Eddy Family Association, Inc.
Bylaws
ORGANIZED: SEPTEMBER 15, 1920
INCORPORATED: OCTOBER 29, 1923
TERCENTENNIAL: OCTOBER 29, 1930
QUATERCENTENNIAL: OCTOBER 29, 2030
Adopted August 5, 2023
Article I: Name
Section 1: Name
The name of this Association shall be: "The Eddy Family Association, Inc."
Section 2: Official Use
The Association may also officially use the letters “EFA” and / or the words “Eddy Family Association” to designate the Association and / or its members.
Article II: Object
Section 1: Object
The objects of this Association shall be:
a. Educational, charitable, and literary in the public interest, as follows:
1. Historical and genealogical research.
2. Publication of books and bulletins.
3. Exhibition of historical material.
b. This Association shall not engage in any business or enterprise for profit.
Article III: Membership
Section 1: Membership Type
The following shall be entitled to membership in this Association by filing a membership application and paying dues to the Treasurer:
a. Any person having an interest in the Eddy Surname.
b. Any historical or genealogical or other appropriate organization.
Section 2: Membership
Those paying membership dues shall have the right to vote at the Annual Meeting of Members and will receive bulletins as distributed by the Eddy Family Association.
Section 3: Good Standing
Members will be considered in good standing when all dues are paid in full.
Section 4: Voting
The privilege of voting shall be given to members in good standing.
Section 5: Annual Dues and Fiscal Management
The Eddy Family Association (EFA) Board shall recommend dues changes. The EFA membership dues shall be set or amended by a majority vote of the membership present at an Annual Meeting of Members.
Article IV: Officers
Section 1: Board of Directors
The Board of Directors shall look to the general welfare of the Eddy Family Association; set policy as stated in the Board Policy Handbook; approve all expenditures deemed necessary for the welfare of the Association to the extent of available funds; and have fiduciary responsibility for the organization, subject to the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws between the Annual Meeting of Members.
Section 2: Elected officers
The officers of this Association shall be as follows and constitute the Board of Directors of the Eddy Family Association:
The officers of this Association shall be as follows and constitute the Board of Directors of the Eddy Family Association:
- President
- Vice-President
- Genealogist
- Executive Secretary
- Treasurer
- Publications Chair
- At-Large Positions (as determined by the Executive Committee)
- President of the Eddy Homestead Association will be one of the At-Large positions (ex-officio, voting)
- Any other committee chairs; (as determined by the Executive Committee).
Section 3: Qualification for Office
Only members in good standing may hold office.
Section 4: Duties of Officers
The duties of these officers shall be as listed in the Board Policy Handbook.
Section 5: Nominations and Elections
These officers are to be nominated by the Executive Committee so the new slate can be announced and take office at the Annual Meeting of Members, upon their election being confirmed by the members at that time or by ballot by those members who cannot attend the Annual Meeting of Members.
Section 6: Removal from Office
An officer may be removed from office as provided by the parliamentary authority.
Section 7: Officer Resignation
An officer may resign by submitting a letter of resignation to the President containing an effective date of the resignation.
Section 8: Term Length
Elected officers will hold their office for a term of one year or until their successor is elected.
Section 9: Vacancies
Should a vacancy occur in any office, except that of the President, a successor shall immediately be appointed by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors to serve until a successor can be elected at the annual meeting. Should a vacancy occur in the office of President, the Board of Directors may elect a member to serve as President until a successor can be elected at the annual meeting.
Article V: Meetings
Section 1: Meeting of Members
There shall be an Annual Meeting of Members, to be held at such time and place as the Executive Committee shall determine, and such other meetings as shall from time to time be considered desirable by the Executive Committee.
a. Written notices of the meetings shall, in so far as possible, be issued by the Executive Secretary at least three weeks in advance of the meeting and be sent by mail, electronic and / or physical, to each member of the Association.
b. Annual meetings may be held by electronic means as noted below.
c. A meeting of the membership may be held electronically, as determined by the Board of Directors, through the use of Internet meeting services designated that support anonymous voting and support visible displays identifying those participating, identifying those seeking recognition to speak, showing (or permitting the retrieval of) text of pending motions, and showing the results of votes.
