WASHINGTON STATE GEOCACHING ASSOCIATION BYLAWS, Rev 09/19/2024
Revised November 1st, 2024
Article 1: Name
The name of the organization is “Washington State Geocaching Association,” hereafter referred to as “WSGA” or “the Association.” The principal address of WSGA shall be that of the Registered Agent.
Article 2: Purposes
WSGA is a registered nonprofit organization in the State of Washington. Its purposes are to:
- Promote geocaching as a fun, family-oriented outdoor activity that increases awareness and appreciation of the environment and our parks and trails.
- Provide opportunities for participants to enjoy geocaching and to socialize with other geocachers.
- Educate park systems and land managers about geocaching and its benefits.
- Increase awareness and support of geocaching through interaction with other outdoor groups and the public
- Encourage low-impact geocaching and promote stewardship of our natural resources.
- Support “Cache In Trash Out” activities in our communities to help maintain parks, trail systems, and public lands.
Article 3: Membership
3.1 – Anyone who subscribes to the purposes of WSGA as described in Article 2 may become a member.
3.2 – A “Member” is defined as an individual who qualifies for one of the categories of membership and who has paid the specified dues for the current year
3.3 – WSGA has two categories of membership:
- Basic: Includes one name tag and one member gift.
- Premium: Includes one name tag, one member gift, and a geocoin or trackable item.
Both Basic and Premium members may purchase additional name tags for immediate family members as part of their membership.
3.4 – All membership is on an annual basis, beginning on the date the first dues are paid and expires one year from that date.
3.5 – A person may not hold, or be part of, more than one WSGA membership.
3.6 – No person shall be denied membership or participation in WSGA activities unless the Board of Directors finds by a two-thirds majority vote that they have performed actions that are severely detrimental to the purposes, organization, or reputation of WSGA.
3.7 – WSGA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or any legally protected characteristic.
Article 4: Dues
4.1 – The Board of Directors may establish annual dues as deemed appropriate for each membership level, and revise them as necessary.
4.2 – Dues are renewable on the expiration date defined in Article 3.
4.3 – Renewing Members pay full dues.
Article 5: Board of Directors
5.1 – The affairs of WSGA shall be governed by a Board of Directors, consisting of four officers (the Executive Committee) and the Chapter Representatives (one from each active Chapter as defined in Article 7).
5.1.1 – All Board members are elected on an annual basis per Article 9, and they serve until duly replaced. Board members may be re-elected; there are no term limits.
5.1.2 – All Board members must be current WSGA members during their term of office
5.1.3 – All Executive Committee members shall reside within Washington State. Chapter Representatives must either reside within the boundaries of their Chapter as set forth in Article 7.1, or may be an OOC Representative as set forth in Article 9.3.4.
5.1.4 – No Member may hold more than one Board position at a time.
5.1.5 – Board members shall not receive salaries or payment for their services.
5.2 – The Board of Directors shall manage the overall organization and business of WSGA, and perform the specific duties of their offices as prescribed in these Bylaws. The Board makes policies and sets guidelines to govern the affairs of WSGA, including managing all organizational functions, implementing policies consistent with the purposes of WSGA, responding to proposals from the membership, and establishing necessary budget and staffing levels.
5.3 – Each Board member has one vote. All actions taken by the Board shall be approved by a simple majority vote, except as otherwise noted in these Bylaws. At the President’s discretion, Board business that requires a vote between Business Meetings may be conducted via telephone or electronic means, provided a reasonable attempt is made to notify all Board members of the vote.
5.4 – Association business shall ordinarily be conducted at Business Meetings, which shall be held quarterly at a minimum (four times per year), or more often as needed. These meetings may be held online or in person. A simple majority of the board or committee shall constitute a quorum to conduct business.
5.4.1 – Business Meetings shall be scheduled by the Secretary, with the concurrence of a Board majority. The meeting schedule for the year shall be posted at the start of each term.
5.4.2 – Board members are required to attend 75 percent of Business Meetings either in person or electronically. If a Board member will be unable to attend, they shall notify the President and specify another Board member as their voting proxy.
