GREECE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of the Society shall be The Greece Historical Society.
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE
The purpose of the Society shall be to collect and preserve the history of Greece,
NY and to encourage community interest in the towns history and history of the
surrounding region.
ARTICLE III OBJECTIVES
1. Collect and preserve artifacts, photographs and slides, maps, printed materials,
manuscripts and diaries that document people, their way of life, events, and facts of the
past and present.
2. Maintain the Greece Historical Society property.
3. Plan and maintain both fixed and changing exhibits that interpret Greeces
history for the community.
4. Conduct presentations for schools, community organizations and the general public.
5. Maintain the Greece Historical Society Gift Shop offering items for sale on local
history, including books, booklets and pamphlets written and published by the Society.
6. Provide special events that promote interest in local and/or American history.
7. Encourage the preservation of historic buildings in the town.
8. Maintain a reference library.
9. Make available to the community the Societys archives and images for research.

ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 Classes
There shall be two (2) classes of membership: Active and Honorary. Active
members shall be the only membership class entitled to vote on matters that are
decided by the membership.
Section 2 - Active Members
(a) There are two (2) categories of active members: life and annual.
(b) Life membership is achieved with a single payment of $500.00. Life
members are entitled to special recognition at Society events and in Society
publications. Life members are exempt from annual dues.
(c ) Annual membership is achieved by individuals or organizations by
completing an application and paying the specified dues, the level of which shall be set
by the Board of Trustees.
Section 3 Honorary Members
Honorary membership may be conferred upon individuals or organizations by a
two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Trustees in recognition of significant contribution
to the objectives of the Society.

ARTICLE V - MEETINGS
Section 1 Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the Society shall be the third Thursday in January.
Section 2 Special membership meetings
Special membership meetings of the Society shall be called by request of a
majority of the Board of Trustees, or on petition to the Secretary by ten (10) or more
active members of the Society. A meeting called as the result of a petition shall be
held within two (2) weeks after the date the petition is presented.
Section 3 Quorum
Five per cent (5%) of the active membership must be present at a general
membership meeting to constitute a quorum.
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Section 4 Notice of Meetings

Notice of Society meetings shall be given to each active member by mail to the
last known post office address or electronically communicated. Notice of the Society
annual meeting shall be mailed at least thirty days in advance of the meeting. Notice
of Society Special Membership meetings shall be distributed at least ten (10) days in
advance of the meeting.
ARTICLE VI - DUES
Section 1 - Payment of Dues
Membership dues are due May 1st of each year. For initial applications received
between March 1st and May 1st, dues shall not be required until the following year.
Dues for all Life Members are paid in one payment at the inception of the life
membership. Honorary members are not required to pay annual dues.
Section 2 - Non-payment of Dues
If annual dues have not been paid by June 1st, the Secretary shall notify the member of
such lapse. If payment is not made by July 15th, the member shall be dropped from the
active membership rolls and mailing lists. Such inactive memberships may be
reinstated at any time by payment of the current years dues.
ARTICLE VII BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Section 1 - Direction of the Society
The direction and management of the Society and its property shall be governed
by a Board of Trustees consisting of not less than six (6) and not more than 12 Active
Members in good standing elected by the membership of the Society. The Board of
Trustees may adopt such rules and policies as it deems necessary to conduct the affairs
of the Society and shall have full power to act on behalf of the Society in carrying out
all valid Society purposes.
Section 2 - Term of Office
Trustees shall be elected for a term of three years, or until their successors are elected.
Terms shall be established so that one-third (1/3) of the Board is elected each year.

