and

​The Wyoming Archaeological Society

Wyoming Association of Professional Archaeologists

WYOMING ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL ARCHAEOLOGISTS

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

Section I - NAME
1. The name of the organization shall be the Wyoming Association of Professional
Archaeologists (WAPA), hereinafter referred to as the Association.

Section II - DURATION
1. The period of existence and duration of this Association shall be perpetual.

Section III - PURPOSE
1. The Association is a nonprofit voluntary organization that exists for the purposes of
maintaining and promoting the goals of professional archaeology in the State of
Wyoming.

2. These goals shall include but shall not be limited to:
    a. establishing and promoting high standards of archaeological research, reporting and
    management;
    b. establishing and promoting professional archaeological interests in political and
    public forums;
    c. establishing and promoting communications with the archaeological community;
    d. establishing and promoting forums for discussing research problems and data;
    e. promoting public education and interest in cultural resource preservation and
    conservation;
    f. promoting investigations in the fields of prehistoric and historic cultural resources;
    g. providing Association input to appropriate State, Federal and local agencies.

Section IV - MEMBERSHIP
1. Individual voting member
a. Qualifications
i. Minimum of BA or BS degree in Anthropology or closely related discipline;
ii. Minimum of 12 months full-time, but not necessarily consecutive, professional
archaeological experience;
iii. Exceptions to i. and ii. shall be considered on a case-by-case basis by the
Association Membership and Ethics Committee. If an exception is granted for
cause, the individual will have individual voting member privileges.
iv. No breaches of the Association Code of Conduct or Standards of Research
Performance.
b. Entry procedures
i. Application, including submission of vitae and payment of annual dues;
ii. Acceptance by majority vote of the Association Membership and Ethics
Committee after review of credentials.
iii. If there is a change in membership status or an individual voting membership
lapses for more than one year, a new membership application must be submitted
to the Membership and Ethics Committee for review.
c. Rights and duties
i. Adherence to the Association Code of Conduct and Standards of Research
Performance;
ii. Right to participate in Association activities and responsibility to pay dues as
established in accordance with Section VI (1);
iii. Full voting rights in all Association business
iv. Eligibility to serve as an Association officers or member of any Association
committee;
v. Receipt of all Association publications.

2. Family voting members
a. Qualifications for each individual member of a legally recognized family
i. Minimum of BA or BS degree in Anthropology or closely related discipline;
ii. Minimum of 12 months full-time professional archaeological experience;
iii. Exceptions to i. and ii. shall be considered on a case-by-case basis by the
Association Membership and Ethics Committee;
iv. No breaches of the Association Code of Conduct or Standards of Research
Performance.
b. Entry Procedures
i. Application, including submission of vitae and payment of annual dues;
ii. Acceptance by majority vote of the Association Membership and Ethics
Committee after review of credentials.
iii. If there is a change in membership status or a family voting membership
lapses for more than one year, a new membership application must be submitted
to the Membership and Ethics Committee for review.
c. Rights and duties
i. Adherence to the Association Code of Conduct and Standards of Research
Performance;
ii. Right to participate in Association activities and responsibility to pay dues for
each family member at 75% of the individual membership rate established in
accordance with Section VI (1);
iii. Full-voting rights for each family member in all Association business;
iv. Eligibility of each family member to serve as an Association officer or
member of any Association committee;
v. Receipt of one copy of all Association publications per family.

3. Student membership
a. Qualifications
i. Active participation in an academic program leading to a degree in
Anthropology or closely related discipline;
ii. Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-basis by the Membership and
Ethics Committee.
b. Entry procedures
i. Application, including vitae and payment of annual dues;
ii. Acceptance by majority vote of the Membership and Ethics Committee after
review of credentials.
iii. If there is a change in membership status or a student membership lapses for
more than one year, a new membership application must be submitted to the
Membership and Ethics Committee for review.
c. Rights and duties
i. Adherence to the Association Code of Conduct and Standards of Research
Performance;
ii. Right to participate in Association activities and responsibility to pay dues at
50% of the rate established for individual voting members in accordance with
Section VI. (1).
iii. All rights of voting members.
iv. Receipt of all Association publications.

4. Honorary members
a. Qualifications
i. There are two categories of honorary members who make significant
contributions furthering the goals of the Association.
1. Non-voting Honorary Members do not qualify as members in any other
category. They are voted in for life, pay no dues, and cannot vote.
2. Voting Honorary Members qualify as members in another category. They
are voted in for life, pay no dues, but can vote.
b. Entry procedures
i. Acceptance by the Membership and Ethics Committee, or nomination at a
regular meeting, followed by a 60 percent acceptance by the voting membership
present at the meeting.
c. Rights and Duties
i. Acceptance of the Association Code of Conduct and Standards of Research
Performance;
ii. Non-voting honorary members hold all rights of voting members except voting
on Association business, membership on committees, and serving as an
Association officer;
iii. Honorary voting members hold all rights and duties of voting members except
for payment of dues established in accordance with Section VI. (1).