5.4.3 – All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order.
5.4.4 – Business Meetings may be attended by any WSGA Member as a non-voting observer, unless closed by majority vote of the Board. The membership shall be notified of Business Meetings, provided with the proposed agenda, two weeks in advance, except when special circumstances may require a shorter notice.
5.4.5 – Board business may also be conducted by telephone or electronic means as necessary, but all business decisions shall be reported and recorded for the record at a Business Meeting
5.5 – The Board shall convene an Annual General Meeting for all Members, at which the President will update Members on WSGA activities, and Board members can have an open dialog with Members. Members shall be notified of the annual meeting at least a month in advance.
5.6 – The Board shall ensure that all organizational decisions, policies, and guidelines are promptly and clearly communicated to the general membership in printed or electronic form.
5.7 – A Board member may be removed from office upon a finding that they are unable or unwilling to perform their duties, or have performed actions that are detrimental to the purposes, organization, or reputation of WSGA. Removal of a Board member requires a two-thirds majority vote of the Board.
Article 6: Officers
6.1 – The officers of WSGA shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer who shall comprise and form the Executive Committee, which is the ultimate arbiter for all Association business.
6.2 – The President shall:
- Oversee all WSGA affairs and preside over meetings.
- Appoint Members and committees as necessary to perform tasks agreed upon by the Board.
- Sign contracts and agreements on behalf of WSGA.
- Ensure WSGA activities are promptly and clearly communicated to Members.
- Cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie.
6.3 – The Vice President shall:
- Perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President.
- Manage membership, including the database, promotions, mailings, and status reports.
- Send out member renewal reminders as appropriate
- Oversee the annual Board elections, and chair the Nominating Committee.
6.4 – The Secretary shall:
- Maintain up-to-date records of the general affairs of WSGA, including meeting minutes, correspondence, newsletter archives, legal documents, and contracts.
- Schedule Business Meeting dates and locations, and notify Members two weeks prior to each meeting.
- Handle mailings of merchandise and other WSGA correspondence.
- Maintain an inventory of WSGA property.
6.5 – The Treasurer shall:
- Manage WSGA’s financial affairs, including overseeing the budget, handling income and expenses, and maintaining Association bank accounts.
- Prepare the annual budget and update it throughout the year.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date financial records, and make them available for Board inspection.
- Present an annual fiscal report to the Members.
- Track dues payments
- Determine chapter allocations and make them available by April 15 each year.
- Act as registered agent for WSGA.
Article 7: Chapters
7.1 – WSGA is divided into Chapters, which are groups of WSGA Members in defined geographical areas. The number of chapters and their boundaries shall be defined and revised as appropriate by the Board of Directors.
7.1.1 – A Chapter must have a minimum of 10 active Members, including the chapter representative, to retain its active status.
7.1.2 – Each active WSGA Chapter may receive an annual allocation of funds and merchandise proportionate to its size. The financial allocation shall be managed per Article 10.
7.2 – Each Member will belong to one, and only one, Chapter. By default, a member is affiliated with the Chapter in which geographical area they reside. (Out of state Members are affiliated to their closest in-state WSGA Chapter.) A Member may change their affiliation to a different Chapter by changing their online member profile or notifying the Vice President.
7.3 – Each Chapter is led by a Chapter Representative (“Chapter Rep”) elected by its members. The Chapter Rep is a conduit between Chapter members and the Board of Directors. The Chapter Rep shall:
- Represent the Chapter as a voting member of the WSGA Board of Directors.
- Communicate with Chapter members and ensure they are aware of WSGA activities.
- Host events, encourage CITOs, on a regular basis (at least quarterly) throughout the Chapter area for social interaction, sharing news, discussing issues, soliciting involvement, and/or geocaching education.
- Recruit new and renewal memberships in WSGA.
- Serve as an ambassador for WSGA to the geocaching community and general public.
- Manage the annual allocation of Chapter funds and merchandise.
- Sponsor fund-raising activities, when appropriate and with prior consent of the Board.
