CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF

THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PERRY COUNTY, INC.

aka PERRY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

 

            ARTICLE I  NAME OF ORGANIZATION

 

                        The name of this organization shall be called “The Historical Society of Perry County Inc.” or “The Perry County Historical Society Inc.”

 

ARTICLE II  PURPOSE

 

            This corporation is organized and shall be operated exclusively for charitable purpose in the public interest within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or the corresponding section of any further Internal Revenue Law of the United States.  The specific purposes of the Corporation are:

           

To stimulate community pride in Perry County’s history and to encourage and support community efforts to preserve the history of Perry County.

 

To educate and inform citizens on topics of interest and importance to the development and preservation of history in Perry County and to facilitate citizen involvement in the preservation plans, programs and projects.

 

To organize, sponsor and coordinate activities and events that promote the history of Perry County.

 

In furtherance of the forgoing, the Corporation may request, receive, hold  and use contributions, gifts, or grants made available for such purposes by federal, state or local governments or any private corporation, association, foundation organization or person.  No profits or revenue derived from acts of this Corporation shall be used or applied for the personal benefit of any Director, Officer or Member of this Corporation.

           

            ARTICLE III  MEMBERSHIP

 

                        SECTION 1: General  Membership in the Historical Society of Perry County is open to any person or organization who is interested in the history of Perry County and who tender the established annual dues as prescribed by resolution of the Board of Directors, from time-to-time.

 

                        Membership shall be terminated for non-payment of dues, automatically, if payment is not received by March 31 of the following year for which the last dues were paid.    

 

                       

SECTION 2:  Junior Membership  Any student under the age of 18 can join the society as a Junior member for a reduced annual fee as specified by the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 3:  Life Member  Any person or organization may become a life member of the society by paying the current life membership fee specified by the Board of Directors or making a contribution of money or artifact of equal or greater value than the life membership fee specified by the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 4:  Voting Quorum   Only members with current paid dues shall be entitled to one vote at meetings of the members.  Only Members

present can vote.  The members present shall constitute a quorum at meetings of the members.

 

SECTION 5: Annual Meeting There shall be an annual meeting of the general membership during the month of May of each year for the purpose of electing Directors, officers and the transaction of any other business that may properly come before the meeting.  The Secretary of the corporation shall provide written notice of the annual meeting to all Members at least  30 days prior to the meeting.

 

SECTION 6: Member Meetings   Meetings for the general membership shall be held during the months of February, May and November of each calendar year at a time and location established by the Board of Directors.  All members will be notified by mail, stating time and place, at least 30 days prior to the meeting.  Additional General Member Meetings may be scheduled, as needed by the Board of Directors.

 

 

ARTICLE IV BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

            SECTION 1:  Number and Qualifications   The membership of the board shall consist of nine (9) members with currant paid dues. 

 

 

            SECTION 2: Election and Term  Directors shall be elected for a three year term with three (3) members being elected each year. The Nominating Committee shall submit to the membership at the annual meeting in May a slate of candidates for the Board of Directors.  Opportunity shall be provided at the annual meeting for additional nominations from the floor for additional candidates.

 

 

            SECTION 3:   Vacancies on the Board  The Board of Directors shall have the power to remove from office, for good reason, a member so elected, by majority vote of the Board present at any meeting.  Any Board member may resign by submitting notification of such action in writing to the President or Board of Directors.  If any member of the Board fails to attend (3) three consecutive meetings, without a valid reason, the Board  may declare that position vacant.  All vacancies which may occur in the Board of Directors shall be fill by the Executive Committee to serve until the next election.

 

            SECTION 4:  Quorum  Six (6) members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum and a majority of those present shall be empowered to act for the Board of Directors.  If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting, the meeting shall be adjourned to another date and time to be set by the President.

 

SECTION 5: Board of Directors Meetings  Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held the last Monday of every months of the year at 7:15 PM, at the designated location established be the Board of Directors.  If there is a change in this schedule the Secretary will contact all Directors of time and place at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.

 

a)      any regular member of the Society may attend any meeting of the Board of Directors and may express his/her opinion on any subject but shall not be entitled to vote on any issues.

b)      Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at the call of the President or by the written request of Five (5) Directors to the President.

 

SECTION 6): Duties  The Board of Directors shall be responsible for all activities relating to the real estate property and contents owned or held by the Society.  Also, review and establish annual dues at the September meeting each year.

 

 

ARTICLE V  OFFICERS

 

            SECTION 1: Line Officers  The officers of the Society shall consist of : President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.  These officers constitute the executive committee of the society.  If any of the offices become vacant, for any reason, the office may be filled by the executive committee to be served until the next election. 

 

            SECTION 2:  Election and Terms   Officers shall be elected at the annual general membership meeting each year.  The Nominating Committee shall submit to the membership at the annual meeting in May a slate of candidates for Officers.  Opportunity shall be provided at the annual meeting for additional nominations from the floor for all positions.   Each officer shall be elected to serve a one year term.  The term of the President shall be limited to five (5) consecutive years before stepping down from that position for a period of at least two years.  The Board of Directors may wave this provision with an unanimous vote.

