Constitution
ARTICLE I
Name
The name of this society shall be the Collins Regional Historical Society.
ARTICLE II
Purposes
First: The purposes of this society shall be: The Collins Regional Historical Society has been formed to collect, research, interpret and preserve information or items of historical interest to citizens and former citizens of the town of Collins, as well as those seeking a link to their own past. We will work to make the town’s history come alive, in the form of tours, speeches, plays, walks, etc.; in short we shall be involved in programs not only for our members, but also for all individuals We will find a means by which to entertain as well as educate, drawing from those who have learned to form future generations within this society. These means will be videography; video taping the stories of our senior citizens for future generations, as well as writing, directing and enacting plays concerning the history of our town and pertinent citizens. We shall also seek to work with the children via programs through the society, as well as in conjunction with the library, churches and schools.
Our priority shall be to resurrect the final resting places (cemeteries) of the pioneers who labored to create a community from wilderness. We shall seek to have the hamlet of Collins Center designated a historic district. We shall also seek to preserve the integrity of the town by soliciting purchase of or demolition of abandoned properties. We shall determine which historic markers have vanished throughout the years, replacing them whenever possible. We shall also determine the necessity of additional historic markers.
The society shall strive for new, innovative ways to preserve and protect our history, while sharing what we have learned in new, entertaining experiences; attempting to reach, renew and revive each generation residing within the town; by adapting the town’s history for each generation.
The society shall promote private historical outings, lectures, classes and the viewing of historical movies and documentaries for its members; we shall also offer similar projects for the general public. Finally, the society shall strive to restore the former township camaraderie of by-gone eras, offering the citizenry an annual town picnic
Second: The purposes for which such corporation is to be formed are: to raise money to assist in founding our own house of history, purchasing and preserving items of historical significance as well as restoring historical items, cemeteries and properties within the town.
Third: The proposed corporation is to be a non-stock corporation organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes, and no part of the net earnings of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of any individual; and no officer, member, or employee of the corporation shall receive or be entitled to receive any pecuniary profit from the operations thereof, except reasonable compensation for services.
Fourth: The institution to be maintained by the proposed corporation is to be temporarily located at the L K Painter Center Community Room, 2355 Main Street, Collins, NY 14034 (until such time that funds have been raised to more permanently house the organization 3517 Route 39, Collins Center, NY 14035) Mailing address: PO Box 304, Collins Center, NY 14035
Fifth: The number of trustees is to be not less than five nor more than twenty-five.
Sixth: Linda Munro, PO Box 146 Collins Center, NY 14035; Douglas Martindale, 14299 Bagdad Road, Collins, NY 14034; Candace Termer, 3539 Main St., Collins Center, NY 14035; Patricia Mackmer, 42 Mechanic Street, Gowanda, NY 14070; Lois Mumford, 13054 Jennings Road, Collins, NY 14034; Margaret Solari, 11450 Pratham Road, East Concord, NY 14055; Charles D Munro III, PO Box 146, Collins Center, NY 14035; Frank Ortel, Scrabble Hill Rd., Collins, NY 14034.
Seventh: The Commissioner of Education is designated as the representative of the corporation upon whom process in any action or proceeding against it may be served.
Eighth: Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles the corporation shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).
Ninth: No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be devoted to carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, (except to the extent authorized by Internal Revenue Code section 501(h) as amended, or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law, during any fiscal year or years in which the corporation has chosen to utilize the benefits authorized by the statutory provision) and the corporation shall not participate in or intervene (including the publishing or distribution of statements) in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
Tenth: Upon dissolution of the corporation, the board of trustees shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the corporation, dispose of the remaining assets of the corporation exclusively for one or more exempt purposes, within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future Federal tax code), or shall distribute the same to the Federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by order of the Supreme Court of the State of New York in the judicial district where the principal office of the corporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, organized and operated exclusively for such purposes, as said Court shall determine.
ARTICLE III
Membership
Membership shall be of five classes:
1. Individual active members - Any person interested in the purposes of the society shall be eligible.
2. Family members - Any family groups interested in the purposes of the society shall be eligible.
3. Business members - Any organization, board, school, or library interested in the objectives of the society shall be eligible.
