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CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

OF

ROCK ISLAND PRESERVATION SOCIETY

INDEX 

CONSTITUTION 

Article I - Name

Article II - Location

Article III - Corporation

Article IV - Increment of Income, Political Activities,

                Operational Limitation, Dissolution

Article V - Purpose

Article VI - Composition

Article VII - Membership

Article VIII - Terms of Office

Article IX - Officers

Article X - Special Projects

Article XI - Dues

Article XII - Administrative and Fiscal Year

Article XIII - Amendments 

BYLAWS 

I  - Officers’ Duties

II  - Meetings

III  - Membership Dues

IV  - Nominating Committee

V  - Amendments 

CONSTITUTION

OF

ROCK ISLAND PRESERVATION SOCIETY 
 

ARTICLE I 

The name of this nonprofit corporation shall be Rock Island Preservation Society. 

ARTICLE II 

The place in this State of Illinois where the principal office of the corporation is to be located is the City of Rock Island, Rock Island County. 

ARTICLE III 

Said corporation shall be organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes that qualify under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. 

ARTICLE IV 

Increment of Income.  No part of the net earnings of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, directors, officers or other private persons except that the corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered. 

Legislative or Political Activities.  No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be the promulgation of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation and the corporation shall not participate in or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any political candidate for public office. 

Operational Limitation.  Notwithstanding any other provisions 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 1954 (or 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 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

 

Dissolution Clause.  Upon the dissolution of the corporation, the board of directors shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all of the liabilities of the corporation, dispose of all the assets of the corporation exclusively for the purposes of the corporation is such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized exclusively for charitable, educational, religious or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the board of directors shall determine.  Any such assets not so disposed of, shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of the corporation is then located, exclusively for such purpose or to such organization or organizations, as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes. 
 

ARTICLE V 

The purposes of the society shall be as follows: 

      1.  To educate the public about historic preservation information and techniques. 

      2.  To research the history of buildings and sites and determine their historical significance.            

      3.  To register significant historical places with local, state and federal authorities. 

      4.  To make possible historic preservation within the community. 

ARTICLE VI 

The society shall consist of a membership, elected officers and a board of directors which consists of the officers of the society. 

ARTICLE VII 

The membership shall consist of any person who has paid current dues to the society.  Each member shall have one voting right in the society.  The membership will meet a minimum of 4 times per year.                   

Notice of the time and place of each meeting shall be announced thirty (30) days before the meeting.  Those present at the meeting shall constitute a quorum. 

ARTICLE VIII 

An annual meeting will be held in the first quarter of the year and shall be held to elect the five (5) officers of the society.  The term of each officer shall be for one (1) year.)  Any board member missing three (3) consecutive unexcused meetings has automatically tendered resignation.  Board members shall serve without compensation and vacancies may be filled by a vote of the membership. 

ARTICLE IX 

The elected officers of the society shall be president, vice president, recording secretary, corresponding secretary and treasurer. 

ARTICLE X 

Appointment of all Special Project Chairs, to fulfill any obligation or special need of the Society, will be appointed by the President.  Those Special Projects could include but not limited to Education, Landmarks, Membership, Publicity, and Tours. 

ARTICLE XI 

The amount of annual membership dues shall be determined by the membership. 

ARTICLE XII 

The administrative and fiscal year shall be March 1 through February 28. 

ARTICLE XIII 

Amendments to the constitution may be presented to the membership at any regular meeting of the society.  Amendments may be passed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the members present at the meeting following the presentation. 
 
 
 

 

BY LAWS

ROCK ISLAND PRESERVATION SOCIETY 

I.  OFFICERS' DUTIES 

The duties of each officer shall consist of but not be limited to those listed under each position. 

1.  The President shall preside at all meeting, set meeting agendas, facilitate the society's business, draft position statements in conjunction with the board of directors, ensure that the mail is collected and distributed on a regular basis, and coordinate the society's activities. Appointment of all Special Project Chairs, to fulfill any obligation or special need of the Society, will be appointed by the President.  Those Special Projects could include but not limited to Education, Landmarks, Membership, Publicity, and Tours.  Additionally the President will keep the board and membership aware of the activities of the Rock Island Preservation Commission and City Council, and other significant duties as required.

2.  Vice President shall perform the duties of the president when absent, serve as a liaison for all committees, obtain membership meeting sites, plan programs promoting historic preservation, perform any other duties assigned by the president and assume the office of president if that office should become vacant.

3.  Corresponding secretary shall be responsible for notification to the membership and any other correspondence as required by the board, assist membership chair, newsletter editor, and publicity chair.  Additionally the Corresponding Secretary will work with the Recording Secretary to coordinate special interest e-mail notifications and telephone tree of those who do not have e-mail.

4.  Recording secretary shall take the minutes of the membership meetings, and distribute copies of the minutes appropriately.

5.  Treasurer shall supervise all financial transactions, keep the society's financial records which will include detailed reports of the society's activities, prepare budgets when requested, from past records, and submit a balance report at the membership meetings.  When appropriate, a separate journal itemizing special events will be kept.  All major monetary disbursements will be approved by the board of directors.

The financial accounts of the society shall be released by the signature of the treasurer.  In the absence of the treasurer any board member on file with the financial institution may disperse payment for services.  Amounts in excess of five hundred dollars ($500.00) must be signed by both the treasurer and another board member, unless the membership has authorized the over five hundred dollar ($500.00) payment at a membership meeting.

The finance records of the society shall be audited at least annually, and the auditor shall sign and date the records to indicate they are accurate.  The auditor shall be a member of the society appointed by the president. 

II.  MEETINGS

The membership will meet at least 4 times per year.

III.  MEMBERSHIP DUES

The annual membership dues shall be payable in full on March 1.  The dues year shall be the same as the fiscal year.

IV.  NOMINATING COMMITTEE

A Special Committee from the membership will be appointed by the President and shall meet in the first quarter of the year to select members for election to officer positions.

V.  AMENDMENTS 

Amendments to the bylaws may be presented to the membership at any regular meeting of the society.  Amendments may be passed by a majority vote of the members present at the meeting following the presentation.