 

            SECTION 3:  OFFICER DUTIES

 

a) PRESIDENT  The President must be a member of the Board of Directors and shall be considered the Chief Executive Officer of the Board of Directors.  The duties of the President shall include:

* Preside at all meetings of the Corporation Members and Directors and shall be an ex-officio of all committees.

* Present an annual report on the work of the organization over the past year at each annual meeting

* Appoint all committees and chairpersons from the membership and the Board of Directors.

* See that all books, reports, certificates, etc. as required by law are properly kept and filed.

* Authority to sign legal documents.

 

b) VICE PRESIDENT  The duties of the Vice President shall include:

* perform the duties of the President in the event of the President’s

   absence or disability.

* shall assist the President in such duties as the President shall

  assign.

 

c) SECRETARY   The duties of the Secretary shall include:

* perform all such duties as are usual and incident of such office.

* be responsible for keeping attendance records and taking minutes

   at Board meetings and advising the President of 3 consecutive

   absences of any Director.

* maintain a list of persons holding keys to properties maintained  by the society and safe deposit box.

 

d) TREASURER    The duties of the Treasurer shall include:

* keep a record book of all receipts and expenditures of the

   Society.  

* receive all membership dues and other income of the Society.

*  keep an up to date list of the membership.

* maintain a checking account in the name of the Society in a bank

   doing business in Perry County.

* make payments of expenditures and investments.

* rent a safe deposit box in such bank and keep therein  all papers

   and documents evidencing such investments and the title papers

   for property of the Society and other important papers.

* submit, upon request, to a duly appointed auditing committee, or

   the Board of Directors, any documents relating to the financial

   transactions of the Society.

* Pay all outstanding invoices only after they have been approved

   by the President or the membership.

* Submit an summary report of income and expenses at each

   meeting.

           

ARTICLE VI FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION

 

                                    SECTION 1: Bonding

All persons having access to or major responsibility for the Society’s money and securities shall be bonded.

 

                                    SCETION 2: Checks

All checks shall be signed by the Treasurer, President or Vice President but only during the time there are fulfilling the duties of the President.  All such persons shall be bonded.

 

            ARTICLE VII  DISPOSAL OF ASSETS

 

SECTION 1: No project, asset, item or fund of the Society shall ever be directed to personal gain or benefit of any member or other individual, nor shall they ever be used for political purpose.

 

SECTION 2: In the event of the dissolution of the Society, no asset, item or fund of the Society shall be directed to any member, group of members, other individuals or group of individuals for the personal use or benefit.  All assets or funds shall be disposed only to duly constituted organization or society of similar purpose or objective at the direction of the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE VIII  INDEMIFICATION AND LIMITATION ON DIRECTORS

 MONENTARY LIABILITY

 

SECTION 1: Every person who is or shall be or shall have been an officer, director, employee, agent or other representative of the Society, or a personal representative of any of the foresaid, shall be indemnified by the Society to the fullest extent allowed by law.

 

SECTION 2: The Society may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of the a foresaid persons to the extent authorized by law.

 

SECTION 3:  A Director shall not be personally liable for monetary  damages for any action taken, or for any failure to take action, as a director, unless (a) the director had breached of failed to perform the duties of his or her office under Section 8363 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedures) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statues, and (b) the breach or failure to perform constitutes self dealing, willful misconduct, or recklessness.  The By-Law shall not apply to the responsibility or liability of a director pursuant to any criminal statute or to the liability of taxes pursuant to local, state, or federal law.  No amendment to or repeal of this By-Law shall apply to or have any effect on the personal liability for monetary damages of any director for, or with respect to, ant actor omission of such director occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.

 

            ARTICLE IX PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

 

                                    Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised, shall be the parliamentary

authority governing the meetings of the Society, the Board of

Directors and all Committees.

 

            ARTICLE X  AMENDMENTS TO TH BY_LAWS

 

                                    SECTION 1:  Modifications to By-Laws  Any member or

organization may propose modifications to the by-laws.  Proposed changes must be submitted in writing to the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors will review the changes and decide if the recommendation change should be brought before the full membership.

 

SECTION 2: All members of the Society shall be notified in writing of the changes along with the time and place the vote will be taken at least 30 days prior to the vote.

 

SECTION 3: The amendments to the by-laws will become effective immediately upon approval of the membership of the Society.

 

SECTION 4: A review of the by-laws shall be performed, by a review committee, at least every five (5) years or less as circumstances change.
Submitted to the Board of Directors this 28th day of December, 2004.

 

By the Committee on Revision of the Constitution and By-Laws.

 

Dave Taylor

Sandra Gusler

Carl Tressler

 

Submitted to the Board of Directors with recommendation of approval, to membership of the Society at the next general membership meeting.

 

                       

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