- Promptly report memberships, income, and expenses to the Executive Committee, and ensure funds and receipts reach the Treasurer in a timely fashion.
7.4 – A Chapter becomes inactive 30 days after membership drops below 10 active Members or it has no Chapter Representative. In the event a Chapter becomes inactive, its members will become re-affiliated with the Active Chapter closest to their residence, subject to any exceptions under Article 7.2.
7.4.1 – An inactive Chapter has no representative on the Board of Directors, and thus, the Board is reduced by one voting member.
7.4.2 – An inactive Chapter receives no allocation of funds or swag.
7.4.3 – To regain active status, a Chapter must have 10 active Members and a Chapter Representative. This may happen outside the normal election cycle, provided the Board votes to approve an appointed Chapter Representative. If a Chapter is reactivated during a Board term, its allocation of funds and swag will be prorated accordingly.
7.5 – Forming a new Chapter requires a minimum of 20 active Members. The group must have a designated representative and geographical area, and shall petition the Board of Directors for recognition as an active Chapter.
7.5.1 – The Board shall consider the application, including consultation with the current Chapter
Representatives for the area, and determine whether to approve the new Chapter.
7.5.2 – If the Chapter is approved, a designated representative shall be appointed by the Board as the initial Chapter Rep and become a voting member of the Board of Directors until the next election.
7.5.3 – The new Chapter shall receive all chapter privileges and benefits, prorated to its founding date.
Article 8: Committees and Appointments
8.1 – WSGA has two standing committees:
- Executive Committee, comprised of the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
- Nominating Committee, headed by the Vice President for each Board election.
8.2 – The President, with Board approval, may make individual appointments as necessary, which may be Board members and/or general Members.
8.3 – The President, with Board approval, may appoint additional committees as necessary, which may be comprised of Board members and/or general Members.
8.4 – All appointed positions serve at the pleasure of the President and Board and may be reappointed, replaced, or disbanded as appropriate.
Article 9: Elections
9.1 – The Board of Directors shall be elected annually by the general membership.
9.1.1 – Each active Basic and Premium membership has one vote. It shall be each Member’s responsibility to ensure WSGA has a current email address to which election notifications may be sent.
9.2 – The term of office is one year, April 1 to March 31, for all Board members.
9.3 – Any active WSGA Member may run for a Board position. Eligibility requirements are as follows:
9.3.1 – A Member must be at least 18 years of age to serve on the Board.
9.3.2 –To be a nominee, a member must be current with their dues going into the term they would serve.
9.3.3 –To qualify for an Officer Position, a member must be a resident of Washington State.
9.3.4 – To run for Chapter Representative, a member must meet the criteria cited in bylaw 9.3.1 and 9.3.2 and normally must reside in the chapter they want to represent; however, a member residing outside the Chapter may be elected and serve. To be considered as an OOC (Out Of Chapter) nominee for Chapter Representative, the member must:
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- Be nominated by a current member of the chapter they want to represent.
- Reside in Washington, Oregon or Idaho, within 30 minutes usual driving time of the Chapter to ensure their ability to actively participate in Chapter activities and represent the Chapter.
- Be required to request consideration as Chapter Representative by a written statement to the Vice President, documenting their qualifications for being a part time chapter resident and explaining how they will properly uphold the duties of Chapter Representative as defined by bylaw 7.3. The statement should include frequency of time spent within said chapter’s borders, explanation of how the chapter rep duties will be performed as well as qualifications for being considered as a chapter rep.
If the OOC Chapter Representative is approved by the Executive Board, their name will be placed on the ballot with the designation of OOC Nominee. If running unopposed, the ballot will also include a “No Representation” option on the ballot, with a notice that should the voting result in “No Representation”, per Article 7.4, the Chapter will become inactive.
9.4 – The nomination process shall be as follows:
9.4.1 – At the first Business Meeting of the calendar year or February 1, whichever is earliest, the Vice President shall begin the election process by announcing the election and asking the Board and general membership for nominees.
9.4.2 – A Nominating Committee of three Board members shall be established, led by the Vice President. If there are no volunteers, the Vice President shall select two Board members by random draw. The Nominating Committee shall be responsible for screening potential candidates for the Board of Directors.
