Original Constitution
ARTICLE I. NAME. The Society shall be known as "The Montgomery County Historical Society."
ARTICLE II. OBJECTS. Its objects shall be: First: To promote and encourage original historical research. Second: To disseminate a greater knowledge of the early history of the county by means of lectures and the publication and distribution of literature on historical subjects. Third: To gather books, manuscripts, pictures and relics relating to the early history of the county, and to establish a museum at Amsterdam, N. Y., for their preservation. Fourth: To mark suitably places of historic interest. Fifth: To acquire by purchase, gift, devise, or otherwise, the title to, or custody and control of, historic spots and places.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERS. Sec. 1. Members shall be of three classes, active, non-resident and honorary. Active members only shall have a voice in the management of the society. Sec. 2. All persons interested in American history shall be eligible for active membership. (As Amended September 20, 1977) Sec. 3. Persons residing outside of Montgomery county, and interested in historical investigation, may be made non-resident members. Sec. 4. Persons who have attained distinguished eminence as historians may be made honorary members.
ARTICLE IV. MANAGEMENT. Sec. l. The property of the society shall be vested in, and the affairs of the society conducted by, a Board of Trustees to be elected by the society. Vacancies in the Board of Trustees shall be filled by the remaining members of the board, the appointee to hold office until the next annual meeting of the society. Sec. 2. The Board of Trustees shall have power to suspend or expel members of the society for cause, and to, restore them to membership after suspension or expulsion No member shall be suspended or expelled without first having been given ample opportunity to be heard in his or her own defense. Sec. 3. The first Board of Trustees shall consist of those designated in the certificate of incorporation, and they shall hold office until the first annual meeting of the Society in February 1905, at which time their successors shall be elected. Immediately after the election in February, 1905, the persons chosen to act as trustees shall by lot divide themselves into five classes: five each, such classes to serve respectively for one, two, three, four and five years. At each annual meeting thereafter the society shall elect five members to serve as trustees for the ensuing five years, to fill the places of the class whose term then expires. Sec. 4. The Board of Trustees shall have no power to bind the society to any expenditure of money beyond the actual resources of the society.
ARTICLE V. OFFICERS. Sec. 1. The officers of the society shall be a President, three Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, a Corresponding Secretary, a Recording Secretary, a Curator and Librarian, and an Historian, all of whom shall be elected by the Board of Trustees from its own number, at its first meeting after the annual meeting of the society, and shall hold office for one year, or until their successors are chosen. Temporary officers shall be chosen by the incorporators to act until an election as aforesaid by the Board of Trustees. Sec. 2. The Board of Trustees may appoint such other officers, committees, or agents, and delegate to them such powers as it sees fit for the prosecution of its work. Sec. 3. Vacancies in any office or committee may be filled by the Board of Trustees.
ARTICLE VI. FEES AND DUES. Sec. 1. Each person on being elected to active or non-resident membership shall pay into the treasury of the society the sum of two dollars, and thereafter on the second Wednesday in February of each year a like sum for his or her annual dues. Amended to three categories of membership: Single, Family and Sustaining, January 1969. Sec. 2. Any member of the society may commute his or her annual dues by the payment of one hundred dollars at one time, and thereby become a life member, exempt from further payments. (As Amended, January 1969) [Note: Currently the amount is two hundred dollars] Sec. 3. The Board of Trustees shall have power to excuse the non-payment of dues, and to suspend or expel members for non-payment when their dues remain unpaid for more than six months.
ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS. Sec. 1. The annual meeting of the society shall be held on the second Wednesday in May in each year [As Amended September 30,1977]. Notice thereof shall be sent to each member at least ten days prior thereto, and there shall be at least three other general meetings of the society each year. Sec. 2. Special meetings of the society may be called at any time by the Board of Trustees, and must be called upon the written request of ten members. The notice of such meeting shall specify the object thereof, and no business shall be transacted thereat excepting that designated in the notice. Sec. 3. Ten members shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the society.
