Article 1: Name This Society shall be known as the Fingerlakes Chapter of the Empire State Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. The objectives of this Society shall be; (i) To perpetuate the memory of the men who, by their services or sacrifices during the War of the American Revolution, achieved the independence of the American People; (ii) To promote fellowship among their descendants; (iii) To inspire a more profound reverence for the principles of the government founded by our forefathers; (iv) To acquire and preserve the records of the individual services or sacrifices of the patriots of that War, as well as documents, relics, and landmarks; (v) To encourage historical research in relation to the American Revolution and the study of American History; (vi) To mark the scenes of the Revolution by appropriate memorials; (vii) To celebrate the anniversaries of the prominent events of that War; (viii) To foster true patriotism; (ix) To maintain and extend the institutions of American Freedom and to carry out the purposes expressed in the Preamble to the Constitution of our Country and the injunctions of Washington in his farewell address to the American People. Article 3: Seal and Insignia The seal of this Society shall be the same as the seal of the Empire State Society, except that it shall bear the legend, Fingerlakes Chapter, SAR, and its insignia shall be the same as that of the Empire State Society. Any male shall be eligible for membership in this Chapter who is a member, in good standing, of the Empire State Society or any State Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and, who, being of the age of eighteen (18) years or over, is the lineal descendant of an ancestor who was loyal to and rendered actual service in the cause of American Independence, either; (i) As an Officer, Soldier, Seaman, Marine, Militiaman, or Minuteman in the armed forces of the Continental Congress or of any one of the several Colonies or States, or (ii) As a signer of the Declaration of Independence, or (iii) as a member of a Committee of Safety or Correspondence, or (IV) as a member of any Continental, Provincial, or Colonial Congress or Legislature, or (v) as a recognized patriot who performed actual service by overt acts of resistance to the authority of Great Britain. The Chapter may elect persons to honorary membership in the Chapter from time to time. Said persons need not be members of the Empire State Society, Sons of the American Revolution, nor must they meet any residence requirements. They shall not have the right to vote at Chapter meetings and shall not be entitled to any notices that may be given to members of the Chapter. Article 5: Officers Immediately upon the adoption of these By-laws, and annually thereafter at the date of each annual election, the President shall appoint a Board of Managers consisting of either three or five members, one of which shall be a Chapter Past President, in addition to the President and Secretary who shall be members in ex-officio. The Board shall be sub-divided into four committees of three members each, to be known as; Finance Committee, Membership Committee, Program Committee, and Audit Committee. The President shall become ex-officio Chairman of all committees except the Audit Committee and neither the President, the Secretary, nor the Treasurer may be a member of the Audit Committee. The Secretary shall keep minutes at all the Board Meetings. No person shall be elected a member of this Chapter except by the majority vote of the members present, and it shall require at least six members, besides the President or Acting President, to form a quorum. Any member may be suspended for non-payment of dues or assessments upon a vote of the majority of the Board of Managers, after notice and opportunity tobe heard. Article 8: Vacancies In case the President is not present or unable to serve, the Vice President shall perform his duties; if neither the President nor the Vice President is present or unable to serve, the Chapter shall elect a temporary presiding officer. Article 9: Alterations and Amendments Application of membership shall be made by those who are already members of the Empire State Society or any State Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Applicant will be required to furnish the Secretary with a voucher from the Secretary of the Empire State Society of the Sons of the American Revolution or his current State Society indicating that he is a member in good standing of the Society, and giving his State and National Numbers. Article 11: Withdrawals The Annual Meeting shall be held in the Spring of each year in or near Ithaca, New York, or such other place within the counties of the Finger lakes area as the Board of Managers shall select.Meetings of the Society shall be held in Ithaca, New York, or at such other places within the counties of the Finger lakes area or as the Board of Managers shall select from time to time, upon the call of the President, and the President shall not call less than three meetings in each year in addition to the Annual Meeting; and the President shall call a meeting upon written request of five members. The Secretary shall mail or E-mail each member a notice of each meeting not less than two weeks before the date of such meeting. This notice shall be addressed to the last place of residence given by the member, and shall be a sufficient service wherever required by the By-Laws of Fingerlakes Chapter. It is the responsibility of each member to inform the Chapter Secretary, in writing, of his current address. