Members
Section 1
Membership is open to all persons, but only dues-paying members are allowed to vote official society business.
Section 2
The Officers of the Society shall have the right to refuse any new member or to terminate the membership of an existing member for cause and without prior notice. However, a terminated person may appeal to the general meeting of the Society.
The Officers
Section 1
The Officers of the Society shall be of two kinds, elective and appointive.
- The elected officers shall be President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and the immediate Past President.
- The appointed officer shall be Historian of the Society Newsletter.
Section 2
No one individual may hold two or more elective offices concurrently.
Section 3
The terms of office for all officers of the Society shall be for one year.
Section 4
Duties of Elective Officers:
- The President shall preside at meetings of the Society and its officers, shall be the nominal head of the Society, shall rule on questions of procedure that may arise, and shall appoint standing and ad hoc committees at the President's discretion.
- The President-Elect shall fulfill the duties of the President when the latter is absent and shall succeed the President at the termination of the latter's term. The President-Elect shall also assume the presidency should that office become vacant during a term.
- The Secretary shall maintain the records of the Society and its officers, notify the membership of pertinent business, handle general correspondence, and coordinate the organization of the general meeting.
- The Treasurer shall keep records and accounts of the Society including all monies received and disbursed, collect annual dues, maintain the membership roster, and provide required financial reports. The Treasurer may spend up to $100 on society expenses without receiving approval of the Executive Council.
- The immediate Past President shall serve as a member of the officers of the Society.
Section 5
All records and implements of office shall be turned over by any officer to that officer's successor immediately subsequent to the successor's assumption of office.
Section 6
Duties of the Historian of the Society Newsletter:
- The Historian shall be responsible for all phases of publication and may appoint staff members to assist. Because the newsletter is the principal mechanism for written communication to the membership, the Historian is obligated to publish Society and officer communications first and include other items consonant with the stated objectives of the Society as space allows.
The Executive Council of the Society
Section 1
The Executive Council shall consist of the President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and the immediate Past President.
Section 2
The Executive Council shall be empowered to manage the affairs of the Society and to designate all appointive officers for terms of one year.
Section 3
The Executive Council shall fill any vacancy occurring among officers except that of President by appointment for the unexpired term.
Section 4
The Executive Council shall be responsible for Society publications and shall set policy needed to coordinate content across media in furtherance of the Society's stated objectives.
Elections of Officers
Section 1
The President shall appoint three members of the Society to serve as a nominating committee, including not more than one member of the Executive Council.
Section 2
The Nominating Committee shall present a slate of at least one candidate for each office to be filled at the general meeting, where additional nominations may be made by the membership.
Section 3
The Nominating Committee, or any member proposing a nominee, shall obtain the assent of the candidate to serve if elected.
Section 4
The slate of nominations shall be circulated to the entire membership by the Secretary via the newsletter not later than one month before the general meeting.
Section 5
Voting shall take place at the general meeting of the Society. The Secretary shall receive and count the votes, and the results of the election shall be communicated to the membership via the newsletter.
Section 6
The Secretary shall inform elected candidates of their election. Newly elected persons will take office after the date of the general meeting of the election.
Meetings
Section 1
The Society shall hold a general meeting annually at a time and place set by the Executive Council. Not more than 18 months shall elapse between meetings.
Section 2
The membership shall be informed in writing of the time and place of the general meeting not later than two months prior to the opening of the meeting.
Section 3
The membership assembled at the general meeting shall elect the Society officers for the coming year.
Section 4
Special meetings may be called by vote of a majority of the Executive Council, or on a petition of a quorum of the membership. The time and place of such special meetings must be announced to the membership in writing at least two weeks prior to the meeting.
Section 5
One-third of the membership or 15, whichever is less, will constitute a quorum to petition for a special meeting.
Section 6
All meetings shall be conducted under Robert's Rules of Order.
Meetings of the Executive Council of the Society
Section 1
The Executive Council shall meet at least once a year on the occasion of the general meeting of the Society and at least once no later than one month before the opening of the general meeting.
Section 2
Any meeting of the Executive Council shall be open to attendance by interested members of the Society as observers unless the Executive Council moves for an executive session.
Section 3
A simple majority of the Executive Council shall constitute a quorum.
Section 4
A majority of those present and voting shall be necessary to pass any motion.
Section 5
The meeting shall be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order.
Section 6
Special meetings of the Executive Council may be called by the President or by a majority of the Executive Council.
Dues
Section 1
The Executive Council shall be authorized to establish such dues as are compatible with the financial status of the Society.
Section 2
A member in arrears for payment of dues for a period of six months after the conclusion of the current membership year shall be dropped from the rolls after due notice from the Secretary.
Fiscal Year
Section 1
The fiscal year of the Society shall embrace the period of 1 April through 31 March of the following year.
Amendment of the Bylaws
Section 1
Amendments may be proposed by the Executive Council or by petition to the Secretary by ten or more members of the Society.
Section 2
Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to the Secretary at least three months before the general meeting at which they are to be discussed.
Section 3
Such amendments shall be submitted in writing by the Secretary to the general membership at least two months prior to the general meeting at which they are to be discussed.
Section 4
To be approved, an amendment must receive a positive vote by two-thirds of those voting at the general meeting.
Section 5
Any adopted amendment shall become an integral part of the bylaws, and the Secretary shall add them to copies of the bylaws and distribute the amended bylaws to the members of the Executive Council of the Society and to other interested members.