Section 3 - Nomination of Trustees

The Nominations Committee shall prepare a slate of nominees for positions on
the Board of Trustees. The preliminary slate shall be submitted to the Board of
Trustees at their October meeting.
Other nominations may be made by active members of the Society. Such
nominations must be made in writing at the October Trustees meeting and signed by
not fewer than ten (10) active members. The Nominations Committee will confirm
such nominees are active members in good standing and are willing to serve before
the November Trustees meeting to finalize the slate of candidates.
Section 4 - Election of Trustees
The Board of Trustees shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Society. The
Secretary shall prepare a ballot that contains an alphabetical list of all nominees. The
ballot shall also specify the number of years of Trustee positions. The President shall
appoint a committee of three (3) election inspectors from the active membership, who
are not members of the Board of Trustees or candidates for election, to supervise the
election procedure prescribed by the Board. If the seats up for election are
uncontested, a voice vote may be taken.
Section 4 - Ex-Officio Members
The Executive Director and the Town Historian shall be ex-officio members of
the Board and they are not voting positions.
Section 6 - Increase or Decrease in the Number of Trustees
The number of trustees may be increased or decreased by a vote of the active
members or by a majority vote of all of the trustees. No decrease in the number of
trustees shall shorten the term of any incumbent trustee.
Section 7 - Newly Created Trusteeships and Vacancies
Newly created trusteeships resulting from an increase in the number of trustees
and from vacancies occurring in the Board may be filled by a vote of a majority of the
trustees then in office. A trustee elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office for the
balance of that term.
Section 8 - Removal of Trustees
Any or all of the trustees may be removed for cause by vote of the active
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members of the Society or by majority of the Board. Any trustee who misses three (3)
consecutive meetings of the Board shall be notified to appear at the next Trustees
meeting and show cause why he or she should not be removed from the office.
Section 9 - Resignation
A trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the
President, or the Secretary of the Society. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, the
resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the Board or such officer, and the
acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Upon
resignation or the election of their successor, all trustees and officers shall give all
records, books and other property of the Society in their possession to their successor
within fourteen days of their installation.
Section 10 - Board Meetings
The Board of Trustees shall meet on the second Thursday of January, March
April, May, September, October and November at the Greece Historical Society
facility and the meetings are open to active members. A special meeting of the Board
may be called at any time by the President on not less than twenty-four (24) hours
notice to all Trustees or by three (3) trustees with five (5) days notice to all the
Trustees. A majority of the Board of Trustees shall constitute a quorum at any Board
meeting.
ARTICLE VIII - OFFICERS
Section 1 - Officers, Election, Term
The officers of the Society shall be chosen by the Board of Trustees. The
officers of this organization shall be: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and
Secretary. The trustees shall hold an organizational meeting within thirty (30) days of
the annual election for the purpose of electing said officers for the ensuing year. The
trustees shall initially elect a President. Following that, the Trustees shall successively
elect a Vice President, a Treasurer, and a Secretary. All votes shall be cast by secret
ballot. All officers must be a Trustee and shall serve at the pleasure of the Board.
Each officer will hold office until the organizational meeting of the board
following the next annual meeting or until his or her successor has been elected or
appointed. The offices of President and Vice President shall be limited to three
successive terms of office.
Section 2 - Removal, Resignation, Absence or Disability

Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of Trustees may be removed by

the Board with or without cause. Any officer may resign with or without stating a
reason therefore at any time by giving written notice to the Board or President. Such
resignation shall take effect at the time specified in the written notice or, if not
indicated, at the time of the delivery. In the event of death, resignation or removal of
an officer, the Board shall appoint a successor to fill the unexpired term. During the
absence or disability of both the President and Vice President, the Board shall appoint
an acting President. During the absence or disability of the Treasurer or of the
Secretary, the President shall appoint an acting Treasurer or Secretary. Such acting
officer shall have all the powers, functions and responsibilities of the elected officer.
Section 3 - President
The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Society; shall preside at
all meetings of the members and the Board; shall have responsibility for the general
management of the affairs of the Society; shall execute all contracts on behalf of the
Society; shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Trustees are carried
into effect; and shall submit a full report of the work of the Society at the annual
meeting. The President shall appoint committee chairs, subject to the approval of the
Board of Trustees. The President is an ex-officio member of all committees. The
President shall have general supervision and direction of all other officers, agents and
employees of the Society to see that their respective duties are properly performed.
Sections 4 - Vice-President
The Vice-President shall assist the President in all of his or her duties; shall
perform all duties and functions of the President in case of absence, vacancy, or
disability of the President; and shall perform such other duties as the Board shall
prescribe.
Section 5 - Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be the chief financial officer and chief accounting officer
and shall keep complete books and records of accounts of the Society. The Treasurer
shall maintain banking arrangements to receive, have custody of, and disburse the
Societys moneys and securities. The Treasurer shall disburse funds as authorized by
the Board of Trustees and only based upon proper supporting documentation. The
Treasurer shall maintain adequate financial records ready for review by any Trustee at
all times. The Treasurer shall present monthly financial statements to the Board of
Trustees and a written annual report setting forth the entire financial assets and
liabilities of the Society at its annual meeting.

