Constitution and By Laws

Constitution of the

Michigan Community College Biologists

(Amended April 2021)

Name

Article I
The name of the organization shall be the Michigan Community College Biologists.

Purpose

Article II
The organization is organized exclusively for educational and scientific purposes under Section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
The purposes of this organization shall be to promote interest in biology and biological instructional
techniques and methods; to provide an opportunity for the presentation of current studies and
findings in biology; to facilitate the exchange of new ideas and improved methods of biological
instruction and to foster communication, friendship and unity among the community college
biologists or Michigan.

Membership

Article III
Eligibility and privileges for membership shall be prescribed by the Bylaws.
Officers and Campus Representatives

Article IV
A. The officers of this organization shall be a President, President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer.
The general membership shall elect the officers.
B. One campus representative from each community college will be eligible to serve on the
governing board, subject to the approval of their colleagues and the Executive Committee.
C. Officers and representatives shall be installed during the 2 nd  academic term.
D. Secretary, Treasurer, and representatives shall serve 1-year terms that may be extended upon
the invitation of the Presidents (Past, Current, and Elect).
E. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President-Elect, President, Past-President,
Secretary, and Treasurer.

Governing Board

Article V
A. Members shall consist of the officers, the immediate Past-President, chairs of permanent
committees, and the campus representatives.
B. The functions of the Governing Board will be to transact the business of the organization.
C. The Governing Board shall be the legal representative of the organization, and as such, shall
have, hold, and administer all funds and affairs of the Organization in trust in conformity with the
Constitution and Bylaws.

Committees

Article VI
A. Members will volunteer for the committee of their interest and preference.
B. The chairs of committees will be approved by the Executive Committee.
B. The terms of each committee and member thereof shall expire with the term of the officers.

Dues and Finance

Article VII
The Governing Board shall recommend the amounts of assessment, if any, and the annual dues to
the members at either a business meeting or general membership meeting. The recommendations
will be voted on by the General Membership at the general membership meeting held in the
2 nd  academic term. The Governing Board shall determine expenses and honoraria, if any, to be paid.
The Governing Board shall recommend an annual independent audit of the financial accounts and
comply with all state and federal regulations.

General Membership Meeting

Article VIII
There shall be at least two general meetings to be held as prescribed by the Bylaws.

Amendments to the Constitution

Article IX
A proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be presented in writing to the Secretary of the
Organization by at least four active members. The proposed amendment shall be published in the
Organization’s publication and shall be voted upon at the next general meeting of the membership.
The amendment shall become effective upon adoption by a sixty percent vote of the active members
of the Organization present at the general meeting.
Dissolution

Article X
In the event of dissolution or termination of the corporation, title to and possession of all the property
of the organization shall pass forthwith to such organization dedicated to similar purposes and
qualified for exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code as amended, or
corresponding section of any future federal tax code, as the membership shall deem best qualified to
carry on the functions of the organization.

Bylaws of the

Michigan Community College Biologists

(Amended April 2021)

Membership

Article I
A. Persons eligible to participate as an active member in this organization shall:
1. Currently teach or have taught biology at a community college
2. Currently teach or have taught biology at an institution of higher education
3. Currently work or have worked in the biological sciences at a community college
or institution of higher learning.

B. Organizations eligible to be members in MCCB shall be:
1. Community colleges as Institutional Members
2. Other organizations related to the biological sciences as designated by the governing
board.

C. All members shall receive the publications of the Organization.
D. All members shall be entitled to the privileges of the Organization.
E. The membership year of the Organization shall begin with the Fall General Membership Meeting
of the Academic Year.

Dues

Article II
A. Annual dues in the Organization shall be set annually as described in the constitution, Article VII.
B. Dues shall be paid in the Academic year that membership is desired, as stated in Article I, E of
the Bylaws.
C. Any member in arrears for dues for three (3) months shall not thereafter receive the publications
of the Organization and shall be dropped from membership until all arrears shall have been paid, or
he/she/they shall rejoin the organization.

