Longmont Rockhounding Club Charter
Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2026 7:34 pm
Article I — Name
The name of this organization shall be the Longmont Rockhounding Club, referred to in this charter as “the Club" or "LRC”
Article II — Purpose
The Longmont Rockhounding Club is organized to promote the enjoyment, study, collection, preservation, and responsible use of rocks, minerals, fossils, gemstones, and related earth sciences.
The Club’s purposes are to:
Encourage interest in geology, mineralogy, lapidary arts, and earth sciences.
Provide educational programs, presentations, demonstrations, and workshops.
Organize safe and responsible field trips for collecting and geological observation.
Promote ethical collecting practices and respect for private property, public lands, cultural resources, wildlife, and the environment.
Encourage members to share knowledge, specimens, techniques, and experiences.
Support youth education and community outreach when practical.
Promote fellowship among people interested in rockhounding and related activities.
The Club shall operate for educational, recreational, and community purposes and shall not be organized for the private financial benefit of any member.
Article III — Membership
Membership shall be open to any person interested in the purposes of the Club, subject to the Club’s rules and policies.
The Club may establish the following membership categories:
Individual Member
Family or Household Membership
Student or Youth Member
Honorary Member
Supporting Member
Membership dues, if any, shall be established by the Board of Directors and approved according to the Club’s bylaws or operating policies.
All members are expected to:
Treat other members, guests, landowners, agency personnel, and the public with respect.
Follow Club policies and field-trip instructions.
Collect responsibly and lawfully.
Respect claims, private property, closures, permit requirements, and collecting limits.
Follow all applicable safety rules.
The Club may suspend or terminate a membership for serious misconduct, unsafe behavior, unlawful collecting, harassment, property damage, or conduct that materially harms the Club. The member shall be given notice and a reasonable opportunity to respond under procedures established by the Board.
Article IV — Board of Directors
The Club shall be governed by a Board of Directors consisting of at least five members, or another number established in the bylaws.
The principal officers shall be:
Board Chair — presides over meetings, provides leadership, and coordinates the work of the Board.
Vice Chair — assists the Chair and performs the Chair’s duties when the Chair is unavailable.
Secretary — maintains meeting minutes, official records, notices, correspondence, and membership records.
Treasurer — oversees Club funds, prepares financial reports, maintains financial records, and presents a proposed budget.
Club Manager : A position which acts as a liaison between club members and the board of directors. The club manager will be responsible for organizing teams to further the goals of the club, from a simple afternoon outing to a near by location all the way up to organizing community events. The club manager will have an equal vote as the rest of the board members.
Board members shall act in the best interests of the Club, disclose potential conflicts of interest, protect Club property and information, and comply with applicable law and Club policies.
Article V — Elections and Terms
Officers and directors shall be elected by the membership at the Club’s annual meeting.
Unless otherwise provided in the bylaws:
Officers shall serve one-year terms.
Directors shall serve two-year terms, with terms staggered when practical.
Officers may be reelected.
Vacancies may be filled by appointment of the Board until the next regular election.
An officer or director may be removed for cause by a two-thirds vote of the Board or membership, subject to appropriate notice and an opportunity to respond.
Article VI — Meetings
The Club shall hold regular membership meetings at times and locations determined by the Board.
The Club shall hold an annual meeting for:
Election of officers and directors
Presentation of financial and activity reports
Adoption of plans and priorities for the coming year
Consideration of proposed amendments and other Club business
The Board may hold special meetings when necessary. Notice of meetings shall be provided through the Club’s regular communication methods.
A quorum shall consist of the number of members or directors specified in the bylaws. If no separate quorum rule exists, a majority of the currently serving Board members shall constitute a Board quorum.
Article VII — Committees
Through the position of Club manager, the Board may establish standing or temporary committees, including:
Field Trips and Safety Committee
Programs and Education Committee
Membership Committee
Newsletter and Communications Committee
Lapidary and Workshop Committee
Public Lands and Ethics Committee
Hospitality or Social Events Committee
Each committee shall operate under a written assignment or direction from the Board and shall report its activities as requested.