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Chapter and of the Board of Managers, and exercise the usual functions of the presiding officer under Parliamentary Rules, subject to an appeal to the Chapter. The Vice President shall assist the President in the discharge of his duties. In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall preside. The Secretary shall conduct the general correspondence of the Chapter, keep a record of all meetings and perform such other duties as are specified in the Constitution and By-Laws. He shall have charge of the seal and all papers and records of meetings and membership. He shall keep a record of all correspondence received, and shall keep copies of all letters sent and shall also carefully file and keep all letters received. The Treasurer shall collect all dues and assessments of members and shall have the custody of all funds of the Chapter, and shall deposit the same in a bank to be approved by the Board of Managers, in the name of the Chapter. He shall disburse the same only upon approval of the Finance Committee of the Board of Managers. He shall submit an account of all receipts and expenditures at each Regular Meeting of the Chapter, and a detailed account at the Annual Meeting of the Chapter, and shall furnish to the Board of Managers from time to time, such information relative to the funds of the Chapter as the Board shall require. He shall give such security as the Board of Managers may deem necessary for the faithful performance of his duties. Article 17: Registrar The Registrar shall, upon receipt of an application for membership, investigate the proofs of eligibility, and may require further proofs from the applicant. Upon verification of the applicant's claim to eligibility, the Registrar shall affix his signature, obtain a co-signature and transmit the application to the State Registrar for acceptance. The registrar shall report the status of all outstanding applications at each meeting. He shall file all proof upon which membership shall have been granted, and shall be the custodian of all genealogical papers relating to his office. Member's individual documents shall be open to inspection upon request to the Registrar. The Historian shall keep a detailed record, to be deposited with the Secretary, of all historical or commemorative celebrations of the Chapter; shall edit and prepare for publication such historical addresses, essays, papers, and other documents of a historical character other than the register of members, as the Secretary may be required to publish; and at every Annual Meeting, if there be a necrological list for the year then closing, he shall submit the same, with carefully prepared biographies of the deceased members, when practicable. The Historian shall maintain files of all manuscript or printed matter of which the Chapter may have become possessed, said documents to be open to inspection to any member of the Chapter. He shall, under the direction of the Board of Managers, make, or cause to be made for file in his office, copies of such original or certified documents as the owners thereof may not be willing to leave permanently in the keeping of the Chapter, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Chapter or Board of Managers. The Chaplain may be a regularly ordained clergyman or other earnest member of any denomination and shall perform such duties as ordinarily appertain to his office. It shall recommend plans to the Chapter for promoting its purposes and shall arrange for commemorative celebrations and social meetings.It may require the attendance of any member of the Chapter, or any official or committee thereof, at any meeting for consultation and advice, and shall enforce obedience of the Constitution and By-Laws of the Chapter.The Board shall have its organizational meeting immediately upon the conclusion of the Annual Meeting and in addition to its organizational meeting, the Board shall have at least three meetings prior to the next Annual Meeting, and may meet as often as it desires and shall meet on the call of the President, or upon the written request of any five members of the Chapter, addressed to the Secretary. At least two-thirds of the Board shall be present for a quorum to conduct meetings.At every Annual Meeting, it shall submit to the Chapter a general report of its proceedings during the year then closing, and at such other times as the Chapter shall require. At the Regular Chapter Meeting held in third quarter of the calendar year, the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee, consisting of a Past Chapter President and at least two (2) other Chapter Members in good standing. The Committee will nominate a slate of officers and make their report of such action at the Regular Chapter Meeting in the first quarter of the year. Upon receiving verified notification of the death of a Fingerlakes Chapter Member, whose membership is in good standing, the Chapter Secretary will contact the family of such member and ask if they would desire a SAR Member's Grave Marker be placed on the member's gravesite or a donation, of equal value, be made to a bona fide charity in the member's name. Installation of the Grave Marker will be at the family's expense. One copy of the current Fingerlakes Chapter By-laws shall be presented to each newly approved member and each Chapter Member in good standing. The Board of Managers may set a nominal fee, including postage if applicable, for any additional copies wished to be purchased by SAR Members. |