Bylaws of the North Stonington Historical Society, Inc. Feb 11, 2024

 

ARTICLE I

 

NAME: The name of this organization shall be the North Stonington Historical Society, Inc. (hereafter the“Society”.)

ARTICLE II

 

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the Society are:

 

1. To promote the history of the town of North Stonington and the local area, to encourage the study of

the history of the town, and to preserve manuscript materials and relics relating to that history.

2. To maintain a museum of local history.

3. To mark and/or render assistance in the preservation and restoration of local historical sites.

4. To sponsor or participate in historical and civic projects.

5. To actively stimulate the study of local histories within our schools.

 

ARTICLE III

 

MEMBERSHIP AND DUES: The membership of the Society shall consist of the following classifications:

1. Charter Member: Any person who joined the Society in 1970 is considered a Charter Member of the

Society.

2. Life Member: A person who joins the Society upon payment of a one-time fee of $500, without further

payment of annual dues.

3. Patron Member: A person who joins the Society upon payment of annual dues of $100.

4. Sustaining Member: A person who joins the Society upon payment of annual dues of $50.

5. Individual Member: A person who joins the Society upon payment of annual dues of $20.

6. Family Member: A family (living at the same address) which joins the Society upon payment of annual

dues of $25.

7. Youth Member: A person, age 17 or younger, who joins the Society upon payment of annual dues of $5.

8. Senior Member: A person 65 years of age or older upon payment of annual dues of $15.

9. Corporate Member: A business that pays to advertise in the Society’s newsletter or online website.

10. Honorary Member: A person who, in the Board’s opinion, has made a significant contribution to the

furtherance of the aims of this Society, or to the Town of North Stonington, may be elected to Honorary

Membership for life by the Board, without payment of dues or voting rights. There shall be no more than

one Honorary Member elected in any given year.

11. Special Exemption: Any Society member who, as a member of the Armed Services, is deployed to an area of conflict shall be exempt from paying dues until return from such duty.

 

Dues are due and payable each June. Members are to receive notice of this in the June newsletter. Any new members joining in the current calendar year (January-May), are exempt from the June payment

until the following June. For example: A member joining and paying dues in March 2023, would be

exempt from the June 2023 payment and would not be expected to pay dues until June 2024.

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ARTICLE IV

 

GOVERNING BODY: The governing body of the North Stonington Historical Society shall be the Board of Trustees, hereafter referred as “the Board,” and its members referred to as “Trustees.” The Board is empowered to conduct the affairs of the Society. The Board shall consist of eleven trustees. Trustees are elected to three year terms, staggered to provide continuity of knowledge and experience on the Board. Elections are held at the annual terminal meeting (currently June). Trustees are elected by a majority of the members present at this meeting, subject to the following:

 

1. Trustees must be eligible members of the Society.

2. The trustees elected at the annual terminal meeting (currently June) of the Society will commence serving at the beginning of the next fiscal year; i.e., July 1.

3. Trustees shall be required to attend a minimum of 4 board meetings per year, serve on a committee when requested, and perform 12 hours of volunteer work per calendar year.

4. Honorary Trustee: A non-voting former member of the Board who is nominated and approved by the

Board to this position in honor of their service to the Society. Honorary Trustees are no longer required

to pay dues and retain this status for life. Honorary Trustees retain the right to vote on matters put to the

general membership.

5. Trustees must comply with the Conflict of Interest policy of the Society.

 

ARTICLE V

 

OFFICERS: The four primary officers of the North Stonington Historical Society shall be elected by the Board and chosen from within the members of the Board. These offices shall be filled annually at the beginning of each fiscal year as follows:

1. President: The President shall be the presiding officer of the Board and executive officer of the Society.

2. Vice-President: The Vice-President shall act as presiding officer and executive officer in the absence of the President.

3. Secretary: The Secretary shall be the custodian of all records and business papers, other than finance,

pertaining to the Society and the Board.

4. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all financial records of the Society and shall effect

disbursements in accordance with directives of the President acting in consonance with the Board. This

officer shall be bonded, at the Society's expense, in an amount deemed appropriate by the Board.

5. Additional: Additional positions may be appointed by the President, with concurrence of the Board, from within the Board or the membership at large, to fulfill the needs of the Society, and at such time a

requirement exists. Appointments will be for the current fiscal year and may include, but are not limited to, the following:

a. Corresponding Secretary e. Curator(s)

b. Assistant Treasurer f. Librarian(s)

c. League Delegate g. Publicist

d. Historian(s) h. Storekeeper

6. Duties: The duties and responsibilities of elected officers, the caretaker-in-residence, and appointed

positions of the Society shall be specified by the Board and documented in The North Stonington Historical Society Manual.

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ARTICLE VI

 

COMMITTEES: The President is empowered to appoint both standing and special committees. Precepts to guide each committee in its functions are contained in The North Stonington Historical Society Manual.

1. Standing Committees: Standing Committees shall be appointed to serve at the pleasure of the President and may consist of, but are not limited to, the following:

a. Building and Grounds g. Membership

b. Curatorial h. Newsletter

c. Communications/Outreach i. Programs

d. Dye House j. Steering

e. Finance k. Website

f. Gardens

2. Special Committees: The Special Committees shall be appointed to serve for a term deemed appropriate to carry out the subject matter specifically entrusted thereto.

 

ARTICLE VII

MEETINGS:

1. The North Stonington Historical Society shall hold at least four regular meetings, open to its members and the general public, each fiscal year and within every quarter. The regular meeting held in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year will be the annual terminal meeting. Members 18 and over are allowed to vote on matters open to membership voting.

2. Executive sessions of the Board will require a simple majority (one more than half) of the Trustees be present to constitute a quorum. Being “present” includes electronic presence via video conferencing.

3. An affirmative vote of the majority of the total number of sitting Trustees is necessary to authorize the annual budget, to elect officers, or to make officer appointments.

4. The Board is empowered to appoint an eligible member of the Society as a Trustee to fill a vacancy until the next annual terminal meeting in the event an elected Trustee resigns or becomes incapacitated or ineligible to serve.

5. Special meetings deemed appropriate by the Board or by the President shall be called for by the President.

 

ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS:

The bylaws of the North Stonington Historical Society may be altered or amended by the affirmative vote of a two-thirds majority of the general membership present at the annual terminal meeting or any special

meeting of the Society called for this purpose. Notification of this meeting shall present the proposed

changes in the bylaws as a part of the business to be transacted and shall be mailed to all members by U.S.

mail, and shall be delivered to the Post Office a minimum of two weeks prior to the meeting. This notice may be included in the newsletter to satisfy this requirement.

 

Revised in June 1979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 2002, 2016, 2021, and 2024.