A brief history of the ByLaws of the Georgia Society of Ferroequinologists
From the formation of the Society in the mid-1970s, (originally as the Cobb Society of
Ferroequinologists) a set of ByLaws was written and adopted on August 1, 1980 that described
purpose and officers. These were Chief Engineer, Chief Conductor, Chief Dispatcher and Purser.
In 1985 a new set of ByLaws were written and adopted with officers defined as President, Vice
Presidents, and a Historian. This ByLaws format has survived to date. As the Society grew,
it was decided to
incorporate in the State of Georgia and that was done on November 19, 1986,
with the Society renamed the "Georgia Society of Ferroequinologists." A change reflecting
this was proposed for the ByLaws and adopted. As the Society had no dues initially, but began
incurring expenses, discussions were held in the mid-1990s to impose a dues. An addition to the
1987 ByLaws was proposed and adopted (S.5.03). By 2005 it was deemed necessary to increase dues,
and a revision to S.5.03 of the ByLaws was adopted. In 2012 a committee was formed to rewrite
the 2005 document, and this was done and adopted in April 2014 rewriting Article V, resulting in
removing S.5.02 and S.5.03.
In November 2019 all members present wished to increase dues from $15 to $20. As this fee
is set in our By Laws, a motion was made and passed in January 2020 to revise Section 5.01 of
our By Laws, also changing the the wording of 1/2-year dues for 1st time members.
In August of 2022 Article 11 was added, as we saw there was no "Dissolution" clause in our ByLaws.
The ByLaws of the Georgia Society of Ferroequinologists were rewritten and
adopted by the Membership on April 11, 2014. For a printable
version of the April 2014 ByLaws (as amended), please click on one of the following.
The varoius formats are provided for your convenience:
1.01
The name of this organization shall be Georgia Society of Ferroequinologists.
ARTICLE 2 - PURPOSE
2.01
The purpose of the organization is to bring together all persons interested
in the discussion of ferroequinology and other forms of energy as applied
to transportation systems.
ARTICLE 3 - ELIGIBILITY
3.01
Eligibility for membership is open to anyone over the age of twelve (12)
years.
ARTICLE 4 - MEMBERSHIP
4.01
There shall be one class of membership and all members in good standing are
eligible to vote on any issue.
4.02
A member shall be considered in good standing if their dues are paid for the
year.
4.03
A quorum shall be the total members in good standing present at any regular
meeting of the Society.
ARTICLE 5 - DUES
5.01
Dues shall be Twenty Dollars ($20.00) per calendar year per member or household, are
payable on or before January 1st of each calendar year and shall cover all members
of a household over the age of twelve( 12) years. Dues for new members only who
join after July 1st of a calendar year and were not members during the prior year
shall be one-half the amount of the calendar year dues.
ARTICLE 6 - OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES
6.01
The officers of the Society shall consist of a President, Vice President for
Membership, Vice President for Programs, Vice President for Finance, Secretary
and Historian.
6.02
All officers of the Society shall perform their duties as prescribed by this
Article, as amended from time to time. In addition they shall aid the President
and their fellow officers when requested.
6.03
The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Society and its
official spokesperson. He shall preside at all meetings, appoint all committees
as directed by the Executive Committee and be an ex-officio member thereof,
unless otherwise specified.
6.04
The Vice President for Membership shall be responsible for programs to
communicate the purposes of the Society to the public and interest potential
persons in becoming members of the Society. Further he shall keep a detailed role
of the paid membership. In the absence of the President he shall perform all the
duties of that office and upon the death or resignation of the President, shall
succeed to that office.
6.05
The Vice President for Programs shall primarily be responsible for arrangements
for all meeting programs. In the absence of the President and Vice President for
Membership he shall perform the duties of the President.
6.06
The Vice President for Finance shall receive all funds of the society, deposit
the same in a bank chosen by the Executive Committee and shall render monthly
financial reports to the membership. Further he shall maintain a list of the paid
membership and as Chairman of the Finance Committee.
6.07
The Vice President and Secretary shall maintain a record of all business meetings
of the Society and Executive Committee and shall receive and keep any minutes of
all committees formed and utilized by the Executive Committee as well. He shall
also keep all legal documents and contracts of the Society.
6.08
The Historian shall maintain an accurate record of all meetings and activities
of the Society, shall provide for and maintain the Society Internet Web Site and
act for the Secretary in his absence.
ARTICLE 7 - STANDING COMMITTEES
7.01
The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the President, the Vice Presidents
For Membership, Programs, Finance, Secretary and the Historian.
7.02
The Finance Committee shall be composed of the Vice Presidents of Finance,
Membership and Programs and chaired by the Vice President of Finance.
7.03
Other committees may be formed by the Executive Committee as deemed necessary
from time to time.
ARTICLE 8 - ELECTIONS TERMS OF OFFICE AND VACANCIES
8.01
All officers of the Society shall be members in good standing and shall be elected
to two year terms, or until their successors are elected and take office. If
there is only one candidate for an office the vote may be viva voice, otherwise
election shall be by ballot.
8.02
Every two years by the February membership meeting the President shall appoint a
Nominating Committee and its chairman to be composed of no less than five (5)
members to propose a slate of candidates for nomination to office for election at
the April membership meeting. The Nominating committee should determine that the
potential nominee consents and is willing and able to devote the time necessary to
fulfill the responsibilities of any office to which he is elected.
8.03
At any meeting for the election of officers, nominations may be made from the
floor and election shall be by a simple majority of those members in good standing
present and voting.
8.04
Each individual member or household shall have one vote on each issue before
the membership.
ARTICLE 9 - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
9.01
Parliamentary authority shall be the rules contained in Robert?s Rules of Order,
Revised. They shall govern in all cases that they are applicable and not
inconsistent with the laws of the state of Georgia, or these by laws.
ARTICLE 10 - AMENDMENTS
10.01
Amendments to these Bylaws may be made by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote at any
regular monthly meeting provided the amendment has been proposed by the Executive
Committee. Otherwise any proposed amendment to these Bylaws must be submitted at
any regular meeting, read and voted upon at the following regular meeting. Such
amendment must be agreed to by two-thirds (2/3) of the members present at such
meeting.
ARTICLE 11 - DISSOLUTION
11.01
The organization may be dissolved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote at any regular
monthly meeting provided that the motion has been proposed by the Executive Committee.
Otherwise any proposed motion must be submitted at any regular monthly meeting, read
and voted upon at the following regular meeting. Such motion must be agreed to by
two-thirds (2/3) of the members present at such meeting.
11.02
All assets remaining after payment of any outstanding liabilities shall be donated
to the Covenant Presbyterian Church of Cobb County Georgia. If the regular monthly
meetings have been moved to another site, two-thirds (2/3) of the members present
at a regular meeting shall agree to donate the proceeds to another charitable
organization as no part of the income or profit of the Corporation may be distributable
to its members, directors, or officers.
