Article I - Name and Sponsorship

The name of the organization shall be the Gulf Coast Safety and Training Group.  The official abbreviation (Acronym) shall be GCSTG. The group was founded in 1972 by dedicated safety and training professionals in the oil and gas industry.

Article II – Mission Statement

The Gulf Coast Safety and Training Group (GCSTG) is a nonprofit (501-c3) corporation organized to promote the advancement of safety, health, environmental stewardship and safety training in the oil and/or gas exploration, production and transmission industry.  The group is dedicated to providing its membership with educational and networking opportunities to accomplish our common goals to share ideas, discuss and seek solutions to identified safety, health, environmental and training needs.

Article III - Membership

Member - A member is engaged in the broad practice of safety, health, environmental and/or training as their primary responsibility for their employer. The member shall be employed in the oil and/or gas exploration, production or transmission industry, or be employed by a company servicing the oil industry, whose own employees are exposed to the same hazards as the oil industry worker.

Associate Member - An associate member is engaged in pursuits and functions or has experience that is of value to the GCSTG. Associate members have neither voting nor elective office privileges except as provided under Article VIII.

Government Employee Member - A government employee member is an employee of a government agency that regulates the oil and/or gas exploration, production, and transmission industry. Government employee members have neither voting nor elective office privileges.

Retired Member - A retired member is a member, associate member, or government employee member who has officially retired and who chooses to continue their association with the GCS&TG. Retired members have neither voting nor elective office privileges, unless they served in a past president capacity (reference Article VI).

Change of Membership Status

If a member's work status changes, their membership classification will remain unchanged through the end of the fiscal year. They will retain all voting and office privileges of their membership classification through the end of the fiscal year.  At dues renewal time, the Membership Committee will review member status.

Appeal of Membership Status - Applicants denied membership or dissatisfied with their membership status may make a written appeal to the officers through the membership committee. The Executive Committee will have the final voice in all appeals.

Article IV - Assessments and Finances

The treasurer will assess an annual membership fee.  Failure to pay this fee by March 1^st will automatically eliminate the member from the membership roster. There is a nonrefundable Application Fee required of all applicants. A meeting assessment is made of attendees at each meeting to cover expenses.  Membership fees and meeting assessments will be waived for current elected officers, past presidents, and government employee members.

All expenditures must be approved by at least 2 elected officers and all checks for expenditures require the signature of two officers. Approved expenditures will be detailed in the annual budget.

Article V - Meetings

Meetings are to be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order Revised.  General membership meetings are held regularly.  Meetings shall include the round table discussion, guest speaker presentation(s), reports of the Executive Committee business meeting, and committee activities.

Article VI - Officers, Nominations and Elections

There will be four officers consisting of President, President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer. The current out going president will be the Nominating Committee chairman. The Nominating Committee  will consist of 5 people.  The committee will be the:  President, President-Elect, and three active past presidents whom have attended at least 50% of the General Meetings in the last two years.  The Nominating Committee will provide a ballot of nominees and conduct elections.  All officers will be elected annually by ballot before June 1.

Should a vacancy occur in the office of President, the President-Elect shall serve for the un-expired term.  Other office vacancies will be appointed by the President and approved by the Executive Committee.

Article VII - Duties of Officers

President - The president shall provide guidance and leadership to fulfill the purposes and objectives of the Gulf Coast Safety and Training Group; shall be the chief executive officer and official representative of the group; shall preside over the general meeting; shall supervise the functions of the President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer; shall recommend functioning committees; and appoint approved committee chairmen.

President-Elect - The President-Elect shall preside over the round table discussions; shall arrange for speakers, shall assist the President as appropriate; shall fill the un-expired term of the President; and shall act for the President at general meetings when the President is unavailable.

Secretary - The Secretary shall ensure the maintenance of a membership roster; shall transcribe minutes of the Executive Committee and general meeting; shall distribute minutes and meeting notices to the membership; shall maintain a historical file of all meeting minutes and notices; and shall provide successor with all historical records.

Treasurer - The Treasurer shall collect and deposit all assessed fees for meeting and activities; shall keep current accurate records of finances; shall provide current financial reports to the membership at each general meeting; and shall provide successor with audited account records.

Article VIII - Executive Committee

Voting members of the Executive Committee shall consist of the four officers, the active past presidents and current committee chairs. To conduct business at the Executive Meeting, five (5)-voting members of the Executive Committee must participate in the executive committee meeting. Of the five (5) voting members, two elected officers must be present.

The Executive Committee meets prior to the general membership meeting or when deemed appropriate by the president. Decisions will be communicated to the general membership. 

Article IX - Committees

Committees of the Gulf Coast Safety and Training Group shall be recommended by the current President and approved by the Executive Committee.  Committee chairmen shall be recommended by the President and approved by the elected officers. Committee chairmen shall select additional committee members. Chairmen shall serve on the Executive Committee;  Committee Chairs shall prepare written committee goals and objectives in addition to proposing budgets for any expected financial expenditures.  Committee reports shall be communicated and submitted to the secretary to be summarized in the meeting minutes.

Article X - Amendments to Bylaws

A change to the bylaws may be proposed as follows:

Any GCS&TG member may submit an amendment at the Executive Committee Meeting in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order Revised. The proposed amendment, if approved by the Executive Committee, will be presented to the membership at a regular meeting in accordance with Procedures. Discussion and changes to the proposed amendment will be made in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order Revised.

Although it is preferable for amendments to be submitted to the Executive Committee, a voting member may move to amend the bylaws at any regular meeting in accordance with Procedures. Discussion and changes to the proposal may be made at the meeting in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order Revised.

Procedures:

Robert's Rules of Order Revised is the parliamentary authority in all matters of procedure not specifically covered in the Bylaws.

Amendments

Proposed amendment(s) shall be submitted to the membership at the regular meeting. This proposal requires a second and majority vote to be considered. Discussion and changes to the proposal may be made in writing to the Executive Committee.  Notification to the members of the proposed changes to the amendment will be communicated to the general membership for discussion.  Within three (3) weeks of the discussion period a ballot will be sent to voting members.  A 2/3 vote of the members voting is required to pass an amendment. The votes will be tallied at the Executive Committee Meeting. Results will be announced to the general membership.

Bylaws:

Adopted May 1989

Amended January 1992

Amended August 21, 1995

Amended January 26, 1996

Amended January 2003

Amended March 12, 2009