CONSTITUTION
MICHIANA ANABAPTIST HISTORIANS
Article I – NAME
The name of the organization shall be MICHIANA ANABAPTIST HISTORIANS.
Article II – PURPOSE
The purpose of the organization shall be:
To increase knowledge, understanding, and appreciation for the Anabaptist-Mennonite ancestry, culture, heritage, and faith
To encourage and assist congregations and local historians in gathering, recording, systematizing, interpreting, preserving, and presenting Anabaptist-Mennonite related materials
To promote research, writing, and publishing of Anabaptist-Mennonite history
Article III – MEMBERSHIP
Persons interested in Anabaptist-Mennonite history and genealogy may become members of this organization upon the payment of membership dues.
Article IV – OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1. The officers of the organization shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. A term of office shall consist of three years. No officer shall be eligible to serve for more than two consecutive terms in the same office except in an emergency situation as determined and resolved by the executive committee. Exception: If a person is appointed to complete less than two years of an unexpired term (as described in Section 3 hereof), that person is eligible to be elected to two consecutive terms.
Section 2. Election. Over a three-year term, the President and Treasurer shall be elected one year, the Secretary the next year, and the Vice-President the following year.
Section 3. Vacancies. If vacancies occur in an elective office, the remaining members of the Executive Committee shall appoint someone to complete the unexpired term.
Article V – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. The President shall:
Preside at meetings of the organization
Call and chair Executive Committee meetings
Keep the Liaison Representatives informed of the organization’s activities
Appoint other committees as needed
Perform duties assigned to him by the organization
Serve as the legal head of the organization
Arrange for an annual independent review of the Treasurer’s records
Invite the Newsletter editor and committee chairmen to attend relevant Executive meetings
Section 2. The Vice-President shall:
Perform the duties of the President in the absence or incapacity of the President
Perform other duties as requested by the President or Executive Committee
Section 3. The Secretary shall:
Keep records of proceedings of the organization
Make reports required by the organization
Section 4. The Treasurer shall:
Receive and disburse the funds as authorized by the organization
Deposit funds in an account or accounts at a recognized financial institution
Acknowledge cash donations
Report all financial affairs of the organization at meetings of the organization
Report all financial affairs to the Executive Committee upon request
Submit, upon the request of the President, the organization’s financial records for review
Article VI – DENOMINATIONAL REPRESENTATION
All members of the organization are encouraged to seek broad representation of many area Anabaptist groups in the organization for the following purposes:
To promote good record keeping in the congregations of their respective denominations
To supply names of qualified persons from their respective groups for election of officers and appointments to committees
To encourage other persons from their groups to become members of the organization
These area Anabaptist groups include the following:
Amish Church
Beachy Amish Church
Brethren and German Baptist Churches
Brethren in Christ Church
Conservative Mennonite Church
Fellowship of Evangelical Churches
Mennonite Church
Missionary Church
Unaffiliated Mennonite churches
Wisler and Old Order Mennonite Churches
Other related groups
Article VII – PUBLICATIONS
Section 1. A Newsletter providing information about the organization and its activities shall be published at regular intervals under the direction of the Executive Committee.
Section 2. The editor of the Newsletter shall be appointed by and be responsible to the Executive Committee.
Section 3. Other publications may be authorized at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
Article VIII – COMMITTEES
Section 1. Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers, as outlined in Article IV, Section I.
a. The Executive Committee shall be the Board of Directors of the organization, shall administer its affairs, and shall meet at least three times a year.
b. The officers shall have power to co-opt a Membership Coordinator, who will keep a record of names and addresses of members and collect and acknowledge payment of membership dues. The officers shall also have power to co-opt as many as two additional persons to add to the Executive Committee to broaden the representation and to assist with their work. Such persons shall be considered members of the Executive Committee and have full voting rights.
Section 2. Nominating Committee. A Nominating Committee shall be composed of three persons appointed by the President to prepare a slate of nominees for election at the Annual Meeting. The Committee shall consider representation from a variety of groups listed in Article VI
Section 3. Other committees shall be appointed by the President as may be deemed necessary for the proper administration of the organization.
Section 4. The President shall be an advisory member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.
Article IX – MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
Section 1. The Annual meeting of the organization shall be held in the fall at a date, time, and place determined by the Executive Committee.
Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the Executive Committee.
Section 3. The quorum to do business at any meeting shall be those present. Unless otherwise provided, a majority of members voting shall decide the matter under consideration.
Section 4. A notice of the annual meeting shall be sent to all members at least thirty days prior to the meeting.
Article X – THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND FISCAL YEAR
The administrative and fiscal year shall begin January I and end December 31.
Article XI – NOT-FOR-PROFIT REGULATIONS
Section 1. Said organization is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
Section 2. No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the purpose clause hereof, and in accordance with section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Section 3. No Substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of this document, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
Section 4. If Michiana Anabaptist Historians organization is dissolved by action of the members, the remaining assets shall be distributed to some other not-for-profit organization qualifying under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and organized for purposes substantially the same as those of MAH.
Article XII – AMENDMENTS
Section 1. This Constitution may be amended by the members present at any members’ meeting of the organization, provided that a notice of such amendment is first published and distributed by the Executive Committee to all members at least thirty days prior to the meeting at which the amendment is to be considered.
Section 2. Any member of the organization may bring a recommendation for an amendment to the Executive Committee for consideration.
Article XIII – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The current edition of Sturgis Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure shall guide this organization in all parliamentary situations that are not provided for in this Constitution.
Adopted 10/24/1992
Revised 10/23/1993, 04/01/2000, 10/31/2009, 10/26/2013
Download a copy: Constitution10.26.13