Constitution
Of the
North Fork Chapter Number 29
Of the
Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology

Article I
Organization
Section 1 – Name

The name of this organization shall be: “North Fork Chapter Number 29 of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, Inc.” The purposes for which the organization is organized are exclusively religious, charitable, scientific, literary and educational within the meaning of provision of Section 501(C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law.

Section 2 – Objectives

The objectives of the North Fork Chapter Number 29 shall be as directed by the Charter of The Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, as follows: “to promote the study of the archaeology of the American Indian, especially as represented in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to encourage careful scientific research and excavation in this field and to discourage careless and misdirected digging, to promote the conservation and preservation of important archaeological sites and the passage of laws prescribing such, to oppose the manufacture and sale of fraudulent antiquities, to encourage the establishment of local archaeological museums and organizations, to promote the spread of archaeological knowledge by means of meetings and publications, and to serve as a bond between the individual archaeologists and collectors in the Commonwealth.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles, this organization shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization 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.

Section 3 – Location

The Principle Meeting Location of this Chapter shall be in the County of Jefferson, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Section 4 – Government The Chapter shall be governed by a Board of Directors elected from the General Membership and an elected President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Section 5 - Dissolution

Upon the dissolution of the organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or the corresponding section of any future Federal Tax Code, or shall be distributed to the Federal, state, or local government for a public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by a court of competent jurisdiction of the county in which the principal office of the organization is then located, exclusively for such purposes. (In the event of dissolution of this Chapter, all assets remaining after payment of the obligations of the Chapter shall be donated to The Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology.) - Deleted

Article II
Membership
Section 1 – Eligibility

Any person interested in the objectives of this Chapter, who shall agree to be governed in accordance with the Constitution and By-Laws, shall be eligible for membership in the Chapter with voting privileges after application and payment of appropriate class dues. Monetary gain to any member of this Chapter through any activity of the organization is prohibited except for acquisition of such commercial goods and services as the Board of Directors deems necessary and prudent for the benefit of the Chapter.

Section 2 – Classes of Membership and Dues

The Board of Directors shall establish by resolution, a schedule of dues for each class of membership. Membership classes shall be as listed in the Bylaws.

Section 3 – Membership Duties

It shall be the duty of each member of the Chapter to pay all dues promptly. Special assessments, if necessary, are to be voluntary. Members are requested to volunteer to assist at work sessions and Chapter functions and to accept nomination to Chapter office.

Section 4 – Voting

Each member in good standing shall have the right to one (1) vote on issues brought before the General Membership. Members whose dues are in arrears shall be denied voting privileges until dues are paid in full.

Section 5 – Suspension

A member may be suspended for non-payment of dues. The member can be reinstated on receipt of dues in full.

Section 6 – Expulsion for Cause

A member may be expelled from membership for just cause. The President shall appoint a Committee of Investigation which shall recommend to the Board what action the Chapter should take. An expelled Member cannot be reinstated for two (2) years after the date of expulsion.

Article III
d of Directors
Section 1 – Eligibility

Any member in good standing shall be eligible for nomination and election to the Board of Directors. The Elected Officers of the Chapter shall also be members of the Board of Directors. Directors of Chapter Number 29 must, by State Society rules, be members in good standing of The Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology.

Section 2 – General Duties and Authority

Management of the funds and affairs of the Society shall be exercised by the Board of Directors, except as provided by this Constitution and By-Laws in defining the duties of other officers.

Section 3 – Number of Directors

The Board of Directors shall not exceed four (4) members.

Section 4 – Election to Board

Directors shall be elected at the November General Membership Business Meeting from a slate of candidates prepared by the Nominating Committee and shall take office at the December General Membership Business Meeting.

Section 5 – Term and Installation

Board Members shall be elected for a term of four (4) years. Directors who have served two (2) consecutive elected terms (eight [8] years) shall not be eligible for re-election until after an interval of one (1) year off of the Board. This time limit is not applicable if a member going out of office is appointed to fill a vacancy. The elected Directors shall be installed by the Past President or, if a Past President is not available, by a Chapter Member appointed by the President. They shall serve until the election and installation of their successors unless relieved of their duties as provided by this Constitution and By-Laws.

