Constitution and Bylaws

Of

The Myles Standish Society

Article I.            Name

                        The name of the society shall be The Myles Standish Society.

Article II.            Objectives

                        The primary objectives of this educational and nonprofit society shall be:

Section 1.            To perpetuate the memory of Myles Standish who arrived on the “Mayflower”, landing at Plymouth Rock, at Plymouth Colony on December 21, 1620.

Section 2.            To encourage research and publication of Standish genealogy and history, thereby initiating professional research and documentation of the Pilgrim Standish Family, both male and female lines, and Standish ancestry in general.

Section 3.            To assist descendants of the Pilgrim Standish Family in acquiring acceptable proof of eligibility for membership in the General Society of Mayflower Descendants.

Section 4.            To encourage, maintain and present a rich photographic history of the Standish families.  The photographic tapestry is to be represented by Photographs of Standish descendants, grave sites, homesteads and places of notability for the family.

Section 5.            The Society is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes as defined in Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, revised 1981 and the laws of the state in which it is chartered.

Section 6.            To establish a Memorial Fund to be used in memory of the Pilgrim Standish Family.

Article III.        Membership

                        Section 1.         There shall be four classes of membership

a.       Regular

b.      Life

c.       Junior

d.      Secondary

Section 2.            Regular Members

a.       All persons 18 years of age or older who are descendant from the Standish Family shall be eligible for regular membership in this society upon verification of their lineage.

b.      Membership in this society requires a written application and payment of dues. (Dues yet to be determined)

c.       All regular members shall be eligible to vote.

d.      Dues shall be held reasonable and affordable to encourage all people to join.

e.       Special dispensation can be made available.

                           Section 3.        Life Members

      a.                                                   a.      Life membership is available to regular members upon  a one time payment yet                                                              to be determined.

b.   Life members shall be eligible to vote.

Section 4.            Junior Members

a.        All persons under the age of 18 may become junior

members by paying a one time fee yet to be determined.

b.        Junior members do not vote.

Section 5.            Secondary

a.       All persons 18 years of age or older who have unproven descent, or are not descendant of a Standish shall be eligible for  Secondary membership.

b.      Membership in this society requires a written application and payment of dues. (Dues yet to be determined)

c.       All Secondary members shall be eligible to vote.

d.      Dues shall be held reasonable and affordable to encourage all people to join.

Section 6.           Dues and Fees

a.       Annual dues shall be determined and will be due January 1 of each year, for all regular members of the rolls carried on that date.  Members failing to pay by that date will be notified by the Society’s Secretary (using last known address) that unless dues in the arrears are paid by the end of the fiscal year (December 31) their names shall be stricken from the roll of membership by the corresponding secretary.

b.      A regular member in good standing may resign membership by writing a letter of resignation to the Treasurer.  Such ex-members shall be reinstated by payment of the current year’s dues.

c.       A regular member dropped from membership for non-payment of dues, shall be reinstated by a payment of  a $5.00 reinstatement fee and payment of the current year’s dues.

d.      The fiscal year shall be January 1 to December 31.

e.        Partial dues

1.      Members joining after the first quarter will pay 75% of the annual dues.

2.      Members joining after the second quarter will pay 50% of the annual dues.

3.      Members joining in the last quarter will pay 25% of the annual dues.

Article IV.            Officers

                        Section 1.          The officers of the Society shall be the Governor, Deputy Governor, Treasurer,                                                     Corresponding Secretary, Historian and three Assistants.  All officers serve at the                                                     pleasure of the Board.

Section 2.            Election of the officers shall Triennial Meeting of the Society.  The newly elected officers will begin their term of service on January 1 of the year following their election.  These officers shall perform the duties prescribed in Article V of the bylaws and the parliamentary authority adopted by the Society.

Section 3.            At the annual meeting preceding the Triennial meeting a Nominating Committee of three members shall be appointed by the governor.  It shall be the duty of this committee to nominate one candidate for each office and to inform the membership of the candidates in the July newsletter.  Before the election at the Triennial Meeting, additional nominations from the floor shall be permitted: any such nomination shall require that person’s permission.  When there is one candidate for each office, election shall be a majority vote of those regular and life members present and attending the Triennial Meeting.  Should additional candidates be nominated, election shall be by ballot

Section 4.            No member shall hold more than one office at a time and no member shall be eligible to serve more than two  consecutive three-year terms in the same office except the Treasurer, the Corresponding Secretary and the Historian except by special dispensation.

Section 5            The office of Deputy Governor is not a prerequisite to the office of Governor.

Section 6.            In the event of a vacancy in the position of any officer, the Governor shall appoint a successor to serve until the next Triennial Meeting.  The appointee shall exercise all of the duties specified in these Bylaws.

