Elko Chapter 2023-2024

GSN Elko Chapter Officers for 2023-2024

President:  Luke Schranz, Project Geologist
Vice President:  Sergey Konyshev, Gold Standard Ventures
Secretary:  Philip Zirbes, Geologist
Treasurer:  Alexandria Monroe, First Majestic
Membership Chair:  Josie Kinzie, Nevada Gold Mines

GSN Scholarship Opportunity

Elko Scholarship Application
Elko Scholarship Application Flyer

Elko Chapter Bylaws

Article I. GSN Elko Chapter Membership Meetings

Section 1. Approximately nine GSN Elko Chapter General Membership Meetings shall take place each year, the dates of these being on the third Thursday of the month, unless some other day is more convenient or appropriate during a specific month. However, the scheduled meeting date may not conflict with the general meetings of the GSN, or those of the Winnemucca or Southern Nevada Chapters. The GSN Elko Chapter General Membership Meetings will normally be held from September through May. Additional GSN Elko Chapter General Membership Meetings may be held as deemed appropriate or necessary by the GSN Elko Chapter Officers.

Section 2. GSN Elko Chapter General Membership Meetings may consist of a talk and slide show, film, or other activities approved by the Executive Committee. Decisions concerning the time, place and content of the GSN Elko Chapter General Membership Meetings shall be made by the GSN Elko Chapter Executive Committee.

Article II. Election Procedures

Section 1. Nominations for the next slate of Officers for the Elko Chapter Executive Committee will be completed by the Elko Chapter Officers prior to January 31 st of each year. The Elko Chapter President shall then present the slate to the GSN Board of Directors for their review and approval.

Section 2. The GSN Elko Chapter Executive Committee will have the slate of Officers for the Elko Chapter Executive Committee published as an announcement in the April GSN Newsletter. The Announcement shall also indicate the election will be sent as an electronic mail ballot in April.

Section 3. The Elko Chapter Executive Committee will distribute ballots to all Elko Chapter Members between April 7 th and April 14 th.

Section 4. The aforementioned ballot shall: 1) identify the slate of Officers for the Elko Chapter Executive Committee and provide for a “for” or “against” vote on that slate; 2) provide for a place for the voter to place their name; 3) state that for a vote to be considered the vote must be received at the GSN office within ten working days of the date it was distributed to the Elko Chapter membership; and 4) the distribution date shall be included on the ballot.

Section 5. All valid ballots received by 11:59 pm on the tenth working day after the ballot is distributed to the Elko Chapter membership shall be counted. For a ballot to be valid the name of the member must be attached to the ballot and the ballot must include a “for” or “against” vote on each slate on the ballot to be counted as a vote for that slate. The GSN Elko Chapter President working with the GSN Elko Chapter Secretary and the GSN Office Manager shall count the votes. The GSN Elko Chapter President shall announce the results of the vote at the May GSN Elko Chapter General Membership Meeting and have the results of the vote published as an announcement in the May GSN Newsletter.

Article III. GSN Elko Chapter Executive Committee

Section 1. Officers of the Elko Chapter Executive Committee shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Membership Chairperson, and Treasurer. The term for each office shall be one year. Each year shall run from June through May.

Section 2. The GSN Elko Chapter Executive Committee shall meet monthly, generally on the first Friday of the month, or as determined necessary by the GSN Elko Chapter Executive Committee, to review, plan and conduct the day-to-day business of the Elko Chapter. The GSN Elko Chapter Executive Committee shall create subcommittees, if required, that may be composed of any Member of the GSN, as needed to conduct specific functions of the GSN Elko Chapter. All subcommittees shall have a chair that reports to the GSN Elko Chapter Executive Committee.

Section 3. Voting by GSN Elko Chapter Officers shall be done by the person(s) in that officer position or another GSN Elko Chapter Officer with that person’s written proxy to vote for them. In the event that a position on the GSN Elko Chapter Executive Committee is held by more than one person, that position still has only one vote. Should one or all of the people serving in a position, or their written proxy, not be present for the vote, then that position shall be considered absent for that vote.

Section 3. Duties of the GSN Elko Chapter Officers, which can be modified by vote of the GSN Elko Chapter Executive Committee:

  • President: The president shall be responsible for the following activities:
  • Directing chapter activities;
  • Chairing chapter meetings, including but not limited to:
  • Opening and closing meetings;
  • Introducing speakers; making announcements;
  • Chairing Elko Chapter Executive Committee meetings;
  • Coordinating Elko Chapter activities with GSN and other chapters;
  • Attending and participating in GSN Board of Directors meetings and activities; and
  • Coordinating and arranging for speakers at each chapter meeting.
  • Vice-President: The vice-president shall be responsible for the following activities:
  • Chairing chapter meetings in the absence of the president;
  • Coordinating and arranging for one or more annual field trips;
  • Insure that a guidebook is produced for the field trip(s); and
  • Securing sponsorship, financial or otherwise, to support the Elko Chapter activities including monthly meetings, field trips, and special events.
  • Secretary: The secretary shall be responsible for the following activities:
  • Preparing and sending all meeting, field trip, and special announcements;
  • Maintaining chapter records;
  • Working in cooperation with the GSN Office Manager to maintain a complete and correct Elko Chapter membership list;
  • Recording minutes of the Elko Chapter Executive Committee meetings; and
  • Work in cooperation with the GSN Office Manager to tally the votes for the Elko Chapter elections.
  • Treasurer: The treasurer shall be responsible for the following activities:
  • Recording expenses and income;
  • Keeping financial matters in order and maintaining checking and savings accounts;
  • Responsible for collecting and distributing mail to the appropriate Elko Chapter Officer and maintaining the P.O Box in good standing.
  • Payment of all Elko chapter bills;
  • Sending invoices, accompanied by ‘thank you’ letters to all Elko chapter sponsors;
  • Assist the Elko Chapter President with preparation of an annual budget and operating plan;
  • Managing Elko Chapter investments approved by the Elko Chapter Executive Committee; and
  • Coordinating with the GSN Treasurer on budgets, audits, and financial planning.
  • Membership Chairman: The membership chairman shall be responsible for the following activities:
  • Conducting membership drives;
  • Preparing posters acknowledging the speaker and sponsor for each chapter meeting;
  • Work closely with the vice-president on the annual field trip preparation and guidebook; and
  • Keep the Elko chapter website up-to-date.

