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(as amended through 09/12/2008)
Article I NAME
The name of this organization shall be THE MANSFIELD HISTORICAL
SOCIETY, INCORPORATED.
Article II PURPOSES
The purposes of the Society shall be as follows:
- To discover, collect, and preserve whatever pertains to the history
of the Town of Mansfield and the surrounding area;
- To promote and encourage historical research in all its aspects, and
to make available to the members of the Society, and to the public, the
results of this research;
- To hold meetings and to discuss such matters as are of interest to
the members of the Society and the public;
- And in general to carry on any or all activities appropriate for an
historical society.
Article III MEMBERSHIP
Section A. Regular membership shall be open to all
individuals interested in the purposes of the Society.
Section B. Honorary membership may be conferred by vote
at an annual meeting upon recommendation of the Executive Council.
Article IV DUES
Members shall pay such annual dues as are fixed from time to time by the Executive
Council.
Article V OFFICERS
Section A. The officers of the Society shall be a
President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and an Assistant
Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be bonded. The books of the Treasurer
shall be audited periodically, at least every third year, by an
auditor/s appointed by the Executive Council.
Section B. The officers shall perform such duties as
are usually incident to their positions. These duties may be further
defined by the Executive Council.
Section C. Officers shall be elected at the annual
meeting of the Society, and shall serve for two years or until their
successors are elected. The President and Vice-President shall be
elected in odd-numbered years, and the Secretary, Treasurer, and
Assistant Treasurer shall be elected in even-numbered years. A majority
of the legal votes cast shall be necessary for election.
A member may hold the office of President, Vice-President, Secretary,
Treasurer, or Assistant Treasurer for no more than two consecutive
terms. One term of two years must then intervene before he/she is
eligible for the same office again.
Section D. If an officer resigns or is otherwise unable
to fulfill the duties of his/her office, the Executive Council shall
appoint another member of the Society to fill out the unexpired
term.
Article VI COMMITTEES
Section A. There shall be the following standing
committees: Finance, Hospitality, Membership, Museum, Newsletter, Old
Houses, Program, Publicity, Research and Publications, and such other
standing committees as may be recommended by the Executive Council and
approved by the membership.
There shall be two standing subcommittees of the Museum Committee,
namely the Acquisitions and Collections Management Committee and the
Education Committee. The Finance Committee shall be advisory to the
Treasurer.
Section B. The President shall appoint the Chairperson
of each standing committee with the approval of the Executive Council
and shall appoint the members of the Finance Committee. The designated
Chairpersons of the other committees shall appoint their own committee
members. The Chairperson of the Museum Committee shall also appoint the
members of the Acquisitions and Collections Management Committee and the
Education Committee.
Section C. Special committees may be authorized by the
Executive Council or by the membership of the Society. Unless the motion
creating a committee provides otherwise, the members of all special
committees shall be appointed by the President.
Article VII EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Section A. The Executive Council shall carry on all the
business affairs of the Society, and shall report at each regular
meeting on actions it has taken since the last regular meeting. It shall
have the responsibility for the expenditure of funds, provided that any
purchase or sale of real estate shall require the approval of the
membership at a regular meeting.
Section B. The Executive Council shall consist of the
officers of the Society, four members-at-large and the Chairpersons of
the standing committees and standing subcommittees. Members-at-large
shall serve no more than two consecutive two-year terms. One term of two
years must elapse before they are eligible for the same office.
Section C. At each annual meeting, two members-at-large
shall be elected to serve for two-year terms. A majority of the legal
votes cast shall be necessary for election. The incoming President may
appoint the immediate past President to serve on the Executive Council
for a period not to exceed the incoming President's first two-year
term.
Section D. If a vacancy occurs among the
members-at-large, the Executive Council shall appoint another member of
the Society to fill out the unexpired term.
Section E. Meetings of the Executive Council may be
held at the call of the President or on request of any three members of
the Council.
Section F. A simple majority of the filled positions
shall constitute a quorum.
Article VIII NOMINATING COMMITTEE
A Nominating Committee consisting of three members of the Society shall
be appointed by the President at the regular meeting previous to the
annual meeting. The Nominating Committee shall submit a slate of
candidates at the annual meeting consisting of one nominee for each office
and two nominees for members-at-large of the Executive Council. Additional
nominations may be made from the floor.
Article IX MEETINGS
Section A. Regular meetings shall be held four times a
year at the call of the President.
Section B. Special meetings may be called by the
President, the Executive Council, or on the written request of any ten
members of the Society.
Section C. The annual meeting, which shall be a regular
meeting of the Society, shall be held the second Friday in September or
such other date as the Executive Council may deem necessary.
Section D. Twenty-five regular members shall constitute
a quorum.
Article X AMENDMENTS
The By-Laws of the Society may be amended by a two-thirds majority of
the legal votes cast at any regular or special meeting of the Society,
provided written notice, including the proposed changes, has been given
the membership at least seven days in advance of such meeting. Amendments
may be proposed by the Executive Council or the written request of at
least ten members.
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