Bylaws
Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta
Attachment to Executive (& Representatives) Meeting Minutes
MCC (Alberta), Calgary
19 August 2000
MENNONITE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF ALBERTA
BY-LAWS Revised 2000
Name:
Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta
Purpose:
The Society shall give opportunity to bring together those people interested
in history, in particular the history relating to the Mennonites in
the Province of Alberta. A function of the Society shall be to search
for and collect materials in this jurisdiction. It will further provide
for the preservation of such materials and, as far as feasible, for
accessibility to them for all who are interested. The Society will encourage
and assist Mennonites in Alberta, where possible, to preserve, explore,
research, write, and enjoy history. It will disseminate historical material
for the interest of its people and the larger public community. The
Society will be responsible to send an Alberta representative to appropriate
meetings of the Mennonite Historical Society of Canada.
Membership:
The Society shall be open to all who have an interest in, and wish to
promote its activities. Mennonite congregations in Alberta may be members
of the Society through congregational historians or others designated
by congregations to be members. Membership fees are those established
at the Annual Meeting of the Society and shall be due at the beginning
of the fiscal year. Only paid-up members may vote on the business of
the Society.
Members may withdraw from the Society by submitting a letter to the
Board to the effect or by failing to pay their an final membership fee.
Duties, Rights:
All members have the right to participate in the work of the Society
through attendance at meetings (and workshops. Members are encouraged
to support the programs and activities the Society, Members do not
have any proprietary claims on any property or materials in the possession
of the Society. Members have the right to review the records of the
Society at any time.
Organization:
The Society shall have a governing Board consisting of the Executive
Committee and a maximum of two appointed members at large, and such
other committees as are deemed necessary to conduct its activities.
The Executive shall be comprised of a Chair, Vice-Chair, a Secretary,
and a Treasurer.
Duties:
Chair: Shall call and preside at the annual
meetings and such other meetings as are deemed necessary for the conduct
of the business of the Society.
Vice Chair: Shall preside over the affairs
of the Society in the absence of the Chair. The Vice Chair may be assigned
other administrative duties pertaining to the affairs of the Society
Secretary: Shall record the minutes of the
meetings and provide for their safekeeping. The Secretary my be assigned
other clerical duties in the affairs of the Society.
Treasurer: Shall keep the financial records
of the Society and shall and carry out the responsibility of collecting
and recording dues and donations and keep the accounts up to date. The
Treasurer and another designated member of the Executive shall have
cheque-signing authority.
Members at Large: Shall contribute to the
ongoing well being of the Society through their participation in new
and ongoing projects of the Society. The Board may be enlarged if required
to account for geographic or other representational purposes by a maximum
of two more members.
Removal: Board members may be removed from
office for lack of interest or commitment by a majority vote of the
Board.
Elections:
All officers shall be elected for a three year term on a rotational
basis and hold office for no more than two consecutive terms. Members-at-large
will be appointed on the same basis. Elections shall take place at the
Annual General Meeting of the Society.
Nominating Committee:
The Nominating Committee shall consist of three members elected by the
membership at the Annual Meeting, and hold office for one year. The
committee shall prepare a slate of nominees for vacant positions.
Power and Duties of the Board:
The Board shall:
- Administer the affairs of the Society with diligence and prudence.
- Be responsible for the audit of the accounts.
- Have custody and use of the seal of the Society.
- Be responsible for the preparation and custody of the minutes and
proceedings of meetings of the Society, and of the Board as well as
other records of the Society.
- Take judicious care of all materials entrusted to the Society for
placement in the Archives.
- For the purpose of carrying out its objectives, the society may
borrow or raise funds as it sees fit, provided that the borrowing
instructions be given by authority of the Executive.
- Conduct a financial audit and prepare an annual report for the Annual
Meeting. Auditors are to be appointed by the Executive.
- Require the Annual General Meeting to authorize cheque-signing authority.
Fiscal Year:
The fiscal year shall run from January 1 to December 31.
Voting: Ordinary business may be conducted by a simple
majority vote. Extraordinary business related to Constitution or By-Laws
requires advance notice to the members and requires a two-thirds majority
vote is required to amend these by-laws.
Annual Meeting:
The Annual General Meeting shall be called by the Chair not later than
six months after the fiscal year end. A quorum (one proxy per member)
of 25% of the membership is necessary to hold a duly constituted membership
meeting. Annual Meetings to be held in various regions on a rotational
basis. If a quorum is not present, the meeting will wait for thirty
minutes, and then continue as a fully legal meeting.
Disolution:
In the event of dissolution of the Society all assets and properties
or proceeds from the sale thereof shall be transferred to one or more
recognized charitable organizations having objectives similar to those
of the Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta.
These By-Laws were approved as revised on 19 August 2000
Signed this 19th Day of August, 2000.
Jake Harder, Chairman
Henry Goerzen, Vice Chairman
Judith Rempel, Secretary
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