Article VIII — Field Trips and Safety
The Club shall maintain a Buddy System and No-Solo Collecting Policy for organized field trips.
During Club-sponsored field activities:
Participants shall remain with an assigned buddy or group.
No participant shall collect alone unless expressly authorized under a written Club policy.
Participants shall follow the instructions of the trip leader.
Members and guests shall use appropriate clothing, footwear, tools, eye protection, helmets, gloves, water, food, navigation equipment, and other safety gear appropriate to the location.
Each participant shall provide emergency contact information when required.
The trip leader may deny participation or end a participant’s involvement when conditions or conduct create an unreasonable safety risk.
Participants are responsible for informing the trip leader of relevant medical limitations or emergency needs.
The Club may cancel or modify a trip because of weather, fire restrictions, road conditions, land-management rules, hazards, or insufficient leadership.
Participants shall be informed that rockhounding involves inherent risks, including falls, loose rock, sharp objects, extreme weather, vehicle accidents, remote locations, wildlife, tools, abandoned mines, and uneven terrain.
The Club should use a separate participant waiver and release, emergency-information form, and field-trip safety checklist where appropriate. These documents should be reviewed for compliance with applicable law.
Article IX — Responsible Collecting and Ethics
Members shall:
Obtain permission before collecting on private property.
Follow all federal, state, county, municipal, tribal, and land-management regulations.
Obey posted closures, permit requirements, seasonal restrictions, and quantity limits.
Avoid damaging significant geological, paleontological, archaeological, historical, or cultural resources.
Leave gates, fences, roads, vegetation, and water sources as they are found.
Fill or safely mark small excavation areas where appropriate.
Remove trash and avoid unnecessary environmental disturbance.
Respect active mining claims and the rights of other collectors.
Never represent unauthorized material as Club-approved or legally collected.
The Club may decline to publicize sensitive collecting locations when disclosure could cause overuse, damage, trespass, or resource loss.
Article X — Finances
Club funds shall be used only to advance the purposes of the Club.
The Board shall establish financial controls, including:
A budget or annual financial plan
Accurate records of income and expenses
Periodic financial reports to the membership
Approval procedures for expenditures
Reasonable separation of authorization, custody, and recordkeeping responsibilities
Approval of reimbursement procedures
Club funds shall be held in accounts approved by the Board. No member shall use Club funds or property for personal purposes except for authorized reimbursements or approved Club activities.
The Club may raise funds through dues, donations, educational programs, auctions, sales, grants, sponsorships, or other lawful activities consistent with its purpose.
Article XI — Conflicts of Interest
Any director, officer, or committee member with a personal, financial, family, or business interest in a matter before the Club shall disclose that interest.
The person may provide factual information but shall not vote on the matter when the conflict could affect impartial decision-making. The disclosure and action taken shall be recorded in the meeting minutes.
Article XII — Records and Communications
The Club shall maintain appropriate records, including:
Charter and bylaws
Meeting minutes
Financial records
Membership records
Insurance documents
Field-trip policies and waivers
Significant contracts and correspondence
Official Club communications shall be issued by authorized officers or representatives. Members may not speak on behalf of the Club without authorization from the Board.
Article XIII — Amendments
This charter may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and eligible to vote at a properly noticed membership meeting, provided that the proposed amendment was distributed to members at least fourteen days before the meeting.
The Board may recommend amendments, and members may propose amendments according to procedures established in the bylaws.
Article XIV — Dissolution
If the Club dissolves, its remaining debts shall be paid and its remaining assets shall be distributed to one or more nonprofit, educational, geological, environmental, or community organizations with purposes similar to those of the Club.
No remaining assets shall be distributed to individual members, officers, or directors except for legitimate reimbursements or repayment of documented debts.
