SPEARFISH
AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Bylaws
(Adopted
by the membership March 6, 2012)
Article I. Name
The name of the society shall
be the Spearfish Area Historical Society.
Article II. Purpose
Section 1. The purpose of this society shall be to
bring together persons interested in preserving, protecting, and promoting the
history of Spearfish and the surrounding region.
Section 2. The society will cooperate with the
Spearfish Historical Preservation Commission, State Historical Society,
Lawrence County Historical Society, and other appropriate organizations to
collect, preserve, and promote research and materials of significance so that
they can be made available to students, scholars, and the public.
Section 3. The society is organized exclusively
for charitable, religious, educational and/or scientific purposes under section
501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The fiscal year for the historical society will run from July 1 through
June 30.
Article III. Membership and Dues
Section 1. Any person interested in the history of
Spearfish and the surrounding area who applies for membership in any
classification of membership, and who tenders the necessary dues, shall thereby
become a member of the society. Membership shall be of six classes:
(a)
Individual membership.
(b) Husband and wife or family
memberships.
(c)
Institutional memberships–any organization, board, school, or library.
(d) Contributing and sustaining
memberships – A person, group, or firm offering special support to the
objectives of the society are given a free annual membership.
(e)
Honorary memberships – Honorary membership may be conferred upon any person
whose activities have contributed to the objectives of the society. No membership dues.
(f)
Life memberships – Individual only.
Section 2. The dues level for each category shall
be determined by the board of directors.
Section 3. Annual dues shall be payable July 1st
of each year, and members in arrears more than six months after payment is due
shall be dropped from membership.
Paid membership from the previous meeting allows the member to vote.
Article IV. Meetings
Section 1. Monthly meetings will be on the first
Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m.
Special meetings may be called as needed by the president. The annual meeting of the society will
be held each May, at which time elections will be held. There will be no meeting in June, July,
and August.
Section 2. Twenty-five percent of the total
membership in good standing shall constitute a quorum and must be present in
order to conduct business at society meetings.
Article V. Directors and Officers
Section 1. The board of directors shall be
comprised of no fewer than seven persons and no more than eleven persons and
shall be elected from the members in good standing.
Section 2. Directors shall serve three-year terms,
except for the first flight of directors elected after adoption of these
bylaws. At that time, a nominating
committee will submit three nominees for three-year terms; three nominees for
two-year terms, and three nominees for one-year terms. This will provide
staggered terms for board continuity. Board members shall be elected by a
simple majority at the annual meeting, and they may serve two consecutive
terms. The board of directors will
meet as frequently as necessary to conduct the business of the society in a
timely manner.
Section 3. A president, vice-president, treasurer
and secretary shall be elected annually by the board of directors. Such election will take place within 60
days following the annual meeting.
Section 4. The president shall have executive
supervision over the activities of the society within the scope provided by
these bylaws. The president shall
preside at all meetings.
The president shall report annually on the activities of the society and
shall appoint the members of the committees and delegates not otherwise
provided for.
Section 5. The vice-president shall assume the duties of the president
in the event of absence, incapacitation, or resignation of the president.
Section 6. The secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the
society and of the board of directors.
Section 7.
The treasurer shall be responsible for the safekeeping of society
funds and maintaining adequate financial records. All monies received shall be deposited with the treasurer in
a reliable banking institution in the name of the Spearfish Area Historical
Society. Monies shall be paid out
of numbered checks signed by the treasurer and president. The treasurer will collect dues and
shall render an annual report, including a list of all members by category.
Section 8. No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure
to the benefit of or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or
other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and
empowered to pay reasonable compensation for goods and/or services rendered and
to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in
the purpose clause hereof. No
substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be carrying on of
propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the
organization shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the
publishing or distribution of statements) and political campaign on behalf of
any candidate for public office.
Section 9. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this document, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not
permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income
tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding
section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an organization,
contributions to which are deductible under section 170 (c )(2) of the Internal
Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
Article VI. Amendments
Section 1. These bylaws may be amended at any
regular or special meeting by
a simple majority vote of the
paid membership at the meeting, provided that notice was given at the previous
meeting.
Section 2. All proposed amendments shall be
submitted in writing.
Article VII. Committees
Section 1. The society shall have the following
standing committees: Program Committee, Nominating Committee,
Membership Committee, Finance Committee, Archives Committee, Refreshment
Committee and such other committees deemed necessary by the board of
directors. The president may
appoint committees and chairmen from the membership with concurrence of the
board of directors.
Article VIII. Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in
Robert’s Rules of Order shall help guide the proceedings of the society, except
in such cases as are governed by these bylaws.
Article IX. Dissolution of Funds
Upon the dissolution of the
organization, 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 a local governmental or non-profit organization for historical purposes.
Adopted
____March 6, 2012______________
President
___/Larry Miller/________________
