1 January 2014

Article I

Purpose

Section 1.01

Purposes: As set forth in the Charter, the Town of Veteran Historical Society is

organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. These purposes include:

To encourage and disseminate a greater knowledge of the history of the State of New

York and particularly the area known as the Town of Veteran. To maintain, preserve and

make available to the public the appropriate collection of documents, objects and artifacts

relating to the Town of Veteran Historical Society. To acquire by purchase, gift, devise

or otherwise the title to or the custody and control of historic objects, sites and structures,

and preserve and maintain such objects, sites and structures.

Article 2

Offices

Section 2.01

Location: The principal office of the Town of Veteran Historical Society shall be located

within or without the Town of Veteran, in the county of Chemung at such place as the

Executive Committee shall from time to time designate.

Article 3

Members

Section 3.01

Membership shall consist only of the paid members of the Town of Veteran Historical

Society, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national/ethnic origin, sex, sexual

orientation, age or with regard to the bases outlined in the Veterans Readjustment Act

and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Membership shall be accompanied by dues as

specified herein.

Section 3.02

Dues

The amount of the annual member dues shall be detemined by the Executive Committee.

Dues will consist of three (3) types:

Regular Single Yearly Membership

Single Life Membership

Family (Couple/Partner)(living under one roof) Life Membership

Dues shall be payable by January 1.

Article 4

 Executive Committee

The Executive Committee shall consist of (at least) the President, Vice President,

Secretary, Treasurer and Three (3) members at Large and must be members in good

standing of the Town of Veteran Historical Society.

Section 4.01

The Executive Committee is responsible for overall policy and direction of the Society,

and will delegate responsibility for day-to-day operations of the society. The committee

shall have up to seven (7) and not fewer than five (5) members. The committee receives

no compensation other than reasonable expenses.

Section 4.02

Meetings

The Executive Committee shall meet at least one (1) time per year at an agreed upon time

and place. An official meeting requires that each Committee member have written notice

at least two weeks in advance of the meeting.

Section 4.03

Special Meetings

Special meetings of the Executive Committee shall be called upon request of the President

or one-third of the Executive Committee. Notices of special meetings shall be sent out by

the Secretary to each Executive members postmarked two weeks in advance.

Section 4.04

Elections

Election of new committee members shall occur as the first item of business at the annual meeting of the society.

Nominations may be received from the paid members by the Secretary in advance of a regularly scheduled meeting.

These nominations shall be presented to the paid members of the Society to be voted upon at the annual meeting.

Committee members will be elected by a majority vote of the current paid membership attending the meeting. Each attending paid

 member shall have one (1) personal vote and no proxy shall be allowed. 

Section 4.05

Terms of Office

Vacancies to the Executive Committee members shall be filled by majority vote of the remaining members of the

Executive Committee. If a committee member is elected to fill a vacancy it will be for the unexpired term of office.

A committee member may be removed by a majority vote of the Executive Committee,at any regularly scheduled or

special meeting of the Society, whenever in it's judgement the best interests of the Society would be served thereby. 

 A committee member may resign at any time by giving notice in writing to the Executive Committee. 

Section 4.06

Quorum

A quorum will consist of a majority of Executive Committee Members. A quorum

must be in attendance before business can be transacted or motions made or passed.

Section 4.07

Absence

Each Executive Committee member is expected to communicate with the Executive

Committee in advance of all meetings stating whether or not he / she is able to attend

or participate in the meetings. Any Executive member who is absent from three (3)

unexcused successive meetings or fails to participate for a full year shall be deemed to

have resigned due to non-participation, and his / her position shall be declared vacant.

Article 5

Officers and Duties

There shall be four (4) officers in the Executive Committee consisting of a President,

Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. Their duties are as follows:

The President shall convene regularly scheduled Society meetings, and shall preside or

arrange for other members of the Executive Committee to preside at each meeting in the

following order: Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.

The Vice-President will act as Auditor, chair committees on special subjects and take

over the President duties if warranted.

The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping accurate records, overseeing the taking of

minutes at all meetings, sending out meeting announcements, distributing copies of

minutes and the agenda to each member in attendance at each meeting, collecting

membership dues and distributing membership cards.

The Treasurer shall be responsible for safekeeping of the Town of Veteran Historical

Society funds, including ensuring all appropriate fiscal records are kept and ensuring that

all funds are recorded, spent and monitored consistent with funder requirements, legal

requirements, and sound financial management. Monies shall be paid out by numbered

checks signed by the Treasurer, drawn on a reliable banking company. The Treasuere shall

make a financial report at each meeting and open the books for audit by the Vice President

before the Annual Meeting. The Treasurer shall chair the Finance Committee.

Article 6

Committees

The Executive Committee may create committees as needed, such as fundraising, housing, etc.

The President appoints all committee chairs as directed by the membership.

Section 6.01

Finance Committee

The Treasurer is the chair of the Finance committee, which includes three (3) other committee

members. The finance committee is responsible for developing and reviewing fiscal

procedures, a fundraising plan, and annual budget. The Executive Committee must approve the

budget, and all expenditures must be within the budget. Any major change in the budget

must be approved by the Executive Committee. The fiscal year shall be the calendar year.

Annual reports are required to be submitted to the Society showing income, expenditures

and pending income. The financial records of the organization are public information and

shall be made available to the membership, Executive Committee and the public.

