The Society of Mareen Duvall Descendants
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
ARTICLE I - NAME, HEADQUARTERS AND DECLARATION OF THE SOCIETY
1. This Society shall be known as the SOCIETY OF MAREEN DUVALL DESCENDANTS.
2. The Headquarters of the Society shall be in the State of Maryland, but there may be subordinate societies in different localities.
3. The purpose of the Society shall be to unite in common bond the descendants of Mareen Duvall for the study of Duvall history, to preserve and restore Duvall relics, to preserve the traditions of our country and to support the Constitution of the United States.
4. Every member at the time of admission shall declare that to the best of their knowledge and belief, the persons from whom eligibility is claimed, are their lineal ancestors, and the facts and dates therein set forth are true.
ARTICLE II - ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP
1. Membership may be of four kinds: Life, Regular, Associate, and Sustaining.
2. Any person, above the age of eighteen years, of good moral character and reputation, lineally descended from Mareen Duvall, who established his home in the Province of Maryland about the year 1655 and died there in August 1694 and at all times has been unfailing in loyalty to the United States of America, shall be eligible for Regular membership in this Society, through the Registrar, setting forth in writing the proper claim to eligibility of the applicant with satisfactory proof of descent from Mareen Duvall in the form of a pedigree subscribed to by the applicant. A member who so wishes and who is descended from Mareen Duvall in more than one line, may, if so desired, file a supplemental lineage paper.
3. Any wife or husband of a descendant of Mareen Duvall shall be eligible for Associate membership and shall be accorded all rights and privileges of a regular member except holding positions as Officers of the Council.
4. Sustaining members are those whose dues are paid, but whose lineage papers
are awaited by the Registrar.
ARTICLE III - FEES AND DUES OF THE SOCIETY
1. The Entrance fee for Active members shall be ten dollars.
2. Membership may be temporal or for life.
3. An initial one-time fee for Life Membership shall be determined by action of the Council.
4. The annual dues for temporal membership in Regular, Associate and Sustaining categories shall be payable at the beginning of each calendar year, the bills being submitted in January. The dues may be changed by action of the Council.
5. Any member two years in arrears in the payment of dues shall not be deemed in good standing, or entitled to vote and may be dropped from membership. Any member may reactivate his membership in any category by paying dues for the current year and the preceding year.
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS AND THE COUNCIL
1. There shall be a Council elected by the membership to consist of nine Officers and six Members.
2. The Officers of this Society shall consist of a President, two Vice-Presidents, a Recording Secretary, a Membership Secretary, a Treasurer, a Registrar, an Historian and a Chaplain and shall have all the powers and duties usually pertaining to their respective offices. Officers shall be elected for a term of two years, and may be re-elected, without term limits.
3. From the six Council Members, the two groups of three members shall be elected alternately for two year terms.
4. The Council shall have general management and control of the Society and all its affairs during the interim of the Annual Meetings of the Society.
5. The Council may accept all resignations of members from the Society, and Council, and among the officers, and fill all vacancies caused by death, disability, resignation, refusal to act or otherwise.
6. After due notice and fair review, the Council may suspend, expel or drop any member who may have joined by means of defective papers; or who has been found guilty of conduct detrimental, or language antagonistic to the interest or objects of the Society. Anyone so suspended, expelled or dropped may be reinstated only upon such terms as the Council may prescribe, subject in all cases to appeal to the Society.
ARTICLE V - COUNCIL POSITION DESCRIPTIONS
1. Duties of Officers
a. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Society and of the Council, communicate to the membership or to the Council such matters as may, in his or her opinion, promote the welfare of the Society, prepare the agenda for the meetings of the Council, prepare and oversee the program for the Annual Meeting of the Society, and shall be ex-officio, a member of all committees, except the Nominating Committee. Upon completion of his/her term of office, each President shall become an ex-officio member of the Council with the title of President Emeritus, and shall have full privileges afforded other members of the Council.
b. The First Vice President shall, in the event of the absence or disability of the President, perform the duties of that office. In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the First Vice President shall assume the duties of the President until a new President is elected. The First Vice President shall serve as an Officer of the Council and shall perform such duties as are assigned by the President or the Council.
c. The Second Vice President shall assist the President and the First Vice
President, and shall
serve as an Officer of the Council. In the event that neither the President
nor the First Vice President is in attendance at a meeting of the Council or
the Association, and if a quorum is present, the Second Vice President shall
preside.
d. The Recording Secretary shall serve as an Officer of the Council. The Recording Secretary shall keep a complete record of all meetings of the Society and of the Council, and shall distribute a copy of the minutes to all Officers and Council Members ten (10) days prior to the subsequent meeting. Upon the election of a successor, the Recording Secretary shall turn over all property belonging to the Society to said successor.
e. The Treasurer will receive and account for all monies of the Society, carefully preserving all vouchers. The Treasurer shall serve as an Officer of the Council, and make a full and accurate report of receipts and disbursements at each meeting. Upon the election of a successor, the Treasurer's accounts shall be audited and all property belonging to the Society shall be turned over to said successor.
f. The Registrar shall make available lineage membership applications for the use of prospective applicants for membership; examine and pass upon each application to be approved by the Council for membership and issue a membership certificate to each approved applicant, and preserve for future binding/storage all approved application forms. The Registrar shall maintain a current roster of all members by name, National number, mailing address, membership category (Life, Regular, Associate, or Sustaining), and the name of their lineal ancestor. All membership application fees received shall be turned over to the Treasurer. The Registrar shall serve as an Officer of the Council and make a report at each meeting. Upon the election of a successor, the Registrar shall turn over all property belonging to the Society to said successor.
g. The Membership Chairman shall maintain a current roster of all members by name, National number, mailing address, membership category and their dues payment. All records of dues payments received shall be turned over to the Treasurer. The Membership Chairman shall serve as an Officer of the Council and make a report at each meeting. Upon the election of a successor, the Membership Chairman shall turn over all property belonging to the Society to said successor.
h. The Chaplain shall open and close meetings of the Society and Council with
the reading of
appropriate prayers, and conduct such religious services as occasion may require.