5. Institutional Members
a. Rights and duties
i. Acceptance of the Association Code of Conduct and Standards of Research
Performance;
ii. Receipt of all Association publications except for subscription to the
Association listserv.
6. Lifetime voting members
a. Individual or family voting members may purchase a lifetime voting membership
at the current price established by the membership.
b. Lifetime voting members hold all the same rights and responsibilities, as individual
voting members, except for payment of annual dues.

Section V – MEETINGS
1. The Association shall hold at least one business meeting per year and meet on other
occasions as the membership shall deem necessary. A petition by ten voting members
may request that the Executive Committee call a special meeting. Notice must be given to
the membership via regular mail, email, the listserv, or other communication deemed
most appropriate to reach the members at least 4 weeks prior to all meetings, regular or
special.
2. Passage of a motion at a meeting shall require 51 percent sustainment by the voting
members present at that regular meeting, whereas business conducted at a special
meeting must be sustained by a 60 percent affirmation by the voting membership present
at that meeting.
3. Modification of these Bylaws requires a 60 percent affirmation by the voting
membership present at the meeting in which they are brought for a vote.

Section VI – FINANCES
1. Dues shall be paid to the Association at rate(s) established by majority vote of the
membership at the meeting in which the issue is brought to the floor. Dues notices shall
be sent to all members prior to March 15 of each year. Dues are payable to the treasurer
by April 1 for that year’s membership.
2. Dues shall be used for the purpose of financing the business of the Association,
including but not limited to fees for secretarial services and expenses of officers incurred
in the normal course of Association business.
3. If dues remain unpaid for one calendar year, membership shall lapse. Terminated
members shall have an opportunity to reapply for membership.
4. Finances shall be administered by the Treasurer. Records shall be available for
inspection by the membership at all times and shall be audited for the preceding fiscal
year prior to April 15th.
5. Single expenditures in excess of $200 require the prior concurrence of the President;
single expenditures in excess of $500 require the prior concurrence of the Executive
Committee, and shall be within the constraints of available funds.
6. Property
a. The Association may receive, maintain and hold, by request, device, gift, or
otherwise, either absolutely or in trust, for any of its purposes, property, either real or
personal, or funds, without limitations as to amounts or values.
b. The Association may convey such property and invest and reinvest any principal
and interest; and may direct, manage, and expand the income and principal of the
Association and the agency or agencies making such funds available, for the uses and
purposes herein set forth.
7. No officer or member of the Association, in the absence of fraud committed by that
officer or member, shall become personally liable for any debts or liabilities rising
against or incurred by the Association or its officers, agents, employees, or members; and
the private property of the officers and members of this organization shall be exempt
from liability for any and all debts, obligations or liabilities of the Association.

Section VII - OPERATION
1. The place of business for the organization shall be c/o Office of the Wyoming State
Archaeologist, Anthropology, Department 3431, 1000 E. University, Laramie, WY
82071. The Association Treasurer is authorized to direct financial institutions to mail
statements and other regular financial correspondence directly to the Association
Treasurer.
2. Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the procedures at each meeting; other rules may
govern as established by the President or presiding officer at the beginning of the
meeting.

Section VIII - OFFICERS
1. The Association shall have four officers: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and
Treasurer. All officers shall hold office for two years. The Executive Committee shall fill
any vacancy during any term of office, by appointment, from the membership. Such
appointments shall be for the remainder of the original elected term of office.
a. President. The President shall serve as the Association's representative in all its
official affairs and transactions. The President shall reside over Association meetings.
The President may appoint committees as necessary, with the assent of the Executive
Committee.
b. Vice-President. The Vice-President shall act with the powers of the President in the
event that the President is unwilling or unable to perform appointed duties. In
addition, the Vice-President shall chair the Membership and Ethics Committee.
c. Secretary. The Secretary shall announce all meetings to the membership of the
Association and shall maintain minutes of all meetings.
d. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall keep membership rolls of the Association, shall
maintain records of financial transactions in accordance with standard bookkeeping
practices, and shall disperse funds according to Section VI.
2. The Association shall appoint or retain a legal Counsel, as needed.

