The Higdon Family Association, Inc.

Revised
October 13, 2001

Constitution of The Higdon Family Association, Inc.

• Article I: NAME
  

  The name of this organization shall be The Higdon Family Association, Inc.

• Article II: PURPOSE

  The purpose of the Higdon Family Association shall be to unite those persons with an interest in the history and genealogy of the Higdon family; to encourage Higdons and Higdon descendents to develop an interest in and educate themselves in their family heritage; to assemble and publish historical and genealogical information about the Higdon family; to build a source of genealogical, historical, and educational material for use by the members of this Association in their furtherance of the history and genealogy of the Higdon family. It shall be a non-profit association.

• Article III: MEMBERSHIP

  Regular membership is open to any person over the age of eighteen (18) years, who is interested in the purpose of the organization. All regular members shall have voting privileges, shall be eligible to hold office, and may exercise such other privileges as may be provided by the Association.

• Article IV: OFFICERS

  1. The officers of the Association shall be a President, First Vice-president, Second Vice-President, Third Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The manner in which the officers shall be elected and the term of each office shall be provided by the Bylaws.

  2. The President shall in consultation with the Board of Directors, serve as chief executive officer of the Association, chair the Board of Directors, preside at meetings of the Association, appoint regular and special committees as required, plan the program of the annual meeting, and, in general, promote the best interest and welfare of the Association.

  3. The First Vice-President shall serve in the absence of the President, with the same duties and responsibilities, be a member of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President.

  4. The Second Vice-President and the Third Vice-President shall serve as members of the Board of Directors and shall perform such other duties as the President shall assign.

  5. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings and shall be responsible for all official correspondence of the Association.
     

  6. The Treasurer shall have charge of receiving and disbursing of funds, shall prepare the accounts for audit, and have general charge of the finances of the Association. The Treasurer shall be bonded.

  7. The officers shall take office at an announced general business meeting during the annual meeting. Should an emergency arise which forces temporary suspension of the activities of the Association, the officers shall continue until their successors shall be elected.

• Article V: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  The Board of Directors shall be composed of the President, First-Vice President, Second Vice-President, Third Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, four at-large regular members of the Association, and the immediate past President, making a total of eleven (11) persons. The manner in which the four at-large members of the Board of Directors are elected and term of office shall be provided in the Bylaws.

• Article VI: NOMINATION AND ELECTIONS

  1. Not later than three (3) months prior to the annual meeting of the Association, the President shall appoint a nominating committee of at least three (3) members of the Association in good standing to recommend at least one candidate for each elective office to be filled in the next election to be held at announced business meeting during the annual meeting. The nominations of said committee shall be considered by the Board of Directors before the annual business meeting and the action by the Board on the recommendations shall be reported to the members at the business meeting. There shall be an opportunity during the regular business meeting for additional nominations from the floor. Election shall be by a majority vote of the members present at the annual business meeting and by secret ballot if more than one candidate is nominated for an office.

  2. In the case of the resignation or the inability of the President to carry on the duties of the office, the First Vice-President shall, with approval of the Board of Directors, assume the duties of the President. It shall then become the duty of the Board of Directors to decide, in accordance with the amount of time remaining before the next general election, to either nominate one or more candidates for the office of President and put these to a vote of the regular membership, or wait until the next regularly scheduled election to nominate one or more candidates to fill the vacancy of President. The First Vice-President shall continue to assume the duties of the President until the office is filled by election.

• Article VII: MEETINGS

  An annual meeting of the Association shall be held at a time and place to be selected by the Board of Directors.

• Article VIII: FEES

  It shall be within the province of the Board of Directors to set dues, subject to ratification by a majority vote of the regular members of the Association present at any annual meeting, and to establish the term of regular membership.

• Article IX: BYLAWS

  The Board of Directors shall establish and circulate to the regular membership the Bylaws of the Association and all amendments thereto.

• Article: X: AMENDMENTS

  This Constitution and Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the regular members of the Association present at any annual meeting, after due notice to the regular membership of the intention to amend the Constitution or Bylaws.