The Chaplain shall provide reports of deceased members, if known, and serve
actively as an Officer of the Council.
i. The Historian shall keep a full record of the activities of the Society, preserve historical and other articles pertaining to the Society and its members. The Historian shall also serve as curator of the Society's collection, archives and memorabilia which has accrued to the Society. The Historian shall serve as an Officer of the Council and make a report at each meeting.
2. Duties of Council Members / Appointed Members / Committee Chairmen
a. The Website Coordinator shall work with the President, the Council members
and with the
Webmaster to insure that all information posted on the Duvall Society website
is accurate and up-to-date. The Website Coordinator may serve as a Council Member.
However, if the Website Coordinator is appointed by the Council, Society membership
is not required.
b. The Newsletter Editor is responsible for compiling, printing and mailing the "Duvall News" to each member of the Society semiannually in February and August. The Editor may appoint a Committee to assist in gathering articles pertinent to the Society for publication. The Editor may serve as a Council Member. However, if the Newsletter Editor is appointed by the Council, Society membership is not required.
c. The Society Photographer shall work with the President and with the Council in photographing meetings, events, activities and other designated items as deemed appropriate. The Society Photographer may serve as a Council Member. However, if the Society Photographer is appointed by the Council, Society membership is not required.
d. The Webmaster is appointed by the President or elected by the Council, and is charged with the responsibility of maintaining the Duvall Society website. The Webmaster shall work with the President and with the Website Coordinator to insure that all information posted on the website is accurate and up-to-date. The Webmaster may serve as a Council Member. However, if the Webmaster is appointed by the Council, Society membership is not required.
3. Annual Meeting Committee (Appointed by the Council):
a. Annual Meeting Committee Chairman. The Annual Meeting Committee Chairman shall be responsible for the arrangements for the Annual Meetings of the Society under the supervision of the President and of the Council. The Chairman shall appoint two members to serve on this Committee and shall report the progress made by this Committee at each Council Meeting.
b. Meeting Location Committee Member. This Committee Member shall be responsible
for
researching proposed locations to hold the Annual Meetings of the Society. This
Committee
Member shall work with the Annual Meeting Committee Chairman and with the Meeting
Activities Committee Member.
c. Meeting Activities Committee Member. This Committee Member shall be responsible
for
planning and preparing for the scheduled activities for the Annual Meetings
of the Society. This Committee Member shall work with the Annual Meeting Committee
Chairman and with the Meeting Location Committee Member.
ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS AND ELECTIONS
1. The Annual Meeting of the Society for election of officers and members of the Council, and the transaction of any business that may come before it, shall be held nominally on or in some weekend in October, most convenient to the members and other parties concerned.
2. Special meetings of the Society may be convened upon the order of the President, or the call of the Council, when the interest of the Society will be thereby promoted, and at such meetings no business shall be considered except that which is stated in the call thereof.
3. If a Nominating committee is appointed by the President or elected by the Council, the report of the said committee shall be presented at the Annual Meeting with provision for nominations from the floor for any of the offices being filled.
4. The Council shall hold regular quarterly meetings nominally on the last Saturday in January, April, and July of each year, with the Annual Meeting taking place in October.
5. Special meetings of the Council may be called by the President or by five members thereof, whenever in their judgment the interest of the Society will be promoted thereby, but only such business shall be transacted as is mentioned in the call thereof.
6. Five members of the Council shall constitute a quorum, but less may adjourn.
7. Ten days notice of meetings of the Society and of the Council shall be given by the President or the Corresponding Secretary.
8. The fiscal year shall begin and end with the calendar year.
ARTICLE VII - AMENDMENTS
1. No addition, alteration or amendment shall be made to this Constitution, unless offered in writing at a regular Annual Meeting and passed by a two-thirds vote of those present, after reference to the Council for its consideration.
2. If disapproved by the Council, a copy or the substance or purpose thereof shall be sent by the Secretary to each member of the Society at least ten days before the next meeting at which it is to be acted upon, and may be passed by a two-thirds vote without further action of the Council.
ARTICLE VIII - ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. The following shall be the order of business of the meetings of the Society and as far as practicable at the Council meetings:
a. Calling of Meeting to Order
b. Prayer by the Chaplain
c. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
d. Reading of the minutes of previous meeting by Recording Secretary
e. Reports:
1. Corresponding Secretary
2. Treasurer
3. Registrar
4. Membership Secretary
5. Historian
6. Chaplain
7. Special Committees
f. Unfinished Business
g. New Business
h. Elections (if applicable)
i. Benediction by the Chaplain
Amended and Adopted October 13, 2007