Section 6 - Secretary
The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the Board of Trustees, the annual
meeting, and the Executive Committee meetings and to distribute the minutes of each
preceding meeting. The Secretary shall file and retain all documents relating to the
business of the Society. He or she shall have custody of the seal of the Society and
shall affix, and attest the same to documents when duly authorized by the Board of
Trustees. He or she shall issue notices of all meetings of the membership and of the
Trustees when required by law or these by-laws. The Secretary shall maintain a
current enrollment of members and their contact information. He or she shall attend to
such correspondence as may be assigned, and shall perform all such duties incidental
to the office.
Section 7 - Sureties and Bonds
The Treasurer, and such other officers or agents of the Society as the Board may
require, shall execute a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as the Board
may direct, conditioned upon the faithful performance of his or her duties to the
Society and including responsibility for negligence and for accounting for all property,
funds, or securities of the Society which may come into his or her hands.
ARTICLE IX - COMMITTEES
All committees of the Society shall be appointed by the Board of Trustees, and
their term of office shall be for a period of one year or less if sooner terminated by the
action of the Board of Trustees. The standing committees shall be Executive, Audit
and Nominations. The Board may establish such other committees as it deems
necessary to carry out the purposes of the Society.
Section 1 - Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the President, Vice President,
Secretary, Treasurer and one other board member. The committee may transact
necessary business of the Society in the interim between board meetings, always
subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees at its next meeting. The further
purpose of the committee is to assist the President in the management of the affairs of
the Society. The committee shall meet as needed.
Section 2 - Audit Committee
The Audit Committee shall consist of no fewer than three (3) trustees. The
purpose of the committee is to conduct an audit of the Societys accounts, assets,
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liabilities and financial activities for the prior fiscal year. A copy of this audit shall be
presented to the Board of Trustees. The Audit Committee may work with an
independent auditor to conduct the audit and may recommend accounting practices and
controls.
Section 3 Nominations
The Nominations Committee shall consist of no fewer than three (3) trustees who shall
prepare a preliminary slate of nominees for positions on the Board of Trustees for the
October trustee meeting. The committee shall investigate the eligibility of nominees
before the slate is voted upon by the membership at the next annual meeting.
ARICLE X - MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1 - Fiscal Year
The fiscal year shall run from January 1 through December 31.
Section 2 - Changes to By-Laws
These by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of active members
present at a meeting of the Society provided that notice of the proposed change shall
have been communicated to each active member not less than ten (10) days prior to
such meeting.
Section 3 - Dissolution
In the event of dissolution of the Society, all the remaining assets and property
of the Society shall, after necessary expenses thereof, be distributed to such
organizations as shall qualify under Section 501 ( c )3 of the Internal Revenue Service
Code of 1954, as amended, subject to an order of the Justice of the Supreme Court of
the State of New York.
Section 4 - Construction
If there be any conflict between the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation
and these By-Laws, the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation shall govern.
By-Laws Adopted/Amended
Effective Date
11/21/95
01/01/96
05/18/99
05/18/99
01/09/01
01/09/01
09/09/14
09/09/14
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