ARTICLE VIII. SEAL. The Seal shall be round, and shall bear on its outer edge the words: "Montgomery County Historical Society 1904." The legend of the seal is as follows: Suddenly the silence of the night was broken, and in the darkened heavens appeared a great white bird of ill omen. The Amerind gazed with feelings of mingled awe and dread at this presage of the coming of the white race that was eventually to drive from their sylvan home the dusky denizens of this beautiful valley.
ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS. Amendments to the constitution may be made at any annual meeting or at a special meeting called for that purpose. Notice of a proposed amendment, with a copy thereof, must have been mailed to each member at least thirty days before the day upon which action is taken thereon. The adoption of an amendment shall require the favorable vote of two-thirds of those present at a. duly constituted meeting of the Society.
Original By-Laws
ARTICLE I. MEMBERS. Candidates for membership in the society shall be proposed by one member and seconded by another, and shall be elected by the Board of Trustees. Three adverse votes shall defeat an election.
ARTICLE II. BOARD OF TRUSTEES. Sec. l. The Board of Trustees may make such rules for its own government as it may deem wise, and which shall not be inconsistent with the constitution and bylaws of the society. Five members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Sec. 2. The Board of Trustees shall elect one of their own number to preside at the meetings of the board in the absence of the President and Vice-Presidents. Sec. 3. The Board of Trustees shall at each annual meeting of the society render a full report of its proceedings during the year last past. Sec. 4. The Board of Trustees shall hold at least four meetings in each year. At each of such meetings it shall consider and act upon the names of candidates proposed for membership. Sec. 5. The Board of Trustees shall each year appoint committees to take charge of the annual meeting of the society.
ARTICLE III. PRESIDENT. The President shall preside at all meetings of the society and the Board of Trustees, and perform such other duties as may be delegated to him by the society or the Board of Trustees. He shall be ex-officio a member of all committees.
ARTICLE IV. VICE-PRESIDENTS The Vice-Presidents shall be denominated first, second and third Vice-Presidents. In the absence of the President his duties shall devolve upon the senior Vice-President present.
ARTICLE V. TREASURER. Sec. 1. The Treasurer shall have charge of all the funds of the society. He shall keep accurate books of account, which shall at all times be open to the inspection of the Board of Trustees. He shall present a full and comprehensive statement of the society's financial condition, its receipts and expenditures, at each annual meeting, and shall present a brief statement to the Board of Trustees at each meeting. He shall pay out money only on the approval of the majority of the Executive Committee or on the resolution of the Board of Trustees. Sec. 2. The Board of Trustees may, in its discretion require the Treasurer to execute to the society his bond in the sum of one thousand dollars, with sufficient sureties conditioned for the faithful performance of his duties as Treasurer. Sec. 3. The Executive Committee shall, prior to the annual meeting of the society, examine the books and vouchers of the Treasurer and audit his accounts, and present their report to the society at its annual meeting.
ARTICLE VI. RECORDING SECRETARY. The Recording Secretary shall preserve accurate minutes of the transactions of the society and of the Board of Trustees and of the various committees. He shall notify the members of meetings and perform such other duties as he may be directed to perform by the society or by the Board of Trustees. He shall be an ex-officio member of all standing committees.
ARTICLE VII. CORRESPONDING SECRETARY. The Corresponding Secretary shall have the custody of all letters and communications on the business of the society, and shall submit to the society all communications received by him as such Secretary. He shall, under the direction of the society, prepare all communications to be addressed to others in its name, and keep true copies of such as may be important.
ARTICLE VIII. CURATOR AND LIBRARIAN. The Curator and Librarian shall have the custody of the library and museum of the society, including all manuscripts, documents, relics, pictures, maps, and shall prepare and continue a catalogue of the same. He shall arrange the collections of the society in a manner suitable for convenient reference and inspection, and shall, by virtue of his office, be the chairman of the Museum Committee, and shall keep a record of all donations to the society and make a report of the same at each regular meeting, and shall prepare and read at each annual meeting a statement of the growth and condition of the collection and of the library of the society.