9.4.3 – The primary role of the Nominating Committee is to oversee board recruitment and succession planning through the following vetting process.
- The committee members identify the necessary qualifications, skills, and experience for each Board position.
- The committee then searches for potential candidates and collects a list of eligible candidates.
- The Committee will ensure all candidates are provided with a summary of the duties and responsibilities of the Board position for which they are volunteering, and that they acknowledge that they are aware to those duties and responsibilities.
- The committee shall also review each candidate’s qualifications for their position.
- The committee will then submit a final list of candidates to the Vice- President for submission to the membership via the election process
9.4.4 – The election slate shall be announced by February 20. Announcement of the slate and election shall be emailed to all members and posted on the WSGA website.
9.5 – Elections shall take place March 1-10 each year via secret ballot, with the new Board taking office April 1.
9.5.1 – All Members may vote for the WSGA officers.
9.5.2 – Only Members affiliated with a specific Chapter may vote for that Chapter Representative.
9.5.3 – A simple majority is required for election to a Board position.
9.5.4 – If the first ballot fails to produce a majority for one candidate, a runoff of the two with the most votes shall be conducted.
9.5.5 – Voting shall be conducted so that no Member, including the Nominating Committee, is privy to the counts during the election. Once voting is complete, the Vice President shall validate and announce the results.
9.5.6 – Election results shall be announced to the general membership immediately following the election.
9.6 – If there are single unopposed candidates nominated for all positions, and there are no positions being contested, the Board may opt to present the election slate to Members for approval by acclamation in lieu of holding an election.
9.6.1 – The slate shall be provided to all Members no later than Feb. 20, and Members shall have until Feb. 25 to voice any objections. If there is no dissent, the slate shall be deemed approved by acclamation.
9.7 – If any elected position becomes vacant, the President shall solicit candidates and appoint a replacement for the remainder of the term, subject to these Bylaws and approval of a simple majority of the Board.
Article 10: Finances and Contracts
10.1 – The WSGA fiscal year shall be April 1st through March 31st.
10.2 – Members may be assessed annual dues per Article 4. The Treasurer shall be responsible for tracking payments.
10.3 – The Treasurer shall annually prepare a budget of expected income and expenditures for the fiscal year.
10.3.1 – The proposed budget shall be presented at the first Business Meeting of the year. The Board shall approve or modify the budget as needed by the second Business Meeting.
10.3.2 – The Board shall not approve a budget that would result in WSGA having greater liabilities than assets, except on a unanimous vote.
10.3.3 – The Treasurer shall track actual vs. budgeted finances during the fiscal year and provide a statement of current finances and budget update at each Business Meeting, and at other intervals if requested (e.g., monthly).
10.4 – WSGA shall maintain a checking account and other accounts as appropriate at a bank or other financial institution agreed upon by the Executive Committee, and maintained by the Treasurer. All WSGA funds not otherwise employed shall be deposited in said account(s). The Executive Committee shall designate a secondary authorized signatory for access to the account in the event the Treasurer is unavailable.
10.5 – All checks, drafts, or other orders for the payment of money issued in the name of WSGA shall normally be prepared and signed by the Treasurer, or if the Treasurer is unavailable, by the designated secondary signatory.
10.6 – Only the Executive Committee may authorize a WSGA Member to enter a contract or execute any instrument on behalf of WSGA. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
10.7 – Officers, Chapter Representatives, and Members may be reimbursed for expenses related to Association activities if the expenses are approved before hand and receipts are provided. The deadline for submitting requests for reimbursement shall be March 31st unless otherwise agreed.
10.8 – Each active WSGA Chapter shall receive an annual financial allocation.
10.8.1 – Each active Chapter may be allotted a base allocation at the beginning of the calendar year, regardless of size. To receive the funds, the Chapter Representative must submit appropriate receipts along with chapter event plans, including one published event. Once a chapter receives its annual allocation, any spent portion of the base allocation will be deducted.
