Constitution

Last revision May 14, 2021

Article I - Mission

Section 1 - Purpose

The purpose of the Kansas Association of Mappers is twofold:

1. To foster an understanding and improve the management of land information throughout the State of Kansas in all levels of government, academia and the private sector.
2. To Provide a mechanism for dialogue regarding land information issues of concern of interest to all Kansas professional involved in the collection, processing, analysis, use and maintenance of land information including but not limited to the following:
   • Abstractors
   • Agriculture
   • Appraisers
   • Architects
   • Bankers
   • Cartographers
   • Civil Engineers
   • Clerks
   • Consultants
   • Demographers
   • Developers
   • Election Officers
   • Emergency Medical Technicians
   • Environmentalists
   • Fire Fighters
   • Foresters
   • Geographers
   • Geologists
   • Health Care Providers
   • Hydrologists
   • Information Managers
   • Infrastructure Managers
   • Law Enforcement Officials
   • Lawyers
   • Marketers
   • Municipal Officials
   • Photogrammetrists
   • Planners
   • Programmers
   • Registers of Deeds
   • Soil Scientists
   • Surveyors
   • Treasurers

Section 2 - Objectives

The objectives of the Association are as follows:

• To create a framework in which the various governmental units, academic institutions and private sector organizations of Kansas may cooperate in the investigation, study, discussion and recommendation of improvements in and information management.
• To provide a forum in which officials of various agencies of Federal, State and local governments, academic institutions and private sector organizations concerned with land management may address common problems.
• To provide a means whereby land information management professional and others interested in land information management may exchange ideas and experiences and obtain advice.
• To advance land information management knowledge and practice through education.
• To encourage a high standard of expertise as a means to more effectively serve the public.
• To work toward the improvement of the quality of land information available to government, academia and the private sector.
• To support legislation beneficial to the improvement of land information management.
• To actively promote the development of modern land information management techniques.
• To provide a unified professional voice on land information issues.
• To promote interaction and cooperation among Kansas Association of Mappers members, professional associations and private sector groups.
• To provide a forum for examining new land information and ideas.
• To develop and help others develop a variety of educational programs and materials on land information issues.
• To promote public understanding of the Kansas Association of Mappers, its members and activities through a variety of media.

Article II - Membership

Section 1. Regular Members

Regular membership shall be open to anyone directly involved with mapping, map production or land information management.

Section 2.  Commercial Subscribing Members

Commercial subscribing membership shall be open to businesses and institutions interested in or directly involved with mapping or land information management. Each commercial subscribing member shall be entitled to designate one representative to attend functions of the Association. Commercial subscribing members may be entitled to additional benefits as prescribed by the Executive Board through bylaw.

Section 3. Student Members

Student membership shall be open to any individual enrolled in a college or university and interested in mapping or land information management.

Section 4. Honorary Members

At its discretion, the Executive Board may bestow honorary membership upon individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of mapping, land information management, or to KAM. Through bylaw, the Executive Board shall establish eligibility requirements for honorary membership status.

Section 5. Electoral Rights

The right to hold office is open to all registered members in good standing.

Section 6. Voting Rights

The right to vote on issues brought before the membership at the annual meeting, election of officers, constitutional amendments and other such matters affecting the Association shall be open to all members in good standing. All members in good standing shall have a single, equal vote regarding motions put before the Association.

Section 7. Membership Application

Application for membership may be made at any time of year. The right to accept or reject any application for membership is hereby reserved to the Executive Board provided that no person shall be discriminated against by reason of race, sex, religion, color, disability, or national origin or ancestry.

Section 8. Membership Dues

New member dues shall be payable at the time of application. Renewed member dues shall be payable at the beginning of each calendar year. Dues shall not be prorated according to the month in which a person joins the Association. Through bylaw the Executive Board shall stipulate membership terms for both new and established members when dues are paid at times other than the annual meeting.

Section 9. Transfer of Membership

Whenever the dues of a regular member are paid by their employer and the regular member resigns, retires or otherwise vacates the position during the period for which the dues have been paid, the membership may be transferred to the successor upon receipt of written notice to the Association by the employer.

