Constitution of PCS

CONSTITUTION OF THE PHILIPPINE CAVING SOCIETY

I. The name of this organization shall be the PHILIPPINE CAVING SOCIETY hereinafter referred to as the Grotto, a Chapter of the National Speleological Society (NSS) of the U.S.A.

II. The purposes of this organization shall be to promote interest, offer training and experience, advance in any and all ways the study of caves the protection of caves and their natural contents, and to promote fellowship among those interested therein, with the additional purpose of organizing NSS members in the Philippines to better promote the objectives of the NSS.

III. Executive Committee

    A. The Grotto shall be governed by an Executive Committee made     up of the following officers, all members of the NSS, and elected     annually by the Grotto membership:

        1. President
        2. Vice-President
        3. Treasurer
        4. Secretary
        5. Committee Member at Large

    B. The Executive Committee shall have complete power to manage the business, to raise funds in any manner not inconsistent with the policies of the NSS, and to perform all other necessary functions.

    C. Decisions or actions of the Executive Committee may be overruled by a two-thirds majority vote of the Grotto membership.

IV. Executive Committee Meetings

    A. Executive Committee and general meetings shall be held at such times and places as determined by the committee.

    B. A petition signed by two-thirds of the Grotto membership shall be mandatory upon the Executive Committee to call a special meeting for the purpose stated in the petition.


V. Membership

    A. Membership to the Executive Committee shall be limited to members of the NSS.

VI. The Constitution and Bylaws of the National Speleological Society shall be binding on the Grotto. Any section inconsistent therewith shall be null and void.

VII. Dissolution. In the event of dissolution of the Grotto, all NSS property held by the Grotto shall revert to the NSS. All other assets remaining, after meeting outstanding liabilities shall be assigned to a foundation or non-profit organization of similar purpose to be designated by the Executive Committee and approved by two-thirds majority of the Grotto membership.

VIII. The Philippine Caving Society is a Non-profit Organization. No part of the net earnings of the group shall inure to the benefit of or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the Grotto shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distribution in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the constitution of the grotto. No substantial part of the activities of the grotto shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the grotto shall not participate in, intervene in (including the publishing and distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

IX. Amendments to this constitution may be proposed either by the Executive Committee or by a petition of ten percent of the members in good standing. Adoption of the amendment(s) shall require a two-thirds vote of the members voting, either in person or by absentee ballot, provided that notice of the meeting and the content of the amendment(s) shall have been announced to the membership by mail or at a meeting at least thirty days prior to the time at which the vote will be taken.


APPROVED BY THE PHILIPPINE CAVING SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP, MARCH 9, 2003