4. Benefactors - A person, group or firm offering special support to the objectives of the society shall be eligible.
5. Honorary members - Honorary membership may be conferred upon any person whose activities have contributed to the objectives of the society. Honorary members shall be elected by a three-fourths vote of members present at an annual meeting, upon nomination by the board of trustees.
ARTICLE IV
Annual Meeting and Meeting Requirements
The annual meeting of the society shall be held the third Thursday of June. It is necessary for each member to attend the annual meeting in June; those who can not attend must notify the present president to be excused.
ARTICLE V
Officers and Board of Trustees
Section 1: The officers of the society shall be a president, a vice-president who shall be elected for a term of one (1) year and no more than three (3) consecutive terms and a secretary/ treasurer, and three trustees, who shall be elected for a term of three years and no more than two (2) consecutive years.
Section 2: The officers and trustees shall constitute the board of trustees. Their number shall be not less than five nor more than twenty-five.
ARTICLE VI
Election of Officers and Board of Trustees
Section 1: All officers and trustees shall be elected by a plurality of votes cast by secret ballot at the annual meeting.
Section 2: Not less than two months prior to the annual meeting, the secretary of the society shall send to each member of the board of trustees a blank upon which such member may nominate one person for each office open to election. Nominations shall be returned not less than one month before the annual meeting. A committee on nominations, appointed by the president, shall select the candidates from a list of all nominees.
Section 3: Nominations may also be made by any member of the society at any time prior to balloting at the annual meeting. Any nomination made after the deliberation of the committee on nominations shall be added to the slate of candidates upon affirmative vote of a majority of members present at the annual meeting. A candidate for election shall be an individual active member.
Section 4: A person who has been elected to the board of trustees for two consecutive terms, or elected as president or vice-president for three consecutive terms, shall not be nominated to the same office unless one year elapses between the end of his or her last term and the beginning of the term for which he or she is nominated.
Section 5: Officers and trustees shall be installed at the close of the annual meeting at which they are elected and shall serve until their successors have been duly elected and installed. In the event of resignation or incapacity of any officer except the president, or any trustee, the vacancy may be filled by a vote of the board of trustees for the unexpired term of office.
ARTICLE VII
Collections.
Section 1. Definition of Collection: An individual item or group of items of historical or natural history significance, including items such as; photographs, negatives, letters, blueprints, antique furniture, historical documents, miscellaneous artifacts, and other similar items.
Section 2. The society shall follow the Code of Ethics and Guidelines as prescribed by the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works in regards to its collections.
Section 3. The society shall follow the guidelines for reappraisal and deaccession as prescribed by the Society of American Archivists.
Section 4. The following criteria must be met prior to deaccession an item or material in the society’s collection: the item must not be specific to the town’s history. Once the circumstance of an item’s non-relationship to the town has been determined, a two thirds vote amongst the trustees for deaccession must be met, finally a two thirds vote of the general membership of the society must also be met for deaccession.
Section 5. At no time will the society’s collection, in whole or part be used as collateral towards a debt.
Section 6. If indebtedness is made by the society and the society find it unable to make payments, an emergency meeting must be called with two thirds of all members present at said meeting. A piece of the collection, not pertinent to the town’s history may, with three quarters of those present, voting in the affirmative, a piece of historical significance, not directly associated with the town may be deaccessioned and sold to another historical museum only, with the express written permission of the Board of Regents.
Section 7. No proceeds from deaccession may be used for capital expenses, with the following exception: to preserve, protect or care for a historical building previously designated as part of the society’s collection.
Section 8. Guidelines for digital imaging shall follow those prescribed by the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
ARTICLE VIII
Distribution of Assets upon Dissolution
In the event of dissolution of the society, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future Federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the Federal government or to a State or local government for a public purpose.
ARTICLE IX
Amendment
This constitution may be amended at any regular or special meeting by a two-thirds vote of those voting, provided notice was given at the previous meeting; or it may be amended at a special meeting called for that purpose, with previous notice and a two-thirds vote. All proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing.