10/27/2025
The following is a copy of the club’s by-laws for anyone interested.
CONVERSE COUNTY ROCK HOUNDS BY-LAWS
Article 1-Name & Origin
This club was formally organized on October 16, 2023 and was named the Converse County Rock Hounds. It is recognized as a nonprofit organization by the United States federal government with an E.I.N. of 33-5028635.
It was registered as a Nonprofit Corporation by the Wyoming Secretary of State on Feb 27, 2025. The Articles of Incorporation of the Converse County Rock Hounds shall become an amendment to these by-laws and each will support the other without conflicting information or meaning.
Article 2-Objectives
The objectives of the Converse County Rock Hounds shall be to:
Foster interest in geology, mineralogy, paleontology, and lapidary arts
Provide educational programs, guest speakers, and workshops on rock, fossil, and mineral identification
Advocate ethical collecting practices that respect landowners, public lands, and the environment
Article 3-Membership
Membership in the Converse County Rock Hounds is open to all persons who are not legally excluded from membership. Each member shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges of membership and also subject to all the responsibilities, duties, and obligations as are other members of the club.
Members are asked to support and adhere to the Federation of Mineralogical Society’s Code of Ethics and to govern themselves for the benefit of the Converse County Rock Hounds -- members who intentionally fail to do this may have their membership terminated. Prior to membership termination, the member will be granted due process in regards to their defense by responding to the club officers in person or in a written statement.
Article 4-Dues
Changes in the amount of annual dues paid by the membership must be voted on and approved by the membership. Annual club dues are to be paid prior to the October meeting in order for members to be included in the Club’s Membership Roll. New members who join after May 1st will be considered paid up until October of the following year.
Article 5-Meetings
The Converse County Rock Hounds will meet monthly with the date, time, and place determined by the Converse County Rock Hounds’ officers. Special meetings may be called by the club officers. All meetings will be advertised to the membership via the local media and/or by email/phone. Meetings should be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order and according to any by-laws that apply.
Article 6-Voting
All members current in their dues and who are voting in person at an advertised meeting will have one vote regardless of their membership classification including and not limited to: individual, family, junior, honorary/life. Voting approval requires a simple majority of the membership present and casting votes at a meeting provided a quorum of 6 members are present. Actions/decisions taken by the elected officers outside membership meetings require a simple majority approval vote of those officers and their actions/decisions can be recalled or modified by the membership voting at any meeting thereafter.
Article 7-Officers
Members to serve as President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer of the Converse County Rock Hounds will be elected bi-annually at the October meeting by the membership and assume office on November 1st of the current calendar year. These same individuals will serve as the Board of Directors as required by the incorporation of the Converse County Rock Hounds by the State of Wyoming. All other positions in the club will be filled by volunteers and/or appointed by the Club officers. A vacancy in any office or position may be filled by the club officers for the unexpired portion of the term of that vacancy.
Article 8-Officers Duties
President:
Will preside at all meetings and supervise and control all of the business / affairs of
the Converse County Rock Hounds.
May act for and/or represent the club for its benefit or as required in matters described as, but not limited to financial, legal, or public record as authorized by the Club’s By-Laws and/or Wyoming Law.
Shall lead, control and supervise the actions of all other elected club officers and appointed committee persons.
Will be responsible for notifying the membership and/or the media of meetings, club events, and any other necessary communications.
Shall be custodian of the Converse County Rock Hounds corporate records and be responsible for all correspondence as required by Wyoming Law and the Club’s By-Laws.
Vice-President:
In the event that the President is temporarily absent, will assume the duties and responsibilities of the President. If the office of President is vacated during the calendar year, the Vice-President will become the President which will require a new Vice-President to be appointed.
Shall serve as ambassador and liason between Converse County Rockhounds and other clubs.
Secretary:
Will record and keep minutes of all meetings of the membership and the officers. These minutes are to be kept and compiled such that they can be accumulated as part of the Converse County Rock Hounds historical record.
Shall maintain a current list of the membership-including names, mailing and electronic addresses, and phone numbers. This list will be available to all members for internal club use as either an electronic or hard copy Membership Yearbook.
Treasurer:
Shall be responsible for all financial transactions required of the Converse County Rock Hounds including but not limited to-collecting membership dues and any other income monies and the deposit of all such monies in a financial institution approved by the membership, paying all expenses incurred by the officers and/or individual club members following approval by the membership, and keeping a record and financial ledger supported by income statements and expense receipts which will become part of the Converse County Rock Hounds historical record. Any withdrawals by check or checks written are required to have signature of Treasurer and President. In the event of a new treasurer and/or president, the new officers will need to make changes to account at bank.
Will give a current financial report-including income, expenses and current financial institution balances- at all meetings for the previous year at the January meeting.
Will send annual payments and/or reports as required by the Wyoming State Mineral & Gem Society, Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies, and the Internal Revenue Service.
Article 9-Property Equipment and Supplies
Equipment owned by the Converse County Rock Hounds will be available for use by the membership provided each such user can demonstrate their ability/knowledge or has been trained to operate such equipment in a correct and safe manner. Each member assumes all liability for operating equipment owned by the Club as to personal injury and financial loss resulting from negligent damage to equipment. The Club will assume the cost of normal equipment maintenance. Supplies used by individual members will be purchased by those individual members.
If property owned by the club is sold, it will be advertised to the membership initially and sold by sealed bids or silent auction, at the discretion of the officers. If no bids are received from the membership or the officers judge the highest bid as unacceptable, then they are authorized to advertise such equipment to the public in a like manner.
In the event of the dissolution of the Converse County Rock Hounds by an affirmative vote greater than 66% of the eligible club members; the net assets of the Corporation, after all outstanding income and debts have been processed and reported to the membership, shall be donated to the Wyoming State Mineral and Gem Society and/or the Rocky Mountain Federation Mineralogical Society.
Article 10-By-Law Amendments
The By-Laws as listed above and adopted by the Converse County Rock Hounds membership as documented below may be altered, amended, or repealed thereafter by a simple majority vote of the membership at any meeting with 6 or more members present.
