Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative Report 23:151-153 (article 51) 2000

Covenant and By-Laws of the Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative

Article I. Organization and Purposes

The Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative is an informal, unincorporated scientific society (hereinafter designated "CGC") organized without capital stock and intended not for business or profit but for the advancement of science and education in the field of genetics of cucurbits (Family: Cucurbitaceae). Its purposes include the following: to serve as a clearing house for scientists of the world interested in the genetics and breeding of cucurbits, to serve as a medium of exchange for information and materials of mutual interest, to assist in the publication of studies in the aforementioned field, and to accept and administer funds for the purposes indicated.

Article II. Membership and Dues

The membership of the CGC shall consist solely of active members; an active member is defined as any person who is actively interested in genetics and breeding of cucurbits and who pays biennial dues. Memberships are arranged by correspondence with the Chairman of the Coordination Committee.

The amount of biennial dues shall be proposed by the Coordinating Committee and fixed, subject to approval at the Annual Meeting of the CGC. The amount of biennial dues shall remain constant until such time that the Coordinating Committee estimates that a change is necessary in order to compensate for a fund balance deemed excessive or inadequate to meet costs of the CGC.

Members who fail to pay their current biennial dues within the first six months of the biennium are dropped from active membership. Such members may be reinstated upon payment of the respective dues.

Article III. Committees

1. The Coordinating committee shall govern policies and activities of the CGC. It shall consist of six members elected in order to represent areas of interest and importance in the field. The Coordinating Committee shall select its Chairman, who shall serve as spokesman of the CGC, as well as its Secretary and Treasurer.

2. The Gene List Committee, consisting of five members, shall be responsible for formulating rules regulating the naming and symbolizing of genes, chromosomal alterations, or other hereditary modifications of the cucurbits. It shall record all newly reported mutations and periodically report lists of them in the Report of the CGC. It shall keep a record of all information pertaining to cucurbit linkages and periodically issue revised linkage maps in the Report of the CGC. Each committee member shall be responsible for genes and linkages of one of the following groups: cucumber, Cucurbita spp., muskmelon, watermelon, and other genera and species.

3. Other committees may be selected by the Coordinating Committee as the need or fulfilling other functions arises.

Article IV. Election and Appointment of Committees

1. The Chairman will serve an indefinite term while other members of the Coordinating Committee shall be elected for ten-year terms, replacement of a single retiring member taking place every other year. Election of a new member shall take place as follows: A Nominating Committee of three members shall be appointed by the Coordinating Committee. The aforesaid Nominating Committee shall nominate candidates for an anticipated opening on the Coordinating Committee, the number of nominees being at their discretion. The nominations shall be announced and election held by open ballot at the Annual Meeting of the CGC. The nominee receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected. The newly elected member shall take office immediately.

In the event of death or retirement of a member of the Coordinating Committee before the expiration of his/her term, he/she shall be replaced by an appointee of the Coordinating Committee.

Members of other committees shall be appointed by the Coordinating Committee.

Article V. Publications

1. One of the primary functions of the CGC shall be to issue an Annual Report each year. The Annual Report shall contain sections in which research results and information concerning the exchange of stocks can be published. It shall also contain the annual financial statement. Revised membership lists and other useful information shall be issued periodically. The Editor shall be appointed by the Coordinating Committee and shall retain office for as many years as the Coordinating Committee deems appropriate.

2. Payment of biennial dues shall entitle each member to a copy of the Annual Report, newsletters, and any other duplicated information intended for distribution to the membership. The aforementioned publications shall not be sent to members who are in arrears in the payment of dues. Back numbers of the Annual Report, available indefinitely, shall be sold to active members at a rate determined by the Coordinating Committee.

Article VI. Meetings

An Annual Meeting shall be held at such a time and place as determined by the Coordinating Committee. Members shall be notified of time and place of meetings by notices in the Annual Report or by notices mailed not less than one month prior to the meeting. A financial report and information on enrollment of members shall be presented at the Annual Meeting. Other business of the Annual Meeting may include topics may include topics of agenda selected by the Coordinating Committee or any items that members may wish to present.

Article VII. Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the CGC shall end on December 31.

Article VIII. Amendments

These By-Laws may be amended by simple majority of members voting by mail ballot, provided a copy of the proposed amendments has been mailed to all the active members of the CGC at least one month previous to the balloting deadline.

Article IX. General Prohibitions

Notwithstanding any provision of the By-Laws or any other document that might be susceptible to a contrary interpretation:

1. The CGC shall be organized and operated exclusively for scientific and educational purposes.
2. No part of the net earnings of the CGC shall or may under any circumstances inure to the benefit of any individual.
3. No part of the activities of the CGC shall consist of carrying on propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation of any political unit.
4. The CGC shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements), any political campaign on behalf of a candidate for public office.
5. The CGC shall not be organized or operated for profit.
6. The CGC shall not:

(a) lend any part of its income or corpus without the receipt of adequate security and a reasonable rate of interest to;
(b) pay any compensation in excess of a reasonable allowance for salaries or other compensation for personal services rendered to;
(c) make any part of its services available on a preferential basis to;
(d) make any purchase of securities or any other property, for more than adequate consideration in money's worth; or
(e) sell any securities or other property for less than adequate consideration in money or money's worth; or
(f) engage in any other transactions which result in substantial diversion of income or corpus to any officer, member of the Coordinating Committee, or substantial contributor to the CGC.

The prohibitions contained in this subsection (6) do not mean to imply that the CGC may make such loans, payments, sales, or purchases to anyone else, unless authority be given or implied by other provisions of the By-Laws.

Article X. Distribution on Dissolution

Upon dissolution of the CGC, the Coordinating Committee shall distribute the assets and accrued income to one or more scientific organizations as determined by the Committee, but which organization or organizations shall meet the limitations prescribed in sections 1-6 of Article IX.