The name of this organization shall be the Longmont Rockhounding Club, referred to in this charter as “the Club" or "LRC”
Article II — Purpose
The Longmont Rockhounding Club is organized to promote the enjoyment, study, collection, preservation, and responsible use of rocks, minerals, fossils, gemstones, and related earth sciences.
The Club’s purposes are to:
Encourage interest in geology, mineralogy, lapidary arts, and earth sciences.
Provide educational programs, presentations, demonstrations, and workshops.
Organize safe and responsible field trips for collecting and geological observation.
Promote ethical collecting practices and respect for private property, public lands, cultural resources, wildlife, and the environment.
Encourage members to share knowledge, specimens, techniques, and experiences.
Support youth education and community outreach when practical.
Promote fellowship among people interested in rockhounding and related activities.
The Club shall operate for educational, recreational, and community purposes and shall not be organized for the private financial benefit of any member.
Article III — Membership
Membership shall be open to any person interested in the purposes of the Club, subject to the Club’s rules and policies.
The Club may establish the following membership categories:
Individual Member
Family or Household Membership
Student or Youth Member
Honorary Member
Supporting Member
Membership dues, if any, shall be established by the Board of Directors and approved according to the Club’s bylaws or operating policies.
All members are expected to:
Treat other members, guests, landowners, agency personnel, and the public with respect.
Follow Club policies and field-trip instructions.
Collect responsibly and lawfully.
Respect claims, private property, closures, permit requirements, and collecting limits.
Follow all applicable safety rules.
The Club may suspend or terminate a membership for serious misconduct, unsafe behavior, unlawful collecting, harassment, property damage, or conduct that materially harms the Club. The member shall be given notice and a reasonable opportunity to respond under procedures established by the Board.
Article IV — Board of Directors
The Club shall be governed by a Board of Directors consisting of at least five members, or another number established in the bylaws.
The principal officers shall be:
Board Chair — presides over meetings, provides leadership, and coordinates the work of the Board.
Vice Chair — assists the Chair and performs the Chair’s duties when the Chair is unavailable.
Secretary — maintains meeting minutes, official records, notices, correspondence, and membership records.
Treasurer — oversees Club funds, prepares financial reports, maintains financial records, and presents a proposed budget.
Club Manager : A position which acts as a liaison between club members and the board of directors. The club manager will be responsible for organizing teams to further the goals of the club, from a simple afternoon outing to a near by location all the way up to organizing community events. The club manager will have an equal vote as the rest of the board members.
Board members shall act in the best interests of the Club, disclose potential conflicts of interest, protect Club property and information, and comply with applicable law and Club policies.
Article V — Elections and Terms
Officers and directors shall be elected by the membership at the Club’s annual meeting.
Unless otherwise provided in the bylaws:
Officers shall serve one-year terms.
Directors shall serve two-year terms, with terms staggered when practical.
Officers may be reelected.
Vacancies may be filled by appointment of the Board until the next regular election.
An officer or director may be removed for cause by a two-thirds vote of the Board or membership, subject to appropriate notice and an opportunity to respond.
Article VI — Meetings
The Club shall hold regular membership meetings at times and locations determined by the Board.
The Club shall hold an annual meeting for:
Election of officers and directors
Presentation of financial and activity reports
Adoption of plans and priorities for the coming year
Consideration of proposed amendments and other Club business
The Board may hold special meetings when necessary. Notice of meetings shall be provided through the Club’s regular communication methods.
A quorum shall consist of the number of members or directors specified in the bylaws. If no separate quorum rule exists, a majority of the currently serving Board members shall constitute a Board quorum.
Article VII — Committees
Through the position of Club manager, the Board may establish standing or temporary committees, including:
Field Trips and Safety Committee
Programs and Education Committee
Membership Committee
Newsletter and Communications Committee
Lapidary and Workshop Committee
Public Lands and Ethics Committee
Hospitality or Social Events Committee
Each committee shall operate under a written assignment or direction from the Board and shall report its activities as requested.