Section 10. Expulsion and Suspension of Members

At its discretion, the Executive Board may expel or suspend the rights of any member who has violated the constitution or by-laws of the Association. A motion to expel or suspend shall require a two-thirds majority vote of the Executive Board. An expulsion or suspension may be appealed at the next annual meeting and overturned by a majority vote of members in good standing present and voting.

Article III - Executive Board

Section 1. Powers and Responsibilities

The governing body of the Association shall be the Executive Board. The Board shall provide direction for the Association and supervise its affairs. The Board shall have the authority to pass any bylaws deemed necessary to accomplish the mission of the Association that are not in conflict with the provisions of this Constitution. Such bylaws, or amendments thereto, shall be valid and in force when approved by an affirmative vote of a majority of Executive Board members. Presidential appointments shall be subject to the approval of the Executive Board. At their discretion, the Executive Board shall also have the authority to review and approve or reject publications of the Association, fund disbursements, the place and manner of keeping for all funds, securities and legal instruments of the Association, and committee budgets. Said committee budgets shall not be exceeded without approval of the Executive Board.

Section 2. Members

The Executive Board members shall consist of all Association officers as identified in Article IV, Section 1 of this Constitution.

Section 3. Meetings

The Association President shall conduct and chair periodic meetings of the Executive Board for the purpose of furthering the mission of the Association. Special meetings of the Board shall also be called at the discretion of the President or upon written request to the President by three (3) or more Executive Board members.

Absence of an Executive Board member from three consecutive meetings, without excuse deemed valid and so recorded by the Executive Board, shall be construed as a resignation.

Section 4. Quorum and Voting

For the purpose of transacting official business, a quorum of the Executive Board shall consist of no less than a majority of the members. All members of the Executive Board shall have a single, equal vote regarding motions put before the Board. Other rules regarding motions and voting shall be stipulated in the bylaws.

Section 5. Compensation

Members of the Executive Board shall serve without compensation. However, the Executive Board reserves the authority to provide reasonable reimbursements for expenses incurred by the Association members who attend meetings, conferences or educational seminars on behalf of the KAM. The conditions under which members may qualify for such reimbursements shall be stipulated in the bylaws.

Article IV - Officers

Section 1. Officers

The officers of the Association shall consist of a President, a President-Elect, a Secretary, a Treasurer, the Immediate Past-President, and one or more Directors. The method for determining the number of Directors for any given year shall be stipulated in the bylaws.

Section 2. Selection

At the annual meeting of the Association there shall be elected for a term of one (1) year, two (2) years for Directors by those members who are eligible to vote a President-Elect, a Secretary, a Treasurer and one or more Directors. The Executive Board shall establish bylaws for the nomination and election of officers. The election bylaws shall establish procedures and rules of order as may be deemed necessary by the Executive Board to carry out the election process. Such procedures and rules of order are not to be in conflict with any provisions of this Constitution. After the election the President from the concluding year shall become the Immediate Past-President and the President-Elect from the concluding year shall assume the office of President.

Section 3. Vacancy of Office

When a vacancy in the Executive Board occurs the President shall appoint a nominating committee of no less than three (3) members in good standing for the purpose of recommending a regular member in good standing to fill said vacancy. Recommendations of the nominating committee shall require approval of a majority vote of the Executive Board. Approved nominees shall serve until the next annual meeting. When a vacancy occurs in the office of President, the President-Elect shall immediately succeed thereto. The Immediate Past-President can only be replaced by an outgoing President.

Article V - Duties of Officers

Section 1. President

The President shall be the chairperson of the Association and preside at the annual meeting, special meetings and meetings of the Executive Board. The President may designate the President-Elect or, in their absence, another member of the Executive Board to preside at meetings. The President shall appoint all committee chairpersons and other such appointments as required by the bylaws. The President shall perform other duties as may be assigned by the Executive Board.

Section 2. President-Elect

The President-Elect shall exercise all the powers and duties of the President in the absence or inability to act of the President and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Executive Board.