Section 6 - Vacancies

Vacancies on the Board of Directors caused by death, resignation or removal for cause may be filled by appointment of the President with conformation by simple majority of sitting Board Members at a scheduled meeting of the Board. Completing the term of the replaced Member shall not count toward the two (2) term limit for Board Election. The President shall have the authority to appoint Members to the Board to fill vacancies not filled by election to bring the Board to its constitutional limit or any portion thereof, with conformation by simple majority of sitting Board Members at a scheduled meeting of the Board. Appointees must meet the eligibility requirements of section 1.

Section 7 – Quorum

Half plus one Board Members shall constitute a Quorum to conduct the business of the Chapter.

Article IV
Officers
Section 1 – Eligibility

Any Chapter Member in good standing shall be eligible for nomination and election as a Chapter Officer. Officers of Chapter Number 29 must, by State Society rules, be members in good standing of The Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology.

Section 2 – Election of Officers

The Officers of the Chapter shall be elected from a slate of candidates submitted by the Nominating Committee. Election to position requires a simple majority of votes cast. The election of Officers shall be at the November General Membership Business Meeting

Section 3 – Titles

The Officers of this Chapter shall consist of a PRESIDENT, a VICE-PRESIDENT, a SECRETARY and a TREASURER. The Offices of SECRETARY and TREASURER may be held by the same person. The President shall appoint, with approval by the Board of Directors a CHAPTER REPRESENTATIVE who shall be a voting member of the Board of Directors.

Section 4 – General Duties

President - The President shall be executive head of the Chapter and shall exercise general supervision over its affairs. It is the duty of the President to call meetings to order at the appointed time, to preside over all meetings, to announce the business before the assembly in its proper order, to state and put all questions properly brought before the assembly, to preserve order and decorum and decide all questions of order. The President shall appoint Committee Chairs and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees. The President shall have the authority to remove from office any member of the Board of Directors for cause, subject to a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors at a scheduled meeting of the Board

Vice-President – The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President and shall assist the President as requested. The Vice-President shall serve as Chairman of the Program Committee.

Secretary – The Secretary shall record the minutes of all Board and Membership meetings. It is the duty of the Secretary to record the attendance of Members of the Board at Board Meetings, to be custodian of the business records and books of the Chapter, except as may be otherwise provided. In the absence of both the President and Vice President the Secretary shall select a President Pro-Temper.

Treasurer – The Treasurer shall keep and maintain the financial records of the Chapter and review such records with the President and Board of Directors with respect to the solicitation and receipt of all income and expenditures. The Treasurer shall serve as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

Chapter Representative – The Chapter Representative shall, because of the regular turnover of Chapter Officers, provide a consistent contact person in the chapter for communication with the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology, other organizations and individuals. The Chapter Representative must be a member with a long term commitment to the Chapter. The Chapter Representative shall relay information received to appropriate Chapter Officers and serve as Chapter Archivist.

Section 5 – Terms and Installation

The elected Officers shall serve a term of two (2) year. The elected Officers shall be installed by the Past President or, if a Past President is not available, by a Society Member appointed by the President. They shall serve until the election and installation of their successors unless relieved of their duties as provided by this Constitution and By-Laws. The Chapter Representative shall serve for an indeterminate term.

Article V
Constitutional Amendments
Section 1 – Who May Submit

Proposed amendments to this Constitution may be made by the Board of Directors, or any three (3) members in good standing by submitting proposed amendments to the Secretary one (1) month in advance of a regularly scheduled meeting.

Section 2 – How Proposed

Amendments must be in writing and signed by the three (3) submitting members and submitted to the Secretary. Upon receipt of the proposed amendments, the Secretary will have copies made of the proposed amendments and mailed to each Member of the Board of Directors at least two (2) weeks before the next scheduled Board Meeting.

Section 3 – How Adopted

The Board of Directors shall meet as directed by the President to discuss and vote on submitting proposed amendments to the General Membership. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the sitting number of Board Members shall be required to submit to the General Membership any amendment to this constitution. Such proposal shall become part of the constitution when accepted by a majority of members present and voting at the next scheduled General Membership Business Meeting after the Board of Directors meeting called by the President.

Adopted February 21, 2004 (Organizational Meeting) Here is a true and correct copy of the bylaws as amended and approved by the Board of Directors on July 17, 2009