CLAVERACK HISTORICAL SOCIETY CONSTITUTION
Article I Name
The name of this organization shall be the Claverack Historical Society.
Article II Mission
The purpose of this society is to reinforce & expand appreciation of Claverack’s heritage by foster an atmosphere which preserves our past and transfers that rich history to all. All members are invited to participate in the annual meeting and election of officers.
This organization shall strive to accomplish the following:
* Collect and preserve artifacts that show our unique history and provide a place to house them.
* Engage the community in ways that are educational and creative to develop a historical awareness of our town.
* Use all forms of media (social, print, verbal) to reach greater numbers of participants in the discussion of our town.
* Partner with similar groups in the process of disseminating historical information to a larger audience.
* To work with local elected officials in assuring the preservation and accessibility of significant historically related documents and
archives of the town.
Article III Membership
Membership shall be of seven categories:
- Student- Any student in the public or private setting that is interested in the society shall be eligible.
- Individual active members- Any person interested in the purpose of the society shall be eligible.
- Family membership- Any family group interested in the purpose of the society shall be eligible.
- Institutional Member- Any organization, board, school, or library interested in the objectives of the society shall be eligible.
- Contributing and Sustaining Members-A person, group or business offering special support to the objectives of the society shall be eligible.
- Honorary Member- Honorary membership may be conferred upon any person whose activities have contributed to the objectives of the society. Honorary members shall be elected by a three fourths vote of members present at an annual meeting , upon nomination by the board of trustees.
- Active Military- Any active military personnel service in any branch of the military that supports the objectives of the society shall be eligible.
Article IV Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the society shall be held in June of each year.
Article V Officers and Board of Trustees
Section 1
The officers of the society shall be a president, a vice president and a secretary, who shall be elected for a term of one year. A treasurer who shall serve a term of three years and three trustees who shall be elected for a term of three years. Initial term of the trustees shall be staggered with one third (1 trustees) being replaced every year.
Section 2
The officers and trustees shall constitute the board of trustees. Their number shall not be less than five nor greater than twenty.
Article VI Election of Officers and Board of Trustees
Section 1
All officers shall be elected by a plurality of votes cast by secret ballot at the annual meeting.
Section 2
Not less than two months prior to the annual meeting the secretary of the society shall send to each member of the board of trustees a blank ballot upon which such member may nominate one person for each office open to election. Nominations shall be returned not less than one month before the annual meeting. A nomination committee, appointed by the president, shall select the candidate from a list of all nominees.
Section 3
Nominations may be made by any member of the society at any time prior to balloting at the annual meeting. Any nomination made after the deliberations of the nomination committee shall be added to the slate of candidates upon affirmative vote of a majority of members present at the annual meeting. A candidate for election shall be an individual active member.
Section 4.
A person who has been elected to the board of trustees for two consecutive terms, or elected as president or vice president for three consecutive terms shall not be nominated to the same office unless one year elapses between the end of his/her last term and the beginning of the term for which he/she is nominated.
Section 5.
Officers and trustees shall be installed at the close of the annual meeting at which they are elected and shall serve until their successors have been duly elected and installed. In the event of resignation or incapacity of any officers, except the president or any trustee, the vacancy may be filled by a vote of the board for the unexpired term of office.
Article VII Distribution of Assets Upon Dissolution
In the event of dissolution of the society, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue code, or corresponding section of any future federal Tax code, or shall be distributed to the Federal government, or to a State or local government for a public purpose.
Article VIII Amendment
This constitution may be amended at any regular or special meeting by a two-thirds vote of those voting, provided notice was given sixty days prior to the vote. It may also be amended at a special meeting called for that purpose with sixty days prior notice given and a two-thirds vote. All proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing.
Approved 1/2016