open to any adult
regardless of race, creed, religion, gender, political orientation or sexual preference.

5.2 Active members shall be those who express an interest in the objectives of the Club, agree
to support and follow the By-Laws and rules of the Club and pay annual dues as described in 
Article VI of these By-Laws.
5.3 All officers, either elected or appointed, shall be selected from these members.
5.4 Family memberships shall include those living together in a single household who are
directly related by blood, marriage or legal custody. Minor family members must be
accompanied by an adult member of the family when attending any Club sponsored activity.

ARTICLE VI Annual Dues and Termination of Membership
6.1 Annual membership dues shall be payable by the first week in February.
6.2 The Club may waive dues for any member for reasonable cause.
6.3. Outstanding dues remaining unpaid after 30 days of the membership anniversary due date
shall be considered just cause for termination of membership. Memberships that have been
terminated for unpaid dues may be reinstated upon payment of current dues.
6.4. Membership, either individual or family, may be terminated for cause shown by simple
majority vote at a scheduled business meeting of the Club. Notice in writing by regular mail to
the address provided by the member must be given at least two weeks in advance of the
meeting at which termination is to be discussed. In the event a membership is terminated by
the Club for cause other than nonpayment of dues the current year's dues will be refunded to
the terminated membership holder.

ARTICLE VII Meetings, Quorum and Field Trips

7.1 The annual meeting to elect officers shall be held the first Sunday in February or
postponement date thereof. The slate of officers to be elected and the place, date and time of
the annual meeting shall be announced by e-mail to all members or posting to the Club web
page or other reasonable means.
7.2 Regular meetings of the Club shall be scheduled for the first Sunday of each month,
weather permitting. The business of the Club shall be conducted by the officers, and members
at meetings scheduled by the president. Two Executive Committee members and 5 members
of the Club present and voting shall constitute a quorum sufficient to transact any business of
the Club. All active members are encouraged to attend and to vote upon any matter taken up at
any regular or business meeting of the Club. Members shall be notified of regular meetings and
business meetings through email, posting on the Club web page or other reasonable means. If
the President shall decide that the best interests of the Club require that a business meeting be
held before notice can be made, then he or she may assemble a quorum plus as many active
members as is practical and conduct business necessary to the best interests of the Club. Any
vote taken at such a meeting must be ratified by a simple majority vote at the next regularly
scheduled business meeting.
7.3 All meetings shall be chaired by the President or his or her designate. When the Club has
a matter under consideration at any meeting, no member shall speak unless he or she has been
recognized and given the floor by the President. The President shall use best efforts to ensure
that all who wish to speak on any matter are given an opportunity to do so.
7.4 Field trips shall be planned for as many months of the year as is practical. The Director of
Field Trips or Assistants shall be in charge.

ARTICLE VIII Books of Account

8.1 No officer or member shall take any action that might adversely affect the Charter,
corporate status or the non-profit nature and standing of the Club.
8.2 The books of the Club shall be audited once a year after the close of the fiscal year by a
committee appointed for that purpose by the President.
8.3 In the event that this Club should be dissolved and cease to exist, the Club's assets, after
payment of all reasonable debts and other claims for reimbursement, shall be turned over to a
not for profit organization in the State of Maine whose purpose is also to promote an interest in
the study of mineralogy and geology and all of its branches.
8.4 Other than the monies and records of the Club, assets owned or in the hands of the Club
shall be limited to those necessary to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Club.

ARTICLE IX By-Laws

9.1 These By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed at any regular meeting of the Club
by a two-thirds vote of those members present and voting. The substance of any proposed By-
Law change and a brief explanation of the change shall be published in the monthly newsletter
edition or e-mail to members preceding the regular meeting at which the change is to be voted
upon.
ARTICLE X Fiscal Year

10.1 The fiscal year of the Club shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31.

A True Copy,

Attest:
President interim 

December 10, 2024
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