ARTICLE IX. HISTORIAN. It shall be the duty of the Historian to record and make a permanent record of all items of local interest, and to make a report thereof to the society at its annual meeting.
ARTICLE X. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. There shall be a standing committee of three trustees, who, with the President and Recording Secretary, shall be denominated the Executive committee. Such Committee shall direct the business of the Society between meetings of the Board of Trustees, but shall have no power to establish or declare a policy for the Society or to bind it in any way except in routine work. The Committee shall have no power to direct a greater expenditure than fifty dollars without the authority of the Board of Trustees. (Amendment of July 30, 1906.)
ARTICLE XI. MUSEUM COMMITTEE. The Museum Committee shall consist of the Curator and Librarian, who shall be the chairman thereof, two members of the Board of Trustees, and five other members of the society at large, who shall be named by the President, and it shall be the duty of this committee to have general charge of the supervision of the museum, and of all questions in regard to its use, increase and management and in regard to the procurement of all articles of historical interest. It shall supervise the cataloguing of the collections of the society, and shall make such recommendations to the society in regard to the procurement of historical material, by purchase or otherwise, as shall seem to it desirable. It shall likewise be the duty of this committee to take the necessary steps to mark and preserve places of historical interest. 1.The Museum Committee reserves the right to reject any article offered either as a loan or as a gift. 2. Articles that possess simply antiquity and have no historical significance are not solicited or desired. 3. A receipt will be given for all articles loaned. The society will not become absolute insurers of the safety of property loaned, but it will agree to exercise the greatest care to preserve such property. 4. All articles loaned or given will be suitably marked with the names of the givers and loaners, and will be exhibited to the public free of charge. (Amended effective January 1,1971: “The price of admission of visitors to the Old Fort shall be $1.00 per person, children under twelve years to be admitted free.”)
ARTICLE XII. LITERARY COMMITTEE. There shall be a Literary Committee of three members to be appointed by the President, whose duty it shall be to arrange for the delivery of papers and addresses on historical topics connected with the objects of the society to be read at the regular meeting. It shall recommend an orator to address the society at its annual meetings. This committee shall likewise have charge of the four regular meetings required to be held by the society at large, and it shall be its duty to take proper steps for furnishing entertainments at such meetings.
ARTICLE XIII. PROCEDURE. Sec. 1. The following, except when otherwise ordered by the society, shall be the order of business at the annual meetings of the society: Call to order. Reading of minutes of previous annual, and of any special meeting, and action thereon. Reports of officers and Board of Trustees. Reports of standing committees. Reports of special committees. Unfinished business. Election. New business. Adjournment. Sec. 2. The procedure at all meetings of the society and the Board of Trustees, where not provided for in this constitution and by-laws, shall be governed by Roberts' Rules of Order. Sec. 3. The previous question shall not be put to vote at any meeting unless seconded by at least three members. Sec. 4. All elections shall be by ballot, except where only one candidate is nominated for an office. Sec. 5. All notices shall be sent personally or by mail to the address designated in writing by the member to the Secretary.
ARTICLE XIV. NOMINATING COMMITTEE. A committee of three shall be chosen by the society at its annual meeting to nominate Trustees to be voted for at such annual meeting. The action of such committee shall, however, in no wise interfere with the power of the society to make its own nominations.
ARTICLE XV. AMENDMENTS. These by-laws may be amended at any duly constituted meeting of the society by a two-thirds vote of the members present. Notice of the proposed amendment, with a copy thereof, must have been mailed to each member at least twenty days before the day upon which action thereon is taken.
ARTICLE I. NAME.
The Society shall be known as "The Montgomery County Historical Society."
ARTICLE II. OBJECTIVES.
Its objectives shall be: ADVANCE \d6 First: To promote and encourage original historical research. ADVANCE \d6 Second: To disseminate a greater knowledge of the early history of the county by means of lectures and the publication and distribution of literature on historical subjects. ADVANCE \d6 Third: To gather books, manuscripts, pictures and relics relating to the early history of the county, and to establish a museum at Amsterdam, N. Y., for their preservation. ADVANCE \d6 Fourth: To mark suitably places of historic interest. ADVANCE \d6 Fifth: To acquire by purchase, gift, devise, or otherwise, the title to, or custody and control of, historic spots and places.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERS.