Section IX - STANDING COMMITTEES
1. Executive Committee
a. The voting members of the Executive Committee shall be composed of the
Association Officers and two Members-at-Large, to be elected for two-year terms.
b. The Executive Committee shall act on behalf of the Association to further the goals
of the Association as set forth in its Constitution and Bylaws.
2. Membership and Ethics Committee
a. The Membership and Ethics Committee shall be composed of the Vice-President
and four voting Members, appointed by the Executive Committee, no more than two
of which are Executive Committee members. The Vice-President shall chair the
committee.
b. The purpose of the Membership and Ethics Committee shall be to review and vote
on new members who shall then be accepted by majority vote of the committee.
c. The Membership and Ethics Committee shall review and evaluate all complaints
brought to the organization regarding professional conduct as per the procedure
agreed upon and posted by the Executive Committee. The Membership and Ethics
Committee will recommend consequences for matters involving professional
archaeological conduct of Association members, or of persons or organizations
external to the Association, and the recommendations will be brought to the attention
of the Executive Committee for action.
d. Complaints must be filed with WAPA within two years of the grievance
occurrence.

Section X - ELECTION OF OFFICERS
1. The other officers of the Association, and the two Members-at-Large of the Executive
Committee, shall be elected by the membership, requiring a simple majority of all votes
cast. Voting may be done at a meeting of the membership or via another process, such as
but not limited to email or an online voting program, deemed efficient by the Executive
Committee.
2. Completed ballots shall be returned to the Executive Committee’s election appointee in
compliance with the regulations of the determined voting method. Nominations shall be
accepted bi-annually by March 15 by submission to the Executive Committee. Ballots
shall be distributed to the voting membership at least four weeks prior to the election
deadline. Newly elected officers shall assume office on October 1. Ballots shall be
counted by two voting members appointed by the President.
3. The President shall not vote in an election, except to break a tie.

Section XI - PUBLICATIONS
1. The Association shall publish a newsletter at their discretion. The Association may
from time to time authorize the publication of other single or serial items.

Section XII - ADOPTION
1. These Bylaws shall become effective upon ratification by a 2/3 sustainment of those
attending the meeting where they are presented for ratification.

Section XIII - DISPOSAL OF ASSETS
1. In the event of dissolution, the Executive Committee shall dispose of all Association
assets to an educational or scientific institution that is exempt from taxation under the
then current code of the Internal Revenue Service.

SECTION XIV -CODE OF CONDUCT
Archaeology is a profession, and the privilege of professional practice requires
professional morality and professional responsibility, as well as professional competence,
on the part of each practitioner.
1. The Archaeologist's Responsibility to the Public
a. An archaeologist shall:
i. Recognize a commitment to represent Archaeology and its research results to
the public in a responsible manner;
ii. Actively support conservation of the archaeological resource base;
iii. Be sensitive to, and respect the legitimate concerns of, groups whose culture
histories are the subjects of archaeological investigations;
iv. Avoid and discourage exaggerated, misleading, or unwarranted statements
about archaeological matters that might induce others to engage in unethical or
illegal activity;
v. Support and comply with the terms of the UNESCO Convention on the means
of prohibiting and preventing the illicit import, export, and transfer of ownership
of cultural property, as adopted by the General Conference, 14 November 1970,
Paris.
b. An archaeologist shall not:
i. Engage in any illegal or unethical conduct involving archaeological matters or
knowingly permit the use of his/her name in support of any illegal or unethical
activity involving archaeological matters;
ii. Give a professional opinion, make a public report, or give legal testimony
involving archaeological matters without being as thoroughly informed as might
reasonably be expected;
iii. Engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation
about archaeological matters;
iv. Undertake any research that affects the archaeological resource base for which
she/he is not qualified.
v. Knowingly be involved in the recovery or excavation of artifacts for
commercial exploitation, or knowingly be employed by or knowingly contract
with an individual or entity who recovers or excavates archaeological artifacts for
commercial exploitation.
2. The Archaeologist's Responsibility to Colleagues, Employees, and Students
a. An archaeologist shall:
i. Give appropriate credit for work done by others;
ii. Stay informed and knowledgeable about developments in her/his field or fields
of specialization;
iii. Accurately, and without undue delay, prepare and properly disseminate a
description of research done and its results;
iv. Communicate and cooperate with colleagues having common professional
interests;
v. Give due respect to colleagues' interests in, and rights to, information about
sites, areas, collections, or data where there is a mutual active or potentially active
research concern;
vi. Know and comply with all federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, and
regulations applicable to her/his archaeological research and activities;
vii. Report knowledge of violations of this Code to proper authorities.
b. An archaeologist shall not:
i. Falsely or maliciously attempt to injure the reputation of another archaeologist;
ii. Commit plagiarism in oral or written communication;
iii. Undertake research that affects the archaeological resource base unless
reasonably prompt, appropriate analysis and reporting can be expected;
iv. Refuse a reasonable request from a qualified colleague for research data.
3. The Archaeologist's Responsibility to Employers and Clients
a. An archaeologist shall:
i. Respect the interests of her/his employer or client, so far as is consistent with
the public welfare and this Code and Standards;
ii. Refuse to comply with any request or demand of an employer or client which
conflicts with the Code and Standards;
iii. Recommend to employers or clients the employment of other archaeologists or
other expert consultants upon encountering archaeological problems beyond
her/his own competence;
iv. Exercise reasonable care to prevent her/his employees, colleagues, associates
and others whose services are utilized by her/him from revealing or using
confidential information. Confidential information means information of a non-
archaeological nature gained in the course of employment which the employer or
client has requested be held inviolate, or the disclosure of which would be
embarrassing or would be likely to be detrimental to the employer or client.
Information ceases to be confidential when the employer or client so indicates or
when such information becomes publicly known.
b. An archaeologist shall not:
i. Reveal confidential information, unless required by law;
ii. Use confidential information to the disadvantage of the client or employer;
iii. Use confidential information for the advantage of herself/himself or a third
person, unless the client consents after full disclosure;
iv. Accept compensation or anything of value for recommending the employment
of another archaeologist or other person, unless such compensation or thing of
value is fully disclosed to the potential employer or client;
v. Recommend or participate in any research which does not comply with the
requirements of the Standards of Research Performance

