Ohio History Journal




CONSTITUTION OF

CONSTITUTION OF

THE OHIO STATE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND

HISTORICAL SOCIETY1

 

ARTICLE I

Name and Location

Section 1. This Society, which is organized as a corporation not for

profit under the laws of the State of Ohio, shall, pursuant to its Articles

of Incorporation, be known as The Ohio State Archaeological and Histori-

cal Society, and shall have its offices at Columbus, Ohio, where its principal

business shall be transacted.

 

ARTICLE II

Purposes

Section 1. The purposes of this Society, as set forth in its Articles

of Incorporation, are:

"Promoting a knowledge of archaeology and history, espe-

cially in Ohio, by establishing and maintaining a library of books,

maps, charts, etc., properly pertaining thereto, a museum of pre-

historic relics and natural or other curiosities or specimens

of art or nature, promotive of the objects of the association--said

library and museum to be open to the public on reasonable

terms--and by courses of lectures and publications of books,

papers and documents touching the subjects so specified, with

power to receive and hold gifts and devises of real and personal

estate for the benefit of such society, and generally to exercise

all the powers legally appertaining thereto."

In addition to which and in furtherance of these ends, the Society

has also been authorized and directed by numerous Acts of the General

Assembly of the State of Ohio to perform certain specific functions, such

as the custodianship of sites and property of a historical or archaeological

nature; and its purposes comprehend all such functions which have been

or may be vested in it by law or resolution enacted or adopted by the

General Assembly of the State of Ohio.

ARTICLE III

Membership

Section 1. Any person, organization or institution may be or become

a member of the Society subject to the provisions of this Article.

Section 2. There shall be two general classes of members of the

Society, namely, continuing members and limited members.

 

1 As adopted April 6, 1945.

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258   OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

Continuing members shall consist of those heretofore and

hereafter designated as benefactors, patrons, life members and

honorary members, all of whom shall continue as members until

death or resignation.

Limited members shall consist of those heretofore and here-

after designated as sustaining members, contributing members,

annual members and juvenile members, all of whom shall continue

as members only so long as the annual fees hereinafter prescribed

shall be paid.

Section 3. Contributions to the Society will be welcomed, whether

in the form of money, securities, services, or accessions to the library,

museum or memorials. Members who shall have contributed to the Society

in the sum of $1,000.00 or more, shall be benefactors; those who shall

have contributed to the Society in the sum of $500.00 shall be patrons;

those who shall have contributed to the Society in the sum of $100.00

shall be life members. Honorary membership may be accorded to persons

distinguished for scientific or literary attainment, particularly in the fields

of archaeology, history, or natural history.

Section 4. The annual fees of limited members shall, unless and

until otherwise determined by the Board of Trustees, be as follows: Sus-

taining members $10.00; contributing members $5.00; annual members

$2.00; juvenile members $1.00.

Section 5. All the members of the Society excepting honorary mem-

bers and juvenile members shall be voting members.

Section 6. The Board of Trustees shall have power to determine

and from time to time to alter the incidental privileges of the respective

classes of members; but until so altered such incidental privileges shall

continue as they have been heretofore enjoyed. The Board of Trustees

shall also have power to create additional classes of members and define

their rights and privileges.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Government

Section 1. The government of the Society shall be vested in a Board

of Trustees, fifteen in number, nine of whom shall be elected by the Society,

and the remaining six shall be appointed by the Governor of the State of

Ohio. The Society shall elect three members each year in the annual

meeting, for a term of three years, or until their successors shall be elected

and qualified. The Governor shall appoint two members each year for

a term of three years, or until their successors are appointed and qualified.

If a vacancy should occur among the Trustees elected by the Society, the

Board of Trustees shall fill the vacancy until the next annual meeting of



CONSTITUTION 259

CONSTITUTION                          259

 

the Society, when the vacancy shall be filled by the Society for the remainder

of the unexpired term.

Section 2. The Governor of Ohio and the Director of Education

of Ohio are by law ex officio members of the Board of Trustees.

Section 3. The Board of Trustees shall have power to adopt by-laws

to govern their own procedure and the administrative and business affairs

of the Society.

ARTICLE V

Officers and Administrative Staff

Section 1. The officers of the Society shall be a president, a first

vice president, a second vice president, and a treasurer, each of whom

shall be elected annually by the Board of Trustees from their number,

at their first meeting after the annual meeting of the Society. They shall

also be the officers of the Board of Trustees. There shall also be a secre-

tary of the Board of Trustees and of the Society, whose appointment and

services shall be pursuant to Sections 2 and 3 of this Article.

Section 2. The Board of Trustees shall appoint a director, who shall

be charged with all the administrative and business affairs relating to the

operation of the Society subject to the authorization and approval of

the Board of Trustees. The director shall formulate an administrative

and operating organization, and recommend all personnel required in the

service of the Society, subject to the approval and continuing supervision

of the Board of Trustees.

Section 3. The term of office of the director and all members of the

administrative and operating staffs and of all persons in the service of the

Society shall be fixed by the Board of Trustees. The salaries and rates

if compensation of all persons in the service of the Society shall be fixed

by the Board of Trustees and shall be subject to alteration from time to

time in its discretion.

ARTICLE VI

Meetings

Section 1. The annual meeting of the Society shall be held in

Columbus during the month of April on a date fixed by the President.

pecial meetings of the Society may be held at the call of the President.

Section 2. Notice of the annual or any special meetings shall be

tailed by the secretary to all members of the Society at least thirty days

rior to the date thereof.

Section 3. Twenty voting members of the Society shall constitute

quorum at any meeting of the Society.

Section 4. Meetings of the Board of Trustees shall be held at least

our times a year at such dates as the Board shall fix. Special meetings

ay be called by the President. A majority of the Board shall constitute

quorum.



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260   OHIO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL QUARTERLY

 

ARTICLE VII

Fiscal Affairs

Section 1. The fiscal year of the Society shall coincide with th

fiscal year of the State of Ohio.

Section 2. Debts shall not be contracted nor any financial obligations

assumed on behalf of the Society except upon the authorization of the

Board of Trustees.

Section 3. Money and negotiable securities derived from the con-

tributions of continuing members shall constitute a permanent fund which

shall be invested in the discretion of the Board of Trustees and the income

therefrom shall be applied as the Board may direct.

 

ARTICLE VIII

Amendments

Any amendments to this constitution shall be made only by the

Society in an annual meeting. All proposed amendments shall be signed

by at least ten voting members and shall be printed, with any arguments

that any members may desire to present in favor thereof or in opposition

thereto, and mailed to the voting members of the Society at least thirty

days before the annual meeting at which they are to be considered. Mem-

bers may vote on proposed amendments by mail or in person at the

annual meeting, and a majority of all votes cast shall be required for

adoption.

SCHEDULE

This proposed constitution shall be presented for the consideration

and action of the Society in accordance with the requirements of the

present constitution for making amendments thereto at the first annual

meeting after January 1, 1945. If adopted by a majority of the votes cast

thereon it shall go into immediate effect, and the constitution and by-laws

adopted by the Society on April 24, 1942, shall be thereby repealed.

In the event of the adoption of this proposed Constitution, the Board

of Trustees, giving careful consideration to the paramount interests and

the welfare of the Society, shall adjust the organization and the admin-

istration thereof to the requirements of the Constitution as soon as they

may find it to be most feasible.