Union Historical Society
BYLAWS


RED = To be removed
YELLOW = To be added

Article I
Membership and Dues


Section 1. Any person interested in the history of Union who applies for membership in any classification of membership and who tenders the necessary dues shall thereby become a member.

Section 2. Dues for all categories of membership shall be established by the Board of Directors.

Article II
Schedule and Quorum for Meetings


Section 1. Regular meetings of the Society shall be held on the first Wednesday of each month except January and February.
Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the President.
Section 3. The Board of Directors shall meet at the request of the President or upon the request of five seven members of the Board or ten members of the Society.
Section 4. Seven members shall constitute a quorum.

Article III
Election of the Officers and Directors


Section 1. The president, vice-president, secretary and directors shall be elected for terms of two years; the treasurer, assistant treasurer and curator shall be elected for terms of three years.
Section 2. Two directors shall be elected annually.
Section 3. No officer or director shall serve in one position for more than two consecutive terms, except for the secretary and treasurer who may serve for three consecutive terms. If an officer or director is unable to complete an elected term, the vacancy may be filled by vote of the board of directors.
Section 4. The incoming president must have served at least one term on the board of directors before taking office. It is assumed that the vice president will serve as the incoming president when the position of president becomes vacant.
Section 5. Officers and directors may be removed from their positions by a two-thirds vote of the board of directors or a two-thirds vote of those present and voting at a meeting of the general membership.

Article III IV
Duties of the Officers and Directors


Section 1. The President shall have executive supervision over the activities of the Society within the scope provided by the constitution and bylaws, shall preside at all meetings of the board of directors and of the general membership, shall report annually on the activities of the Society and shall appoint the members of committees and delegates not otherwise provided for.
Section 2. The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President in the event of absence, incapacity or resignation of the President.
Section 3. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of meetings of the Society and of the Board of Directors, assist the President in any correspondence, and send such notices as are authorized by the President and the Board of Directors. The Secretary’s current book shall be present at all meetings, and books for previous years shall be stored in the archival room.
Section 4. The Treasurer, with the help of the Assistant Treasurer, shall be responsible for the safekeeping of Society funds and for maintaining adequate financial records, and shall deposit all moneys received by the Society with a reliable banking company in the name of the Union Historical Society. Moneys shall be paid out by numbered checks. The President, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer may also endorse all notes, checks, bills and other documents in conducting the business of the Society. The Treasurer shall receive dues, and shall render an annual report based on the calendar year. A financial report shall be given by the Treasurer at all meetings. The accounts and books shall be open to inspection at all times to the Board of Directors.
Section 5.The Curator shall be responsible for all historical relics acquired by the Society, whether by donation, loan or purchase, and shall be responsible for keeping an itemized account, using the appropriate technology, keep an itemized account of names of donors, name of article and tradition or provenance connected with every article or item of historical interest, the date when it was received and any other pertinent information.
Section 6. The Board of Directors shall have the power to conduct all affairs of the Society. It shall decide questions of policy that for any reason cannot be acted upon at a meeting of the Society and shall performs such other functions as designated in the Bylaws or otherwise assigned to it. The Board shall be in charge of all real property acquired by the Society, whether by donation or purchase. It shall arrange for maintenance and operations of such real property in accordance with the objectives of the Society.
     Voting members of the Board of Directors shall include: the officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Assistant Treasurer), the six Directors, the immediate Past President, the Curator, the chairman or representative of the Town House Committee and the chairman or representative of the Robbins House Committee.
     At any meeting of the Board of Directors, four seven members shall constitute a quorum. The Board shall be chaired by the President of the Society. The Board or the President may invite committee chairmen or other Society members to serve on the Board as non-voting members.

Article IV V
Committees


Section 1. The Society shall have the following standing committees.
     1.Program Committee – responsible for arranging suitable programs for scheduled meetings.
     2.Publicity Committee – responsible for publicizing, in advance, upcoming regular meetings including programs and speakers, and for special publicity of the various activities of the society.
     2. Ways and Means Committee – responsible for coordinating the fundraising activities of the Society.
     3. Hospitality Committee – responsible for arranging hostesses to provide refreshments for each meeting.
     4. Finance Committee – responsible for managing the financial assets of the Society and for preparing an annual budget. The Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, immediate Past President and President shall be members of the Finance Committee and the President shall serve as chair. The Finance Committee shall also be responsible for overseeing all fundraising activities, and, with approval by the Board of Directors, may appoint sub-committees as needed to implement such activities.
     5. Membership Committee – responsible for membership drives, for collecting dues at meetings, and for maintaining an accurate and current membership list in all categories of membership.
     6. Nominating Committee – responsible for making nominations for officers and members of the Board of Directors.
     7. Town House Committee – responsible for overseeing maintenance and use of the Town House.
     8. Robbins House Committee – responsible for overseeing maintenance and use of the Robbins House including the archival storage room.
     9. Technology Committee – responsible for maintenance and upgrade of the Society’s electronic storage capacity, audio-visual equipment, website, and security system.
     10. Book Committee – responsible for maintaining a suitable stock, promoting, and managing the sale of the Society’s publications, furnishing sales records to the Treasurer at least quarterly.
     11. Curator’s Committee – responsible for the duties outlined in Article IV, Section 5, and for oversight of the newsletter.
Section 2. The President shall appoint members and chairmen of the standing committees.
Section 3. Other committees, standing or special, may be appointed by the President as directed by the Society or the Board of Directors.

Article V VI
Parliamentary Authority


The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the proceedings of the Society except in such cases as are governed by the Constitution or Bylaws.

Article VI VII
Amendment


These Bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting by a two-thirds vote of those voting, provided notice was given at the previous meeting. Or they may be amended at a special meeting called for that purpose, with previous notice and a two-thirds vote. All proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing.



Union Historical Society
CONSTITUTION


RED = To be removed
YELLOW = To be added

Article I


The name of this society shall be the Union Historical Society, Inc.

Article II
Statement of Purpose


The business and purpose of said corporation is to promote and further by all proper and legitimate means interest in the history of the Town of Union; to print, buy, sell and circulate literature and information on the Town of Union, its buildings and people; to pursue or otherwise acquire and hold, own, maintain, deliver, sell, lease, exchange, hire, convey, mortgage or otherwise dispose of lands and lease holds and any interest, estate and rights in real property and any personal or mixed property and any other rights, licenses or privileges necessary,convenient or appropriate for any of the purposes expressed herein.

The Society will take and acquire by gift, purchase, lease or otherwise, and use, hold, manage and administer in trust and otherwise, any funds, property or estate given, granted, conveyed, transferred, bequeathed or devised to the corporation for its purposes, and will do any and all things necessary or incidental thereto, not inconsistent with or contrary to law and consistent with policies determined by the Board of Directors.

The Society will exercise all such power and authority and do all such acts as may be necessary to carry out the purposes and objectives above specified.

The corporation is not organized for pecuniary profit, nor shall it have any power to issue certificates of stock or declare dividends, and no part of its net earnings shall inure to the benefit of any member, director or individual. In the event of the corporation ceasing to exist, the balance, if any, of all money received by the corporation from its operations, after the payment in full of all debts and obligations of the corporation of whatsoever kind and nature, shall be used and distributed exclusively fort charitable, recreational, village improvement and educational purposes.

Article III
Membership


Section 1. All persons joining who joined this Society before its first annual meeting shall be considered charter members.
Section 2. Membership shall be of five classes:
     1.Individual Active Members – Any person interested in the purposes of the Society shall be eligible.
     2.Institutional and Business Members – Any organization, board, school, library, business or company interested in the purposes of the Society shall be eligible.
     3.Sustaining Members – A person or firm offering special support to the objectives of the Society shall be eligible.
     4.Honorary Members – 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 the annual meeting, upon nomination by the Board of Directors.
     5.Life Members – (individuals only).

Article IV
Annual Meeting


The annual meeting of the Society shall be held in November.

Article V
Officers and Board of Directors


Section 1. The officers shall be a president, a vice-president, immediate past president, and a secretary, who shall be elected for a term of one year; a treasurer and assistant treasurer, and a curator. There shall be six directors. assistant treasurer, curator and six directors, who shall be elected for a term of three years. Directors shall be elected in the following manner: two to serve until the first annual meeting; two to serve for two years; two to serve for three years; thereafter two directors will be elected annually for a term of three years.
Section 2. The officers and directors, the immediate past-president and the chairs of the Robbins House and Town House committees shall constitute the Board of Directors.
Section 3. An executive committee composed of the president, vice president, secretary and treasurer may make emergency decisions for subsequent ratification by the board of directors.

Article VI
Election of Officers and Directors


Section 1. All officers and directors shall be elected by a majority of votes cast by a show of hands at the annual meeting.
Section 2. The president shall appoint a nominating committee at the meeting preceding the annual meeting. The nominating committee will present a slate of officers at the meeting preceding the annual meeting, for vote at the annual meeting.
Section 3. Nominations may also be made by any member of the Society at any time prior to balloting at the annual meeting. Any nomination made after the deliberation of the nominating committee shall be added to the slate of candidates upon seconding by another member. A candidate for election shall be an individual active member or life member.
Section 4. Officers and directors shall assume their duties on the following January 1 and shall serve until their successors have been duly elected and installed. In the event of resignation or incapacity of any officer except president, or any director, the vacancy may be filled by a vote of the board of directors for the unexpired term of office.

Article VII
Amendment


This constitution may be amended at any regular meeting by a two-thirds vote of those voting, provided notice was given at a previous meeting. Or it may be amended at a special meeting called for that purpose, with previous notice and a two-thirds vote. All proposed amendments should be submitted in writing.