The name of this organization shall be "AstroCruisers."
AstroCruisers is a not-for-profit organization that supports, promotes and sponsors recreational and educational astronomy activities aboard passenger ships worldwide as well as ashore in its Mercer County, New Jersey, home region.
Section 1. The Executive Board shall consist of the Executive Officers; namely, the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Section 2. The Executive Board shall handle the regular business of the organization.
Section 3. Meetings of the Executive Board to handle the business of the organization shall be held when deemed appropriate by the President or by a majority of members of the Board empowered to vote.
Section 4. A quorum for conducting the business of the Executive Board shall be a majority of the members of the Board empowered to vote.
Section 5. The Executive Board shall also serve as the Nominating Committee for Executive Officers to be elected at the Annual General Business Meeting.
Section 1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Board, general meetings of the organization and at any special meetings, and shall also appoint designated officers. The President is the chief executive officer of the organization and shall perform such duties as are expected of one holding such a position.
Section 2. The Vice President shall perform the duties of an absent President and perform such duties as are assigned by the President.
Section 3. The Secretary shall keep a record of all proceedings of the Executive Board and may also be called on to handle correspondence of the organization.
Section 4. The Treasurer shall have charge of all the funds of the organization, including holding the funds deposited with him and paying them out on the order of the organization, and shall also make regular financial reports to the President, Executive Board and Membership. The Treasurer shall also administer the Sky & Telescope and Kalmbach Publishing Company club plans.
Section 5. Other AstroCruisers officers may be appointed to serve specific functions that further the objectives of the organization and its members.
A. Princeton University Department of Astrophysical Sciences Monthly Open House Organizer is by mutual consent ex officio a nonvoting officer of AstroCruisers and serves as the official contact person between the astronomers conducting Peyton Hall Public Starwatches and AstroCruisers, conveying information to AstroCruisers about the activities of that group and the ways in which AstroCruisers can contribute to those activities.
B. Astronomical League Correspondent (ALCor) is appointed by the President to serve as the official contact person between the Astronomical League and AstroCruisers. As such, the ALCor will act as an officer of the League, and is responsible for making sure a good working relationship exists between AstroCruisers and the League. The ALCor must be familiar with organization activities, attend meetings regularly, and relay information to AstroCruisers about the Astronomical League, and to the League about AstroCruisers.
C. United Astronomy Clubs of New Jersey (UACNJ) Representative is appointed by the President to serve as the official contact person between the UACNJ and AstroCruisers astronomy club. As such, the UACNJ Representative is responsible for making sure a good working relationship exists between AstroCruisers and the UACNJ. The UACNJ Representative must be familiar with organization activities, relay information to AstroCruisers about the UACNJ, and to the UACNJ about AstroCruisers.
D. United Astronomy Clubs of New Jersey (UACNJ) Alternate is appointed by the President to serve as the official contact person between the UACNJ and AstroCruisers astronomy club in the event that the UACNJ Representative is unable to fulfill his or her duties as UACNJ Representative.
E. Committee Chairpersons are appointed by the President to further the specific goals of the organization. The Dark-Sky Committee Chairperson is the liaison with the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) and responsible for preparing the Annual Report to be filed with the IDA Secretary.
Committees to further the organization's goals may be created and dissolved by the Executive Board.
Dark-Sky Committee: The goal of the Dark-Sky Committee is to promote responsible lighting aboard passenger ships that will allow and encourage the pursuit of recreational astronomy aboard those and nearby ships.
Section 1. Types of membership shall consist of Individual, Family, and Princeton Student Starwatch Volunteer.
A. Individual Membership is open to individuals supporting the goals of the organization.
B. Family Membership is open to individuals supporting the goals of the organization who share a household and familial relationship -- a single Family Representative will be designated by the family for AstroCruisers voting purposes and to represent the family in AstroCruisers' associated organizations and activities.
C. Princeton University Student Starwatch Volunteer Membership is open to Peyton Hall Public Starwatch Volunteers who support the goals of the organization and are designated by the Princeton University Department of Astrophysical Sciences Starwatch Organizer.
Section 2. Annual dues. The first year's annual dues are for a twelve-month period. Subsequent annual dues cover the next calendar year from January 1 to December 31, and those dues will be reduced after March 31, prorated at 10 percent per calendar month. The Executive Board shall be empowered to change the amount of the annual membership dues and to waive annual membership dues for designated individuals on a yearly basis if deemed appropriate. The initial membership dues of Individual Membership is $10 per year, Family Membership is $10 per year and Princeton University Student Starwatch Volunteer Membership is $5 per year.
Meetings of the general membership and Executive Board shall be announced in advance by the Executive Board. An Annual General Business Meeting will be held each January for the purpose of electing Executive Officers and voting on changes to these Bylaws. Members who cannot attend the Annual General Business Meeting may request to vote by absentee ballot.
Amendments to these Bylaws may be enacted by the Executive Board and ratified by a two-thirds majority of the voting members at an Annual General Business Meeting.
The following code of conduct is expected to be followed by all members with regard to work done within and on behalf of the organization: be fair to all concerned; express appreciation for work done on behalf of the organization, especially for work done well; and officers are expected to be effective leaders -- those who can't lead should resign and then follow or at least stay out of the way.