Article IV. Amendments to the Elko Chapter By-Laws

Section 1. Any amendments to the Elko Chapter By-Laws shall be developed by the GSN Elko Chapter Executive Committee. The GSN Elko Chapter Officers shall then vote on the amendments to the Elko Chapter By-Laws to send them to the GSN Board of Directors for approval. Prior to sending the proposed amendments to the Board of Directors, the GSN Elko Chapter membership shall be notified of the proposed amendments through an announcement in the GSN Newsletter and the GSN Elko Chapter Newsletteror by electronic mail.

Article V. Financial Management

Section 1. The GSN Elko Chapter Executive Committee shall manage the daily affairs of the GSN Elko Chapter in a fiscally responsible manner.

Section 2. It shall be the intent of the Elko Chapter Executive Committee to follow, as closely as practicable, an annual budget where expenditures do not exceed operating income. The budget will be prepared annually by the Treasurer in consultation with the President and Vice-President, and reviewed and approved by the Elko Chapter Executive Committee, prior to review and by the GSN Board of Directors.

Section 3. The GSN Elko Chapter Executive Committee will deposit no less than 50 percent of the profits from any large special event, such as a symposium or significant contribution, into an investment fund, unless otherwise directed by the GSN Board of Directors.

Section 4. The Elko Chapter Executive Committee may, on no less than an annual basis, convert no more than 50 percent of the earnings from the investment fund to operating income.

Section 5. The principal balance of the investment fund may be used for any purpose deemed necessary by the Elko Chapter Executive Committee, consistent with the requirements of Section 6 of this Article.

Section 6. The GSN Elko Chapter President and GSN Elko Chapter Treasurer, in cooperation with the GSN Elko Chapter Executive Committee, shall prepare, on or before the April GSN Executive Committee meeting an annual operating plan and budget for the GSN Elko Chapter. The GSN Executive Committee shall review, modify as necessary, and approve the operating plan and budget. The GSN President and GSN Treasurer shall then deliver the approved operating plan and budget to the GSN Board of Directors for their review and approval.

Section 7. The Elko Chapter Treasurer shall, at a time specified by the GSN Elko Chapter Executive Committee, make an annual report to the membership which will include: a summary of the income, expenditures and asset balances for the previous year; and the approved budget for the upcoming year.

Article VI. Removal of a GSN Elko Chapter Officer

Section 1. Should the GSN Elko Chapter Executive Committee determine through a simple majority vote that one of the Elko Chapter Officers is unable to fulfill the responsibilities of their position or is engaged in actions that are inappropriate with the objectives of the GSN, then the GSN Elko Chapter President, or the GSN Elko Chapter Vice President if the GSN Elko Chapter President is the individual under consideration, shall initiate the process of removal of that GSN Elko Chapter Officer.

Section 2. The GSN Elko Chapter President or the Elko Chapter Vice President if the President is the individual under consideration, and other members of the GSN Elko Chapter Executive Committee shall meet with a quorum of the GSN Elko Chapter Executive Committee at their next meeting to review the facts and findings. Based on the facts and findings presented, the GSN Elko Chapter Executive Committee shall determine if they have any objections to proceeding with the removal action. The determination shall be through a simple majority vote. The GSN Elko Chapter Officer under consideration is not eligible to vote in this determination. The decision of the GSN Elko Chapter Executive Committee is effective immediately.

Article VIII. Elko Chapter Officer Vacancies

Section 1. Should one or more vacancies occur in the GSN Elko Chapter Officers that is scheduled for election and the GSN Board of Directors has approved the slate of candidates to be voted upon by the Elko Chapter membership to fill those positions, then those positions shall remain vacant until filled by the results of the scheduled election.

Section 2. Should a vacancy occur that is not subject to Section 1 of this Article, then the GSN Elko Chapter Executive Committee shall, at their next regularly scheduled monthly meeting consider candidates for the position and nominate a qualified individual to fill the position for the remainder of the term. The nomination shall be through a simple majority vote of a quorum of the GSN Elko Chapter Officers.

Article IX. Newsletter

Section 1. The GSN Elko Chapter Newsletter shall be published monthly 7 days prior to the meeting date. The primary method of publication is as a PDF file distributed via electronic mail to the Membership.

Section 2. The GSN Elko Chapter Newsletter shall include, at a minimum, any announcement required by the GSN Constitution or Elko Chapter By-Laws, a calendar of events, including announcements of the GSN Elko Chapter General Meetings, and information of general interest to the Membership.

Article X. Address

Section 1. The GSN Elko Chapter shall maintain a mailing/business address at P.O. Box 2591, Elko, NV 89803.