The Blue Grass Grotto is an internal organization of the National Speleological Society, and shall follow the policies and principles of the N.S.S.

The Blue Grass Grotto shall hold monthly meetings of the general membership. The meeting time and place can be changed at the discretion of the executive committee and disseminated to the general membership. For the purposes of conducting business, 3/5 of the executive committee, with an equal number of the general membership, will be considered a quorum. The executive committee can meet as needed.

Officers must be 18 years old or older, current members of the National Speleological Society, and must have been voting members of the Blue Grass Grotto for at least one year.

Officers shall be nominated in October or November. Election of officers will occur at the November meeting. Elected officers will take their position in January of the following year.

Should a Blue Grass Grotto officer resign before the end of the term, the remaining officers will arrange an election at the next Blue Grass Grotto meeting to fill the vacancy.

The PRESIDENT serves as chief business officer. He is primarily responsible for directing the everyday business of the Blue Grass Grotto and serves as the official representative in conducting business with other organizations. The President presides at the Blue Grass Grotto meetings.

The VICE-PRESIDENT serves in the absence of the President. In addition, he may serve as a committee chairperson or may perform other duties voted by the membership or delegated by the President.

The SECRETARY maintains the written records of business for the Blue Grass Grotto, and may perform other duties voted by the membership or delegated by the President.

The TREASURER maintains the financial records of the Blue Grass Grotto, and must report the financial status at each meeting.

The LIBRARIAN receives, inventories, and maintains control of exchange publications, maps, and Blue Grass Grotto related data.

The PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY, TREASURER and LIBRARIAN make up the executive committee. The executive committee is responsible for the day-to-day business of the Blue Grass Grotto. Activities which are sponsored by the Blue Grass Grotto, or which involve grotto members as representatives of the Blue Grass Grotto, must be previously approved by at least three members of the executive committee.

If a member of the executive committee misses three consecutive grotto meetings, the executive committee may call a special election to elect a replacement. If a member of the executive committee moves out of the area, or for some other reason cannot regularly attend Blue Grass Grotto meetings, he/she is encouraged to resign so a replacement can be elected in a timely manner. In either case the replacement will serve for the unexpired term of office.

The executive committee may create additional committees of the membership to meet the needs and goals of the Blue Grass Grotto.

Membership in the Blue Grass Grotto is open to all persons who agree to abide by the bylaws. Membership in the National Speleological Society is strongly encouraged, but not required. Members are encouraged to follow the cave conservation principles and safe caving practices of the National Speleological Society. Blue Grass Grotto has the following membership categories: Individual, Family, Honorary Life, and Fraternal. Honorary Life Membership may be nominated by any member and awarded by a three-fourths (75%) majority vote of a quorum at any meeting. Honorary Life Membership may be awarded to an individual that has made significant, long-term contributions to the Blue Grass Grotto. Fraternal members are members who are now deceased.

All individual members will pay dues of $10.00 per year; family memberships are $12.00 per year. Payment of dues provides privileges of membership for the next 12 months. Dues are waived for Honorary Life and Fraternal members.

Members may be expelled from the Blue Grass Grotto or officers removed from office by a three-fourths (75%) majority vote of a quorum at any meeting. Causes for disciplinary actions are, but are not limited to, the following:

The Blue Grass Grotto may purchase or receive donations of equipment or other materials for use by the grotto and its membership. The President shall appoint an equipment coordinator to maintain a list of grotto-owned equipment along with its location. The equipment coordinator shall oversee loans of grotto equipment to members in good standing for personal activities when not needed for a grotto activity. Loaned equipment is used at the borrower's own risk. Loaned equipment shall be returned clean and in good condition.

The Blue Grass Grotto shall encourage each member to gain cave rescue skills and knowledge through the National Cave Rescue Commission. Each member should have knowledge of and practice self-rescue.

The Blue Grass Grotto may publish a newsletter called The Kentucky Caver. The editor must volunteer and be confirmed by a three-fourths (75%) majority vote of a quorum at any meeting. The editor will head a committee that will publish all announcements from the officers, articles, proposed Bylaw changes and advertisements from the members.

The President shall appoint a chairperson of the membership committee. The purpose of this committee is to monitor all aspects of membership including invitations to join, retention of members, and provide new member orientation.

The President shall appoint a liaison to each affiliated organization. The Blue Grass Grotto is affiliated with N.S.S. (National Speleological Society), K.S.S. (Kentucky Speleological Survey), and R.K.C. (Rockcastle Karst Conservancy).

Proposed changes to the bylaws may be made at any meeting. The proposal must be re-read at a second meeting. At the third meeting, the proposal may be enacted by a three-fourths (75%) majority vote of a quorum.