Weather Modification Association - Articles of Incorporation

Adopted 25 April 2003

ARTICLE I
NAME

The name of this corporation shall be the WEATHER MODIFICATION ASSOCIATION.

ARTICLE II
DURATION

The duration of this corporation shall be perpetual, unless otherwise resolved by legal proceedings.

ARTICLE III
PURPOSES

The Association shall function as a nonprofit corporation. Its purposes include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

(1) Promotion: Promoting research, development, and understanding of weather modification for beneficial uses.

(2) Standards of Conduct: Encouraging and promoting the highest standards of conduct including certification of individual members qualified to execute field experiments of operations in weather modification.

(3) Information Center: Serving as a clearing-house and dissemination agent for weather modification oriented literature and information.

(4) Policy Statements: Assuming an active role and maintaining a strong voice in the production and dissemination of policy statements concerning all aspects of weather modification.

(5) Journal: Publishing, annually or more frequently, as the official organ of the Association, the JOURNAL OF WEATHER MODIFICATION containing scientific articles and reports about weather modification problems and activities, and accounts of Association business.

ARTICLE IV
PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS

The principal place of business of the corporation shall be located at 8160 S. Highland Dr., Sandy Utah, 84093, but the meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at other places, provided that the place of the meeting shall be stated in the notice of the meeting.

ARTICLE V
MEMBERSHIP

There shall be five classes of membership in the Association. Each class shall be afforded the privileges of membership as indicated.

(1) Member: Any person who subscribes to the statement of purposes of the Association, upon payment of the prescribed annual dues, shall be afforded the privileges of membership. Members shall receive the Journal of the Association, and shall have the right to vote in the business of the Association and to hold any office in the Association.

(2) Student Member: Any person, engaged in a full-time program of study leading to a degree in the atmospheric sciences, engineering or other subjects related to the science of weather modification, and who subscribes to the statement of purposes of the Association, upon payment of the prescribed annual dues, shall be afforded the privileges of student membership. Student members shall receive the Journal of the Association but may not vote in the business of, nor hold office in the Association.

(3) Corporation Member: Any organization with active programs in weather modification, or with interests directly related to weather modification activities, which subscribes to the statement of purposes of the Association, upon payment of the prescribed annual dues, shall be afforded the privileges of corporate membership. Corporation members shall receive the Journal of the Association and may designate one individual to act for the corporation in the affairs of the Association. The designated individual shall have the same rights and privileges afforded members of the Association.

(4) Honorary Member: Members, or former members, of the Association who have made outstanding contributions to the Association may, subject to the unanimous consent of the Board of Directors of the Association, be nominated for honorary membership in the Association. Election shall be by simple majority vote of the members present at any regular or special meeting. Honorary membership shall be non-expiring for the life of the member. Members so elected shall be excused from the payment of dues. They shall receive the Journal of the Association and enjoy the same privileges as members of the Association.

(5) Retired Member: The retired member must be over the age of 65, retired, and must have had 20 or more years of active membership in the WMA. These members are to receive the Journal each year, while paying only one-half of the normal membership dues.

(6) Associate Member: Primarily reserved for any organization without active programs in weather modification, which may have an interest related to weather modification activities, but not limited to them. As long as this organization subscribes to the statement of purposes of the Association, upon payment of the prescribed annual dues, it shall be afforded the privileges of a WMA associate member. WMA associates shall receive the Journal of the Association, and may designate one individual to act for the organization in the affairs of the Association. The designated individual shall have the same rights and privileges afforded members of the Association.

ARTICLE VI
DUES

All dues for the Association shall be paid on a calendar year basis. Annual dues for the various categories of membership shall be set by vote of the members present at the annual meeting, on the recommendation of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VII
CERTIFICATION OF MEMBERS

There shall be two classes of certification in the Association.

(1) Certified Weather Modification Manager: A person who is qualified to design, supervise, evaluate, and assume overall responsibility for field experiments or operations in weather modification.

(2) Certified Weather Modification Operator: A person who is qualified to conduct the normal day-to-day, on-site activities associated with field experiments or operations in weather modification.

