We members, desiring to secure the pleasures and benefits of an association of persons interested in amateur astronomy; to promote the science of astronomy; to encourage and coordinate activities of amateur astronomical societies; to foster observational and computational work, and craftsmanship in various fields of astronomy; to correlate activities with professional research, do hereby organize and constitute ourselves the Laramie Astronomical Society & Space Observers, a non-profit organization.

The name of this society shall be the Laramie Astronomical Society & Space Observers, also known as LASSO.

Section I: Any person with a sincere interest in astronomy may be admitted to membership.

Section II: Dues will be assessed to cover the costs of operation, maintenance and improvement of club assets. Dues will be determined by a majority of the board and may be changed with a majority of the board and a 1/2 vote of members present at a meeting.

Section III: To retain membership in the society the individual or family must have current dues paid. If dues are not paid, membership will be temporarily revoked until dues are renewed.

Section IV: Any member may be dropped from membership by a 2/3 vote of members present after a show of due cause.

Section I.The elected offices of the board of LASSO shall consist of no fewer than four positions, a president, vice president, secretary and public relations officer. All current members shall be eligible to be candidates for office.

Section II: The executive board of officers shall be elected for a term of one year.

Section III: The method of voting shall be by secret ballot at an annual meeting in the month of February. In the event of a tie, the president shall be permitted to break the tie by casting his ballot twice.

Section IV: When a vacancy from an elected position occurs on the executive board, the remaining board members shall choose a new officer from the total membership to serve until the next annual election. His/her appointment to an elected board position shall be confirmed by a majority vote of the members at the next meeting.

Section V: There shall be no less than two elected officers to the executive board.

Section VI: Appointees shall have all the powers of elected executive board members except those expressly stated as reserved for elected executive board members only. The president shall have the power to appoint current members to these or other positions as he/she deems necessary. Appointees shall be confirmed by a majority vote of the executive board members. The president shall determine the duties of the appointees.

Section VII: An individual board member gets only one vote in any election or board decision with the exception of the president in the case of a tie.

Section VIII: Elected officers or appointments may be removed by a 2/3 majority vote of the current membership after a show of due cause or by 2/3 majority vote of members on two consecutive meetings following the rules in Article VI: Quorum.

Section I: The president shall preside at all business meetings. He/she shall be chairman of the executive board. He shall call extra business meetings if required, temporarily fill vacancies, and appoint committees not otherwise provided for. He shall be an ex-officio member of all committees. He shall perform all other duties normally required by the office of president.

Section II: The vice president shall preside in the absence or inability of the president to preside. He/she may be assigned additional duties, such as coordinating committee activities; heading educational activities; and instrument committee chairman. He is to coordinate and verify the program for the general meeting. He is to notify the president of any announcements.

Section III: The secretary-treasurer shall maintain the membership list and club records and aid in preparation of any formal documents. He/she shall keep an accurate account of all financial transactions of the organization, showing the receipts of dues from members and bank receipts.. He shall keep the books in order and pay bills justly accrued by the organization. He will send renewal and new subscription moneys and be jointly responsible with the president for filing necessary tax and other legal documents

Section IV: The public relations officer is to keep the public informed about all society activities pertaining to public or membership involvement through the media such as ads, flyers, radio and newspaper.

Section V: No society member may hold more than two executive positions at one time.

Section VI: Committees as deemed necessary for proper organizational functioning may be appointed by the president on the approval of a simple majority of the board.

Section I: General meetings for all members shall be held usually on the first Friday of each month, unless otherwise scheduled by the executive board no less than one month in advance when necessary to avoid conflicts.

Section II: Board meetings of the officers and other interested members may be held prior to the general meeting and whenever else the president deems it necessary.

A quorum shall consist of those members present at a regular meeting provided that the proposal amendment was printed in a bulletin or letter and sent to members two weeks prior to the meeting at which the action is to be taken.

Section I: The financial year shall begin in January and all necessary legal reporting shall be completed before elections in February.

Section I: The society is organized as an educational and scientific organization and will take part only in activities that are scientific and educational in nature. No substantial part of the activities of the society shall be carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the society shall not participate in, or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles the society shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by a corporation exempt from Federal Income Tax under section 501, c, 3 of the Internal Revenues Code of 1954 ( or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenues Tax Law).

Section II: Upon the dissolution of the society, the executive board shall; after paying or making provision for the payment of all liabilities of the society, dispose of all the assets of the society exclusively for the purpose of the society in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as exempt organization or organizations under section 501, c ,3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 ( or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenues Law)as the board of directors shall determine. Any of such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the court of common pleas of the county in which the principal office or organizations, as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

Section III: The executive board shall have the power to approve the expenditure of funds not to exceed a total of $100.00 per month; excluding postage. All expenses in excess of $100.00 per month must be voted on by the members present at a regularly scheduled general meeting and approved by a majority vote.

Section IV: All society funds will be kept in a bank account, and will require two signatures to remove, spend, or dispense. A minimum of three signatures are required on the account, that of president, vice president and treasurer. Additional signatures may be added at the boards' choosing. All former board members will remove their signatures from the account upon their leaving of the executive board.

Section V: The consumption of any type of alcoholic beverages will not be permitted at society functions such as general meetings, board meetings and star parties.

Section VI: Smoking will not be permitted at any public and board meetings. Smoking at stars parties and outdoors activities may be restricted to prevent possible fire danger.

Section VII: All ads, radio announcements, newspaper articles, flyers, newsletters, e-mail, web pages, etceteras must be appropriate for the society and meet board approval. Items not appropriate or not meeting board approval must be removed. Failure to do so may result in lose of society membership.

Section VIII: The executive board may control, restrict access to , and set proper use for all club equipment, books, property, etc.

Section IX: The executive board may control, restrict access to, and set proper use of all club observing sites so as to not violate the terms of any lease or law for said sites.

Section X: Neither the club nor the executive board shall be responsible for loss, return or damage to any equipment, books or other property lent between members.

Section XI: LASSO is not responsible for any losses, injury or theft to any persons or property at any society meetings.