Section 7.            In the event of a vacancy in the position of Governor and the inability of the Deputy Governor to succeed the Governor, the Board of Assistants shall elect a Governor, at meeting as authorized by Article VI, Section 4.  The new Governor shall hold office until the next Triennial Meeting and exercise all the duties of the office specified in these Bylaws

Article V.         Duties of Officers

                       Section 1.         The Governor shall:

a.       Preside at all meetings of the Society; supervise all of the business and affairs of the Society; authorize expenditures of funds of the Society up to $100 without prior approval of the Board of Assistants; authorize other expenditures only for items budgeted in the annual budget, unless approved by the Board of Assistants as a budget change; and not allow expenditures that exceed the annual budget items.

b.      Answer promptly inquiries and questions of members

c.       Appoint all committee secretaries and chairpersons and be an ex-officio member of all committees.

d.      Assist the Newsletter editor in the preparation for printing of a Newsletter in March, July and November.

e.       Provide timely notice to all regular and Life members of the Society of the date, place and time of the next Annual meeting.

f.        Call a meeting of the Board of Assistants prior to the Annual meeting.

f.        Appoint a Nominating Committee at the Annual Meeting one-year prior to the Triennial Meeting.

Section 2.            Deputy Governor shall

a.       Exercise all of the functions of Governor in the absence of, or disability of the Governor.

b.      Succeed the Governor in completion of an unexpired three-year term.

c.       Perform such other duties as the Governor may request.

Section 3.            The Corresponding/Recording Secretary shall:                       

a.       Initiate and/or answer all correspondence related to Mayflower Pilgrims (not assumed by other Board Members).

b.      Maintain an up-to-date membership list which shall include all members’ and junior members’ names and current addresses, their membership numbers and the name of the Mayflower Pilgrim from whom they are descended, if known.

c.        Request from each new member information necessary for the completion of a Membership Directory, which will be prepared at the request of the Governor and Board of Assistants.

d.        Record the proceedings from the Annual Membership meeting and all meetings held by the Board of Assistants and submit them to the Governor for approval and distribution as necessary.

Section 4.            Treasurer shall:

a.                   Have charge of all funds and financial needs of the Society including, with the trustees cooperation, the trust account of Life Members payments and surplus monies in certificates of deposits, and make disbursements in accordance with the approved annual budget or changes approved by the Board of Assistants.

b.                  Maintain a ledger of accounts of dues payments, cash receipts, and disbursements.

c.                   Have a general treasury account meeting the needs of the budget and an interest-bearing account for the deposit of all Life memberships, gifts and bequest; these accounts will be named The Myles Standish Society and bear the names of the Treasurer, Governor and one Assistant.

d.                  Present a full, written financial report and budget to the membership at each Annual meeting.

e.                   Present complete financial records for annual audit by the Audit Committee

Section 5.            Historian shall:

a.                   Maintain the genealogical records of the Society.

b.                  Conduct minor research as necessary or when directed by the Governor.

e.       Address members’ inquiries as appropriate.

Section 6.            The three Assistants shall:

a.       Perform such duties as the Governor may request.

Article VI.            Meetings

Section 1.            An Annual Meeting, open to all members, shall be held in September-October of each year, if a quorum can be obtained by membership attendance, at a place, time and date selected by the Board of Assistants.

Section 2.            Notice of the Annual meetings shall be sent in all Newsletters.  Ten Regular and/or Life members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business

Section 3.            The Board of Assistants may hold meetings at such time and place as is convenient and necessary.  Special meetings for the purpose of approval of matters requiring action or approval may be conducted by mail or telephone providing that such action is ratified in writing at the next regular Board of Assistants meeting held in conjunction with the Society’s Annual meeting.

Section 4.            Any item to be sold for the benefit of the Society shall receive prior approval of the Board of Assistants.  All proceeds must be turned over to the Treasurer.

Article VII:                  Board of Assistants

Section 1.            The affairs of the Society shall be managed by its Board of Assistants.  The Board of Assistants shall consist of all elected officers, namely, the Governor, Deputy Governor, Treasurer, Corresponding Secretary, the Historian and the three Assistants and all past Governors in ex-officio status.

Section 2.            Shall meet prior to the Annual meeting in order to expedite the business agenda of the Annual Meeting and establish the order of business, to adopt an annual budget and attend to any other matters of concern to the Society.

Section 3.            Minutes of all Board meetings shall be available to be read if so requested by the membership.

Article VIII                   Standing Committees

Section 1            An Auditing Committee composed of at least two members of the Society shall audit the Treasurer’s accounts and report to the Annual Meeting.

Section 2.            A Bylaws committee shall upon the request of a member, present current bylaws and present any amendments to the bylaws to the Board of Assistants meeting and the Annual Meeting.

Section 3.            An English Research Committee shall investigate and research into the pre-1620 life and Ancestry of the Pilgrim Standish Family. 

Article IX                     Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rule of Order shall govern the Society in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Constitution and bylaws and any special rules or order the Society may adopt.

Article X                                 Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws

The Constitutions and Bylaws can be amended at any Annual meeting of the Society by a two-thirds vote of the attending members, providing that the amendment has been submitted in writing to the Board of Assistants for its meeting prior to the Annual Meeting. A temporary amendment may be made at a special meeting if all members are notified via written letter or email of proposed amendment, time and place of meeting, and a two-thirds vote of attending members which must consist of at least one third of current members.  Such amendment may only become a permanent part of the Constitution at the annual meeting.  Absentee ballots are to be accepted as attending members for theses meetings.

Article XI                                 Headquarters

No permanent national headquarters shall be maintained.  The address of the Society shall be that of the current Corresponding Secretary of the Society.

Written: March 27,  2005