Article VIII — Field Trips and Safety
The Club shall maintain a Buddy System and No-Solo Collecting Policy for organized field trips.
During Club-sponsored field activities:
Participants shall remain with an assigned buddy or group.
No participant shall collect alone unless expressly authorized under a written Club policy.
Participants shall follow the instructions of the trip leader.
Members and guests shall use appropriate clothing, footwear, tools, eye protection, helmets, gloves, water, food, navigation equipment, and other safety gear appropriate to the location.
Each participant shall provide emergency contact information when required.
The trip leader may deny participation or end a participant’s involvement when conditions or conduct create an unreasonable safety risk.
Participants are responsible for informing the trip leader of relevant medical limitations or emergency needs.
The Club may cancel or modify a trip because of weather, fire restrictions, road conditions, land-management rules, hazards, or insufficient leadership.
Participants shall be informed that rockhounding involves inherent risks, including falls, loose rock, sharp objects, extreme weather, vehicle accidents, remote locations, wildlife, tools, abandoned mines, and uneven terrain.
The Club should use a separate participant waiver and release, emergency-information form, and field-trip safety checklist where appropriate. These documents should be reviewed for compliance with applicable law.
Article IX — Responsible Collecting and Ethics
Members shall:
Obtain permission before collecting on private property.
Follow all federal, state, county, municipal, tribal, and land-management regulations.
Obey posted closures, permit requirements, seasonal restrictions, and quantity limits.
Avoid damaging significant geological, paleontological, archaeological, historical, or cultural resources.
Leave gates, fences, roads, vegetation, and water sources as they are found.
Fill or safely mark small excavation areas where appropriate.
Remove trash and avoid unnecessary environmental disturbance.
Respect active mining claims and the rights of other collectors.
Never represent unauthorized material as Club-approved or legally collected.
The Club may decline to publicize sensitive collecting locations when disclosure could cause overuse, damage, trespass, or resource loss.
Article X — Finances
Club funds shall be used only to advance the purposes of the Club.
The Board shall establish financial controls, including:
A budget or annual financial plan
Accurate records of income and expenses
Periodic financial reports to the membership
Approval procedures for expenditures
Reasonable separation of authorization, custody, and recordkeeping responsibilities
Approval of reimbursement procedures
Club funds shall be held in accounts approved by the Board. No member shall use Club funds or property for personal purposes except for authorized reimbursements or approved Club activities.
The Club may raise funds through dues, donations, educational programs, auctions, sales, grants, sponsorships, or other lawful activities consistent with its purpose.
Article XI — Conflicts of Interest
Any director, officer, or committee member with a personal, financial, family, or business interest in a matter before the Club shall disclose that interest.
The person may provide factual information but shall not vote on the matter when the conflict could affect impartial decision-making. The disclosure and action taken shall be recorded in the meeting minutes.
Article XII — Records and Communications
The Club shall maintain appropriate records, including:
Charter and bylaws
Meeting minutes
Financial records
Membership records
Insurance documents
Field-trip policies and waivers
Significant contracts and correspondence
Official Club communications shall be issued by authorized officers or representatives. Members may not speak on behalf of the Club without authorization from the Board.
Article XIII — Amendments
This charter may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and eligible to vote at a properly noticed membership meeting, provided that the proposed amendment was distributed to members at least fourteen days before the meeting.
The Board may recommend amendments, and members may propose amendments according to procedures established in the bylaws.
Article XIV — Dissolution
If the Club dissolves, its remaining debts shall be paid and its remaining assets shall be distributed to one or more nonprofit, educational, geological, environmental, or community organizations with purposes similar to those of the Club.
No remaining assets shall be distributed to individual members, officers, or directors except for legitimate reimbursements or repayment of documented debts.