Section 6.02

Program and Membership Committee

The Program and Membership committee is responsible for arranging suitable programs;

for setting time, place and date of programs and volunteer projects. The committee is also

responsible for membership drives, processing new and renewal memberships, maintaining

contact with the membership regarding their membership status and depositing dues

received.

Section 6.03

Historic Sites Committee

The Historic Sites Committee of Historians will be appointed by the President.

The Historians will be responsible for establishing the historic validity for sites proposed

for marking; for marking historic sites; for arranging tours of the sites.

Section 6.04

Other Committees

Other committees, standing or special may be appointed by the Executive Committee

President as directed by the membership of the Society or Executive Committee. Such

committees shall have the power and duties designated by the Executive Committee and

shall give advice and make non-binding recommendations to the Society.

Section 7

Parliamentary Authority

Section 7.01

The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the proceedings of the Town of

Veteran Historical Society except in such cases as are governed by the constitution or the

bylaws.

Section 7.02

Special Meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the President, or by a

majority two-thirds of the Executive Committee.

Section 7.03

The Fiscal year of the Society shall be the calendar year or such other period as may be

 fixed by the Executive Committee.

Section 7.04

Contracts and Other documents

The Executive Committee may authorize the President, Vice President, Secretary and

Treasurer to enter into contracts or to execute and deliver other documents and

instruments on the Society's behalf. Such authority may be invested in other officers or

agents of the Society from time to time for specific purposes.

Section 7.05

Gifts

The Executive Committee may authorize the Historians, as well as the Executive Committee

to accept on behalf of the Society any contribution, gift, bequest, or devise for the

purpose of the Town of Veteran Historical Society.

Section 7.07

Deposits

All funds of the Society shall be deposited to the credit of the Society in such banks,

trust companies, or other depositories as the Executive Committee may from time to

time select.

Section 7.08

Books and Records to be kept

The Town of Veteran Historical Society shall keep correct and complete books and

records of account, minutes of the proceedings of the Society and any committee

having any of the authority of the Executive Committee, and a record of the names

and addresses of the Society members entitled to vote. All books and records of the

Society may be inspected by any member having voting rights or his / her legal agent

or attorney, for any proper purpose at any reasonable time.

Section7.09

Amendments of Articles and Bylaws

These bylaws may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the membership

by a two-thirds vote of those voting, provided notice was given at least one month in

advance. The wording of the proposed amendment shall be included in the notice.

Section 7.10

Indemnification and Insurance

a) Unless otherwise prohibited by law, the Town of Veteran Historical Society shall

indemnify any Executive Committee member, any former Executive Committee member,

any person who may have served at its request as a Executive Committee member,

whether for-profit or Not-for-Profit, and may by resolution of the Executive Committee,

indemnify any member against any and all expenses and liabilities actually and necessarily

incurred by him / her or imposed on him / her in connection with any claim, action, suit, or

proceeding (whether actual or threatened, civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative,

(including appeals) to which he / she may be or is made a party by reason of being or

having been such officer, or member; subject to the limitation, however, shall be adjudged

in such claim, action, suit, or proceeding to be guilty of a criminal offense or liable to the

Society for damages arising out of his / her own negligence or misconduct in performance

of a duty to the Society. An Executive Committee member can obtain his / her own

insurance.

b) The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to claims, actions, suits or proceedings

made or commenced after the adoption hereof, whether arising from acts or omissions to act

occuring before or after adoption hereof.

c) The indemnification provided by this Article shall not be deemed exclusive to

any other rights to which such officer, or member may be entitled under any statute,

Bylaw, Agreement, vote of the Executive Committee, or otherwise and shall not

restrict the power of the Society to make any indemnification permitted by law.

d) (Protection of bylaws from suit) If any part of this Article shall be found in any action,

suit, or proceeding to be invalid or ineffective, the validity and the effectiveness of the

remaining parts shall not be affected.

Section 7.11

Dissolution

Upon the dissolution of the Town of Veteran Historical Society, any assets remaining after

the payment of debts and other liabilities shall be distributed to other not for profit

Historical organizations that are exempt under the provisions of section 501c (3) of

the IRS code.

These Bylaws were approved at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Town of

Veteran Historical Society on 13 November 2014.

Gloria Campbell – President

Shirley Lant – Secretary

Rick Smith – Treasurer

By-Law Approved Amendments

not fewer than three (3) members to:

The committee shall have up to seven (7) and not fewer than five (5) members.

Amendment pertaining to Section 3.02 Dues, adding three (3) types of membership.

Regular single year membership

Single Life Membership

Family (Couple / Partner) (living under one roof) Life Membership

10 January 2019

Amendment pertaining to Section 4.04 election of new committee members:

Election of new committee members shall occur as the first item of business at the annual meeting of the society.

Nominations may be received from the paid members by the Secretary in advance of a regularly scheduled meeting.

These nominations shall be presented to the paid members of the Society to be voted upon at the annual meeting.

Committee members will be elected by a majority vote of the current paid membership attending the meeting.

Each attending paid member shall have one (1) personal vote and no proxy shall be allowed. 

Amendment pertaining to Section 4.05 vacancies to the Executive Committee:

Vacancies to the Executive Committee members shall be filled by majority vote of the remaining members

of the Executive Committee. If a committee member is elected to fill a vacancy it will be for the unexpired term of office.

A committee member may be removed by a majority vote of the Executive Committee,at any regularly scheduled or special

meeting of the Society, whenever in it's judgement the best interests of the Society would be served thereby.  A committee

member may resign at any time by giving notice in writing to the Executive Committee.