10.8.2 – Allocation amounts shall be based on Chapter membership and WSGA’s budget. Each active Chapter shall be allotted a standard amount for its first 10 Members, plus an incremental amount for each additional Member. The funding formula shall be determined by the Treasurer and approved by the Board, and may be adjusted as appropriate.
10.8.3 – Incremental allocations shall be announced by April 15 each year, and the monies held in reserve until requested by Chapter Representatives. At the Executive Committee’s discretion, an incremental allocation based on Chapter growth may be provided in the second half of the fiscal year.
10.8.4 – To ensure WSGA has operating funds, the Executive Committee has the authority to cap allocations and/or forego chapter allocations in a given year.
10.8.5 – Chapter Representatives shall determine how their Chapter allocations are spent. No Member may request reimbursement from Chapter funds without the prior approval of their Chapter Representative.
10.8.6 – Each Chapter Representative shall be reimbursed for expenses up to the amount of their Chapter allocation when they submit appropriate receipts or other proof of expenses to the Treasurer. Expenses may be reimbursed as they occur throughout the year until the allocation limit is reached.
10.8.7 – Expenses exceeding a Chapter’s allocation shall not be reimbursed without prior authorization from the Executive Committee.
10.8.8 – Any portion of a Chapter’s allocation not used by the end of the Fiscal Year shall be returned to the general Treasury; funds do not carry over to the next fiscal year. The deadline for submitting requests for Chapter reimbursement shall be the end of the Fiscal Year unless otherwise agreed.
10.9 – The Association and/or its Chapters may conduct fund-raising activities if sanctioned by the Board. Fund-raisers shall be for specific purposes, and all income must be provided to the Treasurer for deposit into the general Treasury unless otherwise agreed.
10.10 – No loans shall be made by WSGA to any individual or organization without approval of two-thirds of the Board and a contractual agreement regarding repayment.
Article 11: Solicitation Policy
11.1 – No individual or organization shall sell non-WSGA goods or solicit donations for non-WSGA purposes at WSGA events or through the WSGA mailing list. This includes solicitations for coin sales, support of other organizations, and private donations.
11.2 – Exceptions shall require the prior approval of the Executive Board.
Article 12: Conflicts of Interest
12.1 – No Member of this organization shall use the WSGA name to endorse a product, make a personal profit, or in any way use it as a means of furthering any personal, political, or other aspiration that is not in keeping with the Purposes set forth in Article 2 of these Bylaws.
12.2 – WSGA Board members shall avoid any conflict between their individual, professional, and business interests and the interests of WSGA. On any deemed conflict of interest by a Board member, notice shall be given to the President and that Board member shall then recuse themselves from any discussion or vote on related issues.
12.3 – WSGA as a whole shall not take part in any activity not in keeping with its established Purposes as set forth in Article 2 of these Bylaws.
Article 13: Indemnification
13.1 – All Board members, while acting on behalf of WSGA, shall be indemnified by WSGA against expenses actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit, or proceeding in which they are made a party by reason of being a Board member, or having acted on behalf of WSGA in an authorized capacity. This indemnification shall also apply to the heirs, executors, and personal representatives of any such person.
13.2 – This indemnification shall not apply in relation to matters in which such person shall be adjudged in an action, suit, or proceeding to be liable for gross negligence or misconduct in the performance of their duties.
13.3 – This indemnification shall not exclude any other right to which such person may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of the Board, or otherwise.
Article 14: Termination
14.1 – Dissolution of WSGA may occur by a two-thirds majority vote of the Board of Directors.
14.2 – In the event of dissolution, any remaining assets shall be transferred to the nearest geocaching-related organization approved by the Board.
Article 15: Amendment of Bylaws
15.1 – The Board of Directors is solely responsible for the WSGA Bylaws.
15.2 – The Board may adopt, amend, or repeal the Bylaws by a two-thirds majority vote of the Board, only after the Executive Committee provides the specific content of the proposed changes to all Board members with at least 72 hours advance notice for consideration.
15.3 – The Board may temporarily override a provision of the Bylaws if necessary; this requires the approval of two-thirds of the Board.