ARTICLE I : NAME

The name of this organization will be the Habersham County Historical Society (HCHS).

ARTICLE ii : purpose

Section 1 – The purpose of the Society shall be to bring together those people interested in the history of Habersham County and surrounding area; and

A. To locate and collect any material which may help to establish or illustrate the history of the County and area – its exploration, settlement, development, special activities and events, its progress in population, wealth, education, arts, science, agriculture, manufacturing, trade and transportation.
B. To locate and preserve printed materials, manuscripts, and pictures of the County and the area; ant to make these materials accessible to those who wish to examine or study the same.
C. To disseminate and publish historical information pertaining to the County.
D. To arouse and maintain public interest in the history of the County and area by holding public meetings, lectures, special programs, and discussion groups.

Section 2 – To cooperate with State, County and local officials in establishing County-wide Preservation Ordinances and Zoning Laws to insure the preservation of historical buildings, structures, monuments and markers. To make an effort to preserve the heritage of Habersham County and surrounding area.

ARTICLE iii : membership

Membership in the Society shall be open to any person or groups interested in the history of Habersham County and the area.

ARTICLE iv : meetings

Section 1 – Meetings will be held monthly on the second Thursday of each month. Time and place of meeting to be recommended by the Executive Board for approval by membership.

Section 2 – The annual meeting shall be held in December

ARTICLE V : dues

Annual dues shall be as follows :

$ 15.00 Individual,
$ 25.00 Family (husband and wife)
$ 50.00 Business
$ ____ Donations (discretionary)
$150.00 Life time membership - (Discontinued 5/2018 by Executive Board)

Dues shall be for the Calendar year (January – December)

ARTICLE VI : OFFICERS & EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1 – The officers of the Society shall consist of the following: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, the Immediate Past President of the Society, and four Directors.

Section 2 – The current officers, the Immediate Past President, the Directors and Committee Chairmen shall compose the Executive Board. This Board shall meet at the discretion of the President to review activities of the Society and plan for continuing projects to be presented to the membership for approval.

Section 3 – Duties of Officers

A. The President shall preside at all meetings, shall be Chairman of the Executive Board, appoint all committees, be ex-officio member of all committees, and enforce the rules of the By-laws.
B. The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President in his/her absence, and any special duties as required by the President.
C. The Secretary shall keep a record of minutes of all regular meetings of the Society and of the Executive Board; and take care of all correspondence of the Society as directed by the President.
D: The Treasurer shall receive all monies paid into the Society for deposit in the Society’s bank account; make all disbursements approved by the Executive Board, and keep an accurate record of all such transactions. All payments shall be by numbered checks. In the absence of the Treasurer, the President shall be empowered to sign checks. Monthly reports of the Society’s financial status are to be prepared. An annual report is to be prepared for presentation at the annual meeting in December.

ARTICLE VII : ELECTIONS

Section 1 – Elections shall be for a term of one calendar year. No officer may hold the same office for more than two consecutive years. Elections will take place at the November meeting and installation will be held at December meeting.
Section 2 – The Nominations Committee shall present a list of nominees for the five officers at the November meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor provided the consent of the nominee has been obtained previously.
If there is but one nominee for each office, the Secretary may be instructed to cast a ballot for the slate, otherwise voting shall be by secret ballot.
Section 3 – Installation of Officers and Directors shall take place at the Annual Meeting in December.

ARTICLE VIIi : COMMITTEES

(All Committees to be appointed by the President)

Section 1 – Standing Committees

A. Publicity Committee – Responsible for preparing news releases for the media concerning meetings, special programs and events of the Society.
B. Finance Committee – The Finance Committee shall consist of the Treasurer and two additional members to be appointed by the President. This committee shall prepare an annual budget, solicit funds if deemed necessary and act as Audit Committee to review the financial records of the Society, and present an audit report to the membership at the annual meeting in December.
C. Historian – Responsible for keeping a permanent file of Society papers including a copy of each set of By-Laws; lists of Officers; maintain a scrapbook of important publicity items, pictures of special programs and events; and keep a record of any artifacts, historical pictures, manuscripts, publications, etc. – owned by or donated to the Society – listing location of same so that these items may be available for examination and study.

Section 2 – Special Committees

A. Programs Committee – Responsible for arranging for monthly programs and events of the Society.
B. Membership Committee – Responsible for obtaining members, processing applications for membership and keeping the membership records up-to-date.
C. Publications Committee – Responsible for finding ways and means for publishing information, pamphlets, and articles of historical interest to inform the public of rich heritage of Habersham County and surrounding areas.
D. Nominations Committee – Responsible for nominating officers for the Society. This Committee shall also nominate officers to fill any vacancy which may occur for presentation to the membership for approval.
E. Other Committees – Such other committees as the President may deem necessary for the benefit of the Society.

ARTICLE ix : CO-OPERATION

Section 1 – This Society shall cooperate with the Georgia Historical Commission, the State Department of Archives and with other Historical Societies to collect, preserve, exchange and share materials of both local and state-wide interest and to make these materials available to anyone interested in the same for examination and study.

Section 2 – The Society shall be a non-profit organization. In the event of dissolution of the Society, all of the assets, records, materials, etc. shall be turned over to the Northeast Georgia Regional Library in Clarkesville for preservation.

ARTICLE X : AMENDMENTS

These By-Laws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Society by two-thirds vote of members present, provided the amendment shall have been presented in writing and read at a previous meeting.

ARTICLE Xi : REVIEW OF BYLAWS

These By-Laws shall be reviewed every three years by a committee of three appointed by the President. Recommendations for any revisions are to be presented to the membership for approval.

ARTICLE Xii : RULES OF ORDER

The latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern all parliamentary proceedings of the Society.

HABERSHAM COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, iNC.