Section 3. Secretary

The Secretary shall keep and maintain a roll of all members of the Association and a true, up-to-date record of all proceedings of the Association and meetings of the Executive Board. The record of proceedings shall be subject to the inspection and approval of the Executive Board. Following each election the membership roll and record of proceedings shall be turned over to the Secretary's immediate successor in office. The Secretary shall perform other duties as may be assigned by the Executive Board.

Section 4. Treasurer

The Treasurer shall be the chief financial agent of the Association and shall exercise such authority, and shall perform other duties as may be assigned by the Executive Board. The Treasurer shall have custody of all funds, securities and legal instruments of the Association and shall be responsible for their safekeeping. To this end the Treasurer may, subject to the approval of the Executive Board, determine the place and manner of keeping for all funds, securities and legal instruments. A correct account of all receipts and disbursements must be kept at all times and a complete up-to-date report submitted at each annual meeting. The Executive Board shall have full right to examine accounts of the Association and cause an audit to be made at any time.

Section 5. Director

Directors shall be entitled to attend and vote at all Executive Board meetings. Directors shall serve as advisors to the Executive Board and represent the interests of the membership. Directors shall have no formal duties, but shall perform special tasks as may be assigned by the Executive Board.

Section 6. Immediate Past-President

The Immediate Past-President shall be entitled to attend and vote at all Executive Board meetings. The Immediate Past-President shall serve as an advisor to the Executive Board. The Immediate Past-President shall have no formal duties, but shall perform special tasks as may be assigned by the Executive Board.

Article VI - Meetings

Section 1. Annual Meeting

A general meeting of the Association shall be held annually. At the annual meeting the election of officers shall take place, the Treasurer shall report on the status of the Association's finances, and standing committees shall report their activities of the past year. Other events and/or reports may be conducted at the discretion of the Executive Board.

Section 2. Special Meetings

The Executive Board shall have authority to call special meetings of the Association for such purpose, time and location as the Board deems necessary.

Section 3. Notice

Notice of the annual and any special meetings shall be given to all members by e-mail not less than 30 days prior to such meetings. The notice shall state the date, time and location of the meeting and include an agenda of business to be conducted. All members shall be responsible for keeping their e-mail address current in order to remain in good standing with the Association.

Section 4. Quorum and Voting

For the purpose of transacting official business, a quorum at the annual meeting or any special meeting shall consist of no less than a majority of Association members who are present and in good standing. The election of officers, with the exception of filling office vacancies as stipulated in Article IV, Section 3 of this Constitution, may only be conducted at the annual meeting. Other rules regarding motions and voting shall be stipulated in the bylaws.

Article VII - Amendments

Section 1. How Proposed

Amendments to this constitution may be proposed by any regular member in good standing. All proposed amendments must be approved by a majority vote of the Executive Board before they can be submitted to the membership for ratification. Proposed amendments must be submitted to the Executive Board for its review no less than sixty (60) days in advance of the annual meeting or special meeting.

Section 2. How Amended

This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of all Association members eligible to vote and in attendance at the annual meeting or special meeting, provided that members are notified of the proposed amendment(s) not less than thirty (30) days prior to the meeting, and that consideration of the amendment shall have been approved by a majority vote of the Executive Board.

Article VIII - Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 1. Definition of Land Information

Land information is any physical, environmental, legal, economic, or social information about land.

Section 2. Dissolution Clause

If the Association is dissolved, its assets will be distributed to properly designated education and/or charitable organizations through a formula established by the Executive Board through bylaw for dissolving the organization. In no case shall any assets revert to members or any other person, but shall be used for nonprofit, educational, or charitable purposes.

Section 3. Saving Clause

If any provision of this Constitution is declared invalid or unconstitutional, then all other portions thereof shall remain in full force and effect until amended or repealed through appropriate action.

Section 4. Ratification of Constitution

This Constitution shall be valid and in force when ratified by a majority vote of all Association members. Upon ratification of this Constitution the Vice-President of the Association, having been duly elected in accordance with the KAM Constitution, second addition, 1988, shall become the President-Elect and be entitled to all privileges and responsibilities of that office.