SECTION XV STANDARDS OF RESEARCH PERFORMANCE
The research archaeologist has a responsibility to attempt to design and conduct projects
that will add to our understanding of past cultures and/or that will develop better theories,
methods, or techniques for interpreting the archaeological record, while causing minimal
attrition of the archaeological resource base. In the conduct of a research project, the
following minimum standards should be followed:
1. The archaeologist has a responsibility to prepare adequately for any research project,
whether or not in the field. The archaeologist must:
a. Assess the adequacy of her/his qualifications for the demands of the project, and
minimize inadequacies by acquiring additional expertise, by bringing in associates
with the needed qualifications, or by modifying the scope of the project;
b. Inform herself/himself of relevant previous research;
c. Develop a scientific plan of research which specifies the objectives of the project,
takes into account previous relevant research, employs a suitable methodology, and
provides for economical use of the resource base (whether such base consists of an
excavation site or of specimens) consistent with the objectives of the project;
d. Ensure the availability of adequate and competent staff and support facilities to
carry the project to completion, and of adequate curatorial facilities for specimens and
records;
e. Comply with all legal requirements, including, without limitation, obtaining all
necessary governmental permits and necessary permission from landowners or other
persons;
f. Determine whether the project is likely to interfere with the program or projects of
other scholars and, if there is such a likelihood, initiate negotiations to minimize such
interference.
2. In conducting research, the archaeologist must follow her/his scientific plan of
research, except to the extent that unforeseen circumstances warrant its modification.
3. Procedures for field survey or excavation must meet the following minimal standards:
a. If specimens are collected, a system for identifying and recording their
proveniences must be maintained.
b. Uncollected entities such as environmental or cultural features, depositional strata,
and the like, must be fully and accurately recorded by appropriate means, and their
location recorded.
c. The methods employed in data collection must be fully and accurately described.
Significant stratigraphic and/or associational relationships among artifacts, other
specimens, and cultural and environmental features must also be fully and accurately
recorded.
d. All records should be intelligible to other archaeologists. If terms lacking
commonly held referents are used, they should be clearly defined.
e. Insofar as possible, the interests of other researchers should be considered. For
example, upper levels of a site should be scientifically excavated and recorded
whenever feasible, even if the focus of the project is on underlying levels.
4. During accessioning, analysis, and storage of specimens and records in the laboratory,
the archaeologist must take precautions to ensure that correlations between the specimens
and the field records are maintained, so that provenience contextual relationships and the
like are not confused or obscured.
5. Specimens and research records resulting from a project must be deposited at an
institution with permanent curatorial facilities, unless otherwise required by law.
6. The archaeologist has responsibility for appropriate dissemination of the results of
her/his research to the appropriate constituencies with reasonable dispatch.
7. Results reviewed as significant contributions to substantive knowledge of the past or to
advancements in theory, method or technique should be disseminated to colleagues and
other interested persons by appropriate means such as publications, reports at
professional meetings, or letters to colleagues.
8. Requests from qualified colleagues for information on research results directly should
be honored, if consistent with the researcher's prior rights to publication and with her/his
other professional responsibilities.
9. Failure to complete a full scholarly report within 10 years after completion of a field
project shall be construed as a waiver of an archaeologist's right of primacy with respect
to analysis and publication of the data. Upon expiration of such 10-year period, or at such
earlier time as the archaeologist shall determine not to publish the results, such data
should be made fully accessible to other archaeologists for analysis and publication.
10. While contractual obligations in reporting must be respected, archaeologists should
not enter into a contract which prohibits the archaeologist from including her or his own
interpretations or conclusions in the contractual reports, or from a continuing right to use
the data after completion of the project.
11. Archaeologists have an obligation to accede to reasonable requests for information
from the news media.

Revisions to Bylaws Effective September 8, 2023