By majority vote, the members of the Gastineau
Genealogical Society ratified the original Charter of this Society on 26
October 1985, adopt Amended Articles I and III on 10 October 1992, on 29
February 2020 adopted Amended Articles III, IV, VII and VIII and on 25 September
2021 all Charter Articles and By-Laws were substantially reworded and/or restated
and some subject matters relocated within the document.
CHARTER & BY-LAWS
GASTINEAU GENEALOGICAL
SOCIETY
ARTICLE
I – NAME
The name of this organization is Gastineau
Genealogical Society, hereinafter referred to as “the Society”.
ARTICLE
II – OBJECTIVES
The objectives and purposes of the
Society are:
1.
To be organized exclusively for charitable, scientific, literary, or
educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future Federal Tax Code
including but not limited to:
a)
promote family history research by providing educational and research
opportunities,
b)
offer community services in related fields,
c)
maintain a depository of genealogical reference materials (e.g. books,
periodicals, foreign language dictionaries) with emphasis on Alaska, Yukon
Territory and British Columbia,
d)
collect, preserve and publish genealogical and historical records.
2.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Articles, the Society
shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by an
organization exempt from Federal Income Tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code.
ARTICLE
III – MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be open to any person
interested in the objectives of the Society and who shares the same common
interests in genealogical research. Each
member shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the
members. A majority vote shall be 51% or
more of the active members present at a meeting.
ARTICLE
IV – TERM OF EXISTENCE
The Society shall have perpetual
existence.
ARTICLE
V – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
1.
The property, business, and affairs of the Society shall be managed by a
Board of Directors (hereinafter referred to as “the Board”) and shall include
the following:
a)
establish and be responsible for long-range planning,
b)
oversee the financial status of the organization,
c)
take actions or set policies or priorities to further the common interests of
the members,
d)
maintain property including oversight of library materials belonging to the
Society,
e)
at minimum, hold one Society meeting annually and provide educational opportunities
for members.
2.
The Board shall consist of elected officers and shall meet upon call of
the president or other Board member.
The members of the Society shall elect
a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer, each of whom shall serve
for a period of two years and who make up the Board. Newly elected officers will assume their
duties at the end of the meeting in which they were elected.
Nominations for officers shall be made
from the floor at the regular meeting in September and shall be made in
order: president, vice-president,
secretary, treasurer. Elected officers
may share an office if approved by a majority of vote of the voting body of
members present at the meeting. Board
members must be active Society members.
It is the
intention that a staggered Directorate be maintained. To implement and maintain a staggered
Directorate, the Board may hold seats in future elections open for one or two
year terms, when necessary or appropriate.
3.
Resignation
a)
Resignation of an officer is effective when received by the Board in writing
unless a later date is stated.
b)
Vacancies in the Board shall be filed by appointment by a majority vote of the
remaining officers for the remainder of the unexpired term.
ARTICLE
VI – OFFICERS
The members of the Society shall elect
a president, vice-president, treasurer, and secretary; each of whom shall serve
for a period of two years and whose principal duties include:
The president shall:
a)
preside at all regular and Board meetings of the Society,
b)
be an ex-officio member of all committees except any nominating committee,
c)
solicit volunteer efforts by members and appoint committees or chairpersons as
needed,
d)
obligate and/or expend Society funds as required in the conduct of Society
business,
e)
direct and coordinate Board and Society activities,
f)
perform other duties which might arise in the lawful conduct of Society
business.
The vice-president shall:
a)
assist the president,
b)
perform the duties of the president in the absence or inability of that officer
to serve,
c)
serve as program chair.
The secretary shall:
a)
preside in the absence of the president and vice-president,
b)
record the minutes, roll call, and resolutions of Society meetings and preserve
all minutes, reports, membership rosters, records and fund documents of the
Society,
c)
assure that the general membership is informed of Society activities,
d)
perform other duties as assigned.
The treasurer shall:
a)
preside in the absence of the president, vice-president, and secretary,
b)
maintain Society bank accounts and perform bookkeeping functions, periodically
reporting the financial condition of the Society,
c)
collect and record all voluntary contributions, dues, and other monies required,
and otherwise raise and expend funds in furtherance of the Society’s goals,
d)
pay bills as directed by the Board and/or Society,
e)
perform other duties as assigned.
ARTICLE
VII – MEETINGS
Society meetings shall be scheduled at
times and places set by the Board. Those members present at a duly announced
meeting shall constitute a quorum on all matters, including voting, regardless
of importance. Meetings shall be noticed
by mail (electronic or hard-copy).
One Board member shall be necessary
and sufficient at all announced regular meetings to constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business.
ARTICLE
VIII – FINANCES
1.
No part of the Society’s earnings will inure to the benefit of any
individual.
2.
When necessary to purchase items for the Society, the member making the
purchase shall first obtain pre-approval from the Board, purchase the item in
their own name, and seek reimbursement by the Society.
3.
If membership dues are required, the dues shall be established and
amount set by a simple majority vote of the Society. The amount of dues may be
adjusted as an item of regular business at the beginning of the Society year
without modifying the By-Laws of the Society.
4.
Authorized signers on financial accounts shall be the treasurer and at
least one other officer.
ARTICLE
IX – DISSOLUTION
1.
The Society may be dissolved by a majority vote of all members present
at a regular meeting or at a meeting held for that purpose.
2.
Upon the dissolution of the Society, the officers shall, after paying or
making provisions for payment of all obligations of the Society, offer all
remaining assets of the organization to another similar organization, organized
and operated solely for charitable or education purposes or shall be
distributed to a state or local government for a public purpose.
ARTICLE
X – AMENDMENTS
Amendments or additional By-Laws maybe
passed at any regular or special meeting by an affirmative majority vote of the
voting members present and in good standing, provided that appropriate notice
of such intent has been presented in writing (electronic or hardcopy) to
membership at least 14 days before such meeting. Amended Charter & By-Laws shall be
announced and become effective immediately upon being passed by the Society
unless a different date is specified at ballot.
ARTICLE
XI – MATTERS NOT COVERED IN CHARTER & BY-LAWS
Matters not covered by this Charter
& By-Laws shall be determined at the discretion of the president and with
the concurrence of the other Officers and shall be brought to the attention of
the membership for their concurrence, or refusal, at the next Article VII
meeting.
The above Charter Articles &
By-Laws rewrites and amendments were properly presented to the membership on September
25, 2021, all voted on, and all passed by the requisite vote of members present. The adoption was moved, seconded and affirmed
by this Board, as currently constituted, on this 25th day of
September, 2021.
By order of the
Board of Directors, Gastineau Genealogical Society
Gary Kostenko,
President - September 25, 2021
Adopted 9/25/2021