Certification shall be based upon experience, knowledge and character. Certification shall be granted by the unanimous vote of a Certification Board which shall be composed of three Certified Weather Modification Managers who shall be appointed by the President. The members of the Certification Board shall each serve six years on staggered terms. Changes in procedure for certification of members shall be made only after an affirmative majority vote of the Certified Members present at any regular meeting.

ARTICLE VIII
JOURNAL

(1) The official JOURNAL OF WEATHER MODIFICATION shall be issued by the Editor, appointed to a three-year term by the Board of Directors, of which he/she shall become a member ex officio. The Editor shall have been an active Member for at least three years, and may retain, or be elected to, other office in the Association during his tenure.

(2) The Editor shall appoint, with the concurrence of the Board of Directors, an Editorial Board of five members, serving five-year staggered terms. At least one member of the Editorial Board shall hold Association certification. The Editorial Board shall elect its own chairman, and shall establish the editorial policy of the Journal. Its members may assist the Editor in evaluation of material submitted to him/her, acting as referees for certain articles.

ARTICLE IX
ADMINISTRATION

The administration of the Association shall be vested in the Board of Directors which shall include the elected officers and trustees of the Association as follows:

(1) President: The President shall be responsible for the administration of the Association. He/She shall appoint such committees as he/she deems necessary for the successful accomplishment of the Association's aims. The President shall preside at all meetings and shall be a member ex-officio of all committees.

(2) President-elect: The President-elect shall succeed the President in office. The President-elect shall preside over the administrative functions of the Association in the absence, or by direction, of the President.

(3) Secretary: The Secretary shall be responsible for the minutes of each meeting and shall notify the membership of impending meetings. In the absence of both the President and the President-elect, the Secretary shall preside over the administrative functions of the Association.

(4) Treasurer: The Treasurer shall conduct the financial affairs of the Association and keep accurate records thereof. The functions of the Secretary and Treasurer may be combined in one person at the pleasure of the membership of the Association.

(5) Trustees: Three Trustees, to serve staggered three-year terms shall be elected by the membership to represent private groups, university groups, and government groups, respectively. It shall be the duty of the Trustees to represent the interests of their respective groups as members of the Board of Directors and to assist the President and other elected officers, as may be required, in the administration of the Association.

(6) Editor: The Editor of the Journal of Weather Modification shall be a member of the Board of Directors ex officio. Even if he/she is also an officer or trustee, he/she will have only one vote.

The Board of Directors may employ such other persons as may be necessary for the conduct of Association business.

ARTICLE X
ELECTIONS

Elections shall be held at the annual meeting. Officers to be elected will include a President, President-elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and one Trustee.

Nominations for elective offices shall be made by a nominating committee appointed by the President. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor, as called for, prior to balloting.

New officers and trustees shall assume their duties at the conclusion of the annual meeting, and serve until their successors assume office.

ARTICLE XI
MEETINGS

Meetings shall be held at least once a calendar year. The first meeting of each calendar year shall be the annual meeting unless otherwise designated by the Board of Directors. Advance notice of all meetings shall be mailed by the Secretary to all members at least thirty days prior to the date of the meeting.

The presiding officer and ten percent of the voting members shall constitute a quorum. The location and date of all meetings shall be determined by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENTS

These Articles of Incorporation may be amended in the following manner:

(1) The Board of Directors shall adopt a resolution setting forth proposed amendments. Written notice setting forth proposed amendments shall be submitted to the membership at least thirty days prior to the annual meeting at which they are to be considered.

(2) The proposed amendments shall be adopted by a two-thirds vote representing a combination of all members present at the annual meeting plus any absentee ballots received up to the day of the balloting on the floor, providing that the total votes cast constitute a quorum.

(3) Written notice or absentee ballots may be transmitted via faster communication tools than traditional postal mail. Faster communication tools include, but are not limited to, electronic mail (e-mail), televideo, tele- or video-conferencing. Those without a faster communication tool must use the written notice.