Sec. 1. Members shall be those persons who have paid their annual dues, including life members who shall be exempt from the payment of annual dues. Life membership fees shall be determined, from time to time, by majority vote of a quorum the Board of Trustees.
ARTICLE IV. MANAGEMENT.
Sec. l. The property of the Society shall be vested in, and the affairs of the Society conducted by, a Board of Trustees to be elected by the Society. Vacancies on the Board of Trustees shall be filled by a majority vote of a quorum of the members of the Board, the appointee to hold office until the next annual meeting of the Society.
Sec. 2. The Board of Trustees shall have power to suspend or expel members of the Society for cause by a 2/3 vote of a quorum of the Board of Trustees, and to restore them to membership after suspension or expulsion by the same vote. No member shall be suspended or expelled without first having been given notice and ample opportunity to be heard in his or her own defense.
Sec. 3. The first Board of Trustees shall consist of those designated in the certificate of incorporation, and they shall hold office until the first annual meeting of the Society in February 1905, at which time their successors shall be elected. Immediately after the election in February, 1905, the persons chosen to act as trustees shall by lot divide themselves into five classes: five each, such classes to serve respectively for one, two, three, four and five years. At each annual meeting thereafter the Society shall elect five members to serve as trustees for the ensuing three years, to fill the places of the class whose term then expires.
Sec. 4. The Board of Trustees shall have no power to bind the Society to any expenditure of money beyond the actual resources of the Society.
ARTICLE V. OFFICERS.
Sec. 1. The officers of the Society shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Treasurer, and a Secretary all of whom shall be elected by the Board by its own members, at the annual meeting, and shall hold office for one year, or until their successors are chosen.
Sec. 2. The Board of Trustees may appoint such other officers, committees, or agents, and delegate to them such powers as it sees fit for the prosecution of its work.
Sec. 3. Vacancies in any office or committee may be filled by a majority vote of a quorum of the Board of Trustees.
ARTICLE VI. FEES AND DUES.
Sec. 1. Each person being elected to membership shall pay annual dues as established, from time to time, by a majority vote of a quorum of the Board of Trustees, to be paid on a date certain as established by a majority vote of a quorum of the Board of Trustees. Categories of membership shall be established from time to time, by a majority vote of a quorum of the Board of Trustees.
Sec. 2. The Board of Trustees shall have power, by majority vote of a quorum of the Board of Trustees, to excuse the non-payment of dues for reasonable cause, and to suspend or expel members with due process for non-payment when their dues remain unpaid for more than six months.
ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS.
Sec. 1. The annual meeting of the members of the Society shall be set by a majority vote of a quorum of the Board of Trustees. Notice of the annual meeting shall be sent to each member by mail or e-mail at an address designated by the member at least ten days prior to the annual meeting. The quorum for the annual meeting will be 10 members and that number of members shall represent a duly constituted meeting.
Sec. 2. Special meetings of the Society may be called at any time by a majority vote of a quorum of the Board of Trustees, and must be called upon the written request of twenty five (25) Society members. The notice of such meeting shall specify the object of the meeting, and no business shall be transacted at the special meeting excepting that business designated in the notice. Any special meeting called by the members requires a quorum of twenty-five (25) members to conduct the special meeting and that number shall represent a duly constituted special meeting.
ARTICLE VIII. SEAL.
The Seal shall be round, and shall bear on its outer edge the words: "Montgomery County Historical Society 1904."
ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS.
Amendments to the Constitution may be made at any annual meeting of the members of the Society or at a special meeting called for that purpose. Notice of a proposed amendment, with a copy of the proposed amendment, must have been mailed or e-mailed to each Society member at the address designated by the member at least thirty (30) days before the day the annual or special meeting is to take place. The adoption of an amendment shall require the favorable vote of two-thirds of the members present at a duly constituted meeting or duly constituted special meeting of the Society. |
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