1. The electronic meeting of the membership shall be subject to all rules adopted by the Association which may include reasonable limitations on member participation.
i. Any rules adopted by the Association shall supersede any conflicting rules in the parliamentary authority but may not otherwise conflict with or alter any rule or decision of the Association.
2. Any anonymous vote conducted through the designated Internet meeting service shall be deemed a ballot vote, fulfilling any requirements in the Bylaws of rules that a vote be conducted by ballot.
3. The Executive Secretary will determine if a quorum is present at the beginning of the Annual Meeting of Members of the Association.
4. Countable votes can be taken by audible roll call, electronic roll call, or by anonymous voting features.
d. Special meetings may be called at any time or place as the President may deem necessary upon approval by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors.
e. Should both the President and Vice President be unable to preside at an Annual Meeting of Members, or an Executive Committee meeting, the next following available officer on the list above shall preside.
f. Fifteen members present shall constitute a quorum to transact business of this Association at any regular or special meeting.
Section 2: Board of Directors Meetings
a. The dates of regular board meetings shall be set annually by the board following the Annual Meeting of Members of the Association.
1. The Board of Directors and Executive Committee are permitted to meet electronically via teleconference or videoconference.
2. The meeting platform should provide the opportunity for simultaneous audio communication.
b. Special meetings may be called by the President or any three members of the board.
c. Fifty percent of the voting members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.
Article VI: Executive Committee
Section 1: Composition
a. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the:
1. President
2. Vice-President
3. Treasurer
4. Executive Secretary
b. The Executive Committee shall meet as in the Board Policy Handbook or to handle business associated with the organization that requires discretion.
c. The Board of Directors and / or members of the Association may request a meeting with the Executive Committee when situations require discretion.
Section 2: Executive Committee’s Duties and Powers
The Executive Committee will have general supervision of the affairs of the Association between its business meetings, fix the hour and place of meetings, make recommendations to the Association and perform such other duties as are specified in these Bylaws.
Section 3: Quorum of Executive Committee
A majority of the Executive Committee Members will constitute a quorum for Executive Committee Meetings.
Section 4: Executive Committee Meetings
Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the President and may be called upon the written request of three members of the Executive Committee.
Section 5: Electronic Meetings of the Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is permitted to meet electronically via teleconference or videoconference.
Article VII: Committees
Section 1: Purpose and Meetings of Standing and Special Committees
The purpose of committees is to support the Eddy Family Association mission, values, and program of work through member involvement, and to provide for a strong and effective governance system. Committee meetings may be held in person, telephonically, or electronically. Any meeting will provide for communication among all committee members synchronously.
Section 2: Standing Committees
The Standing Committees of the Eddy Family Association include:
a. Executive
b. Genealogical
c. Publications
Section 3: Committee Composition and Membership
a. The committee chairperson, other than standing committees, shall be appointed by the President with approval of the Board of Directors.
b. Committee member selection process can be found in the Eddy Family Association Board Policy Handbook.
c. The President is responsible to see that all committee members are appointed and that committees are functional at the beginning of their term. Committee terms shall begin at the Annual Meeting of Members of the Eddy Family Association.
d. Only members are eligible to serve on committees.
Article VIII: Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of order the Association may adopt.
Article IX: Amendments
Section 1: Amendments
a. The Bylaws may be amended by two thirds vote of the members present and voting at an Annual Meeting of Members of the Association or by ballot by those members who cannot attend the Annual Meeting of Members.
b. Proposals to the Bylaws must be submitted to the membership 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting of Members.
Section 2: No-Notice Amendments
Amendments to the Bylaws presented with no notice to the membership can be adopted with 90% of the voting members voting for adoption.
Article X: Dissolution
Should the Association be dissolved at some future date, no benefit shall be given to members of the Association. All of the net assets, after payment of outstanding obligations, shall be assigned and paid over to some other charitable corporation, organized under the laws of the State of Massachusetts, for the same or similar purposes. This is to be accomplished according to the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Article XI: Former Constitution
These Bylaws replace the Eddy Family Association’s Constitution that was adopted in 1920 and was enforced (with amendments) until the adoption of these Bylaws.