Constitution and By-Laws

BYLAWS DUTCHESS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Revised May 15, 1969

Name

The name of this organization is: The Dutchess County Historical Society.

Object

The object of the society shall be to discover, procure and preserve whatever may relate to American history in its several phases — social, economic, military, political, literary, artistic, etc., but particularly material regarding Dutchess County in the State of New York;

To encourage the writing of papers and the delivery of addresses on subjects of historical interest;

To collect objects of historical value and arrange for their preservation.

In pursuing its purposes the Society shall not engage in propaganda or political activity; shall not be operated for profit and all income and earnings shall be used exclusively for the purposes of the Society; no part of the net income, earnings or assets shall inure to the benefit or profit of any member and in the event of dissolution, all of the assets of the Society, after the payment of making provision for the payment of all liabilities shall be distributed to the Historical Society or Societies of Dutchess County which at the time shall qualify as exempt organizations, all to be in accordance with Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Members There shall be four classes of members: 1. Active members: individuals, societies and organizations 2. Active family members: husband and wife 3. Life members, any member who shall pay at one time at least seventyfive dollars to the society 4. Honorary members: any person who, in the judgment of the trustees, has attained distinction in historic work of research.

Dues

The dues for active members shall be three dollars, payable at the time of election and thereafter annually on the first of January.

The dues for active family members shall be five dollars, payable at the time of election and thereafter annually on the first of January.

Life members and honorary members shall be exempt from the payment of dues.

Any member in arrears for dues for six months shall be considered as having resigned from the society.

Officers The officers of the Dutchess County Historical Society shall be:

A president

A vice-president at large

A vice-president representing each town in Dutchess County

A vice-president representing the City of Poughkeepsie

A vice-president representing the City of Beacon

A secretary

A treasurer

A curator

Sixteen trustees

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees shall consist of: The president, ex-officio The vice-president at large, ex-officio The secretary, ex-officio The treasurer, ex-officio and sixteen trustees

There shall not be duplication on the Board of Trustees. No one person may serve at the same time as an executive officer and a trustee. Election of Officers and Trustees

Officers and trustees shall be elected at the annual meeting of the society.

Terms of Officers and Trustees

A president and a vice-president at large shall be elected for a term of two years, and each shall be eligible to succeed himself but once after having served one full term.

Vice-presidents representing the towns and cities of Dutchess County, a secretary, a treasurer and a curator shall be elected for a term of two years.

Sixteen trustees shall be elected in four classes, each to serve four years, but no trustee shall be eligible to succeed himself after having served one full term of four years.

Duties of Officers and Trustees

President: The president shall preside at meetings of the society and of the Board of Trustees. He shall initiate and direct the activities of the society in conjunction with the Board of Trustees.

Vice-President at Large: The vice-president at large shall act in the absence of the president as need occasions.

Vice-Presidents for Towns and Cities of Dutchess County: It shall be the duty of the vice-presidents for the towns and cities to stimulate interest in the objects of the society in their several localities.

Secretary: The secretary shall keep a record of all meetings of the society and of the Board of Trustees; shall notify all persons elected to membership; shall notify members of the time and place of meetings; and shall perform

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all the duties of the secretary of the society.

Treasurer: The treasurer shall collect and disburse all moneys of the society under the direction of the Board of Trustees.

Curator: The curator shall be responsible for the safekeeping of all possessions of the society, other than securities or bank deposits. He shall keep an inventory of the possessions and shall notify the secretary in writing of all new acquisitions of the society, whether by purchase or by gift.

Trustees: The Board of Trustees shall transact any business of the society and have general management of its affairs, including the election of members.

Meetings

There shall be at least two meetings of the society each year: an annual meeting during the month of May, and a semi-annual meeting during the month of October. In addition to the annual and semi-annual meetings, a meeting of the society may be called by the president, or by the vice-president at large, or by the secretary, or upon request of five members of the society. The day and place of all meetings shall be chosen by the officers and all members shall be notified of a meeting by the secretary at least two weeks in advance.

Meetings of the Board of Trustees may be held at any time on the call of the president, or the vice-president at large, or the secretary, or of three members of the Board of Trustees.

Ten members shall constitute a quorum of the society.

Five trustees shall constitute a quorum of the Board of Trustees.

Reports

The officers of the society and the committees shall report to the society at the meetings in May and October upon such matters as are in their charge, and shall inform the members of the condition of the society.

Order of Business

The order of business at any meeting of the society, or of the Board of Trustees, shall be as follows: Reading of the minutes of the previous meeting Reports of officers Reports of committees Election of members Unfinished business New business Adjournment

Amendments

These bylaws may be amended at any regular. or special, meeting of the society by a majority vote of those present, provided a notice of the proposed amendment shall have accompanied the notice of the meeting at which it shall be acted upon.