Election of Officers

Article III
A. The Nominating and Election Committee will oversee the nomination and voting procedures and
processes for the offices of: President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer. The President-Elect shall
automatically assume the office of President for the ensuing year.
B. Elections shall be held in accordance with the Constitution Article IV: C.
Duties of Officers and Campus Representatives

Article IV
A. The President shall preside at Executive Board meetings, Governing Board meetings, and
General Membership meetings. He/She/They is an ex-officio member of all standing committees and
shall assume all other duties normally associated with the office.
B. The President-Elect shall assume the duties of the President in his/her absence or inability to
serve. In the event of an inability to serve, the President-Elect shall assume the office of President.
C. The Secretary shall record the minutes of all meetings which will be reviewed by members of the
Executive Board and then shared with the general membership.

D. The Treasurer shall oversee the management of the Organization’s fiscal affairs and submit a
report at all meetings. Specific duties of the treasurer position are as follows:
1. Set-up and maintain checking and savings accounts with associated credit and debit cards.
2. Maintain a PayPal account and regularly transfer funds to appropriate bank account.
3. File government forms including the federal 501C tax exempt form and state LARA nonprofit
annual report.
4. Pay all bills.
5. Pay annual stipends (treasurer, newsletter, and webmaster).
6. Provide advance funds to conference organizers.
7. Share a balance sheet at each conference.
8. Maintain list of past and present institutional membership.
E. The immediate Past-President shall act as a resource for the new president and be responsible
for sending out Institutional Membership letters to every Michigan community college between
August 1 st and September 15 th . The letters for each institution should be sent to a college
administrator and the campus representative.
F. The Campus Representatives shall act as the liaison between MCCB and the biology faculty at
their respective institutions. Typical duties include:
1. Communicate with faculty at their respective institutions regarding MCCB memberships,
conferences, and meetings.
2. Recruit new and returning members.
3. Advertise the website for events, updates, job postings, etc.
4. Advocate with administrators to pay for an Institutional Memberships.
5. Attend at least one governing board meeting per year.
Permanent Committees

Article V
There shall be five permanent committees.
A. The Executive Committee shall conduct business in the interim between meetings of the
organization and discuss a budget with the Governing Board at the spring meeting.
B. The Membership Committee shall be responsible for maintaining membership lists,
communicating with the general membership, and recruiting members.
C. The Nominating and Election Committee will oversee the nomination and voting procedures and
processes for the offices of: President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer.
D. The Communications Committee shall be responsible for maintaining the website, publishing the
newsletter, and maintaining a social media presence.
E. The Professional Development Committee shall plan and develop programs, workshops,
seminars, and other activities that will facilitate the exchange of new biological information and of
improved methods of biological instruction.

Ad Hoc Committees

Article VI
A. An Ad Hoc Committee can be established for any appropriate function approved by the Governing
Board.
B. The President, with the approval of the Officers of the Organization, may appoint one or more
representatives of the Association to serve with any group, board, committee, council, congress, or
convocation when the interests of the Organization demand. He/She/They may negotiate
agreements (consistent with the Constitution of these Bylaws) with institutions, individuals, or other
societies, subject to the approval of the Governing Board. Their term of office will terminate at the
end of one year.

Committees – Terms of Office and Reports

Article VII
Members of all committees will serve a one-year term coincident with that of the officers.

Publication

Article VIII
A. Two general meetings of the membership for transaction of the Organization’s business shall be
held each academic year. Special meetings of the members may be called by the
Officers/Committees.
B. At the General Meeting of the Fall and Spring academic terms, the President and the Secretary
shall summarize actions of the Governing Board and an opportunity shall be afforded for discussion.
Active members may present items to be referred to the Governing Board for consideration.

Quorums

Article IX
In voting, (other than constitutional amendments) a simple majority of those present registered as
regular, active members shall constitute a quorum. In voting by mail or electronically, a simple
majority of the returned ballots of regular, active members shall constitute a quorum.

Fiscal Year

Article X
The fiscal year of the Organization shall begin and end on the on the date of July 31st each calendar
year.

Rules of Order

Article XI
The rules contained in the Pocket Manual of Rules of Order, by Henry M. Robert, shall determine the
parliamentary practice of the Organization in all cases in which they apply and when they are not
inconsistent with the Constitution or the By-laws of the Organization.
Amendments to the Bylaws

Article XII
These Bylaws may be amended by a simple majority vote as described in the Bylaws, Article IX,
Quorums.